susy, a story of the plains-第8章

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

You'll　find　them　in　the　patio　on　the　veranda。〃



Clarence　moved　on；　but　not　as　spiritedly　as　before。　　Nevertheless

there　was　still　dash　enough　about　him　and　the　animal　he　bestrode　to

stir　into　admiration　the　few　lounging　vacqueros　of　a　country　which

was　apt　to　judge　the　status　of　a　rider　by　the　quality　of　his　horse。

Nor　was　the　favorable　impression　confined　to　them　alone。　　Peyton's

gratification　rang　out　cheerily　in　his　greeting：



〃Bravo；　Clarence！　　You　are　here　in　true　caballero　style。　　Thanks　for

the　compliment　to　the　rancho。〃



For　a　moment　the　young　man　was　transported　back　again　to　his

boyhood；　and　once　more　felt　Peyton's　approving　hand　pushing　back　the

worn　straw　hat　from　his　childish　forehead。　　A　faint　color　rose　to

his　cheeks；　his　eyes　momentarily　dropped。　　The　highest　art　could

have　done　no　more！　　The　slight　aggressiveness　of　his　youthful　finery

and　picturesque　good　looks　was　condoned　at　once；　his　modesty

conquered　where　self…assertion　might　have　provoked　opposition；　and

even　Mrs。　Peyton　felt　herself　impelled　to　come　forward　with　an

outstretched　hand　scarcely　less　frank　than　her　husband's。　　Then

Clarence　lifted　his　eyes。　　He　saw　before　him　the　woman　to　whom　his

childish　heart　had　gone　out　with　the　inscrutable　longing　and

adoration　of　a　motherless；　homeless；　companionless　boy；　the　woman

who　had　absorbed　the　love　of　his　playmate　without　sharing　it　with

him；　who　had　showered　her　protecting　and　maternal　caresses　on　Susy；

a　waif　like　himself；　yet　had　not　only　left　his　heart　lonely　and

desolate；　but　had　even　added　to　his　childish　distrust　of　himself　the

thought　that　he　had　excited　her　aversion。　　He　saw　her　more　beautiful

than　ever　in　her　restored　health；　freshness　of　coloring；　and　mature

roundness　of　outline。　　He　was　unconsciously　touched　with　a　man's

admiration　for　her　without　losing　his　boyish　yearnings　and　half…

filial　affection；　in　her　new　materialistic　womanhood　his　youthful

imagination　had　lifted　her　to　a　queen　and　goddess。　　There　was　all

this　appeal　in　his　still　boyish　eyes；eyes　that　had　never　yet　known

shame　or　fear　in　the　expression　of　their　emotions；　there　was　all

this　in　the　gesture　with　which　he　lifted　Mrs。　Peyton's　fingers　to

his　lips。　　The　little　group　saw　in　this　act　only　a　Spanish　courtesy

in　keeping　with　his　accepted　role。　　But　a　thrill　of　surprise；　of

embarrassment；　of　intense　gratification　passed　over　her。　　For　he　had

not　even　looked　at　Susy！



Her　relenting　was　graceful。　　She　welcomed　him　with　a　winning　smile。

Then　she　motioned　pleasantly　towards　Susy。



〃But　here　is　an　older　friend；　Mr。　Brant；　whom　you　do　not　seem　to

recognize；Susy；　whom　you　have　not　seen　since　she　was　a　child。〃



A　quick　flush　rose　to　Clarence's　cheek。　　The　group　smiled　at　this

evident　youthful　confession　of　some　boyish　admiration。　　But　Clarence

knew　that　his　truthful　blood　was　merely　resenting　the　deceit　his

lips　were　sealed　from　divulging。　　He　did　not　dare　to　glance　at　Susy；

it　added　to　the　general　amusement　that　the　young　girl　was　obliged　to

present　herself。　　But　in　this　interval　she　had　exchanged　glances

with　Mary　Rogers；　who　had　rejoined　the　group；　and　she　knew　she　was

safe。　　She　smiled　with　gracious　condescension　at　Clarence；　observed；

with　the　patronizing　superiority　of　age　and　established　position；

that　he　had　GROWN；　but　had　not　greatly　changed；　and；　it　is　needless

to　say；　again　filled　her　mother's　heart　with　joy。　　Clarence；　still

intoxicated　with　Mrs。　Peyton's　kindliness；　and；　perhaps；　still

embarrassed　by　remorse；　had　not　time　to　remark　the　girl's　studied

attitude。　　He　shook　hands　with　her　cordially；　and　then；　in　the　quick

reaction　of　youth；　accepted　with　humorous　gravity　the　elaborate

introduction　to　Mary　Rogers　by　Susy；　which　completed　this　little

comedy。　　And　if；　with　a　woman's　quickness；　Mrs。　Peyton　detected　a

certain　lingering　glance　which　passed　between　Mary　Rogers　and

Clarence；　and　misinterpreted　it；　it　was　only　a　part　of　that

mystification　into　which　these　youthful　actors　are　apt　to　throw

their　mature　audiences。



〃Confess；　Ally；〃　said　Peyton；　cheerfully；　as　the　three　young　people

suddenly　found　their　tongues　with　aimless　vivacity　and　inconsequent

laughter；　and　started　with　unintelligible　spirits　for　an　exploration

of　the　garden；　〃confess　now　that　your　bete　noir　is　really　a　very

manly　as　well　as　a　very　presentable　young　fellow。　　By　Jove！　the

padres　have　made　a　Spanish　swell　out　of　him　without　spoiling　the

Brant　grit；　either！　　Come；　now；　you're　not　afraid　that　Susy's　style

will　suffer　from　HIS　companionship。　　'Pon　my　soul；　she　might　borrow

a　little　of　his　courtesy　to　his　elders　without　indelicacy。　　I　only

wish　she　had　as　sincere　a　way　of　showing　her　respect　for　you　as　he

has。　　Did　you　notice　that　he　really　didn't　seem　to　see　anybody　else

but　you　at　first？　　And　yet　you　never　were　a　friend　to　him；　like

Susy。〃



The　lady　tossed　her　head　slightly；　but　smiled。



〃This　is　the　first　time　he's　seen　Mary　Rogers；　isn't　it？〃　she　said

meditatively。



〃I　reckon。　　But　what's　that　to　do　with　his　politeness　to　you？〃



〃And　do　her　parents　know　him？〃　she　continued；　without　replying。



〃How　do　I　know？　　I　suppose　everybody　has　heard　of　him。　　Why？〃



〃Because　I　think　they've　taken　a　fancy　to　each　other。〃



〃What　in　the　name　of　folly；　Ally〃began　the　despairing　Peyton。



〃When　you　invite　a　handsome；　rich；　and　fascinating　young　man　into

the　company　of　young　ladies；　John；〃　returned　Mrs。　Peyton；　in　her

severest　manner；　〃you　must　not　forget　you　owe　a　certain　responsibility

to　the　parents。　　I　shall　certainly　look　after　Miss　Rogers。〃





CHAPTER　V。





Although　the　three　young　people　had　left　the　veranda　together；　when

they　reached　the　old　garden　Clarence　and　Susy　found　themselves

considerably　in　advance　of　Mary　Rogers；　who　had　become　suddenly　and

deeply　interested　in　the　beauty　of　a　passion　vine　near　the　gate。　　At

the　first　discovery　of　their　isolation　their　voluble　exchange　of

information　about　themselves　and　their　occupations　since　their　last

meeting　stopped　simultaneously。　　Clarence；　who　had　forgotten　his

momentary　irritation；　and　had　recovered　his　old　happiness　in　her

presence；　was　nevertheless　conscious　of　some　other　change　in　her

than　that　suggested　by　the　lengthened　skirt　and　the　later　and　more

delicate　accentuation　of　her　prettiness。　　It　was　not　her　affectation

of　superiority　and　older　social　experience；　for　that　was　only　the

outcome　of　what　he　had　found　charming　in　her　as　a　child；　and　which

he　still　good…humoredly　accepted；　nor　was　it　her　characteristic

exaggeration　of　speech；　which　he　still　pleasantly　recognized。　　It

was　something　else；　vague　and　indefinite；something　that　had　been

unnoticed　while　Mary　was　with　them；　but　had　now　come　between　them

like　some　unknown　presence　which　had　taken　the　confidante's　place。

He　remained　silent；　looking　at　her　half…brightening　cheek　and

conscious　profile。　　Then　he　spoke　with　awkward　directness。



〃You　are　changed；　Susy；　more　than　in　looks。〃



〃Hush；〃　said　the　girl　in　a　tragic　whisper；　with　a　warning　gesture

towards　the　blandly　unconscious　Mary。



〃But；〃　returned　Clarence　wonderingly；　〃she's　yourour　friend；　you

know。〃



〃I　DON'T　know；〃　said　Susy；　in　a　still　deeper　tone；　〃that　isoh；

don't　ask　me！　　But　when　you're　always　surrounded　by　spies；　when　you

can't　say　your　soul　is　your　own；　you　doubt　everybody！〃　　There　was

such　a　pretty　distress　in　her　violet　eyes　and　curving　eyebrows；　that

Clarence；　albeit　vague　as　to　its　origin　and　particulars；

nevertheless　possessed　himself　of　the　little　hand　that　was

gesticulating　dangerously　near　his　own；　and　pressed　it

sympathetically。　　Perhaps　preoccupied　with　her　emotions；　she　did　not

immediately　withdraw　it；　as　she　went　on　rapidly：　〃And　if　you　were

cooped　up　here；　day　after　day；　behind　these　bars；〃　pointing　to　the

grille；　〃you'd　know　what　I　suffer。〃



〃But〃began　Clarence。



〃Hush！〃　said　Susy；　with　a　stamp　of　her　little　foot。



Clarence；　who　had　only　wished　to　point　out　that　the　whole　lower　end

of　the　garden　wall　was　in　ruins　and　the　grille　really　was　no

prevention；　〃hushed。〃



〃And　listen！　　Don't　pay　me　much　attention　to…day；　but　talk　to　HER；〃

indicating　the　still　discreet　and　distant　Mary；　〃before　father　and

mother。　　Not　a　word　to　her　of　this　confidence；　Clarence。　　To…morrow

ride　out　alone　on　your　beautiful　horse；　and　come　back　by　way　of　the

woods；　beyond　our　turning；　at　four　o'clock。　　There's　a　trail　to　the

right　of　the　big　madrono　tree。　　Take　that。　　Be　careful　and　keep　a

good　lookout；　for　she　mustn't　see　you。〃



〃Who　mustn't　see　me？〃　said　the　puzzled　Clarence。



〃Why；　Mary；　of　course；　you　silly　boy！〃　returned　the　girl

impatiently。　　〃She'll　be　looking　for　ME。　　Go　now；　Clarence！　　Stop！

Look　at　that　lovely　big　maiden's…blush　up　there；〃　pointing　to　a

pink…suffused　specimen　of　rose　grandiflora　hanging　on　the　wall。

〃Get　it；　Clarence；that　one；I'll　show　you　where；there！〃　　They

had　already　plunged　into　the　leafy　bramble；　and；　standing　on　tiptoe；

with　her　hand　on　his　shoulder　and　head　upturned；　Susy's　cheek　had

innocently　approached　Clarence's　own。　　At　this　moment　Clarence；

possibly　through　some　confusion　of　color；　fragrance；　or　softness　of

contact；　seemed　to　have　availed　himself　of　the　opportunity；　in　a　way

which　caused　Susy　to　instantly　rejoin　Mary　Rogers　with　affected

dignity；　leaving　him　to　follow　a　few　moments　later　with　the　captured

flower。



Without　trying　to　understand　the　reason　of　to…morrow's　rendezvous；

and　perhaps　not　altogether　convinced　of　the　reality　of　Susy's

troubles；　he；　however；　did　not　find　that　difficulty　in　carrying　out

her　other　commands　which　he　had　expected。　　Mrs。　Peyton　was　still

gracious；　and；　with　feminine　tact；　induced　him　to　talk　of　himself；

until　she　was　presently　in　possession　of　his　whole　history；　barring

the　episode　of　his　meeting　with　Susy；　since　he　had　parted　with　them。

He　felt　a　strange　satisfaction　in　familiarly　pouring　out　his

confidences　to　this　superior　woman；　whom　he　had　always　held　in　awe。

There　was　a　new　delight　in　her　womanly　interest　in　his　trials　and

adventures；　and　a　subtle　pleasure　even　in　her　half…motherly

criticism　and　admonition　of　some　passages。　　I　am　afraid　he　forgot

Susy；　who　listened　with　the　complacency　of　an　exhibitor；　Mary；　whose

black　eyes　dilated　alternately　with　sympathy　for　the　performer　and

deprecation　of　Mrs。　Peyton's　critical　glances；　and　Peyton；　who；

however；　seemed　lost　in　thought；　and　preoccupied。　　Clarence　was

happy。　　The　softly　shaded　lights　in　the　broad；　spacious；　comfortably

furnished　drawing…room　shone　on　the　group　before　him。　　It　was　a

picture　of　refined　domesticity　which　the　homeless　Clarence　had　never

known　except　as　a　vague；　half…painful；　boyish　remembrance；　it　was　a

realization　of　welcome　that　far　exceeded　his　wildest　boyish　vision

of　the　preceding　night。　　With　that　recollection　came