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！
； and descend upon the Spanish settlements at the mouth of the Mississippithose same hated settlements that had refused to the Kentuckians the right of navigation for their commerce； thus shutting them off from the world by water； as the mountains shut them off from the world by land。
Hence the Jacobin clubs that were formed in Kentucky： one at Lexington； a second at Georgetown； a third at Paris。 Hence the liberty poles in the streets of the towns； the tricoloured cockades on the hats of the men； the hot blood between the anti…federal and the federalist parties of the State。
The actions of Citizen Genet had indeed been disavowed by his republic。 But the sympathy for France； the hatred of England and of Spain； had but grown meantime； and when therefore in this spring of 1795 the news reached the frontier that Jay had concluded a treaty with Englandthe very treaty that would bring to the Kentuckians the end of all their troubles with the posts of the Northwestthe flame of revolution blazed out with greater brilliancy。
During the hour that John Gray spent in that assemblage of men that night； the talk led always to the same front of offence： the baser truckling to England； an old enemy； the baser desertion of France； a friend。 He listened to one man of commanding eloquence； while he traced the treaty to the attachment of Washington for aristocratic institutions； to another who referred it to the jealousy felt by the Eastern congressmen regarding the growth of the new power beyond the Alleghanies； to a third who foretold that like all foregoing pledges it would leave Kentucky still exposed to the fury of the Northern Indians； to a fourth who declared that let the treaty be once ratified with Lord Granville； and in the same old faithless way； nothing more would be done to extort from Spain for Kentucky the open passage of the Mississippi。
At any other time he would have borne his part in these discussions。 Now he scarcely heard them。 All the forces of his mind were away； on another battle…field and he longed to be absent with them； a field strewn with the sorrowful carnage of ideal and hope and plan； home； happiness； love。 He was hardly aware that his own actions must seem unusual； until one of the older men took him affectionately by the hand and said：
〃Marshall tells me that you teach school till sunset and read law till sunrise； and tonight you come here with your eyes blazing and your skin as pallid and dry as a monk's。 Take off the leeches of the law for a good month； John！ They abstract too much blood。 If the Senate ratifies in June the treachery of Jay and Lord Granville； there will be more work than ever for the Democratic Societies in this country； and nowhere more than in Kentucky。 We shall need you then more than the law needs you now； or than you need it。 Save yourself for the cause of your tricolour。 You shall have a chance to rub the velvet off your antlers。〃
〃We shall soon put him beyond the reach of his law；〃 said a member of the Transylvania Library Committee。 〃As soon as his school is out； we are going to send him to ask subscriptions from the President； the Vice…President； and others； and then on to Philadelphia to buy the books。〃
A shadow fell upon the face of another officer； and in a lowered tone he said； with cold emphasis： 〃I am sorry that the citizens of this town should stoop to ask anything from such a man as George Washington。〃
The schoolmaster scarcely realized what he had done when he consented to act as a secret emissary of the Jacobin Club of Lexington to the club in Philadelphia during the summer。
The political talk ended at last； the gentlemen returned to the ladies。 He found himself standing in a doorway beside an elderly man of the most polished hearing and graceful manners； who was watching a minuet。
〃Ah！〃 he said； waving his hand with delight toward the scene。 〃This is Virginia and Maryland brought into the West！ It reminds me of the days when I danced with Martha Custis and Dolly Madison。 Some day； with a beginning like this； Kentucky will be celebrated for its beautiful women。 The daughters and the grand…daughters and the great…granddaughters of such mothers as these〃
〃And of fathers like these！〃 interposed one of the town trustees who came up at that moment。 〃But for the sake of these ladies isn't it time we were passing a law against the keeping of pet panthers？ I heard the cry of one as I came here to…night。 What can we do with these young backwoods hunters？ Will civilization ever make pets of themever tame them？〃 John felt some one touch his arm； it was Kitty with Horatio。 Her cheeks were like poppies； her good kind eyes welcomed him sincerely。
〃You here！ I'm so glad。 Haven't you seen Amy？ She is in the other room with Joseph。 Have they explained everything？ But we will loose our place〃she cried； and with a sweet smile of adieu to him； and of warning to her partner； she glided away。
〃We are entered for this horse race；〃 remarked Mr。 Turpin； lingering a moment longer。 〃Weight for age； agreeable to the rules of New Market。 Each subscriber to pay one guinea； etc。； etc。； etc。〃 He was known as the rising young turfman of the town； having first run his horses down Water Street； but future member of the first Jockey Club； so that in the full blossom of his power he could name all the horses of his day with the pedigree of each： beginning with Tiger by Tiger； and on through Sea Serpent by Shylock； and Diamond by Brilliant； and Black Snake by Sky Lark： a type of man whom long association with the refined and noble nature of the horse only vulgarizes and disennobles。
Once afterward Gray's glance fell on Amy and Joseph across the room。 They were looking at him and laughing at his expense and the sight burnt his eyes as though hot needles had been run into them。 They beckoned gaily； but he gave no sign； and in a moment they were lost behind the shifting figures of the company。 While he was dancing； however； Joseph came up。
〃As soon as you get away； Amy wants to see you。〃
Half and hour later he came a second time and drew Gray aside from a group of gentlemen； speaking more seriously： 〃Amy wants to explain how all this happened。 Come at once。〃
〃There is nothing to explain；〃 said John； with indifference。 Joseph answered reproachfully： 〃This is foolish； John！ When you know what has passed； you will not censure her。 And I could not have done otherwise。〃 Despite his wish to be serious； he could not help laughing for he was very happy himself。
But to John Gray these reasonable words went for the very thing that they did not mean。 His mind had been forced to a false point of view； and from a false point of view the truth itself always looks false。 Moreover it was intolerable that Joseph should be defending to him the very woman whom a few hours before he had hoped to marry。 〃There is no explanation needed from her；〃 he replied； with the same indifference。 〃I think I understand。 What I do not understand I should rather take for granted。 But you； Joseph； you owe me an explanation。 This is not the place to give it。〃 His face twitched； and he knotted the fingers of his large hands together like bands of iron。 〃But by God I'll have it； and if it is not a good one