07-the wife of a king-第3章

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countless　generations…　the　warning　and　the　requiem　to　the　world's

estrays。

　　Cal　Galbraith　shivered　slightly　as　it　died　away　in　half…caught　sobs。

The　Kid　read　his　thoughts　openly；　and　wandered　back　with　him　through

all　the　weary　days　of　famine　and　disease；　and　with　him　was　also　the

patient　Madeline；　sharing　his　pains　and　perils；　never　doubting；

never　complaining。　His　mind's　retina　vibrated　to　a　score　of

pictures；　stern；　clear…cut；　and　the　hand　of　the　past　drew　back　with

heavy　fingers　on　his　heart。　It　was　the　psychological　moment。

Malemute　Kid　was　half…tempted　to　play　his　reserve　card　and　win　the

game；　but　the　lesson　was　too　mild　as　yet；　and　he　let　it　pass。　The　next

instant　they　had　gripped　hands；　and　the　King's　beaded　moccasins　were

drawing　protests　from　the　outraged　snow　as　he　crunched　down　the　hill。

　　Madeline　in　collapse　was　another　woman　to　the　mischievous　creature

of　an　hour　before；　whose　laughter　had　been　so　infectious　and　whose

heightened　color　and　flashing　eyes　had　made　her　teachers　for　the　while

forget。　Weak　and　nerveless；　she　sat　in　the　chair　just　as　she　had

been　dropped　there　by　Prince　and　Harrington。　Malemute　Kid　frowned。

This　would　never　do。　When　the　time　of　meeting　her　husband　came　to

hand；　she　must　carry　things　off　with　high…handed　imperiousness。　It　was

very　necessary　she　should　do　it　after　the　manner　of　white　women；

else　the　victory　would　be　no　victory　at　all。　So　he　talked　to　her；

sternly；　without　mincing　of　words；　and　initiated　her　into　the

weaknesses　of　his　own　sex；　till　she　came　to　understand　what　simpletons

men　were　after　all；　and　why　the　word　of　their　women　was　law。

　　A　few　days　before　Thanksgiving　Night；　Malemute　Kid　made　another　call

on　Mrs。　Eppingwell。　She　promptly　overhauled　her　feminine　fripperies；

paid　a　protracted　visit　to　the　dry…goods　department　of　the　P。　C。

Company；　and　returned　with　the　Kid　to　make　Madeline's　acquaintance。

After　that　came　a　period　such　as　the　cabin　had　never　seen　before；

and　what　with　cutting；　and　fitting；　and　basting；　and　stitching；　and

numerous　other　wonderful　and　unknowable　things；　the　male

conspirators　were　more　often　banished　the　premises　than　not。　At　such

times　the　Opera　House　opened　its　double　storm…doors　to　them。　So

often　did　they　put　their　heads　together；　and　so　deeply　did　they

drink　to　curious　toasts；　that　the　loungers　scented　unknown　creeks　of

incalculable　richness；　and　it　is　known　that　several　che…cha…quas　and

at　least　one　Old…Timer　kept　their　stampeding　packs　stored　behind　the

bar；　ready　to　hit　the　trail　at　a　moment's　notice。

　　Mrs。　Eppingwell　was　a　woman　of　capacity；　so；　when　she　turned

Madeline　over　to　her　trainers　on　Thanksgiving　Night　she　was　so

transformed　that　they　were　almost　afraid　of　her。　Prince　wrapped　a

Hudson　Bay　blanket　about　her　with　a　mock　reverence　more　real　than

feigned；　while　Malemute　Kid；　whose　arm　she　had　taken；　found　it　a

severe　trial　to　resume　his　wonted　mentorship。　Harrington；　with　the

list　of　purchases　still　running　through　his　head；　dragged　along　in　the

rear；　nor　opened　his　mouth　once　all　the　way　down　into　the　town。　When

they　came　to　the　back　door　of　the　Opera　House　they　took　the　blanket

from　Madeline's　shoulders　and　spread　it　on　the　snow。　Slipping　out　of

Prince's　moccasins；　she　stepped　upon　it　in　new　satin　slippers。　The

masquerade　was　at　its　height。　She　hesitated；　but　they　jerked　open

the　door　and　shoved　her　in。　Then　they　ran　around　to　come　in　by　the

front　entrance。









　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　III



　　'Where　is　Freda？'　the　Old…Timers　questioned；　while　the

che…cha…quas　were　equally　energetic　in　asking　who　Freda　was。　The

ballroom　buzzed　with　her　name。　It　was　on　everybody's　lips。　Grizzled

'sour…dough　boys；'　day…laborers　at　the　mines　but　proud　of　their

degree；　either　patronized　the　spruce…looking　tenderfeet　and　lied

eloquently…　the　'sour…dough　boys'　being　specially　created　to　toy

with　truth…　or　gave　them　savage　looks　of　indignation　because　of

their　ignorance。　Perhaps　forty　kings　of　the　Upper　and　Lower

Countries　were　on　the　floor；　each　deeming　himself　hot　on　the　trail　and

sturdily　backing　his　judgment　with　the　yellow　dust　of　the　realm。　An

assistant　was　sent　to　the　man　at　the　scales；　upon　whom　had　fallen

the　burden　of　weighing　up　the　sacks；　while　several　of　the　gamblers；

with　the　rules　of　chance　at　their　finger…ends；　made　up　alluring

books　on　the　field　and　favorites。

　　Which　was　Freda？　Time　and　again　the　'Greek　Dancer'　was　thought　to

have　been　discovered；　but　each　discovery　brought　panic　to　the

betting　ring　and　a　frantic　registering　of　new　wagers　by　those　who

wished　to　hedge。　Malemute　Kid　took　an　interest　in　the　hunt；　his　advent

being　hailed　uproariously　by　the　revelers；　who　knew　him　to　a　man。

The　Kid　had　a　good　eye　for　the　trick　of　a　step；　and　ear　for　the　lilt

of　a　voice；　and　his　private　choice　was　a　marvelous　creature　who

scintillated　as　the　'Aurora　Borealis。'　But　the　Greek　dancer　was　too

subtle　for　even　his　penetration。　The　majority　of　the　gold…hunters

seemed　to　have　centered　their　verdict　on　the　'Russian　Princess；'　who

was　the　most　graceful　in　the　room；　and　hence　could　be　no　other　than

Freda　Moloof。

　　During　a　quadrille　a　roar　of　satisfaction　went　up。　She　was

discovered。　At　previous　balls；　in　the　figure；　'all　hands　round；'　Freda

had　displayed　an　inimitable　step　and　variation　peculiarly　her　own。

As　the　figure　was　called；　the　'Russian　Princess'　gave　the　unique

rhythm　to　limb　and　body。　A　chorus　of　I…told…you…so's　shook　the　squared

roof…beams；　when　lo！　it　was　noticed　that　'Aurora　Borealis'　and　another

masque；　the　'Spirit　of　the　Pole；'　were　performing　the　same　trick

equally　well。　And　when　two　twin　'Sun…Dogs'　and　a　'Frost　Queen'

followed　suit；　a　second　assistant　was　dispatched　to　the　aid　of　the　man

at　the　scales。

　　Bettles　came　off　trail　in　the　midst　of　the　excitement；　descending

upon　them　in　a　hurricane　of　frost。　His　rimed　brows　turned　to　cataracts

as　he　whirled　about；　his　mustache；　still　frozen；　seemed　gemmed　with

diamonds　and　turned　the　light　in　varicolored　rays；　while　the　flying

feet　slipped　on　the　chunks　of　ice　which　rattled　from　his　moccasins　and

German　socks。　A　Northland　dance　is　quite　an　informal　affair；　the　men

of　the　creeks　and　trails　having　lost　whatever　fastidiousness　they

might　have　at　one　time　possessed；　and　only　in　the　high　official

circles　are　conventions　at　all　observed。　Here；　caste　carried　no

significance。　Millionaires　and　paupers；　dog…drivers　and　mounted

policemen　joined　hands　with　'ladies　in　the　center；'　and　swept　around

the　circle　performing　most　remarkable　capers。　Primitive　in　their

pleasure；　boisterous　and　rough；　they　displayed　no　rudeness；　but　rather

a　crude　chivalry　more　genuine　than　the　most　polished　courtesy。

　　In　his　quest　for　the　'Greek　Dancer；'　Cal　Galbraith　managed　to　get

into　the　same　set　with　the　'Russian　Princess；'　toward　whom　popular

suspicion　had　turned。　But　by　the　time　he　had　guided　her　through　one

dance；　he　was　willing　not　only　to　stake　his　millions　that　she　was

not　Freda；　but　that　he　had　had　his　arm　about　her　waist　before。　When　or

where　he　could　not　tell；　but　the　puzzling　sense　of　familiarity　so

wrought　upon　him　that　he　turned　his　attention　to　the　discovery　of

her　identity。　Malemute　Kid　might　have　aided　him　instead　of

occasionally　taking　the　Princess　for　a　few　turns　and　talking　earnestly

to　her　in　low　tones。　But　it　was　Jack　Harrington　who　paid　the

'Russian　Princess'　the　most　assiduous　court。　Once　he　drew　Cal

Galbraith　aside　and　hazarded　wild　guesses　as　to　who　she　was；　and

explained　to　him　that　he　was　going　in　to　win。　That　rankled　the

Circle　City　King；　for　man　is　not　by　nature　monogamic；　and　he　forgot

both　Madeline　and　Freda　in　the　new　quest。

　　It　was　soon　noised　about　that　the　'Russian　Princess'　was　not　Freda

Moloof。　Interest　deepened。　Here　was　a　fresh　enigma。　They　knew　Freda

though　they　could　not　find　her；　but　here　was　somebody　they　had　found

and　did　not　know。　Even　the　women　could　not　place　her；　and　they　knew

every　good　dancer　in　the　camp。　Many　took　her　for　one　of　the　official

clique；　indulging　in　a　silly　escapade。　Not　a　few　asserted　she　would

disappear　before　the　unmasking。　Others　were　equally　positive　that

she　was　the　woman…reporter　of　the　Kansas　City　Star；　come　to　write　them

up　at　ninety　dollars　per　column。　And　the　men　at　the　scales　worked

busily。

　　At　one　o'clock　every　couple　took　to　the　floor。　The　unmasking　began

amid　laughter　and　delight；　like　that　of　carefree　children。　There　was

no　end　of　Oh's　and　Ah's　as　mask　after　mask　was　lifted。　The

scintillating　'Aurora　Borealis'　became　the　brawny　negress　whose　income

from　washing　the　community's　clothes　ran　at　about　five　hundred　a

month。　The　twin　'Sun…Dogs'　discovered　mustaches　on　their　upper　lips；

and　were　recognized　as　brother　Fraction…Kings　of　El　Dorado。　In　one

of　the　most　prominent　sets；　and　the　slowest　in　uncovering；　was　Cal

Galbraith　with　the　'Spirit　of　the　Pole。'　Opposite　him　was　Jack

Harrington　and　the　'Russian　Princess。'　The　rest　had　discovered

themselves；　yet　the　'Greek　Dancer'　was　still　missing。　All　eyes　were

upon　the　group。　Cal　Galbraith；　in　response　to　their　cries；　lifted

his　partner's　mask。　Freda's　wonderful　face　and　brilliant　eyes

flashed　out　upon　them。　A　roar　went　up；　to　be　squelched　suddenly　in　the

new　and　absorbing　mystery　of　the　'Russian　Princess。'　Her　face　was

still　hidden；　and　Jack　Harrington　was　struggling　with　her。　The　dancers

tittered　on　the　tiptoes　of　expectancy。　He　crushed　her　dainty　costume

roughly；　and　then…　and　then　the　revelers　exploded。　The　joke　was　on

them。　They　had　danced　all　night　with　a　tabooed　native　woman。

　　But　those　that　knew；　and　they　were　many；　ceased　abruptly；　and　a　hush

fell　upon　the　room。　Cal　Galbraith　crossed　over　with　great　strides；

angrily；　and　spoke　to　Madeline　in　polyglot　Chinook。　But　she　retained

her　composure；　apparently　oblivious　to　the　fact　that　she　was　the

cynosure　of　all　eyes；　and　answered　him　in　English。　She　showed

neither　fright　nor　anger；　and　Malemute　Kid　chuckled　at　her　well…bred

equanimity。　The　King　felt　baffled；　defeated；　his　common　Siwash　wife

had　passed　beyond　him。

　　'Come！'　he　said　finally。　'Come　on　home。'

　　'I　beg　pardon；'　she　replied；　'I　have　agreed　to　go　to　supper　with　Mr。

Harrington。　Besides；　there's　no　end　of　dances　promised。'

　　Harrington　extended　his　arm　to　lead　her　away。　He　evinced　not　the

slightest　disinclination　toward　showing　his　back；　but　Malemute　Kid　had

by　this　time　edged　in　closer。　The　Circle　City　King　was　stunned。

Twice　his　hand　dropped　to　his　belt；　and　twice　the　Kid　gathered　himself

to　spring；　but　the　retreating　couple　passed　through　the　supper…room

door　where　canned　oysters　were　spread　at　five　dollars　the　plate。　The

crowd　sighed　audibly；　broke　up　into　couples；　and　followed　them。

Freda　pouted　and　went　in　with　Cal　Galbraith；　but　she　had　a　good

heart　and　a　sure　tongue；　and　she　spoiled　his　oysters　for　him。　What　she

said　is　of　no　importance；　but　his　face　went　red　and　white　at

intervals；　an