susy, a story of the plains-第9章

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realization　of　welcome　that　far　exceeded　his　wildest　boyish　vision

of　the　preceding　night。　　With　that　recollection　came　another；a

more　uneasy　one。　　He　remembered　how　that　vision　had　been　interrupted

by　the　strange　voices　in　the　road；　and　their　vague　but　ominous

import　to　his　host。　　A　feeling　of　self…reproach　came　over　him。　　The

threats　had　impressed　him　as　only　mere　braggadocio；he　knew　the

characteristic　exaggeration　of　the　race；but　perhaps　he　ought　to

privately　tell　Peyton　of　the　incident　at　once。



The　opportunity　came　later；　when　the　ladies　had　retired；　and　Peyton；

wrapped　in　a　poncho　in　a　rocking…chair；　on　the　now　chilly　veranda；

looked　up　from　his　reverie　and　a　cigar。　　Clarence　casually

introduced　the　incident；　as　if　only　for　the　sake　of　describing　the

supernatural　effect　of　the　hidden　voices；　but　he　was　concerned　to

see　that　Peyton　was　considerably　disturbed　by　their　more　material

import。　　After　questioning　him　as　to　the　appearance　of　the　two　men；

his　host　said：　〃I　don't　mind　telling　you；　Clarence；　that　as　far　as

that　fellow's　intentions　go　he　is　quite　sincere；　although　his

threats　are　only　borrowed　thunder。　　He　is　a　man　whom　I　have　just

dismissed　for　carelessness　and　insolence；two　things　that　run　in

double　harness　in　this　country；but　I　should　be　more　afraid　to　find

him　at　my　back　on　a　dark　night；　alone　on　the　plains；　than　to

confront　him　in　daylight；　in　the　witness　box；　against　me。　　He　was

only　repeating　a　silly　rumor　that　the　title　to　this　rancho　and　the

nine　square　leagues　beyond　would　be　attacked　by　some　speculators。〃



〃But　I　thought　your　title　was　confirmed　two　years　ago；〃　said

Clarence。



〃The　GRANT　was　confirmed；〃　returned　Peyton；　〃which　means　that　the

conveyance　of　the　Mexican　government　of　these　lands　to　the　ancestor

of　Victor　Robles　was　held　to　be　legally　proven　by　the　United　States

Land　Commission；　and　a　patent　issued　to　all　those　who　held　under　it。

I　and　my　neighbors　hold　under　it　by　purchase　from　Victor　Robles；

subject　to　the　confirmation　of　the　Land　Commission。　　But　that

confirmation　was　only　of　Victor's　GREAT…GRANDFATHER'S　TITLE；　and　it

is　now　alleged　that　as　Victor's　father　died　without　making　a　will；

Victor　has　claimed　and　disposed　of　property　which　he　ought　to　have

divided　with　his　SISTERS。　　At　least；　some　speculating　rascals　in　San

Francisco　have　set　up　what　they　call　'the　Sisters'　title；'　and　are

selling　it　to　actual　settlers　on　the　unoccupied　lands　beyond。　　As；

by　the　law；　it　would　hold　possession　against　the　mere　ordinary

squatters；　whose　only　right　is　based；　as　you　know；　on　the

presumption　that　there　is　NO　TITLE　CLAIMED；　it　gives　the　possessor

immunity　to　enjoy　the　use　of　the　property　until　the　case　is　decided；

and　even　should　the　original　title　hold　good　against　his；　the

successful　litigant　would　probably　be　willing　to　pay　for

improvements　and　possession　to　save　the　expensive　and　tedious

process　of　ejectment。〃



〃But　this　does　not　affect　YOU；　who　have　already　possession？〃　said

Clarence　quickly。



〃No；　not　as　far　as　THIS　HOUSE　and　the　lands　I　actually　OCCUPY　AND

CULTIVATE　are　concerned；　and　they　know　that　I　am　safe　to　fight　to

the　last；　and　carry　the　case　to　the　Supreme　Court　in　that　case；

until　the　swindle　is　exposed；　or　they　drop　it；　but　I　may　have　to　pay

them　something　to　keep　the　squatters　off　my　UNOCCUPIED　land。〃



〃But　you　surely　wouldn't　recognize　those　rascals　in　any　way？〃　said

the　astonished　Clarence。



〃As　against　other　rascals？　　Why　not？〃　returned　Peyton　grimly。　　〃I

only　pay　for　the　possession　which　their　sham　title　gives　me　to　my

own　land。　　If　by　accident　that　title　obtains；　I　am　still　on　the　safe

side。〃　　After　a　pause　he　said；　more　gravely；　〃What　you　overheard；

Clarence；　shows　me　that　the　plan　is　more　forward　than　I　had

imagined；　and　that　I　may　have　to　fight　traitors　here。〃



〃I　hope；　sir；〃　said　Clarence；　with　a　quick　glow　in　his　earnest　face；

〃that　you'll　let　me　help　you。　　You　thought　I　did　once；　you

remember；with　the　Indians。〃



There　was　so　much　of　the　old　Clarence　in　his　boyish　appeal　and

eager；　questioning　face　that　Peyton；　who　had　been　talking　to　him　as

a　younger　but　equal　man　of　affairs；　was　startled　into　a　smile；　〃You

did；　Clarence；　though　the　Indians　butchered　your　friends；　after　all。

I　don't　know；　though；　but　that　your　experiences　with　those

Spaniardsyou　must　have　known　a　lot　of　them　when　you　were　with　Don

Juan　Robinson　and　at　the　collegemight　be　of　service　in　getting　at

evidence；　or　smashing　their　witnesses　if　it　comes　to　a　fight。　　But

just　now；　MONEY　is　everything。　　They　must　be　bought　OFF　THE　LAND　if

I　have　to　mortgage　it　for　the　purpose。　　That　strikes　you　as　a　rather

heroic　remedy；　Clarence；　eh？〃　he　continued；　in　his　old；　half…

bantering　attitude　towards　Clarence's　inexperienced　youth；　〃don't　it？〃



But　Clarence　was　not　thinking　of　that。　　Another　more　audacious　but

equally　youthful　and　enthusiastic　idea　had　taken　possession　of　his

mind；　and　he　lay　awake　half　that　night　revolving　it。　　It　was　true

that　it　was　somewhat　impractically　mixed　with　his　visions　of　Mrs。

Peyton　and　Susy；　and　even　included　his　previous　scheme　of　relief　for

the　improvident　and　incorrigible　Hooker。　　But　it　gave　a　wonderful

sincerity　and　happiness　to　his　slumbers　that　night；　which　the　wiser

and　elder　Peyton　might　have　envied；　and　I　wot　not　was　in　the　long

run　as　correct　and　sagacious　as　Peyton's　sleepless　cogitations。　　And

in　the　early　morning　Mr。　Clarence　Brant；　the　young　capitalist；　sat

down　to　his　traveling…desk　and　wrote　two　clear…headed；　logical；　and

practical　business　letters；one　to　his　banker；　and　the　other　to　his

former　guardian；　Don　Juan　Robinson；　as　his　first　step　in　a　resolve

that　was；　nevertheless；　perhaps　as　wildly　quixotic　and　enthusiastic

as　any　dream　his　boyish　and　unselfish　heart　had　ever　indulged。



At　breakfast；　in　the　charmed　freedom　of　the　domestic　circle；

Clarence　forgot　Susy's　capricious　commands　of　yesterday；　and　began

to　address　himself　to　her　in　his　old　earnest　fashion；　until　he　was

warned　by　a　significant　knitting　of　the　young　lady's　brows　and

monosyllabic　responses。　　But　in　his　youthful　loyalty　to　Mrs。　Peyton；

he　was　more　pained　to　notice　Susy's　occasional　unconscious

indifference　to　her　adopted　mother's　affectionate　expression；　and　a

more　conscious　disregard　of　her　wishes。　　So　uneasy　did　he　become；　in

his　sensitive　concern　for　Mrs。　Peyton's　half…concealed

mortification；　that　he　gladly　accepted　Peyton's　offer　to　go　with　him

to　visit　the　farm　and　corral。　　As　the　afternoon　approached；　with

another　twinge　of　self…reproach；　he　was　obliged　to　invent　some

excuse　to　decline　certain　hospitable　plans　of　Mrs。　Peyton's　for　his

entertainment；　and　at　half　past　three　stole　somewhat　guiltily；　with

his　horse；　from　the　stables。　　But　he　had　to　pass　before　the　outer

wall　of　the　garden　and　grille；　through　which　he　had　seen　Mary　the

day　before。　　Raising　his　eyes　mechanically；　he　was　startled　to　see

Mrs。　Peyton　standing　behind　the　grating；　with　her　abstracted　gaze

fixed　upon　the　wind…tossed；　level　grain　beyond　her。　　She　smiled　as

she　saw　him；　but　there　were　traces　of　tears　in　her　proud；　handsome

eyes。



〃You　are　going　to　ride？〃　she　said　pleasantly。



〃Y…e…es；〃　stammered　the　shamefaced　Clarence。



She　glanced　at　him　wistfully。



〃You　are　right。　　The　girls　have　gone　away　by　themselves。　　Mr。　Peyton

has　ridden　over　to　Santa　Inez　on　this　dreadful　land　business；　and　I

suppose　you'd　have　found　him　a　dull　riding　companion。　　It　is　rather

stupid　here。　　I　quite　envy　you；　Mr。　Brant；　your　horse　and　your

freedom。〃



〃But；　Mrs。　Peyton；〃　broke　in　Clarence；　impulsively；　〃you　have　a

horseI　saw　it；　a　lovely　lady's　horseeating　its　head　off　in　the

stable。　　Won't　you　let　me　run　back　and　order　it；　and　won't　you；

please；　come　out　with　me　for　a　good；　long　gallop？〃



He　meant　what　he　said。　　He　had　spoken　quickly；　impulsively；　but　with

the　perfect　understanding　in　his　own　mind　that　his　proposition　meant

the　complete　abandonment　of　his　rendezvous　with　Susy。　　Mrs。　Peyton

was　astounded　and　slightly　stirred　with　his　earnestness；　albeit

unaware　of　all　it　implied。



〃It's　a　great　temptation；　Mr。　Brant；〃　she　said；　with　a　playful

smile；　which　dazzled　Clarence　with　its　first　faint　suggestion　of　a

refined　woman's　coquetry；　〃but　I'm　afraid　that　Mr。　Peyton　would

think　me　going　mad　in　my　old　age。　　No。　　Go　on　and　enjoy　your　gallop；

and　if　you　should　see　those　giddy　girls　anywhere；　send　them　home

early　for　chocolate；　before　the　cold　wind　gets　up。〃



She　turned；　waved　her　slim　white　hand　playfully　in　acknowledgment　of

Clarence's　bared　head；　and　moved　away。



For　the　first　few　moments　the　young　man　tried　to　find　relief　in

furious　riding；　and　in　bullying　his　spirited　horse。　　Then　he　pulled

quickly　up。　　What　was　he　doing？　　What　was　he　going　to　do？　　What

foolish；　vapid　deceit　was　this　that　he　was　going　to　practice　upon

that　noble；　queenly；　confiding；　generous　woman？　　（He　had　already

forgotten　that　she　had　always　distrusted　him。）　　What　a　fool　he　was

not　to　tell　her　half…jokingly　that　he　expected　to　meet　Susy！　　But

would　he　have　dared　to　talk　half…jokingly　to　such　a　woman　on　such　a

topic？　　And　would　it　have　been　honorable　without　disclosing　the

WHOLE　truth；that　they　had　met　secretly　before？　　And　was　it　fair　to

Susy？dear；　innocent；　childish　Susy！　　Yet　something　must　be　done！

It　was　such　trivial；　purposeless　deceit；　after　all；　for　this　noble

woman；　Mrs。　Peyton；　so　kind；　so　gentle；　would　never　object　to　his

loving　Susy　and　marrying　her。　　And　they　would　all　live　happily

together；　and　Mrs。　Peyton　would　never　be　separated　from　them；　but

always　beaming　tenderly　upon　them　as　she　did　just　now　in　the　garden。

Yes；　he　would　have　a　serious　understanding　with　Susy；　and　that　would

excuse　the　clandestine　meeting　to…day。



His　rapid　pace；　meantime；　had　brought　him　to　the　imperceptible

incline　of　the　terrace；　and　he　was　astonished；　in　turning　in　the

saddle；　to　find　that　the　casa；　corral；　and　outbuildings　had

completely　vanished；　and　that　behind　him　rolled　only　the　long　sea　of

grain；　which　seemed　to　have　swallowed　them　in　its　yellowing　depths。

Before　him　lay　the　wooded　ravine　through　which　the　stagecoach

passed；　which　was　also　the　entrance　to　the　rancho；　and　there；　too；

probably；　was　the　turning　of　which　Susy　had　spoken。　　But　it　was

still　early　for　the　rendezvous；　indeed；　he　was　in　no　hurry　to　meet

her　in　his　present　discontented　state；　and　he　made　a　listless

circuit　of　the　field；　in　the　hope　of　discovering　the　phenomena　that

had　caused　the　rancho's　mysterious　disappearance。　　When　he　had　found

that　it　was　the　effect　of　the　different　levels；　his　attention　was

arrested　by　a　multitude　of　moving　objects　in　a　still　more　distant

field；　which　proved　to　be　a　band　of　wild　horses。　　In　and　out　among

them；　circling　aimlessly；　as　it　seemed　to　him；　appeared　two　horsemen

apparently　performing　some　mystic　evolution。　　To　add　to　their

singular　perform