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第30节

whirligigs-第30节

小说: whirligigs 字数: 每页4000字

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Now; where did I get that money?〃



〃Take it easy; Yancev。  The mountain air will soon

clear it up。  We'll go fishing; first thing; at the Pinnacle

Falls。  The trout are jumping there like bullfrogs。  We'll

take Stella and Lucy along; and have a picnic on Eagle

Rock。  Have you forgotten how a hickory…cured…ham

sandwich tastes; Yancey; to a hungry fisherman?〃



Evidently the colonel did not believe the story of his

lost wealth; so Goree retired again into brooding silence。



By late Afternoon they had travelled ten of the twelve

miles between Bethel and Laurel。  Half a mile this side

of Laurel lay the old Goree place; a mile or two beyond

the village lived the Coltranes。  The road was now steep

and laborious; but the compensations were many。  The

tilted aisles of the forest were opulent with leaf and bird

and bloom。  The tonic air put to shame the pharma…

cop鎖a。  The glades were dark with mossy shade; and

bright with shy rivulets winking from the ferns and

laurels。  On the lower side they viewed; framed in the

near foilage; exquisite sketches of the far valley swooning

in its opal haze。



Coltrane was pleased to see that his companion was

yielding to the spell of the hills and woods。  For now

they had but to skirt the base of Painter's Cliff; to cross

Elder Branch and mount the hill beyond; and Goree

would have to face the squandered home of his fathers。

Every rock he passed; every tree; every foot of the rocky

way; was familiar to him。  Though he hid forgotten the

woods; they thrilled him like the music of 〃Home; Sweet

Home。〃



They rounded the cliff; decended into Elder Branch;

and paused there to let the horses drink and splash in

the swift water。  On the right was a rail fence that

cornered there; and followed the road and stream。

Inclosed by it was the old apple orchard of the home

place; the house was yet concealed by the brow of the

steep hill。  Inside and along the fence; pokeberries;

elders; sassafras; and sumac grew high and dense。  At

a rustle of their branches; both Goree and Coltrane glanced

up; and saw a long; yellow; wolfish face above the fence;

staring at them with pale; unwinking eyes。  The head

quicky disappeared; there was a violent swaying of the

bushes; and an ungainly figure ran up through the apple

orchard in the direction of the house; zigzagging among

the trees。



〃That's Garvey;〃 said Coltrane; 〃the man you sold

out to。  There's no doubt but he's considerably cracked。

I had to send him up for moonshining; once; several years

ago; in spite of the fact that I believed him irresponsible。

Why; what's the matter; Yancey?〃



Goree was wiping his forehead; and his face had lost

its colour。  〃Do I look queer; too?〃  he asked; trying

to smile。  〃I'm just remembering a few more things。〃

Some of the alcohol had evaporated from his brain。  〃I

recollect now where I got that two hundred dollars。〃



〃Don't think of it;〃 said Coltrane cheerfully。  〃Later

on we'll figure it all out together。〃



They rode out of the branch; and when they reached

the foot of the hill Goree stopped again。



〃Did you ever suspect I was a very vain kind of fellow;

Colonel〃 he asked。  〃Sort of foolish proud about

appearances?〃



The colonel's eyes refused to wander to the soiled; sag…

ging suit of flax and the faded slouch hat。



〃It seems to me;〃 he replied; mystified; but humouring

him; 〃I remember a young buck about twenty; with the

tightest coat; the sleekest hair; and the prancingest saddle

horse in the Blue Ridge。〃



〃Right you are;〃 said Goree eagerly。  〃And it's in

me yet; though it don't show。  Oh; I'm as vain as a

turkey gobbler; and as proud as Lucifer。  I'm going to

ask you to indulge this weakness of mine in a little

matter。〃



〃Speak out; Yancey。  We'll create you Duke of

Laurel and Baron of Blue Ridge; if you choose; and you

shall have a feather out of Stella's peacock's tail to wear

in your hat。〃



〃I'm in earnest。  In a few minutes we'll pass the house

up there on the hill where I was born; and where my

people have lived for nearly a century。  Strangers live

there now  and look at me!  I am about to show myself

to them ragged and poverty…stricken; a wastrel and a

beggar。  Colonel Coltrane; I'm ashamed to do it。  I

want you to let me wear your coat and hat until we are

out of sight beyond。  I know you think it a foolish pride;

but I want to make as good a showing as I can when

I pass the old place。〃



〃Now; what does this mean?〃  said Coltrane to him…

self; as he compared his companion's sane looks and

quiet demeanour with his strange request。  But he

was already unbuttoning the coat; assenting readily;

as if the fancy were in no wise to be considered

strange。



The coat and hat fitted Goree well。  He buttoned

the former about him with a look of satisfaction and

dignity。  He and Coltrane were nearly the same size 

rather tall; portly; and erect。  Twenty…five years were

between them; but in appearance they might have

been brothers。  Goree looked older than his age;

his face was puffy and lined; the colonel had the

smooth; fresh complexion of a temperate liver。  He

put on Goree's disreputable old flax coat and faded

slouch hat。



〃Now;〃 said Goree; taking up the reins; 〃I'm all

right。  I want you to ride about ten feet in the rear as we

go by; Colonel; so that they can get a good look at me。

They'll see I'm no back number yet; by any means。  I

guess I'll show up pretty well to them once more; any…

how。  Let's ride on。〃



He set out up the hill at a smart trot; the colonel fol…

lowing; as he had been requested。



Goree sat straight in the saddle; with head erect; but

his eyes were turned to the right; sharply scanning every

shrub and fence and hiding…place in the old homestead

yard。  Once he muttered to himself; 〃Will the crazy

fool try it; or did I dream half of it?〃



It was when he came opposite the little family burying

ground that he saw what he had been looking for  a

puff of white smoke; coming from the thick cedars in one

comer。  He toppled so slowly to the left that Coltrane

had time to urge his horse to that side; and catch him

with one arm。



The squirrel hunter had not overpraised his aim。  He

had sent the bullet where he intended; and where Goree

had expected that it would pass … through the breast

of Colonel Abner Coltrane's black frock coat。



Goree leaned heavily against Coltrane; but he did not

fall。  The horses kept pace; side by side; and the Colonel's

arm kept him steady。  The little white houses of Laurel

shone through the trees; half a mile away。  Goree reached

out one hand and groped until it rested upon Coltrane's

fingers; which held his bridle。



〃Good friend;〃 he said; and that was all。



Thus did Yancey Goree; as be rode past his old home;

make; considering all things; the best showing that was

in his power。







          THE SONG AND THE SERGEANT



Half a dozen people supping at a table in one of the

upper…Broadway all…night restaurants were making too

much noise。  Three times the manager walked past

them with a politely warning glance; but their argument

had waxed too warm to be quelled by a manager's gaze。

It was midnight; and the restaurant was filled with

patrons from the theatres of that district。  Some among

the dispersed audiences must have recognized among the

quarrelsome sextet the faces of the players belonging to

the Carroll Comedy Company。



Four of the six made up the company。  Another was

the author of the comedietta; 〃A Gay Coquette;〃

which the quartette of layers had been presenting with

fair success at several vaudeville houses in the city。  The

sixth at the table was a person inconsequent in the realm

of art; but one at whose bidding many lobsters had

perished。



Loudly the six maintained their clamorous debate。

No one of the Party was silent except when answers

were stormed from him by the excited ones。  That was

the comedian of 〃A Gay Coquette。〃  He was a young

man with a face even too melancholy for his profession。



The oral warfare of four immoderate tongues was

directed at Miss Clarice Carroll; the twinkling star of the

small aggregation。  Excepting the downcast comedian;

all members of the party united in casting upon her with

vehemence the blame of some momentous misfortune。

Fifty times they told her: 〃It is your fault; Clarice…

it is you alone who spoilt the scene。  It is only of late

that you have acted this way。  At this rate the sketch

will have to be taken off。〃



Miss Carroll was a match for any four。  Gallic ancestry

gave her a vivacity that could easily mount to fury。  Her

large eyes flashed a scorching denial at her accusers。  Her

slender; eloquent arms constantly menaced the tableware。

Her high; clear soprano voice rose to what would have

been a scream had it not possessed so pure a musical

qual

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