susy, a story of the plains-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



from　the　air；　the　sky；　the　distant　horizon；　he　knew　not　which。　　Was

he　still　dreaming？　　A　strange　shiver　crept　over　his　skin　as　if　the

air　had　grown　suddenly　chill。　　Then　another　mysterious　voice　arose；

incredulous；　half　mocking；　but　equally　distinct　and　clear。



〃Caramba！　　What　is　this？　　You　are　wandering；　friend　Pancho。　　You　are

still　smarting　from　his　tongue。　　He　has　the　grant　confirmed　by　his

brigand　government；　he　has　the　POSSESSION；　stolen　by　a　thief　like

himself；　and　he　has　the　Corregidors　with　him。　　For　is　he　not　one　of

them　himself；　this　Judge　Peyton？〃



Peyton！　　Clarence　felt　the　blood　rush　back　to　his　face　in

astonishment　and　indignation。　　His　heels　mechanically　pressed　his

horse's　flanks；　and　the　animal　sprang　forward。



〃Guarda！　　Mira！〃　said　the　voice　again　in　a　quicker；　lower　tone。　　But

this　time　it　was　evidently　in　the　field　beside　him；　and　the　heads

and　shoulders　of　two　horsemen　emerged　at　the　same　moment　from　the

tall　ranks　of　wild　oats。　　The　mystery　was　solved。　　The　strangers　had

been　making　their　way　along　a　lower　level　of　the　terraced　plain；

hidden　by　the　grain；　not　twenty　yards　away；　and　parallel　with　the

road　they　were　now　ascending　to　join。　　Their　figures　were　alike

formless　in　long　striped　serapes；　and　their　features　undistinguishable

under　stiff　black　sombreros。



〃Buenas　noches；　senor；〃　said　the　second　voice；　in　formal　and

cautious　deliberation。



A　sudden　inspiration　made　Clarence　respond　in　English；　as　if　he　had

not　comprehended　the　stranger's　words；　〃Eh？〃



〃Gooda…nighta；〃　repeated　the　stranger。



〃Oh；　good…night；〃　returned　Clarence。　　They　passed　him。　　Their　spurs

tinkled　twice　or　thrice；　their　mustangs　sprang　forward；　and　the　next

moment　the　loose　folds　of　their　serapes　were　fluttering　at　their

sides　like　wings　in　their　flight。





CHAPTER　IV。





After　the　chill　of　a　dewless　night　the　morning　sun　was　apt　to　look

ardently　upon　the　Robles　Rancho；　if　so　strong　an　expression　could

describe　the　dry；　oven…like　heat　of　a　Californian　coast…range

valley。　　Before　ten　o'clock　the　adobe　wall　of　the　patio　was　warm

enough　to　permit　lingering　vacqueros　and　idle　peons　to　lean　against

it；　and　the　exposed　annexe　was　filled　with　sharp；　resinous　odors

from　the　oozing　sap　of　unseasoned　〃redwood〃　boards；　warped　and

drying　in　the　hot　sunshine。　　Even　at　that　early　hour　the　climbing

Castilian　roses　were　drooping　against　the　wooden　columns　of　the　new

veranda；　scarcely　older　than　themselves；　and　mingling　an　already

faded　spice　with　the　aroma　of　baking　wood　and　the　more　material

fragrance　of　steaming　coffee；　that　seemed　dominant　everywhere。



In　fact；　the　pretty　breakfast…room；　whose　three　broad　windows；

always　open　to　the　veranda；　gave　an　al　fresco　effect　to　every　meal；

was　a　pathetic　endeavor　of　the　Southern…bred　Peyton　to　emulate　the

soft；　luxurious；　and　open…air　indolence　of　his　native　South；　in　a

climate　that　was　not　only　not　tropical；　but　even　austere　in　its　most

fervid　moments。　　Yet；　although　cold　draughts　invaded　it　from　the

rear　that　morning；　Judge　Peyton　sat　alone；　between　the　open　doors

and　windows；　awaiting　the　slow　coming　of　his　wife　and　the　young

ladies。　　He　was　not　in　an　entirely　comfortable　mood　that　morning。

Things　were　not　going　on　well　at　Robles。　　That　truculent　vagabond；

Pedro；　had；　the　night　before；　taken　himself　off　with　a　curse　that

had　frightened　even　the　vacqueros；　who　most　hated　him　as　a

companion；　but　who　now　seemed　inclined　to　regard　his　absence　as　an

injury　done　to　their　race。　　Peyton；　uneasily　conscious　that　his　own

anger　had　been　excited　by　an　exaggerated　conception　of　the　accident；

was　now；　like　most　obstinate　men；　inclined　to　exaggerate　the

importance　of　Pedro's　insolence。　　He　was　well　out　of　it　to　get　rid

of　this　quarrelsome　hanger…on；　whose　presumption　and　ill…humor

threatened　the　discipline　of　the　rancho；　yet　he　could　not　entirely

forget　that　he　had　employed　him　on　account　of　his　family　claims；　and

from　a　desire　to　placate　racial　jealousy　and　settle　local　differences。

For　the　inferior　Mexicans　and　Indian　half…breeds　still　regarded

their　old　masters　with　affection；　were；　in　fact；　more　concerned　for

the　integrity　of　their　caste　than　the　masters　were　themselves；　and

the　old　Spanish　families　who　had　made　alliances　with　Americans；　and

shared　their　land　with　them；　had　rarely　succeeded　in　alienating

their　retainers　with　their　lands。　　Certain　experiences　in　the

proving　of　his　grant　before　the　Land　Commission　had　taught　Peyton

that　they　were　not　to　be　depended　upon。　　And　lately　there　had　been

unpleasant　rumors　of　the　discovery　of　some　unlooked…for　claimants　to

a　division　of　the　grant　itself；　which　might　affect　his　own　title。



He　looked　up　quickly　as　voices　and　light　steps　on　the　veranda　at

last　heralded　the　approach　of　his　tardy　household　from　the　corridor。

But；　in　spite　of　his　preoccupation；　he　was　startled　and　even

awkwardly　impressed　with　a　change　in　Susy's　appearance。　　She　was

wearing；　for　the　first　time；　a　long　skirt；　and　this　sudden　maturing

of　her　figure　struck　him；　as　a　man；　much　more　forcibly　than　it　would

probably　have　impressed　a　woman；　more　familiar　with　details。　　He　had

not　noticed　certain　indications　of　womanhood；　as　significant；

perhaps；　in　her　carriage　as　her　outlines；　which　had　been　lately

perfectly　apparent　to　her　mother　and　Mary；　but　which　were　to　him

now；　for　the　first　time；　indicated　by　a　few　inches　of　skirt。　　She

not　only　looked　taller　to　his　masculine　eyes；　but　these　few　inches

had　added　to　the　mystery　as　well　as　the　drapery　of　the　goddess；　they

were　not　so　much　the　revelation　of　maturity　as　the　suggestion　that

it　was　HIDDEN。　　So　impressed　was　he；　that　a　half…serious　lecture　on

her　yesterday's　childishness；　the　outcome　of　his　irritated

reflections　that　morning；　died　upon　his　lips。　　He　felt　he　was　no

longer　dealing　with　a　child。



He　welcomed　them　with　that　smile　of　bantering　approbation；　supposed

to　keep　down　inordinate　vanity；　which　for　some　occult　reason　one

always　reserves　for　the　members　of　one's　own　family。　　He　was　quite

conscious　that　Susy　was　looking　very　pretty　in　this　new　and　mature

frock；　and　that　as　she　stood　beside　his　wife；　far　from　ageing　Mrs。

Peyton's　good　looks　and　figure；　she　appeared　like　an　equal

companion；　and　that　they　mutually　〃became〃　one　another。　　This；　and

the　fact　that　they　were　all；　including　Mary　Rogers；　in　their

freshest；　gayest　morning　dresses；　awakened　a　half…humorous；　half…

real　apprehension　in　his　mind；　that　he　was　now　hopelessly　surrounded

by　a　matured　sex；　and　in　a　weak　minority。



〃I　think　I　ought　to　have　been　prepared；〃　he　began　grimly；　〃for　this

addition　totothe　skirts　of　my　family。〃



〃Why；　John；〃　returned　Mrs。　Peyton　quickly；　〃do　you　mean　to　say　you

haven't　noticed　that　the　poor　child　has　for　weeks　been　looking

positively　indecent？〃



〃Really；　papa；　I've　been　a　sight　to　behold。　　Haven't　I；　Mary？〃

chimed　in　Susy。



〃Yes；　dear。　　Why；　Judge；　I've　been　wondering　that　Susy　stood　it　so

well；　and　never　complained。〃



Peyton　glanced　around　him　at　this　compact　feminine　embattlement。　　It

was　as　he　feared。　　Yet　even　here　he　was　again　at　fault。



〃And；〃　said　Mrs。　Peyton　slowly；　with　the　reserved　significance　of

the　feminine　postscript　in　her　voice；　〃if　that　Mr。　Brant　is　coming

here　to…day；　it　would　be　just　as　well　for　him　to　see　that　SHE　IS　NO

LONGER　A　CHILD；　AS　WHEN　HE　KNEW　HER。〃



An　hour　later；　good…natured　Mary　Rogers；　in　her　character　of　〃a

dear；〃which　was　usually　indicated　by　the　undertaking　of　small

errands　for　her　friend；was　gathering　roses　from　the　old　garden　for

Susy's　adornment；　when　she　saw　a　vision　which　lingered　with　her　for

many　a　day。　　She　had　stopped　to　look　through　the　iron　grille　in　the

adobe　wall；　across　the　open　wind…swept　plain。　　Miniature　waves　were

passing　over　the　wild　oats；　with　glittering　disturbances　here　and

there　in　the　depressions　like　the　sparkling　of　green　foam；　the

horizon　line　was　sharply　defined　against　the　hard；　steel…blue　sky；

everywhere　the　brand…new　morning　was　shining　with　almost　painted

brilliancy；　the　vigor；　spirit；　and　even　crudeness　of　youth　were　over

all。　　The　young　girl　was　dazzled　and　bewildered。　　Suddenly；　as　if

blown　out　of　the　waving　grain；　or　an　incarnation　of　the　vivid

morning；　the　bright　and　striking　figure　of　a　youthful　horseman

flashed　before　the　grille。　　It　was　Clarence　Brant！　　Mary　Rogers　had

always　seen　him；　in　the　loyalty　of　friendship；　with　Susy's

prepossessed　eyes；　yet　she　fancied　that　morning　that　he　had　never

looked　so　handsome　before。　　Even　the　foppish　fripperies　of　his

riding…dress　and　silver　trappings　seemed　as　much　the　natural

expression　of　conquering　youth　as　the　invincible　morning　sunshine。

Perhaps　it　might　have　been　a　reaction　against　Susy's　caprice　or　some

latent　susceptibility　of　her　own；　but　a　momentary　antagonism　to　her

friend　stirred　even　her　kindly　nature。　　What　right　had　Susy　to

trifle　with　such　an　opportunity？　　Who　was　SHE　to　hesitate　over　this

gallant　prince？



But　Prince　Charming's　quick　eyes　had　detected　her；　and　the　next

moment　his　beautiful　horse　was　beside　the　grating；　and　his　ready

hand　of　greeting　extended　through　the　bars。



〃I　suppose　I　am　early　and　unexpected；　but　I　slept　at　Santa　Inez　last

night；　that　I　might　ride　over　in　the　cool　of　the　morning。　　My　things

are　coming　by　the　stage…coach；　later。　　It　seemed　such　a　slow　way　of

coming　one's　self。〃



Mary　Rogers's　black　eyes　intimated　that　the　way　he　had　taken　was　the

right　one；　but　she　gallantly　recovered　herself　and　remembered　her

position　as　confidante。　　And　here　was　the　opportunity　of　delivering

Susy's　warning　unobserved。　　She　withdrew　her　hand　from　Clarence's

frank　grasp；　and　passing　it　through　the　grating；　patted　the　sleek；

shining　flanks　of　his　horse；　with　a　discreet　division　of　admiration。



〃And　such　a　lovely　creature；　too！　　And　Susy　will　be　so　delighted！

and　oh；　Mr。　Brant；　please；　you're　to　say　nothing　of　having　met　her

at　Santa　Clara。　　It's　just　as　well　not　to　begin　with　THAT　here；　for；

you　see〃　（with　a　large；　maternal　manner）；　〃you　were　both　SO　young

then。〃



Clarence　drew　a　quick　breath。　　It　was　the　first　check　to　his　vision

of　independence　and　equal　footing！　　Then　his　invitation　was　NOT　the

outcome　of　a　continuous　friendship　revived　by　Susy；　as　he　had　hoped；

the　Peytons　had　known　nothing　of　his　meeting　with　her；　or　perhaps

they　would　not　have　invited　him。　　He　was　here　as　an　impostor；and

all　because　Susy　had　chosen　to　make　a　mystery　of　a　harmless

encounter；　which　might　have　been　explained；　and　which　they　might

have　even　countenanced。　　He　thought　bitterly　of　his　old　playmate　for

a　brief　moment；as　brief　as　Mary's　antagonism。　　The　young　girl

noticed　the　change　in　his　face；　but　misinterpreted　it。



〃Oh；　there's　no　danger　of　its　coming　out　if　you　don't　say　anything；〃

she　said；　quickly。　　〃Ride　on　to　the　house；　and　don't　wait　for　me。

You'll　find　them　in　the　pati