in the carquinez woods-第21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！


〃Stop！〃　she　said。

He　stopped。

〃Did　he　tell　you　this？〃　she　asked；　with　an　expression　of　disdain。

〃No；　I　overheard　it。　　Dunn　and　Brace　were　at　the　house　waiting
for　you。　　When　the　coach　did　not　bring　you；　I　went　to　the　office
to　inquire。　　As　I　left　our　door　I　thought　I　saw　somebody
listening　at　the　parlor　windows。　　It　was　only　a　drunken　Mexican
muleteer　leaning　against　the　house；　but　if　HE　heard　nothing；　I
did。　　Nellie；　I　heard　Brace　tell　Dunn　that　he　had　tracked　you　in
your　disguise　to　the　woodsdo　you　hear？　that　when　you　pretended
to　be　here　with　the　girls　you　were　with　Lowalone；　that　you　wear
a　ring　that　Low　got　of　a　trader　here；　that　there　was　a　cabin　in
the　woods〃

〃Stop！〃　she　repeated。

Wynn　again　paused。

〃And　what　did　YOU　do？〃　she　asked。

〃I　heard　they　were　starting　down　there　to　surprise　you　and　him
together；　and　I　harnessed　up　and　got　ahead　of　them　in　my　buggy。〃

〃And　found　me　here；〃　she　said；　looking　full　into　his　eyes。

He　understood　her　and　returned　the　look。　　He　recognized　the　full
importance　of　the　culminating　fact　conveyed　in　her　words；　and　was
obliged　to　content　himself　with　its　logical　and　worldly
significance。　　It　was　too　late　now　to　take　her　to　task　for　mere
filial　disobedience；　they　must　become　allies。

〃Yes；〃　he　said　hurriedly；　〃but　if　you　value　your　reputation；　if
you　wish　to　silence　both　these　men；　answer　me　fully。〃

〃Go　on；〃　she　said。

〃Did　you　go　to　the　cabin　in　the　woods　yesterday？〃

〃No。〃

〃Did　you　ever　go　there　with　Low？〃

〃No；　I　do　not　know　even　where　it　is。〃

Wynn　felt　that　she　was　telling　the　truth。　　Nellie　knew　it；　but　as
she　would　have　been　equally　satisfied　with　an　equally　efficacious
falsehood；　her　face　remained　unchanged。

〃And　when　did　he　leave　you？〃

〃At　nine　o'clock；　here。　　He　went　to　the　hotel。〃

〃He　saved　his　life；　then；　for　Dunn　is　on　his　way　to　the　woods　to
kill　him。〃

The　jeopardy　of　her　lover　did　not　seem　to　affect　the　young　girl
with　alarm；　although　her　eyes　betrayed　some　interest。

〃Then　Dunn　has　gone　to　the　woods？〃　she　said　thoughtfully。

〃He　has；〃　replied　Wynn。

〃Is　that　all？〃　she　asked。

〃I　want　to　know　what　you　are　going　to　do？〃

〃I　WAS　going　back　to　bed。〃

〃This　is　no　time　for　trifling；　girl。〃

〃I　should　think　not；〃　she　said；　with　a　yawn；　〃it's　too　early；　or
too　late。〃

Wynn　grasped　her　wrist　more　tightly。　　〃Hear　me！　　Put　whatever
face　you　like　on　this　affair；　you　are　compromisedand　compromised
with　a　man　you　can't　marry。〃

〃I　don't　know　that　I　ever　wanted　to　marry　Low；　if　you　mean　him；〃
she　said　quietly。

〃And　Dunn　wouldn't　marry　you　now。〃

〃I'm　not　so　sure　of　that；　either。〃

〃Nellie；〃　said　Wynn　excitedly；　〃do　you　want　to　drive　me　mad？
Have　you　nothing　to　saynothing　to　suggest？〃

〃Oh；　you　want　me　to　help　you；　do　you！　　Why　didn't　you　say　that
first？　　Well；　go　and　bring　Dunn　here。〃

〃Are　you　mad？　　The　man　has　gone　already　in　pursuit　of　your　lover；
believing　you　with　him。〃

〃Then　he　will　the　more　readily　come　and　talk　with　me　without　him。
Will　you　take　the　invitationyes　or　no？〃

〃Yes；　but〃

〃Enough。　　On　your　way　there　you　will　stop　at　the　hotel　and　give
Low　a　letter　from　me。〃

〃Nellie！〃

〃You　shall　read　it；　of　course；〃　she　said　scornfully；　〃for　it　will
be　your　text　for　the　conversation　you　will　have　with　him。　　Will
you　please　take　your　hand　from　the　lock　and　open　the　door？〃

Wynn　mechanically　opened　the　door。　　The　young　girl　flew　up…
stairs。　　In　a　very　few　moments　she　returned　with　two　notes：　one
contained　a　few　lines　of　formal　invitation　to　Dunn；　the　other
read　as　follows：


〃DEAR　MR。　DORMAN；My　father　will　tell　you　how　deeply　I　regret
that　our　recent　botanical　excursions　in　the　Carquinez　Woods　have
been　a　source　of　serious　misapprehensions　to　those　who　had　a
claim　to　my　consideration；　and　that　I　shall　be　obliged　to
discontinue　them　for　the　future。　　At　the　same　time　he　wishes　me
to　express　my　gratitude　for　your　valuable　instruction　and
assistance　in　that　pleasing　study；　even　though　approaching　events
may　compel　me　to　relinquish　it　for　other　duties。　　May　I　beg　you
to　accept　the　inclosed　ring　as　a　slight　recognition　of　my
obligations　to　you？

〃Your　grateful　pupil；

〃NELLIE　WYNN。〃


When　he　had　finished　reading　the　letter；　she　handed　him　a　ring；
which　he　took　mechanically。　　He　raised　his　eyes　to　hers　with
perfectly　genuine　admiration。　　〃You're　a　good　girl；　Nellie；〃　he
said；　and；　in　a　moment　of　parental　forgetfulness；　unconsciously
advanced　his　lips　towards　her　cheek。　　But　she　drew　back　in　time
to　recall　him　to　a　sense　of　that　human　weakness。

〃I　suppose　I'll　have　time　for　a　nap　yet；〃　she　said；　as　a　gentle
hint　to　her　embarrassed　parent。　　He　nodded　and　turned　towards　the
door。

〃If　I　were　you；〃　she　continued；　repressing　a　yawn；　〃I'd　manage　to
be　seen　on　good　terms　with　Low　at　the　hotel；　so　perhaps　you　need
not　give　the　letter　to　him　until　the　last　thing。　　Good…by。〃

The　sitting…room　door　opened　and　closed　behind　her　as　she　slipped
up…stairs；　and　her　father；　without　the　formality　of　leave…taking；
quietly　let　himself　out　by　the　front　door。

When　he　drove　into　the　high　road　again；　however；　an　overlooked
possibility　threatened　for　a　moment　to　indefinitely　postpone　his
amiable　intentions　regarding　Low。　　The　hotel　was　at　the　further
end　of　the　settlement　towards　the　Carquinez　Woods；　and　as　Wynn
had　nearly　reached　it　he　was　recalled　to　himself　by　the　sounds　of
hoofs　and　wheels　rapidly　approaching　from　the　direction　of　the
Excelsior　turnpike。　　Wynn　made　no　doubt　it　was　the　sheriff　and
Brace。　　To　avoid　recognition　at　that　moment；　he　whipped　up　his
horse；　intending　to　keep　the　lead　until　he　could　turn　into　the
first　cross…road。　　But　the　coming　travelers　had　the　fleetest
horse；　and　finding　it　impossible　to　distance　them　he　drove　close
to　the　ditch；　pulling　up　suddenly　as　the　strange　vehicle　was
abreast　of　him；　and　forcing　them　to　pass　him　at　full　speed；　with
the　result　already　chronicled。　　When　they　had　vanished　in　the
darkness；　Mr。　Wynn；　with　a　heart　overflowing　with　Christian
thankfulness　and　universal　benevolence；　wheeled　round；　and　drove
back　to　the　hotel　he　had　already　passed。　　To　pull　up　at　the
veranda　with　a　stentorian　shout；　to　thump　loudly　at　the　deserted
bar；　to　hilariously　beat　the　panels　of　the　landlord's　door；　and
commit　a　jocose　assault　and　battery　upon　that　half…dresssed　and
half…awakened　man；　was　eminently　characteristic　of　Wynn；　and　part
of　his　amiable　plans　that　morning。

〃Something　to　wash　this　wood　smoke　from　my　throat；　Brother
Carter；　and　about　as　much　again　to　prop　open　your　eyes；〃　he　said；
dragging　Carter　before　the　bar；　〃and　glasses　round　for　as　many　of
the　boys　as　are　up　and　stirring　after　a　hard…working　Christian's
rest。　　How　goes　the　honest　publican's　trade；　and　who　have　we　here？〃

〃Thar's　Judge　Robinson　and　two　lawyers　from　Sacramento；　Dick
Curson　over　from　Yolo；〃　said　Carter；　〃and　that　ar　young　Injin
yarb　doctor　from　the　Carquinez　Woods。　　I　reckon　he's　jist　upI
noticed　a　light　under　his　door　as　I　passed。〃

〃He's　my　man　for　a　friendly　chat　before　breakfast；〃　said　Wynn。
〃You　needn't　come　up。　　I'll　find　the　way。　　I　don't　want　a　light；
I　reckon　my　eyes　ain't　as　bright　nor　as　young　as　his；　but　they'll
see　almost　as　far　in　the　darkhe！　he！〃　　And；　nodding　to　Brother
Carter；　he　strode　along　the　passage；　and　with　no　other　introduction
than　a　playful　and　preliminary　〃Boo！〃　burst　into　one　of　the　rooms。
Low；　who　by　the　light　of　a　single　candle　was　bending　over　the　plates
of　a　large　quarto；　merely　raised　his　eyes　and　looked　at　the　intruder。
The　young　man's　natural　imperturbability；　always　exasperating　to
Wynn；　seemed　accented　that　morning　by　contrast　with　his　own
over…acted　animation。

〃Ah　ha！wasting　the　midnight　oil　instead　of　imbibing　the　morning
dews；〃　said　Father　Wynn　archly；　illustrating　his　metaphor　with　a
movement　of　his　hand　to　his　lips。　　〃What　have　we　here？〃

〃An　anonymous　gift；〃　replied　Low　simply；　recognizing　the　father
of　Nellie　by　rising　from　his　chair。　　〃It's　a　volume　I've　longed
to　possess；　but　never　could　afford　to　buy。　　I　cannot　imagine　who
sent　it　to　me。〃

Wynn　was　for　a　moment　startled　by　the　thought　that　this　recipient
of　valuable　gifts　might　have　influential　friends。　　But　a　glance
at　the　bare　room；　which　looked　like　a　camp；　and　the　strange；
unconventional　garb　of　its　occupant；　restored　his　former
convictions。　　There　might　be　a　promise　of　intelligence；　but
scarcely　of　prosperity；　in　the　figure　before　him。

〃Ah！　　We　must　not　forget　that　we　are　watched　over　in　the　night
season；〃　he　said；　laying　his　hand　on　Low's　shoulder；　with　an
illustration　of　celestial　guardianship　that　would　have　been
impious　but　for　its　palpable　grotesqueness。　　〃No；　sir；　we　know
not　what　a　day　may　bring　forth。〃

Unfortunately；　Low's　practical　mind　did　not　go　beyond　a　mere
human　interpretation。　　It　was　enough；　however；　to　put　a　new　light
in　his　eye　and　a　faint　color　in　his　cheek。

〃Could　it　have　been　Miss　Nellie？〃　he　asked；　with　half…boyish
hesitation。

Mr。　Wynn　was　too　much　of　a　Christian　not　to　bow　before　what
appeared　to　him　the　purely　providential　interposition　of　this
suggestion。　　Seizing　it　and　Low　at　the　same　moment；　he　playfully
forced　him　down　again　in　his　chair。