a waif of the plains(²ÝÔÁ÷À˶ù)-µÚ17ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
boots¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡stroll¡¡around¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open¡¡air¡¡all¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡pick¡¡up¡¡those¡¡shining¡¡
bits¡¡of¡¡metal£»¡¡without¡¡study£»¡¡without¡¡method¡¡or¡¡routinethis¡¡was¡¡really¡¡life£»¡¡
to¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡day¡¡¡¡¡¡come¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡large¡¡¡¡¡¡nugget¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨you¡¡¡¡¡¡couldn't¡¡¡¡¡¡lift£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
worth¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡the¡¡train¡¡and¡¡horsessuch¡¡a¡¡one¡¡as¡¡the¡¡stranger¡¡said¡¡was¡¡
found¡¡the¡¡other¡¡day¡¡at¡¡Sawyer's¡¡Barthis¡¡was¡¡worth¡¡giving¡¡up¡¡everything¡¡
for¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡rough¡¡man£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡smile¡¡of¡¡careless¡¡superiority£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡living¡¡
link¡¡¡¡¡¡between¡¡¡¡¡¡Clarence¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Thousand¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡¡¡¡¡Nights£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡
Aladdin¡¡and¡¡Sindbad¡¡incarnate¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Two¡¡days¡¡later¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡Stockton¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Here¡¡Clarence£»¡¡whose¡¡single¡¡
suit¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡clothes¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡reinforced¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡patching£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡odds¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡ends¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡
Peyton's¡¡stores£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡extraordinary¡¡costume¡¡of¡¡army¡¡cloth£»¡¡got¡¡up¡¡by¡¡the¡¡
regimental¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡tailor¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡Fort¡¡¡¡¡¡Ridge£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡taken¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡refitted¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡general¡¡
furnishing¡¡¡¨emporium¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡alas£¡¡¡in¡¡the¡¡selection¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clothing¡¡for¡¡that¡¡
adult¡¡¡¡¡¡locality¡¡¡¡¡¡scant¡¡¡¡¡¡provision¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡boy¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
Clarence's¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡with¡¡difficulty¡¡fitted¡¡from¡¡an¡¡old¡¡condemned¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡51¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡52¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡WAIF¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡PLAINS¡¡
Government¡¡stores¡¡with¡¡¡¨a¡¡boy's¡¨¡¡seaman¡¡suit¡¡and¡¡a¡¡brass¡buttoned¡¡pea¡¡¡
jacket¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡outfit¡¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Peyton¡¡¡¡¡¡added¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡small¡¡¡¡¡¡sum¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡money¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
expenses£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡of¡¡explanation¡¡to¡¡his¡¡cousin¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡stage¡coach¡¡was¡¡
to¡¡start¡¡at¡¡noon¡£¡¡It¡¡only¡¡remained¡¡for¡¡Clarence¡¡to¡¡take¡¡leave¡¡of¡¡the¡¡party¡£¡¡
The¡¡final¡¡parting¡¡with¡¡Susy¡¡had¡¡been¡¡discounted¡¡on¡¡the¡¡two¡¡previous¡¡days¡¡
with¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡tears£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡small¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡frights¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡clingings£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡expressed¡¡
determination¡¡on¡¡the¡¡child's¡¡part¡¡¡¨to¡¡go¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¨¡¡but¡¡in¡¡the¡¡excitement¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡arrival¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡Stockton¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡further¡¡¡¡¡¡mitigated£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡under¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
influence¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡present¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡Clarencehis¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡¡¡¡¡disbursement¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
small¡¡capitalhad¡¡at¡¡last¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡form¡¡and¡¡promise¡¡of¡¡merely¡¡temporary¡¡
separation¡£¡¡Nevertheless£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡boy's¡¡scanty¡¡pack¡¡was¡¡deposited¡¡under¡¡
the¡¡stage¡coach¡¡seat£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡left¡¡alone£»¡¡he¡¡ran¡¡rapidly¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡
train¡¡for¡¡one¡¡moment¡¡more¡¡with¡¡Susy¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Panting¡¡and¡¡a¡¡little¡¡frightened£»¡¡he¡¡
reached¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Peyton's¡¡car¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Goodness£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You're¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡gone¡¡¡¡¡¡yet£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Peyton¡¡¡¡¡¡sharply¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡
you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡lose¡¡the¡¡stage£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡An¡¡¡¡¡¡instant¡¡¡¡¡¡before£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡loneliness£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡answered£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes¡£¡¨¡¡
But¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡under¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cruel¡¡¡¡¡¡sting¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Peyton's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡evident¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡annoyance¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡his¡¡
reappearance¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡felt¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡legs¡¡¡¡¡¡suddenly¡¡¡¡¡¡tremble£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡voice¡¡¡¡¡¡left¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡£¡¡
He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡Susy¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡her¡¡voice¡¡rose¡¡comfortably¡¡from¡¡the¡¡
depths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wagon¡¡where¡¡she¡¡was¡¡sitting¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡stage¡¡will¡¡be¡¡gone¡¡away£»¡¡Kla'uns¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡too£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Shame¡¡at¡¡his¡¡foolish¡¡weakness¡¡sent¡¡the¡¡yearning¡¡blood¡¡that¡¡
had¡¡settled¡¡round¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡flying¡¡back¡¡into¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡was¡¡looking¡¡forforfor¡¡Jim£»¡¡ma'am£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡boldly¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡look¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡disgust¡¡¡¡¡¡pass¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Peyton's¡¡¡¡¡¡face£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡felt¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
malicious¡¡satisfaction¡¡as¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡ran¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stage¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡here£»¡¡to¡¡
his¡¡¡¡¡¡surprise£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡actually¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡Jim£»¡¡¡¡¡¡whom¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡really¡¡¡¡¡¡hadn't¡¡¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡of£»¡¡
darkly¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡last¡¡strapping¡¡of¡¡luggage¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡a¡¡manner¡¡calculated¡¡
to¡¡convey¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡¡passengers¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡parting¡¡from¡¡
a¡¡brother¡¡criminal£»¡¡probably¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡to¡¡a¡¡state¡¡prison£»¡¡Jim¡¡shook¡¡hands¡¡
gloomily¡¡with¡¡Clarence£»¡¡and¡¡eyed¡¡the¡¡other¡¡passengers¡¡furtively¡¡between¡¡
his¡¡mated¡¡locks¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ef¡¡ye¡¡hear¡¡o'¡¡anythin'¡¡happenin'£»¡¡ye'll¡¡know¡¡what's¡¡up£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡52¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡53¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡WAIF¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡PLAINS¡¡
low£»¡¡hoarse£»¡¡but¡¡perfectly¡¡audible¡¡whisper¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Me¡¡and¡¡them's¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡part¡¡
company¡¡afore¡¡long¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Tell¡¡the¡¡fellows¡¡at¡¡Deadman's¡¡Gulch¡¡to¡¡look¡¡out¡¡for¡¡
me¡¡at¡¡any¡¡time¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Although¡¡Clarence¡¡was¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡Deadman's¡¡Gulch£»¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡¡
of¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡a¡¡faint¡¡suspicion¡¡that¡¡Jim¡¡was¡¡equally¡¡ignorant£»¡¡yet¡¡as¡¡one¡¡or¡¡
two¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡passengers¡¡¡¡¡¡glanced¡¡¡¡¡¡anxiously¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡demure£»¡¡¡¡¡¡gray¡¡¡¡¡¡¡eyed¡¡¡¡¡¡boy¡¡
who¡¡seemed¡¡booked¡¡for¡¡such¡¡a¡¡baleful¡¡destination£»¡¡he¡¡really¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡half¡¡¡
delighted£»¡¡half¡frightened¡¡consciousness¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡starting¡¡in¡¡life¡¡under¡¡
fascinating¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡immoral¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡pretenses¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡forward¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡spring¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡fine¡¡¡
spirited¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡horses£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡quickened¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡motion£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡glittering¡¡¡¡¡¡sunlight£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
thought¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡really¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡leaving¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡behind¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡shackles¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
dependence¡¡and¡¡custom£»¡¡and¡¡plunging¡¡into¡¡a¡¡life¡¡of¡¡freedom£»¡¡drove¡¡all¡¡else¡¡
from¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡at¡¡last¡¡from¡¡this¡¡hopeful£»¡¡blissful¡¡future£»¡¡and¡¡
began¡¡to¡¡examine¡¡his¡¡fellow¡¡passengers¡¡with¡¡boyish¡¡curiosity¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Wedged¡¡in¡¡
between¡¡two¡¡silent¡¡men¡¡on¡¡the¡¡front¡¡seat£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡seemed¡¡a¡¡farmer£»¡¡
and¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡by¡¡his¡¡black¡¡attire£»¡¡a¡¡professional¡¡man£»¡¡Clarence¡¡was¡¡finally¡¡
attracted¡¡by¡¡a¡¡black¡mantled£»¡¡dark¡haired£»¡¡bonnetless¡¡woman¡¡on¡¡the¡¡back¡¡
seat£»¡¡whose¡¡attention¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡monopolized¡¡by¡¡the¡¡jocular¡¡gallantries¡¡
of¡¡her¡¡companions¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡before¡¡her¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡seat¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡
her¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡position¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡see¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡dark¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡eyes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡
occasionally¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡his¡¡frank¡¡curiosity¡¡in¡¡an¡¡amused¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡way£»¡¡
but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡chiefly¡¡struck¡¡by¡¡the¡¡pretty¡¡foreign¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡her¡¡musical¡¡voice£»¡¡
which¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡unlike¡¡¡¡¡¡anything¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡ever¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡before£»¡¡¡¡¡¡andalas¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
inconstancy¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡youthmuch¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡finer¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Peyton's¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Presently¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
farmer¡¡companion£»¡¡casting¡¡a¡¡patronizing¡¡glance¡¡on¡¡Clarence's¡¡pea¡jacket¡¡
and¡¡brass¡¡buttons£»¡¡said¡¡cheerily¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Jest¡¡off¡¡a¡¡voyage£»¡¡sonny£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡sir£»¡¨¡¡stammered¡¡Clarence£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡came¡¡across¡¡the¡¡plains¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Then¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡reckon¡¡¡¡¡¡that's¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡rig¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡crew¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡prairie¡¡¡¡¡¡schooner£»¡¡
eh£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡laugh¡¡at¡¡this¡¡which¡¡perplexed¡¡Clarence¡£¡¡Observing¡¡it£»¡¡
the¡¡humorist¡¡kindly¡¡condescended¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡that¡¡¡¨prairie¡¡schooner¡¨¡¡was¡¡
the¡¡current¡¡slang¡¡for¡¡an¡¡emigrant¡¡wagon¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡couldn't£»¡¨¡¡explained¡¡Clarence£»¡¡naively¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡eyes¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡
the¡¡back¡¡seat£»¡¡¡¨get¡¡any¡¡clothes¡¡at¡¡Stockton¡¡but¡¡these£»¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡the¡¡folks¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡53¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡54¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡WAIF¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡PLAINS¡¡
didn't¡¡think¡¡there'd¡¡ever¡¡be¡¡boys¡¡in¡¡California¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡simplicity¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡speech¡¡¡¡¡¡evidently¡¡¡¡impressed¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡others£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
two¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡middle¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡seats¡¡¡¡¡¡turned¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡whisper¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡lady¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
regarded¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡curiously¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Clarence¡¡¡¡¡¡blushed¡¡¡¡¡¡slightly¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡became¡¡¡¡¡¡silent¡£¡¡
Presently¡¡the¡¡vehicle¡¡began¡¡to¡¡slacken¡¡its¡¡speed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡ascending¡¡a¡¡
hill£»¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡either¡¡¡¡¡¡bank¡¡¡¡¡¡grew¡¡¡¡¡¡huge¡¡¡¡¡¡cottonwoods£»¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡occasionally¡¡
depended¡¡a¡¡beautiful¡¡scarlet¡¡vine¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ah£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡eet¡¡¡¡¡¡ees¡¡¡¡¡¡pretty£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lady£»¡¡¡¡¡¡nodding¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡black¡veiled¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡head¡¡
towards¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Eet¡¡is¡¡good¡¡in¡¡ze¡¡hair¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡made¡¡an¡¡awkward¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡clutch¡¡a¡¡spray¡¡from¡¡the¡¡
window¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡brilliant¡¡inspiration¡¡flashed¡¡upon¡¡Clarence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡stage¡¡
began¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡ascent¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡next¡¡¡¡¡¡hill£»¡¡¡¡¡¡following¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡example¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡outside¡¡
passenger£»¡¡he¡¡jumped¡¡down¡¡to¡¡walk¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡he¡¡rejoined¡¡the¡¡
stage£»¡¡flushed¡¡and¡¡panting£»¡¡but¡¡carrying¡¡a¡¡small¡¡branch¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vine¡¡in¡¡his¡¡
scratched¡¡hands¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Handing¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡man¡¡on¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡seat£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡with¡¡
grave£»¡¡boyish¡¡politenes