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
days--kept 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, mysterious--as 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.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173