Yet despite the novelty of such a ride into that unknown new West now being spanned at giant’s strides by the miraculous4 Pacific Railway, behold5 me, surfeited6 with already five days’ steady travel, engrossed7 chiefly in observing a clear, dainty profile and waiting for the glimpses, time to time, of a pair of exquisite8 blue eyes.
Merely to indulge myself in feminine beauty, however, I need not have undertaken the expense and fatigue9 of journeying from Albany on the Hudson out to Omaha on the plains side of the Missouri River; thence by the union Pacific Railroad of the new transcontinental line into the Indian country. There were handsome women a-plenty in the East; and of access, also, to a youth of family and parts. I had pictures of the same in my social register. A man does not attain10 to twenty-five years without having accomplished11 a few pages of the heart book. Nevertheless all such pages were—or had seemed to be—wholly retrospective now, for here I was, advised by the physicians to “go West,” meaning by this not simply the one-time West of Ohio, or Illinois, or even Iowa, but the remote and genuine West lying beyond the Missouri.
Whereupon, out of desperation that flung the gauntlet down to hope I had taken the bull by the horns in earnest. West should be full dose, at the utmost procurable12 by modern conveyance13.
The union Pacific announcements acclaimed14 that this summer of 1868 the rails should cross the Black Hills Mountains of Wyoming to another range of the Rocky Mountains, in Utah; and that by the end of the year one might ride comfortably clear to Salt Lake City. Certainly this was “going West” with a vengeance15; but as appeared to me—and to my father and mother and the physicians—somewhere in the expanse of brand new Western country, the plains and mountains, I would find at least the breath of life.11
When I arrived in Omaha the ticket agent was enabled to sell me transportation away to the town of Benton, Wyoming Territory itself, six hundred and ninety miles (he said) west of the Missouri.
Of Benton I had never heard. It was upon no public maps, as yet. But in round figures, seven hundred miles! Practically the distance from Albany to Cincinnati, and itself distant from Albany over two thousand miles! All by rail.
Benton was, he explained, the present end of passenger service, this August. In another month—and he laughed.
“Fact is, while you’re standing16 here,” he alleged17, “I may get orders any moment to sell a longer ticket. The Casements18 are laying two to three miles of track a day, seven days in the week, and stepping right on the heels of the graders. Last April we were selling only to Cheyenne, rising of five hundred miles. Then in May we began to sell to Laramie, five hundred and seventy-six miles. Last of July we began selling to Benton, a hundred and twenty miles farther. Track’s now probably fifty or more miles west of Benton and there’s liable to be another passenger terminus to-morrow. So it might pay you to wait.”
“No,” I said. “Thank you, but I’ll try Benton. I can go on from there as I think best. Could you recommend local accommodations?”
He stared, through the bars of the little window behind which lay a six-chambered revolver.
“Could I do what, sir?”
“Recommend a hotel, at Benton where I’m going. There is a hotel, I suppose?”
“Good Lord!” he exclaimed testily19. “In a city of three thousand people? A hotel? A dozen of ’em, but I don’t know their names. What do you expect to find in Benton? You’re from the East, I take it. Going out on spec’, or pleasure, or health?”
“I have been advised to try Western air for a change,” I answered. “I am looking for some place that is high, and dry.”
“Consumption, eh?” he shrewdly remarked. “High and dry; that’s it. Oh, yes; you’ll find Benton high enough, and toler’bly dry. You bet! And nobody dies natural, at Benton, they say. Here’s your ticket. Thank you. And the change. Next, please.”
It did not take me long to gather the change remaining from seventy dollars greenbacks swapped20 for six hundred and ninety miles of travel at ten cents a mile. I hastily stepped aside. A subtle fragrance21 and a rustle22 warned me that I was obstructing23 a representative of the fair sex. So did the smirk24 and smile of the ticket agent.
She acknowledged the tribute with a faint blush. While pocketing my change and stowing away my ticket I had opportunity to survey her further.
We were bound for the same point, then. Ye gods, but she was a little beauty: a perfect blonde, of the petite and fully27 formed type, with regular features inclined to the clean-cut Grecian, a piquant28 mouth deliciously bowed, two eyes of the deepest blue veiled by long lashes29, and a mass of glinting golden hair upon which perched a ravishing little bonnet30. The natural ensemble31 was enhanced by her costume, all of black, from the closely fitting bodice to the rustling32 crinoline beneath which there peeped out tiny shoes. I had opportunity also to note the jet pendant in the shelly ear toward me, and the flashing rings upon the fingers of her hands, ungloved in order to sort out the money from her reticule.
Sooth to say, I might not stand there gawking. Once, by a demure33 sideways glance, she betrayed knowledge of my presence. Her own transaction was all matter-of-fact, as if engaging passage to Benton of Wyoming Territory contained no novelty for her. Could she by any chance live there—a woman dressed like she was, as much à la mode as if she walked Broadway in New York? Omaha itself had astonished me with the display upon its streets; and now if Benton, far out in the wilderness34, should prove another surprise——! Indeed, the Western world was not so raw, after all. Strange to say, as soon as one crossed the Missouri River one began to sense romance, and to discover it.
As seemed to me, the ticket agent would have detained her, in defiance35 of the waiting line; but she finished her business shortly, with shorter replies to his idle remarks; and I turned away under pretense36 of examining some placards upon the wall advertising37 “Platte Valley lands” for sale. I had curiosity to see which way she wended. Then as she tripped for the door, casting eyes never right nor left, and still fumbling38 at her reticule, a coin slipped from her fingers and rolled, by good fortune, across the floor.
I was after it instantly; caught it, and with best bow presented it.
“Permit me, madam.”
She took it.
“Thank you, sir.”
For a moment she paused to restore it to its company; and I grasped the occasion.
“I beg your pardon. You are going to Benton, of Wyoming Territory?”
Her eyes met mine so completely as well-nigh to daze39 me with their glory. There was a quizzical uplift in her frank, arch smile.
“I am, sir. To Benton City, of Wyoming Territory.”
“You are acquainted there?” I ventured.
“Yes, sir. I am acquainted there. And you are from Benton?”
“Oh, no,” I assured. “I am from New York State.” As if anybody might not have known. 15“But I have just purchased my ticket to Benton, and——” I stammered40, “I have made bold to wonder if you would not have the goodness to tell me something of the place—as to accommodations, and all that. You don’t by any chance happen to live there, do you?”
“And why not, sir, may I ask?” she challenged.
“I didn’t know—I had no idea—Wyoming Territory has been mentioned in the newspapers as largely Indian country——”
“At Benton we are only six days behind New York fashions,” she smiled. “You have not been out over the railroad, then, I suspect. Not to North Platte? Nor to Cheyenne?”
“I have never been west of Cincinnati before.”
“You have surely been reading of the railroad? The Pacific Railway between the East and California?”
“Yes, indeed. In fact, a friend of mine, named Stephen Clark, nephew of the Honorable Thurlow Weed formerly43 of Albany, was killed a year ago by your Indians while surveying west of the Black Hills. And of course there have been accounts in the New York papers.”
“You are not on survey service? Or possibly, yes?”
“No, madam.”16
“A pleasure trip to end of track?”
She evidently was curious, but I was getting accustomed to questions into private matters. That was the universal license44, out here.
“The pleasure of finding health,” I laughed. “I have been advised to seek a location high and dry.”
“Oh!” She dimpled adorably. “I congratulate you on your choice. You will make no mistake, then, in trying Benton. I can promise you that it is high and reasonably dry. And as for accommodations—so far as I have ever heard anybody is accommodated there with whatever he may wish.” She darted45 a glance at me; stepped aside as if to leave.
“I am to understand that it is a city?” I pleaded.
“Benton? Why, certainly. All the world is flowing to Benton. We gained three thousand people in two weeks—much to the sorrow of poor old Cheyenne and Laramie. No doubt there are five thousand people there now, and all busy. Yes, a young man will find his opportunities in Benton. I think your choice will please you. Money is plentiful46, and so are the chances to spend it.” She bestowed47 upon me another sparkling glance. “And since we are both going to Benton I will say ’Au revoir,’ sir.” She left me quivering.
“You do live there?” I besought48, after; and received a nod of the golden head as she entered the sacred Ladies’ Waiting Room.
Until the train should be made up I might only 17stroll, restless and strangely buoyed49, with that vision of an entrancing fellow traveler filling my eyes. Summoned in due time by the clamor “Passengers for the Pacific Railway! All aboard, going west on the union Pacific!” here amidst the platform hurly-burly of men, women, children and bundles I had the satisfaction to sight the black-clad figure of My Lady of the Blue Eyes; hastening, like the rest, but not unattended—for a brakeman bore her valise and the conductor her parasol. The scurrying50 crowd gallantly51 parted before her. It as promptly52 closed upon her wake; try as I might I was utterly53 unable to keep in her course.
Obviously, the train was to be well occupied. Carried on willy-nilly I mounted the first steps at hand; elbowed on down the aisle54 until I managed to squirm aside into a vacant seat. The remaining half was at once effectually filled by a large, stout55, red-faced woman who formed the base of a pyramid of boxes and parcels.
My neighbor, who blocked all egress56, was going to North Platte, three hundred miles westward57, I speedily found out. And she almost as speedily learned that I was going to Benton.
She stared, round-eyed.
“I reckon you’re a gambler, young man,” she accused.
“No, madam. Do I look like a gambler?”
“You can’t tell by looks, young man,” she asserted, still suspicious, “Maybe you’re on spec’, then, in some other way.”
“I am seeking health in the West, is all, where the climate is high and dry.”
“My Gawd!” she blurted58. “High and dry! You’re goin’ to the right place. For all I hear tell, Benton is high enough and dry enough. Are your eye-teeth peeled, young man?”
“My eye-teeth?” I repeated. “I hope so, madam. Are eye-teeth necessary in Benton?”
“Peeled, and with hair on ’em, young man,” she assured. “I guess you’re a pilgrim, ain’t you? I see a leetle green in your eye. No, you ain’t a tin-horn. You’re some mother’s boy, jest gettin’ away from the trough. My sakes! Sick, too, eh? Weak lungs, ain’t it? Now you tell me: Why you goin’ to Benton?”
There was an inviting59 kindness in her query. Plainly she had a good heart, large in proportion with her other bulk.
“It’s the farthest point west that I can reach by railroad, and everybody I have talked with has recommended it as high and dry.”
“So it is,” she nodded; and chuckled60 fatly. “But laws sakes, you don’t need to go that fur. You can as well stop off at North Platte, or Sidney or Cheyenne. They’ll sculp you sure at Benton, unless you watch out mighty61 sharp.”
“How so, may I ask?”
“You’re certainly green,” she apprised62. “Benton’s roarin’—and I know what that means. Didn’t North Platte roar? I seen it at its beginnin’s. My old man and me, we were there from the fust, when it started in as the railroad terminal. My sakes, but them were times! What with the gamblin’ and the shootin’ and the drinkin’ and the high-cockalorums night and day, ’twasn’t no place for innocence63. Easy come, easy go, that was the word. I don’t say but what times were good, though. My old man contracted government freight, and I run an eatin’ house for the railroaders, so we made money. Then when the railroad moved terminus, the wust of the crowd moved, too, and us others who stayed turned North Platte into a strictly64 moral town. But land sakes! North Platte in its roarin’ days wasn’t no place for a young man like you. Neither was Julesburg, or Sidney, or Cheyenne, when they was terminuses. And I hear tell Benton is wuss’n all rolled into one. Young man, now listen: You stop off at North Platte, Nebrasky. It’s healthy and it’s moral, and it’s goin’ to make Omyha look like a shinplaster. I’ll watch after you. Maybe I can get you a job in my man’s store. You’ve j’ined some church, I reckon? Now if you’re a Baptist——?”
But since I had crossed the Missouri something had entered into my blood which rendered me obstinate65 against such allurements66. For her North Platte, “strictly moral,” and the guardianship67 of her broad 20motherly wing I had no ardent68 feeling. I was set upon Benton; foolishly, fatuously69 set. And in after days—soon to arrive—I bitterly regretted that I had not yielded to her wholesome70, honest counsel.
Nevertheless this was true, at present:
“But I have already purchased my ticket to Benton,” I objected. “I understand that I shall find the proper climate there, and suitable accommodations. And if I don’t like it I can move elsewhere. Possibly to Salt Lake City, or Denver.”
She snorted.
“In among them Mormons? My Gawd, young man! Where they live in conkibinage—several women to one man, like a buffler herd71 or other beasts of the field? I guess your mother never heard you talk like that. Denver—well, Denver mightn’t be bad, though I do hear tell that folks nigh starve to death there, what with the Injuns and the snow. Denver ain’t on no railroad, either. If you want health, and to grow up with a strictly moral community, you throw in with North Platte of Nebrasky, the great and growin’ city of the Plains. I reckon you’ve heard of North Platte, even where you come from. You take my word for it, and exchange your ticket.”
It struck me here that the good woman might not be unbiased in her fondness for North Platte. To extol72 the present and future of these Western towns seemed a fixed73 habit. During my brief stay in Omaha—yes, on the way across Illinois and Iowa 21from Chicago, I had encountered this peculiar74 trait. Iowa was rife75 with aspiring76 if embryonic77 metropolises78. Now in Nebraska, Columbus was destined79 to be the new national capital and the center of population for the United States; Fremont was lauded80 as one of the great railroad junctions81 of the world; and North Platte, three hundred miles out into the plains, was proclaimed as the rival of Omaha, and “strictly moral.”
“I thank you,” I replied. “But since I’ve started for Benton I think I’ll go on. And if I don’t like it or it doesn’t agree with me you may see me in North Platte after all.”
“You can find me at the Bon Ton restaurant. If you get in broke, I’ll take care of you.”
With that she settled herself comfortably. In remarkably83 short order she was asleep and snoring.
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1
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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antelope
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| n.羚羊；羚羊皮 | |
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rodents
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| n.啮齿目动物( rodent的名词复数 ) | |
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miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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surfeited
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| v.吃得过多( surfeit的过去式和过去分词 )；由于过量而厌腻 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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procurable
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| adj.可得到的，得手的 | |
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conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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acclaimed
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| adj.受人欢迎的 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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casements
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| n.窗扉( casement的名词复数 ) | |
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testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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swapped
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| 交换（工作）( swap的过去式和过去分词 )； 用…替换，把…换成，掉换（过来） | |
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fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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obstructing
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| 阻塞( obstruct的现在分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止 | |
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smirk
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| n.得意地笑；v.傻笑；假笑着说 | |
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proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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piquant
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| adj.辛辣的，开胃的，令人兴奋的 | |
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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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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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ensemble
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| n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果 | |
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rustling
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demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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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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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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advertising
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| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
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fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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daze
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| v.(使)茫然，(使)发昏 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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tantalizing
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| adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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formerly
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license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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buoyed
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| v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神 | |
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scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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egress
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| n.出去；出口 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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allurements
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| n.诱惑( allurement的名词复数 )；吸引；诱惑物；有诱惑力的事物 | |
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guardianship
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| n. 监护, 保护, 守护 | |
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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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69
fatuously
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| adv.愚昧地，昏庸地，蠢地 | |
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70
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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71
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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72
extol
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| v.赞美，颂扬 | |
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73
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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74
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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75
rife
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| adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的 | |
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76
aspiring
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| adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求 | |
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77
embryonic
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| adj.胚胎的 | |
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78
metropolises
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| n.一国的主要城市（不一定是首都）( metropolis的名词复数 )；中心；大都会；大城市 | |
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79
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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80
lauded
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| v.称赞，赞美( laud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81
junctions
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| 联结点( junction的名词复数 )； 会合点； （公路或铁路的）交叉路口； （电缆等的）主结点 | |
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82
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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83
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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