博炮作文网>那些岁月作文 > 暖暖的河流 war river（第1页）
暖暖的河流 war river（第1页）
厄斯金·考德威尔
ErskineCaldwell
Thedriverstoedatthesusendedfootbridgeandointedouttomethehouseacrosstheriver。Iaidhimthequarterfarefortheridefromthestationtwomilesawayandsteedfromthecar。AfterhehadgoneIwasalonewiththechillnightandthestar-ointedlightstwinklinginthevalleyandthebroadgreenriverflowingwarmbelowme。Allaroundmethemountainsroselikeblackcloudsinthenight，andonlybylookingstraightheavenwardcouldIseeanythingofthedimafterglowofsunset。
Thecreakingfootbridgeswayedwiththerhythmofmystrideandthemomentumofitsswingsoonovercamemyace。OnlybywalkingfasterandfastercouldIclingtotheendulumasitswunginitswidearcovertheriver。WhenatlastIcouldseetheotherside，wherethemountaincamedownabrutlyandslidunderthewarmwater，Igriedmyhandbagtighterandranwithallmymight。
Eventhen，evenaftermyfeethadcruncheduonthegravelath，Iwasafraid。IknewthatbydayImightwalkthebridgewithoutfear，butatnight，inastrangecountry，withdarkmountainstoweringallaroundmeandabroadgreenriverflowingbeneathme，Icouldnotkeemyhandsfromtremblingandmyheartfromoundingagainstmychest。
Ifoundthehouseeasily，andlaughedatmyselfforhavingrunfromtheriver。Thehousewasthefirstonetocomeuonafterleavingthefootbridge，andevenifIshouldhavemissedit，Gretchenwould，havecalledme。Shewasthereonthestesoftheorchwaitingforme。WhenIheardherfamiliarvoicecallingmyname，Iwasashamedofmyselfforhavingbeenfrightenedbythemountainsandthebroadriverflowingbelow。
Sherandownthegravelathtomeetme。
“Didthefootbridgefrightenyou，Richard?”sheaskedexcitedly，holdingmyarmwithbothofherhandsandguidingmeutheathtothehouse。
“Ithinkitdid，Gretchen，”Isaid:“butIhoeIoutranit。”
“Everyonetriestodothatatfirst，butaftergoingoveritonce，It’slikewalkingatight-roe。Iusedtowalktight-roeswhenIwassmall-didn’tyoudothat，too，Richard？Wehadaroestretchedacrossthefloorofourbarntoracticeon。”
“Idid，too，butIt’sbeensolongagoI’veforgottenhowtodoitnow。”
Wereachedthestesandwentutotheorch。Gretchentookmetothedoor。Someoneinsidethehousewasbringingalamintothehall，andwiththecomingofthelightIsawGretchenstwosistersstandingjustinsidetheoendoor。
“Thisismylittlesister，Anne，”Gretchensaid。“AndthisisMary。”
Isoketothemintilesemi-darkness，andwewentonintothehall。Gretchensfatherwasstandingbesideatableholdingthelamalittletoonesidesothathecouldseemyface。Ihadnotmethimbefore。
“Thisismyfather，”Gretchensaid。“Hewasafraidyouwouldntbeabletofindourhouseintiledark。”
“Iwantedtobringalightdowntothebridgeandmeetyou，butGretchensaidyouwouldgetherewithoutanytrouble。Didyougetlost?Icouldhavebroughtalanterndownwithnotroubleatall。”
IshookhandswithhimandtoldhimhoweasilyIhadfoundthelace。
“Thehackdriverointedouttomethehousefromtheothersideoftheriver，andIneveroncelookmyeyesfromthelight。IfIhadlostsightofthelight，Idrobablybestumblingaroundsomewherenowinthedarkdowntheregettingreadytofallintothewater。”
Helaughedatmeforbeingafraidoftileriver。
“Youwouldnthavemindedit。Theriveriswarm。Eveninwinter，whenthereisiceandsnowunderfoot，theriverisaswarmasacomfortableroom。Allofusherelovethewaterdownthere。”
“No，Richard，youwouldnthavefallenin，”Gretchensaid，layingherhandinmine。“Isawyouthemomentyougotoutofthehack，andifyouhadgoneasteinthewrongdirection，Iwasreadytoruntoyou。”
IwishedtothankGretchenforsayingthat，butalreadyshewasgoingtothestairstothefloorabove，andcallingme。Iwentwithher，liftingmyhandbaginfrontofme。Therewasashadedlam，lightedbutturnedlow，onthetableattheendoftheuerball，andsheickedituandwentaheadintooneofthefrontrooms。
Westoodforamomentlookingateachother，andsilent。
“Thereisfreshwaterintheitcher，Richard。Ifthereisanythingelseyouwouldliketohave，leasetellme。Itriednottooverlookanything。”
“Dontworry，Gretchen，”Itoldher。“Icouldn’twishforanythingmore。It’senoughjusttobeherewithyou，anyway。TheresnothingelseIcarefor。”
Shelookedatmequickly，andthensheloweredhereyes。Westoodsilentlyforseveralminutes，whileneitherofuscouldthinkofanythingtosay。IwantedtotellherhowgladIwastobewithher，evenifitwasonlyforonenight，butIknewIcouldsaythattoherlater。GretchenknewwhyIhadcome。
“I’llleavethelamforyou，Richard，andI’llwaitdownstairsforyouontheorch。Comeassoonasyouareready。”
ShehadleftbeforeIcouldoffertocarrythelighttothestairheadforhertoseethewaydown。BythetimeIhadickeduthelam，shewasoutofsightdownthestairs。
Iwalkedbackintotheroomandclosedthedoorandbathedmyfaceandhands，scrubbingthetraindustwithbrushandsoa。Therewasarowofhand-embroideredtowelsontherack，andItookoneanddriedmyfaceandbands。AfterthatIcombedmyhair，andfoundafreshhandkerchiefinthehandbag。ThenIoenedthedoorandwentdownstairstofindGretchen。
Herfatherwasontheorchwithher。WhenIwalkedthroughthedoorway，hegotuandgavemeachairbetweenthem。Gretchenulledherchairclosertomine，touchingmyarmwithherhand。
“Isthisthefirsttimeyouhavebeenuhereinthemountains，Richard?”herfatheraskedme，turninginhischairtowardsme。
“I’veneverbeenwithinahundredmilesofherebefore，sir。It’sadifferentcountryuhere，butIsuoseyouwouldthinkthesameaboutthecoast，wouldntyou？”
“Oh，butFatherusedtoliveinNorfolk，”Gretchensaid。“Didntyou，Father？”
“Ilivedtherefornearlythreeyears。”
Therewassomethingelsehewouldsay，andbothofuswaitedforhimtocontinue。
