a first family of tasajara-第19章

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pull　upon　her　bit。　　To　her　consternation　the　mustang　stopped　short

almost　instantly；planting　his　two　fore　feet　rigidly　in　the　dust

and　even　sliding　forward　with　the　impetus。　　Had　her　seat　been　less

firm　she　might　have　been　thrown；　but　she　recovered　herself；

although　in　doing　so　she　still　bore　upon　the　bit；　when　to　her

astonishment　the　mustang　deliberately　stiffened　himself　as　if　for　a

shock；　and　then　began　to　back　slowly；　quivering　with　excitement。

She　did　not　know　that　her　native…bred　animal　fondly　believed　that

he　was　participating　in　a　rodeo；　and　that　to　his　equine　intelligence

his　fair　mistress　had　just　lassoed　something！　　In　vain　she　urged　him

forward；　he　still　waited　for　the　shock！　　When　the　cloud　of　dust　in

which　she　had　been　enwrapped　drifted　away；　she　saw　to　her　amazement

that　she　was　alone。　　The　entire　party　had　disappeared　into　one　of

the　canyons；but　which　one　she　could　not　tell！



When　she　succeeded　at　last　in　urging　her　mustang　forward　again　she

determined　to　take　the　right…hand　canyon　and　trust　to　being　either

met　or　overtaken。　　A　more　practical　and　less　adventurous　nature

would　have　waited　at　the　point　of　divergence　for　the　return　of　some

of　the　party；　but　Mrs。　Ashwood　was；　in　truth；　not　sorry　to　be　left

to　herself　and　the　novel　scenery　for　a　while；　and　she　had　no　doubt

but　she　would　eventually　find　her　way　to　the　hotel　at　San　Mateo；

which　could　not　be　far　away；　in　time　for　luncheon。



The　road　was　still　well　defined；　although　it　presently　began　to

wind　between　ascending　ranks　of　pines　and　larches　that　marked　the

terraces　of　hills；　so　high　that　she　wondered　she　had　not　noticed

them　from　the　plains。　　An　unmistakable　suggestion　of　some　haunting

primeval　solitude；　a　sense　of　the　hushed　and　mysterious　proximity

of　a　nature　she　had　never　known　before；　the　strange　half…

intoxicating　breath　of　unsunned　foliage　and　untrodden　grasses　and

herbs；　all　combined　to　exalt　her　as　she　cantered　forward。　　Even　her

horse　seemed　to　have　acquired　an　intelligent　liberty；　or　rather　to

have　established　a　sympathy　with　her　in　his　needs　and　her　own

longings；　instinctively　she　no　longer　pulled　him　with　the　curb；　the

reins　hung　loosely　on　his　self…arched　and　unfettered　neck；　secure

in　this　loneliness　she　found　herself　even　talking　to　him　with

barbaric　freedom。　　As　she　went　on；　the　vague　hush　of　all　things

animate　and　inanimate　around　her　seemed　to　thicken；　until　she

unconsciously　halted　before　a　dim　and　pillared　wood；　and　a　vast　and

heathless　opening　on　whose　mute　brown　lips　Nature　seemed　to　have

laid　the　finger　of　silence。　　She　forgot　the　party　she　had　left；　she

forgot　the　luncheon　she　was　going　to；　more　important　still　she

forgot　that　she　had　already　left　the　traveled　track　far　behind　her；

and；　tremulous　with　anticipation；　rode　timidly　into　that　arch　of

shadow。



As　her　horse's　hoofs　fell　noiselessly　on　the　elastic　moss…carpeted

aisle　she　forgot　even　more　than　that。　　She　forgot　the　artificial

stimulus　and　excitement　of　the　life　she　had　been　leading　so　long；

she　forgot　the　small　meannesses　and　smaller　worries　of　her　well…to…

do　experiences；　she　forgot　herself；rather　she　regained　a　self　she

had　long　forgotten。　　For　in　the　sweet　seclusion　of　this　half

darkened　sanctuary　the　clinging　fripperies　of　her　past　slipped　from

her　as　a　tawdry　garment。　　The　petted；　spoiled；　and　vapidly

precocious　girlhood　which　had　merged　into　a　womanhood　of　aimless

triumphs　and　meaner　ambitions；　the　worldly　but　miserable　triumph　of

a　marriage　that　had　left　her　delicacy　abused　and　her　heart　sick　and

unsatisfied；　the　wifehood　without　home；　seclusion；　or　maternity；

the　widowhood　that　at　last　brought　relief；　but　with　it　the

consciousness　of　hopelessly　wasted　youth；all　this　seemed　to　drop

from　her　here　as　lightly　as　the　winged　needles　or　noiseless

withered　spray　from　the　dim　gray　vault　above　her　head。　　In　the

sovereign　balm　of　that　woodland　breath　her　better　spirit　was

restored；　somewhere　in　these　wholesome　shades　seemed　to　still　lurk

what　should　have　been　her　innocent　and　nymph…like　youth；　and　to

come　out　once　more　and　greet　her。　　Old　songs　she　had　forgotten；　or

whose　music　had　failed　in　the　discords　of　her　frivolous　life；　sang

themselves　to　her　again　in　that　sweet；　grave　silence；　girlish

dreams　that　she　had　foolishly　been　ashamed　of；　or　had　put　away　with

her　childish　toys；　stole　back　to　her　once　more　and　became　real　in

this　tender　twilight；　old　fancies；　old　fragments　of　verse　and

childish　lore；　grew　palpable　and　moved　faintly　before　her。　　The

boyish　prince　who　should　have　come　was　there；　the　babe　that　should

have　been　hers　was　there！she　stopped　suddenly　with　flaming　eyes

and　indignant　color。　　For　it　appeared　that　a　MAN　was　there　too；　and

had　just　risen　from　the　fallen　tree　where　he　had　been　sitting。





CHAPTER　VIII。





She　had　so　far　forgotten　herself　in　yielding　to　the　spell　of　the

place；　and　in　the　revelation　of　her　naked　soul　and　inner　nature；

that　it　was　with　something　of　the　instinct　of　outraged　modesty　that

she　seemed　to　shrink　before　this　apparition　of　the　outer　world　and

outer　worldliness。　　In　an　instant　the　nearer　past　returned；　she

remembered　where　she　was；　how　she　had　come　there；　from　whom　she　had

come；　and　to　whom　she　was　returning。　　She　could　see　that　she　had

not　only　aimlessly　wandered　from　the　world　but　from　the　road；　and

for　that　instant　she　hated　this　man　who　had　reminded　her　of　it；

even　while　she　knew　she　must　ask　his　assistance。　　It　relieved　her

slightly　to　observe　that　he　seemed　as　disturbed　and　impatient　as

herself；　and　as　he　took　a　pencil　from　between　his　lips　and　returned

it　to　his　pocket　he　scarcely　looked　at　her。



But　with　her　return　to　the　world　of　convenances　came　its　repression；

and　with　a　gentlewoman's　ease　and　modulated　voice　she　leaned　over

her　mustang's　neck　and　said：　〃I　have　strayed　from　my　party　and　am

afraid　I　have　lost　my　way。　　We　were　going　to　the　hotel　at　San　Mateo。

Would　you　be　kind　enough　to　direct　me　there；　or　show　me　how　I　can

regain　the　road　by　which　I　came？〃



Her　voice　and　manner　were　quite　enough　to　arrest　him　where　he　stood

with　a　pleased　surprise　in　his　fresh　and　ingenuous　face。　　She

looked　at　him　more　closely。　　He　was；　in　spite　of　his　long　silken

mustache；　so　absurdly　young；　he　might；　in　spite　of　that　youth；　be

so　absurdly　man…like！　　What　was　he　doing　there？　　Was　he　a　farmer's

son；　an　artist；　a　surveyor；　or　a　city　clerk　out　for　a　holiday？　　Was

there　perhaps　a　youthful　female　of　his　species　somewhere　for　whom

he　was　waiting　and　upon　whose　tryst　she　was　now　breaking？　　Was　he

terrible　thought！the　outlying　picket　of　some　family　picnic？　　His

dress；　neat；　simple；　free　from　ostentatious　ornament；　betrayed

nothing。　　She　waited　for　his　voice。



〃Oh；　you　have　left　San　Mateo　miles　away　to　the　right；〃　he　said　with

quick　youthful　sympathy；　〃at　least　five　miles！　　Where　did　you　leave

your　party？〃



His　voice　was　winning；　and　even　refined；　she　thought。　　She　answered

it　quite　spontaneously：　〃At　a　fork　of　two　roads。　　I　see　now　I　took

the　wrong　turning。〃



〃Yes；　you　took　the　road　to　Crystal　Spring。　　It's　just　down　there　in

the　valley；　not　more　than　a　mile。　　You'd　have　been　there　now　if　you

hadn't　turned　off　at　the　woods。〃



〃I　couldn't　help　it；　it　was　so　beautiful。〃



〃Isn't　it？〃



〃Perfect。〃



〃And　such　shadows；　and　such　intensity　of　color。〃



〃Wonderful！and　all　along　the　ridge；　looking　down　that　defile！〃



〃Yes；　and　that　point　where　it　seems　as　if　you　had　only　to　stretch

out　your　hand　to　pick　a　manzanita　berry　from　the　other　side　of　the

canyon；　half　a　mile　across！〃



〃Yes；　and　that　first　glimpse　of　the　valley　through　the　Gothic

gateway　of　rocks！〃



〃And　the　color　of　those　rocks；cinnamon　and　bronze　with　the　light

green　of　the　Yerba　buena　vine　splashing　over　them。〃



〃Yes；　but　for　color　DID　you　notice　that　hillside　of　yellow　poppies

pouring　down　into　the　valley　like　a　golden　Niagara？〃



〃Certainly；and　the　perfect　clearness　of　everything。〃



〃And　yet　such　complete　silence　and　repose！〃



〃Oh；　yes！〃



〃Ah；　yes！〃



They　were　both　gravely　nodding　and　shaking　their　heads　with

sparkling　eyes　and　brightened　color；　looking　not　at　each　other　but

at　the　far　landscape　vignetted　through　a　lozenge…shaped　wind

opening　in　the　trees。　　Suddenly　Mrs。　Ashwood　straightened　herself

in　the　saddle；　looked　grave；　lifted　the　reins　and　apparently　the

ten　years　with　them　that　had　dropped　from　her。　　But　she　said　in　her

easiest　well…bred　tones；　and　a　half　sigh；　〃Then　I　must　take　the

road　back　again　to　where　it　forks？〃



〃Oh；　no！　you　can　go　by　Crystal　Spring。　　It's　no　further；　and　I'll

show　you　the　way。　　But　you'd　better　stop　and　rest　yourself　and　your

horse　for　a　little　while　at　the　Springs　Hotel。　　It's　a　very　nice

place。　　Many　people　ride　there　from　San　Francisco　to　luncheon　and

return。　　I　wonder　that　your　party　didn't　prefer　it；　and　if　they　are

looking　for　you；as　they　surely　must　be；〃　he　said；　as　if　with　a

sudden　conception　of　her　importance；　〃they'll　come　there　when　they

find　you're　not　at　San　Mateo。〃



This　seemed　reasonable；　although　the　process　of　being　〃fetched〃　and

taking　the　five　miles　ride；　which　she　had　enjoyed　so　much　alone；　in

company　was　not　attractive。　　〃Couldn't　I　go　on　at　once？〃　she　said

impulsively。



〃You　would　meet　them　sooner；〃　he　said　thoughtfully。



This　was　quite　enough　for　Mrs。　Ashwood。　　〃I　think　I'll　rest　this

poor　horse；　who　is　really　tired；〃　she；　said　with　charming　hypocrisy；

〃and　stop　at　the　hotel。〃



She　saw　his　face　brighten。　　Perhaps　he　was　the　son　of　the　hotel

proprietor；　or　a　youthful　partner　himself。　　〃I　suppose　you　live

here？〃　she　suggested　gently。　　〃You　seem　to　know　the　place　so　well。〃



〃No；〃　he　returned　quickly；　〃I　only　run　down　here　from　San　Francisco

when　I　can　get　a　day　off。〃



A　day　off！　　He　was　in　some　regular　employment。　　But　he　continued：

〃And　I　used　to　go　to　boarding…school　near　here；　and　know　all　these

woods　well。〃



He　must　be　a　native！　　How　odd！　　She　had　not　conceived　that　there

might　be　any　other　population　here　than　the　immigrants；　perhaps

that　was　what　made　him　so　interesting　and　different　from　the

others。　　〃Then　your　father　and　mother　live　here？〃　she　said。



His　frank　face；　incapable　of　disguise；　changed　suddenly。　　〃No；〃　he

said　simply；　but　without　any　trace　of　awkwardness。　　Then　after　a

slight　pause　he　laid　his　handshe　noticed　it　was　white　and　well

kepton　her　mustang's　neck；　and　said；　〃Ifif　you　care　to　trust

yourself　to　me；　I　could　lead　you　and　your　horse　down　a　trail　into

the　valley　that　is　at　least　a　third　of　the　distance　shorter。　　It

would　save　you　going　back　to　the　regular　road；　and　there　are　one　or

two　lovely　views　that　I　could　show　you。　　I　should　be　so　pleased；　if

it　would　not　trouble　you。　　There's　a　steep　place　or　twobut　I

think　there's　no　danger。〃



〃I　shall　not　be　afraid。〃



She　smiled　so　graciously；　and；　as　she　fully　beli