condensed novels(压缩小说)-第5节
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search the aristocracy。〃
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER VIII。
As Lothaw left Mr。 Amethyst's； he ran against General Camperdown。
〃How is Mary Ann？〃 he asked hurriedly。
〃I regret to state that she is dying；〃 said the general； with a grave voice；
as he removed his cigar from his lips； and lifted his hat to Lothaw。
〃Dying！〃 said Lothaw； incredulously。
〃Alas； too true！〃 replied the General。 〃The engagements of a long
lecturing season； exposure in travelling by railway during the winter； and
the imperfect nourishment afforded by the refreshments along the road；
have told on her delicate frame。 But she wants to see you before she dies。
Here is the key of my lodging。 I will finish my cigar out here。〃
Lothaw hardly recognized those wasted Hellenic outlines as he entered
the dimly lighted room of the dying woman。 She was already a classic
ruin；as wrecked and yet as perfect as the Parthenon。 He grasped her hand
silently。
〃Open…air speaking twice a week； and saleratus bread in the rural
districts； have brought me to this；〃 she said feebly； 〃but it is well。 The
cause progresses。 The tyrant man succumbs。〃
Lothaw could only press her hand。
〃Promise me one thing。 Don'twhatever you dobecome a Catholic。〃
〃Why？〃
〃The Church does not recognize divorce。 And now embrace me。 I
would prefer at this supreme moment to introduce myself to the next
world through the medium of the best society in this。 Good by。 When I am
dead； be good enough to inform my husband of the fact。〃
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER IX。
Lothaw spent the next six months on an Aryan island； in an Aryan
climate； and with an Aryan race。
〃This is an Aryan landscape；〃 said his host； 〃and that is a Mary Ann
statue。〃 It was； in fact； a full…length figure in marble of Mrs。 General
Camperdown！
〃If you please； I should like to become a Pagan；〃 said Lothaw； one day；
after listening to an impassioned discourse on Greek art from the lips of
his host。
But that night； on consulting a well…known spiritual medium； Lothaw
received a message from the late Mrs。 General Camperdown； advising him
to return to England。 Two days later he presented himself at Plusham。
〃The young ladies are in the garden；〃 said the Duchess。 〃Don't you
want to go and pick a rose？〃 she added with a gracious smile； and the
nearest approach to a wink that was consistent with her patrician bearing
and aquiline nose。
Lothaw went and presently returned with the blushing Coriander upon
his arm。
〃Bless you； my children；〃 said the Duchess。 Then； turning to Lothaw；
she said： 〃You have simply fulfilled and accepted your inevitable destiny。
It was morally impossible for you to marry out of this family。 For the
present； the Church of England is safe。〃
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CONDENSED NOVELS
MUCK…A…MUCK。A MODERN
INDIAN NOVEL。AFTER COOPER。
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER I。
It was toward the close of a bright October day。 The last rays of the
setting sun were reflected from one of those sylvan lakes peculiar to the
Sierras of California。 On the right the curling smoke of an Indian village
rose between the columns of the lofty pines； while to the left the log
cottage of Judge Tompkins； embowered in buckeyes； completed the
enchanting picture。
Although the exterior of the cottage was humble and unpretentious；
and in keeping with the wildness of the landscape； its interior gave
evidence of the cultivation and refinement of its inmates。 An aquarium；
containing goldfishes； stood on a marble centre…table at one end of the
apartment； while a magnificent grand piano occupied the other。 The floor
was covered with a yielding tapestry carpet； and the walls were adorned
with paintings from the pencils of Van Dyke； Rubens； Tintoretto； Michael
Angelo； and the productions of the more modern Turner； Kensett； Church；
and Bierstadt。 Although Judge Tompkins had chosen the frontiers of
civilization as his home； it was impossible for him to entirely forego the
habits and tastes of his former life。 He was seated in a luxurious arm…chair；
writing at a mahogany ecritoire； while his daughter； a lovely young girl of
seventeen summers； plied her crochet…needle on an ottoman beside him。 A
bright fire of pine logs flickered and flamed on the ample hearth。
Genevra Octavia Tompkins was Judge Tompkins's only child。 Her
mother had long since died on the Plains。 Reared in affluence； no pains
had been spared with the daughter's education。 She was a graduate of one
of the principal seminaries； and spoke French with a perfect Benicia
accent。 Peerlessly beautiful； she was dressed in a white moire antique robe
trimmed with tulle。 That simple rosebud with which most heroines
exclusively decorate their hair； was all she wore in her raven locks。
The Judge was the first to break the silence。
〃Genevra； the logs which compose yonder fire seem to have been
incautiously chosen。 The sibilation produced by the sap； which exudes
copiously therefrom； is not conducive to composition。〃
〃True； father； but I thought it would be preferable to the constant
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CONDENSED NOVELS
crepitation which is apt to attend the combustion of more seasoned
ligneous fragments。〃
The Judge looked admiringly at the intellectual features of the graceful
girl； and half forgot the slight annoyances of the green wood in the
musical accents of his daughter。 He was smoothing her hair tenderly； when
the shadow of a tall figure； which suddenly darkened the doorway； caused
him to look up。
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER II。
It needed but a glance at the new…comer to detect at once the form
and features of the haughty aborigine；the untaught and untrammelled son
of the forest。 Over one shoulder a blanket； negligently but gracefully
thrown； disclosed a bare and powerful breast； decorated with a quantity of
three…cent postage…stamps which he had despoiled from an Overland Mail
stage a few weeks previous。 A cast…off beaver of Judge Tompkins's；
adorned by a simple feather； covered his erect head； from beneath which
his straight locks descended。 His right hand hung lightly by his side； while
his left was engaged in holding on a pair of pantaloons； which the lawless
grace and freedom of his lower limbs evidently could not brook。
〃Why；〃 said the Indian； in a low sweet tone；〃why does the Pale Face
still follow the track of the Red Man？ Why does he pursue him； even as O…
kee…chow； the wild…cat； chases Ka…ka； the skunk？ Why are the feet of
Sorrel…top； the white chief； among the acorns of Muck…a…muck； the
mountain forest？ Why；〃 he repeated； quietly but firmly abstracting a silver
spoon from the table；〃why do you seek to drive him from the wigwams
of his fathers？ His brothers are already gone to the happy hunting…grounds。
Will the Pale Face seek him there？〃 And； averting his face from the Judge；
he hastily slipped a silver cake…basket beneath his blanket； to conceal his
emotion。
〃Muck…a…Muck has spoken；〃 said Genevra； softly。 〃Let him now listen。
Are the acorns of the mountain sweeter than the esculent and nutritious
bean of the Pale Face miner？ Does my brother prize the edible qualities of
the snail above that of the crisp and oleaginous bacon？ Delicious are the
grasshoppers that sport on the hillside；are they better than the dried
apples
