betty zane-第33章

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s　no　faltering　in　those　set　lips。

Betty　was　a　Zane　and　the　Zanes　came　of　a　fighting　race。　Their　blood　had　ever　been　hot　and　passionate；　the　blood　of　men　quick　to　love　and　quick　to　hate。　It　had　flowed　in　the　veins　of　daring；　reckless　men　who　had　fought　and　died　for　their　country；　men　who　had　won　their　sweethearts　with　the　sword；　men　who　had　had　unconquerable　spirits。　It　was　this　fighting　instinct　that　now　rose　in　Betty；　it　gave　her　strength　and　pride　to　defend　her　secret；　the　resolve　to　fight　against　the　longing　in　her　heart。

〃I　will　forget　him！　I　will　tear　him　out　of　my　heart！〃　she　exclaimed　passionately。　〃He　never　deserved　my　love。　He　did　not　care。　I　was　a　little　fool　to　let　him　amuse　himself　with　me。　He　went　away　and　forgot。　I　hate　him。〃

At　length　Betty　subdued　her　excitement；　and　when　she　went　down　to　supper　a　few　minutes　later　she　tried　to　maintain　a　cheerful　composure　of　manner　and　to　chat　with　her　old…time　vivacity。

〃Bessie；　I　am　sure　you　have　exaggerated　things；〃　remarked　Col。　Zane　after　Betty　had　gone　upstairs　to　dress　for　the　dance。　〃Perhaps　it　is　only　that　Betty　grows　a　little　tired　of　this　howling　wilderness。　Small　wonder　if　she　does。　You　know　she　has　always　been　used　to　comfort　and　many　young　people；　places　to　go　and　all　that。　This　is　her　first　winter　on　the　frontier。　She'll　come　round　all　right。〃

〃Have　it　your　way；　Ebenezer；〃　answered　his　wife　with　a　look　of　amused　contempt　on　her　face。　〃I　am　sure　I　hope　you　are　right。　By　the　way；　what　do　you　think　of　this　Ralfe　Miller？　He　has　been　much　with　Betty　of　late。〃

〃I　do　not　know　the　fellow；　Bessie。　He　seems　agreeable。　He　is　a　good…looking　young　man。　Why　do　you　ask？〃

〃The　Major　told　me　that　Miller　had　a　bad　name　at　Pitt；　and　that　he　had　been　a　friend　of　Simon　Girty　before　Girty　became　a　renegade。〃

〃Humph！　I'll　have　to　speak　to　Sam。　As　for　knowing　Girty；　there　is　nothing　terrible　in　that。　All　the　women　seem　to　think　that　Simon　is　the　very　prince　of　devils。　I　have　known　all　the　Girtys　for　years。　Simon　was　not　a　bad　fellow　before　he　went　over　to　the　Indians。　It　is　his　brother　James　who　has　committed　most　of　those　deeds　which　have　made　the　name　of　Girty　so　infamous。〃

〃I　don't　like　Miller；〃　continued　Mrs。　Zane　in　a　hesitating　way。　〃I　must　admit　that　I　have　no　sensible　reason　for　my　dislike。　He　is　pleasant　and　agreeable；　yes；　but　behind　it　there　is　a　certain　intensity。　That　man　has　something　on　his　mind。〃

〃If　he　is　in　love　with　Betty；　as　you　seem　to　think；　he　has　enough　on　his　mind。　I'll　vouch　for　that；〃　said　Col。　Zane。　〃Betty　is　inclined　to　be　a　coquette。　If　she　liked　Clarke　pretty　well；　it　may　be　a　lesson　to　her。〃

〃I　wish　she　were　married　and　settled　down。　It　may　have　been　no　great　harm　for　Betty　to　have　kind　many　admirers　while　in　Philadelphia；　but　out　here　on　the　border　it　will　never　do。　These　men　will　not　have　it。　There　will　be　trouble　come　of　Betty's　coquettishness。〃

〃Why；　Bessie；　she　is　only　a　child。　What　would　you　have　her　do？　Marry　the　first　man　who　asked　her？〃

〃The　clod…hoppers　are　coming；〃　said　Mrs。　Zane　as　the　jingling　of　sleigh　bells　broke　the　stillness。

Col。　Zane　sprang　up　and　opened　the　door。　A　broad　stream　of　light　flashed　from　the　room　and　lighted　up　the　road。　Three　powerful　teams　stood　before　the　door。　They　were　hitched　to　sleds；　or　clod…hoppers；　which　were　nothing　more　than　wagon…beds　fastened　on　wooden　runners。　A　chorus　of　merry　shouts　greeted　Col。　Zane　as　he　appeared　in　the　doorway。

〃All　right！　all　right！　Here　she　is；〃　he　cried；　as　Betty　ran　down　the　steps。

The　Colonel　bundled　her　in　a　buffalo　robe　in　a　corner　of　the　foremost　sled。　At　her　feet　he　placed　a　buckskin　bag　containing　a　hot　stone　Mrs。　Zane　thoughtfully　had　provided。

〃All　ready　here。　Let　them　go；〃　called　the　Colonel。　〃You　will　have　clear　weather。　Coming　back　look　well　to　the　traces　and　keep　a　watch　for　the　wolves。〃

The　long　whips　cracked；　the　bells　jingled；　the　impatient　horses　plunged　forward　and　away　they　went　over　the　glistening　snow。　The　night　was　clear　and　cold；　countless　stars　blinked　in　the　black　vault　overhead；　the　pale　moon　cast　its　wintry　light　down　on　a　white　and　frozen　world。　As　the　runners　glided　swiftly　and　smoothly　onward　showers　of　dry　snow　like　fine　powder　flew　from　under　the　horses'　hoofs　and　soon　whitened　the　black…robed　figures　in　the　sleds。　The　way　led　down　the　hill　past　the　Fort；　over　the　creek　bridge　and　along　the　road　that　skirted　the　Black　Forest。　The　ride　was　long；　it　led　up　and　down　hills；　and　through　a　lengthy　stretch　of　gloomy　forest。　Sometimes　the　drivers　walked　the　horses　up　a　steep　climb　and　again　raced　them　along　a　level　bottom。　Making　a　turn　in　the　road　they　saw　a　bright　light　in　the　distance　which　marked　their　destination。　In　five　minutes　the　horses　dashed　into　a　wide　clearing。　An　immense　log　fire　burned　in　front　of　a　two…story　structure。　Streams　of　light　poured　from　the　small　windows；　the　squeaking　of　fiddles；　the　shuffling　of　many　feet；　and　gay　laughter　came　through　the　open　door。

The　steaming　horses　were　unhitched；　covered　carefully　with　robes　and　led　into　sheltered　places；　while　the　merry　party　disappeared　into　the　house。

The　occasion　was　the　celebration　of　the　birthday　of　old　Dan　Watkins'　daughter。　Dan　was　one　of　the　oldest　settlers　along　the　river；　in　fact；　he　had　located　his　farm　several　years　after　Col。　Zane　had　founded　the　settlement。　He　was　noted　for　his　open…handed　dealing　and　kindness　of　heart。　He　had　loaned　many　a　head　of　cattle　which　had　never　been　returned；　and　many　a　sack　of　flour　had　left　his　mill　unpaid　for　in　grain。　He　was　a　good　shot；　he　would　lay　a　tree　on　the　ground　as　quickly　as　any　man　who　ever　swung　an　axe；　and　he　could　drink　more　whiskey　than　any　man　in　the　valley。

Dan　stood　at　the　door　with　a　smile　of　welcome　upon　his　rugged　features　and　a　handshake　and　a　pleasant　word　for　everyone。　His　daughter　Susan　greeted　the　men　with　a　little　curtsy　and　kissed　the　girls　upon　the　cheek。　Susan　was　not　pretty；　though　she　was　strong　and　healthy；　her　laughing　blue　eyes　assured　a　sunny　disposition；　and　she　numbered　her　suitors　by　the　score。

The　young　people　lost　no　time。　Soon　the　floor　was　covered　with　their　whirling　forms。

In　one　corner　of　the　room　sat　a　little　dried…up　old　woman　with　white　hair　and　bright　dark　eyes。　This　was　Grandma　Watkins。　She　was　very　old；　so　old　that　no　one　knew　her　age；　but　she　was　still　vigorous　enough　to　do　her　day's　work　with　more　pleasure　than　many　a　younger　woman。　Just　now　she　was　talking　to　Wetzel；　who　leaned　upon　his　inseparable　rifle　and　listened　to　her　chatter。　The　hunter　liked　the　old　lady　and　would　often　stop　at　her　cabin　while　on　his　way　to　the　settlement　and　leave　at　her　door　a　fat　turkey　or　a　haunch　of　venison。

〃Lew　Wetzel；　I　am　ashamed　of　you。〃　Grandmother　Watkins　was　saying。　〃Put　that　gun　in　the　corner　and　get　out　there　and　dance。　Enjoy　yourself。　You　are　only　a　boy　yet。〃

〃I'd　better　look　on；　mother；〃　answered　the　hunter。

〃Pshaw！　You　can　hop　and　skip　around　like　any　of　then　and　laugh　too　if　you　want。　I　hope　that　pretty　sister　of　Eb　Zane　has　caught　your　fancy。〃

〃She　is　not　for　the　like　of　me；〃　he　said　gently　〃I　haven't　the　gifts。〃

〃Don't　talk　about　gifts。　Not　to　an　old　woman　who　has　lived　three　times　and　more　your　age；〃　she　said　impatiently。　〃It　is　not　gifts　a　woman　wants　out　here　in　the　West。　If　she　does　'twill　do　her　no　good。　She　needs　a　strong　arm　to　build　cabins；　a　quick　eye　with　a　rifle；　and　a　fearless　heart。　What　border…women　want　are　houses　and　children。　They　must　bring　up　men；　men　to　drive　the　redskins　back；　men　to　till　the　soil；　or　else　what　is　the　good　of　our　suffering　here。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Wetzel　thoughtfully。　〃But　I'd　hate　to　see　a　flower　like　Betty　Zane　in　a　rude　hunter's　cabin。〃

〃I　have　known　the　Zanes　for　forty　year'　and　I　never　saw　one　yet　that　was　afraid　of　work。　And　you　might　win　her　if　you　would　give　up　running　mad　after　Indians。　I'll　allow　no　woman　would　put　up　with　that。　You　have　killed　many　Indians。　You　ought　to　be　satisfied。〃

〃Fightin'　redskins　is　somethin'　I　can't　help；〃　said　the　hunter；　slowly　shaking　his　head。　〃If　I　got　married　the　fever　would　come　on　and　I'd　leave　home。　No；　I'm　no　good　for　a　woman。　Fightin'　is　all　I'm　good　for。〃

〃Why　not　fight　for　her；　then？　Don't　let　one　of　these　boys　walk　off　wi