lin mclean(林·迈林恩)-第2节
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though；〃 he added； gazing down。 For a moment his boy face grew
thoughtful。 〃Shucks！〃 said he then； abruptly； 〃where's any joy in money
that's comin' till it arrives？ I have most forgot the feel o' spot…cash。〃
He turned his horse away from the far…winding vision of the river； and
took a sharp jog after the foreman； who had not been waiting for him。
Thus they crossed the eighteen miles of high plain； and came down to Fort
Washakie； in the valley of Little Wind； before the day was hot。
His roll of wages once jammed in his pocket like an old handkerchief；
young Lin precipitated himself out of the post…trader's store and away on
his horse up the stream among the Shoshone tepees to an unexpected
entertainmenta wolf…dance。 He had meant to go and see what the new
waiter…girl at the hotel looked like； but put this off promptly to attend the
dance。 This hospitality the Shoshone Indians were extending to some
visiting Ute friends； and the neighborhood was assembled to watch the
ring of painted naked savages。
The post…trader looked after the galloping Lin。 〃What's he quitting his
job for？〃 he asked the foreman。
〃Same as most of 'em quit。〃
〃Nothing？〃
〃Nothing。〃
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〃Been satisfactory？〃
〃Never had a boy more so。 Good…hearted； willing； a plumb dare…devil
with a horse。〃
〃And worthless；〃 suggested the post…trader。
〃Wellnot yet。 He's headed that way。〃
〃Been punching cattle long？〃
〃Came in the country about seventy…eight； I believe； and rode for the
Bordeaux Outfit most a year； and quit。 Blew in at Cheyenne till he went
broke； and worked over on to the Platte。 Rode for the C。 Y。 Outfit most a
year； and quit。 Blew in at Buffalo。 Rode for Balaam awhile on Butte Creek。
Broke his leg。 Went to the Drybone Hospital； and when the fracture was
commencing to knit pretty good he broke it again at the hog…ranch across
the bridge。 Next time you're in Cheyenne get Dr。 Barker to tell you about
that。 McLean drifted to Green River last year and went up over on to
Snake； and up Snake； and was around with a prospecting outfit on Galena
Creek by Pitchstone Canyon。 Seems he got interested in some
Dutchwoman up there； but she had troubledied； I think they saidand he
came down by Meteetsee to Wind River。 He's liable to go to Mexico or
Africa next。〃
〃If you need him；〃 said the post…trader； closing his ledger； 〃you can
offer him five more a month。〃
〃That'll not hold him。〃
〃Well； let him go。 Have a cigar。 The bishop is expected for Sunday；
and I've got to see his room is fixed up for him。〃
〃The bishop！〃 said the foreman。 〃I've heard him highly spoken of。〃
〃You can hear him preach to…morrow。 The bishop is a good man。〃
〃He's better than that； he's a man；〃 stated the foreman〃at least so they
tell me。〃
Now； saving an Indian dance； scarce any possible event at the
Shoshone agency could assemble in one spot so many sorts of inhabitants
as a visit from this bishop。 Inhabitants of four colors gathered to view the
wolf…dance this afternoon red men； white men； black men； yellow men。
Next day； three sorts came to church at the agency。 The Chinese laundry
was absent。 But because； indeed （as the foreman said）； the bishop was not
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only a good man but a man； Wyoming held him in respect and went to
look at him。 He stood in the agency church and held the Episcopal service
this Sunday morning for some brightly glittering army officers and their
families； some white cavalry； and some black infantry； the agency doctor；
the post…trader； his foreman； the government scout； three gamblers； the
waiter…girl from the hotel； the stage…driver； who was there because she was；
old Chief Washakie； white…haired and royal in blankets； with two royal
Utes splendid beside him； one benchful of squatting Indian children； silent
and marvelling； and； on the back bench； the commanding officer's new
hired…girl； and； beside her； Lin McLean。
Mr。 McLean's hours were already various and successful。 Even at the
wolf…dance； before he had wearied of its monotonous drumming and
pageant； his roving eye had rested upon a girl whose eyes he caught
resting upon him。 A look； an approach； a word； and each was soon content
with the other。 Then； when her duties called her to the post from him and
the stream's border； with a promise for next day he sought the hotel and
found the three gamblers anxious to make his acquaintance； for when a
cow…puncher has his pay many people will take an interest in him。 The
three gamblers did not know that Mr。 McLean could play cards。 He left
them late in the evening fat with their money； and sought the tepees of the
Arapahoes。 They lived across the road from the Shoshones； and among
their tents the boy remained until morning。 He was here in church now；
keeping his promise to see the bishop with the girl of yesterday； and while
he gravely looked at the bishop； Miss Sabina Stone allowed his arm to
encircle her waist。 No soldier had achieved this yet； but Lin was the first
cow…puncher she had seen； and he had given her the handkerchief from
round his neck。
The quiet air blew in through the windows and door； the pure； light
breath from the mountains； only； passing over their foot…hills it had caught
and carried the clear aroma of the sage…brush。 This it brought into church；
and with this seemed also to float the peace and great silence of the plains。
The little melodeon in the corner； played by one of the ladies at the post；
had finished accompanying the hymn； and now it prolonged a few closing
chords while the bishop paused before his address； resting his keen eyes
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on the people。 He was dressed in a plain suit of black with a narrow black
tie。 This was because the Union Pacific Railroad； while it had delivered
him correctly at Green River； had despatched his robes towards Cheyenne。
Without citing chapter and verse the bishop began：
〃And he arose； and came to his father。 But when he was yet a great
way off； his father saw him； and had compassion； and ran； and fell on his
neck and kissed him。〃
The bishop told the story of that surpassing parable； and then
proceeded to draw from it a discourse fitted to the drifting destinies in
whose presence he found himself for one solitary morning。 He spoke
unlike many clergymen。 His words were chiefly those which the people
round him used； and his voice was more like earnest talking than
preaching。
Miss Sabina Stone felt the arm of her cow…puncher loosen slightly； and
she looked at him。 But he was looking at the bishop； no longer gravely but
with wide…open eyes； alert。 When the narrative reached the elder brother in
the field； and how he came to the house and heard sounds of music and
dancing； Miss Stone drew away from her companion and let him watch
the bishop； since he seemed to prefer that。 She took to reading hymns
vindictively。 The bishop himself noted the sun…browned boy face and the
wide…open eyes。 He was too far away to see anything but the alert；
listening position of the young cow…puncher。 He could not discern how
that； after he had left the music and dancing and begun to draw morals；
attention faded from those eyes that seemed to watch him； and they filled
with dreaminess。 It was very hot in church。 Chief Washakie went to sleep；
and so did a corporal； but Lin McLean sat in the same alert position till
Miss Stone pulled him and asked if he intended to sit down through the
hymn。 Then church was out。 Officers； Indians； and all the people dispersed
through the great sunshine to their dwellings； and the cow…puncher rode
beside Sabina in silence。
〃What are you studying over； Mr。 McLean？〃 in
