drift from two shores(漂流)-第8章
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her admirer； Mr。 Hank Fisher。 Miss Bessy （coloring but cool）〃You
never will！〃 North （white but hot） 〃Why？〃 Miss Bessy （faintly）〃I'd
rather not。〃 North （resolutely）〃I insist。〃 Bessy （yielding）〃As my
teacher？〃 North （hesitatingly； at the limitation of the epithet）〃Y…e…e…s！〃
Bessy〃And you'll promise never to speak of it again？〃 North
〃Never。〃 Bessy （slowly〃Well； he said I did an awful thing to go over to
your cabin and stay。〃 North （in the genuine simplicity of a refined
nature）〃But how？〃 Miss Bessy （half piqued； but absolutely admiring
that nature）〃Quit！ and keep your promise！〃
They were so happy in these new relations that it occurred to Miss
Bessy one day to take James North to task for obliging her to ask to be his
pupil。 〃You knew how ignorant I was；〃 she added； and Mr。 North
retorted by relating to her the doctor's criticism on her independence。
〃To tell you the truth；〃 he added； 〃I was afraid you would not take it as
kindly as he thought。〃
〃That is； you thought me as vain as yourself。 It seems to me you and
the doctor had a great deal to say to each other。〃
〃On the contrary；〃 laughed North； 〃that was all we said。〃
〃And you didn't make fun of me？〃
Perhaps it was not necessary for North to take her hand to emphasize
his denial； but he did。
Miss Bessy； being still reminiscent； perhaps； did not notice it。 〃If it
hadn't been for that arI mean that tharno； that babyI wouldn't have
known you！〃 she said dreamily。
〃No；〃 returned North； mischievously； 〃but you still would have known
Hank Fisher。〃
No woman is perfect。 Miss Bessy looked at him with a suddenher
first and lastflash of coquetry。 Then stooped and kissedthe baby。
James North was a simple gentleman； but not altogether a fool。 He
returned the kiss； but not vicariously。
There was a footstep on the porch。 These two turned the hues of a
dying dolphin； and then laughed。 It was Joe。 He held a newspaper in
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his hand。 〃I reckon ye woz right； Mr。 North； about my takin' these yar
papers reg'lar。 For I allow here's suthin' that may clar up the mystery o'
that baby's parents。〃 With the hesitation of a slowly grappling intellect；
Joe sat down on the table and read from the San Francisco 〃Herald〃 as
follows： 〃'It is now ascertained beyond doubt that the wreck reported by
the Aeolus was the American brig Pomare bound hence to Tahiti。 The
worst surmises are found correct。 The body of the woman has been since
identified as that of the beau…ti…ful daughter ofofofTerpTerp
Terpish'Well！ I swow that name just tackles me。〃
〃Gin it to me； Dad；〃 said Bessy pertly。 〃You never had any education；
any way。 Hear your accomplished daughter。〃 With a mock bow to the
new schoolmaster； and a capital burlesque of a confident school girl； she
strode to the middle of the room the paper held and folded book…wise in
her hands。 〃Ahem！ Where did you leave off？ Oh； 'the beautiful
daughter of Terpsichorewhose name was prom…i…nently connected with a
mysterious social scandal of last yearthe gifted but unfortunate Grace
Chatterton'Nodon't stop methere's some more！ 'The body of her
child； a lovely infant of six months； has not been recovered； and it is
supposed was washed overboard。' There！ may be that's the child； Mr。
North。 Why； Dad！ Look； O my God！ He's falling。 Catch him； Dad！
Quick！〃
But her strong arm had anticipated her father's。 She caught him；
lifted him to the bed； on which he lay henceforth for many days
unconscious。 Then fever supervened； and delirium； and Dr。 Duchesne
telegraphed for his friends； but at the end of a week and the opening of a
summer day the storm passed； as the other storm had passed； and he
awoke； enfeebled； but at peace。 Bessy was at his sidehe was glad to
seealone。
〃Bessy； dear；〃 he said hesitatingly； 〃when I am stronger I have
something to tell you。〃
〃I know it all； Jem；〃 she said with a trembling lip； 〃I heard it allno；
not from THEM； but from your own lips in your delirium。 I'm glad it came
from YOUeven then。〃
〃Do you forgive me； Bessy？〃
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She pressed her lips to his forehead and said hastily； and then
falteringly； as if afraid of her impulse：
〃Yes。 Yes。〃
〃And you will still be mother to the child？〃
〃HER child？〃
〃No dear； not hers； but MINE！〃
She started； cried a little； and then putting her arms around him； said：
〃Yes。〃
And as there was but one way of fulfilling that sacred promise； they
were married in the autumn。
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TWO SAINTS OF THE FOOT…
HILLS
It never was clearly ascertained how long they had been there。 The
first settler of Rough…and…Readyone Low； playfully known to his
familiars as 〃The Poor Indian〃declared that the Saints were afore his
time； and occupied a cabin in the brush when he 〃blazed〃 his way to the
North Fork。 It is certain that the two were present when the water was
first turned on the Union Ditch and then and there received the designation
of Daddy Downey and Mammy Downey； which they kept to the last。 As
they tottered toward the refreshment tent； they were welcomed with the
greatest enthusiasm by the boys； or； to borrow the more refined language
of the 〃Union Recorder；〃〃Their gray hairs and bent figures； recalling as
they did the happy paternal eastern homes of the spectators； and the
blessings that fell from venerable lips when they left those homes to
journey in quest of the Golden Fleece on Occidental Slopes； caused many
to burst into tears。〃 The nearer facts； that many of these spectators were
orphans； that a few were unable to establish any legal parentage whatever；
that others had enjoyed a State's guardianship and discipline； and that a
majority had left their paternal roofs without any embarrassing
preliminary formula； were mere passing clouds that did not dim the golden
imagery of the writer。 From that day the Saints were adopted as
historical lay figures； and entered at once into possession of uninterrupted
gratuities and endowment。
It was not strange that； in a country largely made up of ambitious and
reckless youth； these twotypes of conservative and settled formsshould
be thus celebrated。 Apart from any sentiment or veneration； they were
admirable foils to the community's youthful progress and energy。 They
were put forward at every social gathering； occupied prominent seats on
the platform at every public meeting； walked first in every procession；
were conspicuous at the frequent funeral and rarer wedding； and were
godfather and godmother to the first baby born in Rough…and…Ready。 At
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the first poll opened in that precinct； Daddy Downey cast the first vote；
and； as was his custom on all momentous occasions； became volubly
reminiscent。 〃The first vote I ever cast；〃 said Daddy； 〃was for Andrew
Jackson； the father o' some on your peart young chaps wasn't born then； he！
he！ that was 'way long in '33； wasn't it？ I disremember now； but if
Mammy was here； she bein' a school…gal at the time； she could say。 But
my memory's failin' me。 I'm an old man； boys； yet I likes to see the
young ones go ahead。 I recklect that thar vote from a suckumstance。
Squire Adams was present； and seein' it was my first vote； he put a goold
piece into my hand； and； sez he； sez Squire Adams； 'Let that always be a
reminder of the exercise of a glorious freeman's privilege！' He did； he！
he！ Lord； boys！ I feel so proud of ye； that I wish I had a hundred votes to
cast for ye all。〃
It was hardly necessary to say that the memorial tribute of Squire
Adams was increased tenfold by the judges； inspectors； and clerks； and
that the old man tottered back to Mammy； considerably heavier than he
came。 As both of the rival candidates were equally sure of his vote； and
each had called upon him and offered a conveyance； it is but fair to
presume they were equally beneficent。 But Daddy insisted upon walking
to the polls；a distance of two miles；as a moral example； and a text for
the California paragraphers； who hastened to record that such was the
influence of the foot…hill climate； that 〃a citizen of Rough…and…Ready； aged
eighty…four； rose at six o'clock； and； after milking two cows； walked a
distance of twelve miles to the polls； and returned in time to chop a cord of
wood before dinner。〃
Slightly exaggerated as this statement may have been； the fact that
Daddy was always found by the visitor to be engaged at his wood… pile；
which seemed neither to increase nor diminish under his axe； a fact；
doubtless； owing to the activity of Mammy； who was always at the same
time making pies； seemed to give some credence to the story。 Indeed； the
wood…pile of Daddy Downey was a standing reproof to the indolent and
sluggish miner。
〃Ole Daddy must use up a pow'ful sight o
