susy, a story of the plains-第6部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



more　peaceful…like　in　style。〃



Perhaps　owing　to　the　criticism　of　the　farmer；　perhaps　from　some

still　lurking　suspicion　of　being　overheard　by　eavesdroppers；　or

possibly　from　a　humane　desire　to　relieve　the　strained　apprehension

of　the　women；　Red　Jim；　as　the　farmer　disappeared　to　rejoin　the

stranger；　again　dropped　into　a　lighter　and　gentler　vein　of

reminiscence。　　He　told　them　how；　when　a　mere　boy；　he　had　been　lost

from　an　emigrant　train　in　company　with　a　little　girl　some　years　his

junior。　　How；　when　they　found　themselves　alone　on　the　desolate

plain；　with　the　vanished　train　beyond　their　reach；　he　endeavored　to

keep　the　child　from　a　knowledge　of　the　real　danger　of　their

position；　and　to　soothe　and　comfort　her。　　How　he　carried　her　on　his

back；　until；　exhausted；　he　sank　in　a　heap　of　sage…brush。　　How　he　was

surrounded　by　Indians；　who；　however；　never　suspected　his　hiding…

place；　and　how　he　remained　motionless　and　breathless　with　the

sleeping　child　for　three　hours；　until　they　departed。　　How；　at　the

last　moment；　he　had　perceived　a　train　in　the　distance；　and　had

staggered　with　her　thither；　although　shot　at　and　wounded　by　the

trainmen　in　the　belief　that　he　was　an　Indian。　　How　it　was　afterwards

discovered　that　the　child　was　the　long…lost　daughter　of　a

millionaire；　how　he　had　resolutely　refused　any　gratuity　for　saving

her；　and　she　was　now　a　peerless　young　heiress；　famous　in　California。

Whether　this　lighter　tone　of　narrative　suited　him　better；　or　whether

the　active　feminine　sympathy　of　his　auditors　helped　him　along；

certain　it　was　that　his　story　was　more　coherent　and　intelligible　and

his　voice　less　hoarse　and　constrained　than　in　his　previous

belligerent　reminiscences；　his　expression　changed；　and　even　his

features　worked　into　something　like　gentler　emotion。　　The　bright

eyes　of　Phoebe；　fastened　upon　him；　turned　dim　with　a　faint　moisture；

and　her　pale　cheek　took　upon　itself　a　little　color。　　The　mother；

after　interjecting　〃Du　tell；〃　and　〃I　wanter　know；〃　remained　open…

mouthed；　staring　at　her　visitor。　　And　in　the　silence　that　followed；

a　pleasant；　but　somewhat　melancholy　voice　came　from　the　open　door。



〃I　beg　your　pardon；　but　I　thought　I　couldn’t　be　mistaken。　　It　IS　my

old　friend；　Jim　Hooker！〃



Everybody　started。　　Red　Jim　stumbled　to　his　feet　with　an

inarticulate　and　hysteric　exclamation。　　Yet　the　apparition　that　now

stood　in　the　doorway　was　far　from　being　terrifying　or　discomposing。

It　was　evidently　the　stranger；a　slender；　elegantly…knit　figure；

whose　upper　lip　was　faintly　shadowed　by　a　soft；　dark　mustache

indicating　early　manhood；　and　whose　unstudied　ease　in　his　well…

fitting　garments　bespoke　the　dweller　of　cities。　　Good…looking　and

well…dressed；　without　the　consciousness　of　being　either；　self…

possessed　through　easy　circumstances；　yet　without　self…assertion；

courteous　by　nature　and　instinct　as　well　as　from　an　experience　of

granting　favors；　he　might　have　been　a　welcome　addition　to　even　a

more　critical　company。　　But　Red　Jim；　hurriedly　seizing　his

outstretched　hand；　instantly　dragged　him　away　from　the　doorway　into

the　road　and　out　of　hearing　of　his　audience。



〃Did　you　hear　what　I　was　saying？〃　he　asked　hoarsely。



〃Well；　yes；I　think　so；〃　returned　the　stranger；　with　a　quiet　smile。



〃Ye　ain't　goin'　back　on　me；　Clarence；　are　ye；ain't　goin'　to　gimme

away　afore　them；　old　pard；　are　ye？〃　said　Jim；　with　a　sudden　change

to　almost　pathetic　pleading。



〃No；〃　returned　the　stranger；　smiling。　　〃And　certainly　not　before

that　interested　young　lady；　Jim。　　But　stop。　　Let　me　look　at　you。〃



He　held　out　both　hands；　took　Jim's；　spread　them　apart　for　a　moment

with　a　boyish　gesture；　and；　looking　in　his　face；　said　half

mischievously；　half　sadly；　〃Yes；　it's　the　same　old　Jim　Hooker；

unchanged。〃



〃But　YOU'RE　changed；reg'lar　war　paint；　Big　Injin　style！〃　said

Hooker；　looking　up　at　him　with　an　awkward　mingling　of　admiration　and

envy。　　〃Heard　you　struck　it　rich　with　the　old　man；　and　was　Mister

Brant　now！〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Clarence　gently；　yet　with　a　smile　that　had　not　only　a

tinge　of　weariness　but　even　of　sadness　in　it。



Unfortunately；　the　act；　which　was　quite　natural　to　Clarence's

sensitiveness；　and　indeed　partly　sprang　from　some　concern　in　his　old

companion's　fortunes；　translated　itself　by　a　very　human　process　to

Hooker's　consciousness　as　a　piece　of　rank　affectation。　　HE　would

have　been　exalted　and　exultant　in　Clarence's　place；　consequently　any

other　exhibition　was　only　〃airs。〃　　Nevertheless；　at　the　present

moment　Clarence　was　to　be　placated。



〃You　didn't　mind　my　telling　that　story　about　your　savin'　Susy　as　my

own；　did　ye？〃　he　said；　with　a　hasty　glance　over　his　shoulder。　　〃I

only　did　it　to　fool　the　old　man　and　women…folks；　and　make　talk。　　You

won't　blow　on　me？　　Ye　ain't　mad　about　it？〃



It　had　crossed　Clarence's　memory　that　when　they　were　both　younger

Jim　Hooker　had　once　not　only　borrowed　his　story；　but　his　name　and

personality　as　well。　　Yet　in　his　loyalty　to　old　memories　there　was

mingled　no　resentment　for　past　injury。　　〃Of　course　not；〃　he　said；

with　a　smile　that　was；　however；　still　thoughtful。　　〃Why　should　I？

Only　I　ought　to　tell　you　that　Susy　Peyton　is　living　with　her　adopted

parents　not　ten　miles　from　here；　and　it　might　reach　their　ears。

She's　quite　a　young　lady　now；　and　if　I　wouldn't　tell　her　story　to

strangers；　I　don't　think　YOU　ought　to；　Jim。〃



He　said　this　so　pleasantly　that　even　the　skeptical　Jim　forgot　what

he　believed　were　the　〃airs　and　graces〃　of　self…abnegation；　and　said；

〃Let's　go　inside；　and　I'll　introduce　you；〃　and　turned　to　the　house。

But　Clarence　Brant　drew　back。　　〃I'm　going　on　as　soon　as　my　horse　is

fed；　for　I'm　on　a　visit　to　Peyton；　and　I　intend　to　push　as　far　as

Santa　Inez　still　to…night。　　I　want　to　talk　with　you　about　yourself；

Jim；〃　he　added　gently；　〃your　prospects　and　your　future。　　I　heard；〃

he　went　on　hesitatingly；　〃that　you　wereat　workin　a　restaurant　in

San　Francisco。　　I'm　glad　to　see　that　you　are　at　least　your　own

master　here；〃he　glanced　at　the　wagon。　　〃You　are　selling　things；　I

suppose？　　For　yourself；　or　another？　　Is　that　team　yours？　　Come；〃　he

added；　still　pleasantly；　but　in　an　older　and　graver　voice；　with

perhaps　the　least　touch　of　experienced　authority；　〃be　frank；　Jim。

Which　is　it？　　Never　mind　what　things　you've　told　IN　THERE；　tell　ME

the　truth　about　yourself。　　Can　I　help　you　in　any　way？　　Believe　me；　I

should　like　to。　　We　have　been　old　friends；　whatever　difference　in

our　luck；　I　am　yours　still。〃



Thus　adjured；　the　redoubtable　Jim；　in　a　hoarse　whisper；　with　a

furtive　eye　on　the　house；　admitted　that　he　was　traveling　for　an

itinerant　peddler；　whom　he　expected　to　join　later　in　the　settlement；

that　he　had　his　own　methods　of　disposing　of　his　wares；　and　（darkly）

that　his　proprietor　and　the　world　generally　had　better　not　interfere

with　him；　that　（with　a　return　to　more　confidential　lightness）　he　had

already　〃worked　the　Wild　West　Injin〃　business　so　successfully　as　to

dispose　of　his　wares；　particularly　in　yonder　house；　and　might　do

even　more　if　not　prematurely　and　wantonly　〃blown　upon；〃　〃gone　back

on；〃　or　〃given　away。〃



〃But　wouldn't　you　like　to　settle　down　on　some　bit　of　land　like　this；

and　improve　it　for　yourself？〃　said　Clarence。　　〃All　these　valley

terraces　are　bound　to　rise　in　value；　and　meantime　you　would　be

independent。　　It　could　be　managed；　Jim。　　I　think　I　could　arrange　it

for　you；〃　he　went　on；　with　a　slight　glow　of　youthful　enthusiasm。

〃Write　to　me　at　Peyton's　ranch；　and　I'll　see　you　when　I　come　back；

and　we'll　hunt　up　something　for　you　together。〃　　As　Jim　received　the

proposition　with　a　kind　of　gloomy　embarrassment；　he　added　lightly；

with　a　glance　at　the　farmhouse；　〃It　might　be　near　HERE；　you　know；

and　you'd　have　pleasant　neighbors；　and　even　eager　listeners　to　your

old　adventures。〃



〃You'd　better　come　in　a　minit　before　you　go；〃　said　Jim；　clumsily

evading　a　direct　reply。　　Clarence　hesitated　a　moment；　and　then

yielded。　　For　an　equal　moment　Jim　Hooker　was　torn　between　secret

jealousy　of　his　old　comrade's　graces　and　a　desire　to　present　them　as

familiar　associations　of　his　own。　　But　his　vanity　was　quickly

appeased。



Need　it　be　said　that　the　two　women　received　this　fleck　and　foam　of　a

super…civilization　they　knew　little　of　as　almost　an　impertinence

compared　to　the　rugged；　gloomy；　pathetic；　and　equally　youthful　hero

of　an　adventurous　wilderness　of　which　they　knew　still　less？　　What

availed　the　courtesy　and　gentle　melancholy　of　Clarence　Brant　beside

the　mysterious　gloom　and　dark　savagery　of　Red　Jim？　　Yet　they

received　him　patronizingly；　as　one　who　was；　like　themselves；　an

admirer　of　manly　grace　and　power；　and　the　recipient　of　Jim's

friendship。　　The　farmer　alone　seemed　to　prefer　Clarence；　and　yet　the

latter's　tacit　indorsement　of　Red　Jim；　through　his　evident　previous

intimacy　with　him；　impressed　the　man　in　Jim's　favor。　　All　of　which

Clarence　saw　with　that　sensitive　perception　which　had　given　him　an

early　insight　into　human　weakness；　yet　still　had　never　shaken　his

youthful　optimism。　　He　smiled　a　little　thoughtfully；　but　was　openly

fraternal　to　Jim；　courteous　to　his　host　and　family；　and；　as　he　rode

away　in　the　faint　moonlight；　magnificently　opulent　in　his　largess　to

the　farmer；his　first　and　only　assertion　of　his　position。



The　farmhouse；　straggling　barn；　and　fringe　of　dusty　willows；　the

white　dome　of　the　motionless　wagon；　with　the　hanging　frying　pans　and

kettles　showing　in　the　moonlight　like　black　silhouettes　against　the

staring　canvas；　all　presently　sank　behind　Clarence　like　the　details

of　a　dream；　and　he　was　alone　with　the　moon；　the　hazy　mystery　of　the

level；　grassy　plain；　and　the　monotony　of　the　unending　road。　　As　he

rode　slowly　along　he　thought　of　that　other　dreary　plain；　white　with

alkali　patches　and　brown　with　rings　of　deserted　camp…fires；　known　to

his　boyhood　of　deprivation；　dependency；　danger；　and　adventure；　oddly

enough；　with　a　strange　delight；　and　his　later