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！
〃I haven't told her yet；〃 said Low； gravely； 〃but I don't see why she
should object。〃
〃Object； indeed！〃 interrupted Teresa in a high voice and a sudden and
49
… Page 50…
IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
utterly gratuitous indignation； 〃how should she？ I'd like to see her do it！〃
She accompanied him some distance to the intersection of the trail；
where they parted in good spirits。 On the dusty plain without a gale was
blowing that rocked the high tree…tops above her； but； tempered and
subdued； entered the low aisles with a fluttering breath of morning and a
sound like the cooing of doves。 Never had the wood before shown so
sweet a sense of security from the turmoil and tempest of the world
beyond； never before had an intrusion from the outer lifeeven in the
shape of a letterseemed so wicked a desecration。 Tempted by the
solicitation of air and shade； she lingered； with Low's herbarium slung on
her shoulder。
A strange sensation； like a shiver； suddenly passed across her nerves；
and left them in a state of rigid tension。 With every sense morbidly acute；
with every faculty strained to its utmost； the subtle instincts of Low's
woodcraft transformed and possessed her。 She knew it now！ A new
element was in the wooda strange beinganother lifeanother man
approaching！ She did not even raise her head to look about her； but
darted with the precision and fleetness of an arrow in the direction of her
tree。 But her feet were arrested； her limbs paralzyed； her very existence
suspended； by the sound of a voice：
〃Teresa！〃
It was a voice that had rung in her ears for the last two years in all
phases of intensity； passion； tenderness； and anger； a voice upon whose
modulations； rude and unmusical though they were； her heart and soul had
hung in transport or anguish。 But it was a chime that had rung its last
peal to her senses as she entered the Carquinez Woods； and for the last
week had been as dead to her as a voice from the grave。 It was the voice
of her loverDick Curson！
50
… Page 51…
IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
CHAPTER V
The wind was blowing towards the stranger； so that he was nearly
upon her when Teresa first took the alarm。 He was a man over six feet in
height； strongly built； with a slight tendency to a roundness of bulk which
suggested reserved rather than impeded energy。 His thick beard and
mustache were closely cropped around a small and handsome mouth that
lisped except when he was excited； but always kept fellowship with his
blue eyes in a perpetual smile of half…cynical good…humor。 His dress was
superior to that of the locality； his general expression that of a man of the
world； albeit a world of San Francisco； Sacramento； and Murderer's Bar。
He advanced towards her with a laugh and an outstretched hand。
〃YOU here！〃 she gasped； drawing back。
Apparently neither surprised nor mortified at this reception； he
answered frankly； 〃Yeth。 You didn't expect me； I know。 But Doloreth
showed me the letter you wrote her； andwellhere I am； ready to help
you； with two men and a thpare horthe waiting outside the woodth on the
blind trail。〃
〃YouYOUhere？〃 she only repeated。
Curson shrugged his shoulders。 〃Yeth。〃 Of courth you never
expected to thee me again； and leatht of all HERE。 I'll admit that； I'll
thay I wouldn't if I'd been in your plathe。 I'll go further； and thay you
didn't want to thee me againanywhere。 But it all cometh to the thame
thing； here I am。 I read the letter you wrote Doloreth。 I read how you
were hiding here； under Dunn'th very nothe； with his whole pothe out；
cavorting round and barkin' up the wrong tree。 I made up my mind to
come down here with a few nathty friends of mine and cut you out under
Dunn'th nothe； and run you over into Yubathat'th all。〃
〃How dared she show you my letterYOU of all men？ How dared
she ask YOUR help？〃 continued Teresa； fiercely。
〃But she didn't athk my help；〃 he responded coolly。 〃Dd if I don't
think she jutht calculated I'd be glad to know you were being hunted down
and thtarving； that I might put Dunn on your track。〃
〃You lie！〃 said Teresa； furiously； 〃she was my friend。 A better friend
51
… Page 52…
IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
than those who professedmore；〃 she added； with a contemptuous
drawing away of her skirt as if she feared Curson's contamination。
〃All right。 Thettle that with her when you go back；〃 continued
Curson philosophically。 〃We can talk of that on the way。 The thing
now ith to get up and get out of thethe woods。 Come！〃
Teresa's only reply was a gesture of scorn。
〃I know all that；〃 continued Curson half soothingly； 〃but they're
waiting。〃
〃Let them wait。 I shall not go。〃
〃What will you do？〃
〃Stay heretill the wolves eat me。〃
〃Teresa； listen。 D… it allTeresaTita！ see here；〃 he said with
sudden energy。 〃I swear to God it's all right。 I'm willing to let by…gones
be by…gones and take a new deal。 You shall come back as if nothing had
happened； and take your old place as before。 I don't mind doing the
square thing； all round。 If that's what you mean； if that's all that stands in
the way； why； look upon the thing as settled。 There； Tita； old girl； come。〃
Careless or oblivious of her stony silence and starting eyes； he
attempted to take her hand。 But she disengaged herself with a quick
movement； drew back； and suddenly crouched like a wild animal about to
spring。 Curson folded his arms as she leaped to her feet； the little dagger
she had drawn from her garter flashed menacingly in the air； but she
stopped。
The man before her remained erect； impassive； and silent； the great
trees around and beyond her remained erect； impassive； and silent； there
was no sound in the dim aisles but the quick panting of her mad passion；
no movement in the calm； motionless shadow but the trembling of her
uplifted steel。 Her arm bent and slowly sank； her fingers relaxed； the
knife fell from her hand。
〃That'th quite enough for a thow；〃 he said； with a return to his former
cynical ease and a perceptible tone of relief in his voice。 〃It'th the thame
old Theretha。 Well； then； if you won't go with me； go without me； take
the led horthe and cut away。 Dick Athley and Petereth will follow you over
the county line。 If you want thome money； there it ith。〃 He took a
52
… Page 53…
IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
buckskin purse from his pocket。 〃If you won't take it from mehe
hesitated as she made no reply〃Athley'th flush and ready to lend you
thome。〃
She had not seemed to hear him； but had stooped in some
embarrassment； picked up the knife and hastily hid it； then with averted
face and nervous fingers was beginning to tear strips of loose bark from
the nearest trunk。
〃Well； what do you thay？〃
〃I don't want any money； and I shall stay here。〃 She hesitated； looked
around her； and then added； with an effort； 〃I suppose you meant well。
Be it so！ Let by…gones be by…gones。 You said just now； 'It's the same
old Teresa。' So she is； and seeing she's the same she's better here than
anywhere else。〃
There was enough bitterness in her tone to ca