登陆注册
15426600000043

第43章 A SURE-ENOUGH MAN(3)

Wilfred laughed without bitterness.Don't let my kinship to brother Edgerton disturb your ideal.We're so different that we parted without saying good-by,and although I had the weakness to imagine we might patch up old differences if we could meet here in the desert,I suppose we'd have fallen out in a day or two--we're so unlike.And as to Miss Sellimer--Annabel Sellimer--she is the girl whose letters I was carrying about with me when I first saw you.She refused me because I was as poor as herself;so you see,the whole bunch is out of my class.

That's good,Willock's face cleared up.Mind you,I ain't saying that as for me and Bill,we'd wouldn't rather sit with you in a dugout than with them in a palace on Lake Michigan.But it's all a matter of getting Lahoma out into the big world,and you gave me a terrible jolt,scaring me that after all we'd made a mistake,and they was just of your plain every-day cloth.

Wilfred moved uneasily.Has Lahoma made their acquaintance,then?

It looks like it,don't it?

What looks like it?Wilfred asked with sudden sharpness.Why,her going off,with 'em to spend the winter in high life.

That's why I was so glad to see you,Bill explained,her being gone,and us so lonesome.That's why I'd like to have you stay with us a long time--until she comes back,if it suits you.

But I thought....But I came here to see Lahoma,cried Wilfred,unable to conceal his disappointment.I thought as I came up the road that I saw her half-opening the cabin-door.

That was Red Feather taking a peep at you.He's the Indian that brought Lahoma to Willock,as a child.He comes,about once a year,to see us,but this time he was a little too late for Lahoma.Yes,she's gone East--they're all putting up in Kansas City just now;on their way to Chicago.

Son,said Willock,puffing steadily at his pipe,why did you want to see Lahoma?

Well--you know she was just a child when I was here before,but she's hovered before my mind a good deal--I've been too busy to seek the acquaintance of strangers--just want to keep the few I know.He blew a rueful breath.You can't think how all my air-castles have fallen about my ears!I wanted to see Lahoma!Yes,I wanted to see how she'd turned out.I have a good farm,now,not very far from Oklahoma City and--Well,being alone there,year after year,a fellow gets to imagining a great many things--He stopped abruptly.

That's so,Willock agreed sympathetically.I ain't a-saying that if Lahoma'd been like me and Bill,she mightn't of liked farming with you first-class.But she was born as an associate of high men and women,not cows and chickens.It's the big world for her,and that's where she's gone.She's with real folks.Be Mr.Edgerton Compton your brother,or be he not,you can't imagine him setting down with us sociable in this dugout.You're right about his being different.And the fact that Miss Sellimer turned you down is encouraging,too.It shows you couldn't run in her course;you didn't have the speed.I guess we ain't made no mistake after ail.

There was silence,broken presently,by Bill--I'm glad you've come,sure!

Presently the door opened,and the Indian chief glided into the apartment with a grunt of salutation.He spread his blanket in a corner,and sat down,turning a stolid face to the fire.

Don't pay no attention to him,remarked Willock,as if speaking of some wild animal.He comes and goes,and isn't troublesome if you feeds and sleeps him,and don't try to lay your hand on him.

Bill Atkins rose.ButI always light up when he comes,he remarked,reaching stiffly for a lantern which in due time glimmered from the partition wall.Are you hungry,Wilfred?We never feed till late;it gives us something to sleep on.I lie awake pretty constantly all night,anyhow,and when I eat late,my stomach sorter keeps me company.

Wilfred declared that he was not in the least hungry.

I'm afraid you're disappointed,son,observed Willock,filling his pipe anew.

Wilfred turned to him with a frank smile.Brick--it's just awful!It's what comes from depending on something you've no right to consider a sure thing.I never thought of this cove without Lahoma in it;didn't seem like it could be so empty....How did she get acquainted with Annabel?--and with my brother?

It come about,son.I see at once that the bunch of 'em was from the big world.I come home and told Bill,'Them's the people to tow Lahoma out into life,'says I.So they invited her to spend the winter with them,the Sellimers did,and show her city doings.

Yes--but how did it come about?

Nothing more natural.I goes over to their tent and I tells them of the curiosities and good points of these mountains,and gets 'em to come on a sort of picnic to explore.So here they comes,and they gets scattered,what with Bill and Lahoma and me taking different ways--they liked Lahoma first time they see her,as a matter of course.And so,that Miss Sellimer,she gets separated from all the rest,and I shows her a dandy hiding-place where nobody couldn't find her,and I shows her what a good joke it would be to pretend to be lost.So I leaves her there to go to tell her crowd she dares 'em to find her.Are you listening?

Of course.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • tfboys相隔整个青春

    tfboys相隔整个青春

    易烊千玺你和我相隔整个青春凄拉王源,我的薄荷王子冰冉王俊凯,你是不是梦啊?悠雪
  • 六道法师

    六道法师

    命运坎坷的钟凡死后离奇复活,更是带回了地狱六道的能力。捉鬼降妖斗僵尸,六道法师写传奇
  • 弑魂武尊

    弑魂武尊

    一个《地下城与勇士》的黑暗君主玩家,意外穿越异界。拥有着鬼手的少年,操控着鬼神的力量。能否斩断命运之锁,完全取决于自身的意志。看少年柳黯如何运用鬼神的力量,从世界的底层,步步生莲,登上武道的巅峰。等级:锻体,后天,先天,元丹,真丹,天君,天尊,真神……
  • 中学文学读本(四)

    中学文学读本(四)

    文学阅读是综合素质与能力快速提高的重要途径。继《新语文读本》畅销十多年之后,著名人文学者陈思和教授、著名中学语文教育专家黄玉峰先生带领以大学教授和中学专家组成的强大团队,从语文能力的快速提高与个人素质的全面发展相结合的途径上,探究中学文学教育的新思路,历经数年精心打造成一套最具魅力的“中学文学读本”,献给广大中学生和文学爱好者。本书是《中学文学读本》第四册,内容包括:诸子争鸣,屈原与楚辞,史家之绝唱,曹氏父子的诗文,陶渊明的创作,李白与杜甫,韩、柳的古文运动,白居易的新乐府,晚唐诗人李商隐,唐人传奇十章。
  • 总裁太霸道:阔少独宠新妻
  • 神奇宝贝之月光皎洁

    神奇宝贝之月光皎洁

    流浪人世,世态炎凉,人间冷暖,她全看遍。一朝穿越,稚嫩之身,一切从头。且看她如何守护珍视之物,大战四天王,收服众神兽,勇斗火箭队,皎洁的月光,照耀人心!
  • 如同病态

    如同病态

    亲手掌控过别人的一生,亲眼目睹过别人的一生,但怎么都猜不透我们的一生,是悲欢还是腐朽。到头来,才发现处于病态的我们早就习惯这样的生活,病态的工作,病态的爱情,直到面目全非,亲手放弃这样颠倒重复的日子,浑浑噩噩的接受病态的我们。
  • 莽荒纪之无上之境

    莽荒纪之无上之境

    纪宁成了莽荒宇宙的掌控者,却并不甘心就此沉寂,希望能摸索到更高的境界。终极至尊之上,是否还有更高的境界?混沌宇宙之外,到底有什么?难道掌控者真的已经是至高存在了吗?这天,一群来自无尽虚空的神秘来客,给了纪宁机会。
  • 幻曲夜D

    幻曲夜D

    这是几晚的想象,几晚的凝聚,不想枉掉那时的兴奋与决心,战斗吧,随心所欲,绽放自身的情感!本文纯属虚构,若有违正常规律,请指出。
  • 火影之空羽

    火影之空羽

    一个狼族的后代,狼族的使命会由他传承下去吗?在21世纪他被视为一个怪人遭到世人的排斥。逞英雄,是个人都想做英雄但是也看好天时地利和人和,而他被自己的所不识的能力所“害”死。被突然降临又自称是神的老头给救下,给他5个选择给他这前几世悲催的命运做些弥补,而他则是选择了火影的世界。他会在火影世界闯出他的一片天地吗,他会成为所有穿越者最想成为的巅峰的存在吗?想知道就来看吧!