tales of trail and town-第9章

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！



was　only　voicing　the　common　arguments　of　his　opponents。



He　spoke　also　to　the　colonel；　excusing　her　through　her　ignorance；

her　trust　in　his　influence　with　the　savages；　and　the　general

derangement　of　her　health。　　The　colonel；　relieved　of　his　suspicions

of　a　promising　young　officer；　was　gentle　and　sympathetic；　but　firm

as　to　Peter's　future　course。　　In　a　moment　of　caprice　and

willfulness　she　might　imperil　the　garrison　as　she　had　her　escort；

and；　more　than　that；　she　was　imperiling　Peter's　influence　with　the

Indians。　　Absurd　stories　had　come　to　his　ears　regarding　the

attitude　of　the　reservation　towards　him。　　He　thought　she　ought　to

return　home　as　quickly　as　possible。　　Fortunately　an　opportunity

offered。　　The　general　commanding　had　advised　him　of　the　visit　to

the　fort　of　a　party　of　English　tourists　who　had　been　shooting　in

the　vicinity；　and　who　were　making　the　fort　the　farthest　point　of

their　western　excursion。　　There　were　three　or　four　ladies　in　the

party；　and　as　they　would　be　returning　to　the　line　of　railroad　under

escort；　she　could　easily　accompany　them。　　This；　added　Colonel

Carter；　was　also　Mrs。　Carter's　opinion；she　was　a　woman　of

experience；　and　had　a　married　daughter　of　her　own。　　In　the　mean

time　Peter　had　better　not　broach　the　subject　to　his　sister；　but

trust　to　the　arrival　of　the　strangers；　who　would　remain　for　a　week；

and　who　would　undoubtedly　divert　Mrs。　Lascelles'　impressible　mind；

and　eventually　make　the　proposition　more　natural　and　attractive。



In　the　interval　Peter　revisited　the　reservation；　and　endeavored　to

pacify　the　irritation　that　had　sprung　from　his　previous　inspection。

The　outrage　at　Post　Oak　Bottom　he　was　assured　had　no　relation　to

the　incident　at　the　reservation；　but　was　committed　by　some

stragglers　from　other　tribes　who　had　not　yet　accepted　the

government　bounty；　yet　had　not　been　thus　far　classified　as

〃hostile。〃　　There　had　been　no　〃Ghost　Dancing〃　nor　other　indication

of　disturbance。　　The　colonel　had　not　deemed　it　necessary　to　send

out　an　exemplary　force；　or　make　a　counter　demonstration。　　The

incident　was　allowed　to　drop。　　At　the　reservation　Peter　had　ignored

the　previous　conduct　of　the　chiefs　towards　him；　had　with　quiet

courage　exposed　himself　fullyunarmed　and　unattendedamongst

them；　and　had　as　fully　let　it　be　known　that　this　previous　incident

was　the　reason　that　his　sister　had　not　accompanied　him　on　his

second　visit。　　He　left　them　at　the　close　of　the　second　day　more

satisfied　in　his　mind；　and　perhaps　in　a　more　enthusiastic　attitude

towards　his　report。



As　he　came　within　sound　of　the　sunset　bugles；　he　struck　a　narrower

trail　which　led　to　the　fort；　through　an　oasis　of　oaks　and

cottonwoods　and　a　small　stream　or　〃branch；〃　which　afterwards　lost

itself　in　the　dusty　plain。　　He　had　already　passed　a　few　settler's

cabins；　a　sutler's　shop；　and　other　buildings　that　had　sprung　up

around　this　armed　nucleus　of　civilizationwhich；　in　due　season；

was　to　become　a　frontier　town。　　But　as　yet　the　brief　wood　was　wild

and　secluded；　frequented　only　by　the　women　and　children　of　the

fort；　within　whose　protecting　bounds　it　stood；　and　to　whose　formal

〃parade；〃　and　trim　white　and　green　cottage　〃quarters；〃　it　afforded

an　agreeable　relief。　　As　he　rode　abstractedly　forward　under　the　low

cottonwood　vault　he　felt　a　strange　influence　stealing　over　him；　an

influence　that　was　not　only　a　present　experience　but　at　the　same

time　a　far…off　memory。　　The　concave　vault　above　deepened；　the

sunset　light　from　the　level　horizon　beyond　streamed　through　the

leaves　as　through　the　chequers　of　stained　glass　windows；　through

the　two　shafts　before　him　stretched　the　pillared　aisles　of　Ashley

Church！　　He　was　riding　as　in　a　dream；　and　when　a　figure　suddenly

slipped　across　his　pathway　from　a　column…like　tree　trunk；　he　woke

with　the　disturbance　and　sense　of　unreality　of　a　dream。　　For　he　saw

Lady　Elfrida　standing　before　him！



It　was　not　a　mere　memory　conjured　up　by　association；　for　although

the　figure；　face；　and　attitude　were　the　same；　there　were　certain

changes　of　costume　which　the　eye　of　recollection　noticed。　　In　place

of　the　smart　narrow…brimmed　sailor　hat　he　remembered；　she　was

wearing　a　slouched　cavalry　hat　with　a　gold　cord　around　its　crown；

that；　with　all　its　becomingness　and　picturesque　audacity；　seemed　to

become　characteristic　and　respectable；　as　a　crest　to　her　refined

head；　and　as　historic　as　a　Lely　canvas。　　She　wore　a　flannel　shirt；

belted　in　at　her　slight　waist　with　a　band　of　yellow　leather；

defining　her　small　hips；　and　short　straight　pleatless　skirts　that

fell　to　her　trim　ankles　and　buckled　leather　shoes。　　She　was　fresh

and　cool；　wholesome　and　clean；　free　and　unfettered；　indeed；　her

beauty　seemed　only　an　afterthought　or　accident。　　So　much　so　that

when　Peter　saw　her　afterwards；　amidst　the　billowy；　gauzy；　and

challenging　graces　of　the　officer's　wives；　who　were　dressed　in

their　best　and　prettiest　frocks　to　welcome　her；　the　eye　turned

naturally　from　that　suggestion　of　enhancement　to　the　girl　who

seemed　to　defy　it。　　She　was　clearly　not　an　idealized　memory；　a

spirit　or　a　ghost；　but　naturalistic　and　rosy；　he　thought　a　trifle

rosier；　as　she　laughingly　addressed　him：



〃I　suppose　it　isn't　quite　fair　to　surprise　you　like　that；〃　she

said；　with　an　honest　girlish　hand…shake；　〃for　you　see　I　know　all

about　you　now；　and　what　you　are　doing　here；　and　even　when　you　were

expected；　and　I　dare　say　you　thought　we　were　still　in　England；　if

you　remembered　us　at　all。　　And　we　haven't　met　since　that　day　at

Ashley　Church　when　I　put　my　foot　in　it；or　rather　on　your　pet

protege's；　the　Indian's：　you　remember　Major　Atherly's　tomb？　　And　to

think　that　all　the　while　we　didn't　know　that　you　were　a　public　man

and　a　great　political　reformer；　and　had　a　fad　like　this。　　Why；　we'd

have　got　up　meetings　for　you；　and　my　father　would　have　presided；

he's　always　fond　of　doing　these　things；and　we'd　have　passed

resolutions；　and　given　you　subscriptions；　and　Bibles；　and　flannel

shirts；　and　revolversbut　I　believe　you　draw　the　line　at　that。　　My

brother　was　saying　only　the　other　day　that　you　weren't　half　praised

enough　for　going　in　for　this　sort　of　thing　when　you　were　so　rich；

and　needn't　care。　　And　so　that's　why　you　rushed　away　from　Ashley

Grange；just　to　come　here　and　work　out　your　mission？〃



His　whole　life；　his　first　wild　Californian　dream；　his　English

visit；　the　revelation　of　Gray　Eagle；　the　final　collapse　of　his　old

beliefs；　were　whirling　through　his　brain　to　the　music　of　this　clear

young　voice。　　And　by　some　cruel　irony　of　circumstance　it　seemed　now

to　even　mock　his　later　dreams　of　expiation　as　it　also　called　back

his　unhappy　experience　of　the　last　week。



〃Have　youhave　you〃he　stammered　with　a　faint　smile；　〃seen　my

sister？〃



〃Not　yet；〃　said　Lady　Elfrida。　　〃I　believe　she　is　not　well　and　is

confined　to　her　room；　you　will　introduce　me；　won't　you？〃　she　added

eagerly。　　〃Of　course；　when　we　heard　that　there　was　an　Atherly　here

we　inquired　about　you；　and　I　told　them　you　were　a　relation　of

ours；〃　she　went　on　with　a　half…mischievous　shyness；〃you　remember

the　de　Bracys；and　they　seemed　surprised　and　rather　curious。　　I

suppose　one　does　not　talk　so　much　about　these　things　over　here；　and

I　dare　say　you　have　so　much　to　occupy　your　mind　you　don't　talk　of

us　in　England。〃　　With　the　quickness　of　a　refined　perception　she　saw

a　slight　shade　in　his　face；　and　changed　the　subject。　　〃And　we　have

had　such　a　jolly　time；　we　have　met　so　many　pleasant　people；　and

they've　all　been　so　awfully　good　to　us；　from　the　officials　and

officers　down　to　the　plainest　working…man。　　And　all　so　naturally

tooso　different　from　us。　　I　sometimes　think　we　have　to　work

ourselves　up　to　be　civil　to　strangers。〃　　〃No；〃　she　went　on　gayly；

in　answer　to　his　protesting　gesture；　and　his　stammered　reminder　of

his　own　reception。　　〃No。　　You　came　as　a　sort　of　kinsman；　and　Sir

Edward　knew　all　about　you　before　he　asked　you　down　to　the　Grange

or　even　sent　over　for　me　from　the　Towers。　　No！　you　Americans　take

people　on　their　'face　value；'　as　my　brother　Reggy　says；　and　we

always　want　to　know　what　are　the　'securities。'　　And　then　American

men　are　more　gallant；　though；〃　she　declared　mischievously；　〃I　think

you　are　an　exception　in　that　way。　　Indeed；〃　she　went　on；　〃the　more

I　see　of　your　countrymen　the　less　you　seem　like　them。　　You　are　more

like　us；more　like　an　Englishmanindeed；　more　like　an　Englishman

than　most　Englishmen；I　mean　in　the　matter　of　reserve　and　all　that

sort　of　thing；　you　know。　　It's　odd；isn't　it？　　Is　your　sister　like

you？〃



〃You　shall　judge　for　yourself；〃　said　Peter　with　a　gayety　that　was

forced　in　proportion　as　his　forebodings　became　more　gloomy。　　Would

his　sister's　peculiaritieseven　her　secretbe　safe　from　the　clear

eyes　of　the　young　girl？



〃I　know　I　shall　like　her；〃　said　Lady　Elfrida；　simply。　　〃I　mean　to

make　friends　with　her　before　we　leave；　and　I　hope　to　see　a　great

deal　of　her；　and；〃　she　said　with　a　naive　non　sequitur；　that；

however；　had　its　painful　significance　to　Peter；　〃I　do　want　you　to

show　me　some　Indiansyour　Indians；　you　know　YOUR　friends。　　I've

seen　some　of　them；　of　course；　I　am　afraid　I　am　a　little　prejudiced；

for　I　did　not　like　them。　　You　see　my　taste　has　to　be　educated；　I

suppose；　but　I　thought　them　so　foolishly　vain　and　presuming。〃



〃That　is　their　perfect　childishness；〃　said　Peter　quickly。　　〃It　is

not；　I　believe；　considered　a　moral　defect；〃　he　added　bitterly。



Lady　Elfrida　laughed；　and　yet　at　the　same　moment　a　look　of　appeal

that　was　in　itself　quite　as　childlike　shone　in　her　blue　eyes。

〃There；　I　have　blundered　again；　I　know；　but　I　told　you　I　have　such

ridiculous　prejudices！　　And　I　really　want　to　like　them　as　you　do。

Only；〃　she　laughed　again；　〃it　seems　strange　that　YOU；　of　all　men；

should　have　interested　yourself　in　people　so　totally　different　to

you。　　But　what　will　be　the　result　if　your　efforts　are　successful？

Will　they　remain　a　distinct　race？　　Will　you　make　citizens；

soldiers；　congressmen；　governors　of　them？　　Will　they　intermarry

with　the　whites？　　Is　that　a　part　of　your　plan？　　I　hope　not！〃



It　was　a　part　of　Peter's　sensitive　excitement　that　even　through　the

unconscious　irony　of　this　speech　he　was　noticing　the　difference

between　the　young　English　girl's　evident　interest　in　a　political

problem　and　the　utter　indifference　of　his　own　countrywomen。　　Here

was　a　girl　scarcely　out　of　her　teens；　with　no　pretension　to　being　a

blue　stocking；　with　half　the　aplomb　of　an　American　girl　of　her　own

age；　gravely　considering　a　question　of　political　economy。　　Oddly

enough；　it　added　to　his　other　irritation；　and　he　said　almost

abruptly；　〃Why　not？〃



She　took　the　question　literally　and　with　a　little　youthful

timidity。　　〃But　these　mixed　races　never　attain　to　anything；　do

they？　　I　thought　that　was　understood。　　But；〃　she　added　with

feminine　quickness；　〃and　I　suppose　it's　again　only　a　PERSONAL

argument；　YOU　wouldn't　like　your　sister　to　have　married　an　Indi