a waif of the plains-第5节

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〃Well；　why　shouldn't　he？〃　she　came　forward　with　the　same　dazzling
smile；　and　laid　her　small　and　clean　white　hand　upon　his　shoulder。

〃And　so　you　took　good　care　of　the　dear　little　thing？　　She's　such　an
angel；　isn't　she？　and　you　must　love　her　very　much。〃

Clarence　colored　with　delight。　　It　was　true　it　had　never　occurred
to　him　to　look　at　Susy　in　the　light　of　a　celestial　visitant；　and　I
fear　he　was　just　then　more　struck　with　the　fair　complimenter　than
the　compliment　to　his　companion；　but　he　was　pleased　for　her　sake。
He　was　not　yet　old　enough　to　be　conscious　of　the　sex's　belief　in
its　irresistible　domination　over　mankind　at　all　ages；　and　that
Johnny　in　his　check　apron　would　be　always　a　hopeless　conquest　of
Jeannette　in　her　pinafore；　and　that　he　ought　to　have　been　in　love
with　Susy。

Howbeit；　the　lady　suddenly　whisked　her　away　to　the　recesses　of　her
own　wagon；　to　reappear　later；　washed；　curled；　and　beribboned　like　a
new　doll；　and　Clarence　was　left　alone　with　the　husband　and　another
of　the　party。

〃Well；　my　boy；　you　haven't　told　me　your　name　yet。〃

〃Clarence；　sir。〃

〃So　Susy　calls　you；　but　what　else？〃

〃Clarence　Brant。〃

〃Any　relation　to　Colonel　Brant？〃　asked　the　second　man　carelessly。

〃He　was　my　father；〃　said　the　boy；　brightening　under　this　faint
prospect　of　recognition　in　his　loneliness。

The　two　men　glanced　at　each　other。　　The　leader　looked　at　the　boy
curiously；　and　said；

〃Are　you　the　son　of　Colonel　Brant；　of　Louisville？〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　boy；　with　a　dim　stirring　of　uneasiness　in　his
heart。　　〃But　he's　dead　now；〃　he　added　finally。

〃Ah；　when　did　he　die？〃　said　the　man　quickly。

〃Oh；　a　long　time　ago。　　I　don't　remember　him　much。　　I　was　very
little；〃　said　the　boy；　half　apologetically。

〃Ah；　you　don't　remember　him？〃

〃No；〃　said　Clarence　shortly。　　He　was　beginning　to　fall　back　upon
that　certain　dogged　repetition　which　in　sensitive　children　arises
from　their　hopeless　inability　to　express　their　deeper　feelings。　　He
also　had　an　instinctive　consciousness　that　this　want　of　a　knowledge
of　his　father　was　part　of　that　vague　wrong　that　had　been　done　him。
It　did　not　help　his　uneasiness　that　he　could　see　that　one　of　the
two　men；　who　turned　away　with　a　half…laugh；　misunderstood　or　did
not　believe　him。

〃How　did　you　come　with　the　Silsbees？〃　asked　the　first　man。

Clarence　repeated　mechanically；　with　a　child's　distaste　of
practical　details；　how　he　had　lived　with　an　aunt　at　St。　Jo；　and　how
his　stepmother　had　procured　his　passage　with　the　Silsbees　to
California；　where　he　was　to　meet　his　cousin。　　All　this　with　a　lack
of　interest　and　abstraction　that　he　was　miserably　conscious　told
against　him；　but　he　was　yet　helpless　to　resist。

The　first　man　remained　thoughtful；　and　then　glanced　at　Clarence's
sunburnt　hands。　　Presently　his　large；　good…humored　smile　returned。

〃Well；　I　suppose　you　are　hungry？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Clarence　shyly。　　〃But〃

〃But　what？〃

〃I　should　like　to　wash　myself　a　little；〃　he　returned　hesitatingly；
thinking　of　the　clean　tent；　the　clean　lady；　and　Susy's　ribbons。

〃Certainly；〃　said　his　friend；　with　a　pleased　look。　　〃Come　with　me。〃
Instead　of　leading　Clarence　to　the　battered　tin　basin　and　bar　of
yellow　soap　which　had　formed　the　toilet　service　of　the　Silsbee
party；　he　brought　the　boy　into　one　of　the　wagons；　where　there　was　a
washstand；　a　china　basin；　and　a　cake　of　scented　soap。　　Standing
beside　Clarence；　he　watched　him　perform　his　ablutions　with　an
approving　air　which　rather　embarrassed　his　protege。　　Presently　he
said；　almost　abruptly；

〃Do　you　remember　your　father's　house　at　Louisville？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　but　it　was　a　long　time　ago。〃

Clarence　remembered　it　as　being　very　different　from　his　home　at　St。
Joseph's；　but　from　some　innate　feeling　of　diffidence　he　would　have
shrunk　from　describing　it　in　that　way。　　He；　however；　said　he
thought　it　was　a　large　house。　　Yet　the　modest　answer　only　made　his
new　friend　look　at　him　the　more　keenly。

〃Your　father　was　Colonel　Hamilton　Brant；　of　Louisville；　wasn't　he？〃
he　said；　half…confidentially。

〃Yes；〃　said　Clarence　hopelessly。

〃Well；〃　said　his　friend　cheerfully；　as　if　dismissing　an　abstruse
problem　from　his　mind；　〃Let's　go　to　supper。〃

When　they　reached　the　tent　again；　Clarence　noticed　that　the　supper
was　laid　only　for　his　host　and　wife　and　the　second　manwho　was
familiarly　called　〃Harry；〃　but　who　spoke　of　the　former　always　as
〃Mr。　and　Mrs。　Peyton〃while　the　remainder　of　the　party；　a　dozen
men；　were　at　a　second　camp　fire；　and　evidently　enjoying　themselves
in　a　picturesque　fashion。　　Had　the　boy　been　allowed　to　choose；　he
would　have　joined　them；　partly　because　it　seemed　more　〃manly；〃　and
partly　that　he　dreaded　a　renewal　of　the　questioning。

But　here；　Susy；　sitting　bolt　upright　on　an　extemporized　high　stool；
happily　diverted　his　attention　by　pointing　to　the　empty　chair
beside　her。

〃Kla'uns；〃　she　said　suddenly；　with　her　usual　clear　and　appalling
frankness；　〃they　is　chickens；　and　hamanaigs；　and　hot　biksquits；　and
lasses；　and　Mister　Peyton　says　I　kin　have　'em　all。〃

Clarence；　who　had　begun　suddenly　to　feel　that　he　was　responsible
for　Susy's　deportment　and　was　balefully　conscious　that　she　was
holding　her　plated　fork　in　her　chubby　fist　by　its　middle；　and；　from
his　previous　knowledge　of　her；　was　likely　at　any　moment　to　plunge
it　into　the　dish　before　her；　said　softly；

〃Hush！〃

〃Yes；　you　shall；　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Peyton；　with　tenderly　beaming
assurance　to　Susy　and　a　half…reproachful　glance　at　the　boy。　　〃Eat
what　you　like；　darling。〃

〃It's　a　fork；〃　whispered　the　still　uneasy　Clarence；　as　Susy　now
seemed　inclined　to　stir　her　bowl　of　milk　with　it。

〃'Tain't；　now；　Kla'uns；　it's　only　a　split　spoon；〃　said　Susy。

But　Mrs。　Peyton；　in　her　rapt　admiration；　took　small　note　of　these
irregularities；　plying　the　child　with　food；　forgetting　her　own
meal；　and　only　stopping　at　times　to　lift　back　the　forward　straying
curls　on　Susy's　shoulders。　　Mr。　Peyton　looked　on　gravely　and
contentedly。　　Suddenly　the　eyes　of　husband　and　wife　met。

〃She'd　have　been　nearly　as　old　as　this；　John；〃　said　Mrs。　Peyton；　in
a　faint　voice。

John　Peyton　nodded　without　speaking；　and　turned　his　eyes　away　into
the　gathering　darkness。　　The　man　〃Harry〃　also　looked　abstractedly
at　his　plate；　as　if　he　was　saying　grace。　　Clarence　wondered　who
〃she〃　was；　and　why　two　little　tears　dropped　from　Mrs。　Peyton's
lashes　into　Susy's　milk；　and　whether　Susy　might　not　violently
object　to　it。　　He　did　not　know　until　later　that　the　Peytons　had
lost　their　only　child；　and　Susy　comfortably　drained　this　mingled
cup　of　a　mother's　grief　and　tenderness　without　suspicion。

〃I　suppose　we'll　come　up　with　their　train　early　tomorrow；　if　some
of　them　don't　find　us　to…night；〃　said　Mrs。　Peyton；　with　a　long　sigh
and　a　regretful　glance　at　Susy。　　〃Perhaps　we　might　travel　together
for　a　little　while；〃　she　added　timidly。

Harry　laughed；　and　Mr。　Peyton　replied　gravely；　〃I　am　afraid　we
wouldn't　travel　with　them；　even　for　company's　sake；　and；〃　he　added；
in　a　lower　and　graver　voice；　〃it's　rather　odd　the　search　party
hasn't　come　upon　us　yet；　though　I'm　keeping　Pete　and　Hank
patrolling　the　trail　to　meet　them。〃

〃It's　heartlessso　it　is！〃　said　Mrs。　Peyton；　with　sudden
indignation。　　〃It　would　be　all　very　well　if　it　was　only　this　boy；
who　can　take　care　of　himself；　but　to　be　so　careless　of　a　mere　baby
like　this；　it's　shameful！〃

For　the　first　time　Clarence　tasted　the　cruelty　of　discrimination。
All　the　more　keenly　that　he　was　beginning　to　worship；　after　his
boyish　fashion；　this　sweet…faced；　clean；　and　tender…hearted　woman。
Perhaps　Mr。　Peyton　noticed　it；　for　he　came　quietly　to　his　aid。

〃Maybe　they　knew　better　than　we　in　what　careful　hands　they　had　left
her；〃　he　said；　with　a　cheerful　nod　towards　Clarence。　　〃And；　again；
they　may　have　been　fooled　as　we　were　by　Injin　signs　and　left　the
straight　road。〃

This　suggestion　instantly　recalled　to　Clarence　his　vision　in　the
mesquite。　　Should　he　dare　tell　them？　　Would　they　believe　him；　or
would　they　laugh　at　him　before　her？　　He　hesitated；　and　at　last
resolved　to　tell　it　privately　to　the　husband。　　When　the　meal　was
ended；　and　he　was　made　happy　by　Mrs。　Peyton's　laughing　acceptance
of　his　offer　to　help　her　clear　the　table　and　wash　the　dishes；　they
all　gathered　comfortably　in　front　of　the　tent　before　the　large　camp
fire。　　At　the　other　fire　the　rest　of　the　party　were　playing　cards
and　laughing；　but　Clarence　no　longer　cared　to　join　them。　　He　was
quite　tranquil　in　the　maternal　propinquity　of　his　hostess；　albeit　a
little　uneasy　as　to　his　reticence　about　the　Indian。

〃Kla'uns；〃　said　Susy；　relieving　a　momentary　pause；　in　her　highest
voice；　〃knows　how　to　speak。　　Speak；　Kla'uns！〃

It　appearing　from　Clarence's　blushing　explanation　that　this　gift
was　not　the　ordinary　faculty　of　speech；　but　a　capacity　to　recite
verse；　he　was　politely　pressed　by　the　company　for　a　performance。

〃Speak　'em；　Kla'uns；　the　boy　what　stood　unto　the　burnin'　deck；　and
said；　'The　boy；　oh；　where　was　he？'〃　said　Susy；　comfortably　lying
down　on　Mrs。　Peyton's　lap；　and　contemplating　her　bare　knees　in　the
air。　　〃It's　'bout　a　boy；〃　she　added　confidentially　to　Mrs。　Peyton；
〃whose　father　wouldn't　never；　never　stay　with　him　on　a　burnin'
ship；　th