a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第29节
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to his unworthy parent。 Perhaps stirred by remorse； the infamous man〃
〃Stop！〃 said Clarence suddenly。
He had thrown down his pen； and was standing erect and rigid before
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the Father。
〃You are trying to tell me something； Father Sobriente；〃 he said； with
an effort。 〃Speak out； I implore you。 I can stand anything but this
mystery。 I am no longer a child。 I have a right to know all。 This that
you are telling me is no fableI see it in your face； Father Sobriente； it is
the story ofof〃
〃Your father； Clarence！〃 said the priest； in a trembling voice。
The boy drew back； with a white face。 〃My father！〃 he repeated。
〃Living； or dead？〃
〃Living； when you first left your home；〃 said the old man hurriedly；
seizing Clarence's hand； 〃for it was he who in the name of your cousin
sent for you。 Livingyes； while you were here； for it was he who for the
past three years stood in the shadow of this assumed cousin； Don Juan；
and at last sent you to this school。 Living； Clarence； yes； but living under a
name and reputation that would have blasted you！ And now DEAD
dead in Mexico； shot as an insurgent and in a still desperate career！ May
God have mercy on his soul！〃
〃Dead！〃 repeated Clarence； trembling； 〃only now？〃
〃The news of the insurrection and his fate came only an hour since；〃
continued the Padre quickly； 〃his complicity with it and his identity were
known only to Don Juan。 He would have spared you any knowledge of
the truth； even as this dead man would； but I and my brothers thought
otherwise。 I have broken it to you badly； my son； but forgive me？〃
An hysterical laugh broke from Clarence and the priest recoiled before
him。 〃Forgive YOU！ What was this man to me？〃 he said； with boyish
vehemence。 〃He never LOVED me！ He deserted me； he made my life
a lie。 He never sought me； came near me； or stretched a hand to me that I
could take？〃
〃Hush！ hush！〃 said the priest； with a horrified look； laying his huge
hand upon the boy's shoulder and bearing him down to his seat。 〃You
know not what you say。 Thinkthink； Clarence！ Was there none of all
those who have befriended youwho were kind to you in your
wanderingsto whom your heart turned unconsciously？ Think； Clarence！
You yourself have spoken to me of such a one。 Let your heart speak
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again； for his sakefor the sake of the dead。〃
A gentler light suffused the boy's eyes； and he started。 Catching
convulsively at his companion's sleeve； he said in an eager； boyish whisper；
〃There was one； a wicked； desperate man； whom they all fearedFlynn；
who brought me from the mines。 Yes； I thought that he was my cousin's
loyal friendmore than all the rest； and I told him everythingall； that I
never told the man I thought my cousin； or anyone； or even you； and I
think； I think； Father； I liked him best of all。 I thought since it was
wrong；〃 he continued； with a trembling smile； 〃for I was foolishly fond
even of the way the others feared him； he that I feared not； and who was so
kind to me。 Yet he； too； left me without a word； and when I would have
followed him〃 But the boy broke down； and buried his face in his
hands。
〃No； no；〃 said Father Sobriente； with eager persistence； 〃that was his
foolish pride to spare you the knowledge of your kinship with one so
feared； and part of the blind and mistaken penance he had laid upon
himself。 For even at that moment of your boyish indignation； he never
was so fond of you as then。 Yes； my poor boy； this man； to whom God
led your wandering feet at Deadman's Gulch； the man who brought you
here； and by some secret holdI know not whaton Don Juan's past；
persuaded him to assume to be your relation； this man Flynn； this Jackson
Brant the gambler； this Hamilton Brant the outlawWAS YOUR FATHER！
Ah； yes！ Weep on； my son； each tear of love and forgiveness from thee
hath vicarious power to wash away his sin。〃
With a single sweep of his protecting hand he drew Clarence towards
his breast； until the boy slowly sank upon his knees at his feet。 Then；
lifting his eyes towards the ceiling； he said softly in an older tongue； 〃And
THOU； too； unhappy and perturbed spirit； rest！〃
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
It was nearly dawn when the good Padre wiped the last tears from
Clarence's clearer eyes。 〃And now； my son；〃 he said； with a gentle smile；
as he rose to his feet； 〃let us not forget the living。 Although your step…
mother has； through her own act； no legal claim upon you； far be it from
me to indicate your attitude towards her。 Enough that YOU are
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independent。〃 He turned； and； opening a drawer in his secretaire； took
out a bank…book； and placed it in the hands of the wondering boy。
〃It was HIS wish； Clarence； that even after his death you should never
have to prove your kinship to claim your rights。 Taking advantage of the
boyish deposit you had left with Mr。 Carden at the bank； with his
connivance and in your name he added to it； month by month and year by
year； Mr。 Carden cheerfully accepting the trust and management of the
fund。 The seed thus sown has produced a thousandfold； Clarence；
beyond all expectations。 You are not only free； my son； but of yourself
and in whatever name you chooseyour own master。〃
〃I shall keep my father's name；〃 said the boy simply。
〃Amen！〃 said Father Sobriente。
Here closes the chronicle of Clarence Brant's boyhood。 How he
sustained his name and independence in after years； and who； of those
already mentioned in these pages； helped him to make or mar it； may be a
matter for future record。
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