tales of trail and town-第3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！



voice　grew　quite　high；　and　her　dark　cheek　glowed　with　some　new…

found　emotion。



Astounded　as　he　was；　Peter　succumbed。　　It　was　better　that　she

should　indulge　her　astounding　caprice　under　his　roof　than

elsewhere。　　It　would　not　do　for　the　sister　of　an　Atherly　to　provoke

scandal。　　He　gave　entertainments；　picnics；　and　parties；　and　〃Jinny〃

Atherly　plunged　into　these　mild　festivities　with　the　enthusiasm　of

a　schoolgirl。　　She　not　only　could　dance　with　feverish　energy　all

night；　but　next　day　could　mount　a　horseshe　was　a　fearless　rider

and　lead　the　most　accomplished　horsemen。　　She　was　a　good　shot；　she

walked　with　the　untiring　foot　of　a　coyote；　she　threaded　the　woods

with　the　instinct　of　a　pioneer。　　Peter　regarded　her　with　a　singular

mingling　of　astonishment　and　fear。　　Surely　she　had　not　learned　this

at　school！　　These　were　not　the　teachings　nor　the　sports　of　the　good

sisters！　　He　once　dared　to　interrogate　her　regarding　this　change　in

her　habits。　　〃I　always　FELT　like　it；〃　she　answered　quickly；　〃but　I

kept　it　down。　　I　used　sometimes　to　feel　that　I　couldn't　stand　it

any　longer；　but　must　rush　out　and　do　something；〃　she　said

passionately；　〃but；〃　she　went　on　with　furtive　eyes；　and　a　sudden

wild　timidity　like　that　of　a　fawn；　〃I　was　afraid！　　I　was　afraid　IT

WAS　LIKE　MOTHER！　　It　seemed　to　me　to　be　HER　blood　that　was　rising

in　me；　and　I　kept　it　down；I　didn't　want　to　be　like　her；and　I

prayed　and　struggled　against　it。　　Did　you；〃　she　said；　suddenly

grasping　his　hand；　〃ever　feel　like　that？〃



But　Peter　never　had。　　His　melancholy　faith　in　his　father's　race　had

left　no　thought　of　his　mother's　blood　mingling　with　it。　　〃But；〃　he

said　gravely；　〃believing　this；　why　did　you　change？〃



〃Because　I　could　hold　out　no　longer。　　I　should　have　gone　crazy。

Times　I　wanted　to　take　some　of　those　meek　nuns；　some　of　those

white…faced　pupils　with　their　blue　eyes　and　wavy　flaxen　hair；　and

strangle　them。　　I　couldn't　strive　and　pray　and　struggle　any　longer

THERE；　and　so　I　came　here　to　let　myself　out！　　I　suppose　when　I　get

marriedand　I　ought　to；　with　my　moneyit　may　change　me！　　You

don't　suppose；〃　she　said；　with　a　return　of　her　wild…animal…like

timidity；　〃it　is　anything　that　was　in　FATHER；　in　those　ATHERLYS；

do　you？〃



But　Peter　had　no　idea　of　anything　but　virtue　in　the　Atherly　blood；

he　had　heard　that　the　upper　class　of　Europeans　were　fond　of　field

sports　and　of　hunting；　it　was　odd　that　his　sister　should　inherit

this　propensity　and　not　he。　　He　regarded　her　more　kindly　for　this

evidence　of　race。　　〃You　think　of　getting　married？〃　he　said　more

gently；　yet　with　a　certain　brotherly　doubt　that　any　man　could　like

her　enough；　even　with　her　money。　　〃Is　there　any　one　here　would

suit　you？〃　he　added　diplomatically。



〃NoI　hate　them　all！〃　she　burst　out。　　〃There　isn't　one　I　don't

despise　for　his　sickening；　foppish；　womanish　airs。〃



Nevertheless；　it　was　quite　evident　that　some　of　the　men　were

attracted　by　her　singular　originality　and　a　certain　good

comradeship　in　her　ways。　　And　it　was　on　one　of　their　riding

excursions　that　Peter　noticed　that　she　was　singled　out　by　a　good…

looking；　blond…haired　young　lawyer　of　the　town　for　his　especial

attentions。　　As　the　cavalcade　straggled　in　climbing　the　mountain；

the　young　fellow　rode　close　to　her　saddle…bow；　and　as　the　distance

lengthened　between　the　other　stragglers；　they　at　last　were　quite

alone。　　When　the　trail　became　more　densely　wooded；　Peter　quite　lost

sight　of　them。　　But　when；　a　few　moments　later；　having　lost　the

trail　himself；　they　again　appeared　in　the　distance　before　him；　he

was　so　amazed　that　he　unconsciously　halted。　　For　the　two　horses

were　walking　side　by　side；　and　the　stranger's　arm　was　round　his

sister's　waist。



Had　Peter　any　sense　of　humor　he　might　have　smiled　at　this　weakness

in　his　Amazonian　sister；　but　he　saw　only　the　serious；　practical

side　of　the　situation；　with；　of　course；　its　inevitable　relation　to

his　one　controlling　idea。　　The　young　man　was　in　good　practice；　and

would　have　made　an　eligible　husband　to　any　one　else。　　But　was　he

fit　to　mate　with　an　Atherly？　　What　would　those　as　yet　unknown　and

powerful　relatives　say　to　it？　　At　the　same　time　he　could　not　help

knowing　that　〃Jinny；〃　in　the　eccentricities　of　her　virgin

spinsterhood；　might　be　equally　objectionable　to　them；　as　she

certainly　was　a　severe　trial　to　him　here。　　If　she　were　off　his

hands　he　might　be　able　to　prosecute　his　search　for　his　relatives

with　more　freedom。　　After　all；　there　were　mesalliances　in　all

families；　and　being　a　woman　she　was　not　in　the　direct　line。

Instead；　therefore；　of　spurring　forward　to　join　them；　he　lingered　a

little　until　they　passed　out　of　sight；　and　until　he　was　joined　by　a

companion　from　behind。　　Him；　too；　he　purposely　delayed。　　They　were

walking　slowly；　breathing　their　mustangs；　when　his　companion

suddenly　uttered　a　cry　of　alarm；　and　sprang　from　his　horse。　　For　on

the　trail　before　them　lay　the　young　lawyer　quite　unconscious；　with

his　riderless　steed　nipping　the　young　leaves　of　the　underbrush。　　He

was　evidently　stunned　by　a　fall；　although　across　his　face　was　a

livid　welt　which　might　have　been　caused　by　collision　with　the　small

elastic　limb　of　a　sapling；　or　a　blow　from　a　riding…whip；　happily

the　last　idea　was　only　in　Peter's　mind。　　As　they　lifted　him　up　he

came　slowly　to　consciousness。　　He　was　bewildered　and　dazed　at

first；　but　as　he　began　to　speak　the　color　came　back　freshly　to　his

face。　　He　could　not　conceive；　he　stammered；　what　had　happened。　　He

was　riding　with　Miss　Atherly；　and　he　supposed　his　horse　had　slipped

upon　some　withered　pine　needles　and　thrown　him！　　A　spasm　of　pain

crossed　his　face　suddenly；　and　he　lifted　his　hand　to　the　top　of　his

head。　　Was　he　hurt　THERE？　　No；　but　perhaps　his　hair；　which　was

flowing　and　curly；　had　caught　in　the　brancheslike　Absalom's！　　He

tried　to　smile；　and　even　begged　them　to　assist　him　to　his　horse

that　he　might　follow　his　fair　companion；　who　would　be　wondering

where　he　was；　but　Peter；　satisfied　that　he　had　received　no　serious

injury；　hurriedly　enjoined　him　to　stay；　while　he　himself　would

follow　his　sister。　　Putting　spurs　to　his　horse；　he　succeeded；　in

spite　of　the　slippery　trail；　in　overtaking　her　near　the　summit。　　At

the　sound　of　his　horse's　hoofs　she　wheeled　quickly；　came　dashing

furiously　towards　him；　and　only　pulled　up　at　the　sound　of　his

voice。　　But　she　had　not　time　to　change　her　first　attitude　and

expression；　which　was　something　which　perplexed　and　alarmed　him。

Her　long　lithe　figure　was　half　crouching；　half　clinging　to　the

horse's　back；　her　loosened　hair　flying　over　her　shoulders；　her　dark

eyes　gleaming　with　an　odd　nymph…like　mischief。　　Her　white　teeth

flashed　as　she　recognized　him；　but　her　laugh　was　still　mocking　and

uncanny。　　He　took　refuge　in　indignation。



〃What　has　happened？〃　he　said　sharply。



〃The　fool　tried　to　kiss　me！〃　she　said　simply。　　〃And　IIlet　out

at　himlike　mother！〃



Nevertheless；　she　gave　him　one　of　those　shy；　timid　glances　he　had

noticed　before；　and　began　coiling　something　around　her　fingers；

with　a　suggestion　of　coy　embarrassment；　indescribably　inconsistent

with　her　previous　masculine　independence。



〃You　might　have　killed　him；〃　said　Peter　angrily。



〃Perhaps　I　might！　　OUGHT　I　have　killed　him；　Peter？〃　she　said

anxiously；　yet　with　the　same　winning；　timid　smile。　　If　she　had　not

been　his　sister；　he　would　have　thought　her　quite　handsome。



〃As　it　is；〃　he　said　impetuously；　〃you　have　made　a　frightful　scandal

here。〃



〃HE　won't　say　anything　about　itwill　he？〃　she　inquired　shyly；

still　twisting　the　something　around　her　finger。



Peter　did　not　reply；　perhaps　the　young　lawyer　really　loved　her　and

would　keep　her　secret！　　But　he　was　vexed；　and　there　was　something

maniacal　in　her　twisting　fingers。　　〃What　have　you　got　there？〃　he

said　sharply。



She　shook　the　object　in　the　air　before　her　with　a　laugh。　　〃Only　a

lock　of　his　hair；〃　she　said　gayly；　〃but　I　didn't　CUT　it　off！〃



〃Throw　it　away；　and　come　here！〃　he　said　angrily。



But　she　only　tucked　the　little　blond　curl　into　her　waist　belt　and

shook　her　head。　　He　urged　his　horse　forward；　but　she　turned　and

fled；　laughing　as　he　pursued　her。　　Being　the　better　rider　she　could

easily　evade　him　whenever　he　got　too　near；　and　in　this　way　they

eventually　reached　the　town　and　their　house　long　before　their

companions。　　But　she　was　far　enough　ahead　of　her　brother　to　be　able

to　dismount　and　hide　her　trophy　with　childish　glee　before　he

arrived。



She　was　right　in　believing　that　her　unfortunate　cavalier　would　make

no　revelation　of　her　conduct；　and　his　catastrophe　passed　as　an

accident。　　But　Peter　could　not　disguise　the　fact　that　much　of　his

unpopularity　was　shared　by　his　sister。　　The　matrons　of　Atherly

believed　that　she　was　〃fast；〃　and　remembered　more　distinctly　than

ever　the　evil　habits　of　her　mother。　　That　she　would；　in　the　due

course　of　time；　〃take　to　drink；〃　they　never　doubted。　　Her　dancing

was　considered　outrageous　in　its　unfettered　freedom；　and　her

extraordinary　powers　of　endurance　were　looked　upon　as　〃masculine〃

by　the　weaker　girls　whose　partners　she　took　from　them。　　She

reciprocally　looked　down　upon　them；　and　made　no　secret　of　her

contempt　for　their　small　refinements　and　fancies。　　She　affected

only　the　society　of　men；　and　even　treated　them　with　a　familiarity

that　was　both　fearless　and　scornful。　　Peter　saw　that　it　was　useless

to　face　the　opposition；　Miss　Atherly　did　not　seem　to　encourage　the

renewal　of　the　young　lawyer's　attentions；　although　it　was　evident

that　he　was　still　attracted　by　her；　nor　did　she　seem　to　invite

advances　from　others。　　He　must　go　awayand　he　would　have　to　take

her　with　him。　　It　seemed　ridiculous　that　a　woman　of　thirty；　of

masculine　character；　should　require　a　chaperon　in　a　brother　of

equal　age；　but　Peter　knew　the　singular　blending　of　childlike

ignorance　with　this　Amazonian　quality。　　He　had　made　his

arrangements　for　an　absence　from　Atherly　of　three　or　four　ye