Howbeit Lacy Bassett was never elected; in fact he was only for one brief moment a candidate. It was related that upon his first ascending10 the platform at Simpson's Bar a voice in the audience said lazily, "Come down!" That voice was Yuba Bill's. A slight confusion ensued, in which Yuba Bill whispered a few words in the colonel's ear. After a moment's hesitation11 the "war-horse" came forward, and in his loftiest manner regretted that the candidate had withdrawn12. The next issue of the "Clarion" proclaimed with no uncertain sound that a base conspiracy13 gotten up by the former proprietor14 of the "Guardian" to undermine the prestige of the Great Express Company had been ruthlessly exposed, and the candidate on learning it HIMSELF for the first time, withdrew his name from the canvass15, as became a high-toned gentleman. Public opinion, ignoring Lacy Bassett completely, unhesitatingly denounced Captain Jim.
During this period I had paid but little heed16 to Lacy Bassett's social movements, or the successes which would naturally attend such a character with the susceptible17 sex. I had heard that he was engaged to Polly Baxter, but that they had quarrelled in consequence of his flirtations with others, especially a Mrs. Sweeny, a profusely18 ornamented19 but reputationless widow. Captain Jim had often alluded20 with a certain respectful pride and delicacy21 to Polly's ardent22 appreciation23 of his friend, and had more than half hinted with the same reverential mystery to their matrimonial union later, and his intention of "doing the square thing" for the young couple. But it was presently noticed that these allusions24 became less frequent during Lacy's amorous25 aberrations26, and an occasional depression and unusual reticence27 marked Captain Jim's manner when the subject was discussed in his presence. He seemed to endeavor to make up for his friend's defection by a kind of personal homage29 to Polly, and not unfrequently accompanied her to church or to singing-class. I have a vivid recollection of meeting him one afternoon crossing the fields with her, and looking into her face with that same wistful, absorbed, and uneasy canine30 expression that I had hitherto supposed he had reserved for Lacy alone. I do not know whether Polly was averse31 to the speechless devotion of these yearning32 brown eyes; her manner was animated33 and the pretty cheek that was nearest me mantled34 as I passed; but I was struck for the first time with the idea that Captain Jim loved her! I was surprised to have that fancy corroborated35 in the remark of another wayfarer36 whom I met, to the effect, "That now that Bassett was out o' the running it looked ez if Captain Jim was makin' up for time!" Was it possible that Captain Jim had always loved her? I did not at first know whether to be pained or pleased for his sake. But I concluded that whether the unworthy Bassett had at last found a RIVAL in Captain Jim or in the girl herself, it was a displacement37 that was for Captain Jim's welfare. But as I was about leaving Gilead for a month's transfer to the San Francisco office, I had no opportunity to learn more from the confidences of Captain Jim.
I was ascending the principal staircase of my San Francisco hotel one rainy afternoon, when I was pointedly39 recalled to Gilead by the passing glitter of Mrs. Sweeny's jewelry40 and the sudden vanishing behind her of a gentleman who seemed to be accompanying her. A few moments after I had entered my room I heard a tap at my door, and opened it upon Lacy Bassett. I thought he looked a little confused and agitated41. Nevertheless, with an assumption of cordiality and ease he said, "It appears we're neighbors. That's my room next to yours." He pointed38 to the next room, which I then remembered was a sitting-room42 en suite43 with my own, and communicating with it by a second door, which was always locked. It had not been occupied since my tenancy. As I suppose my face did not show any extravagant44 delight at the news of his contiguity45, he added, hastily, "There's a transom over the door, and I thought I'd tell you you kin28 hear everything from the one room to the other."
I thanked him, and told him dryly that, as I had no secrets to divulge46 and none that I cared to hear, it made no difference to me. As this seemed to increase his confusion and he still hesitated before the door, I asked him if Captain Jim was with him.
"No," he said quickly. "I haven't seen him for a month, and don't want to. Look here, I want to talk to you a bit about him." He walked into the room, and closed the door behind him. "I want to tell you that me and Captain Jim is played! All this runnin' o' me and interferin' with me is played! I'm tired of it. You kin tell him so from me."
"Then you have quarrelled?"
"Yes. As much as any man can quarrel with a darned fool who can't take a hint."
"One moment. Have you quarrelled about Polly Baxter?"
"Yes," he answered querulously. "Of course I have. What does he mean by interfering47?
"Now listen to me, Mr. Bassett," I interrupted. "I have no desire to concern myself in your association with Captain Jim, but since you persist in dragging me into it, you must allow me to speak plainly. From all that I can ascertain48 you have no serious intentions of marrying Polly Baxter. You have come here from Gilead to follow Mrs. Sweeny, whom I saw you with a moment ago. Now, why do you not frankly49 give up Miss Baxter to Captain Jim, who will make her a good husband, and go your own way with Mrs. Sweeny? If you really wish to break off your connection with Captain Jim, that's the only way to do it."
His face, which had exhibited the weakest and most pitiable consciousness at the mention of Mrs. Sweeny, changed to an expression of absolute stupefaction as I concluded.
"Wot stuff are you tryin' to fool me with?" he said at last roughly.
"I mean," I replied sharply, "that this double game of yours is disgraceful. Your association with Mrs. Sweeny demands the withdrawal50 of any claim you have upon Miss Baxter at once. If you have no respect for Captain Jim's friendship, you must at least show common decency51 to her."
He burst into a half-relieved, half-hysteric laugh. "Are you crazy?" gasped52 he. "Why, Captain Jim's just huntin' ME down to make ME marry Polly. That's just what the row's about. That's just what he's interferin' for—just to carry out his darned fool ideas o' gettin' a wife for me; just his vanity to say HE'S made the match. It's ME that he wants to marry to that Baxter girl—not himself. He's too cursed selfish for that."
I suppose I was not different from ordinary humanity, for in my unexpected discomfiture53 I despised Captain Jim quite as much as I did the man before me. Reiterating54 my remark that I had no desire to mix myself further in their quarrels, I got rid of him with as little ceremony as possible. But a few minutes later, when the farcical side of the situation struck me, my irritation55 was somewhat mollified, without however increasing my respect for either of the actors. The whole affair had assumed a triviality that was simply amusing, nothing more, and I even looked forward to a meeting with Captain Jim and HIS exposition of the matter—which I knew would follow—with pleasurable anticipation56. But I was mistaken.
One afternoon, when I was watching the slanting57 volleys of rain driven by a strong southwester against the windows of the hotel reading-room, I was struck by the erratic58 movements of a dripping figure outside that seemed to be hesitating over the entrance to the hotel. At times furtively59 penetrating60 the porch as far as the vestibule, and again shyly recoiling61 from it, its manner was so strongly suggestive of some timid animal that I found myself suddenly reminded of Captain Jim and the memorable62 evening of his exodus63 from Eureka Gulch64. As the figure chanced to glance up to the window where I stood I saw to my astonishment65 that it WAS Captain Jim himself, but so changed and haggard that I scarcely knew him. I instantly ran out into the hall and vestibule, but when I reached the porch he had disappeared. Either he had seen me and wished to avoid me, or he had encountered the object of his quest, which I at once concluded must be Lacy Bassett. I was so much impressed and worried by his appearance and manner, that, in this belief, I overcame my aversion to meeting Bassett, and even sought him through the public rooms and lobbies in the hope of finding Captain Jim with him. But in vain; possibly he had succeeded in escaping his relentless66 friend.
As the wind and rain increased at nightfall and grew into a tempestuous67 night, with deserted68 streets and swollen69 waterways, I did not go out again, but retired70 early, inexplicably71 haunted by the changed and brooding face of Captain Jim. Even in my dreams he pursued me in his favorite likeness72 of a wistful, anxious, and uneasy hound, who, on my turning to caress73 him familiarly, snapped at me viciously, and appeared to have suddenly developed a snarling74 rabid fury. I seemed to be awakened75 at last by the sound of his voice. For an instant I believed the delusion76 a part of my dream. But I was mistaken; I was lying broad awake, and the voice clearly had come from the next room, and was distinctly audible over the transom.
"I've had enough of it," he said, "and I'm givin' ye now—this night—yer last chance. Quit this hotel and that woman, and go back to Gilead and marry Polly. Don't do it and I'll kill ye, ez sure ez you sit there gapin' in that chair. If I can't get ye to fight me like a man,—and I'll spit in yer face or put some insult onto you afore that woman, afore everybody, ez would make a bigger skunk77 nor you turn,—I'll hunt ye down and kill ye in your tracks."
There was a querulous murmur78 of interruption in Lacy's voice, but whether of defiance79 or appeal I could not distinguish. Captain Jim's voice again rose, dogged and distinct.
"Ef YOU kill me it's all the same, and I don't say that I won't thank ye. This yer world is too crowded for yer and me, Lacy Bassett. I've believed in ye, trusted in ye, lied for ye, and fought for ye. From the time I took ye up—a feller-passenger to 'Fresco—believin' there wor the makin's of a man in ye, to now, you fooled me,—fooled me afore the Eureka boys; fooled me afore Gilead; fooled me afore HER; fooled me afore God! It's got to end here. Ye've got to take the curse of that foolishness off o' me! You've got to do one single thing that's like the man I took ye for, or you've got to die. Times waz when I'd have wished it for your account—that's gone, Lacy Bassett! You've got to do it for ME. You've got to do it so I don't see 'd—d fool' writ80 in the eyes of every man ez looks at me."
He had apparently81 risen and walked towards the door. His voice sounded from another part of the room.
"I'll give ye till to-morrow mornin' to do suthin' to lift this curse off o' me. Ef you refoose, then, by the living God, I'll slap yer face in the dinin'-room, or in the office afore them all! You hear me!"
There was a pause, and then a quick sharp explosion that seemed to fill and expand both rooms until the windows were almost lifted from their casements82, a hysterical83 inarticulate cry from Lacy, the violent opening of a door, hurried voices, and the tramping of many feet in the passage. I sprang out of bed, partly dressed myself, and ran into the hall. But by that time I found a crowd of guests and servants around the next door, some grasping Bassett, who was white and trembling, and others kneeling by Captain Jim, who was half lying in the doorway84 against the wall.
"He heard it all," Bassett gasped hysterically85, pointing to me. "HE knows that this man wanted to kill me."
Before I could reply, Captain Jim partly raised himself with a convulsive effort. Wiping away the blood that, oozing86 from his lips, already showed the desperate character of his internal wound, he said in a husky and hurried voice: "It's all right, boys! It's my fault. It was ME who done it. I went for him in a mean underhanded way jest now, when he hadn't a weppin nor any show to defend himself. We gripped. He got a holt o' my derringer—you see that's MY pistol there, I swear it—and turned it agin me in self-defense, and sarved me right. I swear to God, gentlemen, it's so!" Catching87 sight of my face, he looked at me, I fancied half imploringly88 and half triumphantly89, and added, "I might hev knowed it! I allers allowed Lacy Bassett was game!—game, gentlemen—and he was. If it's my last word, I say it—he was game!"
And with this devoted90 falsehood upon his lips and something of the old canine instinct in his failing heart, as his head sank back he seemed to turn it towards Bassett, as if to stretch himself out at his feet. Then the light failed from his yearning upward glance, and the curse of foolishness was lifted from him forever.
So conclusive91 were the facts, that the coroner's jury did not deem it necessary to detain Mr. Bassett for a single moment after the inquest. But he returned to Gilead, married Polly Baxter, and probably on the strength of having "killed his man," was unopposed on the platform next year, and triumphantly elected to the legislature!
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1
clarion
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| n.尖音小号声；尖音小号 | |
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pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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emanated
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| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的过去式和过去分词 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
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eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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distended
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| v.（使）膨胀，肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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canvass
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| v.招徕顾客，兜售；游说；详细检查，讨论 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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amorous
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| adj.多情的；有关爱情的 | |
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aberrations
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| n.偏差( aberration的名词复数 )；差错；脱离常规；心理失常 | |
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reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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canine
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| adj.犬的，犬科的 | |
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averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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mantled
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| 披着斗篷的，覆盖着的 | |
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corroborated
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| v.证实，支持（某种说法、信仰、理论等）( corroborate的过去式 ) | |
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wayfarer
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| n.旅人 | |
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displacement
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| n.移置，取代，位移，排水量 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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pointedly
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| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
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jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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contiguity
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| n.邻近，接壤 | |
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divulge
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| v.泄漏(秘密等)；宣布，公布 | |
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interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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48
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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50
withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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51
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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52
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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53
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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54
reiterating
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的现在分词 ) | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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56
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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slanting
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| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
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erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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60
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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61
recoiling
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| v.畏缩( recoil的现在分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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exodus
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| v.大批离去，成群外出 | |
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gulch
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| n.深谷，峡谷 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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tempestuous
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| adj.狂暴的 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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inexplicably
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| adv.无法说明地，难以理解地，令人难以理解的是 | |
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72
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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73
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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74
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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skunk
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| n.臭鼬，黄鼠狼；v.使惨败，使得零分；烂醉如泥 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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80
writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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81
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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82
casements
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| n.窗扉( casement的名词复数 ) | |
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83
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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84
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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85
hysterically
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| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
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86
oozing
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的现在分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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87
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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88
imploringly
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| adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 | |
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89
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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90
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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91
conclusive
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| adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的 | |
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