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Lin McLean-Part7_Owen Wister(1860-1938)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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"Why, they tell me as how that heifer of the Sidney-Nebraska brand got

plumb away from yu', and little Tommy had to chase afteh her."



Lin sat up angrily amid the laughter, but reclined again. "I'll improve,"

said he, "if yu' learn me how yu' rope that Vermont stock so handy. Has



she promised to be your sister yet?" he added.

"Is that what they do?" inquired the Virginian, serenely. "I have never



got related that way. Why, that'll make Tommy your brother-in-law, Lin!"

And now, indeed, the camp laughed a loud, merciless laugh.



But Lin was silent. Where everybody lives in a glass-house the victory is

to him who throws the adroitest stone. Mr. McLean was readier witted than



most, but the gentle, slow Virginian could be a master when he chose.

"Tommy has been recountin' his wars up at the Taylors'," he now told the



camp. "He has frequently campaigned with General Crook, General Miles,

and General Ruger, all at onced. He's an exciting fighter, in



conversation, and kep' us all scared for mighty nigh an hour. Miss Peck

appeared interested in his statements."



"What was you doing at the Taylors' yourself?" demanded Lin.

"Visitin' Miss Wood," answered the Virginian, with entire ease. For he



also knew when to employ the plain truth as a bluff. "You'd ought to

write to Tommy's mother, Lin, and tell her what a dare-devil her son is



gettin' to be. She would cut off his allowance and bring him home, and

you would have the runnin' all to yourself."



"I'll fix him yet," muttered Mr. McLean. "Him and his wars."

With that he rose and left us.



The next afternoon he informed me that if I was riding up the creek to

spend the night he would go for company. In that direction we started,



therefore, without any mention of the Taylors or Miss Peck. I was

puzzled. Never had I seen him thus disconcerted by woman. With him woman



had been a transientdisturbance. I had witnessed a series of flighty

romances, where the cow-puncher had come, seen, often conquered, and



moved on. Nor had his affairs been of the sort to teach a young man

respect. I am putting it rather mildly.



For the first part of our way this afternoon he was moody, and after that

began to speak with appallingwisdom about life. Life, he said, was a



serious matter. Did I realize that? A man was liable to forget it. A man

was liable to go sporting and helling around till he waked up some day



and found all his best pleasures had become just a business. No interest,

no surprise, no novelty left, and no cash in the bank. Shorty owed him



fifty dollars. Shorty would be able to pay that after the round-up, and

he, Lin, would get his time and rustlealtogether some five hundred



dollars. Then there was his homestead claim on Box Elder, and the

surveyors were coming in this fall. No better location for a home in this



country than Box Elder. Wood, water, fine land. All it needed was a house

and ditches and buildings and fences, and to be planted with crops. Such



chances and considerations should sober a man and make him careful what

he did. "I'd take in Cheyenne on our wedding-trip, and after that I'd



settle right down to improving Box Elder," concluded Mr. McLean,

suddenly.



His real intentions flashed upon me for the first time. I had not

remotely imagined such a step.



"Marry her!" I screeched in dismay. "Marry her!"

I don't know which word was the worse to emphasize at such a moment, but



I emphasized both thoroughly.

"I didn't expect yu'd act that way," said the lover. He dropped behind me



fifty yards and spoke no more.

Not at once did I beg his pardon for the brutality I had been surprised



into. It is one of those speeches that, once said, is said forever.

But it was not that which withheld me. As I thought of the tone in which



my friend had replied, it seemed to me sullen, rather than deeply angry

or wounded--resentment at my opinion not of her character so much as of



his choice! Then I began to be sorry for the fool, and schemed for a

while how to intervene. But have you ever tried intervention? I soon



abandoned the idea, and took a way to be forgiven, and to learn more.

"Lin," I began, slowing my horse, "you must not think about what I said."



"I'm thinkin' of pleasanter subjects," said he, and slowed his own horse.

"Oh, look here!" I exclaimed.



"Well?" said he. He allowed his horse to come within about ten yards.

"Astonishment makes a man say anything," I proceeded. "And I'll say again



you're too good for her--and I'll say I don't generally believe in the

wife being older than the husband."



"What's two years?" said Lin.

I was near screeching out again, but saved myself. He was not quite






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