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！
him。
〃Are you sure？〃 she asked。
〃Of what？〃 he whispered faintly。
〃That Low is really your son？〃
〃Who said so？〃 he asked； opening his round eyes upon her。
〃You did yourself； a moment ago；〃 she said quickly。 〃Don't you
remember？〃
〃Did I？〃
〃You did。 Is it not so？〃
He smiled faintly。 〃I reckon。〃
She held her breath in expectation。 But only the ludicrousness of the
discovery seemed paramount to his weakened faculties。 〃Isn't it just about
the ridiculousest thing all round？〃 he said； with a feeble chuckle。 〃First
YOU nearly kill me before you know I am Low's father； then I'm just
spoilin' to kill him before I know he's my son； then that god…forsaken fool
Jack Brace mistakes you for Nellie and Nellie for you。 Ain't it just the
biggest thing for the boys to get hold of？ But we must keep it dark until
after I marry Nellie； don't you see？ Then we'll have a good time all
round； and I'll stand the drinks。 Think of it； Teresha！ You don' no me； I
do' no you； nobody knowsh anybody elsh。 I try kill Lo'。 Lo' wants kill
Nellie。 No thath no ri'〃 but the potent liquor； overtaking his exhausted
senses； thickened； impeded； and at last stopped his speech。 His head
82
… Page 83…
IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
slipped to her shoulder； and he became once more unconscious。
Teresa breathed again。 In that brief moment she had abandoned
herself to a wild inspiration of hope which she could scarcely define。
Not that it was entirely a wild inspiration； she tried to reason calmly。
What if she revealed the truth to him？ What if she told the wretched man
before her that she had deceived him； that she had overheard his
conversation with Brace； that she had stolen Brace's horse to bring Low
warning； that； failing to find Low in his accustomed haunts； or at the
campfire； she had left a note for him pinned to the herbarium； imploring
him to fly with his companion from the danger that was coming； and that；
remaining on watch； she had seen them bothBrace and Dunn
approaching； and had prepared to meet them at the cabin？ Would this
miserable and maddened man understand her self…abnegation？ Would he
forgive Low and Nellie？she did not ask for herself。 Or would the
revelation turn his brain； if it did not kill him outright？ She looked at the
sunken orbits of his eyes and hectic on his cheek； and shuddered。
Why was this added to the agony she already suffered？ She had been
willing to stand between them with her life； her liberty； and eventhe hot
blood dyed her cheek at the thoughtwith the added shame of being
thought the cast…off mistress of that man's son。 Yet all this she had taken
upon herself in expiation of somethingshe knew not clearly what； no； for
nothingonly for HIM。 And yet this very situation offered her that
gleam of hope which had thrilled her； a hope so wild in its improbability；
so degrading in its possibility； that at first she knew not whether despair
was not preferable to its shame。 And yet was it unreasonable？ She was
no longer passionate； she would be calm and think it out fairly。
She would go to Low at once。 She would find him somewhereand
even if with that girl； what mattered？and she would tell him all。 When
he knew that the life and death of his father lay in the scale； would he let
his brief； foolish passion for Nellie stand in the way？ Even if he were not
influenced by filial affection or mere compassion； would his pride let him
stoop to a rivalry with the man who had deserted his youth？ Could he
take Dunn's promised bride； who must have coquetted with him to have
brought him to this miserable plight？ Was this like the calm； proud
83
… Page 84…
IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
young god she knew？ Yet she had an uneasy instinct that calm； proud
young gods and goddesses did things like this； and felt the weakness of her
reasoning flush her own conscious cheek。
〃Teresa！〃
She started。 Dunn was awake； and was gazing at her curiously。
〃I was reckoning it was the only square thing for Low to stop this
promiscuous picnicking here and marry you out and out。〃
〃Marry me！〃 said Teresa in a voice that； with all her efforts； she could
not make cynical。
〃Yes；〃 he repeated； 〃after I've married Nellie； tote you down to San
Angeles； and there take my name like a man； and give it to you。
Nobody'll ask after TERESA； sureyou bet your life。 And if they do；
and he can't stop their jaw； just you call on the old man。 It's mighty queer；
ain't it； Teresa； to think of your being my daughter…in…law？〃
It seemed here as if he was about to lapse again into unconsciousness
over the purely ludicrous aspect of the subject； but he haply recovered his
seriousness。 〃He'll have as much money from me as he wants to go into
business with。 What's his line of business； Teresa？〃 asked this
prospective father…in…law； in a large； liberal way。
〃He is a botanist！〃 said Teresa； with a sudden childish animation that
seemed to keep up the grim humor of the paternal suggestion； 〃and oh； he
is too poor to buy books！ I sent for one or two for him myself； the other
day〃 she hesitated〃it was all the money I had； but it wasn't enough for
him to go on with his studies。〃
Dunn looked at her sparkling eyes and glowing cheeks； and became
thoughtful。 〃Curson must have been a dd fool；〃 he said finally。
Teresa remained silent。 She was beginning to be impatient and
uneasy； fearing some mischance that might delay her dreaded； yet longed…
for meeting with Low。 Yet she could not leave this sick and exhausted
man； HIS FATHER； now bound to her by more than mere humanity。
〃Couldn't you manage；〃 she said gently； 〃to lean on me a few steps
further； until I could bring you to a cooler spot and nearer assistance？〃
He nodded。 She lifted him almost like a child to his feet。 A spasm
of pain passed over his face。 〃How far is it？〃 he asked。
84
… Page 85…
IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
〃Not more than ten minutes；〃 she replied。
〃I can make a spurt for that time；〃 he said coolly； and began to walk
slowly but steadily on。 Only his face； which was white and set； and the
convulsive grip of his hand on her arm betrayed the effort。 At the end of
ten minutes she stopped。 They stood before the splintered； lightning…
scarred shaft in the opening of the woods； where Low had built her first
camp…fire。 She carefully picked up the herbarium； but her quick eye had
already detected in the distance； before she had allowed Dunn to enter the
opening with her； that her note was gone。 Low had been there before
them； he had been warned； as his absence from the cabin showed； he
would not return there。 They were free from interruptionbut where had
he gone？
The sick man drew a long breath of relief as she seated him in the
clover…grown hollow where she had slept the second night of her stay。
〃It's cooler than those cursed woods；〃 he said。 〃I suppose it's because it's
a little like a grave。 What are you going to do now？〃 he added； as she
brought a cup of water and placed it at his side。
〃I am going to leave you here for a little while；〃 she said cheerfully；
but with a pale face and nervous hands。 〃I'm going to leave you while I
seek Low。〃
The sick man raised his head。 〃I'm good for a spurt； Teresa； like that
I've just got through； but I don't think I'm up to a family party。 Couldn't
you issue cards later on？〃
〃You don't understand；〃 she said。 〃I'm going to get Low to send
some one of your friends to you h