a sappho of green springs-第9章

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or　actin'　po'tryand　that's　Rest！〃









THE　CHATELAINE　OF　BURNT　RIDGE





CHAPTER　I





It　had　grown　dark　on　Burnt　Ridge。　　Seen　from　below；　the　whole

serrated　crest　that　had　glittered　in　the　sunset　as　if　its

interstices　were　eaten　by　consuming　fires；　now；　closed　up　its　ranks

of　blackened　shafts　and　became　again　harsh　and　sombre　chevaux　de

frise　against　the　sky。　　A　faint　glow　still　lingered　over　the　red

valley　road；　as　if　it　were　its　own　reflection；　rather　than　any

light　from　beyond　the　darkened　ridge。　　Night　was　already　creeping

up　out　of　remote　canyons　and　along　the　furrowed　flanks　of　the

mountain；　or　settling　on　the　nearer　woods　with　the　sound　of　home…

coming　and　innumerable　wings。　　At　a　point　where　the　road　began　to

encroach　upon　the　mountain…side　in　its　slow　winding　ascent　the

darkness　had　become　so　real　that　a　young　girl　cantering　along　the

rising　terrace　found　difficulty　in　guiding　her　horse；　with　eyes

still　dazzled　by　the　sunset　fires。



In　spite　of　her　precautions；　the　animal　suddenly　shied　at　some

object　in　the　obscured　roadway；　and　nearly　unseated　her。　　The

accident　disclosed　not　only　the　fact　that　she　was　riding　in　a　man's

saddle；　but　also　a　foot　and　ankle　that　her　ordinary　walking…dress

was　too　short　to　hide。　　It　was　evident　that　her　equestrian　exercise

was　extempore；　and　that　at　that　hour　and　on　that　road　she　had　not

expected　to　meet　company。　　But　she　was　apparently　a　good　horsewoman；

for　the　mischance　which　might　have　thrown　a　less　practical　or　more

timid　rider　seemed　of　little　moment　to　her。　　With　a　strong　hand　and

determined　gesture　she　wheeled　her　frightened　horse　back　into　the

track；　and　rode　him　directly　at　the　object。　But　here　she　herself

slightly　recoiled；　for　it　was　the　body　of　a　man　lying　in　the　road。



As　she　leaned　forward　over　her　horse's　shoulder；　she　could　see　by

the　dim　light　that　he　was　a　miner；　and　that；　though　motionless；　he

was　breathing　stertorously。　　Drunk；　no　doubt！an　accident　of　the

locality　alarming　only　to　her　horse。　　But　although　she　cantered

impatiently　forward；　she　had　not　proceeded　a　hundred　yards　before

she　stopped　reflectively；　and　trotted　back　again。　　He　had　not

moved。　　She　could　now　see　that　his　head　and　shoulders　were　covered

with　broken　clods　of　earth　and　gravel；　and　smaller　fragments　lay　at

his　side。　　A　dozen　feet　above　him　on　the　hillside　there　was　a　foot

trail　which　ran　parallel　with　the　bridle…road；　and　occasionally

overhung　it。　　It　seemed　possible　that　he　might　have　fallen　from　the

trail　and　been　stunned。



Dismounting；　she　succeeded　in　dragging　him　to　a　safer　position　by

the　bank。　　The　act　discovered　his　face；　which　was　young；　and

unknown　to　her。　　Wiping　it　with　the　silk　handkerchief　which　was

loosely　slung　around　his　neck　after　the　fashion　of　his　class；　she

gave　a　quick　feminine　glance　around　her　and　then　approached　her　own

and　rather　handsome　face　near　his　lips。　　There　was　no　odor　of

alcohol　in　the　thick　and　heavy　respiration。　　Mounting　again；　she

rode　forward　at　an　accelerated　pace；　and　in　twenty　minutes　had

reached　a　higher　tableland　of　the　mountain；　a　cleared　opening　in

the　forest　that　showed　signs　of　careful　cultivation；　and　a　large；

rambling；　yet　picturesque…looking　dwelling；　whose　unpainted　red…

wood　walls　were　hidden　in　roses　and　creepers。　　Pushing　open　a

swinging　gate；　she　entered　the　inclosure　as　a　brown…faced　man；

dressed　as　a　vaquero；　came　towards　her　as　if　to　assist　her　to

alight。　　But　she　had　already　leaped　to　the　ground　and　thrown　him

the　reins。



〃Miguel；〃　she　said；　with　a　mistress's　quiet　authority　in　her　boyish

contralto　voice；　〃put　Glory　in　the　covered　wagon；　and　drive　down

the　road　as　far　as　the　valley　turning。　　There's　a　man　lying　near

the　right　bank；　drunk；　or　sick；　may　be；　or　perhaps　crippled　by　a

fall。　　Bring　him　up　here；　unless　somebody　has　found　him　already；　or

you　happen　to　know　who　he　is　and　where　to　take　him。〃



The　vaquero　raised　his　shoulders；　half　in　disappointed　expectation

of　some　other　command。　　〃And　your　brother；　senora；　he　has　not

himself　arrived。〃



A　light　shadow　of　impatience　crossed　her　face。　　〃No；〃　she　said；

bluntly。　　〃Come；　be　quick。〃



She　turned　towards　the　house　as　the　man　moved　away。　　Already　a

gaunt…looking　old　man　had　appeared　in　the　porch；　and　was　awaiting

her　with　his　hand　shadowing　his　angry；　suspicious　eyes；　and　his

lips　moving　querulously。



〃Of　course；　you've　got　to　stand　out　there　and　give　orders　and　'tend

to　your　own　business　afore　you　think　o'　speaking　to　your　own　flesh

and　blood；〃　he　said　aggrievedly。　　〃That's　all　YOU　care！〃



〃There　was　a　sick　man　lying　in　the　road；　and　I've　sent　Miguel　to

look　after　him；〃　returned　the　girl；　with　a　certain　contemptuous

resignation。



〃Oh；　yes！〃　struck　in　another　voice；　which　seemed　to　belong　to　the

female　of　the　first　speaker's　species；　and　to　be　its　equal　in　age

and　temper；　〃and　I　reckon　you　saw　a　jay　bird　on　a　tree；　or　a

squirrel　on　the　fence；　and　either　of　'em　was　more　important　to　you

than　your　own　brother。〃



〃Steve　didn't　come　by　the　stage；　and　didn't　send　any　message；〃

continued　the　young　girl；　with　the　same　coldly　resigned　manner。

〃No　one　had　any　news　of　him；　and；　as　I　told　you　before；　I　didn't

expect　any。〃



〃Why　don't　you　say　right　out　you　didn't　WANT　any？〃　said　the　old

man；　sneeringly。　　〃Much　you　inquired！　　No；　I　orter　hev　gone　myself；

and　I　would　if　I　was　master　here；　instead　of　me　and　your　mother

bein'　the　dust　of　the　yearth　beneath　your　feet。〃



The　young　girl　entered　the　house；　followed　by　the　old　man；　passing

an　old　woman　seated　by　the　window；　who　seemed　to　be　nursing　her

resentment　and　a　large　Bible　which　she　held　clasped　against　her

shawled　bosom　at　the　same　moment。　　Going　to　the　wall；　she　hung　up

her　large　hat　and　slightly　shook　the　red　dust　from　her　skirts　as

she　continued　her　explanation；　in　the　same　deep　voice；　with　a

certain　monotony　of　logic　and　possibly　of　purpose　and　practice

also。



〃You　and　mother　know　as　well　as　I　do；　father；　that　Stephen　is　no

more　to　be　depended　upon　than　the　wind　that　blows。　　It's　three

years　since　he　has　been　promising　to　come；　and　even　getting　money

to　come；　and　yet　he　has　never　showed　his　face；　though　he　has　been　a

dozen　times　within　five　miles　of　this　house。　　He　doesn't　come

because　he　doesn't　want　to　come。　　As　to　YOUR　going　over　to　the

stage…office；　I　went　there　myself　at　the　last　moment　to　save　you

the　mortification　of　asking　questions　of　strangers　that　they　know

have　been　a　dozen　times　answered　already。〃



There　was　such　a　ring　of　absolute　truthfulness；　albeit　worn　by

repetition；　in　the　young　girl's　deep　honest　voice　that　for　one

instant　her　two　more　emotional　relatives　quailed　before　it；　but

only　for　a　moment。



〃That's　right！〃　shrilled　the　old　woman。　　〃Go　on　and　abuse　your　own

brother。　　It's　only　the　fear　you　have　that　he'll　make　his　fortune

yet　and　shame　you　before　the　father　and　mother　you　despise。〃



The　young　girl　remained　standing　by　the　window；　motionless　and

apparently　passive；　as　if　receiving　an　accepted　and　usual

punishment。　　But　here　the　elder　woman　gave　way　to　sobs　and　some

incoherent　snuffling；　at　which　the　younger　went　away。　　Whether　she

recognized　in　her　mother's　tears　the　ordinary　deliquescence　of

emotion；　or　whether；　as　a　woman　herself；　she　knew　that　this　mere

feminine　conventionality　could　not　possibly　be　directed　at　her；　and

that　the　actual　conflict　between　them　had　ceased；　she　passed　slowly

on　to　an　inner　hall；　leaving　the　male　victim；　her　unfortunate

father；　to　succumb；　as　he　always　did　sooner　or　later；　to　their

influence。　　Crossing　the　hall；　which　was　decorated　with　a　few　elk

horns；　Indian　trophies；　and　mountain　pelts；　she　entered　another

room；　and　closed　the　door　behind　her　with　a　gesture　of　relief。



The　room；　which　looked　upon　a　porch；　presented　a　singular

combination　of　masculine　business　occupations　and　feminine　taste

and　adornment。　　A　desk　covered　with　papers；　a　shelf　displaying　a

ledger　and　account…books；　another　containing　works　of　reference；　a

table　with　a　vase　of　flowers　and　a　lady's　riding…whip　upon　it；　a

map　of　California　flanked　on　either　side　by　an　embroidered　silken

workbag　and　an　oval　mirror　decked　with　grasses；　a　calendar　and

interest…table　hanging　below　two　school…girl　crayons　of　classic

heads　with　the　legend；　〃Josephine　Forsyth　fecit；〃were　part　of　its

incongruous　accessories。　　The　young　girl　went　to　her　desk；　but

presently　moved　and　turned　towards　the　window　thoughtfully。　　The

last　gleam　had　died　from　the　steel…blue　sky；　a　few　lights　like　star

points　began　to　prick　out　the　lower　valley。　　The　expression　of

monotonous　restraint　and　endurance　had　not　yet　faded　from　her　face。



Yet　she　had　been　accustomed　to　scenes　like　the　one　she　had　just

passed　though　since　her　girlhood。　　Five　years　ago；　Alexander

Forsyth；　her　uncle；　had　brought　her　to　this　spotthen　a　mere　log

cabin　on　the　hillsideas　a　refuge　from　the　impoverished　and

shiftless　home　of　his　elder　brother　Thomas　and　his　ill…tempered

wife。　　Here　Alexander　Forsyth；　by　reason　of　his　more　dominant

character　and　business　capacity；　had　prospered　until　he　became　a

rich　and　influential　ranch　owner。　　Notwithstanding　her　father's

jealousy　of　Alexander's　fortune；　and　the　open　rupture　that　followed

between　the　brothers；　Josephine　retained　her　position　in　the　heart

and　home　of　her　uncle　without　espousing　the　cause　of　either；　and

her　father　was　too　prudent　not　to　recognize　the　near　and

prospective　advantages　of　such　a　mediator。　　Accustomed　to　her

parents'　extravagant　denunciations；　and　her　uncle's　more　repressed

but　practical　contempt　of　them；　the　unfortunate　girl　early

developed　a　cynical　disbelief　in　the　virtues　of　kinship　in　the

abstract；　and　a　philosophical　resignation　to　its　effects　upon　her

personally。　　Believing　that　her　father　and　uncle　fairly　represented

the　fraternal　principle；　she　was　quite　prepared　for　the　early

defection　and　distrust　of　her　vagabond　and　dissipated　brother

Stephen；　and　accepted　it　calmly。　　True　to　an　odd　standard　of

justice；　which　she　had　erected　from　the　crumbling　ruins　of　her　own

domestic　life；　she　was　tolerant　of　everything　but　human　perfection。

This　quality；　however　fatal　to　her　higher　growth；　had　given　her　a

peculiar　capacity　for　business　which　endeared　her　to　her　uncle。

Familiar　with　the　strong　passions　and　prejudices　of　men；　she　had

none　of　those　feminine　meannesses；　a　wholesome　distrust　of　which

had　kept　her　uncle　a　bachelor。　　It　was　not　strange；　therefore；　that

when　he　died　two　years　ago　it　was　found　that　he　had　left　her　his

entire　property；　real　and　personal；　limited　only　by　a　single

condition。　　She　was　to　undertake　the　vocation　of　a　〃sole　trader；〃

and　carry　on　the　business　under　the　name　of　〃J。　Forsyth。〃　　If　she

married；　the　estate　and　property　was　to　be　held　distinct　from　her

husband's；　inalienable　under　the　〃Married　Woman's　Property　Act；〃

and　subject　dur