in the carquinez woods-第16章

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him；　that　she　had　overheard　his　conversation　with　Brace；　that　she
had　stolen　Brace's　horse　to　bring　Low　warning；　that；　failing　to
find　Low　in　his　accustomed　haunts；　or　at　the　campfire；　she　had
left　a　note　for　him　pinned　to　the　herbarium；　imploring　him　to　fly
with　his　companion　from　the　danger　that　was　coming；　and　that；
remaining　on　watch；　she　had　seen　them　bothBrace　and　Dunn
approaching；　and　had　prepared　to　meet　them　at　the　cabin？　　Would
this　miserable　and　maddened　man　understand　her　self…abnegation？
Would　he　forgive　Low　and　Nellie？she　did　not　ask　for　herself。
Or　would　the　revelation　turn　his　brain；　if　it　did　not　kill　him
outright？　　She　looked　at　the　sunken　orbits　of　his　eyes　and　hectic
on　his　cheek；　and　shuddered。

Why　was　this　added　to　the　agony　she　already　suffered？　　She　had
been　willing　to　stand　between　them　with　her　life；　her　liberty；
and　eventhe　hot　blood　dyed　her　cheek　at　the　thoughtwith　the
added　shame　of　being　thought　the　cast…off　mistress　of　that　man's
son。　　Yet　all　this　she　had　taken　upon　herself　in　expiation　of
somethingshe　knew　not　clearly　what；　no；　for　nothingonly　for
HIM。　　And　yet　this　very　situation　offered　her　that　gleam　of　hope
which　had　thrilled　her；　a　hope　so　wild　in　its　improbability；　so
degrading　in　its　possibility；　that　at　first　she　knew　not　whether
despair　was　not　preferable　to　its　shame。　　And　yet　was　it
unreasonable？　　She　was　no　longer　passionate；　she　would　be　calm
and　think　it　out　fairly。

She　would　go　to　Low　at　once。　　She　would　find　him　somewhereand
even　if　with　that　girl；　what　mattered？and　she　would　tell　him
all。　　When　he　knew　that　the　life　and　death　of　his　father　lay　in
the　scale；　would　he　let　his　brief；　foolish　passion　for　Nellie
stand　in　the　way？　　Even　if　he　were　not　influenced　by　filial
affection　or　mere　compassion；　would　his　pride　let　him　stoop　to　a
rivalry　with　the　man　who　had　deserted　his　youth？　　Could　he　take
Dunn's　promised　bride；　who　must　have　coquetted　with　him　to　have
brought　him　to　this　miserable　plight？　　Was　this　like　the　calm；
proud　young　god　she　knew？　　Yet　she　had　an　uneasy　instinct　that
calm；　proud　young　gods　and　goddesses　did　things　like　this；　and
felt　the　weakness　of　her　reasoning　flush　her　own　conscious　cheek。

〃Teresa！〃

She　started。　　Dunn　was　awake；　and　was　gazing　at　her　curiously。

〃I　was　reckoning　it　was　the　only　square　thing　for　Low　to　stop
this　promiscuous　picnicking　here　and　marry　you　out　and　out。〃

〃Marry　me！〃　said　Teresa　in　a　voice　that；　with　all　her　efforts；
she　could　not　make　cynical。

〃Yes；〃　he　repeated；　〃after　I've　married　Nellie；　tote　you　down　to
San　Angeles；　and　there　take　my　name　like　a　man；　and　give　it　to
you。　　Nobody'll　ask　after　TERESA；　sureyou　bet　your　life。　　And
if　they　do；　and　he　can't　stop　their　jaw；　just　you　call　on　the　old
man。　　It's　mighty　queer；　ain't　it；　Teresa；　to　think　of　your　being
my　daughter…in…law？〃

It　seemed　here　as　if　he　was　about　to　lapse　again　into　unconsciousness
over　the　purely　ludicrous　aspect　of　the　subject；　but　he　haply
recovered　his　seriousness。　　〃He'll　have　as　much　money　from　me　as　he
wants　to　go　into　business　with。　　What's　his　line　of　business；
Teresa？〃　asked　this　prospective　father…in…law；　in　a　large；　liberal　way。

〃He　is　a　botanist！〃　said　Teresa；　with　a　sudden　childish　animation
that　seemed　to　keep　up　the　grim　humor　of　the　paternal　suggestion；
〃and　oh；　he　is　too　poor　to　buy　books！　　I　sent　for　one　or　two　for
him　myself；　the　other　day〃　she　hesitated〃it　was　all　the　money
I　had；　but　it　wasn't　enough　for　him　to　go　on　with　his　studies。〃

Dunn　looked　at　her　sparkling　eyes　and　glowing　cheeks；　and　became
thoughtful。　　〃Curson　must　have　been　a　dd　fool；〃　he　said　finally。

Teresa　remained　silent。　　She　was　beginning　to　be　impatient　and
uneasy；　fearing　some　mischance　that　might　delay　her　dreaded；　yet
longed…for　meeting　with　Low。　　Yet　she　could　not　leave　this　sick
and　exhausted　man；　HIS　FATHER；　now　bound　to　her　by　more　than　mere
humanity。

〃Couldn't　you　manage；〃　she　said　gently；　〃to　lean　on　me　a　few
steps　further；　until　I　could　bring　you　to　a　cooler　spot　and
nearer　assistance？〃

He　nodded。　　She　lifted　him　almost　like　a　child　to　his　feet。　　A
spasm　of　pain　passed　over　his　face。　　〃How　far　is　it？〃　he　asked。

〃Not　more　than　ten　minutes；〃　she　replied。

〃I　can　make　a　spurt　for　that　time；〃　he　said　coolly；　and　began　to
walk　slowly　but　steadily　on。　　Only　his　face；　which　was　white　and
set；　and　the　convulsive　grip　of　his　hand　on　her　arm　betrayed　the
effort。　　At　the　end　of　ten　minutes　she　stopped。　　They　stood
before　the　splintered；　lightning…scarred　shaft　in　the　opening　of
the　woods；　where　Low　had　built　her　first　camp…fire。　　She
carefully　picked　up　the　herbarium；　but　her　quick　eye　had　already
detected　in　the　distance；　before　she　had　allowed　Dunn　to　enter
the　opening　with　her；　that　her　note　was　gone。　　Low　had　been　there
before　them；　he　had　been　warned；　as　his　absence　from　the　cabin
showed；　he　would　not　return　there。　　They　were　free　from
interruptionbut　where　had　he　gone？

The　sick　man　drew　a　long　breath　of　relief　as　she　seated　him　in
the　clover…grown　hollow　where　she　had　slept　the　second　night　of
her　stay。　　〃It's　cooler　than　those　cursed　woods；〃　he　said。　　〃I
suppose　it's　because　it's　a　little　like　a　grave。　　What　are　you
going　to　do　now？〃　he　added；　as　she　brought　a　cup　of　water　and
placed　it　at　his　side。

〃I　am　going　to　leave　you　here　for　a　little　while；〃　she　said
cheerfully；　but　with　a　pale　face　and　nervous　hands。　　〃I'm　going
to　leave　you　while　I　seek　Low。〃

The　sick　man　raised　his　head。　　〃I'm　good　for　a　spurt；　Teresa；
like　that　I've　just　got　through；　but　I　don't　think　I'm　up　to　a
family　party。　　Couldn't　you　issue　cards　later　on？〃

〃You　don't　understand；〃　she　said。　　〃I'm　going　to　get　Low　to　send
some　one　of　your　friends　to　you　here。　　I　don't　think　he'll
begrudge　leaving　HER　a　moment　for　that；〃　she　added　to　herself
bitterly。

〃What's　that　you're　saying？〃　he　queried；　with　the　nervous
quickness　of　an　invalid。

〃Nothingbut　that　I'm　going　now。〃　　She　turned　her　face　aside　to
hide　her　moistened　eyes。　　〃Wish　me　good　luck；　won't　you？〃　she
asked；　half　sadly；　half　pettishly。

〃Come　here！〃

She　came　and　bent　over　him。　　He　suddenly　raised　his　hands；　and；
drawing　her　face　down　to　his　own；　kissed　her　forehead。

〃Give　that　to　HIM；〃　he　whispered；　〃from　ME。〃

She　turned　and　fled；　happily　for　her　sentiment；　not　hearing　the
feeble　laugh　that　followed；　as　Dunn；　in　sheer　imbecility；　again
referred　to　the　extravagant　ludicrousness　of　the　situation。　　〃It
is　about　the　biggest　thing　in　the　way　of　a　sell　all　round；〃　he
repeated；　lying　on　his　back；　confidentially　to　the　speck　of
smoke…obscured　sky　above　him。　　He　pictured　himself　repeating　it；
not　to　Nellieher　severe　propriety　might　at　last　overlook　the
fact；　but　would　not　tolerate　the　jokebut　to　her　father！　　It
would　be　one　of　those　characteristic　Californian　jokes　Father
Wynn　would　admire。

To　his　exhaustion　fever　presently　succeeded；　and　he　began　to　grow
restless。　　The　heat　too　seemed　to　invade　his　retreat；　and　from
time　to　time　the　little　patch　of　blue　sky　was　totally　obscured　by
clouds　of　smoke。　　He　amused　himself　with　watching　a　lizard　who
was　investigating　a　folded　piece　of　paper；　whose　elasticity　gave
the　little　creature　lively　apprehensions　of　its　vitality。　　At
last　he　could　stand　the　stillness　of　his　retreat　and　his　supine
position　no　longer；　and　rolled　himself　out　of　the　bed　of　leaves
that　Teresa　had　so　carefully　prepared　for　him。　　He　rose　to　his
feet　stiff　and　sore；　and；　supporting　himself　by　the　nearest　tree；
moved　a　few　steps　from　the　dead　ashes　of　the　camp…fire。　　The
movement　frightened　the　lizard；　who　abandoned　the　paper　and　fled。
With　a　satirical　recollection　of　Brace　and　his　〃ridiculous〃
discovery　through　the　medium　of　this　animal；　he　stooped　and
picked　up　the　paper。　　〃Like　as　not；〃　he　said　to　himself；　with
grim　irony；　〃these　yer　lizards　are　in　the　discovery　business。
P'r'aps　this　may　lead　to　another　mystery；〃　and　he　began　to　unfold
the　paper　with　a　smile。　　But　the　smile　ceased　as　his　eye　suddenly
caught　his　own　name。

A　dozen　lines　were　written　in　pencil　on　what　seemed　to　be　a　blank
leaf　originally　torn　from　some　book。　　He　trembled　so　that　he　was
obliged　to　sit　down　to　read　these　words：


〃When　you　get　this　keep　away　from　the　woods。　　Dunn　and　another
man　are　in　deadly　pursuit　of　you　and　your　companion。　　I　overheard
their　plan　to　surprise　you　in　our　cabin。　　DON'T　GO　THERE；　and　I
will　delay　them　and　put　them　off　the　scent。　　Don't　mind　me。　　God
bless　you；　and　if　you　never　see　me　again　think　sometimes　of

〃TERESA。〃


His　trembling　ceased；　he　did　not　start；　but　rose　in　an　abstracted
way；　and　made　a　few　deliberate　steps　in　the　direction　Teresa　had
gone。　　Even　then　he　was　so　confused　that　he　was　obliged　to　refer
to　the　paper　again；　but　with　so　little　effect　that　he　could　only
repeat　the　last　words；　〃think　sometimes　of　Teresa。〃　　He　was
conscious　that　this　was　not　all；　he　had　a　full　conviction　of
being　deceived；　and　knew　that　he　held　the　proof　in　his　hand；　but
he　could　not　formulate　it　beyond　that　sentence。　　〃Teresa〃yes；
he　would　think　of　her。　　She　would　explain　it。　　And　here　she　was
returning。

In　that　brief　interval　her　face　and　manner　had　again　changed。
Her　face　was　pale　and　quite　breathless。　　She　cast　a　swift　glance
at　Dunn　and　the　paper　he　mechanically　held　out；　walked　up　to　him；
and　tore　it　from　his　hand。

〃Well；〃　she　said　hoarsely；　〃what　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？〃

He　attempted　to　speak；　but　his　voice　failed　him。　　Even　then　he
was　conscious　that　if　he　had　spoken　he　would　have　only　repeated；
〃think　sometimes　of　Teresa。〃　　He　looked　longingly　but　helplessly
at　the　spot　where　she　had　thrown　the　paper；　as　if　it　had
contained　his　unuttered　words。

〃Yes；〃　she　went　on　to　herself；　as　if　he　was　a　mute；　indifferent
spectator〃yes；　they're　gone。　　That　ends　it　all。　　The　game's
played　out。　　Well！〃　suddenly　turning　upon　him；　〃now　you　know　it
all。　　Your　Nellie　WAS　here　with　him；　and　is　with　him　now。　　Do　you
hear？　　Make　the　most　of　it；　you've　lost　thembut　here　I　am。〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said　eagerly〃yes；　Teresa。〃

She　stopped；　stared　at　him；　then　taking　him　by　the　hand　led　him
like　a　child　back　to　his　couch。　　〃Well；〃　she　said；　in　half…savage
explanation；　〃I　told　you　the　truth　when　I　said　the　girl　wasn't　at
the　cabin　last　night；　and　that　I　didn't　know　her。　　What　are　you
glowerin'　at？　　No！　　I　haven't　lied　to　you；　I　swear　to　God；　except
in　one　thing。　　Did　you　know　what　that　was？　　To　save　him　I　took
upon　me　a　shame　I　don't　deserve。　　I　let　you　think　I　was　his
mistress。　　You　think　so　now；　don't　you？　　Well；　before　God　to…day
and　He　may　take　me　when　He　likesI'm　no　more　to　him　than　a
sister！　　I　reckon　your　Nellie　can't　say　as　much。〃

She　turned　away；　and　with　the　quick；　impatient　stride　of　some
caged　animal　made　the　narrow　circuit　of　the　opening；　stopping　a
moment　mechanically　before　the　sick　man；　and　again；　without
looking　at　him；　continuing　her　monotonous　round。　　The　heat　had
become　excessive；　but　she　held　her　shawl　with　both　hands　drawn
tightly　over　her　shoulders。　　Suddenly　a　wood…duck　darted　out　of
the　covert　blindly　into　the　opening；　struck　against　the　blasted
trunk；　fell　half　stunned　near　her　feet；　and　then；　recovering；
fluttered　away。　　She　ha