betty zane-第15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！



〃Well；　well；　Lewis；　I　would　not　have　believed　anything　but　the　evidence　of　my　own　eyes；〃　said　Colonel　Zane；　with　a　laugh；　as　Betty　and　Wetzel　approached　him。

〃If　all　the　men　could　dance　as　well　as　Lew；　the　girls　would　be　thankful；　I　can　assure　you；〃　said　Betty。

〃Betty；　I　declare　you　grow　prettier　every　day；〃　said　old　John　Bennet；　who　was　standing　with　the　Colonel　and　the　Major。　〃If　I　were　only　a　young　man　once　more　I　should　try　my　chances　with　you；　and　I　wouldn't　give　up　very　easily。〃

〃I　do　not　know；　Uncle　John；　but　I　am　inclined　to　think　that　if　you　were　a　young　man　and　should　come　a…wooing　you　would　not　get　a　rebuff　from　me；〃　answered　Betty；　smiling　on　the　old　man；　of　whom　she　was　very　fond。

〃Miss　Zane；　will　you　dance　with　me？〃

The　voice　sounded　close　by　Betty's　side。　She　recognized　it；　and　an　unaccountable　sensation　of　shyness　suddenly　came　over　her。　She　had　firmly　made　up　her　mind；　should　Mr。　Clarke　ask　her　to　dance；　that　she　would　tell　him　she　was　tired；　or　engaged　for　that　numberanything　so　that　she　could　avoid　dancing　with　him。　But；　now　that　the　moment　had　come　she　either　forgot　her　resolution　or　lacked　the　courage　to　keep　it；　for　as　the　music　commenced；　she　turned　and　without　saying　a　word　or　looking　at　him；　she　placed　her　hand　on　his　arm。　He　whirled　her　away。　She　gave　a　start　of　surprise　and　delight　at　the　familiar　step　and　then　gave　herself　up　to　the　charm　of　the　dance。　Supported　by　his　strong　arm　she　floated　around　the　room　in　a　sort　of　dream。　Dancing　as　they　did　was　new　to　the　young　people　at　the　Fortit　was　a　style　then　in　vogue　in　the　eastand　everyone　looked　on　with　great　interest　and　curiosity。　But　all　too　soon　the　dance　ended　and　before　Betty　had　recovered　her　composure　she　found　that　her　partner　had　led　her　to　a　secluded　seat　in　the　lower　end　of　the　hall。　The　bench　was　partly　obscured　from　the　dancers　by　masses　of　autumn　leaves。　〃That　was　a　very　pleasant　dance；〃　said　Alfred。　〃Miss　Boggs　told　me　you　danced　the　round　dance。〃

〃I　was　much　surprised　and　pleased；〃　said　Betty；　who　had　indeed　enjoyed　it。

〃It　has　been　a　delightful　day；〃　went　on　Alfred；　seeing　that　Betty　was　still　confused。　〃I　almost　killed　myself　in　that　race　for　the　bottle　this　morning。　I　never　saw　such　logs　and　brush　heaps　and　ditches　in　my　life。　I　am　sure　that　if　the　fever　of　recklessness　which　seemed　in　the　air　had　not　suddenly　seized　me　I　would　never　have　put　my　horse　at　such　leaps。〃

〃I　heard　my　brother　say　your　horse　was　one　of　the　best　he　had　ever　seen；　and　that　you　rode　superbly；〃　murmured　Betty。

〃Well；　to　be　honest；　I　would　not　care　to　take　that　ride　again。　It　certainly　was　not　fair　to　the　horse。〃

〃How　do　you　like　the　fort　by　this　time？〃

〃Miss　Zane；　I　am　learning　to　love　this　free；　wild　life。　I　really　think　I　was　made　for　the　frontier。　The　odd　customs　and　manners　which　seemed　strange　at　first　have　become　very　acceptable　to　me　now。　I　find　everyone　so　honest　and　simple　and　brave。　Here　one　must　work　to　live；　which　is　right。　Do　you　know；　I　never　worked　in　my　life　until　I　came　to　Fort　Henry。　My　life　was　all　uselessness；　idleness。〃

〃I　can　hardly　believe　that；〃　answered　Betty。　〃You　have　learned　to　dance　and　ride　and〃

〃What？〃　asked　Alfred；　as　Betty　hesitated。

〃Never　mind。〃　It　was　an　accomplishment　with　which　the　girls　credited　you；〃　said　Betty；　with　a　little　laugh。

〃I　suppose　I　did　not　deserve　it。　I　heard　I　had　a　singular　aptitude　for　discovering　young　ladies　in　distress。〃

〃Have　you　become　well　acquainted　with　the　boys？〃　asked　Betty；　hastening　to　change　the　subject。

〃Oh；　yes；　particularly　with　your　Indianized　brother；　Isaac。　He　is　the　finest　fellow；　as　well　as　the　most　interesting；　I　ever　knew。　I　like　Colonel　Zane　immensely　too。　The　dark；　quiet　fellow；　Jack；　or　John；　they　call　him；　is　not　like　your　other　brothers。　The　hunter；　Wetzel；　inspires　me　with　awe。　Everyone　has　been　most　kind　to　me　and　I　have　almost　forgotten　that　I　was　a　wanderer。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　that；〃　said　Betty。

〃Miss　Zane；〃　continued　Alfred；　〃doubtless　you　have　heard　that　I　came　West　because　I　was　compelled　to　leave　my　home。　Please　do　not　believe　everything　you　hear　of　me。　Some　day　I　may　tell　you　my　story　if　you　care　to　hear　it。　Suffice　it　to　say　now　that　I　left　my　home　of　my　own　free　will　and　I　could　go　back　to…morrow。〃

〃I　did　not　mean　to　imply〃　began　Betty；　coloring。

〃Of　course　not。　But　tell　me　about　yourself。　Is　it　not　rather　dull　and　lonesome　here　for　you？〃

〃It　was　last　winter。　But　I　have　been　contented　and　happy　this　summer。　Of　course；　it　is　not　Philadelphia　life；　and　I　miss　the　excitement　and　gayety　of　my　uncle's　house。　I　knew　my　place　was　with　my　brothers。　My　aunt　pleaded　with　me　to　live　with　her　and　not　go　to　the　wilderness。　I　had　everything　I　wanted　thereluxury；　society；　parties；　balls；　dances；　friendsall　that　the　heart　of　a　girl　could　desire；　but　I　preferred　to　come　to　this　little　frontier　settlement。　Strange　choice　for　a　girl；　was　it　not？〃

〃Unusual；　yes；〃　answered　Alfred；　gravely。　〃And　I　cannot　but　wonder　what　motives　actuated　our　coming　to　Fort　Henry。　I　came　to　seek　my　fortune。　You　came　to　bring　sunshine　into　the　home　of　your　brother；　and　left　your　fortune　behind　you。　Well；　your　motive　has　the　element　of　nobility。　Mine　has　nothing　but　that　of　recklessness。　I　would　like　to　read　the　future。〃

〃I　do　not　think　it　is　right　to　have　such　a　wish。　With　the　veil　rolled　away　could　you　work　as　hard；　accomplish　as　much？　I　do　not　want　to　know　the　future。　Perhaps　some　of　it　will　be　unhappy。　I　have　made　my　choice　and　will　cheerfully　abide　by　it。　I　rather　envy　your　being　a　man。　You　have　the　world　to　conquer。　A　womanwhat　can　she　do？　She　can　knead　the　dough；　ply　the　distaff；　and　sit　by　the　lattice　and　watch　and　wait。〃

〃Let　us　postpone　such　melancholy　thoughts　until　some　future　day。　I　have　not　as　yet　said　anything　that　I　intended　I　wish　to　tell　you　how　sorry　I　am　that　I　acted　in　such　a　rude　way　the　night　your　brother　came　home。　I　do　not　know　what　made　me　do　so；　but　I　know　I　have　regretted　it　ever　since。　Will　you　forgive　me　and　may　we　not　be　friends？〃

〃II　do　not　know；〃　said　Betty；　surprised　and　vaguely　troubled　by　the　earnest　light　in　his　eyes。

〃But　why？　Surely　you　will　make　some　little　allowance　for　a　naturally　quick　temper；　and　you　know　you　did　notthat　you　were〃

〃Yes；　I　remember　I　was　hasty　and　unkind。　But　I　made　amends；　or　at　least；　I　tried　to　do　so。〃

〃Try　to　overlook　my　stupidity。　I　will　not　give　up　until　you　forgive　me。　Consider　how　much　you　can　avoid　by　being　generous。〃

〃Very　well；　then；　I　will　forgive　you；〃　said　Betty；　who　had　arrived　at　the　conclusion　that　this　young　man　was　one　of　determination。

〃Thank　you。　I　promise　you　shall　never　regret　it。　And　the　sprained　ankle？　It　must　be　well；　as　I　noticed　you　danced　beautifully。〃

〃I　am　compelled　to　believe　what　the　girls　saythat　you　are　inclined　to　the　language　of　compliment。　My　ankle　is　nearly　well；　thank　you。　It　hurts　a　little　now　and　then。〃

〃Speaking　of　your　accident　reminds　me　of　the　day　it　happened；〃　said　Alfred；　watching　her　closely。　He　desired　to　tease　her　a　little；　but　he　was　not　sure　of　his　ground。　〃I　had　been　all　day　in　the　woods　with　nothing　but　my　thoughtsmostly　unhappy　onesfor　company。　When　I　met　you　I　pretended　to　be　surprised。　As　a　matter　of　fact　I　was　not；　for　I　had　followed　your　dog。　He　took　a　liking　to　me　and　I　was　extremely　pleased；　I　assure　you。　Well；　I　saw　your　face　a　moment　before　you　knew　I　was　as　near　you。　When　you　heard　my　footsteps　you　turned　with　a　relieved　and　joyous　cry。　When　you　saw　whom　it　was　your　glad　expression　changed；　and　if　I　had　been　a　hostile　Wyandot　you　could　not　have　looked　more　unfriendly。　Such　a　woeful；　tear…stained　face　I　never　saw。〃

〃Mr。　Clarke；　please　do　not　speak　any　more　of　that；〃　said　Betty　with　dignity。　〃I　desire　that　you　forget　it。〃

〃I　will　forget　all　except　that　it　was　I　who　had　the　happiness　of　finding　you　and　of　helping　you。　I　cannot　forget　that。　I　am　sure　we　should　never　have　been　friends　but　for　that　accident。〃

〃There　is　Isaac。　He　is　looking　for　me；〃　answered　Betty；　rising。

〃Wait　a　moment　longerplease。　He　will　find　you；〃　said　Alfred；　detaining　her。　〃Since　you　have　been　so　kind　I　have　grown　bolder。　May　I　come　over　to　see　you　to…morrow？〃

He　looked　straight　down　into　the　dark　eyes　which　w