desert gold-第30节

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n　her　life　than　the　supposed　loss　of　her　father　in　the　desert。　　Perhaps　it　was　the　very　unsolved　nature　of　that　loss　which　made　it　haunting。

Mrs。　Belding　heard　Dick's　step　as　he　entered　the　kitchen；　and；　looking　up；　greeted　him。

〃Mother；〃　began　Dick；　earnestly。　　Belding　called　her　that；　and　so　did　Ladd　and　Lash；　but　it　was　the　first　time　for　Dick。　　〃Mother　I　want　to　speak　to　you。〃

The　only　indication　Mrs。　Belding　gave　of　being　started　was　in　her　eyes；　which　darkened；　shadowed　with　multiplying　thought。

〃I　love　Nell；〃　went　on　Dick；　simply；　〃and　I　want　you　to　let　me　ask　her　to　be　my　wife。〃

Mrs。　Belding's　face　blanched　to　a　deathly　white。　　Gale；　thinking　with　surprise　and　concern　that　she　was　going　to　faint；　moved　quickly　toward　her；　took　her　arm。

〃Forgive　me。　　I　was　blunt。。。。But　I　thought　you　knew。〃

〃I've　known　for　a　long　time；〃　replied　Mrs。　Belding。　　Her　voice　was　steady；　and　there　was　no　evidence　of　agitation　except　in　her　pallor。　　〃Then　youyou　haven't　spoken　to　Nell？〃

Dick　laughed。　　〃I've　been　trying　to　get　a　chance　to　tell　her。　　I　haven't　had　it　yet。　　But　she　knows。　　There　are　other　ways　besides　speech。　　And　Mercedes　has　told　her。　　I　hope；　I　almost　believe　Nell　cares　a　little　for　me。〃

〃I've　known　that；　too；　for　a　long　time；〃　said　Mrs。　Belding；　low　almost　as　a　whisper。

〃You　know！〃　cried　Dick；　with　a　glow　and　rush　of　feeling。

〃Dick；　you　must　be　very　blind　not　to　see　what　has　been　plain　to　all　of　us。。。。I　guessit　couldn't　have　been　helped。　　You're　a　splendid　fellow。　　No　wonder　she　loves　you。〃

〃Mother！　　You'll　give　her　to　me？〃

She　drew　him　to　the　light　and　looked　with　strange；　piercing　intentness　into　his　face。　　Gale　had　never　dreamed　a　woman's　eyes　could　hold　such　a　world　of　thought　and　feeling。　　It　seemed　all　the　sweetness　of　life　was　there；　and　all　the　pain。

〃Do　you　love　her？〃　she　asked。

〃With　all　my　heart。〃

〃You　want　to　marry　her？〃

〃Ah；　I　want　to！　　As　much　as　I　want　to　live　and　work　for　her。〃

〃When　would　you　marry　her？〃

〃Why！。。。Just　as　soon　as　she　will　do　it。　　To…morrow！〃　Dick　gave　a　wild；　exultant　little　laugh。

〃Dick　Gale；　you　want　my　Nell？　　You　love　her　just　as　she　isher　sweetnessher　goodness？　　Just　herself；　body　and　soul？。。。There's　nothing　could　change　younothing？〃

〃Dear　Mrs。　Belding；　I　love　Nell　for　herself。　　If　she　loves　me　I'll　be　the　happiest　of　men。　　There's　absolutely　nothing　that　could　make　any　difference　in　me。〃

〃But　your　people？　　Oh；　Dick；　you　come　of　a　proud　family。　　I　can　tell。　　II　once　knew　a　young　man　like　you。　　A　few　months　can't　change　prideblood。　　Years　can't　change　them。　　You've　become　a　ranger。　　You　love　the　adventurethe　wild　life。　　That　won't　last。　Perhaps　you'll　settle　down　to　ranching。　　I　know　you　love　the　West。　But；　Dick；　there's　your　family〃

〃If　you　want　to　know　anything　about　my　family；　I'll　tell　you；〃　interrupted　Dick；　with　strong　feeling。　　〃I've　not　secrets　about　them　or　myself。　　My　future　and　happiness　are　Nell's　to　make。　　No　one　else　shall　count　with　me。〃

〃Then；　Dickyou　may　have　her。　　Godblessyouboth。〃

Mrs。　Belding's　strained　face　underwent　a　swift　and　mobile　relaxation；　and　suddenly　she　was　weeping　in　strangely　mingled　happiness　and　bitterness。

〃Why；　mother！〃　　Gale　could　say　no　more。　　He　did　not　comprehend　a　mood　seemingly　so　utterly　at　variance　with　Mrs。　Belding's　habitual　temperament。　　But　he　put　his　arm　around　her。　　In　another　moment　she　had　gained　command　over　herself；　and；　kissing　him；　she　pushed　him　out　of　the　door。

〃There！　　Go　tell　her；　Dick。。。And　have　some　spunk　about　it！〃

Gale　went　thoughtfully　back　to　his　room。　　He　vowed　that　he　would　answer　for　Nell's　happiness；　if　he　had　the　wonderful　good　fortune　to　win　her。　　Then　remembering　the　hope　Mrs。　Belding　had　given　him；　Dick　lost　his　gravity　in　a　flash；　and　something　began　to　dance　and　ring　within　him。　　He　simply　could　not　keep　his　steps　turned　from　the　patio。　　Every　path　led　there。　　His　blood　was　throbbing；　his　hopes　mounting；　his　spirit　soaring。　　He　knew　he　had　never　before　entered　the　patio　with　that　inspirited　presence。

〃Now　for　some　spunk！〃　he　said；　under　his　breath。

Plainly　he　meant　his　merry　whistle　and　his　buoyant　step　to　interrupt　this　first　languorous　stage　of　the　siesta　which　the　girls　always　took　during　the　hot　hours。　　Nell　had　acquired　the　habit　long　before　Mercedes　came　to　show　how　fixed　a　thing　it　was　in　the　life　of　the　tropics。　　But　neither　girl　heard　him。　　Mercedes　lay　under　the　palo　verde；　her　beautiful　head　dark　and　still　upon　a　cushion。　　Nell　was　asleep　in　the　hammock。　　There　was　an　abandonment　in　her　deep　repose；　and　a　faint　smile　upon　her　face。　　Her　sweet；　red　lips；　with　the　soft；　perfect　curve；　had　always　fascinated　Dick；　and　now　drew　him　irresistibly。　　He　had　always　been　consumed　with　a　desire　to　kiss　her；　and　now　he　was　overwhelmed　with　his　opportunity。　It　would　be　a　terrible　thing　to　do；　but　if　she　did　not　awaken　at　once　　No；　he　would　fight　the　temptation。　　That　would　be　more　than　spunk。　　It　would　　Suddenly　an　ugly　green　fly　sailed　low　over　Nell；　appeared　about　to　alight　on　her。　　Noiselessly　Dick　stepped　close　to　the　hammock　bent　under　the　tree；　and　with　a　sweep　of　his　hand　chased　the　intruding　fly　away。　　But　he　found　himself　powerless　to　straighten　up。　　He　was　close　to　herbending　over　her　facenear　the　sweet　lips。　　The　insolent；　dreaming　smile　just　parted　them。　　Then　he　thought　he　was　lost。　　But　she　stirredhe　feared　she　would　awaken。

He　had　stepped　back　erect　when　she　opened　her　eyes。　　They　were　sleepy；　yet　surprised　until　she　saw　him。　　Then　she　was　wide　awake　in　a　second；　bewildered；　uncertain。

〃Whyyou　here？〃　she　asked；　slowly。

〃Large　as　life！〃　replied　Dick；　with　unusual　gayety。

〃How　long　have　you　been　here？〃

〃Just　got　here　this　fraction　of　a　second；〃　he　replied；　lying　shamelessly。

It　was　evident　that　she　did　not　know　whether　or　not　to　believe　him；　and　as　she　studied　him　a　slow　blush　dyed　her　cheek。

〃You　are　absolutely　truthful　when　you　say　you　just　stepped　there？〃

〃Why；　of　course；〃　answered　Dick；　right　glad　he　did　not　have　to　lie　about　that。

〃I　thoughtI　wasdreaming；〃　she　said；　and　evidently　the　sound　of　her　voice　reassured　her。

〃Yes；　you　looked　as　if　you　were　having　pleasant　dreams；〃　replied　Dick。　　〃So　sorry　to　wake　you。　　I　can't　see　how　I　came　to　do　it；　I　was　so　quiet。　　Mercedes　didn't　wake。　　Well；　I'll　go　and　let　you　have　your　siesta　and　dreams。〃

But　he　did　not　move　to　go。　　Nell　regarded　him　with　curious；　speculative　eyes。

〃Isn't　it　a　lovely　day？〃　queried　Dick。

〃I　think　it's　hot。〃

〃Only　ninety　in　the　shade。　　And　you've　told　me　the　mercury　goes　to　one　hundred　and　thirty　in　midsummer。　　This　is　just　a　glorious　golden　day。〃

〃Yesterday　was　finer；　but　you　didn't　notice　it。〃

〃Oh；　yesterday　was　somewhere　back　in　the　pastthe　inconsequential　past。〃

Nell's　sleepy　blue　eyes　opened　a　little　wider。　　She　did　not　know　what　to　make　of　this　changed　young　man。　　Dick　felt　gleeful　and　tried　hard　to　keep　the　fact　from　becoming　manifest。

〃What's　the　inconsequential　past？　　You　seem　remarkably　happy　to…day。〃

〃I　certainly　am　happy。　　Adios。　　Pleasant　dreams。〃

Dick　turned　away　then　and　left　the　patio　by　the　opening　into　the　yard。　　Nell　was　really　sleepy；　and　when　she　had　fallen　asleep　again　he　would　return。　　He　walked　around　for　a　while。　　Belding　and　the　rangers　were　shoeing　a　broncho。　　Yaqui　was　in　the　field　with　the　horses。　　Blanco　Sol　grazed　contently；　and　now　and　then　lifted　his　head　to　watch。　　His　long　ears　went　up　at　sight　of　his　master；　and　he　whistled。　　Presently　Dick；　as　if　magnet…drawn；　retraced　his　steps　to　the　patio　and　entered　noiselessly。

Nell　was　now　deep　in　her　siesta。　　She　was　inert；　relaxed；　untroubled　by　dreams。　　Her　hair　was　damp　on　her　brow。

Again　Nell　stirred；　and　gradually　awakened。　　Her　eyes　unclosed；　humid；　shadowy；　unconscious。　　They　rested　upon　Dick　for　a　moment　before　they　became　clear　and　comprehensive。　　He　stood　back　fully　ten　feet　from　her；　and　to　all　outside　appearances　regarded　her　calmly。

〃I've　interrupted　your　siesta　again；〃　he　said。　　〃Please　forgive　me。　I'll　take　myself　off。〃

He　wandered　away；　and　when　it　became　impossible　for　him　to　stay　away　any　longer　he　returned　to　the　patio。

The　instant　his　glance　rested　upon　Nell's　face　he　divined　she　was　feigning　sleep。　　The　faint　rose…blush　had　paled。　　The　warm；　rich；　golden　tint　of　her　skin　had　fled。　　Dick　dropped　upon　his　knees　and　bent　over　her。　　Though　his　blood　was　churning　in　his　veins；　his　breast　laboring；　his　mind　whirling　with　the　wonder　of　that　moment　and　its　promise；　he　made　himself　deliberate。　　He　wanted　more　than　anything　he　had　ever　wanted　in　his　life　to　see　if　she　would　keep　up　that　pretense　of　sleep　and　let　him　kiss　her。　　She　must　have　felt　his　breath；　for　her　hair　waved　off　her　brow。　　Her　cheeks　were　now　white。　Her　breast　swelled　and　sank。　　He　bent　down　closercloser。　　But　he　must　have　been　maddeningly　slow；　for　as　he　bent　still　closer　Nell's　eyes　opened；　and　he　caught　a　swift　purple　gaze　of　eyes　as　she　whirled　her　head。　Then；　with　　a　little　cry；　she　rose　and　fled。



Rojas


No　word　from　George　Thorne　had　come　to　Forlorn　River　in　weeks。　Gale　grew　concerned　over　the　fact；　and　began　to　wonder　if　anything　serious　could　have　happened　to　him。　　Mercedes　showed　a　slow；　wearing　strain。

Thorne'