on the frontier-第13部分

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began　to　readjust　the　scant　furniture。　　She　was　a　little

discomposed　at　first　at　the　absence　of　bolts；　locks；　and　even

window…fastenings　until　assured；　by　Concha's　evident　inability　to

comprehend　her　concern；　that　they　were　quite　unknown　at　Los

Cuervos。　　Her　slight　knowledge　of　Spanish　was　barely　sufficient　to

make　her　wants　known；　so　that　the　relief　of　conversation　with　her

only　companion　was　debarred　her；　and　she　was　obliged　to　content

herself　with　the　sapless；　crackling　smiles　and　withered

genuflexions　that　the　old　woman　dropped　like　dead　leaves　in　her

path。　　It　was　staring　noon　when；　the　house　singing　like　an　empty

shell　in　the　monotonous　wind；　she　felt　she　could　stand　the　solitude

no　longer；　and；　crossing　the　glaring　patio　and　whistling　corridor；

made　her　way　to　the　open　gateway。



But　the　view　without　seemed　to　intensify　her　desolation。　　The　broad

expanse　of　the　shadowless　plain　reached　apparently　to　the　Coast

Range；　trackless　and　unbroken　save　by　one　or　two　clusters　of

dwarfed　oaks；　which　at　that　distance　were　but　mossy　excrescences　on

the　surface；　barely　raised　above　the　dead　level。　　On　the　other　side

the　marsh　took　up　the　monotony　and　carried　it；　scarcely　interrupted

by　undefined　water…courses；　to　the　faintly　marked　out　horizon　line

of　the　remote　bay。　　Scattered　and　apparently　motionless　black　spots

on　the　meadows　that　gave　a　dreary　significance　to　the　title　of　〃the

Crows〃　which　the　rancho　bore；　and　sudden　gray　clouds　of　sand…pipers

on　the　marshes；　that　rose　and　vanished　down　the　wind；　were　the　only

signs　of　life。　　Even　the　white　sail　of　the　early　morning　was　gone。



She　stood　there　until　the　aching　of　her　straining　eyes　and　the

stiffening　of　her　limbs　in　the　cold　wind　compelled　her　to　seek　the

sheltered　warmth　of　the　courtyard。　　Here　she　endeavored　to　make

friends　with　a　bright…eyed　lizard；　who　was　sunning　himself　in　the

corridor；　a　graceful　little　creature　in　blue　and　gold；　from　whom

she　felt　at　other　times　she　might　have　fled；　but　whose　beauty　and

harmlessness　solitude　had　made　known　to　her。　　With　misplaced

kindness　she　tempted　it　with　bread…crumbs；　with　no　other　effect

than　to　stiffen　it　into　stony　astonishment。　　She　wondered　if　she

should　become　like　the　prisoners　she　had　read　of　in　books；　who

poured　out　their　solitary　affections　on　noisome　creatures；　and　she

regretted　even　the　mustang；　which　with　the　buggy　had　disappeared

under　the　charge　of　some　unknown　retainer　on　her　arrival。　　Was　she

not　a　prisoner？　　The　shutterless　windows；　yawning　doors；　and　open

gate　refuted　her　suggestion；　but　the　encompassing　solitude　and

trackless　waste　still　held　her　captive。　　Poindexter　had　told　her　it

was　four　miles　to　the　shanty；　she　might　walk　there。　　Why　had　she

given　her　word　that　she　would　remain　at　the　rancho　until　he

returned？



The　long　day　crept　monotonously　away；　and　she　welcomed　the　night

which　shut　out　the　dreary　prospect。　　But　it　brought　no　cessation　of

the　harassing　wind　without；　nor　surcease　of　the　nervous　irritation

its　perpetual　and　even　activity　wrought　upon　her。　　It　haunted　her

pillow　even　in　her　exhausted　sleep；　and　seemed　to　impatiently

beckon　her　to　rise　and　follow　it。　　It　brought　her　feverish　dreams

of　her　husband；　footsore　and　weary；　staggering　forward　under　its

pitiless　lash　and　clamorous　outcry；　she　would　have　gone　to　his

assistance；　but　when　she　reached　his　side　and　held　out　her　arms　to

him　it　hurried　her　past　with　merciless　power；　and；　bearing　her

away；　left　him　hopelessly　behind。　　It　was　broad　day　when　she　awoke。

The　usual　night　showers　of　the　waning　rainy　season　had　left　no

trace　in　sky　or　meadow；　the　fervid　morning　sun　had　already　dried

the　patio；　only　the　restless；　harrying　wind　remained。



Mrs。　Tucker　arose　with　a　resolve。　　She　had　learned　from　Concha　on

the　previous　evening　that　a　part　of　the　shanty　was　used　as　a　tienda

or　shop　for　the　laborers　and　rancheros。　　Under　the　necessity　of

purchasing　some　articles；　she　would　go　there　and　for　a　moment

mingle　with　those　people；　who　would　not　recognize　her。　　Even　if

they　did；　her　instinct　told　her　it　would　be　less　to　be　feared　than

the　hopeless　uncertainty　of　another　day。　　As　she　left　the　house　the

wind　seemed　to　seize　her　as　in　her　dream；　and　hurry　her　along　with

it；　until　in　a　few　moments　the　walls　of　the　low　casa　sank　into　the

earth　again　and　she　was　alone；　but　for　the　breeze　on　the　solitary

plain。　　The　level　distance　glittered　in　the　sharp　light；　a　few

crows　with　slant　wings　dipped　and　ran　down　the　wind　before　her；　and

a　passing　gleam　on　the　marsh　was　explained　by　the　far…off　cry　of　a

curlew。



She　had　walked　for　an　hour；　upheld　by　the　stimulus　of　light　and

morning　air；　when　the　cluster　of　scrub　oaks；　which　was　her

destination；　opened　enough　to　show　two　rambling　sheds；　before　one

of　which　was　a　wooden　platform　containing　a　few　barrels　and　bones。

As　she　approached　nearer；　she　could　see　that　one　or　two　horses　were

tethered　under　the　trees；　that　their　riders　were　lounging　by　a

horse…trough；　and　that　over　an　open　door　the　word　Tienda　was　rudely

painted　on　a　board；　and　as　rudely　illustrated　by　the　wares

displayed　at　door　and　window。　　Accustomed　as　she　was　to　the　poverty

of　frontier　architecture；　even　the　crumbling　walls　of　the　old

hacienda　she　had　just　left　seemed　picturesque　to　the　rigid　angles

of　the　thin；　blank；　unpainted　shell　before　her。　　One　of　the

loungers；　who　was　reading　a　newspaper　aloud　as　she　advanced；　put　it

aside　and　stared　at　her；　there　was　an　evident　commotion　in　the　shop

as　she　stepped　upon　the　platform；　and　when　she　entered；　with

breathless　lips　and　beating　heart；　she　found　herself　the　object　of

a　dozen　curious　eyes。　　Her　quick　pride　resented　the　scrutiny　and

recalled　her　courage；　and　it　was　with　a　slight　coldness　in　her

usual　lazy　indifference　that　she　leaned　over　the　counter　and　asked

for　the　articles　she　wanted。



The　request　was　followed　by　a　dead　silence。　　Mrs。　Tucker　repeated

it　with　some　hauteur。



〃I　reckon　you　don't　seem　to　know　this　store　is　in　the　hands　of　the

sheriff；〃　said　one　of　the　loungers。



Mrs。　Tucker　was　not　aware　of　it。



〃Well；　I　don't　know　any　one　who's　a　better　right　to　know　than

Spence　Tucker's　wife；〃　said　another　with　a　coarse　laugh。　　The　laugh

was　echoed　by　the　others。　　Mrs。　Tucker　saw　the　pit　into　which　she

had　deliberately　walked；　but　did　not　flinch。



〃Is　there　any　one　to　serve　here？〃　she　asked；　turning　her　clear　eyes

full　upon　the　bystanders。



〃You'd　better　ask　the　sheriff。　　He　was　the　last　one　to　SARVE　here。

He　sarved　an　attachment；〃　replied　the　inevitable　humorist　of　all

Californian　assemblages。



〃Is　he　here？〃　asked　Mrs。　Tucker；　disregarding　the　renewed　laughter

which　followed　this　subtle　witticism。



The　loungers　at　the　door　made　way　for　one　of　their　party；　who　was

half　dragged；　half　pushed　into　the　shop。　　〃Here　he　is；〃　said　half　a

dozen　eager　voices；　in　the　fond　belief　that　his　presence　might

impart　additional　humor　to　the　situation。　　He　cast　a　deprecating

glance　at　Mrs。　Tucker　and　said；　〃It's　so；　madam！　　This　yer　place　is

attached；　but　if　there's　anything　you're　wanting；　why　I　reckon；

boys；〃he　turned　half　appealingly　to　the　crowd；〃we　could　oblige

a　lady。〃　　There　was　a　vague　sound　of　angry　opposition　and

remonstrance　from　the　back　door　of　the　shop；　but　the　majority；

partly　overcome　by　Mrs。　Tucker's　beauty；　assented。　　〃Only；〃

continued　the　officer　explanatorily；　〃ez　these　yer　goods　are　in　the

hands　of　the　creditors；　they　ought　to　be　represented　by　an

equivalent　in　money。　　If　you're　expecting　they　should　be　charged〃



〃But　I　wish　to　PAY　for　them；〃　interrupted　Mrs。　Tucker；　with　a

slight　flush　of　indignation；　〃I　have　the　money。〃



〃Oh；　I　bet　you　have！〃　screamed　a　voice；　as；　overturning　all

opposition；　the　malcontent　at　the　back　door；　in　the　shape　of　an

infuriated　woman；　forced　her　way　into　the　shop。　　〃I'll　bet　you　have

the　money！　　Look　at　her；　boys！　　Look　at　the　wife　of　the　thief；　with

the　stolen　money　in　diamonds　in　her　ears　and　rings　on　her　fingers。

SHE'S　got　money　if　WE'VE　none。　　SHE　can　pay　for　what　she　fancies；

if　we　haven't　a　cent　to　redeem　the　bed　that's　stolen　from　under　us。

Oh　yes；　buy　it　all；　Mrs。　Spencer　Tucker！　buy　the　whole　shop；　Mrs。

Spencer　Tucker；　do　you　hear？　　And　if　you　ain't　satisfied　then；　buy

my　clothes；　my　wedding　ring；　the　only　things　your　husband　hasn't

stolen。〃



〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　said　Mrs。　Tucker　coldly；　turning　towards

the　door。　　But　with　a　flying　leap　across　the　counter　her　relentless

adversary　stood　between　her　and　retreat。



〃You　don't　understand！　　Perhaps　you　don't　understand　that　your

husband　not　only　stole　the　hard　labor　of　these　men；　but　even　the

little　money　they　brought　here　and　trusted　to　his　thieving　hands。

Perhaps　you　don't　know　that　he　stole　my　husband's　hard　earnings；

mortgaged　these　very　goods　you　want　to　buy；　and　that　he　is　to…day　a

convicted　thief；　a　forger；　and　a　runaway　coward。　　Perhaps；　if　you

can't　understand　ME；　you　can　read　the　newspaper。　　Look！〃　　She

exultingly　opened　the　paper　the　sheriff　had　been　reading　aloud；　and

pointed　to　the　displayed　headlines。　　〃Look！　there　are　the　very

words；　'Forgery；　Swindling；　Embezzlement！'　　Do　you　see？　　And

perhaps　you　can't　understand　this。　　Look！　　'Shameful　Flight。

Abandons　his　Wife。　　Runs　off　with　a　Notorious'〃



〃Easy；　old　gal；　easy　now。　　Dn　it！　　Will　you　dry　up？　　I　say。

STOP！〃



It　was　too　late！



The　sheriff　had　dashed　the　paper　from　the　woman's　hand；　but　not

until　Mrs。　Tucker　had　read　a　single　line；　a　line　such　as　she　had

sometimes　turned　from　with　weary　scorn　in　her　careless　perusal　of

the　daily　shameful　chronicle　of　domestic　infelicity。　　Then　she　had

coldly　wondered　if　there　could　be　any　such　men　and　women；　and　now！

The　crowd　fell　back　before　her；　even　the　virago　was　silenced　as　she

looked　at　her　face。　　The　humorist's　face　was　as　white；　but　not　as

immobile；　as　he　gasped；　〃Christ！　if　I　don't　believe　she　knew

nothin'