a waif of the plains-第26章

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all。　　This　that　you　are　telling　me　is　no　fableI　see　it　in　your
face；　Father　Sobriente；　it　is　the　story　ofof〃

〃Your　father；　Clarence！〃　said　the　priest；　in　a　trembling　voice。

The　boy　drew　back；　with　a　white　face。　　〃My　father！〃　he　repeated。
〃Living；　or　dead？〃

〃Living；　when　you　first　left　your　home；〃　said　the　old　man
hurriedly；　seizing　Clarence's　hand；　〃for　it　was　he　who　in　the　name
of　your　cousin　sent　for　you。　　Livingyes；　while　you　were　here；　for
it　was　he　who　for　the　past　three　years　stood　in　the　shadow　of　this
assumed　cousin；　Don　Juan；　and　at　last　sent　you　to　this　school。
Living；　Clarence；　yes；　but　living　under　a　name　and　reputation　that
would　have　blasted　you！　　And　now　DEADdead　in　Mexico；　shot　as　an
insurgent　and　in　a　still　desperate　career！　　May　God　have　mercy　on
his　soul！〃

〃Dead！〃　repeated　Clarence；　trembling；　〃only　now？〃

〃The　news　of　the　insurrection　and　his　fate　came　only　an　hour
since；〃　continued　the　Padre　quickly；　〃his　complicity　with　it　and
his　identity　were　known　only　to　Don　Juan。　　He　would　have　spared　you
any　knowledge　of　the　truth；　even　as　this　dead　man　would；　but　I　and
my　brothers　thought　otherwise。　　I　have　broken　it　to　you　badly；　my
son；　but　forgive　me？〃

An　hysterical　laugh　broke　from　Clarence　and　the　priest　recoiled
before　him。　　〃Forgive　YOU！　　What　was　this　man　to　me？〃　he　said；　with
boyish　vehemence。　　〃He　never　LOVED　me！　　He　deserted　me；　he　made　my
life　a　lie。　　He　never　sought　me；　came　near　me；　or　stretched　a　hand
to　me　that　I　could　take？〃

〃Hush！　hush！〃　said　the　priest；　with　a　horrified　look；　laying　his
huge　hand　upon　the　boy's　shoulder　and　bearing　him　down　to　his　seat。
〃You　know　not　what　you　say。　　Thinkthink；　Clarence！　　Was　there
none　of　all　those　who　have　befriended　youwho　were　kind　to　you　in
your　wanderingsto　whom　your　heart　turned　unconsciously？　　Think；
Clarence！　　You　yourself　have　spoken　to　me　of　such　a　one。　　Let　your
heart　speak　again；　for　his　sakefor　the　sake　of　the　dead。〃

A　gentler　light　suffused　the　boy's　eyes；　and　he　started。　　Catching
convulsively　at　his　companion's　sleeve；　he　said　in　an　eager；　boyish
whisper；　〃There　was　one；　a　wicked；　desperate　man；　whom　they　all
fearedFlynn；　who　brought　me　from　the　mines。　　Yes；　I　thought　that
he　was　my　cousin's　loyal　friendmore　than　all　the　rest；　and　I　told
him　everythingall；　that　I　never　told　the　man　I　thought　my　cousin；
or　anyone；　or　even　you；　and　I　think；　I　think；　Father；　I　liked　him
best　of　all。　　I　thought　since　it　was　wrong；〃　he　continued；　with　a
trembling　smile；　〃for　I　was　foolishly　fond　even　of　the　way　the
others　feared　him；　he　that　I　feared　not；　and　who　was　so　kind　to　me。
Yet　he；　too；　left　me　without　a　word；　and　when　I　would　have　followed
him〃　　But　the　boy　broke　down；　and　buried　his　face　in　his　hands。

〃No；　no；〃　said　Father　Sobriente；　with　eager　persistence；　〃that　was
his　foolish　pride　to　spare　you　the　knowledge　of　your　kinship　with
one　so　feared；　and　part　of　the　blind　and　mistaken　penance　he　had
laid　upon　himself。　　For　even　at　that　moment　of　your　boyish
indignation；　he　never　was　so　fond　of　you　as　then。　　Yes；　my　poor
boy；　this　man；　to　whom　God　led　your　wandering　feet　at　Deadman's
Gulch；　the　man　who　brought　you　here；　and　by　some　secret　holdI
know　not　whaton　Don　Juan's　past；　persuaded　him　to　assume　to　be
your　relation；　this　man　Flynn；　this　Jackson　Brant　the　gambler；　this
Hamilton　Brant　the　outlawWAS　YOUR　FATHER！　　Ah；　yes！　　Weep　on；　my
son；　each　tear　of　love　and　forgiveness　from　thee　hath　vicarious
power　to　wash　away　his　sin。〃

With　a　single　sweep　of　his　protecting　hand　he　drew　Clarence　towards
his　breast；　until　the　boy　slowly　sank　upon　his　knees　at　his　feet。
Then；　lifting　his　eyes　towards　the　ceiling；　he　said　softly　in　an
older　tongue；　〃And　THOU；　too；　unhappy　and　perturbed　spirit；　rest！〃

　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　。

It　was　nearly　dawn　when　the　good　Padre　wiped　the　last　tears　from
Clarence's　clearer　eyes。　　〃And　now；　my　son；〃　he　said；　with　a　gentle
smile；　as　he　rose　to　his　feet；　〃let　us　not　forget　the　living。
Although　your　step…mother　has；　through　her　own　act；　no　legal　claim
upon　you；　far　be　it　from　me　to　indicate　your　attitude　towards　her。
Enough　that　YOU　are　independent。〃　　He　turned；　and；　opening　a　drawer
in　his　secretaire；　took　out　a　bank…book；　and　placed　it　in　the　hands
of　the　wondering　boy。

〃It　was　HIS　wish；　Clarence；　that　even　after　his　death　you　should
never　have　to　prove　your　kinship　to　claim　your　rights。　　Taking
advantage　of　the　boyish　deposit　you　had　left　with　Mr。　Carden　at　the
bank；　with　his　connivance　and　in　your　name　he　added　to　it；　month　by
month　and　year　by　year；　Mr。　Carden　cheerfully　accepting　the　trust
and　management　of　the　fund。　　The　seed　thus　sown　has　produced　a
thousandfold；　Clarence；　beyond　all　expectations。　　You　are　not　only
free；　my　son；　but　of　yourself　and　in　whatever　name　you　chooseyour
own　master。〃

〃I　shall　keep　my　father's　name；〃　said　the　boy　simply。

〃Amen！〃　said　Father　Sobriente。


Here　closes　the　chronicle　of　Clarence　Brant's　boyhood。　　How　he
sustained　his　name　and　independence　in　after　years；　and　who；　of
those　already　mentioned　in　these　pages；　helped　him　to　make　or　mar　it；
may　be　a　matter　for　future　record。




End