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lin mclean-第32章

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Billy aloof; joining me on the road but once; and then merely to give me

the news that people here wanted no more of Nate Buckner; he would be run

out of the country; and respect for the sister was all that meanwhile

saved him。 But Buckner; like so many spared criminals; seemed brazenly

unaware he was disgraced; and went hailing loudly any riders or drivers

we met; while beside him his sister sat close and straight; her stanch

affection and support for the world to see。 For all she let appear; she

might have been bringing him back from some gallant heroism achieved; and

as I rode along the travesty seemed more and more pitiful; the outcome

darker and darker。



At all times is Riverside beautiful; but most beautiful when the sun

draws down through the openings of the hills。 From each one a stream

comes flowing clearly out into the plain; and fields spread green along

the margins。 It was beneath the long…slanted radiance of evening that we

saw Blue Creek and felt its coolness rise among the shifting veils of

light。 The red bluff eastward; the tall natural fortress; lost its stern

masonry of shapes; and loomed a soft towering enchantment of violet and

amber and saffron in the changing rays。 The cattle stood quiet about the

levels; and horses were moving among the restless colts。 These the

brother bade his sister look at; for with them was his glory; and I heard

him boasting of his skilltruthful boasting; to be sure。 Had he been

honest in his dealings; the good…will that man's courage and dashing

appearance beget in men would have brought him more employment than he

could have undertaken。 He told Jessamine his way of breaking a horse that

few would dare; and she listened eagerly。 〃Do you remember when I used to

hold the pony for you to get on?〃 she said。 〃You always would scare me;

Nate!〃 And he replied; fluently; Yes; yes; did she see that horse there;

near the fence? He was a four…year…old; an outlaw; and she would find no

one had tried getting on his back since he had been absent。 This was the

first question he asked on reaching the cabin; where various neighbors

were waiting the mail…rider; and; finding he was right; he turned in

pride to Jessamine



〃They don't know how to handle that horse;〃 said he。 〃I told you so。 Give

me a rope。〃



Did she notice the cold greeting Nate received? I think not。 Not only was

their welcome to her the kinder; but any one is glad to witness bold

riding; and this chance made a stir which the sister may have taken for

cordiality。 But Lin gave me a look; for it was the same here as it had

been in the Buffalo saloon。



〃The trick is easy enough;〃 said Nate; arriving with his outlaw; and

liking an audience。 〃You don't want a bridle; but a rope hackamore like

thisSpanish style。 Then let them run as hard as they want; and on a

sudden reach down your arm and catch the hackamore short; close up by the

mouth; and jerk them round quick and heavy at full speed。 They quit their

fooling after one or two doses。 Now watch your outlaw!〃



He went into the saddle so swift and secure that the animal; amazed;

trembled stock…still; then sprang headlong。 It stopped; vicious and

knowing; and plunged in a rage; but could do nothing with the man; and

bolted again; and away in a straight blind line over the meadow; when the

rider leaned forward to his trick。 The horse veered in a jagged swerve;

rolled over and over with its twisted impetus; and up on its feet and on

without a stop; the man still seated and upright in the saddle。 How we

cheered to see it! But the figure now tilted strangely; and something

awful and nameless came over us and chilled our noise to silence。 The

horse; dazed and tamed by the fall; brought its burden towards us; a

wobbling thing; falling by small shakes backward; until the head sank on

the horse's rump。



〃Come away;〃 said Lin McLean to Jessamine and at his voice she obeyed and

went; leaning on his arm。



Jessamine sat by her brother until he died; twelve hours afterwards;

having spoken and known nothing。 The whole weight of the horse had

crushed him internally。 He must have become almost instantly unconscious;

being held in the saddle by his spurs; which had caught in the hair

cinch; it may be that our loud cheer was the last thing of this world

that he knew。 The injuries to his body made impossible any taking him

home; which his sister at first wished to do。 〃Why; I came here to bring

him home;〃 she said; with a smile and tone like cheerfulness in wax。 Her

calm; the unearthly ease with which she spoke to any comer (and she was

surrounded with rough kindness); embarrassed the listeners; she saw her

calamity clear as they did; but was sleep…walking in it。 It was Lin gave

her what she neededthe repose of his strong; silent presence。 He spoke

no sympathy and no advice; nor even did he argue with her about the

burial; he perceived somehow that she did not really hear what was said

to her; and that these first griefless; sensible words came from some

mechanism of the nerves; so he kept himself near her; and let her tell

her story as she would。 Once I heard him say to her; with the same

authority of that first 〃come away〃; 〃Now you've had enough of the

talking。 Come for a walk。〃 Enough of the talkingas if it were a

treatment! How did he think of that? Jessamine; at any rate; again obeyed

him; and I saw the two going quietly about in the meadows and along the

curving brook; and that night she slept well。 On one only point did the

cow…puncher consult me。



〃They figured to put Nate on top of that bald mound;〃 said he。 〃But she

has talked about the flowers and shade where the old folks lie; and where

she wants him to be alongside of them。 I've not let her look at him

to…day; forwell; she might get the way he looks now on her memory。 But

I'd like to show you my idea before going further。〃



Lin had indeed chosen a beautiful place; and so I told him at the first

sight of it。



〃That's all I wanted to know;〃 said he。 〃I'll fix the rest。〃



I believe he never once told Jessamine the body could not travel so far

as Kentucky。 I think he let her live and talk and grieve from hour to

hour; and then led her that afternoon to the nook of sunlight and

sheltering trees; and won her consent to it thus; for there was Nate

laid; and there she went to sit; alone。 Lin did not go with her on those

walks。



But now something new was on the fellow's mind。 He was plainly occupied

with it; whatever else he was doing; and he had some active cattle…work。

On my asking him if Jessamine Buckner had decided when to return east; he

inquired of me; angrily; what was there in Kentucky she could not have in

Wyoming? Consequently; though I surmised what he must be debating; I felt

myself invited to keep out of his confidence; and I did so。 My advice to

him would have been ill received; andas was soon to be made plain

would have done his delicacy injustice。 Next; one morning he and Billy

were gone。 My first thought was that he had rejoined Jessamine at Mrs。

Pierce's; where she was; and left me away over here on Bear Creek; where

we had come for part of a week。



But stuck in my hat…band I found a pencilled farewell。



Now Mr。 McLean constructed perhaps three letters in the yearpainful;

serious eventslike an interview with some important person with whom

your speech must decorously flow。 No matter to whom he was writing; it

froze all nature stiff in each word he achieved; and his bald business

diction and wild archaic penmanship made documents that I value among my

choicest correspondence; this one; especially:





                           〃Wensday four a。 m。



〃DEAR SIR this is to Inform you that i have gone to Separ on important

bisness where i expect to meet you on your arrival at same point。 You

will confer a favor and oblidge undersigned by Informing Miss J。 Buckner

of date (if soon) you fix for returning per stage to Separ as Miss J。

Buckner may prefer company for the trip being long and poor

accommodations。



                           Yours &c。     L。 McLEAN。〃





This seemed to point but one way; and (uncharitable though it sound) that

this girl; so close upon bereavement; should be able to give herself to a

lover was distasteful to me。



But; most extraordinary; Lin had gone away without a word to her; and she

was left as plainly in the dark as myself。 After her first frank surprise

at learning of his departure; his name did not come again from her lips;

at any rate to me。 Good Mrs。 Pierce dropped a word one day as to her

opinion of men who deceive women into expecting something from them。



〃Let us talk straight;〃 said I。 〃Do you mean that Miss Buckner says that;

or that you say it?〃



〃Why; the poor thing says nothing!〃 exclaimed the lady。 〃It's like a man

to think she would。 And I'll not say anything; either; for you're all

just the same; except when you're worse; and that Lin McLean is going
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