in the carquinez woods(在卡圭尼兹森林)-第15章
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possessed； her chaste cambric skirts and dainty shoes as fresh as when she
had left her father's house； but where was the woman of the brown duster；
and where the yellow…dressed apparition of the woods？ He was feebly
repeating to himself his mental adjuration of a few hours before when he
caught her eye； and was taken with a blush and a fit of coughing。 Could
he have been such an egregious fool； and was it not plainly written on his
embarrassed face for her to read？
〃Are we going down together？〃 asked Miss Nellie with an
exceptionally gracious smile。
There was neither affectation nor coquetry in this advance。 The girl
had no idea of Brace's suspicion of her； nor did any uneasy desire to
placate or deceive a possible rival of Low's prompt her graciousness。
She simply wished to shake off in this encounter the already stale
excitement of the past two hours； as she had shaken the dust of the woods
from her clothes。 It was characteristic of her irresponsible nature and
transient susceptibilities that she actually enjoyed the relief of change；
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more than that； I fear； she looked upon this infidelity to a past dubious
pleasure as a moral principle。 A mild； open flirtation with a recognized
man like Brace； after her secret passionate tryst with a nameless nomad
like Low； was an ethical equipoise that seemed proper to one of her
religious education。
Brace was only too happy to profit by Miss Nellie's condescension； he
at once secured the seat by her side； and spent the four hours and a half of
their return journey to Excelsior in blissful but timid communion with her。
If he did not dare to confess his past suspicions； he was equally afraid to
venture upon the boldness he had premeditated a few hours before。 He
was therefore obliged to take a middle course of slightly egotistical
narration of his own personal adventures； with which he beguiled the
young girl's ear。 This he only departed from once； to describe to her a
valuable grizzly bearskin which he had seen that day for sale at Indian
Spring； with a view to divining her possible acceptance of it for a 〃buggy
robe；〃 and once to comment upon a ring which she had inadvertently
disclosed in pulling off her glove。
〃It's only an old family keepsake；〃 she added； with easy mendacity；
and affecting to recognize in Mr。 Brace's curiosity a not unnatural excuse
for toying with her charming fingers； she hid them in chaste and virginal
seclusion in her lap； until she could recover the ring and resume her glove。
A week passeda week of peculiar and desiccating heat for even those
dry Sierra table…lands。 The long days were filled with impalpable dust
and acrid haze suspended in the motionless air； the nights were breathless
and dewless； the cold wind which usually swept down from the snow line
was laid to sleep over a dark monotonous level； whose horizon was
pricked with the eating fires of burning forest crests。 The lagging coach
of Indian Spring drove up at Excelsior； and precipitated its passengers
with an accompanying cloud of dust before the Excelsior Hotel。 As they
emerged from the coach； Mr。 Brace； standing in the doorway； closely
scanned their begrimed and almost unrecognizable faces。 They were the
usual type of travelers： a single professional man in dusty black； a few
traders in tweeds and flannels； a sprinkling of miners in red and gray shirts；
a Chinaman； a negro； and a Mexican packer or muleteer。 This latter for a
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moment mingled with the crowd in the bar…room； and even penetrated the
corridor and dining…room of the hotel； as if impelled by a certain semi…
civilized curiosity； and then strolled with a lazy； dragging stephalf
impeded by the enormous leather leggings； chains； and spurs； peculiar to
his classdown the main street。 The darkness was gathering； but the
muleteer indulged in the same childish scrutiny of the dimly lighted shops；
magazines； and saloons； and even of the occasional groups of citizens at
the street corners。 Apparently young； as far as the outlines of his figure
could be seen； he seemed to show even more than the usual concern of
masculine Excelsior in the charms of womankind。 The few female
figures about at that hour； or visible at window or veranda； received his
marked attention； he respectfully followed the two auburn…haired
daughters of Deacon Johnson on their way to choir meeting to the door of
the church。 Not content with that act of discreet gallantry； after they had
entered he managed to slip unperceived behind them。
The memorial of the Excelsior gamblers' generosity was a modern
building； large and pretentious； for even Mr。 Wynn's popularity； and had
been good…humoredly known； in the characteristic language of the
generous donors； as one of the 〃biggest religious bluffs〃 on record。 Its
groined rafters； which were so new and spicy that they still suggested their
native forest aisles； seldom covered more than a hundred devotees； and in
the rambling choir； with its bare space for the future organ； the few
choristers； gathered round a small harmonium； were lost in the deepening
shadow of that summer evening。 The muleteer remained hidden in the
obscurity of the vestibule。 After a few moments' desultory conversation；
in which it appeared that the unexpected absence of Miss Nellie Wynn；
their leader； would prevent their practicing； the choristers withdrew。 The
stranger； who had listened eagerly； drew back in the darkness as they
passed out； and remained for a few moments a vague and motionless
figure in the silent church。 Then coming cautiously to the window； the
flapping broad…brimmed hat was put aside； and the faint light of the dying
day shone in the black eyes of Teresa！ Despite her face； darkened with
dye and disfigured with dust； the matted hair piled and twisted around her
head； the strange dress and boyish figure； one swift glance from under her
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raised lashes betrayed her identity。
She turned aside mechanically into the first pew； picked up and opened
a hymn…book。 Her eyes became riveted on a name written on the title…
page； 〃Nellie Wynn。〃 HER name； and HER book。 The instinct that had
guided her here was right； the slight gossip of her fellow…passengers was
right； this was the clergyman's daughter； whose praise filled all mouths。
This was the unknown girl the stranger was seeking； but who in turn
perhaps had been seeking Lowthe girl who absorbed his fancythe
secret of his absences； his preoccupation； his coldness！ This was the girl
whom to see； perhaps in his arms； she was now periling her liberty and her
life unknown to him！ A slight odor； some faint perfume of its owner；
came from the book； it was the same she had noticed in the dress Low had
given her。 She flung the volume to the ground； and； throwing her arms
over the back of the pew before her； buried her face in her hands。
In that light and attitude she might have seemed some rapt acolyte
abandoned to self…communion。 But whatever yearning her soul might
have had for higher sympathy or deeper consolation； I fear that the
spiritual Tabernacle of Excelsior and the Reverend Mr。 Wynn did not meet
that requirement。 She only felt the dry； oven…like heat of that vast shell；
empty of sentiment and beauty； hollow in its pretense and dreary in its
desolation。 She only saw in it a chief altar for the glorification of this girl
who had absorbed even the pure worship of her companion； and converted
and degraded his sublime paganism to her petty creed。 With a woman's
withering contempt for her own art displayed in another woman； she
thought how she herself could have touched him with the peace that the
majesty of their woodland aislesso unlike this pillared shamhad taught
her own passionate heart； had she but dared。 Mingling with this
imperfect theology； she felt she could have proved to him also that a
brunette and a woman of her experience was better than an immature
blonde。 She began to loathe herself for coming hither； and dreaded to
meet his face。 Here a sudden thought struck her。 What if he had not
come here？ What if she had been mistaken？ What if her rash
interpretation of his absence from the wood that night was simple madness？
What if he should returnif he had already returned？ She rose to her feet；
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whitening yet joyful with the thought。 She could return at once； what
was the girl to her now？ Yet there was time to satisfy herself if he were
at HER house。 She had been told where it was； she could find it in the
dark； an open door or window would betray some sign or sound of the
occupants。 She rose； replaced her hat over her eyes； knotted her flaunting
scarf around her throat； groped her way to the door； and glided into the
outer darkness。
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