CHAPTER XXIII—THE PARTY AT THE LAZY S

 Mary stared thoughtfully into the mirror. It was a better one than the sliver¹ into which she had looked more than a year before, when Paul Langford came riding over the plains to the Lazy S. A better house had risen from the ashes of the homestead laid waste by the cattle rustlers. Affairs were well with George Williston now that the hand of no man was against him. He prospered².

 

Louise stepped to the door.

 

“I am in despair, Mary,” she said, whimsically. “Mrs. White has ordered me out of the kitchen. What do you think of that?”

 

“Louise! Did you really have the hardihood to presume to encroach on Mother White’s preserves—you—a mere³ bride of five months’ standing⁴? You should be grateful she didn’t take the broom to you.”

 

“She can cook,” said Louise, laughing. “I admit that. I only offered to peel potatoes. When one stops to consider that the whole county is coming to the ‘house-warming’ of the Lazy S, one can’t help being worried about potatoes and such minor⁵ things.”

 

“Do you think the whole county is coming, Louise?” asked Mary.

 

“Of course,” said Louise Gordon, positively⁶, slipping away again. She was a welcome guest at the ranch⁷, and her heart was in the success of to-night’s party.

 

Mary had dressed early. As hostess, she had laid aside her short skirt, leather leggings, and other boyish “fixings” which she usually assumed for better ease in her life of riding. She was clad simply in a long black skirt and white shirt-waist. Her hair was coiled in thick braids about her well-shaped head, lending her a most becoming stateliness.

 

Would Paul Langford come? He had been bidden. Her father could not know that he would not care to come. Her father did not know that she had sent Langford away that long-ago night in December and that he had not come back—at least to her. Naturally, he had been bidden first to George Williston’s ‘house-warming.’ The men of the Three Bars and of the Lazy S were tried friends—but he would not care to come.

 

Listen! Some one was coming. It was much too soon for guests. The early October twilight⁸ was only now creeping softly over the landscape. It was a still evening. She heard distinctly the rhythmical⁹ pound of hoof-beats on the hardened trail. Would the rider go on to Kemah, or would he turn in at the Lazy S?

 

“Hello, the house!” hailed the horseman, cheerily, drawing rein¹⁰ at the very door. “Hello, within!”

 

The visitor threw wide the door, and Williston’s voice called cordially:

 

“Come in, come in, Langford! I am glad you came early.”

 

“Will you send Mary out, Williston? I need your chore boy to help me water Sade here.”

 

The voice was merry, but there was a vibrant¹¹ tone in it that made the listening girl tremble a little. Langford never waited for opportunities. He made them.

 

Mary came to the door with quiet self-composure. She had known from the first the stranger was Langford. How like the scene of a summer’s day more than a year past; but how far sweeter the maid—how much more it meant to the man now than then!

 

“Father, show Mr. Langford in,” she said, smiling a welcome. “I shall be glad to take Sade to the spring.”

 

She took hold of the bridle¹² rein trailing to the ground. Langford leaped lightly from his saddle.

 

“I said ‘help me,’” he corrected.

 

“The spring is down there,” she directed. “I think you know the way.” She turned to enter the house.

 

For an instant, Langford hesitated. A shadow fell across his face.

 

“I want you to come, Mary,” he said, simply. “It is only hospitable¹³, you know.”

 

“Oh, if you put it in that way—,” she started gayly down the path.

 

He followed her more slowly. A young moon hung in the western sky. The air was crisp with the coming frost. The path was strewn with dead cottonwood leaves which rustled¹⁴ dryly under their feet.

 

At the spring, shadowed by the biggest cottonwood, she waited for him.

 

“I wish my father would cut down that tree,” she said, shivering.

 

“You are cold,” he said. His voice was not quite steady. He took off his coat and wrapped it around her, despite her protests. He wanted to hold her then, but he did not, though the touch of her sent the blood bounding riotously¹⁵ through his veins¹⁶.

 

“You shall wear the coat I—do not want you to go in yet.”

 

“But Sade has finished, and people will be coming soon.”

 

“I will not keep you long. I want you to—Mary, my girl, I tried to kill Black, but—Jim—” his voice choked a little—“if it hadn’t been for Jim, Black would have killed me. I thought I could do it. I meant to have you. Jim said it was all the same—his doing it in my stead. I came to-night to ask you if it is the same. Is it, Mary?”

 

She did not answer for a little while. How still a night it was! Lights twinkled from the windows of the new house. Now and then a dry leaf rustled as some one, the man, the girl, or the horse, moved.

 

“It is the same,” she said at last, brokenly.

 

Her eyes were heavy with unshed tears. “But I never meant it, Paul. I was wild that night, but I never meant that you or—Jim should take life or—or—give yours. I never meant it!”

 

His heart leaped, but he did not touch her.

 

“Do you love me?” he asked.

 

She turned restlessly toward the house.

 

“My father will be wanting me,” she said. “I must go.”

 

“You shall not go until you have told me,” he said. “You must tell me. You never have, you know. Do you love me?”

 

“You have not told me, either,” she resisted. “You are not fair.”

 

He laughed under his breath, then bent¹⁷ his sunny head—close.

 

“Have you forgotten so soon?” he whispered.

 

Suddenly, he caught her to him, strongly, as was his way.

 

“I will tell you again,” he said, softly. “I love you, my girl, do you hear? There is no one but you in all the world.”

 

The fair head bent closer and closer, then he kissed her—the little man-coated figure in his arms.

 

“I love you,” he said.

 

She trembled in his embrace. He kissed her again.

 

“I love you,” he repeated.

 

She hid her face on his breast. He lifted it gently.

 

“I tell you—I love you,” he said.

 

He placed her arms around his neck. She pressed her lips to his, once, softly.

 

“I love you,” she whispered.

 

“My girl, my girl!” he said in answer. The confession¹⁸ was far sweeter than he had ever dreamed. He held her cheek pressed close to his for a long moment.

 

“The Three Bars is waiting for its mistress,” he said at last, exultantly¹⁹. “A mistress and a new foreman all at once—the boys will have to step lively.”

 

“A new foreman?” asked Mary in surprise. “I did not know you had a new foreman.”

 

“I shall have one in a month,” he said, smilingly. “By that time, George Williston will have sold the Lazy S for good money, invested the proceeds in cattle, turned the whole bunch in to range with the Three Bars herds²⁰, and on November first, he will take charge of the worldly affairs of one Paul Langford and his wife, of the Three Bars.”

 

“Really, Paul?” The brown eyes shone with pleasure.

 

“Really, Mary.”

 

“Has my father consented?”

 

“No, but he will when he finds I cannot do without him and when—I marry his daughter.”

 

Hoof-beats on the sod! The guests were coming at last. The beats rang nearer and nearer. From Kemah, from the Three Bars trail, from across country, they were coming. All the neighboring ranchmen and homesteaders with their families and all the available cowboys had been bidden to the frolic. The stableyard was filling. Hearty²¹ greetings, loud talking, and laughter floated out on the still air.

 

Laughing like children caught in a prank²², the two at the spring clasped hands and ran swiftly to the house. Breathless but radiant, Mary came forward to greet her guests while Langford slipped away to put up Sade.

 

The revel²³ was at its highest. Mary and Louise were distributing good things to eat and drink to the hungry cowmen. The rooms were so crowded, many stood without, looking in at the doors and windows. The fragrance²⁴ of hot coffee drifted in from the kitchen.

 

Langford stood up. A sudden quiet fell upon the people.

 

“Friends and neighbors,” he said, “shall we drink to the prosperity of the Lazy S, the health and happiness of its master and its mistress?”

 

The health was drunk with cheers and noisy congratulations. Conversation began again, but Langford still stood.

 

“Friends and neighbors,” he said again. His voice was grave. “Let us drink to one—not with us to-night—a brave man—” in spite of himself his voice broke—“let us drink to the memory of Jim Munson.”

 

Silently all rose, and drank. They were rough men and women, most of them, but they were a people who held personal bravery among the virtues²⁵. Many stood with dimmed eyes, picturing that final scene on the island in which a brave man’s life had closed. Few there would soon forget Jim Munson, cow-puncher of the Three Bars.

 

There was yet another toast Langford was to propose to-night. Now was the opportune²⁶ time. Jim would have wished it so. It was fitting that this toast follow Jim’s—it was Jim who had made it possible that it be given. He turned to Mary and touched her lightly on the shoulder.

 

“Will you come, Mary?” he said.

 

She went with him, wonderingly. He led her to the centre of the room. His arm fell gently over her shoulders. Her cheeks flushed with the sudden knowledge of what was coming, but she looked at him with perfect trust and unquestioning love.

 

“Friends and neighbors,” his voice rang out so that all might hear, “I ask you to drink to the health and happiness of the future mistress of the Three Bars!”

THE END

1 sliver   

n.裂片，细片，梳毛；v.纵切，切成长片，剖开

参考例句：

• There was only one sliver of light in the darkness.黑暗中只有一点零星的光亮。
• Then,one night,Monica saw a thin sliver of the moon reappear.之后的一天晚上，莫尼卡看到了一个月牙。

2 prospered   

成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认，这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
• Mr. Black prospered from his wise investments. 布莱克先生由于巧妙的投资赚了不少钱。

3 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

6 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

7 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

8 twilight   

n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期

参考例句：

• Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
• Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。

9 rhythmical   

adj.有节奏的，有韵律的

参考例句：

• His breathing became more rhythmical.他的呼吸变得更有节奏了。
• The music is strongly rhythmical.那音乐有强烈的节奏。

10 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

11 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

12 bridle   

n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒

参考例句：

• He learned to bridle his temper.他学会了控制脾气。
• I told my wife to put a bridle on her tongue.我告诉妻子说话要谨慎。

13 hospitable   

adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的

参考例句：

• The man is very hospitable.He keeps open house for his friends and fellow-workers.那人十分好客，无论是他的朋友还是同事，他都盛情接待。
• The locals are hospitable and welcoming.当地人热情好客。

14 rustled   

v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He rustled his papers. 他把试卷弄得沙沙地响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Leaves rustled gently in the breeze. 树叶迎着微风沙沙作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 riotously   

adv.骚动地，暴乱地

参考例句：

• Humboldt riotously picketed Von Trenk but the play was a hit. 尽管洪堡肆意破坏《冯·特伦克》的上演，然而这个剧还是轰动一时。 来自辞典例句
• Flung roses, roses, riotously with the throng. 随着人群欢舞，狂热地抛撒玫瑰，玫瑰。 来自互联网

16 veins   

n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理

参考例句：

• The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的，感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

18 confession   

n.自白，供认，承认

参考例句：

• Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
• The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。

19 exultantly   

adv.狂欢地，欢欣鼓舞地

参考例句：

• They listened exultantly to the sounds from outside. 她们欢欣鼓舞地倾听着外面的声音。 来自辞典例句
• He rose exultantly from their profane surprise. 他得意非凡地站起身来，也不管众人怎样惊奇诅咒。 来自辞典例句

20 herds   

兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众

参考例句：

• Regularly at daybreak they drive their herds to the pasture. 每天天一亮他们就把牲畜赶到草场上去。
• There we saw herds of cows grazing on the pasture. 我们在那里看到一群群的牛在草地上吃草。

21 hearty   

adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的

参考例句：

• After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了，他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
• We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。

22 prank   

n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己

参考例句：

• It was thought that the fire alarm had been set off as a prank.人们认为火警报警器响是个恶作剧。
• The dean was ranking the boys for pulling the prank.系主任正在惩罚那些恶作剧的男学生。

23 revel   

vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢

参考例句：

• She seems to revel in annoying her parents.她似乎以惹父母生气为乐。
• The children revel in country life.孩子们特别喜欢乡村生活。

24 fragrance   

n.芬芳，香味，香气

参考例句：

• The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。
• The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。

25 virtues   

美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处

参考例句：

• Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
• She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。

26 opportune   

adj.合适的，适当的

参考例句：

• Her arrival was very opportune.她来得非常及时。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。