lin mclean(林·迈林恩)-第6节
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！
stamped。 Every day （when in Mesa） Honey would step into the drug…store
and inquire； 〃Lin； wher're yu' goin'？〃
But Lin never answered any more。 He merely came to the soda…water
fountain with the whiskey。 The passing of days brought a choked season of
fine sand and hard blazing sky。 Heat rose up from the ground and hung
heavily over man and beast。 Many insects sat out in the sun rattling with
joy； the little tearing river grew clear from the swollen mud； and shrank to
a succession of standing pools； and the fat； squatting cactus bloomed
everywhere into butter…colored flowers big as tulips in the sand。 There
were artesian wells in Mesa； and the water did not taste very good； but if
you drank from the standing pools where the river had been； you repaired
to the drug…store almost immediately。 A troop of wandering players came
dotting along the railroad； and； reaching Mesa； played a brass…band up and
down the street； and announced the powerful drama of 〃East Lynne。〃 Then
Mr。 McLean thought of the Lynn marshes that lie between there and
Chelsea； and of the sea that must look so cool。 He forgot them while
following the painful fortunes of the Lady Isabel； but； going to bed in the
back part of the drug…store； he remembered how he used to beat everybody
swimming in the salt water。
20
… Page 21…
LIN McLEAN
〃I'm goin'；〃 he said。 Then he got up； and； striking the light； he
inspected his bank account。 〃I'm sure goin'；〃 he repeated； blowing the light
out； 〃and I can buy the fatted calf myself； you bet！〃 for he had often
thought of the bishop's story。 〃You bet！〃 he remarked once more in a
muffled voice； and was asleep in a minute。 The apothecary was sorry to
have him go； and Honey was deeply grieved。
〃I'd pull out with yer；〃 he said； 〃only I can do business round Yuma
and westward with the pinto。〃
For three farewell days Lin and Honey roved together in all sorts of
places； where they were welcome； and once more Lin rode a horse and
was in his native element。 Then he travelled to Deming； and so through
Denver to Omaha； where he was told that his trunk had been sold for some
months。 Besides a suit of clothes for town wear； it had contained a buffalo
coat for his brothersomething scarce to see in these days。
〃Frank'll have to get along without it；〃 he observed； philosophically；
and took the next eastbound train。
If you journey in a Pullman from Mesa to Omaha without a waistcoat；
and with a silk handkerchief knotted over the collar of your flannel shirt
instead of a tie； wearing； besides； tall； high…heeled boots； a soft； gray hat
with a splendid brim； a few people will notice you； but not the majority。
New Mexico and Colorado are used to these things。 As Iowa； with its
immense rolling grain； encompasses you； people will stare a little more；
for you're getting near the East； where cow…punchers are not understood。
But in those days the line of cleavage came sharp…drawn at Chicago。 West
of there was still tolerably west； but east of there was east indeed； and the
Atlantic Ocean was the next important stopping…place。 In Lin's new train；
good gloves； patent…leathers； and silence prevailed throughout the
sleeping…car； which was for Boston without change。 Had not home
memories begun impetuously to flood his mind； he would have felt
himself conspicuous。 Town clothes and conventions had their due value
with him。 But just now the boy's single… hearted thoughts were far from
any surroundings； and he was murmuring to himself； 〃To…morrow！
tomorrow night！〃
There were ladies in that blue plush car for Boston who looked at Lin
21
… Page 22…
LIN McLEAN
for thirty miles at a stretch； and by the time Albany was reached the next
day one or two of them commented that he was the most attractive…looking
man they had ever seen！ Whereas； beyond his tallness； and wide…open；
jocular eyes； eyes that seemed those of a not highly conscientious wild
animal； there was nothing remarkable about young Lin except stage effect。
The conductor had been annoyed to have such a passenger； but the cow…
puncher troubled no one； and was extremely silent。 So evidently was he a
piece of the true frontier that curious and hopeful fellow…passengers； after
watching him with diversion； more than once took a seat next to him。 He
met their chatty inquiries with monosyllables so few and so unprofitable in
their quiet politeness that the passengers soon gave him up。 At Springfield
he sent a telegram to his brother at the great dry…goods establishment that
employed him。
The train began its homestretch after Worcester； and whirled and
swung by hills and ponds he began to watch for； and through stations with
old wayside names。 These flashed on Lin's eye as he sat with his hat off
and his forehead against the window； looking： Wellesley。 Then； not long
after； Riverside。 That was the Charles River； and did the picnic woods
used to be above the bridge or below？ West Newton； Newtonville； Newton。
〃Faneuil's next；〃 he said aloud in the car； as the long…forgotten home…
knowledge shone forth in his recollection。 The traveller seated near said；
〃Beg pardon？〃 but； turning； wondered at the all…unconscious Lin； with his
forehead pressed against the glass。 The blue water flashed into sight； and
soon after they were running in the darkness between high walls； but the
cow…puncher never moved； though nothing could be seen。 When the porter
announced 〃Boston；〃 he started up and followed like a sheep in the
general exodus。 Down on the platform he moved along with the slow
crowd till some one touched him； and； wheeling round； he seized both his
brother's hands and swore a good oath of joy。
There they stoodthe long； brown fellow with the silk handkerchief
knotted over his flannel shirt； greeting tremendously the spruce civilian；
who had a rope…colored mustache and bore a fainthearted resemblance to
him。 The story was plain on its face to the passers…by； and one of the
ladies who had come in the car with Lin turned twice； and smiled gently to
22
… Page 23…
LIN McLEAN
herself。
But Frank McLean's heart did not warm。 He felt that what he had been
afraid of was true； and he saw he was being made conspicuous。 He saw
men and women stare in the station； and he saw them staring as he and his
Western brother went through the streets。 Lin strode along； sniffing the air
of Boston； looking at all things； and making it a stretch for his sleek
companion to keep step with him。 Frank thought of the refined friends he
should have to introduce his brother to； for he had risen with his salary；
and now belonged to a small club where the paying…tellers of banks played
cards every night； and the head clerk at the Parker House was president。
Perhaps he should not have to reveal the cow…puncher to these shining
ones。 Perhaps the cow…puncher would not stay very long。 Of course he
was glad to see him again； and he would take him to dine at some obscure
place this first evening。 But this was not Lin's plan。 Frank must dine with
him； at the Parker House。 Frank demurred； saying it was he that should be
host。
〃And；〃 he added； 〃they charge up high for wines at Parker's。〃 Then for
the twentieth time he shifted a sidelong eye over his brother's clothes。
〃You're goin' to take your grub with me；〃 said Lin。 〃That's all right； I
guess。 And there ain't any 'no' about it。 Things is not the same like as if
father was livin'（his voice softened）and here to see me come home。
Now I'm good for several dinners with wines charged up high； I expect；
nor it ain't nobody in this world； barrin' just Lin McLean； that I've any
need to ask for anything。 'Mr。 McLean；' says I to Lin； 'can yu' spare me
some cash？' 'Why； to be sure； you bet！' And we'll start off with steamed
Duxbury clams。〃 The cow…puncher slapped his pocket； where the coin
made a muf
