to the last man-第13部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


great　he　could　not　tell。　　Was　it　only　a　day　since　he　had　met　Ellen
Jorth？　　What　had　made　all　the　difference？　　Suddenly　like　a　breath
the　fragrance　of　her　hair　came　back　to　him。　　Then　the　sweet　coolness
of　her　lips！　　Jean　trembled。　　He　looked　around　him　as　if　he　were
pursued　or　surrounded　by　eyes；　by　instincts；　by　fears；　by
incomprehensible　things。

〃Ahuh！　　That　must　be　what　ails　me；〃　he　muttered。　　〃The　look　of　heran'
that　kissthey've　gone　hard　me。　　I　should　never　have　stopped　to　talk。
An'　I'm　to　kill　her　father　an'　leave　her　to　God　knows　what。〃

Something　was　wrong　somewhere。　　Jean　absolutely　forgot　that　within
the　hour　he　had　pledged　his　manhood；　his　life　to　a　feud　which　could
be　blotted　out　only　in　blood。　　If　he　had　understood　himself　he　would
have　realized　that　the　pledge　was　no　more　thrilling　and　unintelligible
in　its　possibilities　than　this　instinct　which　drew　him　irresistibly。

〃Ellen　Jorth！　　Somy　dad　calls　her　a　damned　hussy！　　Sothat　explains
thethe　way　she　actedwhy　she　never　hit　me　when　I　kissed　her。　　An'
her　words；　so　easy　an'　cool…like。　　Hussy？　　That　means　she's　badbad！
Scornful　of　memaybe　disappointed　because　my　kiss　was　innocent！
It　was；　I　swear。　　An'　all　she　said：　'Oh；　I've　been　kissed　before。'〃

Jean　grew　furious　with　himself　for　the　spreading　of　a　new　sensation
in　his　breast　that　seemed　now　to　ache。　　Had　he　become　infatuated；
all　in　a　day；　with　this　Ellen　Jorth？　　Was　he　jealous　of　the　men　who
had　the　privilege　of　her　kisses？　　No！　　But　his　reply　was　hot　with　shame；
with　uncertainty。　　The　thing　that　seemed　wrong　was　outside　of　himself。
A　blunder　was　no　crime。　　To　be　attracted　by　a　pretty　girl　in　the　woods
to　yield　to　an　impulse　was　no　disgrace；　nor　wrong。　　He　had　been
foolish　over　a　girl　before；　though　not　to　such　a　rash　extent。　　Ellen
Jorth　had　stuck　in　his　consciousness；　and　with　her　a　sense　of　regret。

Then　swiftly　rang　his　father's　bitter　words；　the　revealing：　〃But　the
looks　of　her　an'　what　she　isthey　don't　gibe！〃　　In　the　import　of
these　words　hid　the　meaning　of　the　wrong　that　troubled　him。
Broodingly　he　pondered　over　them。

〃The　looks　of　her。　　Yes；　she　was　pretty。　　But　it　didn't　dawn　on　me　at
first。　　II　was　sort　of　excited。　　I　liked　to　look　at　her；　but　didn't
think。〃　　And　now　consciously　her　face　was　called　up；　infinitely　sweet
and　more　impelling　for　the　deliberate　memory。　　Flash　of　brown　skin；
smooth　and　clear；　level　gaze　of　dark；　wide　eyes；　steady；　bold；　unseeing；
red　curved　lips；　sad　and　sweet；　her　strong；　clean；　fine　face　rose
before　Jean；　eager　and　wistful　one　moment；　softened　by　dreamy　musing
thought；　and　the　next　stormily　passionate；　full　of　hate；　full　of
longing；　but　the　more　mysterious　and　beautiful。

She　looks　like　that；　but　she's　bad；〃　concluded　Jean；　with　bitter
finality。　　〃I　might　have　fallen　in　love　with　Ellen　Jorth　ifif
she'd　been　different。〃

But　the　conviction　forced　upon　Jean　did　not　dispel　the　haunting
memory　of　her　face　nor　did　it　wholly　silence　the　deep　and　stubborn
voice　of　his　consciousness。　　Later　that　afternoon　he　sought　a　moment
with　his　sister。

〃Ann；　did　you　ever　meet　Ellen　Jorth？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　but　not　lately；〃　replied　Ann。

〃Well；　I　met　her　as　I　was　ridin'　along　yesterday。　　She　was　herdin'
sheep；〃　went　on　Jean；　rapidly。　　〃I　asked　her　to　show　me　the　way　to
the　Rim。　　An'　she　walked　with　me　a　mile　or　so。　　I　can't　say　the　meetin'
was　not　interestin'；　at　least　to　me。　。　。　。　Will　you　tell　me　what　you
know　about　her？〃

〃Sure；　Jean；〃　replied　his　sister；　with　her　dark　eyes　fixed　wonderingly
and　kindly　on　his　troubled　face。　　〃I've　heard　a　great　deal；　but　in　this
Tonto　Basin　I　don't　believe　all　I　hear。　　What　I　know　I'll　tell　you。
I　first　met　Ellen　Jorth　two　years　ago。　　We　didn't　know　each　other's
names　then。　　She　was　the　prettiest　girl　I　ever　saw。　　I　liked　her。
She　liked　me。　　She　seemed　unhappy。　　The　next　time　we　met　was　at　a
round…up。　　There　were　other　girls　with　me　and　they　snubbed　her。
But　I　left　them　and　went　around　with　her。　　That　snub　cut　her　to
the　heart。　　She　was　lonely。　　She　had　no　friends。　　She　talked　about
herselfhow　she　hated　the　people；　but　loved　Arizona。　　She　had　nothin'
fit　to　wear。　　I　didn't　need　to　be　told　that　she'd　been　used　to　better
things。　　Just　when　it　looked　as　if　we　were　goin'　to　be　friends　she
told　me　who　she　was　and　asked　me　my　name。　　I　told　her。　　Jean；　I
couldn't　have　hurt　her　more　if　I'd　slapped　her　face。　　She　turned
white。　　She　gasped。　　And　then　she　ran　off。　　The　last　time　I　saw　her
was　about　a　year　ago。　　I　was　ridin'　a　short…cut　trail　to　the　ranch
where　a　friend　lived。　　And　I　met　Ellen　Jorth　ridin'　with　a　man　I'd
never　seen。　　The　trail　was　overgrown　and　shady。　　They　were　ridin'
close　and　didn't　see　me　right　off。　　The　man　had　his　arm　round　her。
She　pushed　him　away。　　I　saw　her　laugh。　　Then　he　got　hold　of　her　again
and　was　kissin'　her　when　his　horse　shied　at　sight　of　mine。　　They　rode
by　me　then。　　Ellen　Jorth　held　her　head　high　and　never　looked　at　me。〃

〃Ann；　do　you　think　she's　a　bad　girl？〃　demanded　Jean；　bluntly。

〃Bad？　　Oh；　Jean！〃　exclaimed　Ann；　in　surprise　and　embarrassment。

〃Dad　said　she　was　a　damned　hussy。〃

〃Jean；　dad　hates　the　Jorths。　〃

〃Sister；　I'm　askin'　you　what　you　think　of　Ellen　Jorth。　　Would　you
be　friends　with　her　if　you　could？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　you　don't　believe　she's　bad。〃

〃No。　　Ellen　Jorth　is　lonely；　unhappy。　　She　has　no　mother。　　She　lives
alone　among　rough　men。　　Such　a　girl　can't　keep　men　from　handlin'　her
and　kissin'　her。　　Maybe　she's　too　free。　　Maybe　she's　wild。　　But　she's
honest；　Jean。　　You　can　trust　a　woman　to　tell。　　When　she　rode　past　me
that　day　her　face　was　white　and　proud。　　She　was　a　Jorth　and　I　was　an
Isbel。　　She　hated　herselfshe　hated　me。　　But　no　bad　girl　could　look
like　that。　　She　knows　what's　said　of　her　all　around　the　valley。
But　she　doesn't　care。　　She'd　encourage　gossip。〃

〃Thank　you；　Ann；〃　replied　Jean；　huskily。　　〃Please　keep　thisthis
meetin'　of　mine　with　her　all　to　yourself；　won't　you？〃

〃Why；　Jean；　of　course　I　will。〃

Jean　wandered　away　again；　peculiarly　grateful　to　Ann　for　reviving
and　upholding　something　in　him　that　seemed　a　wavering　part　of　the
best　of　hima　chivalry　that　had　demanded　to　be　killed　by　judgment
of　a　righteous　woman。　　He　was　conscious　of　an　uplift；　a　gladdening
of　his　spirit。　　Yet　the　ache　remained。　　More　than　that；　he　found
himself　plunged　deeper　into　conjecture；　doubt。　　Had　not　the　Ellen
Jorth　incident　ended？　　He　denied　his　father's　indictment　of　her　and
accepted　the　faith　of　his　sister。　　〃Reckon　that's　aboot　all；　as　dad
says；〃　he　soliloquized。　　Yet　was　that　all？　　He　paced　under　the　cedars。
He　watched　the　sun　set。　　He　listened　to　the　coyotes。　　He　lingered
there　after　the　call　for　supper；　until　out　of　the　tumult　of　his
conflicting　emotions　and　ponderings　there　evolved　the　staggering
consciousness　that　he　must　see　Ellen　Jorth　again。



CHAPTER　IV

Ellen　Jorth　hurried　back　into　the　forest；　hotly　resentful　of　the
accident　that　had　thrown　her　in　contact　with　an　Isbel。

Disgust　filled　herdisgust　that　she　had　been　amiable　to　a　member
of　the　hated　family　that　had　ruined　her　father。　　The　surprise　of
this　meeting　did　not　come　to　her　while　she　was　under　the　spell　of
stronger　feeling。　　She　walked　under　the　trees；　swiftly；　with　head
erect；　looking　straight　before　her；　and　every　step　seemed　a　relief。

Upon　reaching　camp；　her　attention　was　distracted　from　herself。　　Pepe；
the　Mexican　boy；　with　the　two　shepherd　dogs；　was　trying　to　drive　sheep
into　a　closer　bunch　to　save　the　lambs　from　coyotes。　　Ellen　loved　the
fleecy；　tottering　little　lambs；　and　at　this　season　she　hated　all　the
prowling　beast　of　the　forest。　　From　this　time　on　for　weeks　the　flock
would　be　besieged　by　wolves；　lions；　bears；　the　last　of　which　were
often　bold　and　dangerous。　　The　old　grizzlies　that　killed　the　ewes
to　eat　only　the　milk…bags　were　particularly　dreaded　by　Ellen。　　She
was　a　good　shot　with　a　rifle；　but　had　orders　from　her　father　to　let
the　bears　alone。　　Fortunately；　such　sheep…killing　bears　were　but　few；
and　were　left　to　be　hunted　by　men　from　the　ranch。　　Mexican　sheep
herders　could　not　be　depended　upon　to　protect　their　flocks　from　bears。
Ellen　helped　Pepe　drive　in　the　stragglers；　and　she　took　several　shots
at　coyotes　skulking　along　the　edge　of　the　brush。　　The　open　glade　in
the　forest　was　favorable　for　herding　the　sheep　at　night；　and　the　dogs
could　be　depended　upon　to　guard　the　flock；　and　in　most　cases　to　drive
predatory　beasts　away。

After　this　task；　which　brought　the　time　to　sunset；　Ellen　had　supper
to　cook　and　eat。　　Darkness　came；　and　a　cool　night　wind　set　in。
Here　and　there　a　lamb　bleated　plaintively。　　With　her　work　done　for
the　day；　Ellen　sat　before　a　ruddy　camp　fire；　and　found　her　thoughts
again　centering　around　the　singular　adventure　that　had　befallen　her。
Disdainfully　she　strove　to　think　of　something　else。　　But　there　was
nothing　that　could　dispel　the　interest　of　her　meeting　with　Jean　Isbel。
Thereupon　she　impatiently　surrendered　to　it；　and　recalled　every　word
and　action　which　she　could　remember。　　And　in　the　process　of　this
meditation　she　came　to　an　action　of　hers；　recollection　of　which
brought　the　blood　tingling　to　her　neck　and　cheeks；　so　unusually
and　burningly　that　she　covered　them　with　her　hands。　　〃What　did　he
think　of　me？〃　she　mused；　doubtfully。　　It　did　not　matter　what　he
thought；　but　she　could　not　help　wondering。　　And　when　she　came　to
the　memory　of　his　kiss　she　suffered　more　than　the　sensation　of
throbbing　scarlet　cheeks。　　Scornfully　and　bitterly　she　burst　out；
〃Shore　he　couldn't　have　thought　much　good　of　me。〃

The　half　hour　following　this　reminiscence　was　far　from　being　pleasant。
Proud；　passionate；　strong…willed　Ellen　Jorth　found　herself　a　victim　of
conflicting　emotions。　　The　event　of　the　day　was　too　close。　　She　could
not　understand　it。　　Disgust　and　disdain　and　scorn　could　not　make　this
meeting　with　Jean　Isbel　as　if　it　had　never　been。　　Pride　could　not　efface
it　from　her　mind。　　The　more　she　reflected；　the　harder　she　tried　to
forget；　the　stronger　grew　a　significance　of　interest。　　And　when　a　hint
of　this　dawned　upon　her　consciousness　she　resented　it　so　forcibly　that
she　lost　her　temper；　scattered　the　camp　fire；　and　went　into　the　little
teepee　tent　to　roll　in　her　blankets。