a waif of the plains-第5章
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shoulders； was gazing up with grave satisfaction in the laughing
eyes of one of the men who was with outstretched hands bending over
her。 Could he believe his senses？ The terror…stricken； willful；
unmanageable Susy； whom he would have translated unconsciously to
safety without this terrible ordeal of being awakened to the loss
of her home and parents at any sacrifice to himselfthis ingenuous
infant was absolutely throwing herself with every appearance of
forgetfulness into the arms of the first new…comer！ Yet his
perception of this fact was accompanied by no sense of ingratitude。
For her sake he felt relieved； and with a boyish smile of
satisfaction and encouragement vaulted into the saddle before the
stranger。
CHAPTER IV
The dash forward to the train； securely held in the saddle by the
arms of their deliverers； was a secret joy to the children that
seemed only too quickly over。 The resistless gallop of the fiery
mustangs； the rush of the night wind； the gathering darkness in
which the distant wagons； now halted and facing them； looked like
domed huts in the horizonall these seemed but a delightful and
fitting climax to the events of the day。 In the sublime
forgetfulness of youth； all they had gone through had left no
embarrassing record behind it； they were willing to repeat their
experiences on the morrow； confident of some equally happy end。
And when Clarence； timidly reaching his hand towards the horse…hair
reins lightly held by his companion； had them playfully yielded up
to him by that hold and confident rider； the boy felt himself
indeed a man。
But a greater surprise was in store for them。 As they neared the
wagons； now formed into a circle with a certain degree of military
formality； they could see that the appointments of the strange
party were larger and more liberal than their own； or indeed
anything they had ever known of the kind。 Forty or fifty horses
were tethered within the circle； and the camp fires were already
blazing。 Before one of them a large tent was erected； and through
the parted flaps could be seen a table actually spread with a white
cloth。 Was it a school feast； or was this their ordinary household
arrangement？ Clarence and Susy thought of their own dinners；
usually laid on bare boards beneath the sky； or under the low hood
of the wagon in rainy weather； and marveled。 And when they finally
halted； and were lifted from their horses； and passed one wagon
fitted up as a bedroom and another as a kitchen； they could only
nudge each other with silent appreciation。 But here again the
difference already noted in the quality of the sensations of the
two children was observable。 Both were equally and agreeably
surprised。 But Susy's wonder was merely the sense of novelty and
inexperience； and a slight disbelief in the actual necessity of
what she saw； while Clarence； whether from some previous general
experience or peculiar temperament； had the conviction that what he
saw here was the usual custom； and what he had known with the
Silsbees was the novelty。 The feeling was attended with a slight
sense of wounded pride for Susy； as if her enthusiasm had exposed
her to ridicule。
The man who had carried him； and seemed to be the head of the
party； had already preceded them to the tent； and presently
reappeared with a lady with whom he had exchanged a dozen hurried
words。 They seemed to refer to him and Susy； but Clarence was too
much preoccupied with the fact that the lady was pretty； that her
clothes were neat and thoroughly clean； that her hair was tidy and
not rumpled； and that； although she wore an apron； it was as clean
as her gown； and even had ribbons on it； to listen to what was
said。 And when she ran eagerly forward； and with a fascinating
smile lifted the astonished Susy in her arms； Clarence； in his
delight for his young charge； quite forgot that she had not noticed
him。 The bearded man； who seemed to be the lady's husband；
evidently pointed out the omission； with some additions that
Clarence could not catch； for after saying； with a pretty pout；
〃Well； why shouldn't he？〃 she came forward with the same dazzling
smile； and laid her small and clean white hand upon his shoulder。
〃And so you took good care of the dear little thing？ She's such an
angel； isn't she？ and you must love her very much。〃
Clarence colored with delight。 It was true it had never occurred
to him to look at Susy in the light of a celestial visitant； and I
fear he was just then more struck with the fair complimenter than
the compliment to his companion； but he was pleased for her sake。
He was not yet old enough to be conscious of the sex's belief in
its irresistible domination over mankind at all ages； and that
Johnny in his check apron would be always a hopeless conquest of
Jeannette in her pinafore； and that he ought to have been in love
with Susy。
Howbeit； the lady suddenly whisked her away to the recesses of her
own wagon； to reappear later； washed； curled； and beribboned like a
new doll； and Clarence was left alone with the husband and another
of the party。
〃Well； my boy； you haven't told me your name yet。〃
〃Clarence； sir。〃
〃So Susy calls you； but what else？〃
〃Clarence Brant。〃
〃Any relation to Colonel Brant？〃 asked the second man carelessly。
〃He was my father；〃 said the boy； brightening under this faint
prospect of recognition in his loneliness。
The two men glanced at each other。 The leader looked at the boy
curiously； and said；
〃Are you the son of Colonel Brant； of Louisville？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said the boy； with a dim stirring of uneasiness in his
heart。 〃But he's dead now；〃 he added finally。
〃Ah； when did he die？〃 said the man quickly。
〃Oh； a long time ago。 I don't remember him much。 I was very
little；〃 said the boy； half apologetically。
〃Ah； you don't remember him？〃
〃No；〃 said Clarence shortly。 He was beginning to fall back upon
that certain dogged repetition which in sensitive children arises
from their hopeless inability to express their deeper feelings。 He
also had an instinctive consciousness that this want of a knowledge
of his father was part of that vague wrong that had been done him。
It did not help his uneasiness that he could see that one of the
two men； who turned away with a half…laugh； misunderstood or did
not believe him。
〃How did you come with the Silsbees？〃 asked the first man。
Clarence repeated mechanically； with a child's distaste of
practical details； how he had lived with an aunt at St。 Jo； and how
his stepmother had procured his passage with the Silsbees to
California； where he was to meet his cousin。 All this with a lack
of interest and abstraction that he was miserably conscious told
against him； but he was yet helpless to resist。
The first man remained thoughtful； and then glanced at Clarence's
sunburnt hands。 Presently his large； good…humored smile returned。
〃Well； I suppose you are hungry？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Clarence shyly。 〃But〃
〃But what？〃
〃I should like to wash myself a little；〃 he returned hesitatingly；
thinking of the clean tent； the clean lady； and Susy's ribbons。
〃Certainly；〃 said his friend； with a pleased look。 〃Come with me。〃
Instead of leading Clarence to the battered tin basin and bar of
yellow soap which had formed the toilet service of the Silsbee
party； he brought the boy into one of the wagons； where there was a
washstand； a china basin； and a cake of scented soap。 Standing
beside Clarence； he watched him perform his ablutions with an
approving air which rather embarrassed his protege。 Presently he
said； almost abruptly；
〃Do you remember your father's house at Louisville？〃
〃Yes； sir； but it was a long time ago。〃
Clarence remembered it as being very different from his home at St。
Joseph's； but from some innate feeling of diffidence he would have
shrunk from describing it in that way。 He； however； said he
thought it was a large house。 Yet the modest answer only made his
new friend look at him the more keenly。
〃Your father was Colonel Hamilton Brant； of Louisville； wasn't he？〃
he said； half…confidentially。
〃Yes；〃 said Clarence hopelessly。
〃Well；〃 said his friend cheerful
