wyoming(怀俄明)-第20章
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corrals and buildings。
〃Look！〃 she exclaimed； and then swiftly； 〃Didn't you know it was
there？〃
〃Yes； that's the Hilke place；〃 he answered with composure。 〃It hasn't
been occupied for years。〃
〃Isn't that some one crossing to the corral now？〃
〃No。 A stray cow； I reckon。〃
They dropped into a hollow between the hills and left the ranch on
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their left。 She was not satisfied； and yet she had not grounds enough upon
which to base a suspicion。 For surely the figure she had seen had been that
of a man。
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CHAPTER 12。 MISTRESS AND
MAID
Now that it was safely concluded； Helen thought the adventure almost
worthwhile for the spontaneous expressions of good will it had drawn
forth from her adherents。 Mrs。 Winslow and Nora had taken her to their
arms and wept and laughed over her in turn； and in their silent
undemonstrative way she had felt herself hedged in by unusual solicitude
on the part of her riders。 It was goodnone but she knew how goodto be
back among her own； to bask in a friendliness she could not doubt。 It was
best of all to sit opposite Ned Bannister again with no weight on her heart
from the consciousness of his unworthiness。
She could affect to disregard the gray eyes that followed her with such
magnetized content about the living room； but beneath her cool self…
containment she knew the joyous heart in her was strangely buoyant。 He
loved her； and she had a right to let herself love him。 This was enough for
the present。
〃They're so plumb glad to see y'u they can't let y'u alone；〃 laughed
Bannister at the sound of a knock on the door that was about the fifth in as
many minutes。
This time it proved to be Nora； come to find out what her mistress
would like for supper。 Helen turned to the invalid。
〃What would you like； Mr。 Bannister？〃
〃I should like a porterhouse with mushrooms；〃 he announced
promptly。
〃You can't have it。 You know what the doctor said。〃 Very peremptorily
she smiled this at him。
〃He's an old granny； Miss Messiter。〃
〃You may have an egg on toast。〃
〃Make it two；〃 he pleaded。 〃Excitement's just like caviar to the
appetite； and seeing y'u safe〃
〃Very welltwo；〃 she conceded。
They ate supper together in a renewal of the pleasant intimacy so
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delightful to both。 He lay on the lounge； propped up with sofa cushions；
the while he watched her deft fingers butter the toast and prepare his egg。
It was surely worth while to be a convalescent； given so sweet a comrade
for a nurse； and after he had moved over to the table he enjoyed
immensely the gay firmness with which she denied him what was not
good for him。
〃I'll bet y'u didn't have supper like this at Robbers' Roost。〃 he told her；
enthusiastically。
〃It wasn't so bad； considering everything。〃 She was looking directly at
him as she spoke。 〃Your cousin is rather a remarkable man in some ways。
He manages to live on the best that can be got in tin…can land。〃
〃Did he tell y'u he was my cousin？〃 he asked； slowly。
〃Yes； and that his name was Ned Bannister； too？〃
〃Did that explain anything to y'u？〃
〃It explained a great deal； but it left some things not clear yet。〃
〃For instance？〃
〃For one thing； the reason why you should bear the odium of his
crimes。 I suppose you don't care for him； though I can see how you might
in a way。〃
〃I don't care for him in the least； though I used to when we were boys。
As to letting myself be blamed for his crimes。 I did it because I couldn't
help myself。 We look more or less alike； and he was cunning enough to
manufacture evidence against me。 We were never seen together； and so
very few know that there are two Bannisters。 At first I used to protest； but
I gave it up。 There wasn't the least use。 I could only wait for him to be
captured or killed。 In the meantime it didn't make me any more popular to
be a sheepman。〃
〃Weren't you taking a long chance of being killed first？ Some one with
a grudge against him might have shot you。〃
〃They haven't yet；〃 he smiled。
〃You might at least have told me how it was；〃 she reproached。
〃I started to tell y'u that first day； but it looked so much of a fairy tale
to unload that I passed it up。〃
〃Then you ought not to blame me for thinking you what you were
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not。〃
〃I don't remember blaming y'u。 The fact is I thought it awful white of
y'u to do your Christian duty so thorough； me being such a miscreant；〃 he
drawled。
〃You gave me no chance to think well of you。〃
〃But yet y'u did your duty from A to Z。〃
〃We're not talking about my duty；〃 she flashed back。 〃My point is that
you weren't fair to me。 If I thought ill of you how could I help it？〃
〃I expaict your Kalamazoo conscience is worryin' y'u because y'u
misjudged me。〃
〃It isn't；〃 she denied instantly。
〃I ain't of a revengeful disposition。 I'll forgive y'u for doing your duty
and saving my life twice；〃 he said； with a smile of whimsical irony。
〃I don't want your forgiveness。〃
〃Well； then for thinking me a 'bad man。'〃
〃You ought to beg my pardon。 I was a friend； at least you say I acted
like oneand you didn't care enough to right yourself with me。〃
〃Maybe I cared too much to risk trying it。 I knew there would be proof
some time； and I decided to lie under the suspicion until I could get it。 I
see now that wasn't kind or fair to you。 I am sorry I didn't tell y'u all about
it。 May I tell y'u the story now？〃
〃If you wish。〃
It was a long story； but the main points can be told in a paragraph。 The
grandfather of the two cousins； General Edward Bannister； had worn the
Confederate gray for four years； and had lost an arm in the service of the
flag with the stars and bars。 After the war he returned to his home in
Virginia to find it in ruins； his slaves freed and his fields mortgaged。 He
had pulled himself together for another start； and had practiced law in the
little town where his family had lived for generations。 Of his two sons； one
was a ne'er…do…well。 He was one of those brilliant fellows of whom much
is expected that never develops。 He had a taste for low company； married
beneath him； and； after a career that was a continual mortification and
humiliation to his father； was killed in a drunken brawl under disgraceful
circumstances； leaving behind a son named for the general。 The second
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son of General Bannister also died young； but not before he had proved his
devotion to his father by an exemplary life。 He； too； was married and left
an only son； also named for the old soldier。 The boys were about of an age
and were well matched in physical and mental equipment。 But the general；
who had taken them both to live with him； soon discovered that their
characters were as dissimilar as the poles。 One grandson was frank；
generous； open as the light； the other was of a nature almost degenerate。 In
fact； each had inherited the qualities of his father。 Tales began to come to
the old general's ears that at first he refused to credit。 But eventually it was
made plain to him that one of the boys was a rake of the most
objectionable type。
There were many stormy scenes between the general and his grandson；
but the boy continued to go from bad to worse。 After a peculiarly flagrant
case； involving the character of a respectable young girl； young Ned
Bannister was forbidden his ancestral home。 It had been by means of his
cousin that this last iniquity of his had been unearthed； and the boy had
taken it to his grandfather in hot indignation as the last hope of protecting
the reputation of the injured girl。 From that hour the evil hatred of his
cousin； always dormant in the heart； flamed into active heat。 The disowned
youth swore to be revenged。 A short time later the general died； leaving
what little property he had entirely to the one grandson。 This stirred again
the bitter rage of the other。 He set fire to the house that had been willed his
cousin； and took a train that night for Wyoming。 By a strange irony of fate
they met again in the West years later； and the enmity between them was
renewed； growing every month more bitter on the part of the one who
called himself the King of the Bighorn Country。
She broke the silence after his story with a gentle 〃Thank you。 I can
understand why you don't like to tell the story。〃
〃I am very glad of the chance to tell it to you；〃 he answered。
〃When you were delirious you sometimes begged some one you called
Ned not to break his mother's heart。 I thought then you might be speaking
to yourself as ill people do。 Of course I see now it was your cousin that
was on your mind。〃
〃When I was out of my head I must have talked a lot of nonsense；〃 he
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suggested； in the voice of a question。 〃I expect I had opinions I wouldn't
have been scattering around so free if I'd known what I was saying。〃
He was hardly prepared for the tide of color that swept her cheeks at
his words nor for the momentary confusion that shuttered the shy eyes
with long lashes cast down。
〃Sick folks do talk foolishness； they say；〃 he added； his gaze trained on
her suspiciously。
〃Do they？〃
〃Mrs。 Winslow says I did。 But when I asked her what it was I said she
only laughed and told me to ask y'u。 Well； I'm askin' now。〃
