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第16章

on the frontier-第16章

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began to readjust the scant furniture。  She was a little

discomposed at first at the absence of bolts; locks; and even

window…fastenings until assured; by Concha's evident inability to

comprehend her concern; that they were quite unknown at Los

Cuervos。  Her slight knowledge of Spanish was barely sufficient to

make her wants known; so that the relief of conversation with her

only companion was debarred her; and she was obliged to content

herself with the sapless; crackling smiles and withered

genuflexions that the old woman dropped like dead leaves in her

path。  It was staring noon when; the house singing like an empty

shell in the monotonous wind; she felt she could stand the solitude

no longer; and; crossing the glaring patio and whistling corridor;

made her way to the open gateway。



But the view without seemed to intensify her desolation。  The broad

expanse of the shadowless plain reached apparently to the Coast

Range; trackless and unbroken save by one or two clusters of

dwarfed oaks; which at that distance were but mossy excrescences on

the surface; barely raised above the dead level。  On the other side

the marsh took up the monotony and carried it; scarcely interrupted

by undefined water…courses; to the faintly marked out horizon line

of the remote bay。  Scattered and apparently motionless black spots

on the meadows that gave a dreary significance to the title of 〃the

Crows〃 which the rancho bore; and sudden gray clouds of sand…pipers

on the marshes; that rose and vanished down the wind; were the only

signs of life。  Even the white sail of the early morning was gone。



She stood there until the aching of her straining eyes and the

stiffening of her limbs in the cold wind compelled her to seek the

sheltered warmth of the courtyard。  Here she endeavored to make

friends with a bright…eyed lizard; who was sunning himself in the

corridor; a graceful little creature in blue and gold; from whom

she felt at other times she might have fled; but whose beauty and

harmlessness solitude had made known to her。  With misplaced

kindness she tempted it with bread…crumbs; with no other effect

than to stiffen it into stony astonishment。  She wondered if she

should become like the prisoners she had read of in books; who

poured out their solitary affections on noisome creatures; and she

regretted even the mustang; which with the buggy had disappeared

under the charge of some unknown retainer on her arrival。  Was she

not a prisoner?  The shutterless windows; yawning doors; and open

gate refuted her suggestion; but the encompassing solitude and

trackless waste still held her captive。  Poindexter had told her it

was four miles to the shanty; she might walk there。  Why had she

given her word that she would remain at the rancho until he

returned?



The long day crept monotonously away; and she welcomed the night

which shut out the dreary prospect。  But it brought no cessation of

the harassing wind without; nor surcease of the nervous irritation

its perpetual and even activity wrought upon her。  It haunted her

pillow even in her exhausted sleep; and seemed to impatiently

beckon her to rise and follow it。  It brought her feverish dreams

of her husband; footsore and weary; staggering forward under its

pitiless lash and clamorous outcry; she would have gone to his

assistance; but when she reached his side and held out her arms to

him it hurried her past with merciless power; and; bearing her

away; left him hopelessly behind。  It was broad day when she awoke。

The usual night showers of the waning rainy season had left no

trace in sky or meadow; the fervid morning sun had already dried

the patio; only the restless; harrying wind remained。



Mrs。 Tucker arose with a resolve。  She had learned from Concha on

the previous evening that a part of the shanty was used as a tienda

or shop for the laborers and rancheros。  Under the necessity of

purchasing some articles; she would go there and for a moment

mingle with those people; who would not recognize her。  Even if

they did; her instinct told her it would be less to be feared than

the hopeless uncertainty of another day。  As she left the house the

wind seemed to seize her as in her dream; and hurry her along with

it; until in a few moments the walls of the low casa sank into the

earth again and she was alone; but for the breeze on the solitary

plain。  The level distance glittered in the sharp light; a few

crows with slant wings dipped and ran down the wind before her; and

a passing gleam on the marsh was explained by the far…off cry of a

curlew。



She had walked for an hour; upheld by the stimulus of light and

morning air; when the cluster of scrub oaks; which was her

destination; opened enough to show two rambling sheds; before one

of which was a wooden platform containing a few barrels and bones。

As she approached nearer; she could see that one or two horses were

tethered under the trees; that their riders were lounging by a

horse…trough; and that over an open door the word Tienda was rudely

painted on a board; and as rudely illustrated by the wares

displayed at door and window。  Accustomed as she was to the poverty

of frontier architecture; even the crumbling walls of the old

hacienda she had just left seemed picturesque to the rigid angles

of the thin; blank; unpainted shell before her。  One of the

loungers; who was reading a newspaper aloud as she advanced; put it

aside and stared at her; there was an evident commotion in the shop

as she stepped upon the platform; and when she entered; with

breathless lips and beating heart; she found herself the object of

a dozen curious eyes。  Her quick pride resented the scrutiny and

recalled her courage; and it was with a slight coldness in her

usual lazy indifference that she leaned over the counter and asked

for the articles she wanted。



The request was followed by a dead silence。  Mrs。 Tucker repeated

it with some hauteur。



〃I reckon you don't seem to know this store is in the hands of the

sheriff;〃 said one of the loungers。



Mrs。 Tucker was not aware of it。



〃Well; I don't know any one who's a better right to know than

Spence Tucker's wife;〃 said another with a coarse laugh。  The laugh

was echoed by the others。  Mrs。 Tucker saw the pit into which she

had deliberately walked; but did not flinch。



〃Is there any one to serve here?〃 she asked; turning her clear eyes

full upon the bystanders。



〃You'd better ask the sheriff。  He was the last one to SARVE here。

He sarved an attachment;〃 replied the inevitable humorist of all

Californian assemblages。



〃Is he here?〃 asked Mrs。 Tucker; disregarding the renewed laughter

which followed this subtle witticism。



The loungers at the door made way for one of their party; who was

half dragged; half pushed into the shop。  〃Here he is;〃 said half a

dozen eager voices; in the fond belief that his presence might

impart additional humor to the situation。  He cast a deprecating

glance at Mrs。 Tucker and said; 〃It's so; madam!  This yer place is

attached; but if there's anything you're wanting; why I reckon;

boys;〃he turned half appealingly to the crowd;〃we could oblige

a lady。〃  There was a vague sound of angry opposition and

remonstrance from the back door of the shop; but the majority;

partly overcome by Mrs。 Tucker's beauty; assented。  〃Only;〃

continued the officer explanatorily; 〃ez these yer goods are in the

hands of the creditors; they ought to be represented by an

equivalent in money。  If you're expecting they should be charged〃



〃But I wish to PAY for them;〃 interrupted Mrs。 Tucker; with a

slight flush of indignation; 〃I have the money。〃



〃Oh; I bet you have!〃 screamed a voice; as; overturning all

opposition; the malcontent at the back door; in the shape of an

infuriated woman; forced her way into the shop。  〃I'll bet you have

the money!  Look at her; boys!  Look at the wife of the thief; with

the stolen money in diamond

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