按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ower and arrogance； there is a moving Force which commands events。
I suppose if I were writing a mere story I should tell how Old Toombs was miraculously softened at the age of sixty…eight years； and came into new relationships with his neighbours； or else I should relate how the mills of God； grinding slowly； had crushed the recalcitrant human atom into dust。
Either of these results conceivably might have happenedall things are possibleand being ingeniously related would somehow have answered a need in the human soul that the logic of events be constantly and conclusively demonstrated in the lives of individual men and women。
But as a matter of fact； neither of these things did happen in this quiet community of ours。 There exists； assuredly； a logic of events； oh； a terrible； irresistible logic of events； but it is careless of the span of any one man's life。 We would like to have each man enjoy the sweets of his own virtues and suffer the lash of his own misdeedsbut it rarely so happens in life。 No； it is the community which lives or dies； is regenerated or marred by the deeds of men。
So Old Toombs continued to live。 So he continued to buy more land； raise more cattle； collect more interest； and the wonderful hedge continued to flaunt its marvels still more notably upon the country road。 To what end？ Who knows？ Who knows？
I saw him afterward from time to time； tried to maintain some sort of friendly relations with him； but it seemed as the years passed that he grew ever lonelier and more bitter； and not only more friendless； but seemingly more incapable of friendliness。 In times past I have seen what men call tragediesI saw once a perfect young man die in his strengthbut it seems to me I never knew anything more tragic than the life and death of Old Toombs。 If it cannot be said of a man when he dies that either his nation； his state； his neighborhood； his family； or at least his wife or child； is better for his having lived； what CAN be said for him？
Old Toombs is dead。 Like Jehoram； King of Judah； of whom it is terribly said in the Book of Chronicles； 〃he departed without being desired。〃
Of this story of Nathan Toombs we talked much and long there in the Ransome home。 I was with them； as I said； about two dayskept inside most of the time by a driving spring rain which filled the valley with a pale gray mist and turned all the country roads into running streams。 One morning； the weather having cleared； I swung my bag to my shoulder； and with much warmth of parting I set my face again to the free road and the open country。
CHAPTER IX。 THE MAN POSSESSED
I suppose I was predestined （and likewise foreordained） to reach the city sooner or later。 My fate in that respect was settled for me when I placed my trust in the vagrant road。 I thought for a time that I was more than a match for the Road； but I soon learned that the Road was more than a match for me。 Sly？ There's no name for it。 Alluring； lovable； mysteriousas the heart of a woman。 Many a time I followed the Road where it led through innocent meadows or climbed leisurely hill slopes only to find that it had crept around slyly and led me before I knew it into the back door of some busy town。
Mostly in this country the towns squat low in the valleys； they lie in wait by the rivers； and often I scarcely know of their presence until I am so close upon them that I can smell the breath of their heated nostrils and hear their low growlings and grumblings。
My fear of these lesser towns has never been profound。 I have even been bold enough； when I came across one of them； to hasten straight through as though assured that Cerberus was securely chained； but I found； after a time； what I might indeed have guessed； that the Road； also led irresistibly to the lair of the Old Monster himself； the He…one of the species； where he lies upon the plain； lolling under his soiled gray blanket of smoke。
It is wonderful to be safe at home again； to watch the tender； reddish brown shoots of the Virginia creeper reaching in at my study window； to see the green of my own quiet fields； to hear the peaceful clucking of the hens in the sunny dooryardand Harriet humming at her work in the kitchen。
When I left the Ransomes that fine spring morning； I had not the slightest presentiment of what the world held in store for me。 After being a prisoner of the weather for so long； I took to the Road with fresh joy。 All the fields were of a misty greenness and there were pools still shining in the road； but the air was deliciously clear； clean； and soft。 I came through the hill country for three or four miles； even running down some of the steeper places for the very joy the motion gave me； the feel of the air on my face。
Thus I came finally to the Great Road； and stood for a moment looking first this way； then that。
〃Where now？〃 I asked aloud。
With an amusing sense of the possibilities that lay open before me； I closed my eyes； turned slowly around several times and then stopped。 When I opened my eyes I was facing nearly southward： and that way I set out； not knowing in the least what Fortune had presided at that turning。 If I had gone the other way
I walked vigorously for two or three hours； meeting or passing many people upon the busy road。 Automobiles there were in plenty； and loaded wagons； and jolly families off for town； and a herdsman driving sheep； and small boys on their way to school with their dinner pails； and a gypsy wagon with lean； led horses following behind； and even a Jewish peddler with a crinkly black beard； whom I was on the very point of stopping。
〃I should like sometime to know a Jew；〃 I said to myself。
As I travelled； feeling like one who possesses hidden riches； I came quite without warning upon the beginning of my great adventure。 I had been looking for a certain thing all the morning； first on one side of the road； then the other； and finally I was rewarded。 There it was； nailed high upon tree； the curious； familiar sign：
＇ REST ＇
I stopped instantly。 It seemed like an old friend。
〃Well；〃 said I。 〃I'm not at all tired； but I want to be agreeable。〃
With that I sat down on a convenient stone； took off my hat； wiped my forehead； and looked about me with satisfaction； for it was a pleasant country。
I had not been sitting there above two minutes when my eyes fell upon one of the oddest specimens of humanity （I thought then） that ever I saw。 He had been standing near the roadside； just under the tree upon which I had seen the sign； 〃Rest。〃 My heart dotted and carried one。
〃The sign man himself！〃 I exclaimed。
I arose instantly and walked down the road toward him。
〃A man has only to stop anywhere here；〃 I said exultantly； 〃and things happen。
The stranger's appearance was indeed extraordinary。 He seemed at first glimpse to be about twice as large around the hips as he was at the shoulders； but this I soon discovered to be due to no natural avoir…dupois but to the prodigious number of soiled newspapers and magazines with which the low…hanging pockets of his overcoat were stuffed。 For he was still wearing an old shabby overcoat though the weather was warm and brightand on his head was an odd and outlandish hat。 I