to the last man-第14节

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why　I　feel　they're　goin'　to　kill　me。　　I　feel　it　heah。〃　　With　solemn
gesture　he　placed　his　broad　hand　over　his　heart。　　〃An'；　Jean；　strange
whispers　come　to　me　at　night。　　It　seems　like　your　mother　was　callin'
or　tryin'　to　warn　me。　　I　cain't　explain　these　queer　whispers。　　But　I
know　what　I　know。〃

〃Jorth　has　his　followers。　　You　must　have　yours；〃　replied　Jean；　tensely。

〃Shore；　son；　an'　I　can　take　my　choice　of　the　best　men　heah；〃　replied
the　rancher；　with　pride。　　〃But　I'll　not　do　that。　　I'll　lay　the　deal
before　them　an'　let　them　choose。　　I　reckon　it　'll　not　be　a　long…winded
fight。　　It　'll　be　short　an　bloody；　after　the　way　of　Texans。　　I'm　lookin'
to　you；　Jean；　to　see　that　an　Isbel　is　the　last　man！〃

〃My　Goddad！　is　there　no　other　way？　　Think　of　my　sister　Annof　my
brothers'　wivesofof　other　women！　　Dad；　these　damned　Texas　feuds
are　cruel；　horrible！〃　burst　out　Jean；　in　passionate　protest。

〃Jean；　would　it　be　any　easier　for　our　women　if　we　let　these　men　shoot
us　down　in　cold　blood？〃

〃Oh　nono；　I　see；　there's　no　hope　ofof。　。　。　。　But；　dad；　I　wasn't
thinkin'　about　myself。　　I　don't　care。　　Once　started　I'llI'll　be
what　you　bragged　I　was。　　Only　it's　so　hard　to…to　give　in。〃

Jean　leaned　an　arm　against　the　side　of　the　cabin　and；　bowing　his　face
over　it；　he　surrendered　to　the　irresistible　contention　within　his
breast。　　And　as　if　with　a　wrench　that　strange　inward　hold　broke。
He　let　down。　　He　went　back。　　Something　that　was　boyish　and　hopefuland
in　its　place　slowly　rose　the　dark　tide　of　his　inheritance；　the　savage
instinct　of　self…preservation　bequeathed　by　his　Indian　mother；　and　the
fierce；　feudal　blood　lust　of　his　Texan　father。

Then　as　he　raised　himself；　gripped　by　a　sickening　coldness　in　his
breast；　he　remembered　Ellen　Jorth's　face　as　she　had　gazed　dreamily
down　off　the　Rimso　soft；　so　different；　with　tremulous　lips；　sad；
musing；　with　far…seeing　stare　of　dark　eyes；　peering　into　the　unknown；
the　instinct　of　life　still　unlived。　　With　confused　vision　and　nameless
pain　Jean　thought　of　her。

〃Dad；　it's　hard　onthethe　young　folks；〃　he　said；　bitterly。　　〃The
sins　of　the　father；　you　know。　　An'　the　other　side。　　How　about　Jorth？
Has　he　any　children？〃

What　a　curious　gleam　of　surprise　and　conjecture　Jean　encountered
in　his　father's　gaze！

〃He　has　a　daughter。　　Ellen　Jorth。　　Named　after　her　mother。　　The　first
time　I　saw　Ellen　Jorth　I　thought　she　was　a　ghost　of　the　girl　I　had
loved　an'　lost。　　Sight　of　her　was　like　a　blade　in　my　side。　　But　the
looks　of　her　an'　what　she　isthey　don't　gibe。　　Old　as　I　am；　my
heartBah！　Ellen　Jorth　is　a　damned　hussy！〃

Jean　Isbel　went　off　alone　into　the　cedars。　　Surrender　and　resignation
to　his　father's　creed　should　have　ended　his　perplexity　and　worry。
His　instant　and　burning　resolve　to　be　as　his　father　had　represented
him　should　have　opened　his　mind　to　slow　cunning；　to　the　craft　of　the
Indian；　to　the　development　of　hate。　　But　there　seemed　to　be　an　obstacle。
A　cloud　in　the　way　of　vision。　　A　face　limned　on　his　memory。

Those　damning　words　of　his　father's　had　been　a　shockhow　little　or
great　he　could　not　tell。　　Was　it　only　a　day　since　he　had　met　Ellen
Jorth？　　What　had　made　all　the　difference？　　Suddenly　like　a　breath
the　fragrance　of　her　hair　came　back　to　him。　　Then　the　sweet　coolness
of　her　lips！　　Jean　trembled。　　He　looked　around　him　as　if　he　were
pursued　or　surrounded　by　eyes；　by　instincts；　by　fears；　by
incomprehensible　things。

〃Ahuh！　　That　must　be　what　ails　me；〃　he　muttered。　　〃The　look　of　heran'
that　kissthey've　gone　hard　me。　　I　should　never　have　stopped　to　talk。
An'　I'm　to　kill　her　father　an'　leave　her　to　God　knows　what。〃

Something　was　wrong　somewhere。　　Jean　absolutely　forgot　that　within
the　hour　he　had　pledged　his　manhood；　his　life　to　a　feud　which　could
be　blotted　out　only　in　blood。　　If　he　had　understood　himself　he　would
have　realized　that　the　pledge　was　no　more　thrilling　and　unintelligible
in　its　possibilities　than　this　instinct　which　drew　him　irresistibly。

〃Ellen　Jorth！　　Somy　dad　calls　her　a　damned　hussy！　　Sothat　explains
thethe　way　she　actedwhy　she　never　hit　me　when　I　kissed　her。　　An'
her　words；　so　easy　an'　cool…like。　　Hussy？　　That　means　she's　badbad！
Scornful　of　memaybe　disappointed　because　my　kiss　was　innocent！
It　was；　I　swear。　　An'　all　she　said：　'Oh；　I've　been　kissed　before。'〃

Jean　grew　furious　with　himself　for　the　spreading　of　a　new　sensation
in　his　breast　that　seemed　now　to　ache。　　Had　he　become　infatuated；
all　in　a　day；　with　this　Ellen　Jorth？　　Was　he　jealous　of　the　men　who
had　the　privilege　of　her　kisses？　　No！　　But　his　reply　was　hot　with　shame；
with　uncertainty。　　The　thing　that　seemed　wrong　was　outside　of　himself。
A　blunder　was　no　crime。　　To　be　attracted　by　a　pretty　girl　in　the　woods
to　yield　to　an　impulse　was　no　disgrace；　nor　wrong。　　He　had　been
foolish　over　a　girl　before；　though　not　to　such　a　rash　extent。　　Ellen
Jorth　had　stuck　in　his　consciousness；　and　with　her　a　sense　of　regret。

Then　swiftly　rang　his　father's　bitter　words；　the　revealing：　〃But　the
looks　of　her　an'　what　she　isthey　don't　gibe！〃　　In　the　import　of
these　words　hid　the　meaning　of　the　wrong　that　troubled　him。
Broodingly　he　pondered　over　them。

〃The　looks　of　her。　　Yes；　she　was　pretty。　　But　it　didn't　dawn　on　me　at
first。　　II　was　sort　of　excited。　　I　liked　to　look　at　her；　but　didn't
think。〃　　And　now　consciously　her　face　was　called　up；　infinitely　sweet
and　more　impelling　for　the　deliberate　memory。　　Flash　of　brown　skin；
smooth　and　clear；　level　gaze　of　dark；　wide　eyes；　steady；　bold；　unseeing；
red　curved　lips；　sad　and　sweet；　her　strong；　clean；　fine　face　rose
before　Jean；　eager　and　wistful　one　moment；　softened　by　dreamy　musing
thought；　and　the　next　stormily　passionate；　full　of　hate；　full　of
longing；　but　the　more　mysterious　and　beautiful。

She　looks　like　that；　but　she's　bad；〃　concluded　Jean；　with　bitter
finality。　　〃I　might　have　fallen　in　love　with　Ellen　Jorth　ifif
she'd　been　different。〃

But　the　conviction　forced　upon　Jean　did　not　dispel　the　haunting
memory　of　her　face　nor　did　it　wholly　silence　the　deep　and　stubborn
voice　of　his　consciousness。　　Later　that　afternoon　he　sought　a　moment
with　his　sister。

〃Ann；　did　you　ever　meet　Ellen　Jorth？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　but　not　lately；〃　replied　Ann。

〃Well；　I　met　her　as　I　was　ridin'　along　yesterday。　　She　was　herdin'
sheep；〃　went　on　Jean；　rapidly。　　〃I　asked　her　to　show　me　the　way　to
the　Rim。　　An'　she　walked　with　me　a　mile　or　so。　　I　can't　say　the　meetin'
was　not　interestin'；　at　least　to　me。　。　。　。　Will　you　tell　me　what　you
know　about　her？〃

〃Sure；　Jean；〃　replied　his　sister；　with　her　dark　eyes　fixed　wonderingly
and　kindly　on　his　troubled　face。　　〃I've　heard　a　great　deal；　but　in　this
Tonto　Basin　I　don't　believe　all　I　hear。　　What　I　know　I'll　tell　you。
I　first　met　Ellen　Jorth　two　years　ago。　　We　didn't　know　each　other's
names　then。　　She　was　the　prettiest　girl　I　ever　saw。　　I　liked　her。
She　liked　me。　　She　seemed　unhappy。　　The　next　time　we　met　was　at　a
round…up。　　There　were　other　girls　with　me　and　they　snubbed　her。
But　I　left　them　and　went　around　with　her。　　That　snub　cut　her　to
the　heart。　　She　was　lonely。　　She　had　no　friends。　　She　talked　about
herselfhow　she　hated　the　people；　but　loved　Arizona。　　She　had　nothin'
fit　to　wear。　　I　didn't　need　to　be　told　that　she'd　been　used　to　better
things。　　Just　when　it　looked　as　if　we　were　goin'　to　be　friends　she
told　me　who　she　was　and　asked　me　my　name。　　I　told　her。　　Jean；　I
couldn't　have　hurt　her　more　if　I'd　slapped　her　face。　　She　turned
white。　　She　gasped。　　And　then　she　ran　off。　　The　last　time　I　saw　her
was　about　a　year　ago。　　I　was　ridin'　a　short…cut　trail　to　the　ranch
where　a　friend　lived。　　And　I　met　Ellen　Jorth　ridin'　with　a　man　I'd
never　seen。　　The　trail　was　overgrown　and　shady。　　They　were　ridin'
close　and　didn't　see　me　right　off。　　The　man　had　his　arm　round　her。
She　pushed　him　away。　　I　saw　her　laugh。　　Then　he　got　hold　of　her　again
and　was　kissin'　her　when　his　horse　shied　at　sight　of　mine。　　They　rode
by　me　then。　　Ellen　Jorth　held　her　head　high　and　never　looked　at　me。〃

〃Ann；　do　you　think　she's　a　bad　girl？〃　demanded　Jean；　bluntly。

〃Bad？　　Oh；　Jean！〃　exclaimed　Ann；　in　surprise　and　embarrassment。

〃Dad　said　she　was　a　damned　hussy。〃

〃Jean；　dad　hates　the　Jorths。　〃

〃Sister；　I'm　askin'　you　what　you　think　of　Ellen　Jorth。　　Would　you
be　friends　with　her　if　you　could？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　you　don't　believe　she's　bad。〃

〃No。　　Ellen　Jorth　is　lonely；　unhappy。　　She　has　no　mother。　　She　lives
alone　among　rough　men。　　Such　a　girl　can't　keep　men　from　handlin'　her
and　kissin'　her。　　Maybe　she's　too　free。　　Maybe　she's　wild。　　But　she's
honest；　Jean。　　You　can　trust　a　woman　to　tell。　　When　she　rode　past　me
that　day　her　face　was　white　and　proud。　　She　was　a　Jorth　and　I　was　an
Isbel。　　She　hated　herselfshe　hated　me。　　But　no　bad　girl　could　look
like　that。　　She　knows　what's　said　of　her　all　around　the　valley。
But　she　doesn't　care。　　She'd　encourage　gossip。〃

〃Thank　you；　Ann；〃　replied　Jean；　huskily。　　〃Please　keep　thisthis
meetin'　of　mine　with　her　all　to　yourself；　won't　you？〃

〃Why；　Jean；　of　course　I　will。〃

Jean　wandered　away　again；　peculiarly　grateful　to　Ann　for　reviving
and　upholding　something　in　him　that　seemed　a　wavering　part　of　the
best　of　hima　chivalry　that　had　demanded　to