In the stern years on the plains, the young officer had known but one motive1 of action—duty. He was an exile from home and its comforts, friends and the haunts of civilized2 man for his country's sake. He had come to plant her flag on the farthest frontier and push it farther against all corners.
In the struggle against the snows of winter and the pestilence3 of the summer wilderness4, he had fought Nature with the dogged determination of the soldier. Snow meant winter quarters, the spring marching and fighting. The hills were breastworks. The night brought dreams of strategy and surprise. The grass and flowers were symbols of a nation's wealth and the prophecy of war.
By a strange magic, the coming of a girl had transformed the world. He had seen the strategic value of these hills and valleys often before. He had not dreamed of their beauty. The mists that hung over the ragged5 lines of the western horizon were no longer fogs that might conceal6 an army. They were the folds of a huge veil which Nature was softly drawing over the face of a beautiful bride. Why had he not seen this before?
The awful silence of the plains from which he had fled to books had suddenly become God's great whispering gallery. He listened with joyous7 awe8 and reverence9.
The stars had been his guides by night to find the trail. He had merely lifted his eyes to make the reckoning. He had never seen before the crystal flash from their jeweled depths.
He looked into the eyes of the graceful10 young rider by his side and longed to tell her of this miracle wrought11 in his soul. But he hesitated. She was too dignified12 and self-possessed. It would be silly when put into words.
But the world to-day was too beautiful to hurry through it. He just couldn't.
"Let's stop on this hill and watch the sunset, Miss Sarah?" he suggested.
"I'd love to," was the simple answer.
With a light laugh, she sprang from the saddle. They touched the ground at the same moment.
He looked at her with undisguised admiration13.
"You're a wonderful rider," he said.
"A soldier's daughter must be—it's part of her life."
He tied their horses to the low hanging limbs of a cluster of scrub trees, and found a seat on the bowlders which the Indians had set for a landmark14 on the lonely hilltop.
Westward15 the plains stretched, a silent ocean of green, luscious16 grass.
"What's that dark spot in the valley?" the girl eagerly asked.
"Watch it a moment—"
They sat in silence for five minutes.
"Why, it's moving!" she cried.
"Yes."
"How curious—"
"An illusion?" he suggested.
"Nonsense, I'm not dreaming."
"I've been dreaming a lot lately—"
A smile played about the corners of her fine mouth. But she ignored the hint.
"Tell me," she cried; "you studied the sciences at West Point, what does it mean?"
"Look closely. Any fifteen-year-old boy of the plains could explain it."
"Am I so ignorant?" she laughed.
"No," he answered soberly, "our eyes just refuse to see things at which we are looking until the voice within reveals. The eyes of a hunter could make no mistake about such a spot—particularly if it moved."
"It might be a passing cloud—"
"There's none in the sky."
"Tell me!" she pleaded.
"A herd17 of buffalo18."
"That big black field! It must be ten acres—"
The man laughed at her ignorance with a sudden longing19 in his heart to help and protect her.
"Ten acres! Look again. They are twenty miles away. The herd is packed so densely20, the ground is invisible. They cover a thousand acres."
"Impossible—"
"I assure you, it's true. They were once even more plentiful21. But we're pushing them back with the Indians into the sunset. And they, too, will fade away into the twilight22 at last—"
He stopped suddenly. He had almost spoken a sentence that would have committed him beyond retreat. It was just on his lips to say:
"I didn't take such tender views of Indians and buffaloes23 until I met you!"
For the life of him he couldn't make the girl out. Her voice was music. Her laughter contagious24. And yet she was reserved. About her personality hung a spell which forbade familiarity. Flirting25 was a pastime in the army. But it had never appealed to him. He was not so sure about her when she laughed.
And then her father worried him. The fiery26 old Southerner had the temper of the devil when roused. He could see that this second daughter was his favorite. He had caught a look of unreasonable27 anger and jealousy28 in his eye only that afternoon when they rode away together.
Still he must risk it. He had really suggested this sunset scene for that purpose. The field was his own choosing. Only a coward could run now.
He managed at last to get his lips to work.
"Since you came, Miss Sarah—I've been seeing life at a new angle—" he paused awkwardly.
The red blood mounted to her cheeks.
"You have given me new eyes—"
"'You have given me new eyes'" "'You have given me new eyes'"
She turned her head away. There was no mistaking the tremor29 of his tones. She was too honest to simper and pretend. Her heart was pounding so loudly she wondered if he could hear.
He fumbled30 nervously31 with his glove, glanced at her from the corner of his eye, and his voice sank to a whisper:
"I—I love you, Sarah!"
She turned slowly and looked at him through dimmed eyes:
"And I love you—"
She paused, brushed a tear from her cheek, and with sweet reproach quietly added:
"Why didn't you tell me sooner? We've lost so many beautiful days that might have been perfect—"
He suddenly stooped and kissed her full lips.
"We'll not lose any more—"
"The world is beautiful, isn't it, dear!" she said, nestling closer.
"Since I see with your eyes—yes. It was only a place to fight in, before. Now it's a fairy world, and these wild flowers that cover the plains only grow to make a carpet for the feet of the girl I love—"
"A fairy world—yes—" she whispered, "it's been just that to me since I first sang the 'Fairy Bells' for you—"
"I'll never love another song as that," he said reverently32.
"Nor I," was the low response. "My heart will beat to its music forever—it just means you, now—"
For a long time they sat without words, holding each other's hand. The sun hung a glowing ball of fire on the rim33 of the far-away hills, and the shadows of the valley deepened into twilight.
"How wonderful the silence of the plains!" the lover sighed.
"It used to oppress me."
The man nodded.
"And now, I hear the beat of angels' wings and know that God is near—"
"Because we love—" and she laughed for joy.
Again they sat in sweet, brooding silence.
A horseman rode over the hilltop in the glow of the fading sun. From its summit, he lifted his hand and waved a salute34. They looked below, and in the doorway35 of a cabin, a young mother stood, a babe in her arms answering with hand uplifted high above her child.
"What does it matter, dear," she whispered, "a cabin or a palace!"
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
civilized
|
|
| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
pestilence
|
|
| n.瘟疫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
wilderness
|
|
| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
ragged
|
|
| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
joyous
|
|
| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
awe
|
|
| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
reverence
|
|
| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
landmark
|
|
| n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
westward
|
|
| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
luscious
|
|
| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
herd
|
|
| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
buffalo
|
|
| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
densely
|
|
| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
plentiful
|
|
| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
twilight
|
|
| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
buffaloes
|
|
| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
contagious
|
|
| adj.传染性的，有感染力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
flirting
|
|
| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
fiery
|
|
| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
unreasonable
|
|
| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
tremor
|
|
| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
fumbled
|
|
| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
reverently
|
|
| adv.虔诚地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
rim
|
|
| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
salute
|
|
| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |