susy, a story of the plains-第10章

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to　keep　down　inordinate　vanity；　which　for　some　occult　reason　one

always　reserves　for　the　members　of　one's　own　family。　　He　was　quite

conscious　that　Susy　was　looking　very　pretty　in　this　new　and　mature

frock；　and　that　as　she　stood　beside　his　wife；　far　from　ageing　Mrs。

Peyton's　good　looks　and　figure；　she　appeared　like　an　equal

companion；　and　that　they　mutually　〃became〃　one　another。　　This；　and

the　fact　that　they　were　all；　including　Mary　Rogers；　in　their

freshest；　gayest　morning　dresses；　awakened　a　half…humorous；　half…

real　apprehension　in　his　mind；　that　he　was　now　hopelessly　surrounded

by　a　matured　sex；　and　in　a　weak　minority。



〃I　think　I　ought　to　have　been　prepared；〃　he　began　grimly；　〃for　this

addition　totothe　skirts　of　my　family。〃



〃Why；　John；〃　returned　Mrs。　Peyton　quickly；　〃do　you　mean　to　say　you

haven't　noticed　that　the　poor　child　has　for　weeks　been　looking

positively　indecent？〃



〃Really；　papa；　I've　been　a　sight　to　behold。　　Haven't　I；　Mary？〃

chimed　in　Susy。



〃Yes；　dear。　　Why；　Judge；　I've　been　wondering　that　Susy　stood　it　so

well；　and　never　complained。〃



Peyton　glanced　around　him　at　this　compact　feminine　embattlement。　　It

was　as　he　feared。　　Yet　even　here　he　was　again　at　fault。



〃And；〃　said　Mrs。　Peyton　slowly；　with　the　reserved　significance　of

the　feminine　postscript　in　her　voice；　〃if　that　Mr。　Brant　is　coming

here　to…day；　it　would　be　just　as　well　for　him　to　see　that　SHE　IS　NO

LONGER　A　CHILD；　AS　WHEN　HE　KNEW　HER。〃



An　hour　later；　good…natured　Mary　Rogers；　in　her　character　of　〃a

dear；〃which　was　usually　indicated　by　the　undertaking　of　small

errands　for　her　friend；was　gathering　roses　from　the　old　garden　for

Susy's　adornment；　when　she　saw　a　vision　which　lingered　with　her　for

many　a　day。　　She　had　stopped　to　look　through　the　iron　grille　in　the

adobe　wall；　across　the　open　wind…swept　plain。　　Miniature　waves　were

passing　over　the　wild　oats；　with　glittering　disturbances　here　and

there　in　the　depressions　like　the　sparkling　of　green　foam；　the

horizon　line　was　sharply　defined　against　the　hard；　steel…blue　sky；

everywhere　the　brand…new　morning　was　shining　with　almost　painted

brilliancy；　the　vigor；　spirit；　and　even　crudeness　of　youth　were　over

all。　　The　young　girl　was　dazzled　and　bewildered。　　Suddenly；　as　if

blown　out　of　the　waving　grain；　or　an　incarnation　of　the　vivid

morning；　the　bright　and　striking　figure　of　a　youthful　horseman

flashed　before　the　grille。　　It　was　Clarence　Brant！　　Mary　Rogers　had

always　seen　him；　in　the　loyalty　of　friendship；　with　Susy's

prepossessed　eyes；　yet　she　fancied　that　morning　that　he　had　never

looked　so　handsome　before。　　Even　the　foppish　fripperies　of　his

riding…dress　and　silver　trappings　seemed　as　much　the　natural

expression　of　conquering　youth　as　the　invincible　morning　sunshine。

Perhaps　it　might　have　been　a　reaction　against　Susy's　caprice　or　some

latent　susceptibility　of　her　own；　but　a　momentary　antagonism　to　her

friend　stirred　even　her　kindly　nature。　　What　right　had　Susy　to

trifle　with　such　an　opportunity？　　Who　was　SHE　to　hesitate　over　this

gallant　prince？



But　Prince　Charming's　quick　eyes　had　detected　her；　and　the　next

moment　his　beautiful　horse　was　beside　the　grating；　and　his　ready

hand　of　greeting　extended　through　the　bars。



〃I　suppose　I　am　early　and　unexpected；　but　I　slept　at　Santa　Inez　last

night；　that　I　might　ride　over　in　the　cool　of　the　morning。　　My　things

are　coming　by　the　stage…coach；　later。　　It　seemed　such　a　slow　way　of

coming　one's　self。〃



Mary　Rogers's　black　eyes　intimated　that　the　way　he　had　taken　was　the

right　one；　but　she　gallantly　recovered　herself　and　remembered　her

position　as　confidante。　　And　here　was　the　opportunity　of　delivering

Susy's　warning　unobserved。　　She　withdrew　her　hand　from　Clarence's

frank　grasp；　and　passing　it　through　the　grating；　patted　the　sleek；

shining　flanks　of　his　horse；　with　a　discreet　division　of　admiration。



〃And　such　a　lovely　creature；　too！　　And　Susy　will　be　so　delighted！

and　oh；　Mr。　Brant；　please；　you're　to　say　nothing　of　having　met　her

at　Santa　Clara。　　It's　just　as　well　not　to　begin　with　THAT　here；　for；

you　see〃　（with　a　large；　maternal　manner）；　〃you　were　both　SO　young

then。〃



Clarence　drew　a　quick　breath。　　It　was　the　first　check　to　his　vision

of　independence　and　equal　footing！　　Then　his　invitation　was　NOT　the

outcome　of　a　continuous　friendship　revived　by　Susy；　as　he　had　hoped；

the　Peytons　had　known　nothing　of　his　meeting　with　her；　or　perhaps

they　would　not　have　invited　him。　　He　was　here　as　an　impostor；and

all　because　Susy　had　chosen　to　make　a　mystery　of　a　harmless

encounter；　which　might　have　been　explained；　and　which　they　might

have　even　countenanced。　　He　thought　bitterly　of　his　old　playmate　for

a　brief　moment；as　brief　as　Mary's　antagonism。　　The　young　girl

noticed　the　change　in　his　face；　but　misinterpreted　it。



〃Oh；　there's　no　danger　of　its　coming　out　if　you　don't　say　anything；〃

she　said；　quickly。　　〃Ride　on　to　the　house；　and　don't　wait　for　me。

You'll　find　them　in　the　patio　on　the　veranda。〃



Clarence　moved　on；　but　not　as　spiritedly　as　before。　　Nevertheless

there　was　still　dash　enough　about　him　and　the　animal　he　bestrode　to

stir　into　admiration　the　few　lounging　vacqueros　of　a　country　which

was　apt　to　judge　the　status　of　a　rider　by　the　quality　of　his　horse。

Nor　was　the　favorable　impression　confined　to　them　alone。　　Peyton's

gratification　rang　out　cheerily　in　his　greeting：



〃Bravo；　Clarence！　　You　are　here　in　true　caballero　style。　　Thanks　for

the　compliment　to　the　rancho。〃



For　a　moment　the　young　man　was　transported　back　again　to　his

boyhood；　and　once　more　felt　Peyton's　approving　hand　pushing　back　the

worn　straw　hat　from　his　childish　forehead。　　A　faint　color　rose　to

his　cheeks；　his　eyes　momentarily　dropped。　　The　highest　art　could

have　done　no　more！　　The　slight　aggressiveness　of　his　youthful　finery

and　picturesque　good　looks　was　condoned　at　once；　his　modesty

conquered　where　self…assertion　might　have　provoked　opposition；　and

even　Mrs。　Peyton　felt　herself　impelled　to　come　forward　with　an

outstretched　hand　scarcely　less　frank　than　her　husband's。　　Then

Clarence　lifted　his　eyes。　　He　saw　before　him　the　woman　to　whom　his

childish　heart　had　gone　out　with　the　inscrutable　longing　and

adoration　of　a　motherless；　homeless；　companionless　boy；　the　woman

who　had　absorbed　the　love　of　his　playmate　without　sharing　it　with

him；　who　had　showered　her　protecting　and　maternal　caresses　on　Susy；

a　waif　like　himself；　yet　had　not　only　left　his　heart　lonely　and

desolate；　but　had　even　added　to　his　childish　distrust　of　himself　the

thought　that　he　had　excited　her　aversion。　　He　saw　her　more　beautiful

than　ever　in　her　restored　health；　freshness　of　coloring；　and　mature

roundness　of　outline。　　He　was　unconsciously　touched　with　a　man's

admiration　for　her　without　losing　his　boyish　yearnings　and　half…

filial　affection；　in　her　new　materialistic　womanhood　his　youthful

imagination　had　lifted　her　to　a　queen　and　goddess。　　There　was　all

this　appeal　in　his　still　boyish　eyes；eyes　that　had　never　yet　known

shame　or　fear　in　the　expression　of　their　emotions；　there　was　all

this　in　the　gesture　with　which　he　lifted　Mrs。　Peyton's　fingers　to

his　lips。　　The　little　group　saw　in　this　act　only　a　Spanish　courtesy

in　keeping　with　his　accepted　role。　　But　a　thrill　of　surprise；　of

embarrassment；　of　intense　gratification　passed　over　her。　　For　he　had

not　even　looked　at　Susy！



Her　relenting　was　graceful。　　She　welcomed　him　with　a　winning　smile。

Then　she　motioned　pleasantly　towards　Susy。



〃But　here　is　an　older　friend；　Mr。　Brant；　whom　you　do　not　seem　to

recognize；Susy；　whom　you　have　not　seen　since　she　was　a　child。〃



A　quick　flush　rose　to　Clarence's　cheek。　　The　group　smiled　at　this

evident　youthful　confession　of　some　boyish　admiration。　　But　Clarence

knew　that　his　truthful　blood　was　merely　resenting　the　deceit　his

lips　were　sealed　from　divulging。　　He　did　not　dare　to　glance　at　Susy；

it　added　to　the　general　amusement　that　the　young　gi