a phyllis of the sierras-第7章

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sweepings　of　the　sylvan　household。　　It　was　remarkable　that　Nature；

so　kindly　considerate　of　mere　human　ruins；　made　no　attempt　to　cover

up　or　disguise　these　monuments　of　her　own　mortality：　no　grass　grew

over　the　unsightly　landslides；　no　moss　or　ivy　clothed　the　stripped

and　bleached　skeletons　of　overthrown　branch　and　tree；　the　dead

leaves　and　withered　husks　rotted　in　their　open　grave　uncrossed　by

vine　and　creeper。　　Even　the　animals；　except　the　lower　organizations；

shunned　those　haunts　of　decay　and　ruin。



It　was　scarcely　a　hundred　yards　from　one　of　those　dreary

receptacles　that　Mr。　Bradley　had　taken　leave　of　Miss　Minty　Sharpe。

The　cabin　occupied　by　her　father；　herself；　and　a　younger　brother

stood；　in　fact；　on　the　very　edge　of　the　little　hollow；　which　was

partly　filled　with　decayed　wood；　leaves；　and　displacements　of　the

crumbling　bank；　with　the　coal　dust　and　ashes　which　Mr。　Sharpe　had

added　from　his　forge；　that　stood　a　few　paces　distant　at　the　corner

of　a　cross…road。　　The　occupants　of　the　cabin　had　also　contributed

to　the　hollow　the　refuse　of　their　household　in　broken　boxes；

earthenware；　tin　cans；　and　cast…off　clothing；　and　it　is　not

improbable　that　the　site　of　the　cabin　was　chosen　with　reference　to

this　convenient　disposal　of　useless　and　encumbering　impedimenta。

It　was　true　that　the　locality　offered　little　choice　in　the　way　of

beauty。　　An　outcrop　of　brown　granitea　portent　of　higher

altitudesextended　a　quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　nearest　fringe　of

dwarf　laurel　and　〃brush〃　in　one　direction；　in　the　other　an　advanced

file　of　Bradley's　woods　had　suffered　from　some　long…forgotten　fire；

and　still　raised　its　blackened　masts　and　broken　stumps　over　the

scorched　and　arid　soil；　swept　of　older　underbrush　and　verdure。　　On

the　other　side　of　the　road　a　dark　ravine；　tangled　with　briers　and

haunted　at　night　by　owls　and　wild　cats；　struggled　wearily　on；　until

blundering　at　last　upon　the　edge　of　the　Great　Canyon；　it　slipped

and　lost　itself　forever　in　a　single　furrow　of　those　mighty　flanks。

When　Bradley　had　once　asked　Sharpe　why　he　had　not　built　his　house

in　the　ravine；　the　blacksmith　had　replied：　〃That　until　the　Lord　had

appointed　his　time；　he　reckoned　to　keep　his　head　above　ground　and

the　foundations　thereof。〃　　Howbeit；　the　ravine；　or　the　〃run；〃　as　it

was　locally　known；　was　Minty's　only　Saturday　afternoon　resort　for

recreation　or　berries。　　〃It　was；〃　she　had　explained；　〃pow'ful

soothin'；　and　solitary。〃



She　entered　the　housea　rude；　square　building　of　unpainted　boards

containing　a　sitting…room；　a　kitchen；　and　two　bedrooms。　　A　glance

at　these　rooms；　which　were　plainly　furnished；　and　whose　canvas…

colored　walls　were　adorned　with　gorgeous　agricultural　implement

circulars；　patent　medicine　calendars；　with　polytinted　chromos　and

cheaply…illuminated　Scriptural　texts；　showed　her　that　a　certain

neatness　and　order　had　been　preserved　during　her　absence；　and；

finding　the　house　empty；　she　crossed　the　barren　and　blackened

intervening　space　between　the　back　door　and　her　father's　forge；　and

entered　the　open　shed。　　The　light　was　fading　from　the　sky；　but　the

glow　of　the　forge　lit　up　the　dusty　road　before　it；　and　accented　the

blackness　of　the　rocky　ledge　beyond。　　A　small　curly…headed　boy；

bearing　a　singular　likeness　to　a　smudged　and　blackened　crayon

drawing　of　Minty；　was　mechanically　blowing　the　bellows　and　obviously

intent　upon　something　else；　while　her　fathera　powerfully　built

man；　with　a　quaintly　dissatisfied　expression　of　countenancewas

with　equal　want　of　interest　mechanically　hammering　at　a　horseshoe。

Without　noticing　Minty's　advent；　he　lazily　broke　into　a　querulous

drawling　chant　of　some　vague　religious　character：





　　　　　〃O　tur…ren；　sinner；　tur…ren。

　　　　　　For　the　Lord　bids　you　turnah！

　　　　　　O　tur…ren；　sinner；　tur…ren。

　　　　　　Why　will　you　die？〃





The　musical　accent　adapted　itself　to　the　monotonous　fall　of　the

sledge…hammer；　and　at　every　repetition　of　the　word　〃turn〃　he　suited

the　action　to　the　word　by　turning　the　horseshoe　with　the　iron　in

his　left　hand。　　A　slight　grunt　at　the　end　of　every　stroke；　and　the

simultaneous　repetition　of　〃turn〃　seemed　to　offer　him　amusement　and

relief。　　Minty；　without　speaking；　crossed　the　shop；　and　administered

a　sound　box　on　her　brother's　ear。　　〃Take　that；　and　let　me　ketch　you

agen　layin'　low　when　my　back's　turned；　to　put　on　your　store　pants。〃



〃The　others　had　fetched　away　in　the　laig；〃　said　the　boy；　opposing　a

knee　and　elbow　at　acute　angle　to　further　attack。



〃You　jest　get　and　change　'em；〃　said　Minty。



The　sudden　collapse　of　the　bellows　broke　in　upon　the　soothing

refrain　of　Mr。　Sharpe；　and　caused　him　to　turn　also。



〃It's　Minty；〃　he　said；　replacing　the　horseshoe　on　the　coals；　and

setting　his　powerful　arms　and　the　sledge　on　the　anvil　with　an

exaggerated　expression　of　weariness。



〃Yes；　it's　me；〃　said　Minty；　〃and　Creation　knows　it's　time　I　DID

come；　to　keep　that　boy　from　ruinin'　us　with　his　airs　and　conceits。〃



〃Did　ye　bring　over　any　o'　that　fever　mixter？〃



〃No。　　Bradley　sez　you're　loading　yerself　up　with　so　much　o'　that

bitter　barkkuinine　they　call　it　over　therethat　you'll　lift　the

ruff　off　your　head　next。　　He　allows　ye　ain't　got　no　ague；　it's　jest

wind　and　dyspepsy。　　He　sez　yer's　strong　ez　a　hoss。〃



〃Bradley；〃　said　Sharpe；　laying　aside　his　sledge　with　an　aggrieved

manner　which　was；　however；　as　complacent　as　his　fatigue　and

discontent；　〃ez　one　of　them　nat'ral　born　finikin　skunks　ez　I

despise。　　I　reckon　he　began　to　give　p'ints　to　his　parents　when　he

was　about　knee…high　to　Richelieu　there。　　He's　on　them　confidential

terms　with　hisself　and　the　Almighty　that　he　reckons　he　ken　run　a

saw…mill　and　a　man's　insides　at　the　same　time　with　one　hand　tied

behind　him。　　And　this　finikin　is　up　to　his　conceit：　he　wanted　to

tell　me　that　that　yer　handy　brush　dump　outside　our　shanty　was

unhealthy。　　Give　a　man　with　frills　like　that　his　own　way　and　he'd

be　a　sprinkling　odor　cologne　and　peppermint　all　over　the　country。〃



〃He　set　your　shoulder　as　well　as　any　doctor；〃　said　Minty。



〃That's　bone…settin'；　and　a　nat'ral　gift；〃　returned　Sharpe；　as

triumphantly　as　his　habitual　depression　would　admit；　〃it　ain't

conceit　and　finikin　got　out　o'　books！　　Well；〃　he　added；　after　a

pause；　〃wot's　happened？〃



Minty's　face　slightly　changed。　　〃Nothin'；　I　kem　back　to　get　some

things；〃　she　said　shortly；　moving　away。



〃And　ye　saw　HIM？〃



〃Ye…e…s；〃　drawled　Minty；　carelessly；　still　retreating。



〃Bixby　was　along　here　about　noon。　　He　says　the　stranger　was　suthin'

high　and　mighty　in　his　own　country；　and　them　'Frisco　millionaires

are　quite　sweet　on　him。　　Where　are　ye　goin'？〃



〃In　the　house。〃



〃Well；　look　yer；　Minty。　　Now　that　you're　here；　ye　might　get　up　a

batch　o'　hot　biscuit　for　supper。　　Dinner　was　that　promiscous　and

experimental　to…day；　along　o'　Richelieu's　nat'ral　foolin'；　that　I

think　I　could　git　outside　of　a　little　suthin'　now；　if　only　to　prop

up　a　kind　of　innard　sinkin'　that　takes　me。　　Ye　ken　tell　me　the　news

at　supper。〃



Later；　however；　when　Mr。　Sharpe　had　quitted　his　forge　for　the　night

and；　seated　at　his　domestic　board；　was；　with　a　dismal　presentiment

of　future　indigestion；　voraciously　absorbing　his　favorite　meal　of

hot　saleratus　biscuits　swimming　in　butter；　he　had　apparently

forgotten　his　curiosity　concerning　Mainwaring　and　settled　himself

to　a　complaining　chronicle　of　the　day's　mishaps。　　〃Nat'rally；

havin'　an　extra　lot　o'　work　on　hand　and　no　time　for　foolin'；　what

does　that　ornery　Richelieu　get　up　and　do　this　mornin'？　　Ye　know

them　ridiklus　specimens　that　he's　been　chippin'　outer　that　ledge

that　the　yearth　slipped　from　down　the　run；　and　litterin'　up　the

whole　shanty　with　'em。　　Well；　darn　my　skin！　if　he　didn't　run　a　heap

of　'em；　mixed　up　with　coal；　unbeknowned　to　me；　in　the　forge；　to

make　what　he　called　a　'fire　essay'　of　'em。　　Nat'rally；　I　couldn't

get　a　blessed　iron　hot；　and　didn't　know　what　had　gone　of　the　fire；

or　the　coal　either；　for　two　hours；　till　I　stopped　work　and　raked

out　the　coal。　　That　comes　from　his　hangin'　round　that　saw…mill　in

the　woods；　and　listenin'　to　Bradley's　high…falutin'　talk　about

rocks　and　strata　and　sich。〃



〃But　Bradley　don't　go　a　cent　on　minin'；　Pop；〃　said　Minty。　　〃He　sez

the　woods　is　good　enough　for　him；　and　there's　millions　to　be　made

when　the　railroad　comes　along；　and　timber's　wanted。〃



〃But　until　then　he's　got　to　keep　hisself；　to　pay　wages；　and　keep

the　mill　runnin'。　　Onless　it's；　ez　Bixby　says；　that　he　hopes　to　get

that　Englishman　to　rope　in　some　o'　them　'Frisco　friends　of　his　to

take　a　hand。　　Ye　didn't　have　any　o'　that　kind　o'　talk；　did　ye？〃



〃No；　not　THAT　kind　o'　talk；〃　said　Minty。



〃Not　THAT　kind　o'　talk！〃　repeated　her　father　with　aggrieved

curiosity；　〃Wot　kind；　then？〃



〃Well；〃　said　Minty；　lifting　her　black　eyes　to　her　father's；　〃I

ain't　no　account；　and　you　ain't　no　account　either。　　You　ain't　got

no　college　education；　ain't　got　no　friends　in　'Frisco；　and　ain't

got　no　high…toned　style；　I　can't　play　the　pianner；　jabber　French；

nor　get　French　dresses。　　We　ain't　got　no　fancy　'Shallet；'　as　they

call　it；　with　a　first…class　view　of　nothing；　but　only　a　shanty　on

dry　rock。　　But；　afore　I'D　take　advantage　of　a　lazy；　gawky　boyfor

it　ain't　anything　else；　though　he's　good　meanin'　enoughthat

happened　to　fall　sick　in　MY　house；　and　coax　and　cosset　him；　and

wrap　him　in　white　cotton；　and　mother　him；　and　sister　him；　and　Aunt

Sukey　him；　and　almost　dry…nuss　him　gin'rally；　jist　to　get　him　sweet

on　me　and　on　mine；　and　take　the　inside　track　of　othersI'D　be　an

Injin！　　And　if　you'd　allow　it；　Pop；　you'd　be　wuss　nor　a　nigger！〃



〃Sho！〃　said　her　father；　kindling　with　that　intense　gratification

with　which　the　male　receives　any　intimation　of　alien　feminine

weakness。　　〃It　ain't　that；　Minty；　I　wanter　know！〃



〃It's　jist　that；　Pop；　and　I　ez　good　ez　let　'em　know　I　seed　it。　　I

ain't　a　fool；　if　some　folks　do　drop　their　eyes　and　pertend　to　wipe

the　laugh　out　of　their　noses　with　a　handkerchief　when　I　let　out　to

speak。　　I　mayn't　be　good　enough　kempany〃



〃Look　yer；　Minty；〃　interrupted　the　blacksmith；　sternly；　half　rising

from　his　seat　with　every　trace　of　his　former　weakness　vanished　from

his　hardset　face；　〃do　you　mean　to　say　that　they　put　on　airs　to　ye

to　MY　darter？〃



〃No；〃　said　Minty　quickly；　〃the　men　didn't；　and　don't　you；　a　man；

mix　yourself　up　with　women's　meannesses。　　I　ken　manage　'em；　Pop；

with　one　hand。〃



Mr。　Sharpe　looked　at　his　daughter's　flashing　black　eyes。　　Perhaps

an　uneasy　recollection　of　the　late　Mrs。　Sharpe's　remarkable

capacity　in　that　respect　checked　his　further　rage。



〃No。　　Wot　I　was　sayin'；〃　resumed　Minty；　〃ez　that　I　mayn't　be

thought　by　others　good　enough　to　keep　kempany　with　baronetts　ez　is

to　bethough　baronetts　mightn't　objectbut　I　ain't　mean　enough　to

try　to　steal　away　some　ole　woman's　darling　boy　in　England；　or　snatch

some　likely　young　English　girl's　big　brother　out