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a first family of tasajara-第26节

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weave it into one of your writings。  And it's quite true。〃



It is hardly necessary to say that John Milton had not been touched

by any personal significance in his companion's speech; whatever

she may have intended; and it is equally true that whether she had

presently forgotten her purpose; or had become suddenly interested

in her own conversation; her face grew more animated; her manner

more confidential; and something of the youthful enthusiasm she had

shown in the mountain seemed to come back to her。



〃I might say it happened anywhere and call the people M。 or N。;

but it really did occur in my own family; and although I was much

younger at the time it impressed me very strongly。  My cousin; who

had been my playmate; was an orphan; and had been intrusted to the

care of my father; who was his guardian。  He was always a clever

boy; but singularly sensitive and quick to take offense。  Perhaps

it was because the little property his father had left made him

partly dependent on my father; and that I was rich; but he seemed

to feel the disparity in our positions。  I was too young to

understand it; I think it existed only in his imagination; for I

believe we were treated alike。  But I remember that he was full of

vague threats of running away and going to sea; and that it was

part of his weak temperament to terrify me with his extravagant

confidences。  I was always frightened when; after one of those

scenes; he would pack his valise or perhaps only tie up a few

things in a handkerchief; as in the advertisement pictures of the

runaway slaves; and declare that we would never lay eyes upon him

again。  At first I never saw the ridiculousness of all this;for I

ought to have told you that he was a rather delicate and timid boy;

and quite unfitted for a rough life or any exposure;but others

did; and one day I laughed at him and told him he was afraid。  I

shall never forget the expression of his face and never forgive

myself for it。  He went away;but he returned the next day!  He

threatened once to commit suicide; left his clothes on the bank of

the river; and came home in another suit of clothes he had taken

with him。  When I was sent abroad to school I lost sight of him;

when I returned he was at college; apparently unchanged。  When he

came home for vacation; far from having been subdued by contact

with strangers; it seemed that his unhappy sensitiveness had been

only intensified by the ridicule of his fellows。  He had even

acquired a most ridiculous theory about the degrading effects of

civilization; and wanted to go back to a state of barbarism。  He

said the wilderness was the only true home of man。  My father;

instead of bearing with what I believe was his infirmity; dryly

offered him the means to try his experiment。  He started for some

place in Texas; saying we would never hear from him again。  A month

after he wrote for more money。  My father replied rather impatiently;

I suppose;I never knew exactly what he wrote。  That was some years

ago。  He had told the truth at last; for we never heard from him

again。〃



It is to be feared that John Milton was following the animated lips

and eyes of the fair speaker rather than her story。  Perhaps that

was the reason why he said; 〃May he not have been a disappointed

man?〃



〃I don't understand;〃 she said simply。



〃Perhaps;〃 said John Milton with a boyish blush; 〃you may have

unconsciously raised hopes in his heartand〃



〃I should hardly attempt to interest a chronicler of adventure like

you in such a very commonplace; every…day style of romance;〃 she

said; with a little impatience; 〃even if my vanity compelled me to

make such confidences to a stranger。  No;it was nothing quite as

vulgar as that。  And;〃 she added quickly; with a playfully amused

smile as she saw the young fellow's evident distress; 〃I should

have probably heard from him again。  Those stories always end in

that way。〃



〃And you think?〃said John Milton。



〃I think;〃 said Mrs。 Ashwood slowly; 〃that he actually did commit

suicideor effaced himself in some way; just as firmly as I

believe he might have been saved by judicious treatment。  Otherwise

we should have heard from him。  You'll say that's only a woman's

reasoningbut I think our perceptions are often instinctive; and I

knew his character。〃



Still following the play of her delicate features into a romance of

his own weaving; the imaginative young reporter who had seen so

much from the heights of Russian Hill said earnestly; 〃Then I have

your permission to use this material at any future time?〃



〃Yes;〃 said the lady smilingly。



〃And you will not mind if I should take some liberties with the

text?〃



〃I must of course leave something to your artistic taste。  But you

will let me see it?〃



There were voices outside now; breaking the silence of the veranda。

They had been so preoccupied as not to notice the arrival of a

horseman。  Steps came along the passage; the landlord returned。

Mrs。 Ashwood turned quickly towards him。



〃Mr。 Grant; of your party; ma'am; to fetch you。〃



She saw an unmistakable change in her young friend's mobile face。

〃I will be ready in a moment;〃 she said to the landlord。  Then;

turning to John Milton; the arch…hypocrite said sweetly: 〃My

brother must have known instinctively that I was in good hands; as

he didn't come。  But I am sorry; for I should have so liked to

introduce him to youalthough by the way;〃 with a bright smile; 〃I

don't think you have yet told me your name。  I know I couldn't have

FORGOTTEN it。〃



〃Harcourt;〃 said John Milton; with a half…embarrassed laugh。



〃But you must come and see me; Mr。Mr。 Harcourt;〃 she said;

producing a card from a case already in her fingers; 〃at my hotel;

and let my brother thank you there for your kindness and gallantry

to a stranger。  I shall be here a few weeks longer before we go

south to look for a place where my brother can winter。  DO come and

see me; although I cannot introduce you to anything as real and

beautiful as what YOU have shown me to…day。  Good…by; Mr。 Harcourt;

I won't trouble you to come down and bore yourself with my escort's

questions and congratulations。〃



She bent her head and allowed her soft eyes to rest upon his with a

graciousness that was beyond her speech; pulled her veil over her

eyes again; with a pretty suggestion that she had no further use

for them; and taking her riding…skirt lightly in her hand seemed to

glide from the room。



On her way to San Mateo; where it appeared the disorganized party

had prolonged their visit to accept an invitation to dine with a

local magnate; she was pleasantly conversational with the slightly

abstracted Grant。  She was so sorry to have given them all this

trouble and anxiety!  Of course she ought to have waited at the

fork of the road; but she had never doubted but she could rejoin

them presently on the main road。  She was glad that Miss Euphemia's

runaway horse had been stopped without accident; it would have been

dreadful if anything had happened to HER; Mr。 Harcourt seemed so

wrapped up in his girls。  It was a pity they never had a sonAh?

Indeed!  Then there was a son?  Soand father and son had

quarreled?  That was so sad。  And for some trifling cause; no

doubt?



〃I believe he married the housemaid;〃 said Grant grimly。  〃Be

careful!Allow me。〃



〃It's no use!〃 said Mrs。 Ashwood; flushing with pink impatience; as

she recovered her seat; which a sudden bolt of her mustang had

imperiled; 〃I really can't make out the tricks of this beast!

Thank you;〃 she added; with a sweet smile; 〃but I think I can

manage him now。  I can't see why he stopped。  I'll be more careful。

You were saying the son was marriedsurely not that boy!〃



〃Boy!〃 echoed Grant。  〃Then you know?〃



〃I mean of course he must be a boythey all grew up hereand it

was only five or six years ago that their parents emigrated;〃 she

retorted a little impatiently。  〃And what about this creature?〃



〃Your horse?〃



〃You know I mean the woman he married。  Of course she was older

than heand caught him?〃



〃I think there was a year or two difference;〃 said Grant quietly。



〃Yes; but your gallantry keeps you from telling the truth; which is

that the women; in cases of this kind; are much older and more

experienced。〃



〃Are they?  Well; perhaps she is; NOW。  She is dead。〃



Mrs。 Ashwood walked her horse。  〃Poor thing;〃 she said。  Then a

sudden idea took possession of her and brought a film to her eyes。

〃How long ago?〃 she asked in a low voice。



〃About six or seven months; I think。  I believe there was a baby

who died too。〃



She continued to walk her horse slowly; stroking its curved neck。

〃I think it's perfectly shameful!〃 she said suddenly。



〃Not so bad as that; Mrs。 Ashwood; surely。  The girl may have loved

himand he〃



〃You know perfectly what I mean; Mr。 Grant。  I speak of the conduct

of th

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