the call of the canyon-第6部分
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er hours； could be wholly free of that sound。 It vaguely tormented Carley； yet was not uncomfortable。 She went out upon the porch。 The small alcove space held a bed and a rustic chair。 Above her the peeled poles of the roof descended to within a few feet of her head。 She had to lean over the rail of the porch to look up。 The green and red rock wall sheered ponderously near： The waterfall showed first at the notch of a fissure； where the cliff split； and down over smooth places the water gleamed； to narrow in a crack with little drops； and suddenly to leap into a thin white sheet。
Out from the porch the view was restricted to glimpses between the pines； and beyond to the opposite wall of the canyon。 How shut…in； how walled in this home！
〃In summer it might be good to spend a couple of weeks here；〃 soliloquized Carley。 〃But to live here？ Heavens！ A person might as well be buried。〃
Heavy footsteps upon the porch below accompanied by a man's voice quickened Carley's pulse。 Did they belong to Glenn？ After a strained second she decided not。 Nevertheless； the acceleration of her blood and an unwonted glow of excitement； long a stranger to her； persisted as she left the porch and entered the boarded hall。 How gray and barn…like this upper part of the house！ From the head of the stairway； however； the big living room presented a cheerful contrast。 There were warm colors； some comfortable rockers； a lamp that shed a bright light； and an open fire which alone would have dispelled the raw gloom of the day。
A large man in corduroys and top boots advanced to meet Carley。 He had a clean…shaven face that might have been hard and stern but for his smile； and one look into his eyes revealed their resemblance to Flo's。
〃I'm Tom Hutter； an' I'm shore glad to welcome you to Lolomi； Miss Carley；〃 he said。 His voice was deep and slow。 There were ease and force in his presence； and the grip he gave Carley's hand was that of a man who made no distinction in hand…shaking。 Carley； quick in her perceptions； instantly liked him and sensed in him a strong personality。 She greeted him in turn and expressed her thanks for his goodness to Glenn。 Naturally Carley expected him to say something about her fiance； but he did not。
〃Well； Miss Carley； if you don't mind； I'll say you're prettier than your picture；〃 said Hutter。 〃An' that is shore sayin' a lot。 All the sheep herders in the country have taken a peep at your picture。 Without permission； you understand。〃
〃I'm greatly flattered；〃 laughed Carley。
〃We're glad you've come；〃 replied Hutter； simply。 〃I just got back from the East myself。 Chicago an' Kansas City。 I came to Arizona from Illinois over thirty years ago。 An' this was my first trip since。 Reckon I've not got back my breath yet。 Times have changed； Miss Carley。 Times an' people！〃
Mrs。 Hutter bustled in from the kitchen； where manifestly she had been importantly engaged。 〃For the land's sakes！〃 she exclaimed； fervently； as she threw up her hands at sight of Carley。 Her expression was indeed a compliment； but there was a suggestion of shock in it。 Then Flo came in。 She wore a simple gray gown that reached the top of her high shoes。
〃Carley； don't mind mother；〃 said Flo。 〃She means your dress is lovely。 Which is my say； too。 。 。 。 But； listen。 I just saw Glenn comin' up the road。〃
Carley ran to the open door with more haste than dignity。 She saw a tall man striding along。 Something about him appeared familiar。 It was his walkan erect swift carriage； with a swing of the march still visible。 She recognized Glenn。 And all within her seemed to become unstable。 She watched him cross the road； face the house。 How changed！ Nothis was not Glenn Kilbourne。 This was a bronzed man； wide of shoulder； roughly garbed； heavy limbed； quite different from the Glenn she remembered。 He mounted the porch steps。 And Carley； still unseen herself； saw his face。 YesGlenn！ Hot blood seemed to be tingling liberated in her veins。 Wheeling away； she backed against the wall behind the door and held up a warning finger to Flo； who stood nearest。 Strange and disturbing then； to see something in Flo Hutter's eyes that could be read by a woman in only one way！
A tall form darkened the doorway。 It strode in and halted。
〃Flo！whowhere？〃 he began； breathlessly。
His voice； so well remembered； yet deeper； huskier； fell upon Carley's ears as something unconsciously longed for。 His frame had so filled out that she did not recognize it。 His face； too； had unbelievably changednot in the regularity of feature that had been its chief charm； but in contour of cheek and vanishing of pallid hue and tragic line。 Carley's heart swelled with joy。 Beyond all else she had hoped to see the sad fixed hopelessness； the havoc； gone from his face。 Therefore the restraint and nonchalance upon which Carley prided herself sustained eclipse。
〃Glenn！ Lookwho'shere！〃 she called； in voice she could not have steadied to save her life。 This meeting was more than she had anticipated。
Glenn whirled with an inarticulate cry。 He saw Carley。 Thenno matter how unreasonable or exacting had been Carley's longings； they were satisfied。
〃You！〃 he cried； and leaped at her with radiant face。
Carley not only did not care about the spectators of this meeting； but forgot them utterly。 More than the joy of seeing Glenn； more than the all satisfying assurance to her woman's heart that she was still beloved； welled up a deep； strange； profound something that shook her to her depths。 It was beyond selfishness。 It was gratitude to God and to the West that had restored him。
〃Carley！ I couldn't believe it was you；〃 he declared； releasing her from his close embrace； yet still holding her。
〃Yes； Glennit's Iall you've left of me；〃 she replied； tremulously； and she sought with unsteady hands to put up her dishevelled hair。 〃Youyou big sheep herder！ You Goliath！〃
〃I never was so knocked off my pins；〃 he said。 〃A lady to see mefrom New York！ 。 。 。 Of course it had to be you。 But I couldn't believe。 Carley； you were good to come。〃
Somehow the soft； warm took of his dark eyes hurt her。 New and strange indeed it was to her； as were other things about him。 Why had she not come West sooner？ She disengaged herself from his hold and moved away； striving for the composure habitual with her。 Flo Hutter was standing before the fire； looking down。 Mrs。 Hutter beamed upon Carley。
〃Now let's have supper；〃 she said。
〃Reckon Miss Carley can't eat now； after that hug Glenn gave her；〃 drawled Tom Hutter。 〃I was some worried。 You see Glenn has gained seventy pounds in six months。 An' he doesn't know his strength。〃
〃Seventy pounds！〃 exclaimed Carley； gayly。 〃I thought it was more。〃
〃Carley； you must excuse my violence；〃 said Glenn。 〃I've been hugging sheep。 That is； when I shear a sheep I have to hold him。〃
They all laughed； and so the moment of readjustment passed。 Presently Carley found herself sitting at table； directly across from Flo。 A pearly whiteness was slowly warming out of the girl's face。 Her frank clear eyes met Carley's and they had nothing to hide。 Carley's first requisite for character in a woman was that she be a thoroughbred。 She lacked it often enough herself to admire it greatly in another woman。 And that moment saw a birth of respect and sincere liking in her for this Western girl。 If Flo Hutter ever was a rival she would be an honest one。
Not long after supper Tom Hutter winked at Carley and said he 〃reckoned on general principles it was his hunch to go to bed。〃 Mrs。 Hutter suddenly discovered tasks to perform elsewhere。 And Flo said in her cool sweet drawl； somehow audacious and tantalizing； 〃Shore you two will want to spoon。〃
〃Now； Flo； Eastern girls are no longer old…fashioned enough for that；〃 declared Glenn。
〃Too bad！ Reckon I can't see how love could ever be old…fashioned。 Good night； Glenn。 Good night； Carley。〃
Flo stood an instant at the foot of the dark stairway where the light from the lamp fell upon her face。 It seemed sweet and earnest to Carley。 It expressed unconscious longing； but no envy。 Then she ran up the stairs to disappear。
〃Glenn； is that girl in love with you？〃 asked Carley； bluntly。
To her amaze； Glenn laughed。 When had she heard him laugh？ It thrilled her； yet nettled her a little。
〃If that isn't like you！〃 he ejaculated。 〃Your very first words after we are left alone！ It brings back the East； Carley。〃
〃Probably recall to memory will be good for you；〃 returned Carley。 〃But tell me。 Is she in love with you？〃
〃Why； no； certainly not！〃 replied Glenn。 〃Anyway； how could I answer such a question？ It just made me laugh； that's all。〃
〃Humph I I can remember when you were not above making love to a pretty girl。 You certainly had me worn to a frazzlebefore we became engaged；〃 said Carley。
〃Old times！ How long ago they seem！ 。 。 。 Carley； it's sure wonderful to see you。〃
〃How do you like my gown？〃 asked Carley； pirouetting for his benefit。
〃Well； what little there is of it is beautiful；〃 he replied； with a slow smile。 〃I always liked you best in white。 Did you remember？〃
〃Yes。 I got the gown for you。 And I'll never wear it except for you。〃
〃Same old coquettesame old eternal feminine；〃 he said； half sadly。 〃You know when you look stunning。 。 。 。 But； Carley； the cut of thator rather the abbreviation of itinclines me to think that style for women's clothes has not changed for the better。 In fact； it's worse than two years ago in Paris and later in New York。 Where will you women draw the line？〃
〃Women are slaves to the prevailing mode；〃 rejoined Carley。 〃I don't imagine women who dress would ever draw a line； if fashion went on dictating。〃
〃But would they care so muchif they had to workplenty of workand children？〃 inquired Glenn； wistfully。
〃Glenn！ Work and children for modern women？ Why； you are dreaming！〃 said Carley； with a laugh。
She saw him gaze thoughtfully into the glowing embers of the fire； and as she watched him her quick intuition grasped a subtle change in his mood。 It brought a sternness to his face。 She could hardly realize she was looking at the Glenn Kilbourne of old。
〃Come close to the fire；〃 he said； and pulled up a chair for her。 Then he threw more wood upon the red coals。 〃You must be care
