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lin mclean-第38章

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the letters young Billy passed her like a shadow; and fled out。 Two

passengers had descended from the train; a man and a large woman。 His

clothes were loose and careless upon him。 He held valises; and stood

uncertainly looking about him in the storm。 Her firm; heavy body was

closely dressed。 In her hat was a large; handsome feather。 Along between

the several cars brakemen leaned out; watched her; and grinned to each

other。 But her big; hard…shining blue eyes were fixed curiously upon the

station where Jessamine was。



〃It's all night we may be here; is it?〃 she said to the man; harshly。



〃How am I to help that?〃 he retorted。



〃I'll help it。 If this hotel's the sty it used to be; I'll walk to

Tommy's。 I've not saw him since I left Bear Creek。〃



She stalked into the hotel; while the man went slowly to the station。 He

entered; and found Jessamine behind her railing; sorting the slim mail。



〃Good…evening;〃 he said。 〃Excuse me。 There was to be a wagon sent here。〃



〃For the telegraph…mender? Yes; sir。 It came Tuesday。 You're to find the

pole…wagon at Drybone。〃



This news was good; and all that he wished to know。 He could drive out

and escape a night at the Hotel Brunswick。 But he lingered; because

Jessamine spoke so pleasantly to him。 He had heard of her also。



〃Governor Barker has not been around here?〃 he said。



〃Not yet; sir。 We understand he is expected through on a hunting…trip。〃



〃I suppose there is room for two and a trunk on that wagon?〃



〃I reckon so; sir。〃 Jessamine glanced at the man; and he took himself

out。 Most men took themselves out if Jessamine so willed; and it was

mostly achieved thus; in amity。



On the platform the man found his wife again。



〃Then I needn't to walk to Tommy's;〃 she said。 〃And we'll eat as we

travel。 But you'll wait till I'm through with her。〃 She made a gesture

toward the station。



〃Whywhywhat do you want with her。 Don't you know who she is?〃



〃It was me told you who she was; James Lusk。 You'll wait till I've been

and asked her after Lin McLean's health; and till I've saw how the likes

of her talks to the likes of me。〃



He made a feeble protest that this would do no one any good。



〃Sew yourself up; James Lusk。 If it has been your idea I come with yus

clear from Laramie to watch yus plant telegraph…poles in the sage…brush;

why you're off。 I ain't heard much 'o Lin since the day he learned it was

you and not him that was my husband。 And I've come back in this country

to have a look at my old friendsand〃 (she laughed loudly and nodded at

the station) 〃my old friends' new friends!〃



Thus ordered; the husband wandered away to find his wagon and the horse。



Jessamine; in the office; had finished her station duties and returned to

her needle。 She sat contemplating the scorched sock of Billy's; and heard

a heavy step at the threshold。 She turned; and there was the large woman

with the feather quietly surveying her。 The words which the stranger

spoke then were usual enough for a beginning。 But there was something of

threat in the strong animal countenance; something of laughter ready to

break out。 Much beauty of its kind had evidently been in the face; and

now; as substitute for what was gone; was the brag look of assertion that

it was still all there。 Many stranded travellers knocked at Jessamine's

door; and now; as always; she offered the hospitalities of her neat

abode; the only room in Separ fit for a woman。 As she spoke; and the

guest surveyed and listened; the door blew shut with a crash。



Outside; in a shed; Billy had placed the wagon between himself and his

father。



〃How you have grown!〃 the man was saying; and he smiled。 〃Come; shake

hands。 I did not think to see you here。〃



〃Dare you to touch me!〃 Billy screamed。 〃No; I'll never come with you。

Lin says I needn't to。〃



The man passed his hand across his forehead; and leaned against the

wheel。 〃Lord; Lord!〃 he muttered。



His son warily slid out of the shed and left him leaning there。







PART II



Lin McLean; bachelor; sat out in front of his cabin; looking at a small

bright pistol that lay in his hand。 He held it tenderly; cherishing it;

and did not cease slowly to polish it。 Revery filled his eyes; and in his

whole face was sadness unmasked; because only the animals were there to

perceive his true feelings。 Sunlight and waving shadows moved together

upon the green of his pasture; cattle and horses loitered in the opens by

the stream。 Down Box Elder's course; its valley and golden…chimneyed

bluffs widened away into the level and the blue of the greater valley。

Upstream the branches and shining; quiet leaves entered the mountains

where the rock chimneys narrowed to a gateway; a citadel of shafts and

turrets; crimson and gold above the filmy emerald of the trees。 Through

there the road went up from the cotton…woods into the cool quaking asps

and pines; and so across the range and away to Separ。 Along the

ridge…pole of the new stable; two hundred yards down…stream; sat McLean's

turkeys; and cocks and hens walked in front of him here by his cabin and

fenced garden。 Slow smoke rose from the cabin's chimney into the air; in

which were no sounds but the running water and the afternoon chirp of

birds。 Amid this framework of a home the cow…puncher sat; lonely;

inattentive; polishing the treasured weapon as if it were not already

long clean。 His target stood some twenty steps in front of hima small

cottonwood…tree; its trunk chipped and honeycombed with bullets which he

had fired into it each day for memory's sake。 Presently he lifted the

pistol and looked at its namethe word 〃Neighbor〃 engraved upon it。



〃I wonder;〃 said he; aloud; 〃if she keeps the rust off mine?〃 Then he

lifted it slowly to his lips and kissed the word 〃Neighbor。〃



The clank of wheels sounded on the road; and he put the pistol quickly

down。 Dreaminess vanished from his face。 He looked around alertly; but no

one had seen him。 The clanking was still among the trees a little

distance up Box Elder。 It approached deliberately; while he watched for

the vehicle to emerge upon the open where his cabin stood; and then they

came; a man and a woman。 At sight of her Mr。 McLean half rose; but sat

down again。 Neither of them had noticed him; sitting as they were in

silence and the drowsiness of a long drive。 The man was weak…faced; with

good looks sallowed by dissipation; and a vanquished glance of the eye。

As the woman had stood on the platform at Separ; so she sat now; upright;

bold; and massive。 The brag of past beauty was a habit settled upon her

stolid features。 Both sat inattentive to each other and to everything

around them。 The wheels turned slowly and with a dry; dead noise; the

reins bellied loosely to the shafts; the horse's head hung low。 So they

drew close。 Then the man saw McLean; and color came into his face and

went away。



〃Good…evening;〃 said he; clearing his throat。 〃We heard you was in

cow…camp。〃



The cow…puncher noted how he tried to smile; and a freakish change

crossed his own countenance。 He nodded slightly; and stretched his legs

out as he sat。



〃You look natural;〃 said the woman; familiarly。



〃Seem to be fixed nice here;〃 continued the man。 〃Hadn't heard of it。

Well; we'll be going along。 Glad to have seen you。〃



〃Your wheel wants greasing;〃 said McLean; briefly; his eye upon the man。



〃Can't stop。 I expect she'll last to Drybone。 Good…evening。〃



〃Stay to supper;〃 said McLean; always seated on his chair。



〃Can't stop; thank you。 I expect we can last to Drybone。〃 He twitched the

reins。



McLean levelled a pistol at a chicken; and knocked off its head。 〃Better

stay to supper;〃 he suggested; very distinctly。



〃It's business; I tell you。 I've got to catch Governor Barker before he〃



The pistol cracked; and a second chicken shuffled in the dust。 〃Better

stay to supper;〃 drawled McLean。



The man looked up at his wife。



〃So yus need me!〃 she broke out。 〃Ain't got heart enough in yer

played…out body to stand up to a man。 We'll eat here。 Get down。〃



The husband stepped to the ground。 〃I didn't suppose you'd want〃



〃Ho! want? What's Lin; or you; or anything to me? Help me out。〃



Both men came forward。 She descended; leaning heavily upon each; her blue

staring eyes fixed upon the cow…puncher。



〃No; yus ain't changed;〃 she said。 〃Same in your looks and same in your

actions。 Was you expecting you could scare me; you; Lin McLean?〃



〃I just wanted chickens for supper;〃 said he。



Mrs。 Lusk gave a hard high laugh。 〃I'll eat 'em。 It's not I that cares。

As for〃 She stopped。 Her eye had fallen upon the pistol and the name

〃Neighbor。〃 〃As for you;〃 she continued to Mr。 Lusk; 〃don't you be

standing dumb same as the horse。〃



〃Better take him to the stable; Lusk;〃 said McLean。



He picked the chickens up; showed the woman to the best chair in his

room; and
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