in the carquinez woods-第6部分

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the　continual　intervention　of　the　massive　trunks　made　the　chase
by　no　means　an　easy　one；　and　as　he　could　not　keep　her　always　in
sight　he　was　unable　to　follow　or　understand　the　one　intelligent
direction　which　she　seemed　to　invariably　keep。　　Nevertheless；　he
gained　upon　her　breathlessly；　and；　thanks　to　the　bark…strewn
floor；　noiselessly。　　He　was　near　enough　to　distinguish　and
recognize　the　dress　she　wore；　a　pale　yellow；　that　he　had　admired
when　he　first　saw　her。　　It　was　Nellie；　unmistakably；　if　it　were
she　of　the　brown　duster；　she　had　discarded　it；　perhaps　for
greater　freedom。　　He　was　near　enough　to　call　out　now；　but　a
sudden　nervous　timidity　overcame　him；　his　lips　grew　dry。　　What
should　he　say　to　her？　　How　account　for　his　presence？　　〃Miss
Nellie；　one　moment！〃　he　gasped。　　She　darted　forward　andvanished。

At　this　moment　he　was　not　more　than　a　dozen　yards　from　her。　　He
rushed　to　where　she　had　been　standing；　but　her　disappearance　was
perfect　and　complete。　　He　made　a　circuit　of　the　group　of　trees
within　whose　radius　she　had　last　appeared；　but　there　was　neither
trace　of　her；　nor　a　suggestion　of　her　mode　of　escape。　　He　called
aloud　to　her；　the　vacant　Woods　let　his　helpless　voice　die　in
their　unresponsive　depths。　　He　gazed　into　the　air　and　down　at　the
bark…strewn　carpet　at　his　feet。　　Like　most　of　his　vocation；　he
was　sparing　of　speech；　and　epigrammatic　after　his　fashion。
Comprehending　in　one　swift　but　despairing　flash　of　intelligence
the　existence　of　some　fateful　power　beyond　his　own　weak　endeavor；
he　accepted　its　logical　result　with　characteristic　grimness；
threw　his　hat　upon　the　ground；　put　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　and
said

〃Well；　I'm　dd！〃


CHAPTER　III。


Out　of　compliment　to　Miss　Nellie　Wynn；　Yuba　Bill；　on　reaching
Indian　Spring；　had　made　a　slight　detour　to　enable　him　to
ostentatiously　set　down　his　fair　passenger　before　the　door　of　the
Burnhams。　　When　it　had　closed　on　the　admiring　eyes　of　the
passengers　and　the　coach　had　rattled　away；　Miss　Nellie；　without
any　undue　haste　or　apparent　change　in　her　usual　quiet　demeanor；
managed；　however；　to　dispatch　her　business　promptly；　and；　leaving
an　impression　that　she　would　call　again　before　her　return　to
Excelsior；　parted　from　her　friends　and　slipped　away　through　a
side　street　to　the　General　Furnishing　Store　of　Indian　Spring。　　In
passing　this　emporium；　Miss　Nellie's　quick　eye　had　discovered　a
cheap　brown　linen　duster　hanging　in　its　window。　　To　purchase　it；
and　put　it　over　her　delicate　cambric　dress；　albeit　with　a
shivering　sense　that　she　looked　like　a　badly　folded　brown…paper
parcel；　did　not　take　long。　　As　she　left　the　shop　it　was　with
mixed　emotions　of　chagrin　and　security　that　she　noticed　that　her
passage　through　the　settlement　no　longer　turned　the　heads　of　its
male　inhabitants。　　She　reached　the　outskirts　of　Indian　Spring　and
the　high…road　at　about　the　time　Mr。　Brace　had　begun　his　fruitless
patrol　of　the　main　street。　　Far　in　the　distance　a　faint　olive…
green　table　mountain　seemed　to　rise　abruptly　from　the　plain。　　It
was　the　Carquinez　Woods。　　Gathering　her　spotless　skirts　beneath
her　extemporized　brown　domino；　she　set　out　briskly　towards　them。

But　her　progress　was　scarcely　free　or　exhilarating。　　She　was　not
accustomed　to　walking　in　a　country　where　〃buggy…riding〃　was
considered　the　only　genteel　young…lady…like　mode　of　progression；
and　its　regular　provision　the　expected　courtesy　of　mankind。
Always　fastidiously　booted；　her　low…quartered　shoes　were　charming
to　the　eye；　but　hardly　adapted　to　the　dust　and　inequalities　of
the　highroad。　　It　was　true　that　she　had　thought　of　buying　a
coarser　pair　at　Indian　Spring；　but　once　face　to　face　with　their
uncompromising　ugliness；　she　had　faltered　and　fled。　　The　sun　was
unmistakably　hot；　but　her　parasol　was　too　well　known　and　offered
too　violent　a　contrast　to　the　duster　for　practical　use。　　Once　she
stopped　with　an　exclamation　of　annoyance；　hesitated；　and　looked
back。　　In　half　an　hour　she　had　twice　lost　her　shoe　and　her
temper；　a　pink　flush　took　possession　of　her　cheeks；　and　her　eyes
were　bright　with　suppressed　rage。　　Dust　began　to　form　grimy
circles　around　their　orbits；　with　cat…like　shivers　she　even　felt
it　pervade　the　roots　of　her　blond　hair。　　Gradually　her　breath
grew　more　rapid　and　hysterical；　her　smarting　eyes　became　humid；
and　at　last；　encountering　two　observant　horsemen　in　the　road；　she
turned　and　fled；　until；　reaching　the　wood；　she　began　to　cry。

Nevertheless　she　waited　for　the　two　horsemen　to　pass；　to　satisfy
herself　that　she　was　not　followed；　then　pushed　on　vaguely；　until
she　reached　a　fallen　tree；　where；　with　a　gesture　of　disgust；　she
tore　off　her　hapless　duster　and　flung　it　on　the　ground。　　She　then
sat　down　sobbing；　but　after　a　moment　dried　her　eyes　hurriedly　and
started　to　her　feet。　　A　few　paces　distant；　erect；　noiseless；　with
outstretched　hand；　the　young　solitary　of　the　Carquinez　Woods
advanced　towards　her。　　His　hand　had　almost　touched　hers；　when　he
stopped。

〃What　has　happened？〃　he　asked　gravely。

〃Nothing；〃　she　said；　turning　half　away；　and　searching　the　ground
with　her　eyes；　as　if　she　had　lost　something。　　〃Only　I　must　be
going　back　now。〃

〃You　shall　go　back　at　once；　if　you　wish　it；〃　he　said；　flushing
slightly。　　〃But　you　have　been　crying；　why？〃

Frank　as　Miss　Nellie　wished　to　be；　she　could　not　bring　herself　to
say　that　her　feet　hurt　her；　and　the　dust　and　heat　were　ruining
her　complexion。　　It　was　therefore　with　a　half…confident　belief
that　her　troubles　were　really　of　a　moral　quality　that　she
answered；　〃Nothingnothing；　butbutit's　wrong　to　come　here。〃

〃But　you　did　not　think　it　was　wrong　when　you　agreed　to　come；　at
our　last　meeting；〃　said　the　young　man；　with　that　persistent　logic
which　exasperates　the　inconsequent　feminine　mind。　　〃It　cannot　be
any　more　wrong　to…day。〃

〃But　it　was　not　so　far　off；〃　murmured　the　young　girl；　without
looking　up。

〃Oh；　the　distance　makes　it　more　improper；　then；〃　he　said
abstractedly；　but　after　a　moment's　contemplation　of　her　half…
averted　face；　he　asked　gravely；　〃Has　anyone　talked　to　you　about　me？〃

Ten　minutes　before；　Nellie　had　been　burning　to　unburthen　herself
of　her　father's　warning；　but　now　she　felt　she　would　not。　　〃I　wish
you　wouldn't　call　yourself　Low；〃　she　said　at　last。

〃But　it's　my　name；〃　he　replied　quietly。

〃Nonsense！　　It's　only　a　stupid　translation　of　a　stupid　nickname。
They　might　as　well　call　you　'Water'　at　once。〃

〃But　you　said　you　liked　it。〃

〃Well；　so　I　do。　　But　don't　you　seeIoh　dear！　you　don't
understand。〃

Low　did　not　reply；　but　turned　his　head　with　resigned　gravity
towards　the　deeper　woods。　　Grasping　the　barrel　of　his　rifle　with
his　left　hand；　he　threw　his　right　arm　across　his　left　wrist　and
leaned　slightly　upon　it　with　the　habitual　ease　of　a　Western
hunterdoubly　picturesque　in　his　own　lithe；　youthful　symmetry。
Miss　Nellie　looked　at　him　from　under　her　eyelids；　and　then　half
defiantly　raised　her　head　and　her　dark　lashes。　　Gradually　an
almost　magical　change　came　over　her　features；　her　eyes　grew
larger　and　more　and　more　yearning；　until　they　seemed　to　draw　and
absorb　in　their　liquid　depths　the　figure　of　the　young　man　before
her；　her　cold　face　broke　into　an　ecstasy　of　light　and　color；　her
humid　lips　parted　in　a　bright；　welcoming　smile；　until；　with　an
irresistible　impulse；　she　arose；　and　throwing　back　her　head
stretched　towards　him　two　hands　full　of　vague　and　trembling
passion。

In　another　moment　he　had　seized　them；　kissed　them；　and；　as　he
drew　her　closer　to　his　embrace；　felt　them　tighten　around　his
neck。　　〃But　what　name　do　you　wish　to　call　me？〃　he　asked；　looking
down　into　her　eyes。

Miss　Nellie　murmured　something　confidentially　to　the　third　button
of　his　hunting　shirt。　　〃But　that；〃　he　replied；　with　a　smile；
〃THAT　wouldn't　be　any　more　practical；　and　you　wouldn't　want
others　to　call　me　dar〃　　Her　fingers　loosened　around　his　neck；
she　drew　her　head　back；　and　a　singular　expression　passed　over　her
face；　which　to　any　calmer　observer　than　a　lover　would　have
seemed；　however；　to　indicate　more　curiosity　than　jealousy。

〃Who　else　DOES　call　you　so？〃　she　added　earnestly。　　〃How　many；　for
instance？〃

Low's　reply　was　addressed　not　to　her　ear；　but　her　lips。　　She　did
not　avoid　it；　but　added；　〃And　do　you　kiss　them　all　like　that？〃
Taking　him　by　the　shoulders；　she　held　him　a　little　way　from　her；
and　gazed　at　him　from　head　to　foot。　　Then　drawing　him　again　to
her　embrace；　she　said；　〃I　don't　care；　at　least　no　woman　has
kissed　you　like　that。〃　　Happy；　dazzled；　and　embarrassed；　he　was
beginning　to　stammer　the　truthful　protestation　that　rose　to　his
lips；　but　she　stopped　him：　〃No；　don't　protest！　say　nothing！　　Let
ME　love　YOUthat　is　all。　　It　is　enough。〃　　He　would　have　caught
her　in　his　arms　again；　but　she　drew　back。　　〃We　are　near　the
road；〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃Come！　　You　promised　to　show　me　where
you　camped。　　Let　US　make　the　most　of　our　holiday。　　In　an　hour　I
must　leave　the　woods。〃

〃But　I　shall　accompany　you；　dearest。〃

〃No；　I　must　go　as　I　camealone。〃

〃But　Nellie〃

〃I　tell　you　no；〃　she　said；　with　an　almost　harsh　practical
decision；　incompatible　with　her　previous　abandonment。　　〃We　might
be　seen　together。〃

〃Well；　suppose　we　are；　we　must　be　seen　together　eventually；〃　he
remonstrated。

The　young　girl　made　an　involuntary　gesture　of　impatient　negation；
but　checked　herself。　　〃Don't　let　us　talk　of　that　now。　　Come；
while　I　am　here　under　your　own　roof〃　she　pointed　to　the　high
interlaced　boughs　above　them〃you　must　be　hospitable。　　Show　me
your　home；　tell　me；　isn't　it　a　little　gloomy　sometimes？〃

〃It　never　has　been；　I　never　thought　it　WOULD　be　until　the　moment
you　leave　it　to…day。〃

She　pressed　his　hand　briefly　and　in　a　half…perfunctory　way；　as　if
her　vanity　had　accepted　and　dismissed　the　compliment。　　〃Take　me
somewhere；〃　she　said　inquisitively；　〃where　you　stay　most；　I　do
not　seem　to　see　you　HERE；〃　she　added；　looking　around　her　with　a
slight　shiver。　　〃It　is　so　big　and　so　high。　　Have　you　no　place
where　you　eat　and　rest　and　sleep？〃

〃Except　in　the　rainy　season；　I　camp　all　over　the　placeat　any
spot　where　I　may　have　been　shooting　or　collecting。〃

〃Collecting？〃　queried　Nellie。

〃Yes；　with　the　herbarium；　you　know。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Nellie　dubiously。　　〃But　you　to