betty zane-第30部分

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eared　into　the　house。

The　occasion　was　the　celebration　of　the　birthday　of　old　Dan　Watkins'　daughter。　Dan　was　one　of　the　oldest　settlers　along　the　river；　in　fact；　he　had　located　his　farm　several　years　after　Col。　Zane　had　founded　the　settlement。　He　was　noted　for　his　open…handed　dealing　and　kindness　of　heart。　He　had　loaned　many　a　head　of　cattle　which　had　never　been　returned；　and　many　a　sack　of　flour　had　left　his　mill　unpaid　for　in　grain。　He　was　a　good　shot；　he　would　lay　a　tree　on　the　ground　as　quickly　as　any　man　who　ever　swung　an　axe；　and　he　could　drink　more　whiskey　than　any　man　in　the　valley。

Dan　stood　at　the　door　with　a　smile　of　welcome　upon　his　rugged　features　and　a　handshake　and　a　pleasant　word　for　everyone。　His　daughter　Susan　greeted　the　men　with　a　little　curtsy　and　kissed　the　girls　upon　the　cheek。　Susan　was　not　pretty；　though　she　was　strong　and　healthy；　her　laughing　blue　eyes　assured　a　sunny　disposition；　and　she　numbered　her　suitors　by　the　score。

The　young　people　lost　no　time。　Soon　the　floor　was　covered　with　their　whirling　forms。

In　one　corner　of　the　room　sat　a　little　dried…up　old　woman　with　white　hair　and　bright　dark　eyes。　This　was　Grandma　Watkins。　She　was　very　old；　so　old　that　no　one　knew　her　age；　but　she　was　still　vigorous　enough　to　do　her　day's　work　with　more　pleasure　than　many　a　younger　woman。　Just　now　she　was　talking　to　Wetzel；　who　leaned　upon　his　inseparable　rifle　and　listened　to　her　chatter。　The　hunter　liked　the　old　lady　and　would　often　stop　at　her　cabin　while　on　his　way　to　the　settlement　and　leave　at　her　door　a　fat　turkey　or　a　haunch　of　venison。

〃Lew　Wetzel；　I　am　ashamed　of　you。〃　Grandmother　Watkins　was　saying。　〃Put　that　gun　in　the　corner　and　get　out　there　and　dance。　Enjoy　yourself。　You　are　only　a　boy　yet。〃

〃I'd　better　look　on；　mother；〃　answered　the　hunter。

〃Pshaw！　You　can　hop　and　skip　around　like　any　of　then　and　laugh　too　if　you　want。　I　hope　that　pretty　sister　of　Eb　Zane　has　caught　your　fancy。〃

〃She　is　not　for　the　like　of　me；〃　he　said　gently　〃I　haven't　the　gifts。〃

〃Don't　talk　about　gifts。　Not　to　an　old　woman　who　has　lived　three　times　and　more　your　age；〃　she　said　impatiently。　〃It　is　not　gifts　a　woman　wants　out　here　in　the　West。　If　she　does　'twill　do　her　no　good。　She　needs　a　strong　arm　to　build　cabins；　a　quick　eye　with　a　rifle；　and　a　fearless　heart。　What　border…women　want　are　houses　and　children。　They　must　bring　up　men；　men　to　drive　the　redskins　back；　men　to　till　the　soil；　or　else　what　is　the　good　of　our　suffering　here。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Wetzel　thoughtfully。　〃But　I'd　hate　to　see　a　flower　like　Betty　Zane　in　a　rude　hunter's　cabin。〃

〃I　have　known　the　Zanes　for　forty　year'　and　I　never　saw　one　yet　that　was　afraid　of　work。　And　you　might　win　her　if　you　would　give　up　running　mad　after　Indians。　I'll　allow　no　woman　would　put　up　with　that。　You　have　killed　many　Indians。　You　ought　to　be　satisfied。〃

〃Fightin'　redskins　is　somethin'　I　can't　help；〃　said　the　hunter；　slowly　shaking　his　head。　〃If　I　got　married　the　fever　would　come　on　and　I'd　leave　home。　No；　I'm　no　good　for　a　woman。　Fightin'　is　all　I'm　good　for。〃

〃Why　not　fight　for　her；　then？　Don't　let　one　of　these　boys　walk　off　with　her。　Look　at　her。　She　likes　fun　and　admiration。　I　believe　you　do　care　for　her。　Why　not　try　to　win　her？〃

〃Who　is　that　tall　man　with　her？〃　continued　the　old　lady　as　Wetzel　did　not　answer。　〃There；　they　have　gone　into　the　other　room。　Who　is　he？〃

〃His　name　is　Miller。〃

〃Lewis；　I　don't　like　him。　I　have　been　watching　him　all　evening。　I'm　a　contrary　old　woman；　I　know；　but　I　have　seen　a　good　many　men　in　my　time；　and　his　face　is　not　honest。　He　is　in　love　with　her。　Does　she　care　for　him？〃

〃No；　Betty　doesn't　care　for　Miller。　She's　just　full　of　life　and　fun。〃

〃You　may　be　mistaken。　All　the　Zanes　are　fire　and　brimstone　and　this　girl　is　a　Zane　clear　through。　Go　and　fetch　her　to　me；　Lewis。　I'll　tell　you　if　there's　a　chance　for　you。〃

〃Dear　mother；　perhaps　there's　a　wife　in　Heaven　for　me。　There's　none　on　earth；〃　said　the　hunter；　a　sad　smile　flitting　over　his　calm　face。

Ralfe　Miller；　whose　actions　had　occasioned　the　remarks　of　the　old　lady；　would　have　been　conspicuous　in　any　assembly　of　men。　There　was　something　in　his　dark　face　that　compelled　interest　and　yet　left　the　observer　in　doubt。　His　square　chin；　deep…set　eyes　and　firm　mouth　denoted　a　strong　and　indomitable　will。　He　looked　a　man　whom　it　would　be　dangerous　to　cross。

Little　was　known　of　Miller's　history。　He　hailed　from　Ft。　Pitt；　where　he　had　a　reputation　as　a　good　soldier；　but　a　man　of　morose　and　quarrelsome　disposition。　It　was　whispered　that　he　drank；　and　that　he　had　been　friendly　with　the　renegades　McKee；　Elliott；　and　Girty。　He　had　passed　the　fall　and　winter　at　Ft。　Henry；　serving　on　garrison　duty。　Since　he　had　made　the　acquaintance　of　Betty　he　had　shown　her　all　the　attention　possible。

On　this　night　a　close　observer　would　have　seen　that　Miller　was　laboring　under　some　strong　feeling。　A　half…subdued　fire　gleamed　from　his　dark　eyes。　A　peculiar　nervous　twitching　of　his　nostrils　betrayed　a　poorly　suppressed　excitement。

All　evening　he　followed　Betty　like　a　shadow。　Her　kindness　may　have　encouraged　him。　She　danced　often　with　him　end　showed　a　certain　preference　for　his　society。　Alice　and　Lydia　were　puzzled　by　Betty's　manner。　As　they　were　intimate　friends　they　believed　they　knew　something　of　her　likes　and　dislikes。　Had　not　Betty　told　them　she　did　not　care　for　Mr。　Miller？　What　was　the　meaning　of　the　arch　glances　she　bestowed　upon　him；　if　she　did　not　care　for　him？　To　be　sure；　it　was　nothing　wonderful　for　Betty　to　smile；she　was　always　prodigal　of　her　smilesbut　she　had　never　been　known　to　encourage　any　man。　The　truth　was　that　Betty　had　put　her　new　resolution　into　effect；　to　be　as　merry　and　charming　as　any　fancy…free　maiden　could　possibly　be；　and　the　farthest　removed　from　a　young　lady　pining　for　an　absent　and　indifferent　sweetheart。　To　her　sorrow　Betty　played　her　part　too　well。

Except　to　Wetzel；　whose　keen　eyes　little　escaped；　there　was　no　significance　in　Miller's　hilarity　one　moment　and　sudden　thoughtfulness　the　next。　And　if　there　had　been；　it　would　have　excited　no　comment。　Most　of　the　young　men　had　sampled　some　of　old　Dan's　best　rye　and　their　flushed　faces　and　unusual　spirits　did　not　result　altogether　from　the　exercise　of　the　dance。

After　one　of　the　reels　Miller　led　Betty；　with　whom　be　had　been　dancing；　into　one　of　the　side　rooms。　Round　the　dimly　lighted　room　were　benches　upon　which　were　seated　some　of　the　dancers。　Betty　was　uneasy　in　mind　and　now　wished　that　she　had　remained　at　home。　They　had　exchanged　several　commonplace　remarks　when　the　music　struck　up　and　Betty　rose　quickly　to　her　feet。

〃See；　the　others　have　gone。　Let　us　return；〃　she　said。

〃Wait；〃　said　Miller　hurriedly。　〃Do　not　go　just　yet。　I　wish　to　speak　to　you。　I　have　asked　you　many　times　if　you　will　marry　me。　Now　I　ask　you　again。〃

〃Mr。　Miller；　I　thanked　you　and　begged　you　not　to　cause　us　both　pain　by　again　referring　to　that　subject；〃　answered　Betty　with　dignity。　〃If　you　will　persist　in　bringing　it　up　we　cannot　be　friends　any　longer。〃

〃Wait；　please　wait。　I　have　told　you　that　I　will　not　take　'No'　for　an　answer。　I　love　you　with　all　my　heart　and　soul　and　I　cannot　give　you　up。〃

His　voice　was　low　and　hoarse　and　thrilled　with　a　strong　man's　passion。　Betty　looked　up　into　his　face　and　tears　of　compassion　filled　her　eyes。　Her　heart　softened　to　this　man；　and　her　conscience　gave　her　a　little　twinge　of　remorse。　Could　she　not　have　averted　all　this？　No　doubt　she　had　been　much　to　blame；　and　this　thought　made　her　voice　very　low　and　sweet　as　she　answered　him。

〃I　like　you　as　a　friend；　Mr。　Miller；　but　we　can　never　be　more　than　friends。　I　am　very　sorry　for　you；　and　angry　with　myself　that　I　did　not　try　to　help　you　instead　of　making　it　worse。　Please　do　not　speak　of　this　again。　Come；　let　us　join　the　others。〃

They　were　quite　alone　in　the　room。　As　Betty　finished　speaking　and　started　for　the　door　Miller　intercepted　her。　She　recoiled　in　alarm　from　his　white　face。

〃No；　you　don't　go　yet。　I　won't　give　you　up　so　easily。　No　woman　can　play　fast　and　loose　with　me！　Do　you　understand？　What　have　you　meant　all　this　winter？　You　encouraged　me。　You　know　you　did；〃　he　cried　passionately。

〃I　thought　you　were　a　gentleman。　I　have　really　taken　the　trouble　to　defend　you　against　persons　who　evidently　were　not　misled　as　to　your　real　nature。　I　will　not　listen　to　you；〃　said　Betty　coldly。　She　turned　away　from　him；　all　her　softened　feeling　changed　to　scorn。

〃You　shall　listen　to　me；〃　he　whispered　as　he　grasped　her　wrist　and　pulled　her　backward。　All　the　man's　brutal　passion　had　been　aroused。　The　fierce　border　blood　boiled　within　his　heart。　Unmasked　he　showed　himself　in　his　true　colors　a　frontier　desperado。　His　eyes　gleamed　dark　and　lurid　beneath　his　bent　brows　and　a　short；　desperate　laugh　passed　his　lips。

〃I　will　make　you　love　me；　my　proud　beauty。　I　shall　have　you　yet；　one　way　or　another。〃

〃Let　me　go。　How　dare　you　touch　me！〃　cried　Betty；　the　hot　blood　coloring　her　face。　She　struck　him　a　stinging　blow　with　her　free　hand　and　struggled　with　all　her　might　to　free　herself；　but　she　was　powerless　in　his　iron　grasp。　Closer　he　drew　her。

〃If　it　costs　me　my　life　I　will　kiss　you　for　that　blow；〃　he　muttered　hoarsely。

〃Oh；　you　coward！　you