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CHAPTER V. WOLVERTON'S FIRST MOVE.
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 Why did not Aaron Wolverton burn the receipt, and get rid once for all of the only proof that the interest had been paid? It would have been the most politic1 thing to do, inasmuch as he had made up his mind to be dishonest. But, though unprincipled, he was not a bold man. The thought did certainly occur to him, and he even went so far as to light a match. But more timid counsel prevailed, and he concealed2 it in his desk, carefully locking the desk afterwards.
 
It is unnecessary to describe the grief of the little family at Burton's Ranch3 when the body of the master was brought home. No one had dreamed of speedy death for Richard Burton. He seemed so strong and vigorous that it would have seemed safe to predict for him a long life—long beyond the average; yet[Pg 43] here, in middle life, in the fullness of health and vigor4, the summons had come.
 
To Mrs. Burton, who was a most devoted5 wife, it was a crushing blow. It seemed at first as if it would be happiness to lie down beside her dead husband, and leave the world for him.
 
"What have I to live for now?" she asked, mournfully.
 
"You have me, mother," answered Bob, gently. "I have lost my father. What would become of me if I should lose my mother also?"
 
"You are right, Robert," said Mrs. Burton. "I was wrong to give way; but it is a very hard trial."
 
"Indeed it is, mother," said Robert, kissing her affectionately. "But we must try to bear up."
 
Mrs. Burton felt that this was her plain duty, and henceforth strove to control her emotions. She ceased to sob6, but her face showed the grief she suffered.
 
The funeral took place, and the little family held a council to decide what was to be done.[Pg 44]
 
"Can we carry on the ranch now that your father is gone?" asked Mrs. Burton, anxiously. "Would it not be better to sell it?"
 
"No, mother; the sacrifice would be too great."
 
"But I do not feel capable of managing it, Robert."
 
"You may think me presumptuous7, mother, but my proposal is to assist you, relieving you of the greater part of the care. Between us we can carry it on, I am confident."
 
"You are only a boy of sixteen, Robert," objected his mother.
 
"That is true; but I have watched carefully the manner in which the ranch has been carried on. Of course you must help, and you will try to get a man with whom I can advise. I am sure we can make a good deal more out of the farm than we could realize from investing the money it would bring."
 
"And are you willing to undertake this, Robert? It will be a hard task."
 
"I'll help him, missis," said Clip, eagerly.
 
"I shall have Clip to advise me, mother," said Robert.[Pg 45]
 
"No doubt Clip is willing," said Mrs. Burton, smiling faintly; "but after all, it will be only two boys."
 
"Try us a single year, mother," said Bob, confidently.
 
Mrs. Burton gave her consent, and Bob at once took his father's place, rising early and going to the field to superintend the farming operations. He seemed to have developed at once into a mature man, though in appearance he was still the same. Clip was his loyal assistant, though, being a harum-scarum boy, fond of fun and mischief8, he was of very little service as adviser9.
 
He had mentioned to Bob seeing Aaron Wolverton bending over the body of his father, and exploring his pockets. This puzzled Bob, but he was not prepared to suspect him of anything else than curiosity, until his mother received a call from the real estate agent a month after her husband's decease.
 
Aaron Wolverton had been anxious to call before, but something withheld10 him. It might have been the consciousness of the dishonorable course he had taken. Be that as it may,[Pg 46] he finally screwed up his courage to the sticking-point, and walked out to Burton's Ranch early one afternoon.
 
Mrs. Burton was at home, as usual, for she seldom went out now. She had no intimate friends in the neighborhood. All that she cared for was under her own roof.
 
She looked up in some surprise when Mr. Wolverton was ushered11 into the sitting-room12.
 
"I hope I see you well, Mrs. Burton," said the real estate agent, slipping to a seat, and placing his high hat on his knees.
 
"I am well in health, Mr. Wolverton," answered the widow, gravely.
 
"Yes, yes, of course; I understand," he hastily answered. "Terribly sudden, Mr. Barton's death was, to be sure, but dust we are, and to dust we must return, as the Scripture13 says."
 
Mrs. Burton did not think it necessary to make any reply.
 
"I came over to offer my—my condolences," continued Mr. Wolverton.
 
"Thank you."[Pg 47]
 
"And I thought perhaps you might stand in need of some advice from a practical man."
 
"Any advice will be considered, Mr. Wolverton."
 
"I've been thinkin' the thing over, and I've about made up my mind that the best thing you can do is to sell the ranch," and the real estate agent squinted14 at Mrs. Burton from under his red eyebrows15.
 
"That was my first thought; but I consulted with Robert, and he was anxious to have me carry on the ranch with his help."
 
Aaron Wolverton shook his head.
 
"A foolish plan!" he remarked. "Excuse me for saying so. Of course you, being a woman, are not competent to carry it on—"
 
"I have my son Robert to help me," said the widow.
 
Aaron Wolverton sniffed16 contemptuously.
 
"A mere17 boy!" he ejaculated.
 
"No; not a mere boy. His father's death and his affection for me have made a man of him at sixteen. He rises early every morning, goes to the fields, and superintends the [Pg 48]farming operations. Peter, my head man, says that he is a remarkably18 smart boy, and understands the business about as well as a man."
 
"Still I predict that he'll bring you deeper in debt every year."
 
"I don't think so; but, at any rate, I have promised to try the experiment for one year. I can then tell better whether it will be wise to keep on or sell."
 
"Now, Mrs. Burton, I have a better plan to suggest."
 
"What is it, Mr. Wolverton?"
 
"In fact, I have two plans. One is that you should sell me the ranch. You know I hold a mortgage on it for three thousand dollars?"
 
"I know it, Mr. Wolverton!" answered the widow, gravely.
 
"I'll give you three thousand dollars over and above, and then you will be rid of all care."
 
"Will you explain to me how Robert and I are going to live on the interest of three thousand dollars, Mr. Wolverton?"[Pg 49]
 
"You'll get something, and if the boy runs the ranch you'll get nothing. He can earn his living, and I don't think you will suffer, even if you have only three thousand dollars."
 
"It is quite out of the question. Mr. Burton considered the ranch worth ten thousand dollars."
 
"A very ridiculous over-valuation—pardon me for saying so."
 
"At any rate, I don't propose to sell."
 
"There's another little circumstance I ought to mention," added Wolverton, nervously19. "There is half a year's interest due on the mortgage. It was due on the very day of your husband's death."
 
Mrs. Burton looked up in amazement20.
 
"What do you mean, Mr. Wolverton?" she said. "My husband started for your office on the fatal morning of his death, carrying the money—one hundred and fifty dollars—to meet the interest. Do you mean to tell me that he did not pay it?"
 
"That is strange, very strange," stammered21 Aaron Wolverton, wiping his forehead with a[Pg 50] bandana handkerchief. "What became of the money?"
 
"Do you mean to say that it was not paid to you?" asked the widow, sharply.
 
"No, it was not," answered Wolverton, with audacious falsehood.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 politic L23zX     
adj.有智虑的;精明的;v.从政
参考例句:
  • He was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage.他很聪明,不会与这么重要的人争吵。
  • The politic man tried not to offend people.那个精明的人尽量不得罪人。
2 concealed 0v3zxG     
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的
参考例句:
  • The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
  • I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。
3 ranch dAUzk     
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。
4 vigor yLHz0     
n.活力,精力,元气
参考例句:
  • The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
  • She didn't want to be reminded of her beauty or her former vigor.现在,她不愿人们提起她昔日的美丽和以前的精力充沛。
5 devoted xu9zka     
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的
参考例句:
  • He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
  • We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
6 sob HwMwx     
n.空间轨道的轰炸机;呜咽,哭泣
参考例句:
  • The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
  • The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答,也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。
7 presumptuous 6Q3xk     
adj.胆大妄为的,放肆的,冒昧的,冒失的
参考例句:
  • It would be presumptuous for anybody to offer such a view.任何人提出这种观点都是太放肆了。
  • It was presumptuous of him to take charge.他自拿主张,太放肆了。
8 mischief jDgxH     
n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹
参考例句:
  • Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
  • He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。
9 adviser HznziU     
n.劝告者,顾问
参考例句:
  • They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
  • Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。
10 withheld f9d7381abd94e53d1fbd8a4e53915ec8     
withhold过去式及过去分词
参考例句:
  • I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后,我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • There was no school play because the principal withheld his consent. 由于校长没同意,学校里没有举行比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 ushered d337b3442ea0cc4312a5950ae8911282     
v.引,领,陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
  • A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
12 sitting-room sitting-room     
n.(BrE)客厅,起居室
参考例句:
  • The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
  • Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。
13 scripture WZUx4     
n.经文,圣书,手稿;Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》,《圣经》中的一段
参考例句:
  • The scripture states that God did not want us to be alone.圣经指出上帝并不是想让我们独身一人生活。
  • They invoked Hindu scripture to justify their position.他们援引印度教的经文为他们的立场辩护。
14 squinted aaf7c56a51bf19a5f429b7a9ddca2e9b     
斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 ); 眯着眼睛; 瞟; 从小孔或缝隙里看
参考例句:
  • Pulling his rifle to his shoulder he squinted along the barrel. 他把枪顶肩,眯起眼睛瞄准。
  • I squinted through the keyhole. 我从锁眼窥看。
15 eyebrows a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5     
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
  • His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
16 sniffed ccb6bd83c4e9592715e6230a90f76b72     
v.以鼻吸气,嗅,闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 );抽鼻子(尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气);抱怨,不以为然地说
参考例句:
  • When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣,吸了吸鼻子,擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 mere rC1xE     
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。
18 remarkably EkPzTW     
ad.不同寻常地,相当地
参考例句:
  • I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
  • He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。
19 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地,不安地
参考例句:
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
20 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
21 stammered 76088bc9384c91d5745fd550a9d81721     
v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠,结结巴巴地说,“你是什么意思?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记


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