betty zane-第30章

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ke　the　fellow。　I　am　not　saying　that　to　make　you　think　you　ought　to　like　him　because　I　do。　You　might　not　care　for　him　at　all；　but　that　would　be　no　good　reason　for　your　actions。　Betty；　in　these　frontier　settlements　a　man　is　soon　known　for　his　real　worth。　Every　one　at　the　Fort　liked　Clarke。　The　youngsters　adored　him。　Jessie　liked　him　very　much。　You　know　he　and　Isaac　became　good　friends。　I　think　he　acted　like　a　man　to…day。　I　saw　the　look　Miller　gave　him。　I　don't　like　this　fellow　Miller；　anyway。　Now；　I　am　taking　the　trouble　to　tell　you　my　side　of　the　argument。　It　is　not　a　question　of　your　liking　Clarke　that　is　none　of　my　affair。　It　is　simply　that　either　he　is　not　the　man　we　all　think　him　or　you　are　acting　in　a　way　unbecoming　a　Zane。　I　do　not　purpose　to　have　this　state　of　affairs　continue。　Now；　enough　of　this　beating　about　the　bush。〃

Betty　had　seen　the　Colonel　angry　more　than　once；　but　never　with　her。　It　was　quite　certain　she　had　angered　him　and　she　forgot　her　own　resentment。　Her　heart　had　warmed　with　her　brother's　praise　of　Clarke。　Then　as　she　remembered　the　past　the　felt　a　scorn　for　her　weakness　and　such　a　revulsion　of　feeling　that　she　cried　out　passionately：

〃He　is　a　trifler。　He　never　cared　for　me。　He　insulted　me。〃

Col。　Zane　reached　for　his　hat；　got　up　without　saying　another　word　and　went　down　stairs。

Betty　had　not　intended　to　say　quite　what　she　had　and　instantly　regretted　her　hasty　words。　She　called　to　the　Colonel；　but　he　did　not　answer　her；　nor　return。

〃Betty；　what　in　the　world　could　you　have　said　to　my　husband？〃　said　Mrs。　Zane　as　she　entered　the　room。　She　was　breathless　from　running　up　the　stairs　and　her　comely　face　wore　a　look　of　concern。　〃He　was　as　white　as　that　sheet　and　he　stalked　off　toward　the　Fort　without　a　word　to　me。〃

〃I　simply　told　him　Mr。　Clarke　had　insulted　me；〃　answered　Betty　calmly。

〃Great　Heavens！　Betty；　what　have　you　done？〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Zane。　〃You　don't　know　Eb　when　he　is　angry。　He　is　a　big　fool　over　you；　anyway。　He　is　liable　to　kill　Clarke。〃

Betty's　blood　was　up　now　and　she　said　that　would　not　be　a　matter　of　much　importance。

〃When　did　he　insult　you？〃　asked　the　elder　woman；　yielding　to　her　natural　curiosity。

〃It　was　last　October。〃

〃Pooh！　It　took　you　a　long　time　to　tell　it。　I　don't　believe　it　amounted　to　much。　Mr。　Clarke　did　not　appear　to　be　the　sort　of　a　man　to　insult　anyone。　All　the　girls　were　crazy　about　him　last　year。　If　he　was　not　all　right　they　would　not　have　been。〃

〃I　do　not　care　if　they　were。　The　girls　can　have　him　and　welcome。　I　don't　want　him。　I　never　did。　I　am　tired　of　hearing　everyone　eulogize　him。　I　hate　him。　Do　you　hear？　I　hate　him！　And　I　wish　you　would　go　away　and　leave　me　alone。〃

〃Well；　Betty；　all　I　will　say　is　that　you　are　a　remarkable　young　woman；〃　answered　Mrs。　Zane；　who　saw　plainly　that　Betty's　violent　outburst　was　a　prelude　to　a　storm　of　weeping。　〃I　don't　believe　a　word　you　have　said。　I　don't　believe　you　hate　him。　There！〃

Col。　Zane　walked　straight　to　the　Fort；　entered　the　block…house　and　knocked　on　the　door　of　Clarke's　room。　A　voice　bade　him　come　in。　He　shoved　open　the　door　and　went　into　the　room。　Clarke　had　evidently　just　returned　from　a　tramp　in　the　hills；　for　his　garments　were　covered　with　burrs　and　his　boots　were　dusty。　He　looked　tired；　but　his　face　was　calm。

〃Why；　Col。　Zane！　Have　a　seat。　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃

〃I　have　come　to　ask　you　to　explain　a　remark　of　my　sister's。〃

〃Very　well；　I　am　at　your　service；〃　answered　Alfred　slowly　lighting　his　pipe；　after　which　he　looked　straight　into　Col。　Zane's　face。

〃My　sister　informs　me　that　you　insulted　her　last　fall　before　you　left　the　Fort。　I　am　sure　you　are　neither　a　liar　nor　a　coward；　and　I　expect　you　to　answer　as　a　man。〃

〃Col。　Zane；　I　am　not　a　liar；　and　I　hope　I　am　not　a　coward；〃　said　Alfred　coolly。　He　took　a　long　pull　on　his　pipe　and　blew　a　puff　of　white　smoke　toward　the　ceiling。

〃I　believe　you；　but　I　must　have　an　explanation。　There　is　something　wrong　somewhere。　I　saw　Betty　pass　you　without　speaking　this　morning。　I　did　not　like　it　and　I　took　her　to　task　about　it。　She　then　said　you　had　insulted　her。　Betty　is　prone　to　exaggerate；　especially　when　angry；　but　she　never　told　me　a　lie　in　her　life。　Ever　since　you　pulled　Isaac　out　of　the　river　I　have　taken　an　interest　in　you。　That's　why　I'd　like　to　avoid　any　trouble。　But　this　thing　has　gone　far　enough。　Now　be　sensible；　swallow　your　pride　and　let　me　hear　your　side　of　the　story。〃

Alfred　had　turned　pale　at　his　visitor's　first　words。　There　was　no　mistaking　Col。　Zane's　manner。　Alfred　well　knew　that　the　Colonel；　if　he　found　Betty　had　really　been　insulted；　would　call　him　out　and　kill　him。　Col。　Zane　spoke　quietly；　ever　kindly；　but　there　was　an　undercurrent　of　intense　feeling　in　his　voice；　a　certain　deadly　intent　which　boded　ill　to　anyone　who　might　cross　him　at　that　moment。　Alfred's　first　impulse　was　a　reckless　desire　to　tell　Col。　Zane　he　had　nothing　to　explain　and　that　he　stood　ready　to　give　any　satisfaction　in　his　power。　But　he　wisely　thought　better　of　this。　It　struck　him　that　this　would　not　be　fair；　for　no　matter　what　the　girl　had　done　the　Colonel　had　always　been　his　friend。　So　Alfred　pulled　himself　together　and　resolved　to　mane　a　clean　breast　of　the　whole　affair。

〃Col。　Zane；　I　do　not　feel　that　I　owe　your　sister　anything；　and　what　I　am　going　to　tell　you　is　simply　because　you　have　always　been　my　friend；　and　I　do　not　want　you　to　have　any　wrong　ideas　about　me。　I'll　tell　you　the　truth　and　you　can　be　the　judge　as　to　whether　or　not　I　insulted　your　sister。　I　fell　in　love　with　her；　almost　at　first　sight。　The　night　after　the　Indians　recaptured　your　brother；　Betty　and　I　stood　out　in　the　moonlight　and　she　looked　so　bewitching　and　I　felt　so　sorry　for　her　and　so　carried　away　by　my　love　for　her　that　I　yielded　to　a　momentary　impulse　and　kissed　her。　I　simply　could　not　help　it。　There　is　no　excuse　for　me。　She　struck　me　across　the　face　and　ran　into　the　house。　I　had　intended　that　night　to　tell　her　of　my　love　and　place　my　fate　in　her　hands；　but；　of　course；　the　unfortunate　occurrence　made　that　impossible。　As　I　was　to　leave　at　dawn　next　day；　I　remained　up　all　night；　thinking　that　I　ought　to　do。　Finally　I　decided　to　write。　I　wrote　her　a　letter；　telling　her　all　and　begging　her　to　become　my　wife。　I　gave　the　letter　to　your　slave；　Sam；　and　told　him　it　was　a　matter　of　life　and　death；　and　not　to　lose　the　letter　nor　fail　to　give　it　to　Betty。　I　have　had　no　answer　to　that　letter。　Today　she　coldly　ignored　me。　That　is　my　story；　Col。　Zane。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　believe　she　got　the　letter；〃　said　Col。　Zane。　〃She　has　not　acted　like　a　young　lady　who　has　had　the　privilege　of　saying　'yes'　or　'no'　to　you。　And　Sam　never　had　any　use　for　you。　He　disliked　you　from　the　first；　and　never　failed　to　say　something　against　you。〃

〃I'll　kill　that　dn　nigger　if　he　did　not　deliver　that　letter；〃　said　Clarke；　jumping　up　in　his　excitement。　〃I　never　thought　of　that。　Good　Heaven！　What　could　she　have　thought　of　me？　She　would　think　I　had　gone　away　without　a　word。　If　she　knew　I　really　loved　her　she　could　not　think　so　terribly　of　me。〃

〃There　is　more　to　be　explained；　but　I　am　satisfied　with　your　side　of　it；〃　said　Col。　Zane。　〃Now　I'll　go　to　Sam　and　see　what　has　become　of　that　letter。　I　am　glad　I　am　justified　in　thinking　of　you　as　I　have。　I　imagine　this　thing　has　hurt　you　and　I　don't　wonder　at　it。　Maybe　we　can　untangle　the　problem　yet。　My　advice　would　bebut　never　mind　that　now。　Anyway；　I'm　your　friend　in　this　matter。　I'll　let　you　know　the　result　of　my　talk　with　Sam。〃

〃I　thought　that　young　fellow　was　a　gentleman；〃　mused　Col。　Zane　as　he　crossed　the　green　square　and　started　up　the　hill　toward　the　cabins。　He　found　the　old　negro　seated　on　his　doorstep。

〃Sam；　what　did　you　do　with　a　letter　Mr。　Clarke　gave　you　last　October　and　instructed　you　to　deliver　to　Betty？〃

〃I　dun　recollec'　no　lettah；　sah；〃　replied　Sam。

〃Now；　Sam；　don't　lie　about　it。　Clarke　has　just　told　me　that　he　gave　you　the　letter。　What　did　you　do　with　it？〃

〃Masse　Zane；　I　ain　dun　seen　no　lettah；〃　answered　the　old　darkey；　taking　a　dingy　pipe　from　his　mouth　and　rolling　his　eyes　at　his　master。

〃If　you　lie　again　I　will　punish　you；〃　said　Col。　Zane　sternly。　〃You　are　getting　old；　Sam；　and　I　would　not　like　to　whip　you；　but　I　will　if　you　do　not　find　that　letter。〃

Sam　grumbled；　and　shuffled　inside　the　cabin。　Col。　Zane　heard　him　rummaging　around。　Presently　he　came　back　to　the　door　and　handed　a　very　badly　soiled　paper　to　the　Colonel。

〃What　possessed　you　to　do　this；　Sam？　You　have　always　been　honest。　Your　act　has　caused　great　misunderstanding　and　it　might　have　led　to　worse。〃

〃He's　one　of　dem　no　good　Southern　white　trash；　he's　good　fer　nuttin'；〃　said　Sam。　〃I　saw　yo'　sistah；　Mis'　Betty；　wit　him；　and　I　seen　she　was　gittin'　fond　of　him；　and　I　says　I　ain't　gwinter　have　Mis'　Betty　runnin'　off　wif　him。　And　I'se　never　gibbin　de　lettah　to　her。〃

That　was　all　the　explanation　Sam　would　vouchsafe；　and　Col。　Zane；　knowing　it　would　be　useless　to　say　more　to　the　well…meaning　but　ignorant　and　superstitious　old　negro；　turned　and　wended　his　way　back　to　the　house。　He　looked　at　the　paper　and　saw　that　it　was　addressed　to　Elizabeth　Zane；　and　that　the　ink　was　faded　until　the　letters　were　scarcely　visible。

〃What　have　you　there？〃　asked　his　wife；　who　had　watched　him　go　up　the　hill　to　the　negro's　cabin。　She　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief　when　she　saw　that　her　husband's　face　had　recovered　its　usual　placid　expression。

〃It　is　a　little　letter　for　that　young　fire…brand　up　stairs；　and；　I　believe　it　will　clear　up　the　mystery。　Clarke　gave　it　to　Sam　last　fall　and　Sam　never　gave　it　to　Betty。〃

〃I　hope　with　all　my　heart　it　may　settle　Betty。　She　worries　me　to　death　with　her　love　affairs。〃

Col。　Zane　went　up　stairs　and　found　the　young　lady　exactly　as　he　had　left　her。　She　gave　an　impatient　toss　of　her　head　as　he　entered。

〃Well；　Madam；　I　have　here　something　that　may　excite　even　your　interest。〃　he　said　cheerily。

〃What？〃　asked　Betty　with　a　start。　She　flushed　crimson　when　she　saw　the　letter　and　at　first　refused　to　take　it　from　her　brother。　She　was　at　a　loss　to　understand　his　cheerful　demeanor。　He　had　been　anything　but　pleasant　a　few　moments　since。

〃Here；　take　it。　It　is　a　letter　from　Mr。　Clarke　which　you　should　have　received　last　fall。　That　last　morning　he　gave　this　letter　to　Sam　to　deliver　to　you；　and　the　crazy　old　nigger　kept　it。　However；　it　is　too　late　to　talk　of　that；　only　it　does　seem　a　great　pity。　I　feel　sorry　for　both　of　you。　Clarke　never　will　forgive　you；　even　if　you　want　him　to；　which　I　am　sure　you　do　not。　I　don't　know　exactly　what　is　in　this　letter；　but　I　know　it　will　make　you　ashamed　to　think　you　did　not　trust　him。〃

With　this　parting　reproof　the　Colonel　walked　out；　leaving　Betty　completely　bewildered。　The　words　〃too　late；〃　〃never　forgive；〃　and　〃a　great　pity〃　rang　through　her　head。　What　did　he　mean？　She　tore　the　letter　open　with　trembling　hands　and　holding　it　up　to　the　now　fast…waning　light；　she　read

〃Dear　Betty：

〃If　you　had　waited　only　a　moment　longer　I　know　you　would　not　have　been　so　angry　with　me。　The　words　I　wanted　so　much　to　say　choked　me　and　I　could　not　speak　them。　I　love　you。　I　have　loved　you　from　the　very　first　moment；　that　blessed　moment　when　I　looked　up　over　your　pony's　head　to　see　the　sweetest　face　the　sun　ever　shone　on。　I'll　be　the　happiest　man　on　earth　if　you　will