lahoma(拉霍马)-第28节
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other as they smoked in silence； their eyes on his animated face。 〃Of
course； they required me to stay on the land only during certain months；
every year。 But I stayed with it all the time； and I studied it； and when I
failed； as I did year after year； I failed each time in a different way；
because I learned my lesson。 And when I'd walled off the cause of each
failure； one by one； seemed like there opened before me a broad clear way
that led right into the goal I'd been seeking from the first day。 Then I
closed out all my deals； and looked and saw that everything was trim and
ready for winterand got my horse and started for Greer County。〃
〃And glad we are！〃 cried Bill Atkins。 〃I hope you can stay a long
time。〃
〃That depends 。。。 Lahoma is well； I suppose？〃
〃The picture of healthwhen she left；〃 Brick declared admiringly； 〃and
the prettiest little gal this side of the angels。 When the early sunlight peeps
over the mountain and laughs at the cove that's sulking from thinking it's
about to be left out in the day's doingsthat's like Lahoma's smile。 And
when you get down sick as I done once from causes incidental to being
made of flesh and blood； and she come and laid her hand on my burning
forehead； her touch always made me think of an angel's wing； somehow；
although I ain't never set up to be religious； and I think of such things as
little as may beexcept when Bill draws me to the subject from seeing
him so puny； at times。〃
〃Lahoma's not here？〃 Wilfred asked anxiously。
〃Not now； nor for some time；〃 answered Brick。
〃I wish；〃 interposed Bill glumly； 〃that when you're going to talk about
me； Brick； you'd begin with Bill and not be dragging me in at the tail…end
of what concerns other people。 I reckon； Wilfred； you just traveled here to
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take a look at the country where you used to herd cattle？〃
〃That wasn't my reason。 Principally； I wanted to see Lahoma； and
incidentally； my brother。〃
〃Your brother？ HE ain't in these parts； is he？〃
〃No；〃 ruefully； 〃but I expected him to be。 When I left home to turn
cow…puncher； I didn't tell anybody where I'd gone； but just before I left for
Oklahoma to turn farmer； I wrote to my brother。 And about a month ago；
seeing things clearing up before me； I asked him to meet me here at Tent
Cityhe's interested in new towns； he's employed by a rich man to plant
hardware…stores； and I thought he might find an opening here。 He came on；
and was here several weeks with a party of sightseers from Chicago； but
he left with them about a week ago。〃
Willock sat suddenly erect。 〃Couldn't have been that Sellimer crowd； I
reckon； from Chicago？〃
〃YesMrs。 Sellimer and her daughter； and some of their friends。〃
Willock whistled loudly。 〃And that up…and…down looking chap in the
gold nose…glasses was your brother？〃
〃Never thought of that；〃 Bill exclaimed； 〃although he had your name
he looked so different！ But now that you've laid aside your cowboy
rigging； I guess you could sit in his class； down at the bottom of it。〃
Willock was uneasy。 〃I was told；〃 he observed； 〃and I took the trouble
to get datty on the subject； that them Sellimersthe mother and daughter；
and the herd they drift withis of the highest pedigree Chicago can
produce。 It sort of jolts me to find out that anybody we know is kin to the
bunch！〃
Wilfred laughed without bitterness。 〃Don't let my kinship to brother
Edgerton disturb your ideal。 We're so different that we parted without
saying good…by； and although I had the weakness to imagine we might
patch up old differences if we could meet here in the desert； I suppose
we'd have fallen out in a day or twowe're so unlike。 And as to Miss
SellimerAnnabel Sellimershe is the girl whose letters I was carrying
about with me when I first saw you。 She refused me because I was as poor
as herself； so you see； the whole bunch is out of my class。〃
〃That's good；〃 Willock's face cleared up。 〃Mind you； I ain't saying that
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as for me and Bill； we'd wouldn't rather sit with you in a dugout than with
them in a palace on Lake Michigan。 But it's all a matter of getting Lahoma
out into the big world； and you gave me a terrible jolt； scaring me that
after all we'd made a mistake； and they was just of your plain every…day
cloth。〃
Wilfred moved uneasily。 〃Has Lahoma made their acquaintance；
then？〃
〃It looks like it； don't it？〃
〃What looks like it？〃 Wilfred asked with sudden sharpness。
〃Why； her going off； with 'em to spend the winter in high life。〃
〃That's why I was so glad to see you；〃 Bill explained； 〃her being gone；
and us so lonesome。 That's why I'd like to have you stay with us a long
timeuntil she comes back； if it suits you。〃
〃But I thought。。。。 But I came here to see Lahoma；〃 cried Wilfred；
unable to conceal his disappointment。 〃I thought as I came up the road that
I saw her half…opening the cabin…door。〃
〃That was Red Feather taking a peep at you。 He's the Indian that
brought Lahoma to Willock； as a child。 He comes； about once a year； to
see us； but this time he was a little too late for Lahoma。 Yes； she's gone
Eastthey're all putting up in Kansas City just now； on their way to
Chicago。〃
〃Son；〃 said Willock； puffing steadily at his pipe； 〃why did you want to
see Lahoma？〃
〃Wellyou know she was just a child when I was here before； but she's
hovered before my mind a good dealI've been too busy to seek the
acquaintance of strangersjust want to keep the few I know。〃 He blew a
rueful breath。 〃You can't think how all my air…castles have fallen about my
ears！ I wanted to see Lahoma！ Yes； I wanted to see how she'd turned out。 I
have a good farm； now； not very far from Oklahoma City and Well；
being alone there； year after year； a fellow gets to imagining a great many
things〃 He stopped abruptly。
〃That's so；〃 Willock agreed sympathetically。 〃I ain't a…saying that if
Lahoma'd been like me and Bill； she mightn't of liked farming with you
first…class。 But she was born as an associate of high men and women； not
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cows and chickens。 It's the big world for her； and that's where she's gone。
She's with real folks。 Be Mr。 Edgerton Compton your brother； or be he not；
you can't imagine him setting down with us sociable in this dugout。 You're
right about his being different。 And the fact that Miss Sellimer turned you
down is encouraging； too。 It shows you couldn't run in her course； you
didn't have the speed。 I guess we ain't made no mistake after ail。〃
There was silence； broken presently； by Bill〃I'm glad you've come；
sure！〃
Presently the door opened； and the Indian chief glided into the
apartment with a grunt of salutation。 He spread his blanket in a corner； and
sat down； turning a stolid face to the fire。
〃Don't pay no attention to him；〃 remarked Willock； as if speaking of
some wild animal。 〃He comes and goes； and isn't troublesome if you feeds
and sleeps him； and don't try to lay your hand on him。〃
Bill Atkins rose。 〃But _I_ always light up when he comes；〃 he
remarked； reaching stiffly for a lantern which in due time glimmered from
the partition wall。 〃Are you hungry； Wilfred？ We never feed till late； it
gives us something to sleep on。 I lie awake pretty constantly all night；
anyhow； and when I eat late； my stomach sorter keeps me company。〃
Wilfred declared that he was not in the least hungry。
〃I'm afraid you're disappointed； son；〃 observed Willock； filling his
pipe anew。
Wilfred turned to him with a frank smile。 〃Brickit's just awful！ It's
what comes from depending on something you've no right to consider a
sure thing。 I never thought of this cove without Lahoma in it； didn't seem
like it could be so empty。。。。 How did she get acquainted with
