a waif of the plains-第14章

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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　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　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　politeness
〃Pleasefor　the　lady。〃

A　slight　smile　passed　over　the　face　of　Clarence's　neighbors。　　The
bonnetless　woman　nodded　a　pleasant　acknowledgment；　and　coquettishly
wound　the　vine　in　her　glossy　hair。　　The　dark　man　at　his　side；　who
hadn't　spoken　yet；　turned　to　Clarence　dryly。

〃If　you're　goin'　to　keep　up　this　gait；　sonny；　I　reckon　ye　won't
find　much　trouble　gettin'　a　man's　suit　to　fit　you　by　the　time　you
reach　Sacramento。〃

Clarence　didn't　quite　understand　him；　but　noticed　that　a　singular
gravity　seemed　to　overtake　the　two　jocular　men　on　the　middle　seat；
and　the　lady　looked　out　of　the　window。　　He　came　to　the　conclusion
that　he　had　made　a　mistake　about　alluding　to　his　clothes　and　his
size。　　He　must　try　and　behave　more　manly。　　That　opportunity　seemed
to　be　offered　two　hours　later；　when　the　stage　stopped　at　a　wayside
hotel　or　restaurant。

Two　or　three　passengers　had　got　down　to　refresh　themselves　at　the
bar。　　His　right　and　left　hand　neighbors　were；　however；　engaged　in　a
drawling　conversation　on　the　comparative　merits　of　San　Francisco
sandhill　and　water　lots；　the　jocular　occupants　of　the　middle　seat
were　still　engrossed　with　the　lady。　　Clarence　slipped　out　of　the
stage　and　entered　the　bar…room　with　some　ostentation。　　The　complete
ignoring　of　his　person　by　the　barkeeper　and　his　customers；　however；
somewhat　disconcerted　him。　　He　hesitated　a　moment；　and　then
returned　gravely　to　the　stage　door　and　opened　it。

〃Would　you　mind　taking　a　drink　with　me；　sir？〃　said　Clarence
politely；　addressing　the　farmer…looking　passenger　who　had　been　most
civil　to　him。　　A　dead　silence　followed。　　The　two　men　on　the　middle
seat　faced　entirely　around　to　gaze　at　him。

〃The　Commodore　asks　if　you'll　take　a　drink　with　him；〃　explained　one
of　the　men　to　Clarence's　friend　with　the　greatest　seriousness。

〃Eh？　　Oh；　yes；　certainly；〃　returned　that　gentleman；　changing　his
astonished　expression　to　one　of　the　deepest　gravity；　〃seeing　it's
the　Commodore。〃

〃And　perhaps　you　and　your　friend　will　join；　too？〃　said　Clarence
timidly　to　the　passenger　who　had　explained；　〃and　you　too；　sir？〃　he
added　to　the　dark　man。

〃Really；　gentlemen；　I　don't　see　how　we　can　refuse；〃　said　the
latter；　with　the　greatest　formality；　and　appealing　to　the　others。
〃A　compliment　of　this　kind　from　our　distinguished　friend　is　not　to
be　taken　lightly。〃

〃I　have　observed；　sir；　that　the　Commodore's　head　is　level；〃
returned　the　other　man　with　equal　gravity。

Clarence　could　have　wished　they　had　not　treated　his　first
hospitable　effort　quite　so　formally；　but　as　they　stepped　from　the
coach　with　unbending　faces　he　led　them；　a　little　frightened；　into
the　bar…room。　　Here；　unfortunately；　as　he　was　barely　able　to　reach
over　the　counter；　the　barkeeper　would　have　again　overlooked　him　but
for　a　quick　glance　from　the　dark　man；　which　seemed　to　change　even
the　barkeeper's　perfunctory　smiling　face　into　supernatural　gravity。

〃The　Commodore　is　standing　treat；〃　said　the　dark　man；　with　unbroken
seriousness；　indicating　Clarence；　and　leaning　back　with　an　air　of
respectful　formality。　　〃I　will　take　straight　whiskey。　　The
Commodore；　on　account　of　just　changing　climate；　will；　I　believe；
for　the　present　content　himself　with　lemon　soda。〃

Clarence　had　previously　resolved　to　take　whiskey；　like　the　others；
but　a　little　doubtful　of　the　politeness　of　countermanding　his
guest's　order；　and　perhaps　slightly　embarrassed　by　the　fact　that
all　the　other　customers　seemed　to　have　gathered　round　him　and　his
party　with　equally　immovable　faces；　he　said　hurriedly：

〃Lemon　soda　for　me；　please。〃

〃The　Commodore；〃　said　the　barkeeper　with　impassive　features；　as　he
bent　forward　and　wiped　the　counter　with　professional　deliberation；
〃is　right。　　No　matter　how　much　a　man　may　be　accustomed　all　his　life
to　liquor；　when　he　is　changing　climate；　gentlemen；　he　says　'Lemon
soda　for　me'　all　the　time。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　Clarence；　brightening；　〃you　will　join　too？〃

〃I　shall　be　proud　on　this　occasion；　sir。〃

〃I　think；〃　said　the　tall　man；　still　as　ceremoniously　unbending　as
before；　〃that　there　can　be　but　one　toast　here；　gentlemen。　　I　give
you　the　health　of　the