按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
did I meet any one to remind me of her； until one day I stopped at the
drug…store。 It was not for drugs； but gossip； that I went。 In the daytime
there was no place like the apothecary's for meeting men and hearing the
news。 There I heard how things were going everywhere； including Bear
Creek。
All the cow…punchers liked the new girl up there； said gossip。 She was a
great addition to society。 Reported to be more companionable than the
school…marm； Miss Molly Wood； who had been raised too far east； and
showed it。 Vermont； or some such dude place。 Several had been in town
buying presents for Miss Katie Peck。 Tommy Postmaster had paid high for a
necklace of elk…tushes the government scout at McKinney sold him。 Too bad
Miss Peck did not enjoy good health。 Shorty had been in only yesterday to
get her medicine again。 Third bottle。 Had I heard the big joke on Lin
McLean？ He had promised her the skin of a big bear he knew the location
of； and Tommy got the bear。
Two days after this I joined one of the roundup camps at sunset。 They had
been working from Salt Creek to Bear Creek； and the Taylor ranch was in
visiting distance from them again； after an interval of gathering and
branding far across the country。 The Virginian； the gentle…voiced
Southerner； whom I had last seen lingering with Miss Wood； was in camp。
Silent three…quarters of the time； as was his way； he sat gravely
watching Lin McLean。 That person seemed silent also； as was not his way
quite so much。
〃Lin；〃 said the Southerner； 〃I reckon you're failin'。〃
Mr。 McLean raised a sombre eye； but did not trouble to answer further。
〃A healthy man's laigs ought to fill his pants；〃 pursued the Virginian。
The challenged puncher stretched out a limb and showed his muscles with
young pride。
〃And yu' cert'nly take no comfort in your food；〃 his ingenious friend
continued； slowly and gently。
〃I'll eat you a match any day and place yu' name；〃 said Lin。
〃It ain't sca'cely hon'able；〃 went on the Virginian； 〃to waste away
durin' the round…up。 A man owes his strength to them that hires it。 If he
is paid to rope stock he ought to rope stock； and not leave it dodge or
pull away。〃
〃It's not many dodge my rope；〃 boasted Lin； imprudently。
〃Why； they tell me as how that heifer of the Sidney…Nebraska brand got
plumb away from yu'； and little Tommy had to chase afteh her。〃
Lin sat up angrily amid the laughter； but reclined again。 〃I'll improve；〃
said he； 〃if yu' learn me how yu' rope that Vermont stock so handy。 Has
she promised to be your sister yet？〃 he added。
〃Is that what they do？〃 inquired the Virginian； serenely。 〃I have never
got related that way。 Why； that'll make Tommy your brother…in…law； Lin！〃
And now； indeed； the camp laughed a loud； merciless laugh。
But Lin was silent。 Where everybody lives in a glass…house the victory is
to him who throws the adroitest stone。 Mr。 McLean was readier witted than
most； but the gentle； slow Virginian could be a master when he chose。
〃Tommy has been recountin' his wars up at the Taylors'；〃 he now told the
camp。 〃He has frequently campaigned with General Crook； General Miles；
and General Ruger； all at onced。 He's an exciting fighter； in
conversation； and kep' us all scared for mighty nigh an hour。 Miss Peck
appeared interested in his statements。〃
〃What was you doing at the Taylors' yourself？〃 demanded Lin。
〃Visitin' Miss Wood；〃 answered the Virginian； with entire ease。 For he
also knew when to employ the plain truth as a bluff。 〃You'd ought to
write to Tommy's mother； Lin； and tell her what a dare…devil her son is
gettin' to be。 She would cut off his allowance and bring him home； and
you would have the runnin' all to yourself。〃
〃I'll fix him yet；〃 muttered Mr。 McLean。 〃Him and his wars。〃
With that he rose and left us。
The next afternoon he informed me that if I was riding up the creek to
spend the night he would go for company。 In that direction we started；
therefore； without any mention of the Taylors or Miss Peck。 I was
puzzled。 Never had I seen him thus disconcerted by woman。 With him woman
had been a transient disturbance。 I had witnessed a series of flighty
romances； where the cow…puncher had come； seen； often conquered； and
moved on。 Nor had his affairs been of the sort to teach a young man
respect。 I am putting it rather mildly。
For the first part of our way this afternoon he was moody； and after that
began to speak with appalling wisdom about life。 Life； he said； was a
serious matter。 Did I realize that？ A man was liable to forget it。 A man
was liable to go sporting and helling around till he waked up some day
and found all his best pleasures had become just a business。 No interest；
no surprise； no novelty left； and no cash in the bank。 Shorty owed him
fifty dollars。 Shorty would be able to pay that after the round…up； and
he； Lin； would get his time and rustle altogether some five hundred
dollars。 Then there was his homestead claim on Box Elder； and the
surveyors were coming in this fall。 No better location for a home in this
country than Box Elder。 Wood； water； fine land。 All it needed was a house
and ditches and buildings and fences； and to be planted with crops。 Such
chances and considerations should sober a man and make him careful what
he did。 〃I'd take in Cheyenne on our wedding…trip； and after that I'd
settle right down to improving Box Elder；〃 concluded Mr。 McLean；
suddenly。
His real intentions flashed upon me for the first time。 I had not
remotely imagined such a step。
〃Marry her！〃 I screeched in dismay。 〃Marry her！〃
I don't know which word was the worse to emphasize at such a moment； but
I emphasized both thoroughly。
〃I didn't expect yu'd act that way；〃 said the lover。 He dropped behind me
fifty yards and spoke no more。
Not at once did I beg his pardon for the brutality I had been surprised
into。 It is one of those speeches that； once said； is said forever。
But it was not that which withheld me。 As I thought of the tone in which
my friend had replied； it seemed to me sullen； rather than deeply angry
or woundedresentment at my opinion not of her character so much as of
his choice！ Then I began to be sorry for the fool； and schemed for a
while how to intervene。 But have you ever tried intervention？ I soon
abandoned the idea； and took a way to be forgiven； and to learn more。
〃Lin；〃 I began； slowing my horse； 〃you must not think about what I said。〃
〃I'm thinkin' of pleasanter subjects；〃 said he； and slowed his own horse。
〃Oh； look here！〃 I exclaimed。
〃Well？〃 said he。 He allowed his horse to come within about ten yards。
〃Astonishment makes a man say anything；〃 I proceeded。 〃And I'll say again
you're too good for herand I'll say I don't generally believe in the
wife being older than the husband。〃
〃What's two years？〃 said Lin。
I was near screeching out again； but saved myself。 He was not quite
twenty…fiv