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man they had ever seen！ Whereas； beyond his tallness； and wide…open；
jocular eyes； eyes that seemed those of a not highly conscientious wild
animal； there was nothing remarkable about young Lin except stage effect。
The conductor had been annoyed to have such a passenger； but the
cow…puncher troubled no one； and was extremely silent。 So evidently was
he a piece of the true frontier that curious and hopeful
fellow…passengers； after watching him with diversion； more than once took
a seat next to him。 He met their chatty inquiries with monosyllables so
few and so unprofitable in their quiet politeness that the passengers
soon gave him up。 At Springfield he sent a telegram to his brother at the
great dry…goods establishment that employed him。
The train began its homestretch after Worcester； and whirled and swung by
hills and ponds he began to watch for； and through stations with old
wayside names。 These flashed on Lin's eye as he sat with his hat off and
his forehead against the window； looking： Wellesley。 Then； not long
after； Riverside。 That was the Charles River； and did the picnic woods
used to be above the bridge or below？ West Newton； Newtonville； Newton。
〃Faneuil's next；〃 he said aloud in the car； as the long…forgotten
home…knowledge shone forth in his recollection。 The traveller seated near
said； 〃Beg pardon？〃 but； turning； wondered at the all…unconscious Lin；
with his forehead pressed against the glass。 The blue water flashed into
sight； and soon after they were running in the darkness between high
walls； but the cow…puncher never moved； though nothing could be seen。
When the porter announced 〃Boston；〃 he started up and followed like a
sheep in the general exodus。 Down on the platform he moved along with the
slow crowd till some one touched him； and； wheeling round； he seized both
his brother's hands and swore a good oath of joy。
There they stoodthe long； brown fellow with the silk handkerchief
knotted over his flannel shirt； greeting tremendously the spruce
civilian； who had a rope…colored mustache and bore a fainthearted
resemblance to him。 The story was plain on its face to the passers…by；
and one of the ladies who had come in the car with Lin turned twice； and
smiled gently to herself。
But Frank McLean's heart did not warm。 He felt that what he had been
afraid of was true； and he saw he was being made conspicuous。 He saw men
and women stare in the station； and he saw them staring as he and his
Western brother went through the streets。 Lin strode along； sniffing the
air of Boston； looking at all things； and making it a stretch for his
sleek companion to keep step with him。 Frank thought of the refined
friends he should have to introduce his brother to； for he had risen with
his salary； and now belonged to a small club where the paying…tellers of
banks played cards every night； and the head clerk at the Parker House
was president。 Perhaps he should not have to reveal the cow…puncher to
these shining ones。 Perhaps the cow…puncher would not stay very long。 Of
course he was glad to see him again； and he would take him to dine at
some obscure place this first evening。 But this was not Lin's plan。 Frank
must dine with him； at the Parker House。 Frank demurred； saying it was he
that should be host。
〃And；〃 he added； 〃they charge up high for wines at Parker's。〃 Then for
the twentieth time he shifted a sidelong eye over his brother's clothes。
〃You're goin' to take your grub with me；〃 said Lin。 〃That's all right；
I guess。 And there ain't any 'no' about it。 Things is not the same like
as if father was livin'（his voice softened）and here to see me come
home。 Now I'm good for several dinners with wines charged up high； I
expect； nor it ain't nobody in this world； barrin' just Lin McLean； that
I've any need to ask for anything。 'Mr。 McLean；' says I to Lin； 'can yu'
spare me some cash？' 'Why； to be sure； you bet！' And we'll start off with
steamed Duxbury clams。〃 The cow…puncher slapped his pocket； where the
coin made a muffled chinking。 Then he said； gruffly； 〃I suppose
Swampscott's there yet？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Frank。 〃It's a dead little town； is Swampscott。〃
〃I guess I'll take a look at the old house tomorrow；〃 Lin pursued。
〃Oh； that's been pulled down since I forget the year they improved that
block。〃
Lin regarded in silence his brother； who was speaking so jauntily of the
first and last home they had ever had。
〃Seventy…nine is when it was；〃 continued Frank。 〃So you can save the
trouble of travelling away down to Swampscott。〃
〃I guess I'll go to the graveyard； anyway；〃 said the cow…puncher in his
offish voice； and looking fixedly in front of him。
They came into Washington Street； and again the elder McLean uneasily
surveyed the younger's appearance。
But the momentary chill had melted from the heart of the genial Lin。
〃After to…morrow；〃 said he； laying a hand on his brother's shoulder； 〃yu'
can start any lead yu' please； and I guess I can stay with yu' pretty
close； Frank。〃
Frank said nothing。 He saw one of the members of his club on the other
side of the way； and the member saw him； and Frank caught diverted
amazement on the member's face。 Lin's hand weighed on his shoulder； and
the stress became too great。 〃Lin；〃 said he； 〃while you're running with
our crowd； you don't want to wear that style of hat； you know。〃
It may be that such words can in some way be spoken at such a time； but
not in the way that these were said。 The frozen fact was irrevocably
revealed in the tone of Frank's voice。
The cow…puncher stopped dead short； and his hand slid off his brother's
shoulder。 〃You've made it plain；〃 he said； evenly； slanting his steady
eyes down into Frank's。 〃You've explained yourself fairly well。 Run along
with your crowd； and I'll not bother yu' more with comin' round and
causin' yu' to feel ashamed。 It's a heap better to understand these
things at once； and save making a fool of yourself any longer 'n yu' need
to。 I guess there ain't no more to be said； only one thing。 If yu' see me
around on the street； don't yu' try any talk； for I'd be liable to close
your jaw up； and maybe yu'd have more of a job explainin' that to your
crowd than you've had makin' me see what kind of a man I've got for a
brother。〃
Frank found himself standing alone before any reply to these sentences
had occurred to him。 He walked slowly to his club； where a friend joked
him on his glumness。
Lin made a sore failure of amusing himself that night； and in the bright；
hot morning he got into the train for Swampscott。 At the graveyard he saw
a woman lay a bunch of flowers on a mound and kneel； weeping。
〃There ain't nobody to do that for this one；〃 thought the cow…puncher；
and looked down at the grave he had come to see； then absently gazed at
the woman。
She had stolen away from her daily life to come here where her grief was
shrined； and now her heart found it hard to bid the lonely place go