in the carquinez woods-第24章

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may　compel　me　to　relinquish　it　for　other　duties。　　May　I　beg　you
to　accept　the　inclosed　ring　as　a　slight　recognition　of　my
obligations　to　you？

〃Your　grateful　pupil；

〃NELLIE　WYNN。〃


When　he　had　finished　reading　the　letter；　she　handed　him　a　ring；
which　he　took　mechanically。　　He　raised　his　eyes　to　hers　with
perfectly　genuine　admiration。　　〃You're　a　good　girl；　Nellie；〃　he
said；　and；　in　a　moment　of　parental　forgetfulness；　unconsciously
advanced　his　lips　towards　her　cheek。　　But　she　drew　back　in　time
to　recall　him　to　a　sense　of　that　human　weakness。

〃I　suppose　I'll　have　time　for　a　nap　yet；〃　she　said；　as　a　gentle
hint　to　her　embarrassed　parent。　　He　nodded　and　turned　towards　the
door。

〃If　I　were　you；〃　she　continued；　repressing　a　yawn；　〃I'd　manage　to
be　seen　on　good　terms　with　Low　at　the　hotel；　so　perhaps　you　need
not　give　the　letter　to　him　until　the　last　thing。　　Good…by。〃

The　sitting…room　door　opened　and　closed　behind　her　as　she　slipped
up…stairs；　and　her　father；　without　the　formality　of　leave…taking；
quietly　let　himself　out　by　the　front　door。

When　he　drove　into　the　high　road　again；　however；　an　overlooked
possibility　threatened　for　a　moment　to　indefinitely　postpone　his
amiable　intentions　regarding　Low。　　The　hotel　was　at　the　further
end　of　the　settlement　towards　the　Carquinez　Woods；　and　as　Wynn
had　nearly　reached　it　he　was　recalled　to　himself　by　the　sounds　of
hoofs　and　wheels　rapidly　approaching　from　the　direction　of　the
Excelsior　turnpike。　　Wynn　made　no　doubt　it　was　the　sheriff　and
Brace。　　To　avoid　recognition　at　that　moment；　he　whipped　up　his
horse；　intending　to　keep　the　lead　until　he　could　turn　into　the
first　cross…road。　　But　the　coming　travelers　had　the　fleetest
horse；　and　finding　it　impossible　to　distance　them　he　drove　close
to　the　ditch；　pulling　up　suddenly　as　the　strange　vehicle　was
abreast　of　him；　and　forcing　them　to　pass　him　at　full　speed；　with
the　result　already　chronicled。　　When　they　had　vanished　in　the
darkness；　Mr。　Wynn；　with　a　heart　overflowing　with　Christian
thankfulness　and　universal　benevolence；　wheeled　round；　and　drove
back　to　the　hotel　he　had　already　passed。　　To　pull　up　at　the
veranda　with　a　stentorian　shout；　to　thump　loudly　at　the　deserted
bar；　to　hilariously　beat　the　panels　of　the　landlord's　door；　and
commit　a　jocose　assault　and　battery　upon　that　half…dresssed　and
half…awakened　man；　was　eminently　characteristic　of　Wynn；　and　part
of　his　amiable　plans　that　morning。

〃Something　to　wash　this　wood　smoke　from　my　throat；　Brother
Carter；　and　about　as　much　again　to　prop　open　your　eyes；〃　he　said；
dragging　Carter　before　the　bar；　〃and　glasses　round　for　as　many　of
the　boys　as　are　up　and　stirring　after　a　hard…working　Christian's
rest。　　How　goes　the　honest　publican's　trade；　and　who　have　we　here？〃

〃Thar's　Judge　Robinson　and　two　lawyers　from　Sacramento；　Dick
Curson　over　from　Yolo；〃　said　Carter；　〃and　that　ar　young　Injin
yarb　doctor　from　the　Carquinez　Woods。　　I　reckon　he's　jist　upI
noticed　a　light　under　his　door　as　I　passed。〃

〃He's　my　man　for　a　friendly　chat　before　breakfast；〃　said　Wynn。
〃You　needn't　come　up。　　I'll　find　the　way。　　I　don't　want　a　light；
I　reckon　my　eyes　ain't　as　bright　nor　as　young　as　his；　but　they'll
see　almost　as　far　in　the　darkhe！　he！〃　　And；　nodding　to　Brother
Carter；　he　strode　along　the　passage；　and　with　no　other　introduction
than　a　playful　and　preliminary　〃Boo！〃　burst　into　one　of　the　rooms。
Low；　who　by　the　light　of　a　single　candle　was　bending　over　the　plates
of　a　large　quarto；　merely　raised　his　eyes　and　looked　at　the　intruder。
The　young　man's　natural　imperturbability；　always　exasperating　to
Wynn；　seemed　accented　that　morning　by　contrast　with　his　own
over…acted　animation。

〃Ah　ha！wasting　the　midnight　oil　instead　of　imbibing　the　morning
dews；〃　said　Father　Wynn　archly；　illustrating　his　metaphor　with　a
movement　of　his　hand　to　his　lips。　　〃What　have　we　here？〃

〃An　anonymous　gift；〃　replied　Low　simply；　recognizing　the　father
of　Nellie　by　rising　from　his　chair。　　〃It's　a　volume　I've　longed
to　possess；　but　never　could　afford　to　buy。　　I　cannot　imagine　who
sent　it　to　me。〃

Wynn　was　for　a　moment　startled　by　the　thought　that　this　recipient
of　valuable　gifts　might　have　influential　friends。　　But　a　glance
at　the　bare　room；　which　looked　like　a　camp；　and　the　strange；
unconventional　garb　of　its　occupant；　restored　his　former
convictions。　　There　might　be　a　promise　of　intelligence；　but
scarcely　of　prosperity；　in　the　figure　before　him。

〃Ah！　　We　must　not　forget　that　we　are　watched　over　in　the　night
season；〃　he　said；　laying　his　hand　on　Low's　shoulder；　with　an
illustration　of　celestial　guardianship　that　would　have　been
impious　but　for　its　palpable　grotesqueness。　　〃No；　sir；　we　know
not　what　a　day　may　bring　forth。〃

Unfortunately；　Low's　practical　mind　did　not　go　beyond　a　mere
human　interpretation。　　It　was　enough；　however；　to　put　a　new　light
in　his　eye　and　a　faint　color　in　his　cheek。

〃Could　it　have　been　Miss　Nellie？〃　he　asked；　with　half…boyish
hesitation。

Mr。　Wynn　was　too　much　of　a　Christian　not　to　bow　before　what
appeared　to　him　the　purely　providential　interposition　of　this
suggestion。　　Seizing　it　and　Low　at　the　same　moment；　he　playfully
forced　him　down　again　in　his　chair。

〃Ah；　you　rascal！〃　he　said；　with　infinite　archness；　〃that's　your
game；　is　it？　　You　want　to　trap　poor　Father　Wynn。　　You　want　to
make　him　say　'No。'　　You　want　to　tempt　him　to　commit　himself。　　No；
sir！never；　sir！no；　no！〃

Firmly　convinced　that　the　present　was　Nellie's；　and　that　her
father　only　good…humoredly　guessed　it；　the　young　man's　simple；
truthful　nature　was　embarrassed。　　He　longed　to　express　his
gratitude；　but　feared　to　betray　the　young　girl's　trust。　　The
Reverend　Mr。　Wynn　speedily　relieved　his　mind。

〃No〃　he　continued；　bestriding　a　chair；　and　familiarly　confronting
Low　over　its　back。　　〃No；　sirno！　　And　you　want　me　to　say　'No；'
don't　you；　regarding　the　little　walks　of　Nellie　and　a　certain
young　man　in　the　Carquinez　Woods？ha；　ha！　　You'd　like　me　to　say
that　I　knew　nothing　of　the　botanizings；　and　the　herb　collectings；
and　the　picknickings　therehe；　he！you　sly　dog！　　Perhaps　you'd
like　to　tempt　Father　Wynn　further；　and　make　him　swear　he　knows
nothing　of　his　daughter　disguising　herself　in　a　duster　and
meeting　another　young　manisn't　it　another　young　man？all
alone；　eh？　　Perhaps　you　want　poor　old　Father　Wynn　to　say　No。　　No；
sir；　nothing　of　the　kind　ever　occurred。　　Ah；　you　young　rascal！〃

Slightly　troubled；　in　spite　of　Wynn's　hearty　manner；　Low；　with
his　usual　directness；　however；　said；　〃I　do　not　want　anyone　to
deny　that　I　have　seen　Miss　Nellie。〃

〃Certainly；　certainly；〃　said　Wynn；　abandoning　his　method；
considerably　disconcerted　by　Low's　simplicity；　and　a　certain
natural　reserve　that　shook　off　his　familiarity。　　〃Certainly　it's
a　noble　thing　to　be　able　to　put　your　hand　on　your　heart　and　say
to　the　world；　'Come　on；　all　of　you！　　Observe　me；　I　have　nothing
to　conceal。　　I　walk　with　Miss　Wynn　in　the　woods　as　her
instructorher　teacher；　in　fact。　　We　cull　a　flower　here　and
there；　we　pluck　an　herb　fresh　from　the　hands　of　the　Creator。　　We
look；　so　to　speak；　from　Nature　to　Nature's　God。'　　Yes；　my　young
friend；　we　should　be　the　first　to　repel　the　foul　calumny　that
could　misinterpret　our　most　innocent　actions。〃

〃Calumny？〃　repeated　Low；　starting　to　his　feet。　　〃What　calumny？〃

〃My　friend；　my　noble　young　friend；　I　recognize　your　indignation。
I　know　your　worth。　　When　I　said　to　Nellie；　my　only　child；　my
perhaps　too　simple　offspringa　mere　wildflower　like　yourself
when　I　said　to　her；　'Go；　my　child；　walk　in　the　woods　with　this
young　man；　hand　in　hand。　　Let　him　instruct　you　from　the　humblest
roots；　for　he　has　trodden　in　the　ways　of　the　Almighty。　　Gather
wisdom　from　his　lips；　and　knowledge　from　his　simple　woodman's
craft。　　Make；　in　fact；　a　collection　not　only　of　herbs；　but　of
moral　axioms　and　experience'I　knew　I　could　trust　you；　and；
trusting　you；　my　young　friend；　I　felt　I　could　trust　the　world。
Perhaps　I　was　weak；　foolish。　　But　I　thought　only　of　her　welfare。
I　even　recall　how　that　to　preserve　the　purity　of　her　garments；　I
bade　her　don　a　simple　duster；　that；　to　secure　her　from　the
trifling　companionship　of　others；　I　bade　her　keep　her　own
counsel；