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！
high tide on her cheek。 But even then it was closely followed by
the feminine instinct of defence and defiance。 The REAL herothe
GENTLEMANshe reasoned bitterly； would have spared her all this
knowledge。
〃But why；〃 she said； with knitted brows； 〃why； if you knew it was
so precious and so harmlesswhy did you fire upon it？〃
〃Because；〃 he said almost fiercely； turning upon her； 〃because you
SCREAMED； and THEN I KNEW IT HAD FRIGHTENED YOU！〃 He stopped
instantly as she momentarily recoiled from him； but the very
brusqueness of his action had dislodged a tear from his dark eyes
that fell warm on the back of her hand； and seemed to blot out the
indignity。 〃Listen； Miss；〃 he went on hurriedly； as if to cover up
his momentary unmanliness。 〃I knew the bear was missing to…night；
and when I heard the horses scurrying about I reckoned what was up。
I knew no harm could come to you； for the horses were unharnessed
and away from the wagon。 I pelted down that trail ahead of them
all like grim death； calkilatin' to get there before the bear； they
wouldn't have understood me； I was too high up to call to the
creature when he did come out； and I kinder hoped you wouldn't see
him。 Even when he turned towards the wagon； I knew it wasn't YOU
he was after； but suthin' else； and I kinder hoped； Miss； that you；
being different and quicker…minded than the rest； would see it too。
All the while them folks were yellin' behind me to fireas if I
didn't know my work。 I was half…way downand then you screamed！
And then I forgot everything；everything but standing clear of
hitting you；and I fired。 I was that savage that I wanted to
believe that he'd gone mad； and would have touched you； till I got
down there and found the honey…pot lying alongside of him。 But
there；it's all over now！ I wouldn't have let on a word to you
only I couldn't bear to take YOUR THANKS for it； and I couldn't
bear to have you thinking me a brute for dodgin' them。〃 He
stopped； walked to the fire； leaned against the chimney under the
shallow pretext of kicking the dull embers into a blaze； which；
however； had only the effect of revealing his two glistening eyes
as he turned back again and came towards her。 〃Well；〃 he said；
with an ineffectual laugh； 〃it's all over now； it's all in the
day's work； I reckon；and now； Miss； if you're ready； and will
just fix yourself your own way so as to ride easy； I'll carry you
down。〃 And slightly bending his strong figure； he dropped on one
knee beside her with extended arms。
Now it is one thing to be carried up a hill in temperate；
unconscious blood and practical business fashion by a tall；
powerful man with steadfast； glowering eyes； but quite another
thing to be carried down again by the same man； who has been
crying； and when you are conscious that you are going to cry too；
and your tears may be apt to mingle。 So Miss Amy Forester said：
〃Oh； wait； please！ Sit down a moment。 Oh； Mr。 Tenbrook； I am so
very； very sorry；〃 and； clapping her hand to her eyes； burst into
tears。
〃Oh； please； please don't； Miss Forester；〃 said Jack； sitting down
on the end of the bunk with frightened eyes； 〃please don't do that！
It ain't worth it。 I'm only a brute to have said anything。〃
〃No； no！ You are SO noble； SO forgiving！〃 sobbed Miss Forester；
〃and I have made you go and kill the only thing you cared for； that
was all your own。〃
〃No； Miss；not all my own； either；and that makes it so rough。
For it was only left in trust with me by a friend。 It was her only
companion。〃
〃HER only companion？〃 echoed Miss Forester； sharply lifting her
bowed head。
〃Except；〃 said Jack hurriedly； miscomprehending the emphasis with
masculine fatuity；〃except the dying man for whom she lived and
sacrificed her whole life。 She gave me this ring； to always remind
me of my trust。 I suppose；〃 he added ruefully； looking down upon
it； 〃it's no use now。 I'd better take it off。〃
Then Amy eyed the monstrous object with angelic simplicity。 〃I
certainly should；〃 she said with infinite sweetness； 〃it would only
remind you of your loss。 But；〃 she added； with a sudden； swift；
imploring look of her blue eyes； 〃if you could part with it to me；
it would be such a reminder and token ofof your forgiveness。〃
Jack instantly handed it to her。 〃And now；〃 he said； 〃let me carry
you down。〃
〃I think；〃 she said hesitatingly； 〃thatI had better try to walk；〃
and she rose to her feet。
〃Then I shall know that you have not forgiven me；〃 said Jack sadly。
〃But I have no right to trouble〃
Alas！ she had no time to finish her polite objection； for the next
moment she felt herself lifted in the air； smelled the bark thatch
within an inch of her nose； saw the firelight vanish behind her；
and subsiding into his curved arms as in a hammock； the two passed
forth into the night together。
〃I can't find； your bracelet anywhere； Amy；〃 said her father； when
they reached the wagon。
〃It was on the floor in the lint；〃 said Amy reproachfully。 〃But；
of course； you never thought of that！〃
。 。 。 。 。 。
My pen halts with some diffidence between two conclusions to this
veracious chronicle。 As they agree in result； though not in theory
or intention； I may venture to give them both。 To one coming from
the lips of the charming heroine herself I naturally yield the
precedence。 〃Oh； the bear story！ I don't really remember whether
that was before I was engaged to John or after。 But I had known
him for some time； father introduced him at the Governor's ball at
Sacramento。 Let me see！I think it was in the winter of '56。
Yes！ it was very amusing； I always used to charge John with having
trained that bear to attack our carriage so that he might come in
as a hero！ Oh； of course； there are a hundred absurd stories about
him；they used to say that he lived all alone in a cabin like a
savage； and all that sort of thing； and was a friend of a dubious
woman in the locality； whom the common people made a heroine of；
Miggles； or Wiggles； or some such preposterous name。 But look at
John there； can you conceive it？〃 The listener； glancing at a very
handsome； clean…shaven fellow； faultlessly attired； could not
conceive such an absurdity。 So I therefore simply give the opinion
of Joshua Bixley； Superintendent of the Long Divide Tunnel Company；
for what it is worth： 〃I never took much stock in that bear story；
and its captivating old Forester's daughter。 Old Forester knew a
thing or two； and when he was out here consolidating tunnels； he
found out that Jack Tenbrook was about headed for the big lead； and
brought him out and introduced him to Amy。 You see； Jack； clear
grit as he was； was mighty rough style； and about as simple as they
make 'em； and they had to get up something to account for that
girl's taking a shine to him。 But they seem to be happy enough
and what are you going to do about it？〃