drift from two shores(漂流)-第15章
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！
Meanwhile； the best society of Sandy Bar was kind to the newly…
made widow。 Without being definitely expressed； it was generally felt
that sympathy with her was now safe； and carried no moral responsibility
with it。 Even practical and pecuniary aid； which before had been
withheld； lest it should be diverted from its proper intent； and； perhaps
through the weakness of the wife； made to minister to the wickedness of
the husband；even that was now openly suggested。 Everybody felt that
somebody should do something for the widow。 A few did it。 Her own
sex rallied to her side； generally with large sympathy； but； unfortunately；
small pecuniary or practical result。 At last； when the feasibility of her
taking a boarding…house in San Francisco； and identifying herself with that
large class of American gentlewomen who have seen better days； but
clearly are on the road never to see them again； was suggested； a few of
her own and her husband's rich relatives came to the front to rehabilitate
her。 It was easier to take her into their homes as an equal than to refuse
to call upon her as the mistress of a lodging…house in the adjoining street。
And upon inspection it was found that she was still quite an eligible partie；
prepossessing； and withal； in her widow's weeds； a kind of poetical and
sentimental presence； as necessary in a wealthy and fashionable American
family as a work of art。 〃Yes； poor Caroline has had a sad； sad history；〃
the languid Mrs。 Walker Catron would say； 〃and we all sympathize with
her deeply； Walker always regards her as a sister。〃 What was this dark
history never came out； but its very mystery always thrilled the visitor； and
seemed to indicate plainly the respectability of the hostess。 An American
family without a genteel skeleton in its closet could scarcely add to that
59
… Page 60…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
gossip which keeps society from forgetting its members。 Nor was it
altogether unnatural that presently Mrs。 Roger Catron lent herself to this
sentimental deception； and began to think that she really was a more
exquisitely aggrieved woman than she had imagined。 At times； when this
vague load of iniquity put upon her dead husband assumed； through the
mystery of her friends； the rumor of murder and highway robbery； and
even an attempt upon her own life； she went to her room； a little frightened；
and had 〃a good cry；〃 reappearing more mournful and pathetic than ever；
and corroborating the suspicions of her friends。 Indeed； one or two
impulsive gentlemen； fired by her pathetic eyelids； openly regretted that
the deceased had not been hanged； to which Mrs。 Walker Catron
responded that； 〃Thank Heaven； they were spared at least that disgrace！〃
and so sent conviction into the minds of her hearers。
It was scarcely two months after this painful close of her matrimonial
life that one rainy February morning the servant brought a card to Mrs。
Roger Catron； bearing the following inscription：
〃Richard Graeme Macleod。〃
Women are more readily affected by names than we are； and there
was a certain Highland respectability about this that； albeit； not knowing
its possessor； impelled Mrs。 Catron to send word that she 〃would be down
in a few moments。〃 At the end of this femininely indefinite period；a
quarter of an hour by the French clock on the mantel…piece；Mrs。 Roger
Catron made her appearance in the reception…room。 It was a dull； wet
day； as I have said before； but on the Contra Costa hills the greens and a
few flowers were already showing a promise of rejuvenescence and an
early spring。 There was something of this； I think； in Mrs。 Catron's
presence； shown perhaps in the coquettish bow of a ribbon； in a larger and
more delicate ruche； in a tighter belting of her black cashmere gown； but
still there was a suggestion of recent rain in the eyes； and threatening
weather。 As she entered the room； the sun came out； too； and revealed
the prettiness and delicacy of her figure； and I regret to state； also； the
somewhat obtrusive plainness of her visitor。
〃I knew ye'd be sorter disapp'inted at first； not gettin' the regular
bearings o' my name； but I'm 'Captain Dick。' Mebbe ye've heard your
60
… Page 61…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
husbandthat is； your husband ez waz； Roger Catron speak o' me？〃
Mrs。 Catron； feeling herself outraged and deceived in belt； ruche； and
ribbon； freezingly admitted that she had heard of him before。
〃In course；〃 said the captain； 〃why； Lord love ye； Mrs。 Catron；ez
waz；he used to be all the time talkin' of ye。 And allers in a free； easy；
confidential way。 Why； one nightdon't ye remember？ when he came
home； carryin'； mebbee； more canvas than was seamanlike； and you shet
him out the house； and laid for him with a broomstick； or one o' them
crokay mallets； I disremember which； and he kem over to me； ole Captain
Dick； and I sez to him； sez I； 'Why； Roger； them's only love pats； and yer
condishun is such ez to make any woman mad…like。' Why； Lord bless ye！
there ain't enny of them mootool differences you and him hed ez I doesn't
knows on； and didn't always stand by； and lend ye a hand； and heave in a
word or two of advice when called on。〃
Mrs。 Catron； ice everywhere but in her pink cheeks； was glad that Mr。
Catron seemed to have always a friend to whom he confided
EVERYTHING； even the base falsehoods he had invented。
〃Mebbe now they WAZ falsehoods；〃 said the captain； thoughtfully。
〃But don't ye go to think；〃 he added conscientiously； 〃that he kept on that
tack all the time。 Why； that day he made a raise； gambling； I think； over
at Dutch Flat； and give ye them bracelets； regular solid gold；why； it
would have done your heart good to have heard him talk about yousaid
you had the prettiest arm in Californy。 Well；〃 said the captain； looking
around for a suitable climax； 〃well； you'd have thought that he was sorter
proud of ye！ Why； I woz with him in 'Frisco when he bought that A 1 prize
bonnet for ye for 75； and not hevin' over 50 in his pocket； borryed the
other 25 outer me。 Mebbe it was a little fancy for a bonnet； but I allers
thought he took it a little too much to heart when you swopped it off for
that Dollar Varden dress； just because that Lawyer Maxwell said the
Dollar Vardens was becomin' to ye。 Ye know； I reckon； he was always
sorter jealous of that thar shark〃
〃May I venture to ask what your business is with me？〃 interrupted Mrs。
Catron； sharply。
〃In course；〃 said the captain； rising。 〃Ye see；〃 he said； apologetically；
61
… Page 62…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
〃we got to talking o' Roger and ole times； and I got a little out o' my
course。 It's a matter of〃 he began to fumble in his pockets； and finally
produced a small memorandum… book； which he glanced over〃it's a
matter of 250。〃
〃I don't understand you；〃 said Mrs。 Catron； in indignant astonishment。
〃On the 15th of July；〃 said the captain； consulting his memorandum…
book； 〃Roger sold his claim at Nye's Ford for 1；500。 Now； le's see。
Thar was nigh on 350 ez he admitted to me he lost at poker； and we'll add
50 to that for treating； suppers； and drinks gin'rallyput Roger down for
400。 Then there was YOU。 Now you spent 250 on your trip to
'Frisco thet summer； then 200 went for them presents you sent your Aunt
Jane； and thar was 400 for house expenses。 Well； thet foots up 1；250。
Now； what's become of thet other 250？〃
Mrs。 Catron's woman's impulse to retaliate sharply overcame her first
natural indignation at her visitor's impudence。
Therein she lost； woman…like； her ground of vantage。
〃Perhaps the woman he fled with can tell you；〃 she said savagely。
〃Thet；〃 said the captain； slowly； 〃is a good； a reasonable idee。 But it
ain't true； from all I can gather SHE lent HIM money。 It didn't go
THAR。〃
〃Roger Catron left me penniless；〃 said Mrs。 Catron； hotly。
〃Thet's jist what gets me。 You oughter have 250 somewhar lying
round。〃
Mrs。 Catron saw her error。 〃May I ask what right you have to
question me？ If you have any； I must refer you to my lawyer or my
brother…in…law； if you have none； I hope you will not oblige me to call the
servants to put you from the house。〃
〃Thet sounds reasonable and square； too；〃 said the captain；
thoughtfully； 〃I've a power of attorney from Roger Catron to settle up his
affairs and pay his debts； given a week afore them detectives handed ye
over his dead body。 But I thought that you and me might save lawyer's
fees and all fuss and feathers； ef； in a sociable； sad…like way；lookin' back
sorter on Roger ez you and me once knew him；we had a quiet talk
together。〃
62
… Page 63…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
〃Good morning； sir；〃 said Mrs。 Catron； rising stiffly。 The captain
hesitated a moment； a slight flush of color came in his face as he at last
rose as the lady backed out of the room。 〃Good morning； ma'am；〃 said
the captain； and departed。
Very little was known of this interview except the general impression
in the family that Mrs。 Catron had successfully resisted a vague attempt at
blackmail from one of her husband's former dissolute companions。 Yet it
is only fair to say that Mrs。 Catron snapped up； quite sav
