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！
The disclosure of her strange relations with an unknown man and the
exchange of presents and confidences seemed to suddenly awake
Fairley to a vague； uneasy sense of some unfulfilled duties as a
parent。 The first effect of this on his weak nature was a peevish
antagonism to the cause of it。 He had long； fretful monologues on
the vanity of diamond…making； if accompanied with a 〃pestering〃 by
〃interlopers；〃 on the wickedness of concealment and conspiracy； and
their effects on charcoal…burning； on the nurturing of spies and
〃adders〃 in the family circle； and on the seditiousness of dark and
mysterious councils in which a gray…haired father was left out。 It
was true that a word or look from Flip generally brought these
monologues to an inglorious and abrupt termination； but they were
none the less lugubrious as long as they lasted。 In time they were
succeeded by an affectation of contrite apology and self…
depreciation。 〃Don't go out o' the way to ask the old man；〃 he
would say； referring to the quantity of bacon to be ordered； 〃it's
nat'ral a young gal should have her own advisers。〃 The state of
the flour barrel would also produce a like self…abasement。 〃Unless
ye're already in correspondence about more flour； ye might take the
opinion o' the first tramp ye meet ez to whether Santa Cruz Mills
is a good brand； but don't ask the old man。〃 If Flip was in
conversation with the butcher； Fairley would obtrusively retire
with the hope 〃he wasn't intrudin' on their secrets。〃
These phases of her father's weakness were not frequent enough to
excite her alarm； but she could not help noticing they were
accompanied with a seriousness unusual to him。 He began to be
tremulously watchful of her； returning often from work at an
earlier hour； and lingering by the cabin in the morning。 He
brought absurd and useless presents for her； and presented them
with a nervous anxiety； poorly concealed by an assumption of
careless； paternal generosity。 〃Suthin' I picked up at the
Crossin' for ye to…day；〃 he would say； airily； and retire to watch
the effect of a pair of shoes two sizes too large； or a fur cap in
September。 He would have hired a cheap parlor organ for her； but
for the apparently unexpected revelation that she couldn't play。
He had received the news of a clue to his long…lost son without
emotion； but lately he seemed to look upon it as a foregone
conclusion； and one that necessarily solved the question of
companionship for Flip。 〃In course； when you've got your own flesh
and blood with ye； ye can't go foolin' around with strangers。〃
These autumnal blossoms of affection； I fear； came too late for any
effect upon Flip； precociously matured by her father's indifference
and selfishness。 But she was good humored； and； seeing him
seriously concerned； gave him more of her time； even visited him in
the sacred seclusion of the 〃diamond pit；〃 and listened with far…
off eyes to his fitful indictment of all things outside his grimy
laboratory。 Much of this patient indifference came with a
capricious change in her own habits； she no longer indulged in the
rehearsal of dress； she packed away her most treasured garments；
and her leafy boudoir knew her no more。 She sometimes walked on
the hillside； and often followed the trail she had taken with Lance
when she led him to the ranch。 She once or twice extended her walk
to the spot where she had parted from him； and as often came shyly
away； her eyes downcast and her face warm with color。 Perhaps
because these experiences and some mysterious instinct of maturing
womanhood had left a story in her eyes； which her two adorers； the
Postmaster and the Butcher； read with passion； she became famous
without knowing it。 Extravagant stories of her fascinations
brought strangers into the valley。 The effect upon her father may
be imagined。 Lance could not have desired a more effective
guardian than he proved to be in this emergency。 Those who had
been told of this hidden pearl were surprised to find it so
jealously protected。
CHAPTER V。
The long； parched summer had drawn to its dusty close。 Much of it
was already blown abroad and dissipated on trail and turnpike； or
crackled in harsh； unelastic fibres on hillside and meadow。 Some
of it had disappeared in the palpable smoke by day and fiery crests
by night of burning forests。 The besieging fogs on the Coast Range
daily thinned their hosts； and at last vanished。 The wind changed
from northwest to southwest。 The salt breath of the sea was on the
summit。 And then one day the staring； unchanged sky was faintly
touched with remote mysterious clouds； and grew tremulous in
expression。 The next morning dawned upon a newer face in the
heavens； on changed woods； on altered outlines； on vanished crests；
on forgotten distances。 It was raining！
Four weeks of this change； with broken spaces of sunlight and
intense blue aerial islands； and then a storm set in。 All day the
summit pines and redwoods rocked in the blast。 At times the onset
of the rain seemed to be held back by the fury of the gale； or was
visibly seen in sharp waves on the hillside。 Unknown and concealed
watercourses suddenly overflowed the trails； pools became lakes and
brooks rivers。 Hidden from the storm； the sylvan silence of
sheltered valleys was broken by the impetuous rush of waters； even
the tiny streamlet that traversed Flip's retreat in the Gin and
Ginger Woods became a cascade。
The storm drove Fairley from his couch early。 The falling of a
large tree across the trail； and the sudden overflow of a small
stream beside it； hastened his steps。 But he was doomed to
encounter what was to him a more disagreeable objecta human
figure。 By the bedraggled drapery that flapped and fluttered in
the wind； by the long； unkempt hair that hid the face and eyes； and
by the grotesquely misplaced bonnet； the old man recognized one of
his old trespassers；an Indian squaw。
〃Clear out 'er that！ Come； make tracks； will ye？〃 the old man
screamed； but here the wind stopped his voice； and drove him
against a hazel bush。
〃Me heap sick；〃 answered the squaw； shivering through her muddy
shawl。
〃I'll make ye a heap sicker if ye don't vamose the ranch；〃
continued Fairley； advancing。
〃Me wantee Wangee girl。 Wangee girl give me heap grub；〃 said the
squaw； without moving。
〃You bet your life；〃 groaned the old man to himself。 Nevertheless
an idea struck him。 〃Ye ain't brought no presents； hev ye？〃 he
asked cautiously。 〃Ye ain't got no pooty things for poor Wangee
girl？〃 he continued； insinuatingly。
〃Me got heap cache nuts and berries；〃 said the squaw。
〃Oh； in course！ in course！ That's just it；〃 screamed Fairley；
〃you've got 'em cached only two mile from yer； and you'll go and
get 'em for a half dollar； cash down。〃
〃Me bring Wangee girl to cache；〃 replied the Indian； pointing to
the wood。 〃Honest Injin。〃
Another bri