in a hollow of the hills(山涧)-第26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！
from the irruption of the outlaws to the final catastrophe。 Even then he
palliated their outrage with his characteristic patience； keeping still his
strange fascination for Chivers； and his blind belief in his miserable wife。
The story was at times broken by lapses of faintness； by a singular return
of his old abstraction and forgetfulness in the midst of a sentence； and at
last by a fit of coughing that left a few crimson bubbles on the corners of
his month。 Key lifted his eyes anxiously； there was some grave internal
injury； which the dying man's resolute patience had suppressed。 Yet； at
102
… Page 103…
IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
the sound of Alice's returning step； Collinson's eyes brightened； apparently
as much at her coming as from the effect of the powerful stimulant Key
had taken from his medicine case。
〃I thank ye； Mr。 Key；〃 he said faintly； 〃for I've got an idea I ain't got
no great time before me； and I've got suthin' to say to you； afore
witnesses〃his eyes sought Alice's in half apology 〃afore witnesses； you
understand。 Would you mind standin' out thar； afore me； in the light； so I
kin see you both； and you； miss； rememberin'； ez a witness； suthin' I got to
tell to him？ You might take his hand； miss； to make it more regular and
lawlike。〃
The two did as he bade them； standing side by side； painfully
humoring what seemed to them to be wanderings of a dying man。
〃Thar was a young fellow；〃 said Collinson in a steady voice； 〃ez kem
to my shanty a night ago on his way to thethevalley。 He was a
sprightly young fellow； gay and chipper…like； and he sez to me；
confidential…like； 'Collinson；' sez he； 'I'm off to the States this very night
on business of importance； mebbe I'll be away a long timefor years！
You know；' sez he； 'Mr。 Key； in the Hollow！ Go to him；' sez he； 'and tell
him ez how I hadn't time to get to see him； tell him；' sez he； 'that
RIVERS'you've got the name； Mr。 Key？you've got the name； miss？
'that RIVERS wants him to say this to his little sister from her lovin'
brother。 And tell him；' sez he； this yer RIVERS； 'to look arter her； being
alone。' You remember that； Mr。 Key？ you remember it； miss？ You see；
I remembered it； too； being； so to speak； alone myself〃he paused； and
added in a faint whisper〃till now。〃
Then he was silent。 That innocent lie was the first and last upon his
honest lips； for as they stood there； hand in hand； they saw his plain； hard
face take upon itself； at first； the gray； ashen hues of the rocks around him；
and then and thereafter something of the infinite tranquillity and peace of
that wilderness in which he had lived and died； and of which he was a
part。
Contemporaneous history was less kindly。 The 〃Bald Top Sentinel〃
congratulated its readers that the late seismic disturbance was
accompanied with very little loss of life； if any。 〃It is reported that the
103
… Page 104…
IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
proprietor of a low shebeen for emigrants in an obscure hollow had
succumbed from injuries； but；〃 added the editor； with a fine touch of
Western humor； 〃whether this was the result of his being forcibly mixed
up with his own tanglefoot whiskey or not； we are unable to determine
from the evidence before us。〃 For all that； a small stone shaft was added
later to the rocks near the site of the old mill； inscribed to the memory of
this obscure proprietor；〃 with the singular legend： 〃Have ye faith like to
him？〃 And those who knew only of the material catastrophe looking
around upon the scene of desolation it commemorated； thought grimly that
it must be faith indeed； andwere wiser than they knew。
〃You smiled； Don Preble；〃 said the Lady Superior to Key a few weeks
later； 〃when I told to you that many caballeros thought it most discreet to
intrust their future brides to the maternal guardianship and training of the
Holy Church； yet； of a truth； I meant not YOU。 And yeteh！ well； we
shall see。〃
104
