the man of the forest-第34章

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clasped　his　hand；　and　heretofore　no　such　imaginings　had　ever
crossed　his　mind；　yet　deep　in　him；　somewhere　hidden；　had
been　this　waiting；　sweet；　and　imperious　need。　　In　the　bright
day　he　appeared　to　ward　off　such　fancies；　but　at　night　he
was　helpless。　　And　every　fancy　left　him　weaker；　wilder。

When；　at　the　culmination　of　this　phase　of　his　passion；　Dale；
who　had　never　known　the　touch　of　a　woman's　lips；　suddenly
yielded　to　the　illusion　of　Helen　Rayner's　kisses；　he　found
himself　quite　mad；　filled　with　rapture　and　despair；　loving
her　as　he　hated　himself。　　It　seemed　as　if　he　had　experienced
all　these　terrible　feelings　in　some　former　life　and　had
forgotten　them　in　this　life。　　He　had　no　right　to　think　of
her；　but　he　could　not　resist　it。　　Imagining　the　sweet
surrender　of　her　lips　was　a　sacrilege；　yet　here；　in　spite　of
will　and　honor　and　shame；　he　was　lost。

Dale；　at　length；　was　vanquished；　and　he　ceased　to　rail　at
himself；　or　restrain　his　fancies。　　He　became　a　dreamy；
sad…eyed；　camp…fire　gazer；　like　many　another　lonely　man；
separated；　by　chance　or　error；　from　what　the　heart　hungered
most　for。　　But　this　great　experience；　when　all　its
significance　had　clarified　in　his　mind；　immeasurably
broadened　his　understanding　of　the　principles　of　nature
applied　to　life。

Love　had　been　in　him　stronger　than　in　most　men；　because　of
his　keen；　vigorous；　lonely　years　in　the　forest；　where　health
of　mind　and　body　were　intensified　and　preserved。　　How　simple；
how　natural；　how　inevitable！　　He　might　have　loved　any
fine…spirited；　healthy…bodied　girl。　　Like　a　tree　shooting　its
branches　and　leaves；　its　whole　entity；　toward　the　sunlight；
so　had　he　grown　toward　a　woman's　love。　　Why？　　Because　the
thing　he　revered　in　nature；　the　spirit；　the　universal；　the
life　that　was　God；　had　created　at　his　birth　or　before　his
birth　the　three　tremendous　instincts　of　nature　　to　fight
for　life；　to　feed　himself；　to　reproduce　his　kind。　　That　was
all　there　was　to　it。　　But　oh！　　the　mystery；　the　beauty；　the
torment；　and　the　terror　of　this　third　instinct　　this
hunger　for　the　sweetness　and　the　glory　of　a　woman's　love！



CHAPTER　XVI

Helen　Rayner　dropped　her　knitting　into　her　lap　and　sat
pensively　gazing　out　of　the　window　over　the　bare　yellow
ranges　of　her　uncle's　ranch。

The　winter　day　was　bright；　but　steely；　and　the　wind　that
whipped　down　from　the　white…capped　mountains　had　a　keen；
frosty　edge。　　A　scant　snow　lay　in　protected　places；　cattle
stood　bunched　in　the　lee　of　ridges；　low　sheets　of　dust
scurried　across　the　flats。

The　big　living…room　of　the　ranch…house　was　warm　and
comfortable　with　its　red　adobe　walls；　its　huge　stone
fireplace　where　cedar　logs　blazed；　and　its　many…colored
blankets。　　Bo　Rayner　sat　before　the　fire；　curled　up　in　an
armchair；　absorbed　in　a　book。　　On　the　floor　lay　the　hound
Pedro；　his　racy；　fine　head　stretched　toward　the　warmth。

〃Did　uncle　call？〃　asked　Helen；　with　a　start　out　of　her
reverie。

〃I　didn't　hear　him；〃　replied　Bo。

Helen　rose　to　tiptoe　across　the　floor；　and；　softly　parting
some　curtains；　she　looked　into　the　room　where　her　uncle　lay。
He　was　asleep。　　Sometimes　he　called　out　in　his　slumbers。　　For
weeks　now　he　had　been　confined　to　his　bed；　slowly　growing
weaker。　　With　a　sigh　Helen　returned　to　her　window…seat　and
took　up　her　work。

〃Bo；　the　sun　is　bright；〃　she　said。　　〃The　days　are　growing
longer。　　I'm　so　glad。〃

〃Nell；　you're　always　wishing　time　away。　　For　me　it　passes
quickly　enough；〃　replied　the　sister。

〃But　I　love　spring　and　summer　and　fall　　and　I　guess　I　hate
winter；〃　returned　Helen；　thoughtfully。

The　yellow　ranges　rolled　away　up　to　the　black　ridges　and
they　in　turn　swept　up　to　the　cold；　white　mountains。　　Helen's
gaze　seemed　to　go　beyond　that　snowy　barrier。　　And　Bo's　keen
eyes　studied　her　sister's　earnest；　sad　face。

〃Nell；　do　you　ever　think　of　Dale？〃　she　queried；　suddenly。

The　question　startled　Helen。　　A　slow　blush　suffused　neck　and
cheek。

〃Of　course；〃　she　replied；　as　if　surprised　that　Bo　should　ask
such　a　thing。

〃I　　I　shouldn't　have　asked　that；〃　said　Bo；　softly；　and
then　bent　again　over　her　book。

Helen　gazed　tenderly　at　that　bright；　bowed　head。　　In　this
swift…flying；　eventful；　busy　winter；　during　which　the
management　of　the　ranch　had　devolved　wholly　upon　Helen；　the
little　sister　had　grown　away　from　her。　　Bo　had　insisted　upon
her　own　free　will　and　she　had　followed　it；　to　the　amusement
of　her　uncle；　to　the　concern　of　Helen；　to　the　dismay　and
bewilderment　of　the　faithful　Mexican　housekeeper；　and　to　the
undoing　of　all　the　young　men　on　the　ranch。

Helen　had　always　been　hoping　and　waiting　for　a　favorable
hour　in　which　she　might　find　this　wilful　sister　once　more
susceptible　to　wise　and　loving　influence。　　But　while　she
hesitated　to　speak；　slow　footsteps　and　a　jingle　of　spurs
sounded　without；　and　then　came　a　timid　knock。　　Bo　looked　up
brightly　and　ran　to　open　the　door。

〃Oh！　　It's　only　　YOU！〃　she　uttered；　in　withering　scorn；　to
the　one　who　knocked。

Helen　thought　she　could　guess　who　that　was。

〃How　are　you…all？〃　asked　a　drawling　voice。

〃Well；　Mister　Carmichael；　if　that　interests　you　　I'm　quite
ill；〃　replied　Bo；　freezingly。

〃Ill！　　Aw　no；　now？〃

〃It's　a　fact。　　If　I　don't　die　right　off　I'll　have　to　be　taken
back　to　Missouri；〃　said　Bo；　casually。

〃Are　you　goin'　to　ask　me　in？〃　queried　Carmichael；　bluntly。
〃It's　cold　　an'　I've　got　somethin'　to　say　to　〃

〃To　ME？　　Well；　you're　not　backward；　I　declare；〃　retorted　Bo。

〃Miss　Rayner；　I　reckon　it　'll　be　strange　to　you　　findin'
out　I　didn't　come　to　see　you。〃

〃Indeed！　　No。　　But　what　was　strange　was　the　deluded　idea　I　had
　that　you　meant　to　apologize　to　me　　like　a　gentleman。　。
。　e　in；　Mr。　　Carmichael。　　My　sister　is　here。〃

The　door　closed　as　Helen　turned　round。　　Carmichael　stood　just
inside　with　his　sombrero　in　hand；　and　as　he　gazed　at　Bo　his
lean　face　seemed　hard。　　In　the　few　months　since　autumn　he　had
changed　　aged；　it　seemed；　and　the　once　young；　frank；
alert；　and　careless　cowboy　traits　had　merged　into　the　making
of　a　man。　　Helen　knew　just　how　much　of　a　man　he　really　was。
He　had　been　her　mainstay　during　all　the　complex　working　of
the　ranch　that　had　fallen　upon　her　shoulders。

〃Wal；　I　reckon　you　was　deluded；　all　right　　if　you　thought
I'd　crawl　like　them　other　lovers　of　yours；〃　he　said；　with
cool　deliberation。

Bo　turned　pale；　and　her　eyes　fairly　blazed；　yet　even　in　what
must　have　been　her　fury　Helen　saw　amaze　and　pain。

〃OTHER　lovers？　　I　think　the　biggest　delusion　here　is　the　way
you　flatter　yourself；〃　replied　Bo；　stingingly。

〃Me　flatter　myself？　　Nope。　　You　don't　savvy　me。　　I'm　shore
hatin'　myself　these　days。〃

〃Small　wonder。　　I　certainly　hate　you　　with　all　my　heart！〃

At　this　retort　the　cowboy　dropped　his　head　and　did　not　see
Bo　flaunt　herself　out　of　the　room。　　But　he　heard　the　door
close；　and　then　slowly　came　toward　Helen。

〃Cheer　up；　Las　Vegas；〃　said　Helen；　smiling。　　〃Bo's
hot…tempered。〃

〃Miss　Nell；　I'm　just　like　a　dog。　　The　meaner　she　treats　me
the　more　I　love　her；〃　he　replied；　dejectedly。

To　Helen's　first　instinct　of　liking　for　this　cowboy　there
had　been　added　admiration；　respect；　and　a　growing
appreciation　of　strong；　faithful；　developing　character。
Carmichael's　face　and　hands　were　red　and　chapped　from　winter
winds；　the　leather　of　wrist…bands；　belt；　and　boots　was　all
worn　shiny　and　thin；　little　streaks　of　dust　fell　from　him　as
he　breathed　heavily。　　He　no　longer　looked　the　dashing　cowboy；
ready　for　a　dance　or　lark　or　fight。

〃How　in　the　world　did　you　offend　her　so？〃　asked　Helen。　　〃Bo
is　furious。　　I　never　saw　her　so　angry　as　that。〃

〃Miss　Nell；　it　was　jest　this　way；〃　began　Carmichael。　　〃Shore
Bo's　knowed　I　was　in　love　with　her。　　I　asked　her　to　marry　me
an'　she　wouldn't　say　yes　or　no。　。　。　。　　An'；　mean　as　it　sounds
　she　never　run　away　from　it；　thet's　shore。　　We've　had　some
quarrels　　two　of　them　bad；　an'　this　last's　the　worst。〃

〃Bo　told　me　about　one　quarrel；〃　said　Helen。　　〃It　was　
because　you　drank　　that　time。〃

〃Shore　it　was。　　She　took　one　of　her　cold　spells　an'　I　jest
got　drunk。〃

〃But　that　was　wrong；〃　protested　Helen。

〃I　ain't　so　shore。　　You　see；　I　used　to　get　drunk　often　
before　I　come　here。　　An'　I've　been　drunk　only　once。　　Back　at
Las　Vegas　the　outfit　would　never　believe　thet。　　Wal；　I
promised　Bo　I　wouldn't　do　it　again；　an'　I've　kept　my　word。〃

〃That　is　fine　of　you。　　But　tell　me；　why　is　she　angry　now？〃

〃Bo　makes　up　to　all　the　fellars；〃　confessed　Carmichael；
hanging　his　head。　　〃I　took　her　to　the　dance　last　week　　over
in　the　town…hall。　　Thet's　the　first　time　she'd　gone　anywhere
with　me。　　I　shore　was　proud。　。　。　。　　But　thet　dance　was　hell。
Bo　carried　on　somethin'　turrible；　an'　I　〃

〃Tell　me。　　What　did　she　do？〃　demanded　Helen；　anxiously。　　〃I'm
responsible　for　her。　　I've　got　to　see　that　she　behaves。〃

〃Aw；　I　ain't　sayin'　she　didn't　behave　like　a　lady；〃　replied
Carmichael。　　〃It　was　　she　　wal；　all　them　fellars　are
fools　over　her　　an'　Bo　wasn't　true　to　me。〃

〃My　dear　boy；　is　Bo　engaged　to　you？〃

〃Lord　　if　she　only　was！〃　he　sighed。

〃Then　how　can　you　say　she　wasn't　true　to　you？　　Be
reasonable。〃

〃I　reckon　now；　Miss　Nell；　thet　no　one　can　be　in　love　an'　act
reasonable；〃　rejoined　the　cowboy。　　〃I　don't　know　how　to
explain；　but　the　fact　is　I　feel　thet　Bo　has　played　the　
the　devil　with　me　an'　all　the　other　fellars。〃

〃You　mean　she　has　flirted？〃

〃I　reckon。〃

〃Las　Vegas；　I'm　afraid　you're　right；〃　said　Helen；　with
growing　apprehension。　　〃Go　on。　　Tell　me　what's　happened。〃

〃Wal；　thet　Turner　boy；　who　rides　for　Beasley；　he　was　hot
after　Bo；〃　returned　Carmichael；　and　he　spoke　as　if　memory
hurt　him。　　〃Reckon　I've　no　use　for　Turner。　　He's　a
fine…lookin'；　strappin'；　big　cow…puncher；　an'　calculated　to
win　the　girls。　　He　brags　thet　he　can；　an'　I　reckon　he's
right。　　Wal；　he　was　always　hangin'　round　Bo。　　An'　he　stole　one
of　my　dances　with　Bo。　　I　only　had　three；　an'　he　comes　up　to
say　this　one　was　his；　Bo；　very　innocent　　oh；　she's　a　cute
one！　　　she　says；　'Why；　Mister　Turner　　is　it　really
yours？'　An'　she　looked　so　full　of　joy　thet　when　he　says　to
me；　'Excoose　us；　friend　Carmichael；'　I　sat　there　like　a
locoed　jackass　an'　let　them　go。　　But　I　wasn't　mad　at　thet。　　He
was　a　better　dancer　than　me　an'　I　wanted　her　to　have　a　good
time。　　What　started　the　hell　was　I　seen　him　put　his　arm　round
her　when　it　wasn't　just　time；　accordin'　to　the　dance；　an'　Bo
　she　didn't　break　any　records　gettin'　away　from　him。　　She
pushed　him　away　　after　a　little　　after　I　near　died。　　Wal；
on　the　way　home　I　had　to　tell　her。　　I　shore　did。　　An'　she　said
what　I'd　love　to　forget。　　Then　　then；　Miss　Nell；　I　grabbed
her　　it　was　outside　here　by　the　porch　an'　all　bright
moonlight　　I　grabbed　her　an'　hugged　an'　kissed　her　good。
When　I　let　her　go　I　says；　sorta　brave；　but　I　was　plumb
scared　　I　says；　〃Wal；　are　you　goin'　to　marry　me　now？'〃

He　concluded　with　a　gulp；　and　looked　at　Helen　with　woe　in
his　eyes。

〃Oh！　　What　did　Bo　do？〃　breathlessly　queried　Helen。

〃She　slapped　me；〃　he　replied。　　〃An'　then　she　says；　I　did　like
you　best；　but　NOW　I　hate　you！'　An'　she　slammed　the　door　in
my　face。〃

〃I　think　you　made　a　great　mistake；〃　said　Helen；　gravely。

〃Wal；　if　I　thought　so　I'd　beg　her　forgiveness。　　But　I　reckon
I　don't。　　What's　more；　I　feel　bet