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！
〃May I？〃
But Cass deprecated that proceeding strongly。 It was dirty； he was
not sure it was even WHOLESOME； she would be SO uncomfortable； he；
himself； was only going a few rods farther； and in that time she
might ruin her dress
〃Oh； yes；〃 she said； a little bitterly； 〃certainly； my dress must
be looked after。 Andwhat else？〃
〃People might think it strange； and believe I had invited you；〃
continued Cass； hesitatingly。
〃When I had only invited myself？ Thank you。 Good…by。〃
She waved her hand and stepped back from the wagon。 Cass would
have given worlds to recall her； but he sat still； and the vehicle
moved on in moody silence。 At the first cross road he jumped down。
〃Thank you；〃 he said to the teamster。 〃You're welcome；〃 returned
that gentleman； regarding him curiously； 〃but the next time a gal
like that asks to ride in this yer wagon； I reckon I won't take the
vote of any deadhead passenger。 Adios； young fellow。 Don't stay
out late； ye might be run off by some gal； and what would your
mother say？〃 Of course the young man could only look unutterable
things and walk away； but even in that dignified action he was
conscious that its effect was somewhat mitigated by a large patch
from a material originally used as a flour sack； which had repaired
his trousers； but still bore the ironical legend； 〃Best Superfine。〃
The summer brought warmth and promise and some blossom； if not
absolute fruition； to Blazing Star。 The long days drew Nature into
closer communion with the men； and hopefulness followed the
discontent of their winter seclusion。 It was easier； too； for
Capital to be wooed and won into making a picnic in these mountain
solitudes than when high water stayed the fords and drifting snow
the Sierran trails。 At the close of one of these Arcadian days
Cass was smoking before the door of his lonely cabin when he was
astounded by the onset of a dozen of his companions。 Peter
Drummond； far in the van； was waving a newspaper like a victorious
banner。 〃All's right now； Cass； old man！〃 he panted as he stopped
before Cass and shoved back his eager followers。
〃What's all right？〃 asked Cass； dubiously。
〃YOU！ You kin rake down the pile now。 You're hunky！ You're on
velvet。 Listen！〃
He opened the newspaper and read； with annoying deliberation； as
follows：
〃LOST。If the finder of a plain gold ring； bearing the engraved
inscription； 'May to Cass；' alleged to have been picked up on the
high road near Blazing Star on the 4th March； 186…； will apply to
Bookham & Sons； bankers； 1007 Y Street； Sacramento； he will be
suitably rewarded either for the recovery of the ring； or for such
facts as may identify it； or the locality where it was found。〃
Cass rose and frowned savagely on his comrades。 〃No！ no！〃 cried a
dozen voices； assuringly。 〃It's all right！ Honest Injun！ True as
gospel！ No joke； Cass！〃
〃Here's the paper； Sacramento 'Union' of yesterday。 Look for
yourself；〃 said Drummond； handing him the well…worn journal。 〃And
you see；〃 he added； 〃how darned lucky you are。 It ain't necessary
for you to produce the ring； so if that old biled owl of a
Boompointer don't giv' it back to ye； it's all the same。〃
〃And they say nobody but the finder need apply；〃 interrupted
another。 〃That shuts out Boompointer or Kanaka Joe； for the matter
o' that。〃
〃It's clar that it MEANS you； Cass； ez much ez if they'd given your
name；〃 added a third。
For Miss Porter's sake and his own Cass had never told them of the
restoration of the ring； and it was evident that Mountain Charley
had also kept silent。 Cass could not speak now without violating a
secret； and he was pleased that the ring itself no longer played an
important part in the mystery。 But what was that mystery； and why
was the ring secondary to himself？ Why was so much stress laid
upon his finding it？
〃You see；〃 said Drummond； as if answering his unspoken thought；
〃that 'ar galfor it is a gal in coursehez read all about it in
the papers； and hez sort o' took a shine to ye。 It don't make a
bit o' difference who in thunder Cass IS or WAZ； for I reckon she's
kicked him over by this time〃
〃Sarved him right； too； for losing the girl's ring and then lying
low and keeping dark about it；〃 interrupted a sympathizer。
〃And she's just weakened over the romantic； high…toned way you
stuck to it；〃 continued Drummond； forgetting the sarcasms he had
previously hurled at this romance。 Indeed； the whole camp； by this
time； had become convinced that it had fostered and developed a
chivalrous devotion which was now on the point of pecuniary
realization。 It was generally accepted that 〃she〃 was the daughter
of this banker； and also felt that in the circumstances the happy
father could not do less than develop the resources of Blazing Star
at once。 Even if there were no relationship； what opportunity
could be more fit for presenting to capital a locality that even
produced engagement rings； and； as Jim Fauquier put it； 〃the men ez
knew how to keep 'em。〃 It was this sympathetic Virginian who took
Cass aside with the following generous suggestion： 〃If you find
that you and the old gal couldn't hitch hosses； owin' to your not
likin' red hair or a game leg〃 （it may be here recorded that
Blazing Star had； for no reason whatever； attributed these
unprepossessing qualities to the mysterious advertiser）； 〃you might
let ME in。 You might say ez how I used to jest worship that ring
with you； and allers wanted to borrow it on Sundays。 If anything
comes of itwhyWE'RE PARDNERS！〃
A serious question was the outfitting of Cass for what now was felt
to be a diplomatic representation of the community。 His garments；
it hardly need be said； were inappropriate to any wooing except
that of the 〃maiden all forlorn；〃 which the advertiser clearly was
not。 〃He might；〃 suggested Fauquier； 〃drop in jest as he is
kinder as if he'd got keerless of the world； being lovesick。〃 But
Cass objected strongly； and was borne out in his objection by his
younger comrades。 At last a pair of white duck trousers； a red
shirt； a flowing black silk scarf； and a Panama hat were procured
at Red Chief； on credit； after a judicious exhibition of the
advertisement。 A heavy wedding ring； the property of Drummond （who
was not married）； was also lent as a graceful suggestion； and at
the last moment Fauquier affixed to Cass's scarf an enormous
specimen pin of gold and quartz。 〃It sorter indicates the
auriferous wealth o' this yer region； and the old man （the senior
member of Bookham & Sons） needn't know I won it at draw poker in
Frisco；〃 said Fauquier。
〃Ef you 'pass' on the gal； you kin hand it back to me and I'LL try
it on。〃 Forty dollars for expenses was put into Cass's hands； and
the entire community accompanied him to the cross roads where he
was to meet the Sacramento coach； which eventually carried him
away； followed by a benediction of waving hats and exploding
revolvers。
That Cass did not participate in the extravagant hopes of his
comrades； and that he rejected utterly their matrimonial
speculations in his behalf； need not be said。 Outwardly； he kept
his own counsel with good…humored assent。 But there was something
fascinating in the situation； and while he felt he had forever
abandoned his romantic dream； he was not displeased to know that it
might have proved a reality。 Nor was it distasteful to him to
think that Miss Porter would hear of it and regret her late
inability to appreciate his sentiment。 If he really were the
object of some opulent maiden's passion； he would show Miss Porter
how he could sacrifice the most brilliant prospects for her sake。
Alone； on the top of the coach； he projected one of those
satisfying conversations in which imaginative people delight； but
which unfortunately never come quite up to rehearsal。 〃Dear Miss
Porter；〃 he would say； addressing the back of the driver； 〃if I
could remain faithful to a dream of my youth； however illusive and
unreal； can you believe that for the sake of lucre I could be false
to the one real passion that alone supplanted it。〃 In the
composition and delivery of this eloquent statement an hour was
happily forgotten： the only drawback to its complete effect was
that a misplace of epithets in rapid repetition did not seem to
make the slightest difference； and Cass found himself saying 〃Dear
Miss Porter； if I could be false to a dream of my youth； etc。；
etc。； can you believe I could be FAITHFUL to the one real passion；
etc。； etc。；〃 with equal and perfect satisfaction。 As Miss Porter
was reputed to be well off； if the unknown were poor； that might be
another drawback。
The banking house of Bookham & Sons did not present an illusive nor
mysterious appearance。 It was eminently practical and matter of
fact； it was obtrusively open and glassy； nobody would have thought
of leavin