brown of calaveras-第3部分

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beyond　the　hill。　　Then　he　looked　up　at　the　firmament；　and　as　he　did

so　a　star　shot　across　the　twinkling　field。　　Presently　another；　and

then　another。　　The　phenomenon　suggested　to　Mr。　Hamlin　a　fresh

augury。　　If　in　another　fifteen　minutes　another　star　should　fall

He　sat　there；　watch　in　hand；　for　twice　that　time；　but　the

phenomenon　was　not　repeated。



The　clock　struck　two；　and　Brown　still　slept。　　Mr。　Hamlin　approached

the　table　and　took　from　his　pocket　a　letter；　which　he　read　by　the

flickering　candlelight。　　It　contained　only　a　single　line；　written

in　pencil；　in　a　woman's　hand：



〃Be　at　the　corral；　with　the　buggy；　at　three。〃



The　sleeper　moved　uneasily；　and　then　awoke。　　〃Are　you　there　Jack？〃



〃Yes。〃



〃Don't　go　yet。　　I　dreamed　just　now；　Jackdreamed　of　old　times。　　I

thought　that　Sue　and　me　was　being　married　agin；　and　that　the

parson；　Jack；　waswho　do　you　think？you！〃



The　gambler　laughed；　and　seated　himself　on　the　bedthe　paper　still

in　his　hand。



〃It's　a　good　sign；　ain't　it？〃　queried　Brown。



〃I　reckon。　　Say；　old　man；　hadn't　you　better　get　up？〃



The　〃old　man；〃　thus　affectionately　appealed　to；　rose；　with　the

assistance　of　Hamlin's　outstretched　hand。



〃Smoke？〃



Brown　mechanically　took　the　proffered　cigar。



〃Light？〃



Jack　had　twisted　the　letter　into　a　spiral；　lit　it；　and　held　it　for

his　companion。　　He　continued　to　hold　it　until　it　was　consumed；　and

dropped　the　fragmenta　fiery　starfrom　the　open　window。　　He

watched　it　as　it　fell；　and　then　returned　to　his　friend。



〃Old　man；〃　he　said；　placing　his　hands　upon　Brown's　shoulders；　〃in

ten　minutes　I'll　be　on　the　road；　and　gone　like　that　spark。　　We

won't　see　each　other　agin；　but；　before　I　go；　take　a　fool's　advice：

sell　out　all　you've　got；　take　your　wife　with　you；　and　quit　the

country。　　It　ain't　no　place　for　you；　nor　her。　　Tell　her　she　must

go；　make　her　go；　if　she　won't。　　Don't　whine　because　you　can't　be　a

saint；　and　she　ain't　an　angel。　　Be　a　manand　treat　her　like　a

woman。　　Don't　be　a　damn　fool。　　Good…by。〃



He　tore　himself　from　Brown's　grasp；　and　leaped　down　the　stairs　like

a　deer。　　At　the　stable　door　he　collared　the　half…sleeping　hostler

and　backed　him　against　the　wall。　　〃Saddle　my　horse　in　two　minutes；

or　I'll〃　　The　ellipsis　was　frightfully　suggestive。



〃The　missis　said　you　was　to　have　the　buggy；〃　stammered　the　man。



〃Damn　the　buggy！〃



The　horse　was　saddled　as　fast　as　the　nervous　hands　of　the　astounded

hostler　could　manipulate　buckle　and　strap。



〃Is　anything　up；　Mr。　Hamlin？〃　said　the　man；　who；　like　all　his

class；　admired　the　elan　of　his　fiery　patron；　and　was　really

concerned　in　his　welfare。



〃Stand　aside！〃



The　man　fell　back。　　With　an　oath；　a　bound；　and　clatter；　Jack　was

into　the　road。　　In　another　moment；　to　the　man's　half…awakened　eyes；

he　was　but　a　moving　cloud　of　dust　in　the　distance；　toward　which　a

star　just　loosed　from　its　brethren　was　trailing　a　stream　of　fire。



But　early　that　morning　the　dwellers　by　the　Wingdam　turnpike；　miles

away；　heard　a　voice；　pure　as　a　skylark抯；　singing　afield。　　They　who

were　asleep　turned　over　on　their　rude　couches　to　dream　of　youth　and

love　and　olden　days。　　Hard…faced　men　and　anxious　gold…seekers；

already　at　work；　ceased　their　labors　and　leaned　upon　their　picks；

to　listen　to　a　romantic　vagabond　ambling　away　against　the　rosy

sunrise。