the faith of men(人们的信任)-第14章
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word that something was wrong with her baby； and Lashka； who was pre…
eminently a mother…woman and who held herself to be truly wise in the
matter of infantile troubles； missed no opportunity of nursing the children
of other women as yet more fortunate than she。
Pentfield harnessed his dogs； and with Lashka behind took the trail
down the creek bed of Bonanza。 Spring was in the air。 The sharpness
had gone out of the bite of the frost and though snow still covered the land；
the murmur and trickling of water told that the iron grip of winter was
relaxing。 The bottom was dropping out of the trail； and here and there a
new trail had been broken around open holes。 At such a place； where
there was not room for two sleds to pass； Pentfield heard the jingle of
approaching bells and stopped his dogs。
A team of tired…looking dogs appeared around the narrow bend；
followed by a heavily…loaded sled。 At the gee…pole was a man who
steered in a manner familiar to Pentfield； and behind the sled walked two
women。 His glance returned to the man at the gee…pole。 It was Corry。
Pentfield got on his feet and waited。 He was glad that Lashka was with
him。 The meeting could not have come about better had it been planned；
he thought。 And as he waited he wondered what they would say； what
they would be able to say。 As for himself there was no need to say
anything。 The explaining was all on their side； and he was ready to listen
to them。
As they drew in abreast； Corry recognized him and halted the dogs。
With a 〃Hello； old man；〃 he held out his hand。
Pentfield shook it； but without warmth or speech。 By this time the
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two women had come up； and he noticed that the second one was Dora
Holmes。 He doffed his fur cap； the flaps of which were flying； shook
hands with her； and turned toward Mabel。 She swayed forward； splendid
and radiant； but faltered before his outstretched hand。 He had intended to
say； 〃How do you do； Mrs。 Hutchinson？〃but somehow； the Mrs。
Hutchinson had choked him； and all he had managed to articulate was the
〃How do you do？〃
There was all the constraint and awkwardness in the situation he could
have wished。 Mabel betrayed the agitation appropriate to her position；
while Dora； evidently brought along as some sort of peacemaker； was
saying：…
〃Why； what is the matter； Lawrence？〃
Before he could answer； Corry plucked him by the sleeve and drew
him aside。
〃See here； old man； what's this mean？〃 Corry demanded in a low tone；
indicating Lashka with his eyes。
〃I can hardly see； Corry； where you can have any concern in the
matter；〃 Pentfield answered mockingly。
But Corry drove straight to the point。
〃What is that squaw doing on your sled？ A nasty job you've given
me to explain all this away。 I only hope it can be explained away。 Who is
she？ Whose squaw is she？〃
Then Lawrence Pentfield delivered his stroke； and he delivered it with
a certain calm elation of spirit that seemed somewhat to compensate for
the wrong that had been done him。
〃She is my squaw；〃 he said； 〃Mrs。 Pentfield； if you please。〃
Corry Hutchinson gasped； and Pentfield left him and returned to the
two women。 Mabel； with a worried expression on her face； seemed
holding herself aloof。 He turned to Dora and asked； quite genially； as
though all the world was sunshine：… 〃How did you stand the trip； anyway？
Have any trouble to sleep warm？〃
〃And； how did Mrs。 Hutchinson stand it？〃 he asked next； his eyes on
Mabel。
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〃Oh； you dear ninny！〃 Dora cried； throwing her arms around him and
hugging him。 〃Then you saw it； too！ I thought something was the
matter； you were acting so strangely。〃
〃II hardly understand；〃 he stammered。
〃It was corrected in next day's paper；〃 Dora chattered on。 〃We did
not dream you would see it。 All the other papers had it correctly； and of
course that one miserable paper was the very one you saw！〃
〃Wait a moment！ What do you mean？〃 Pentfield demanded； a
sudden fear at his heart； for he felt himself on the verge of a great gulf。
But Dora swept volubly on。
〃Why； when it became known that Mabel and I were going to
Klondike； EVERY OTHER WEEK said that when we were gone； it would
be lovely on Myrdon Avenue； meaning； of course； lonely。〃
〃Then〃
〃I am Mrs。 Hutchinson；〃 Dora answered。 〃And you thought it was
Mabel all the time〃
〃Precisely the way of it；〃 Pentfield replied slowly。 〃But I can see
now。 The reporter got the names mixed。 The Seattle and Portland paper
copied。〃
He stood silently for a minute。 Mabel's face was turned toward him
again； and he could see the glow of expectancy in it。 Corry was deeply
interested in the ragged toe of one of his moccasins； while Dora was
stealing sidelong glances at the immobile face of Lashka sitting on the sled。
Lawrence Pentfield stared straight out before him into a dreary future；
through the grey vistas of which he saw himself riding on a sled behind
running dogs with lame Lashka by his side。
Then he spoke； quite simply； looking Mabel in the eyes。
〃I am very sorry。 I did not dream it。 I thought you had married
Corry。 That is Mrs。 Pentfield sitting on the sled over there。〃
Mabel Holmes turned weakly toward her sister； as though all the
fatigue of her great journey had suddenly descended on her。 Dora caught
her around the waist。 Corry Hutchinson was still occupied with his
moccasins。 Pentfield glanced quickly from face to face； then turned to
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his sled。
〃Can't stop here all day； with Pete's baby waiting；〃 he said to Lashka。
The long whip…lash hissed out； the dogs sprang against the breast
bands； and the sled lurched and jerked ahead。
〃Oh； I say； Corry；〃 Pentfield called back； 〃you'd better occupy the old
cabin。 It's not been used for some time。 I've built a new one on the
hill。〃
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TOO MUCH GOLD
This being a storyand a truer one than it may appearof a mining
country； it is quite to be expected that it will be a hard…luck story。 But
that depends on the point of view。 Hard luck is a mild way of terming it
so far as Kink Mitchell and Hootchinoo Bill are concerned； and that they
have a decided opinion on the subject is a matter of common knowledge in
the Yukon country。
It was in the fall of 1896 t
