"Habberton, John - Everybody's Chance" - читать интересную книгу автора (Habberton John)

to them, but it soon became an old story to both of us, for they seemed to have
nothing in their minds but what was trifling and merely romantic, but LuceЧ why,
there's something in the very tone of her voice that makes her seem different
from every other young woman, and better. She'sЧ she'sЧ oh, she's thoroughly
womanly, while the others are merely girlish. Don't you think that is the proper
distinction, so far as you have observed her and other Brundy girls?"
As Charley asked this question he raised his eyes for the answer, but Champ was
no longer standing before him. Charley looked slowly about him, but could see
Champ nowhere; then he quickly peered between the trees, in every direction, and
finally saw Champ, some distance away, walking rapidly and with his fingers to
his ears.
"I declare," exclaimed the young man to himself, yet softly, as if he feared
that even the trees had ears, "I believe I've been making a fool of myself. I
didn't suppose, though, that a man generally so kind and sympathetic as Champ
could have been quite so rude. Did I really say anything that was dreadfully
silly?"
He thought a little while about it, and this naturally set him to thinking about
Luce, and the subject was so interesting that he could not give any attention to
anything else, so he leaned against a tree and indulged in delightful
day-dreaming for he knew not how long. Neither could he afterward imagine how
long he might have continued at his congenial occupation had he not been
startled by a footfall, and, looking about him, seen Champ returning with an axe
in his hand. Champ at first looked sheepishly toward him and said:
"I thought I could spare half a day to help you." When, however, the big fellow
cast his eyes about and saw not a tree had been felled since he made his escape
he glared savagely at Charley, and exclaimed:
"You're a fine fellow to think of marrying, aren't you? You've not chopped a
stroke since I left you. I had better have offered this wood to a better man,
even if I had been obliged to look for one not in love. I suppose you would like
me to do all the work for you, after giving you the treesЧ eh?"
Charley's face turned scarlet; he seized his axe and began to make chips fly
rapidly. Champ also attacked a tree, and for a few moments no sound was heard
but that of the axes upon the tree-trunks. Soon Charley wanted to stop, for he
was unaccustomed to the work, and his hands had begun to blister, but after what
Champ had said the young man was resolved to suffer anything rather than remain
under the cruel imputation of being willing that Champ should earn the money on
which the younger man should wed Luce Grew. Suddenly, however, to his great
relief, Champ's tree fell, and the axeman stood aside for a moment.
"I covet your strength," exclaimed Charley; "and I'm going to have it, or
something like it, if hard work will get it for me. A man who is to marry Luce
Grew should have as much muscle as heart."
"Talk is cheap," responded Champ. After this there was nothing for Charley to do
but attack his tree again. Soon, however, the blisters in his right hand began
to break, and the pain was very like torture, so he laid down his axe and began
to blow upon the palms of his hands. Champ approached him, took his hand roughly
and looked at it. Then he looked inquiringly into Charley's face, and said:
"You're more of a man than I thought you. You can't go on with such a hand. Wait
a moment."
He went to a hollow tree, and drew from it a pair of old leather gloves and a
small bottle of oil.