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！
the big world； don't you？〃
〃Oh； YES！；〃 cried Lahoma； starting up and stretching her arm toward
the window。 〃In the big worldyes！ That's the place for me that's where I
want to live。 But what will become of you？〃
〃Well；〃 Brick answered slowly； 〃the rock pile； t'other side the
mountain is good enough for me。 Your mother sleeps under it。〃
〃Oh； Brick！〃 She caught his arm。 〃You wouldn't die if I went away；
would you？〃
〃Why； you see； honey； they wouldn't be nothing left to go on。 I'd just
sort of stop； you knowbut it wouldn't matterout there in the big world；
people don't remember very long； and when you're grown you wouldn't
know there'd ever been a cove with a dugout in it； and a window in the
wall； and a Brick Willock to carry in the wood for the fire。〃
〃I'll always rememberand I won't go without you。 He COULD go
with me； couldn't he； Bill？〃
〃I suspicion he has his reasons for not；〃 Atkins observed gravely。
〃I has； and I shall never go back to the States。〃
〃Then what's the use civilizing me？〃 demanded Lahoma mournfully。
60
… Page 61…
LAHOMA
〃I want you to enjoy yourself。 And when I'm old and no…'count； you'd
need somebody to take care of youand you'd go full…equipped and ready
to stand up to any civilized person that tried to run a bluff on you。〃
〃But； oh； I want to GOI want to go out THEREwhere there ain't no
plains and alkali and buffalo…grasswhere they's pavements and
policemen and people in beautiful clothes。 I don't mean NOW； I mean
when I have got civilized。〃 She drew herself up proudly。 〃I wouldn't go till
I was civilized； till I was like them。〃 She turned impulsively to Brick： 〃But
you've got to go with me when I go！ I'm going to stay with you till I'm fit
to go； and then you're going to stay with me the rest of my life。〃
〃Am I fit to go with her？〃 Brick appealed to Bill Atkins。
〃You ain't；〃 Bill replied。
〃I ain't fit；〃 Brick declared firmly。 〃I'm a…going to fitten you； but it's
too late to work on me； and besides； if they WAS time enough； it ain't to
the grain of my nature。 I knows all I wants to know； which if little or much
is enough for me。 And I wouldn't be fit to go with you out into the big
world and cut a figger in it； which couldn't be no figger but a figger naught。
And Atkins who knows more than me； he says the same。〃
The tears were in Lahoma's eyes。 She looked from one to the other； her
little face deeply troubled。 Suddenly she grabbed up her books and started
toward the stove。 〃Then this here civilizing is going to stop；〃 she declared。
〃Lahoma！〃 Brick cried in dismay。
〃Yes； it isunless you promise to stay with me when I go to live in the
big world。〃
〃Honey； I'll promise you this： When you are ready to live out there； I'll
sure go with you and stay with youif you want me； when the time
comes。〃
Lahoma seized his hand； and jumped up and down in delight。
〃It's a safe promise；〃 remarked Bill Atkins dryly。
61
… Page 62…
LAHOMA
CHAPTER IX
A YOUNG MAN'S FANCY
One evening in May； a tall lithe figure crept the southern base of the
mountain range； following its curves with cautious feet as if fearful of
discovery。 It was a young man of twenty…one or two； bronzed； free of
movement； agile of step。 His face was firm； handsome and open； although
at present a wish to escape observation caused the hazel eyes to dart here
and there restlessly； while the mouth tightened in an aspect of sternness。
This air of wild resolution was heightened by the cowboy's ordinary
gannents； and the cowboy's indispensable belt well…stocked with weapons。
On reaching the spur that formed the western jaw of the horseshoe； he
crept on hands and knees； but satisfied by searching glances that the inner
expanse was deserted； he half rose and stole shadow…like along the granite
wall； until he had reached the hill…island that concealed the cove。 Again
falling on hands and knees； he drew himself slowly up among the huge flat
rocks that covered the hill in all directions。 In a brief time he had traversed
it； and a view of the cove was suddenly unrolled below。 A few yards from
Brick Willock's dugout； now stood a neat log cabin； and not far from the
door of this cabin was a girl of about fifteen； seated on the grass。
She had been reading； but her book had slipped to her feet。 With hands
clasped about her knee； and head tilted back； she was watching the lazy
white clouds that stretched like wisps of scattered cotton across the blue
field of the sky。 At first the young man was startled by the impression that
she had discovered his presence and was scrutinizing his position； but a
second glance reassured him； and he stretched himself where a block of
granite and； below it； a cedar tree； effectually protected him from
discovery。 Thus hidden； he stared at the girl unblinkingly。
He was like a thirsty traveler drinking at a cool well unexpectedly
discovered in a desert country。 For two years he had led the life of the
cowboy； exiled from his kind； going with the boys from lower Texas to
Kansas along the Chisholm Trail； overseeing great herds of cattle； caring
for them day and night； scarcely ever under a roof； even that of a dugout。
Through rain and storm； the ground had been his bed； and many a
62
… Page 63…
LAHOMA
blistering summer day a pony captured wild from the plains； and broken to
stand like a dog； had been his only shade。 During these two years of hard
life； reckless companions and exacting duties； he had easily slipped into
the grooves of speech and thought common to his fellows。 Only his face；
his unconscious movements and accents； distinguished him from the other
boys of 〃Old Man Walker〃the boss of the 〃G…Bar Outfit。〃 On no other
condition but that of apparent assimilation could he have retained his place
with Walker's ranchmen； and in his efforts to remove as quickly as
possible the reproach of tender…foot it was not his fault that he had
retained the features of a different world； or that a certain air； not of the
desert； was always breaking through the crust under which he would have
kept his real self out of sight。 He himself was the least conscious that this
was so。
For two years he had seen no one like the girl of the cove； none
though he had seen women and girls of the settlements； often enough
who even suggested her kind。 Her dress； indeed； was plain enough； and
obviously chosen in cheerful ignorance of forms and conventions； though
the color； a delicate pink； was all he could have wished。 After all； the
clothes revealed nothing except absence from city shops and city
standards。
That was wonderful hair； its brown tresses gleaming though untouched
by the sun； as if in it were enmeshed innumerable particles of light。 It
seemed to glow from its very fineness； its silkinessthe kind of hair one is
prompted to touch； to feel if it is really that way！ The face was more
wonderful； because it told many things that can not be expressed in mere
hair…language。 There was the seal of innocence on the lips； the proof of
fearlessness in the eyes； the touch of thought on the brow； the sign of
purpose about the resolute little chin。 The slender brown hands spoke of
life in the open air； and the glow of the cheeks told of burning suns。 Her
form； her attitude； spoke not only of instinctive grace； but of a certain
wildness in admirable harmony with the surrounding scene。 Somehow； the
ruggedness of the mountains and the desolate solitudes of the plains were
reflected from her face。
The young man gazed as if his thirst would never be appeased。 The
63
… Page 64…
LAHOMA
flavor of nights about the camp…fire and other