the call of the canyon-第27章

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


stounding　truth　of　the　contact　with　his　huge　sheep…defiled　hands；　had　been　profanation　and　degradation　under　which　she　sickened　with　fear　and　shame。　Yet　hovering　back　of　her　shame　and　rising　anger　seemed　to　be　a　pale；　monstrous；　and　indefinable　thought；　insistent　and　accusing；　with　which　she　must　sooner　or　later　reckon。　It　might　have　been　the　voice　of　the　new　side　of　her　nature；　but　at　that　moment　of　outraged　womanhood；　and　of　revolt　against　the　West；　she　would　not　listen。　It　might；　too；　have　been　the　still　small　voice　of　conscience。　But　decision　of　mind　and　energy　coming　to　her　then；　she　threw　off　the　burden　of　emotion　and　perplexity；　and　forced　herself　into　composure　before　the　arrival　of　Glenn。

The　dust　had　ceased　to　blow；　although　the　wind　had　by　no　means　died　away。　Sunset　marked　the　west　in　old　rose　and　gold；　a　vast　flare。　Carley　espied　a　horseman　far　down　the　road；　and　presently　recognized　both　rider　and　steed。　He　was　coming　fast。　She　went　out　and；　mounting　her　mustang；　she　rode　out　to　meet　Glenn。　It　did　not　appeal　to　her　to　wait　for　him　at　the　cabin；　besides　hoof　tracks　other　than　those　made　by　her　mustang　might　have　been　noticed　by　Glenn。　Presently　he　came　up　to　her　and　pulled　his　loping　horse。

〃Hello！　I　sure　was　worried；〃　was　his　greeting；　as　his　gloved　hand　went　out　to　her。　〃Did　you　run　into　that　sandstorm？〃

〃It　ran　into　me；　Glenn；　and　buried　me；〃　she　laughed。

His　fine　eyes　lingered　on　her　face　with　glad　and　warm　glance；　and　the　keen；　apprehensive　penetration　of　a　lover。

〃Well；　under　all　that　dust　you　look　scared；〃　he　said。

〃Scared！　I　was　worse　than　that。　When　I　first　ran　into　the　flying　dirt　I　was　only　afraid　I'd　lose　my　wayand　my　complexion。　But　when　the　worst　of　the　storm　hit　methen　I　feared　I'd　lose　my　breath。〃

〃Did　you　face　that　sand　and　ride　through　it　all？〃　he　queried。

〃No；　not　all。　But　enough。　I　went　through　the　worst　of　it　before　I　reached　the　cabin；〃　she　replied。

〃Wasn't　it　great？〃

〃Yesgreat　bother　and　annoyance；〃　she　said；　laconically。

Whereupon　he　reached　with　long；　arm　and　wrapped　it　round　her　as　they　rocked　side　by　side。　Demonstrations　of　this　nature　were　infrequent　with　Glenn。　Despite　losing　one　foot　out　of　a　stirrup　and　her　seat　in　the　saddle　Carley　rather　encouraged　it。　He　kissed　her　dusty　face；　and　then　set　her　back。

〃By　George！　Carley；　sometimes　I　think　you've　changed　since　you've　been　here；〃　he　said；　with　warmth。　〃To　go　through　that　sandstorm　without　one　kickone　knock　at　my　West！〃

〃Glenn；　I　always　think　of　what　Flo　saysthe　worst　is　yet　to　come；〃　replied　Carley；　trying　to　hide　her　unreasonable　and　tumultuous　pleasure　at　words　of　praise　from　him。

〃Carley　Burch；　you　don't　know　yourself；〃　he　declared；　enigmatically。

〃What　woman　knows　herself？　But　do　you　know　me？〃

〃Not　I。　Yet　sometimes　I　see　depths　in　youwonderful　possibilities…　…submerged　under　your　poiseunder　your　fixed；　complacent　idle　attitude　toward　life。〃

This　seemed　for　Carley　to　be　dangerously　skating　near　thin　ice；　but　she　could　not　resist　a　retort：

〃Depths　in　me？　Why　I　am　a　shallow；　transparent　stream　like　your　West　Fork！　。　。　。　And　as　for　possibilities…may　I　ask　what　of　them　you　imagine　you　see？〃

〃As　a　girl；　before　you　were　claimed　by　the　world；　you　were　earnest　at　heart。　You　had　big　hopes　and　dreams。　And　you　had　intellect；　too。　But　you　have　wasted　your　talents；　Carley。　Having　money；　and　spending　it；　living　for　pleasure；　you　have　not　realized　your　powers。　。　。　。　Now；　don't　look　hurt。　I'm　not　censuring　you；　It's　just　the　way　of　modern　life。　And　most　of　your　friends　have　been　more　careless；　thoughtless；　useless　than　you。　The　aim　of　their　existence　is　to　be　comfortable；　free　from　work；　worry；　pain。　They　want　pleasure；　luxury。　And　what　a　pity　it　is！　The　best　of　you　girls　regard　marriage　as　an　escape；　instead　of　responsibility。　You　don't　marry　to　get　your　shoulders　square　against　the　old　wheel　of　American　progressto　help　some　man　make　goodto　bring　a　troop　of　healthy　American　kids　into　the　world。　You　bare　your　shoulders　to　the　gaze　of　the　multitude　and　like　it　best　if　you　are　strung　with　pearls。〃

〃Glenn；　you　distress　me　when　you　talk　like　this；　〃　replied　Carley；　soberly。　〃You　did　not　use　to　talk　so。　It　seems　to　me　you　are　bitter　against　women。〃

〃Oh　no；　Carley！　I　am　only　sad；〃　he　said。　〃I　only　see　where　once　I　was　blind。　American　women　are　the　finest　on　earth；　but　as　a　race；　if　they　don't　change；　they're　doomed　to　extinction。〃

〃How　can　you　say　such　things？〃　demanded　Carley；　with　spirit。

〃I　say　them　because　they　are　true。　Carley；　on　the　level　now；　tell　me　how　many　of　your　immediate　friends　have　children。〃

Put　to　a　test；　Carley　rapidly　went　over　in　mind　her　circle　of　friends；　with　the　result　that　she　was　somewhat　shocked　and　amazed　to　realize　how　few　of　them　were　even　married；　and　how　the　babies　of　her　acquaintance　were　limited　to　three。　It　was　not　easy　to　admit　this　to　Glenn。

〃My　dear；〃　replied　he；　〃if　that　does　not　show　you　the　handwriting　on　the　wall；　nothing　ever　will。〃

〃A　girl　has　to　find　a　husband；　doesn't　she？〃　asked　Carley；　roused　to　defense　of　her　sex。　〃And　if　she's　anybody　she　has　to　find　one　in　her　set。　Well；　husbands　are　not　plentiful。　Marriage　certainly　is　not　the　end　of　existence　these　days。　We　have　to　get　along　somehow。　The　high　cost　of　living　is　no　inconsderable　factor　today。　Do　you　know　that　most　of　the　better…class　apartment　houses　in　New　York　will　not　take　children？　Women　are　not　all　to　blame。　Take　the　speed　mania。　Men　must　have　automobiles。　I　know　one　girl　who　wanted　a　baby；　but　her　husband　wanted　a　car。　They　couldn't　afford　both。〃

〃Carley；　I'm　not　blaming　women　more　than　men；〃　returned　Glenn。　〃I　don't　know　that　I　blame　them　as　a　class。　But　in　my　own　mind　I　have　worked　it　all　out。　Every　man　or　woman　who　is　genuinely　American　should　read　the　signs　of　the　times；　realize　the　crisis；　and　meet　it　in　an　American　way。　Otherwise　we　are　done　as　a　race。　Money　is　God　in　the　older　countries。　But　it　should　never　become　God　in　America。　If　it　does　we　will　make　the　fall　of　Rome　pale　into　insignificance。〃

〃Glenn；　let's　put　off　the　argument；〃　appealed　Carley。　〃I'm　notjust　up　to　fighting　you　today。　Ohyou　needn't　smile。　I'm　not　showing　a　yellow　streak；　as　Flo　puts　it。　I'll　fight　you　some　other　time。〃

〃You're　right；　Carley；〃　he　assented。　〃Here　we　are　loafing　six　or　seven　miles　from　home。　Let's　rustle　along。〃

Riding　fast　with　Glenn　was　something　Carley　had　only　of　late　added　to　her　achievements。　She　had　greatest　pride　in　it。　So　she　urged　her　mustang　to　keep　pace　with　Glenn's　horse　and　gave　herself　up　to　the　thrill　of　the　motion　and　feel　of　wind　and　sense　of　flying　along。　At　a　good　swinging　lope　Calico　covered　ground　swiftly　and　did　not　tire。　Carley　rode　the　two　miles　to　the　rim　of　the　canyon；　keeping　alongside　of　Glenn　all　the　way。　Indeed；　for　one　long　level　stretch　she　and　Glenn　held　hands。　When　they　arrived　at　the　descent；　which　necessitated　slow　and　careful　riding；　she　was　hot　and　tingling　and　breathless；　worked　by　the　action　into　an　exuberance　of　pleasure。　Glenn　complimented　her　riding　as　well　as　her　rosy　cheeks。　There　was　indeed　a　sweetness　in　working　at　a　task　as　she　had　worked　to　learn　to　ride　in　Western　fashion。　Every　turn　of　her　mind　seemed　to　confront　her　with　sobering　antitheses　of　thought。　Why　had　she　come　to　love　to　ride　down　a　lonely　desert　road；　through　ragged　cedars　where　the　wind　whipped　her　face　with　fragrant　wild　breath；　if　at　the　same　time　she　hated　the　West？　Could　she　hate　a　country；　however　barren　and　rough；　if　it　had　saved　the　health　and　happiness　of　her　future　husband？　Verily　there　were　problems　for　Carley　to　solve。

Early　twilight　purple　lay　low　in　the　hollows　and　clefts　of　the　canyon。　Over　the　western　rim　a　pale　ghost　of　the　evening　star　seemed　to　smile　at　Carley；　to　bid　her　look　and　look。　Like　a　strain　of　distant　music；　the　dreamy　hum　of　falling　water；　the　murmur　and　melody　of　the　stream；　came　again　to　Carley's　sensitive　ear。

〃Do　you　love　this？〃　asked　Glenn；　when　they　reached　the　green…forested　canyon　floor；　with　the　yellow　road　winding　away　into　the　purple　shadows。

〃Yes；　both　the　rideand　you；〃　flashed　Carley；　contrarily。　She　knew　he　had　meant　the　deep…walled　canyon　with　its　brooding　solitude。

〃But　I　want　you　to　love　Arizona；〃　he　said。