lin mclean(林·迈林恩)-第15节
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cabin； mount； and slowly； very slowly； ride away。 He would spend the
night at Riverside； after all。
Of course we recovered from our unexpected shame； and the tale of
the table and the dancing plates was not told as a sad one。 But it is a sad
one when you think of it。
I was not there to see Lin get his bride。 I learned from the Virginian
how the victorious puncher had ridden away across the sunny sagebrush；
bearing the biscuit…shooter with him to the nearest justice of the peace。
She was astride the horse he had brought for her。
〃Yes； he beat Tommy；〃 said the Virginian。 〃Some folks； anyway； get
what they want in this hyeh world。〃
From which I inferred that Miss Molly Wood was harder to beat than
Tommy。
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LIN McLEAN
LIN McLEAN'S HONEY…MOON
Rain had not fallen for some sixty days； and for some sixty more there
was no necessity that it should fall。 It is spells of weather like this that set
the Western editor writing praise and prophecy of the boundless fertility of
the soilwhen irrigated； and of what an Eden it can be madewith
irrigation； but the spells annoy the people who are trying to raise the Eden。
We always told the transient Eastern visitor； when he arrived at Cheyenne
and criticised the desert； that anything would grow herewith irrigation；
and sometimes he replied； unsympathetically； that anything could flywith
wings。 Then we would lead such a man out and show him six； eight； ten
square miles of green crops； and he； if he was thoroughly nasty； would
mention that Wyoming contained ninety…five thousand square miles； all
waiting for irrigation and Eden。 One of these Eastern supercivilized
hostiles from New York was breakfasting with the Governor and me at the
Cheyenne Club； and we were explaining to him the glorious future； the
coming empire； of the Western country。 Now the Governor was about
thirty…two； and until twenty…five had never gone West far enough to see
over the top of the Alleghany Mountains。 I was not a pioneer myself； and
why both of us should have pitied the New…Yorker's narrowness so hard I
cannot see。 But we did。 We spoke to him of the size of the country。 We
told him that his State could rattle round inside Wyoming's stomach
without any inconvenience to Wyoming； and he told us that this was
because Wyoming's stomach was empty。 Altogether I began to feel almost
sorry that I had asked him to come out for a hunt； and had travelled in
haste all the way from Bear Creek to Cheyenne expressly to meet him。
〃For purposes of amusement；〃 he said； 〃I'll admit anything you claim
for this place。 Ranches； cowboys； elk； it's all splendid。 Only； as an
investment I prefer the East。 Am I to see any cowboys？〃
〃You shall；〃 I said； and I distinctly hoped some of them might do
something to him 〃for purposes of amusement。〃
〃You fellows come up with me to my office；〃 said the Governor。 〃I'll
look at my mail； and show you round。〃 So we went with him through the
heat and sun。
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LIN McLEAN
〃What's that？〃 inquired the New…Yorker； whom I shall call James
Ogden。
〃That is our park；〃 said I。 〃Of course it's merely in embryo。 It's
wonderful how quickly any shade tree will grow here wi〃 I checked
myself。
But Ogden said 〃with irrigation〃 for me； and I was entirely sorry he
had come。
We reached the Governor's office； and sat down while he looked his
letters over。
〃Here you are； Ogden；〃 said he。 〃Here's the way we hump ahead out
here。〃 And he read us the following：
〃MAGAW； KANSAS； July 5； 188
〃Hon。 Amory W。 Baker：
〃Sir；Understanding that your district is suffering from a prolonged
drought； I write to say that for necessary expenses paid I will be glad to
furnish you with a reasonably shower。 I have operated successfully in
Australia； Mexico； and several States of the Union； and am anxious to
exhibit my system。 If your Legislature will appropriate a sum to cover； as I
said； merely my necessary expensessay 350 （three hundred and fifty
dollars）for half an inch I will guarantee you that quantity of rain or
forfeit the money。 If I fail to give you the smallest fraction of the amount
contracted for； there is to be no pay。 Kindly advise me of what date will be
most convenient for you to have the shower。 I require twenty…four hours'
preparation。 Hoping a favorable reply；
〃I am； respectfully yours；
〃Robert Hilbrun〃
〃Will the Legislature do it？〃 inquired Ogden in good faith。
The Governor laughed boisterously。 〃I guess it wouldn't be
constitutional；〃 said he。
〃Oh； bother！〃 said Ogden。
〃My dear man；〃 the Governor protested； 〃I know we're new； and our
women vote； and we're a good deal of a joke； but we're not so
progressively funny as all that。 The people wouldn't stand it。 Senator
Warren would fly right into my back hair。〃 Barker was also new as
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LIN McLEAN
Governor。
〃Do you have Senators here too？〃 said Ogden； raising his eyebrows。
〃What do they look like？ Are they females？〃 And the Governor grew more
boisterous than ever； slapping his knee and declaring that these Eastern
men were certainly out of sight。〃 Ogden； however； was thoughtful。
〃I'd have been willing to chip in for that rain myself；〃 he said。
〃That's an idea！〃 cried the Governor。 〃Nothing unconstitutional about
that。 Let's see。 Three hundred and fifty dollars〃
〃I'll put up a hundred；〃 said Ogden； promptly。 〃I'm out for a Western
vacation； and I'll pay for a good specimen。〃
The Governor and I subscribed more modestly； and by noon； with the
help of some lively minded gentlemen of Cheyenne； we had the purse
raised。 〃He won't care；〃 said the Governor； 〃whether it's a private
enterprise or a municipal step； so long as he gets his money。〃
〃He won't get it； I'm afraid；〃 said Ogden。 〃But if he succeeds in
tempting Providence to that extent； I consider it cheap。 Now what do you
call those people there on the horses？〃
We were walking along the track of the Cheyenne and Northern； and
looking out over the plain toward Fort Russell。 〃That is a cow…puncher and
his bride；〃 I answered； recognizing the couple。
〃Real cow…puncher？〃
〃Quite。 The puncher's name is Lin McLean。〃
〃Real bride？〃
〃I'm afraid so。〃
〃She's riding straddle！〃 exclaimed the delighted Ogden； adjusting his
glasses。 〃Why do you object to their union being holy？〃
I explained that my friend Lin had lately married an eating…house lady
precipitately and against my advice。
〃I suppose he knew his business；〃 observed Ogden。
〃That's what he said to me at the time。 But you ought to see herand
know him。〃
Ogden was going to。 Husband and wife were coming our way。
Husband nodded to me his familiar offish nod； which concealed his
satisfaction at meeting with an old friend。 Wife did not look at me at all。
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But I looked at her； and I instantly knew that Linthe fool！had confided
to her my disapproval of their marriage。 The most delicate specialty upon
earth is your standing with your old friend's new wife。
〃Good…day； Mr。 McLean；〃 said the Governor to the cow…puncher on
his horse。
〃How're are yu'； doctor；〃 said Lin。 During his early days in Wyoming
the Governor； when as yet a private citizen； had set Mr。 McLean's broken
leg at Drybone。 〃Let me make yu' known to Mrs。 McLean；〃 pursued the
husband。
The lady； at a loss how convention prescribes the greeting of a bride to
a Governor； gave a waddle on the pony's back； then sat up stiff
