in the carquinez woods-第5章

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still　aimlessly　but　rigidly　twisted　in　the　leather　fringe　of　his
hunting…shirt。


CHAPTER　II。


It　was　a　peculiarity　of　the　Carquinez　Wood　that　it　stood　apart
and　distinct　in　its　gigantic　individuality。　　Even　where　the
integrity　of　its　own　singular　species　was　not　entirely　preserved；
it　admitted　no　inferior　trees。　　Nor　was　there　any　diminishing
fringe　on　its　outskirts；　the　sentinels　that　guarded　the　few
gateways　of　the　dim　trails　were　as　monstrous　as　the　serried　ranks
drawn　up　in　the　heart　of　the　forest。　　Consequently；　the　red
highway　that　skirted　the　eastern　angle　was　bare　and　shadeless；
until　it　slipped　a　league　off　into　a　watered　valley　and　refreshed
itself　under　lesser　sycamores　and　willows。　　It　was　here　the　newly
born　city　of　Excelsior；　still　in　its　cradle；　had；　like　an　infant
Hercules；　strangled　the　serpentine　North　Fork　of　the　American
river；　and　turned　its　life　current　into　the　ditches　and　flumes　of
the　Excelsior　mines。

Newest　of　the　new　houses　that　seemed　to　have　accidentally　formed
its　single；　straggling　street　was　the　residence　of　the　Rev。
Winslow　Wynn；　not　unfrequently　known　as　〃Father　Wynn；〃　pastor　of
the　First　Baptist　church。　　The　〃pastorage；〃　as　it　was　cheerfully
called；　had　the　glaring　distinction　of　being　built　of　brick；　and
was；　as　had　been　wickedly　pointed　out　by　idle　scoffers；　the　only
〃fireproof〃　structure　in　town。　　This　sarcasm　was　not；　however；
supposed　to　be　particularly　distasteful　to　〃Father　Wynn；〃　who
enjoyed　the　reputation　of　being　〃hail　fellow；　well　met〃　with　the
rough　mining　element；　who　called　them　by　their　Christian　names；
had　been　known　to　drink　at　the　bar　of　the　Polka　Saloon　while
engaged　in　the　conversion　of　a　prominent　citizen；　and　was
popularly　said　to　have　no　〃gospel　starch〃　about　him。　　Certain
conscious　outcasts　and　transgressors　were　touched　at　this
apparent　unbending　of　the　spiritual　authority。　　The　rigid　tenets
of　Father　Wynn's　faith　were　lost　in　the　supposed　catholicity　of
his　humanity。　　〃A　preacher　that　can　jine　a　man　when　he's　histin'
liquor　into　him；　without　jawin'　about　it；　ought　to　be　allowed　to
wrestle　with　sinners　and　splash　about　in　as　much　cold　water　as　he
likes；〃　was　the　criticism　of　one　of　his　converts。　　Nevertheless；
it　was　true　that　Father　Wynn　was　somewhat　loud　and　intolerant　in
his　tolerance。　　It　was　true　that　he　was　a　little　more　rough；　a
little　more　frank；　a　little　more　hearty；　a　little　more　impulsive
than　his　disciples。　　It　was　true　that　often　the　proclamation　of
his　extreme　liberality　and　brotherly　equality　partook　somewhat　of
an　apology。　　It　is　true　that　a　few　who　might　have　been　most
benefited　by　this　kind　of　gospel　regarded　him　with　a　singular
disdain。　　It　is　true　that　his　liberality　was　of　an　ornamental；
insinuating　quality；　accompanied　with　but　little　sacrifice；　his
acceptance　of　a　collection　taken　up　in　a　gambling　saloon　for　the
rebuilding　of　his　church；　destroyed　by　fire；　gave　him　a
popularity　large　enough；　it　must　be　confessed；　to　cover　the　sins
of　the　gamblers　themselves；　but　it　was　not　proven　that　HE　had
ever　organized　any　form　of　relief。　　But　it　was　true　that　local
history　somehow　accepted　him　as　an　exponent　of　mining
Christianity；　without　the　least　reference　to　the　opinions　of　the
Christian　miners　themselves。

The　Rev。　Mr。　Wynn's　liberal　habits　and　opinions　were　not；
however；　shared　by　his　only　daughter；　a　motherless　young　lady　of
eighteen。　　Nellie　Wynn　was　in　the　eye　of　Excelsior　an
unapproachable　divinity；　as　inaccessible　and　cold　as　her　father
was　impulsive　and　familiar。　　An　atmosphere　of　chaste　and　proud
virginity　made　itself　felt　even　in　the　starched　integrity　of　her
spotless　skirts；　in　her　neatly　gloved　finger…tips；　in　her　clear
amber　eyes；　in　her　imperious　red　lips；　in　her　sensitive　nostrils。
Need　it　be　said　that　the　youth　and　middle　age　of　Excelsior　were
madly；　because　apparently　hopelessly；　in　love　with　her？　　For　the
rest；　she　had　been　expensively　educated；　was　profoundly　ignorant
in　two　languages；　with　a　trained　misunderstanding　of　music　and
painting；　and　a　natural　and　faultless　taste　in　dress。

The　Rev。　Mr。　Wynn　was　engaged　in　a　characteristic　hearty　parting
with　one　of　his　latest　converts；　upon　his　own　doorstep；　with
admirable　al　fresco　effect。　　He　had　just　clapped　him　on　the
shoulder。　　〃Good…by；　good…by；　Charley；　my　boy；　and　keep　in　the
right　path；　not　up；　or　down；　or　round　the　gulch；　you　knowha；
ha！but　straight　across　lots　to　the　shining　gate。〃　　He　had
raised　his　voice　under　the　stimulus　of　a　few　admiring　spectators；
and　backed　his　convert　playfully　against　the　wall。　　〃You　see！
we're　goin'　in　to　win；　you　bet。　　Good…by！　　I'd　ask　you　to　step　in
and　have　a　chat；　but　I've　got　my　work　to　do；　and　so　have　you。
The　gospel　mustn't　keep　us　from　that；　must　it；　Charley？　　Ha；　ha！〃

The　convert　（who　elsewhere　was　a　profane　expressman；　and　had
become　quite　imbecile　under　Mr。　Wynn's　active　heartiness　and
brotherly　horse…play　before　spectators）　managed；　however；　to
feebly　stammer　with　a　blush　something　about　〃Miss　Nellie。〃

〃Ah；　Nellie。　　She；　too；　is　at　her　taskstrimming　her　lampyou
know；　the　parable　of　the　wise　virgins；〃　continued　Father　Wynn
hastily；　fearing　that　the　convert　might　take　the　illustration
literally。　　〃There；　theregood…by。　　Keep　in　the　right　path。〃
And　with　a　parting　shove　he　dismissed　Charley　and　entered　his　own
house。

That　〃wise　virgin；〃　Nellie；　had　evidently　finished　with　the　lamp；
and　was　now　going　out　to　meet　the　bridegroom；　as　she　was　fully
dressed　and　gloved；　and　had　a　pink　parasol　in　her　hand；　as　her
father　entered　the　sitting…room。　　His　bluff　heartiness　seemed　to
fade　away　as　he　removed　his　soft；　broad…brimmed　hat　and　glanced
across　the　too　fresh…looking　apartment。　　There　was　a　smell　of
mortar　still　in　the　air；　and　a　faint　suggestion　that　at　any
moment　green　grass　might　appear　between　the　interstices　of　the
red…brick　hearth。　　The　room；　yielding　a　little　in　the　point　of
coldness；　seemed　to　share　Miss　Nellie's　fresh　virginity；　and；
barring　the　pink　parasol；　set　her　off　as　in　a　vestal's　cell。

〃I　supposed　you　wouldn't　care　to　see　Brace；　the　expressman；　so　I
got　rid　of　him　at　the　door；〃　said　her　father；　drawing　one　of　the
new　chairs　towards　him　slowly；　and　sitting　down　carefully；　as　if
it　were　a　hitherto　untried　experiment。

Miss　Nellie's　face　took　a　tint　of　interest。　　〃Then　he　doesn't　go
with　the　coach　to　Indian　Spring　to…day？〃

〃No；　why？〃

〃I　thought　of　going　over　myself　to　get　the　Burnham　girls　to　come
to　choir…meeting；〃　replied　Miss　Nellie　carelessly；　〃and　he　might
have　been　company。〃

〃He'd　go　now；　if　he　knew　you　were　going；〃　said　her　father；　〃but
it's　just　as　well　he　shouldn't　be　needlessly　encouraged。　　I
rather　think　that　Sheriff　Dunn　is　a　little　jealous　of　him。　　By
the　way；　the　sheriff　is　much　better。　　I　called　to　cheer　him　up
to…day〃　（Mr。　Wynn　had　in　fact　tumultuously　accelerated　the　sick
man's　pulse）；　〃and　he　talked　of　you；　as　usual。　　In　fact；　he　said
he　had　only　two　things　to　get　well　for。　　One　was　to　catch　and
hang　that　woman　Teresa；　who　shot　him；　the　othercan't　you　guess
the　other？〃　he　added　archly；　with　a　faint　suggestion　of　his　other
manner。

Miss　Nellie　coldly　could　not。

The　Rev。　Mr。　Wynn's　archness　vanished。　　〃Don't　be　a　fool；〃　he
said　dryly。　　〃He　wants　to　marry　you；　and　you　know　it。〃

〃Most　of　the　men　here　do；〃　responded　Miss　Nellie；　without　the
least　trace　of　coquetry。　　〃Is　the　wedding　or　the　hanging　to　take
place　first；　or　together；　so　he　can　officiate　at　both？〃

〃His　share　in　the　Union　Ditch　is　worth　a　hundred　thousand
dollars；〃　continued　her　father；　〃and　if　he　isn't　nominated　for
district　judge　this　fall；　he's　bound　to　go　to　the　legislature；
anyway。　　I　don't　think　a　girl　with　your　advantages　and　education
can　afford　to　throw　away　the　chance　of　shining　in　Sacramento；　San
Francisco；　or；　in　good　time；　perhaps　even　Washington。〃

Miss　Nellie's　eyes　did　not　reflect　entire　disapproval　of　this
suggestion；　although　she　replied　with　something　of　her　father's
practical　quality。

〃Mr。　Dunn　is　not　out　of　his　bed　yet；　and　they　say　Teresa's　got
away　to　Arizona；　so　there　isn't　any　particular　hurry。〃

〃Perhaps　not；　but　see　here；　Nellie；　I've　some　important　news　for
you。　　You　know　y