The knowledge set her trembling to her soul’s foundation, sent her to her knees beside her big bed that she might return to that high Tribunal which arbited her ways such a deep devotion of thanksgiving as she had never made before.
There was no light of courageous7 deeds upon her sordid8 life, no record of spectacular events in which she figured.
She had merely been a drudge9, working out her soul to carry on her father’s dreams of empire, to hold fast the place which he had left to her and hers.
She had only labored10 and stood firm, watching with anguished12 eyes the fruits of those labors13 being destroyed—she had made no effort to strike back at her enemies.
And despite all this, Brand Fair loved her!
Loved her and had laid his lips to hers in the first love-kiss of her life!
Verily was she blessed beyond all reason and she lifted up her heart in praise.
She did not see the austere14 beauty of that stern strength which held her true in the midst of affliction, which lifted those patient blue eyes of hers to the tranquil15 Heavens above her ruined fields, her burned stacks, which made her love her lonely land, her people and her God with unshaken devotion, which gave her peace in danger and set before her the burning beacon16 of right which could not fail to triumph.
She only knew that she, lone4 toiler17 in an unfriendly wilderness18, had been anointed of the Lord with unspeakable glory, and she was bowed into the dust with gratitude19.
It was a holy night she spent upon her knees in the soft darkness with her work-hardened hands clasped on the ancient coverlet and the long gold lashes20 trembling and wet upon her cheeks. It was an offertory, an adoration21 and a covenant22.
She felt the hours pass with benediction23.
Once she looked toward the little window and saw the unfamiliar24 stars of the after-night upon the curtain of the sky.
She heard the child’s soft breathing in the improvised25 crib beyond, and at false dawn she heard Old John crow from the rafters.
At the first grey light she lifted her face and with a smile at her lips’ corners she murmured the ancient words of David’s immortal26 thanksgiving:
“The King shall joy in Thy strength, Oh, Lord; and in Thy salvation27 how greatly shall he rejoice! For Thou hast made him most blessed forever; Thou hast made him exceeding glad with Thy countenance28. Thou hast given him the desire of his heart. Selah.”
“Mammy,” she said at breakfast, “I’ve got to tell you something—you and Bud.”
There was a soft radiance about her long blue eyes, a helpless surrender to the smiles that would keep coming on her features.
Her mother looked at her calmly.
“Well?” she said.
“You needn’t tell it,” he said sharply, “we know—don’t we, Mammy? It’s Brand——”
“Sure, we know, Nance, honey,” said Mrs. Allison gently, “an’ we want to tell you, Bud an’ I, how plumb30 happy we are—how glad we are to see happiness come to the best daughter, the best sister, two people ever had on this here earth. Ain’t we, Buddy31?”
The boy swallowed once, then looked at Nance and smiled.
It was not the least courageous thing he was ever to accomplish, that smile, and his mother knew it, for he adored the girl, and she had been his only playmate all his life.
“We sure are, Sis,” he said and kissed her on the cheek.
The child slept late that morning. Perhaps he had been more or less disturbed by Nance’s wakefulness. She stepped to the bedroom door once and looked at him, but left him there.
“We might as well sit down,” she said, “he’s fast asleep yet and I can feed him when he does get up.”
They talked gaily34 all through the meal, reviewing the wonder that had come to Nance, and it seemed a new future was opening before them all.
“Brand seems like one of us already,” said Mrs. Allison, “an’ I think with joy what a help he’ll be to you an’ Bud—th’ land is rich an’ will keep us all in plenty with a man like him to manage an’ to stand between us an’ Sky Line. An’ he’s like your Pappy was—kind an’ still, a strength an’ a hope for us. If Bud is willin’ we’ll offer him share an’ share.”
“Sure,” said the boy decidedly.
When he had once capitulated Bud stood firm, wholeheartedly backing his decision.
“I just don’t seem able to grasp it all,” said Nance happily, “it seems like our whole life has changed overnight. There is light where darkness was, hope again where I’d about given it up—and now we’ll never have to give up Sonny.”
“That’s so!” cried Mrs. Allison, “an’ I hadn’t thought of that. Never seemed like we would any way—bless him.”
“Me?” asked a fresh little voice from the doorway35, and the child stood there, rumple-headed, in his small night-gown made from flour-sacks. The faded red lettering still stood frankly36 out across his diminutive37 stomach.
“Yes—you,” said Nance, “come here to your own Nance.”
Sonny sidled in, holding up the hindering garment with one hand, the other shut over some small article.
As Nance lifted him to her lap he laid this on the table’s edge.
“See,” he said, “the pretty lady. She was in a bundle on your bed—where’d you get her, Nance?”
And Nance Allison looked down into the pictured face of—Cattle Kate Cathrew.
For a moment the laughter still drew her lips, the soft light of happiness still illumined her eyes.
Then the light and the laughter were erased38 from her features as if an invisible hand had wiped them.
In their place came first a blankness, an incredulity—then, as realization39 and memory struck home to her brain, the anguish11 of death itself swept across her face.
“Nance!” cried her mother, “Nance!”
She raised her eyes and looked at Mrs. Allison and the latter felt a chill of fear.
“Take—Sonny, Bud,” she said slowly, “and get his clothes.”
Bud, tactful and quiet, did as she asked, and when she was alone with her mother the girl held out the picture.
“Brand told me—last night,” she said haltingly, “that a package he gave me—to open in case anything happened—to him—held the face of—of—of Sonny’s mother. This is Cattle Kate Cathrew.”
“My good Lord A’mighty!” ejaculated Mrs. Allison.
Nance nodded.
“Then—who’s his—father?”
“Who d’you suppose, Mammy?” asked the girl miserably41, “I’m afraid it’s Brand—the man who says he loves me!”
The gaunt old mother came round the table and put an unaccustomed arm about her daughter’s shoulders. Caresses42 were rare with her.
“No,” she said decidedly, “Brand Fair ain’t a deceiver. I’d stake a lot on that. I feel to trust him, honey. Whatever is wrong in this terrible tangle43, it ain’t Brand—an’ you can take your old Mammy’s word on that.”
The girl straightened her shoulders, lifted her head.
“I do trust him, Mammy,” she said gallantly44, “whatever has happened in the past I know it has not made him a liar—and I feel to be ashamed of myself.”
“Needn’t,” said Mrs. Allison succinctly45, “it’s natural—th’ age-old instinct of jealousy. Come down from our naked ancestors when th’ man was th’ food-getter an’ th’ woman fought with tooth an’ nail if another female hove in sight. You’d like to go right out now an’ scratch that woman’s eyes out, wouldn’t you?”
A sickly smile trembled on Nance’s lips.
“I guess I would,” she said unsteadily, “because—you see—if—if she’s his wife—why—he can’t take another.”
“There’s divorce laws in this country, ain’t there? How do you know she’s his wife now?”
“Mammy,” said Nance gratefully, “you’re the most wonderful woman I ever knew! You’ve got more reason than a houseful of lawyers. And I’m going to take heart right now. I’ll put this picture away in the package and wait till Brand is ready to tell me all about it—and I’ll stand steady in my love and my faith.”
“That’s my big girl!” said the mother, “now get to work at something. It’s th’ best cure-all on earth.”
Cattle Kate Cathrew sat on the broad veranda46 at Sky Line. She was clad like a sybarite, in shining satin. Rings sparkled on her fingers, lights sparkled in her hard eyes, a close-held excitement was visible in her whole appearance. She looked down across the vast green-clad slopes of Mystery and held her breath that she might the better listen for a sound in the stillness.
For she was waiting for the writer of those letters, the man from New York who came at regular intervals47 to bask48 in the peace of Sky Line—for Lawrence Arnold himself.
It made her heart beat in slow, heavy strokes, too deeply charged for swiftness. It made her lips dry as fast as she could wet them, set a feeling of paralysis50 along the muscles of her arms.
She was in a trance of expectation, as exquisite51 as the fullest realisation. She had been so ever since the departure at early dawn of Provine with a led horse—none other than Bluefire whose proud back no one but this man ever crossed, except herself.
For three hours she had sat in the rustic52 rocker like a graven image, her hands spread on the broad arms, her immaculate black head seemingly at rest against the back.
And not a soul at Sky Line would have disturbed her.
From a distant corral where he tinkered at some trivial task Big Basford watched her with wild red eyes. At these times the man was a savage53 who would have killed Arnold joyfully54 had the thing been possible. Minnie Pine, busy at the kitchen window, watched him.
“The Black Devil is in hell, Josefa,” she said guardedly, “he knows the master’s coming—and that the Boss will lie in his arms.”
“He pays for his sins,” said Josefa calmly, “which is more than the others do.”
“Rod,” returned the half-breed, “has no sins.”
“He-ugh! He-ugh!” laughed the old woman, “so says the young fool because she loves him.”
“I know what I know,” said Minnie, “the Blue Eyes has a clean heart. One sin, maybe, yes—or two, maybe—but he sits sometimes with his head in his hands, and he mourns—like our people for death. He says it is for death—death of a man’s honor killed by mistake. I know, for I’ve sat with him then—and he has put his face in my neck.”
There was a high beauty about the simple words and the ancient dame55 looked at the girl with understanding. For a moment the cynicism was absent.
“You speak truth,” she said softly, “the man is a stranger to these others. Also he is of a white heart. He should have been a Pomo chief in the old days.”
Noon came and passed and Kate Cathrew did not eat.
She watched the sun drop over toward the west, the pine shadows turn on the slopes.
And then, far down, she caught the sound of hoofs56 and rose straight up from her chair, one hand on her thundering heart. The action was her only concession57 to the fierce emotion which was eating her. When Sud Provine came out of the pines below with Bluefire and his rider in convoy58 she was seated again in the broad-armed rocker, to all intents as calm as moonlight on snow.
Lawrence Arnold dismounted stiffly and handed the rein59 to Provine, then raised his eyes and looked at her.
He knew the volcano covered in and shut from sight under this woman’s cool exterior—this woman who was his woman.
Cattle Kate rose languidly and came to meet him and her brilliant eyes returned the understanding to the nth degree—they were full of passion, of promise.
“Man,” she said under her breath, as their hands met, “Oh, man! It’s been so long!”
They entered the house and Minnie Pine served the meal which had been waiting and which was the best Sky Line could produce, and afterward62 Lawrence Arnold reclined on a blanket-covered couch in the living-room and smoked in smiling peace.
Kate Cathrew sat near, her eyes devouring63 his slim form, and talked swiftly of many vital matters.
“Do you need any new men?” he asked her, “I have two who would be good. One is out on bail—mine—the other was acquitted64, as usual. Both will crawl.”
“No,” said Kate, “and I want to give you back one I have—Provine. He is insubordinate. Deal with him hard.”
Arnold nodded.
“Was the last shipment O.K.?” asked Kate. “Have I done well, my master?”
She smiled jestingly, but the title was true in every sense of the word.
“Exceedingly,” he answered, “the shipment was prime and we cleaned up on it. In my grips there are several little trinkets for you, bought with some of the surplus. I commend you.”
He reached for her hand and the woman flushed with pleasure.
“This new shipment,” she said, “can you trust your agent to float it?”
“Absolutely, or I wouldn’t be here.”
“It goes out in a few days—as soon as the hue-and-cry dies down a bit. There is plenty of feed in Rainbow’s Pot to hold the herd65 several weeks, if need be, but I like to get clear as quick as possible.”
“Good work. You’re a clever girl, Kate. We’re making money fast. One thing more—have you succeeded in getting hold of the big feeding flats on the river?”
Kate frowned.
“No—the damned poor trash hang on like grim death. I’ve done everything but kill them, and they’re still there.”
“That’s too bad,” said the man, “I guess maybe you need a little help. What have you done?”
“Old Missouri mother—boy—and a big slab-sided girl who’s the whole backbone69 of the family. Impudent70 baggage. You remember when the old man—ah—fell down Rainbow a couple of years ago?”
Arnold nodded again.
“Well, they’re trash—trash,” said Kate, “and stick to the flats like burrs. The girl’s religious. Talked some drivel about the hand of God being before her face, and came out flat-footed and said—before a crowd at the store, too—that those flats would feed a lot of cattle through, and that maybe I had a—hope—concerning them.”
“The devil she did!” said Arnold, sitting up. “I rather think you do need another head to handle this.”
“And that isn’t all,” said the woman. “Sheriff Selwood is knocked out at present, but he watched the boys drive this last bunch into the Pot. He rode to the very Flange71 itself. We’ve got to get these cattle down the Pipe and out before he comes round—though from what we can hear, it don’t seem likely he’ll come round. Sud shot him in the head. I think he’ll die myself, or I’d have driven out by now.”
Arnold was looking at her sharply.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Kate,” he said decidedly, “never take chances on the human system. I’ve seen a man come to after being electrocuted. We’ll get busy right now—tomorrow. In the meantime, please remember that I haven’t seen you for many moons. Let’s talk of love, tonight.”
There was a step at the door, and a dusty rider stood there.
“Want to report,” he said, “that I’ve just come up the Pipe and I found tracks—brushed out—at the mouth in Blue Stone—there were two men on foot. No hoof-marks. They looked in behind the willows72.”
Kate Cathrew rose straight up to her feet.
“Hell’s fire!” she said.
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收听单词发音
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1
nance
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| n.娘娘腔的男人，男同性恋者 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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abasement
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| n.滥用 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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drudge
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| n.劳碌的人；v.做苦工，操劳 | |
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labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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anguished
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| adj.极其痛苦的v.使极度痛苦(anguish的过去式) | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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toiler
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| 辛劳者，勤劳者 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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adoration
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| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
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covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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buddy
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| n.（美口）密友，伙伴 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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erased
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| v.擦掉( erase的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；清除 | |
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realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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dilating
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| v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的现在分词 ) | |
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miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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succinctly
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| adv.简洁地；简洁地，简便地 | |
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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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bask
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| vt.取暖，晒太阳，沐浴于 | |
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lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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paralysis
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| n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症) | |
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51
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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53
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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56
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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57
concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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58
convoy
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| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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aquiline
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| adj.钩状的，鹰的 | |
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prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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64
acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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intimidation
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| n.恐吓，威胁 | |
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67
livelihood
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| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
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68
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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69
backbone
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| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
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70
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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71
flange
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| n.边缘，轮缘，凸缘，法兰 | |
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72
willows
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| n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木 | |
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