Devil's Ford - Bret Harte (reading books for 4 year olds .TXT) š
- Author: Bret Harte
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Preposterous as this seemed from the lips of Whiskey Dick, Christie had a haunting suspicion that it was not greatly unlike the theories expounded by the clever young banker who had been her escort. She did not interrupt his flow of reminiscent criticism; when he paused for breath, she said, quietly:
āI met Mr. George Kearney the other day in the country.ā
Whiskey Dick stopped awkwardly, glanced hurriedly at Christie, and coughed behind his handkerchief.
āMr. Kearneyāehāerācertenglyāyesāerāmet him, you say. Was heāerāerāwell?ā
āIn health, yes; but otherwise he has lost everything,ā said Christie, fixing her eyes on the embarrassed Dick.
āYesāerāin courseāin courseāā continued Dick, nervously glancing round the apartment as if endeavoring to find an opening to some less abrupt statement of the fact.
āAnd actually reduced to take some menial employment,ā added Christie, still regarding Dick with her clear glance.
āThatās itāthatās just it,ā said Dick, beaming as he suddenly found his delicate and confidential opportunity. āThatās it, Miss Christie; thatās just what I was sayinā to the boys. āEz it the square thing,ā sez I, ājest because George hez happened to hypothecate every dollar he has, or expects to hev, to put into them works, only to please Mr. Carr, and just because he donāt want to distress that intelligent gentleman by letting him see heās dead brokeāfor him to go and demean himself and Devilās Ford by rushing away and hiring out as a Mexican vaquero on Mexican wages? Look,ā sez I, āat the disgrace he brings upon a high-toned, fashānable girl, at whose side heās walked and danced, and passed rings, and sentiments, and bokays in the changes oā the cotillion and the mizzourka. And wot,ā sez I, āif some day, prancing along in a fashānable cavalcade, she all of a suddents comes across him drivinā a Mexican steer?ā Thatās what I said to the boys. And so you met him, Miss Christie, as usual,ā continued Dick, endeavoring under the appearance of a large social experience to conceal an eager anxiety to know the detailsāāso you met him; and, in course, you didnāt let on yer knew him, so to speak, natārally, or pāraps you kinder like asked him to fix your saddle-girth, and give him a five-dollar pieceāeh?ā
Christie, who had risen and gone to the window, suddenly turned a very pale face and shining eyes on Dick.
āMr. Hall,ā she said, with a faint attempt at a smile, āwe are old friends, and I feel I can ask you a favor. You once before acted as our escortāit was for a short but a happy timeāwill you accept a larger trust? My father is busy in Sacramento for the mine: will you, without saying anything to anybody, take Jessie and me back at once to Devilās Ford?ā
āWill I? Miss Christie,ā said Dick, choking between an intense gratification and a desire to keep back its vulgar exhibition, āI shall be proud!ā
āWhen I say keep it a secretāāshe hesitatedāāI donāt mean that I object to your letting Mr. Kearney, if you happen to know where he is, understand that we are going back to Devilās Ford.ā
āCertānlyānatārally,ā said Dick, waving his hand gracefully; āsorter drop him a line, saying that bizness of a social and delicate natureābeing the escort of Miss Christie and Jessie Carr to Devilās Fordāprevents my having the pleasure of calling.ā
āThat will do very well, Mr. Hall,ā said Christie, faintly smiling through her moist eyelashes. āThen will you go at once and secure tickets for to-nightās boat, and bring them here? Jessie and I will arrange everything else.ā
āCertānly,ā said Dick impulsively, and preparing to take a graceful leave.
āWeāll be impatient until you return with the tickets,ā said Christie graciously.
Dick shook hands gravely, got as far as the door, and paused.
āYou think it better to take the tickets now?ā he said dubiously.
āBy all means,ā said Christie impetuously. āIāve set my heart on going to-nightāand unless you secure berths earlyāā
āIn courseāin course,ā interrupted Dick nervously. āButāā
āBut what?ā said Christie impatiently.
Dick hesitated, shut the door carefully, and, looking round the room, lightly shook out his handkerchief, apparently flicked away an embarrassing suggestion, and said, with a little laugh:
āItās ridiklous, perfectly ridiklous, Miss Christie; but not beinā in the habit of carryinā ready money, and havinā omitted to cash a draft on Wells, Fargo & Co.āā
āOf course,ā said Christie rapidly. āHow forgetful I am! Pray forgive me, Mr. Hall. I didnāt think. Iāll run up and get it from our host; he will be glad to be our banker.ā
āOne moment, Miss Christie,ā said Dick lightly, as his thumb and finger relaxed in his waistcoat pocket over the only piece of money in the world that had remained to him after his extravagant purchase of Christieās saffrona rose, āone moment: in this yer monetary transaction, if you like, you are at liberty to use MY name.ā
As Christie and Jessie Carr looked from the windows of the coach, whose dust-clogged wheels were slowly dragging them, as if reluctant, nearer the last stage of their journey to Devilās Ford, they were conscious of a change in the landscape, which they could not entirely charge upon their changed feelings. The few bared open spaces on the upland, the long stretch of rocky ridge near the summit, so vivid and so velvety during their first journey, were now burnt and yellow; even the brief openings in the forest were seared as if by a hot iron in the scorching rays of a half yearās sun. The pastoral slopes of the valley below were cloaked in lustre-leather: the rare watercourses along the road had faded from the waiting eye and ear; it seemed as if the long and dry summer had even invaded the close-set ranks of pines, and had blown a simoom breath through the densest woods, leaving its charred red ashes on every leaf and spray along the tunnelled shade. As they leaned out of the window and inhaled the half-dead spices of the evergreens, they seemed to have entered the atmosphere of some exhausted passionāof some fierce excitement that was even now slowly burning itself out.
It was a relief at last to see the straggling houses of Devilās Ford far below come once more into view, as they rounded the shoulder of Devilās Spur and began the long descent. But as they entered the town a change more ominous and startling than the desiccation of the landscape forced itself upon them. The town was still there, but where were the inhabitants? Four months ago they had left the straggling street thronged with busy citizensāgroups at every corner, and a chaos of merchandise and traders in the open plaza or square beside the Presbyterian church. Now all was changed. Only a few wayfarers lifted their heads lazily as the coach rattled by, crossing the deserted square littered with empty boxes, and gliding past empty cabins or vacant shop windows, from which not only familiar faces, but even the window sashes themselves, were gone. The great unfinished serpent-like flume, crossing the river on gigantic trestles, had advanced as far as the town, stooping over it like some enormous reptile that had sucked its life blood and was gorged with its prey.
Whiskey Dick, who had left the stage on the summit to avail himself of a shorter foot trail to the house, that would give him half an hourās grace to make preparations, met them at the stage office with a buggy. A glance at the young girls, perhaps, convinced him that the graces of elegant worldly conversation were out of place with the revelation he read on their faces. Perhaps, he, too, was a trifle indisposed. The short journey to the house was made in profound silence.
The villa had been repainted and decorated, and it looked fresher, and even, to their preoccupied minds, appeared more attractive than ever. Thoughtful hands had taken care of the vines and rose-bushes on the trellises; waterāthat precious element in Devilās Fordāhad not been spared in keeping green through the long drought the plants which the girls had so tenderly nurtured. It was the one oasis in which the summer still lingered; and yet a singular sense of loss came over the girls as they once more crossed its threshold. It seemed no longer their own.
āEf I was you, Miss Christie, Iād keep close to the house for a day or two, untilāuntilāthings is settled,ā said Dick; āthereās a heap oā tramps and sich cattle trapsinā round. Pāraps you wouldnāt feel so lonesome if you was nearer townāfor instance, ābout wherā you useter live.ā
āIn the dear old cabin,ā said Christie quickly; āI remember it; I wish we were there now.ā
āDo you really? Do you?ā said Whiskey Dick, with suddenly twinkling eyes. āThatās like you to say it. Thatās what I allus said,ā continued Dick, addressing space generally; āif thereās any one ez knows how to come square down to the bottom rock without flinchinā, itās your high-toned, fashānable gals. But I must meander back to town, and let the boys know youāre in possession, safe and sound. Itās right mean that Fairfax and Mattingly had to go down to Lagrange on some low business yesterday, but theyāll be back to-morrow. So long.ā
Left alone, the girls began to realize their strange position. They had conceived no settled plan. The night they left San Francisco they had written an earnest
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