第34章TheSphinxApple

第34章thesphinxapple

twentymilesoutfromparadise,andfifteenmilesshortofsun-risecity,bildadrose,thestage-driver,stoppedhisteam.afurioussnowhadbeenfallingallday.eightinchesitmeasurednow,onalevel.theremainderoftheroadwasnotwithoutperilindaylight,creepingalongtheribsofabijourangeofedmountains.now,whenbothsnowandnightmaskeditsdangers,furthertravelwasnottobethoughtof,saidbildadrose.sohepulleduphisfourstouthorses,anddeliveredtohisfivepassengersoraldeductionsofhiswisdom.

judgemcnefee,towhommengrantedleadershipandtheinitiatoryasuponasilversalver,sprangfromthecoachatonce.fourofhisfellow-passengersfollowed,inspiredbyhisexample,readytoexplore,toobjurgate,toresist,tosubmit,toproceed,accordingastheirprimefactormightbeinclinedtoswaythem.thefifthpassenger,ayoungwoman,remainedinthecoach.

bildadhadhaltedupontheshoulderofthefirstmountainspur.tworail-fences,ed-black,hemmedtheroad.fiftyyardsabovetheupperfence,showingadarkblotinthewhitedriftsstondasmallhouse.uponthishousedescended—orratherascended—judgemenefeeandhiscohortswithboyishwhoopsbornofthesnowandstress.theycalled;theypoundedatwindowanddoor.attheinhospitablesilencetheywaxedrestive;theyassaultedandforcedthepregnablebarriers,andinvadedthepremises.

thewatchesfromthecoachheardstumblingsandshoutingsfromtheinterioroftheravagedhouse.beforelongalightwithinflickered,glowed,flamedhighandbrightandcheerful.thencamerunningbackthroughthedrivingflakestheexuberantexplorers.moredeeplypitchedthantheclarion—evenorchestralinvolume—thevoiceofjudgemenefeeproclaimedtheorthatlayinappositionwiththeirstateoftravail.theoneroomofthehousewasuninhabited,hesaid,andbareoffurniture;butitcontainedagreatfireplace,andtheyhaddiscoveredanamplestoreofchoppedwoodinalean-toattherear.housingandwarmthagainsttheshiveringnightwerethusassured.fortheplacationofbildadrosetherewasnewsorastable,notruinedbeyondservice,withhayinaloft,nearthehouse.

"gentlemen,"criedbildadrosefromhisseat,swathedincoatsandrobes,"tearmedowntwopanelsofthatfence,soicandrivein.thatisoldmanredruth'sshanty.ithoughtwemusthenighit.theytookhimtothefoolishhouseinaugust."

cheerfullythefourpassengerssprangatthesnow-cappedrails.theexhortedteamedthecoachuptheslanttothedooroftheedificefromwhichamid-summermadnesshadravisheditsproprietor.thedriverandtwoofthepassengersbegantounhitch.judgemenefeeopenedthedoorofthecoach,andremovedhishat.

"ihavetoannounce,missgarland,"saidhe,"theenforcedsuspensionofourjourney.thedriverassertsthattheriskintravelingthemountainroadbynightistoogreateventoconsider.itwillbenecessarytoremainintheshelterofthishouseuntilmorning.ibegthatyouwillfeelthatthereisnothingtofearbeyondatemporaryinconvenience.ihavepersonallyinspectedthehouse,andfindthattherearemeanstoprovideagainsttherigoroftheweather,atleast.youshallbemadeascomfortableaspossible.permitmetoassistyoutoalight."

tothejudge'ssidecamethepassengerwhosepursuitinlifewastheplacingofthelittlegoliathwindmill.hisnamewasdunwoody;butthatmattersnotmuch.intravelingmerelyfromparadisetosunrisecityoneneedslittleornoname.still,onewhowouldseektodividehonorswithjudgemadisonl.menefeedeservesacognominalpeguponwhichfamemayhangawreath.thusspake,loudlyandbuoyantly,theaerialmiller:

"guessyou'llhavetoclimboutoftheark,mrs.mcfarland.thiswigwanisn'texactlythepalmerhouse,butitturnssnow,andtheywon'tsearchyourgripforsouvenirspoonswhenyouleave.we'vegotafiregoing;andwe'llfixyouupwithdrytrilbysandkeepthemiceaway,anyhow,allright,allright."

oneofthetwopassengerswhowerelinginameleeofhorses,harness,snow,andthesarcasticinjunctionsofbildadrose,calledloudlyfromthewhirlofhisvolunteerduties:"say!someofyoufellowsgetmisssolomonintothehouse,willyou?whoa,there!youconfoundedbrute!"

againmustitbegentlyurgedthatintravelingfromparadisetosunrisecityanaccuratenameisprodigality.whenjudgemenefee—sanctionedtotheactbyhisgreyhairandwidespreadrepute—hadintroducedhimselftotheladypassenger,shehad,herself,sweetlybreathedaname,inresponse,thattheheatingofthemalepassengershadvariouslyinterpreted.inthenotunjealousspiritofrivakythateventuated,eachclungstubbornlytohisowntheory.fortheladypassengertohavereasseveratedorcorrectedwouldhaveseemeddidacticifnotundulysolicitousofaspecificacquaintance.thereforetheladypassengerpermittedherselftobegarlandedandmcfarlandedandsolomonedwithequalanddiscreetcomplacency.itisthirty-fivemilesfromparadisetosunrisecity.compagnondevoyageisnameenough,bythegripsackofthewanderingjew!forsobriefajourney.

soonthelittlepartyofwayfarerswerehappilyseatedinacheerfularcbeforetheroaringfire.therobes,cushions,andremovableportionsofthecoachhadbeenbroughtinandputtoservice.theladypassengerchoseaplacenearthehearthatoneendofthearc.thereshegracedalmostathronethathersubjectshadprepared.shesatuponcushionsandleanedagainstanemptyboxandbarrel,robebespread,whichformedadefencefromtheinvadingdraughts.sheextendedherfeet,delectablyshod,tothecordialheat.sheunglovedherhands,butretainedaboutherneckherlongfurboa.theunstableflameshalfrevealed,whilethewardingboahalfsubmerged,herface—ayouthfulfacealtogetherfeminine,clearlymoldedandcalmwithbeauty'sunchallengedconfidence.chivalryandmanhoodwereherevyingtopleaseandcomforther.sheseemedtoaccepttheirdevoirs—notpiquantly,asonecourtedandattended;notpreeningly,asmanyofhersexunworthilyreaptheirhonors;noryetstolidly,astheoxreceiveshishay;butconcordantlywithnature'sownplan—asthelilyingeststhedropofdewforeordainedtoitsrefreshment.

outsidethewindroaredmightily,thefinesnowwhizzedthroughthecracks,thecoldbesiegedthebacksoftheimmolatedsix;buttheelementsdidnotlackachampionthatnight.judgemenefeewasattorneyforthestorm.theweatherwashisclient,andhestrovebyspecialpleadingtoconvincehiscompanionsinthatfrigidjury-boxthattheysojournedinabowerofroses,besetonlybybenignantzephyrs.hedrewuponafundofgaiety,wit,andanecdote,sophistical,butcrownedwithess.hischeerfulnesscommunicateditselfirresistibly.eachonehastenedtocontributehisownquotatowardthegeneraloptimism.eventheladypassengerwasmovedtoexpression.

"ithinkitisquitecharming,"shesaid,inherslow,crystaltones.

atintervalssomeoneofthepassengerswouldriseandhumorouslyexploretheroom.therewaslittleevidencetobecollectedofitshabitationbyoldmanredruth.

bildadrosewascalleduponvivaciouslyfortheex-hermit'shistory.now,sincethestage-driver'shorseswerefairlycomfortableandhispassngersappearedtobeso,peaceandcomityreturnedtohim.

"theolddidapper,"beganbildad,somewhatirreverently,"infestedthisherehouseabouttwentyyear.heneverallowednobodytocomenighhim.he'dduckhisheadinsideandslamthedoorwheneverateamdrovealong.therewasspinning-wheelsupinhisloft,allright.heusedtobuyhisgroceriesandoatsamtilly'sstore,onthelittlemuddy.lastaugusthewentuptheredressedinaredbedquilt,andtoldsamhewaskingsolomon,andthatthequeenofshebawascomingtovisithim.hefetchedalongallthemoneyhehad—alittlebagfullofsilver—anddroppeditinsam'swell.'shewon'tcome,’saysoldmanredruthtosam,'ifsheknowsi'vegotanymoney.’"assoonasfolksheardhehadthatsortofatheoryaboutwomenandmoneytheyknowedhewascrazy;sotheysentdownandpackedhimtothefoolishasylum."

"wastherearomanceinhislifethatdrovehimtoasolitaryexistence?"askedoneofthepassengers,ayoungmanwhohadanagency.

"no,"saidbildad"notthatieverheardspokeof.justordinarytrouble.theysayhehadhadunfortunatenessinthewayoflovederangementswithayoungladywhenhewasyoung;beforehecontractedredbed-quiltsandhadhisfinancialconclusionsdisqualified.ineverheardofnoromance."

"ah!"exdlaimedjudgemenefee,impressively;"acaseofunrequitedaffection,nodoubt."

"no,sir,"returnedbildad,"notatall.shenevermarriedhim.marmadukemulligan,downatparadise,seenamanoncethatcomefromoldredruth'stown.hesaidredruthwasafineyoungman,butwhenyoukickedhimonthepocketallyoucouldhearjinglewasacuff-fastenerandabunchofkeys.hewasengagedtothisyounglady—missalice—somethingwashername;i'veforgot.thismansaidshewasthekindofagirlyouliketohavereachacrossyouinacartopaythefare.well,therecometothetownayoungchapallaffluentandeasy,andfixedupwithiesandminingstockandleisuretime.althoughshewasastakedclaim,missaliceandthenewentryseemedtostrikeamutualkindofaclip.theyhadcallsandcoincidencesofgoingtothepostofficeandsuchthingsassometimesmakeagirlsendbacktheengagementringandotherpresents—'ariftwithintheloot,’thepoetrymancallsit.

"onedayfolksseenredruthandmissalicestandingtalkingatthegate.thenheliftshishatandwalksaway,andthatwasthelastanybodyinthattownseenofhim,asfarasthismanknew."

"whatabouttheyounglady?"askedtheyoungmanwhohadanagency.

"neverheard,"answeredbildad."rightthereiswheremylodeofinformationturnstoanoldspavinedcrowbait,andfoldsitswings,fori'vepumpeditdry."

"averysad—"beganjudgemenefee,buthisremarkwascurtailedbyahigherauthority.

"whatacharmingstory!"saidtheladypassenger,influte-likeiketones.

alittlesilencefollowed,exceptforthewindandthecracklingofthefire.

themenwereseateduponthefloor,havingslightlymitigateditsinhospitablesurfacewithwrapsandstraypiecesofboards.themanwhowasplacinglittlegoliathwindmillsaroseandwalkedabouttoeasehiscrampedmuscles.

suddenlyatriumphantshoutcamefromhim.hehurriedbackfromaduskycorneroftheroom,bearingaloftsomethinginhishand.itwasanapple—alarge,red-mottled,firmpippin,pleasingtobehold.inapaperbagonahighshelfinthatcornerhehadfoundit.itcouldhavebeennorelicofthelovewreckedredruth,foritsglorioussoundnessrepudiatedthetheorythatithadlaidonthatmustyshelfsinceaugust.nodoubtsomerecentbivouackers,lunchinginthedesertedhouse,hadleftitthere.

dunwoody—againhisexploitsdemandforhimthehonorsofnomendature—flauntedhisappleinthefacesofhisfellow-marooners."seewhatifound,mrs.mcfarland!"hecried,vaingloriously.heheldtheapplehighupinthelightofthefire,whereitglowedastillricherred,theladypassengersmiledcalmly—alwayscalmly.

"whatacharmingapple!"shemurmured,clearly.

forabriefspacejudgemenefeefeltcrushed,humiliated,relegated.secondplacegalledhim.whyhadthisblatant,obtrusive,unpolishedmanofwindmillsbeenselectedbyfateinsteadofhimselftodiscoverthesensationalapple?hecouldhavemadeoftheactascene,afunction,asettingforsomeimpromptu,fancifuldiscourseorpieceofcomedy—andhaveretainedtheroleofcynosure.actually,theladypassengerwasregardingthisridiculousdunboddyorwondbundywithanadmiringsmile,asifthefellowhadperformedafeat!andthewindmillmanlswelledandgyratedlikeasampleofhisowngoods,puffedupwiththewindthateverblowsfromthechoruslandtowardthedomainofthestar.

whilethetransporteddunwoody,withhisaladdin'sapple,wasreceivingthefickleattentionsofall,theresourcefuljuristformedaplantorecoverhisownlaurels.

withhiscourtliestsmileuponhisheavybutclassicfeatures,judgemenefeeadvanced,andtooktheapple,asiftoexamineit,fromthehandofdunwoody.inhishanditbecameexhibita.

"afineapple,"hesaid,approvingly."really,mydearmr.dunwindy,youhaveeclipsedallofusasaforager.butihaveanidea.thisappleshallbecomeanemblem,atoken,asymbol,aprizebestowedbythemindandheartofbeautyuponthemostdeserving."

theaudience,exceptone,applauded."goodonthestump,ain'the?"commentedthepassengerwhowasnobodyinparticulartotheyoungmanwhohadanagency.

theunresponsiveonewasthewindmillman.hesawhimselfreducedtotheranks.neverwouldthethoughthaveoccurredtohimtodeclarehisappleanemblem.hehadintended,afterithadbeendividedandeaten,tocreatediversionbystickingtheseedsagainsthisforeheadandnamingthemforyoungladiesofhisacquaintance.onehewasgoingtonamemrs.mcfarland.theseedthatfellofffirstwouldbe—but'twastoolatenow.

"theapple,"continuedjudgemenefee,charginghisjury,"inmoderndaysoccupies,thoughundeservedly,arowlyplaceinouresteem.indeed,itissoconstandyassociatedwiththeculinaryandthecommercialthatitishardlytobeclassedamongthepolitefruits.butinancienttimesthiswasnotso.biblical.historical,andmythologicalloreaboundswithevidencesthattheapplewasthearistocratoffruits.westillsay'theappleoftheeye’whenwewishtodescribesomethingsuperlativelyprecious.wefindinproverbsthecomparisonto'applesofsilver.’nootherproductoftreeorvinehasbeensoutilizedinfigurativespeech.whohasnotheardofandlongedforthe'applesofthehesperides’?ineednotcallyourattentiontothemosttremendousandsignificantinstanceoftheapple'sancientprestigewhenitsconsumptionbyourfirstparentsoccasionedthefallofmanfromhisstateofgoodnessandperfection."

"appleslikethem,"saidthewindmillman,lingeringwiththeobjectiverticle,"areworth$3.50abarrelinthechicagomarket."

"now,whatihavetopropose,"saidjudgemenefee,concedinganindulgentsmiletohisinterrupter,"isthis:wemustremainhere,perforce,untilmorning.wehavewoodinplentytokeepuswarm.ournextneedistoentertainourselvesasbestwecan,inorderthatthetimeshallnotpasstooslowly.iproposethatweplacethisappleinthehandsofmissgarland.itisnolongerafruit,but,asisaid,aprize,inaward,representingagreathumanidea.missgarland,herself,shallceasetobeanindividual—butonlytemporarily,iamhappytoadd"—(alowbow,fulloftheold-timegrace)."sheshallrepresenthersex;sheshallbetheembodiment,theepitomeofwomankind—theheartandbrain,imaysay,ofgod'smasterpieceofcreation.inthisguisesheshalljudgeanddecidethequestionwhichfollows:

"butafewminutesagoourfriend,mr.rose,favoreduswithanentertainingbutfragmentarysketchoftheromanceinthelifeoftheformerprofessorofthishabitation.thefewfactsthatwehavelearnedseemtometoopenupafascinatingfieldforconjecture,forthestudyofhumanhearts,fortheexerciseoftheimagination—inshort,forstorytelling.letusmakeuseoftheopportunity.leteachoneofusrelatehisownversionofthestoryofredruth,thehermit,andhislady-love,beginningwheremr.rose'snarrativeends—atthepartingoftheloversatthegate.thismuchshouldbeassumedandconceded—thattheyoungladywasnotnecessarilytoblameforredruth'sbecomingacrazedandworld-hatinghermit.whenwehavedone,missgarlandshallrenderthejudgementofwoman.asthespiritofhersexsheshalldecidewhichversionofthestorybestandmosttrulydepictshumanandloveinterest,andmostfaithfullyestimatesthecharacterandactsofredruth'sbetrothedaccordingtothefeminineview.theappleshallbebestoweduponhimwhoisawardedthedecision.ifyouareallagreed,weshallbepleasedtohearthefirststoryfrommr.dinwiddie."

thelastsentencecapturedthewindmillman.hewasnotonetolingerinthedumps.

"that'safirst-ratescheme,judge,"hesaid,heartily."bearegularshort-storyvaudeville,won'tit?iusedtobecorrespondentforapaperinspringfield,andwhentherewasn'tanynewsifakedit.guessicandomyturnallright."

"ithinktheideaischarming,"saidtheladypassenger,brightly."itwillbealmostlikeagame."

judgemenefeesteppedforwardandplacedtheappleinherhandimpressively.

"inoldendays,"hesaid,oroundly,"parisawardedthegoldenappletothemostbeautiful."

"iwasattheexposition,"remarkedthewindmillman,nowcheerfulagain,"butineverheardofit.andiwasonthemidway,too,allthetimeiwasn'tatthemachineryexhibit."

"butnow,"continuedthejudge,"thefruitshalltranslatetousthemysteryandwisdomofthefeminineheart.taketheapple,missgarland.hearourmodesttalesofromance,andthenawardtheprizeasyoumaydeemitjust."

theladypassengersmiledsweetly.theapplelayinherlapbeneathherrobesandwraps.shereclinedagainstherprotectingbulwark,brightlyandcosilyatease.butforthevoicesandthewindonemighthavelistenedhopefullytohearherpurr.someonecastfreshlogsuponthefire.judgemendeenoddedsuavely."willyouobligeuswiththeinitialstory?"heasked.