betty zane-第11节

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lted。　After　all　she　was　only　a　child。　He　turned　to　see　the　tears　running　down　her　cheeks；　and　with　a　suppressed　imprecation　upon　the　wilfulness　of　young　women　in　general；　and　this　one　in　particular；　he　stepped　forward　and　before　she　could　offer　any　resistance；　he　had　taken　her　up　in　his　arms；　goldenrod　and　all；　and　had　started　off　at　a　rapid　walk　toward　the　fort。

Betty　cried　out　in　angry　surprise；　struggled　violently　for　a　moment；　and　then；　as　suddenly；　lay　quietly　in　his　arms。　His　anger　changed　to　self…reproach　as　he　realized　what　a　light　burden　she　made。　He　looked　down　at　the　dark　head　lying　on　his　shoulder。　Her　face　was　hidden　by　the　dusky　rippling　hair；　which　tumbled　over　his　breast；　brushed　against　his　cheek；　and　blew　across　his　lips。　The　touch　of　those　fragrant　tresses　was　a　soft　caress。　Almost　unconsciously　he　pressed　her　closer　to　his　heart。　And　as　a　sweet　mad　longing　grew　upon　him　he　was　blind　to　all　save　that　he　held　her　in　his　arms；　that　uncertainty　was　gone　forever；　and　that　he　loved　her。　With　these　thoughts　running　riot　in　his　brain　he　carried　her　down　the　hill　to　Colonel　Zane's　house。

The　negro；　Sam；　who　came　out　of　the　kitchen；　dropped　the　bucket　he　had　in　his　hand　and　ran　into　the　house　when　he　saw　them。　When　Alfred　reached　the　gate　Colonel　Zane　and　Isaac　were　hurrying　out　to　meet　him。

〃For　Heaven's　sake！　What　has　happened？　Is　she　badly　hurt？　I　have　always　looked　for　this；〃　said　the　Colonel；　excitedly。

〃You　need　not　look　so　alarmed；〃　answered　Alfred。　〃She　has　only　sprained　her　ankle；　and　trying　to　walk　afterward　hurt　her　so　badly　that　she　became　faint　and　I　had　to　carry　her。〃

〃Dear　me；　is　that　all？〃　said　Mrs。　Zane；　who　had　also　come　out。　〃We　were　terribly　frightened。　Sam　came　running　into　the　house　with　some　kind　of　a　wild　story。　Said　he　knew　you　would　be　the　death　of　Betty。〃

〃How　ridiculous！　Colonel　Zane；　that　servant　of　yours　never　fails　to　say　something　against　me；〃　said　Alfred；　as　he　carried　Betty　into　the　house。

〃He　doesn't　like　you。　But　you　need　not　mind　Sam。　He　is　getting　old　and　we　humor　him；　perhaps　too　much。　We　are　certainly　indebted　to　you；〃　returned　the　Colonel。

Betty　was　laid　on　the　couch　and　consigned　to　the　skillful　hands　of　Mrs。　Zane；　who　pronounced　the　injury　a　bad　sprain

〃Well；　Betty；　this　will　keep　you　quiet　for　a　few　days；〃　said　she；　with　a　touch　of　humor；　as　she　gently　felt　the　swollen　ankle。

〃Alfred；　you　have　been　our　good　angel　so　often　that　I　don't　see　how　we　shall　ever　reward　you；〃　said　Isaac　to　Alfred。

〃Oh；　that　time　will　come。　Don't　worry　about　that；〃　said　Alfred；　jestingly；　and　then；　turning　to　the　others　he　continued；　earnestly。　〃I　will　apologize　for　the　manner　in　which　I　disregarded　Miss　Zane's　wish　not　to　help　her。　I　am　sure　I　could　do　no　less。　I　believe　my　rudeness　has　spared　her　considerable　suffering。〃

〃What　did　he　mean；　Betts？〃　asked　Isaac；　going　back　to　his　sister　after　he　had　closed　the　door。　〃Didn't　you　want　him　to　help　you？〃

Betty　did　not　answer。　She　sat　on　the　couch　while　Mrs。　Zane　held　the　little　bare　foot　and　slowly　poured　the　hot　water　over　the　swollen　and　discolored　ankle。　Betty's　lips　were　pale。　She　winced　every　time　Mrs。　Zane　touched　her　foot；　but　as　yet　she　had　not　uttered　even　a　sigh。

〃Betty；　does　it　hurt　much？〃　asked　Isaac。

〃Hurt？　Do　you　think　I　am　made　of　wood？　Of　course　it　hurts；〃　retorted　Betty。　〃That　water　is　so　hot。　Bessie；　will　not　cold　water　do　as　well？〃

〃I　am　sorry。　I　won't　tease　any　more；〃　said　Isaac；　taking　his　sister's　hand。　〃I'll　tell　you　what；　Betty；　we　owe　Alfred　Clarke　a　great　deal；　you　and　I。　I　am　going　to　tell　you　something　so　you　will　know　how　much　more　you　owe　him。　Do　you　remember　last　month　when　that　red　heifer　of　yours　got　away。　Well；　Clarke　chased　her　away　and　finally　caught　her　in　the　woods。　He　asked　me　to　say　I　had　caught　her。　Somehow　or　other　he　seems　to　be　afraid　of　you。　I　wish　you　and　he　would　be　good　friends。　He　is　a　mighty　fine　fellow。〃

In　spite　of　the　pain　Betty　was　suffering　a　bright　blush　suffused　her　face　at　the　words　of　her　brother；　who；　blind　as　brothers　are　in　regard　to　their　own　sisters；　went　on　praising　his　friend。

Betty　was　confined　to　the　house　a　week　or　more　and　during　this　enforced　idleness　she　had　ample　time　for　reflection　and　opportunity　to　inquire　into　the　perplexed　state　of　her　mind。

The　small　room；　which　Betty　called　her　own；　faced　the　river　and　fort。　Most　of　the　day　she　lay　by　the　window　trying　to　read　her　favorite　books；　but　often　she　gazed　out　on　the　quiet　scene；　the　rolling　river；　the　everchanging　trees　and　the　pastures　in　which　the　red　and　white　cows　grazed　peacefully；　or　she　would　watch　with　idle；　dreamy　eyes　the　flight　of　the　crows　over　the　hills；　and　the　graceful　motion　of　the　hawk　as　he　sailed　around　and　around　in　the　azure　sky；　looking　like　a　white　sail　far　out　on　a　summer　sea。

But　Betty's　mind　was　at　variance　with　this　peaceful　scene。　The　consciousness　of　a　change；　which　she　could　not　readily　define；　in　her　feelings　toward　Alfred　Clarke；　vexed　and　irritated　her。　Why　did　she　think　of　him　so　often？　True；　he　had　saved　her　brother's　life。　Still　she　was　compelled　to　admit　to　herself　that　this　was　not　the　reason。　Try　as　she　would；　she　could　not　banish　the　thought　of　him。　Over　and　over　again；　a　thousand　times；　came　the　recollection　of　that　moment　when　he　had　taken　her　up　in　his　arms　as　though　she　were　a　child。　Some　vague　feeling　stirred　in　her　heart　as　she　remembered　the　strong　yet　gentle　clasp　of　his　arms。

Several　times　from　her　window　she　had　seen　him　coming　across　the　square　between　the　fort　and　her　brother's　house；　and　womanlike；　unseen　herself；　she　had　watched　him。　How　erect　was　his　carriage。　How　pleasant　his　deep　voice　sounded　as　she　heard　him　talking　to　her　brother。　Day　by　day；　as　her　ankle　grew　stronger　and　she　knew　she　could　not　remain　much　longer　in　her　room；　she　dreaded　more　and　more　the　thought　of　meeting　him。　She　could　not　understand　herself；　she　had　strange　dreams；　she　cried　seemingly　without　the　slightest　cause　and　she　was　restless　and　unhappy。　Finally　she　grew　angry　and　scolded　herself。　She　said　she　was　silly　and　sentimental。　This　had　the　effect　of　making　her　bolder；　but　it　did　not　quiet　her　unrest。　Betty　did　not　know　that　the　little　blind　God；　who　steals　unawares　on　his　victim；　had　marked　her　for　his　own；　and　that　all　this　sweet　perplexity　was　the　unconscious　awakening　of　the　heart。

One　afternoon；　near　the　end　of　Betty's　siege　indoors；　two　of　her　friends；　Lydia　Boggs　and　Alice　Reynolds；　called　to　see　her。

Alice　had　bright　blue　eyes；　and　her　nut　brown　hair　hung　in　rebellious　curls　around　her　demure　and　pretty　face。　An　adorable　dimple　lay　hidden　in　her　rosy　cheek　and　flashed　into　light　with　her　smiles。

〃Betty；　you　are　a　lazy　thing！〃　exclaimed　Lydia。　〃Lying　here　all　day　long　doing　nothing　but　gaze　out　of　the　window。〃

〃Girls；　I　am　glad　you　came　over；〃　said　Betty。　〃I　am　blue。　Perhaps　you　will　cheer　me　up。〃

〃Betty　needs　some　one　of　the　sterner　sex　to　cheer　her；〃　said　Alice；　mischievously；　her　eyes　twinkling。　〃Don't　you　think　so；　Lydia？〃

〃Of　course；〃　answered　Lydia。　〃When　I　get　blue〃

〃Please　spare　me；〃　interrupted　Betty；　holding　up　her　hands　in　protest。　〃I　have　not　a　single　doubt　that　your　masculine　remedies　are　sufficient　for　all　your　ills。　Girls　who　have　lost　their　interest　in　the　old　pleasures；　who　spend　their　spare　time　in　making　linen　and　quilts；　and　who　have　sunk　their　very　personalities　in　a　great　big　tyrant　of　a　man；　are　not　liable　to　get　blue。　They　are　afraid　he　may　see　a　tear　or　a　frown。　But　thank　goodness；　I　have　not　yet　reached　that　stage。〃

〃Oh；　Betty　Zane！　Just　you　wait！　Wait！〃　exclaimed　Lydia；　shaking　her　finger　at　Betty。　〃Your　turn　is　coming。　When　it　does　do　not　expect　any　mercy　from　us；　for　you　shalt　never　get　it。〃

〃Unfortunately；　you　and　Alice　have　monopolized　the　attentions　of　the　only　two　eligible　young　men　at　the　fort；〃　said　Betty；　with　a　laugh。

〃Nonsense　there　plenty　of　young　men　all　eager　for　our　favor；　you　little　coquette；〃　answered　Lydia。　〃Harry　Martin；　Will　Metzer；　Captain　Swearengen；　of　Short　Creek；　and　others　too　numerous　to　count。　Look　at　Lew　Wetzel　and　Billy　Bennet。〃

〃Lew　cares　for　nothing　except　hunting　Indians　and　Billy's　only　a　boy；〃　said　Betty。

〃Well；　have　it　your　own　way；〃　said　Lydia。　〃Only　this；　I　know　Billy　adores　you；　for　he　told　me　so；　and　a　better　lad　never　lived。〃

〃Lyde；　you　forget　to　include　one　other　among　those　prostrate　before　Betty's　charms；〃　said　Alice。

〃Oh；　yes；　you　mean　Mr。　Clarke。　To　be　sure；　I　had　forgotten　him；〃　answered　Lydia。　〃How　odd　that　he　should　be　the　one　to　find　you　the　day　you　hurt　your　foot。　Was　it　an　accident？〃

〃Of　course。　I　slipped　off　the　bank；〃　said　Betty。

〃No；　no。　I　don't　mean　that。　Was　his　finding　you　an　accident？〃

〃Do　you　imagine　I　waylaid　Mr。　Clarke；　and　then　sprained　my　ankle　on　purpose？〃　said　Betty；　who　began　to　look　dangerous。

〃Certainly　not　that；　only　it　seems　so　odd　that　he　should　be　the　one　to　rescue　all　the　damsels　in　distress。　Day　before　yesterday　he　stopped　a　runaway　horse；　and　saved　Nell　Metzer　who　was　in　the　wagon；　a　severe　shaking　up；　if　not　something　more　serious。　She　is　desperately　in　love　with　him。　She　told　me　Mr。　Clarke〃

〃I　really　do　not　care　to　hear　about　it；〃　interrupted　Betty。

〃But；　Betty；　tell　us。　Wasn't　it