the foreigner- 第35部分

Brown　took　the　letter　and　read　it　carefully；　read　it　a　second　time；　and　then　said　simply：

〃That　seems　straight　enough。　　That　woman　sees　her　way　through　things。　　But　what's　the　trouble？〃

〃Well；　of　course；　it　is　quite　absurd。〃

〃What's　absurd？〃　asked　Brown　shortly。　　〃Your　responsibility？〃

〃Hold　on；　now；　Brown；〃　he　said。　　〃I　do　not　want　you　to　miss　my　point　of　view。〃

〃All　right；　let's　have　it；〃　said　Brown；　and　French　plunged　at　once　at　his　main　argument；　adopting　with　great　effort　the　judicial　tone　of　a　man　determined　to　examine　dispassionately　on　the　data　at　command。

〃You　see；　she　does　not　know　me；　has　not　seen　me　for　fifteen　years；　and　I　am　afraid　she　thinks　I　am　a　kind　of　saint。　　Now；　you　know　better；〃　Brown　nodded　his　assent　with　his　eyes　steadily　on　the　other's　face；　〃and　I　know　better；　and　I　am　not　going　to　play　the　hypocrite　for　any　man。〃

〃Quite　right；〃　said　Brown；　〃she　does　not　ask　you　to。〃

〃So　it　is　there　I　want　you　to　help　me　out。〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　Brown；　〃count　on　me　for　all　I　can　do。　　But　that　does　not　touch　the　question　so　far　as　I　can　see　it；　even　remotely。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃It　is　not　a　question　of　what　I　am　to　do　in　the　matter。〃

〃What　can　I　do？〃　cried　French；　losing　his　judicial　tone。　　〃Do　you　think　I　am　going　to　accept　the　role　of　moral　preceptor　to　that　youth　and　play　the　hypocrite？〃

〃Who　asks　you　to？〃　said　Brown；　with　a　touch　of　scorn。　　〃Be　honest　in　the　matter。〃

〃Oh；　come　now；　Brown；　let　us　not　chop　words。　　Look　at　the　thing　reasonably。　　I　came　for　help　and　not〃

〃Count　on　me　for　all　the　help　I　can　give；〃　said　Brown　promptly；　〃but　let's　look　at　your　part。〃

〃Well；〃　said　French；　〃we　will　divide　up　on　this　thing。　　I　will　undertake　to　look　after　the　boy's　physical　andwellsecular　interests；　if　you　like。　　I　will　teach　him　to　ride；　shoot；　box；　and　handle　the　work　on　the　ranch；　in　short；　educate　him　in　things　practical；　while　you　take　charge　of　his　moral　training。〃

〃In　other　words；　when　it　comes　to　morals；　you　want　to　shirk。〃

French　flushed　quickly；　but　controlled　himself。

〃Excuse　me；　Brown；〃　he　said；　in　a　quiet　tone。　　〃I　came　to　talk　this　over　with　you　as　a　friend；　but　if　you　do　not　want　to〃

〃Old　man；　I　apologize　for　the　tone　I　used　just　now；　but　I　foresee　that　this　is　going　to　be　serious。　　I　can　see　as　clearly　as　light　what　I　ought　to　say　to　you　now。　　There　is　something　in　my　heart　that　I　have　been　wanting　to　say　for　months；　but　I　hate　to　say　it；　and　I　won't　say　it　now　unless　you　tell　me　to。〃

The　two　men　were　standing　face　to　face　as　if　measuring　each　other's　strength。

〃Go　on；〃　said　French　at　length；　〃what　are　you　afraid　of？〃　　His　tone　was　unfortunate。

〃Afraid；〃　said　Brown　quickly；　〃not　of　you；　but　of　myself。〃　　He　paused　a　few　moments；　as　if　taking　counsel　with　himself；　then；　with　a　sudden　resolve；　he　spoke　in　tones　quiet；　deliberate；　and　almost　stern。　　〃First；　be　clear　about　this；〃　he　said；　〃I　stand　ready　to　help　you　with　Kalman　to　the　limit　of　my　power；　and　to　assure　you　to　the　full　my　share　of　responsibility　for　his　moral　training。　　Now　then；　what　of　your　part　in　this？〃

〃Why；　I〃

〃But　wait；　hear　me　out。　　For　good　or　for　evil；　you　have　that　boy's　life　in　your　hands。　　Did　you　ever　notice　how　he　rides；his　style；　I　mean？　　It　is　yours。　　How　he　walks？　　Like　you。　　His　very　tricks　of　speech　are　yours。　　And　how　else　could　it　be？　　He　adores　you；　you　know　that。　　He　models　himself　after　you。　　And　so；　mark　me；　without　either　of　you　knowing　it；　YOU　WILL　MAKE　HIM　IN　SPITE　OF　YOURSELF　AND　IN　SPITE　OF　HIM。　　And　it　is　your　fate　to　make　him　after　your　own　type。　　Wait；　French；　let　me　finish。〃　　Brown's　easy　good　nature　was　gone；　his　face　was　set　and　stern。　　〃You　ask　me　to　teach　him　morals。　　The　fact　is；　we　are　both　teaching　him。　　From　whom；　do　you　think；　will　he　take　his　lesson？　　What　a　ghastly　farce　the　thing　is！　Listen；　while　the　teaching　goes　on。　　'Kalman；'　I　say；　'don't　drink　whiskey；　it　is　a　beastly　and　degrading　habit。'　　'Fudge！'　he　says；　'Jack　drinks　whiskey；　and　so　will　I。'　　'Kalman；'　I　urge；　'don't　swear。'　　'Rot；'　says　he；　'Jack　swears。'　　'Kalman；　be　a　man；　straight；　self…controlled；　honourable；　unselfish。'　　The　answer　is；　but　no！　the　answer　never　will　be；'Jack　is　a　drunken；　swearing；　selfish；　reckless　man！'　　No；　for　he　loves　you。　　But　like　you　he　will　be；　in　spite　of　all　I　can　say　or　do。　　That　is　your　curse　for　the　life　you　are　leading。　　Responsibility？　　God　help　you。　　Read　your　letter　again。　　That　woman　sees　clearly。　　It　is　God's　truth。　Listen；　'The　responsibility　for　what　you　make　him　you　must　take。　God　puts　it　there；　not　I。'　　You　may　refuse　this　responsibility；　you　may　be　too　weak；　too　wilful；　too　selfish　to　set　upon　your　own　wicked　indulgence　of　a　foolish　appetite；　but　the　responsibility　is　there；　and　no　living　man　or　woman　can　take　it　from　you。〃

French　stood　silent　for　some　moments。　　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　set　my　sins　before　me；　and　I　will　not　try　to　hide　them；　but　by　the　Eternal；　not　for　you　or　for　any　man；　will　I　be　anything　but　myself。〃

〃What　kind　of　self？〃　enquired　Brown。　　〃Beast　or　man？〃

〃That　is　not　the　question；〃　said　French　hotly。　　〃I　will　be　no　hypocrite；　as　you　would　have　me　be。〃

〃Jack　French；〃　said　Brown；　〃you　know　you　are　speaking　a　lie　before　God　and　man。〃

French　stepped　quickly　towards　him。

〃Brown；　you　will　have　to　apologize；〃　he　said　in　a　low；　tense　voice；　〃and　quick。〃

〃French；　I　will　apologize　if　what　I　have　said　is　not　true。〃

〃I　cannot　discuss　it　with　you；　Brown；〃　said　French；　his　voice　thick　with　rage。　　〃I　allow　no　man　to　call　me　a　liar；　put　up　your　hands。〃

〃If　you　are　a　man；　French；〃　said　Brown　with　equal　calm；　〃give　me　a　minute。　　Read　your　letter　again。　　Does　she　ask　you　to　be　a　hypocrite？　　Does　she　not；　do　I　not；　only　ask　you　to　be　a　man；　and　to　act　like　a　man？〃

〃It　won't　do；　Brown。　　It　is　past　argument。　　You　gave　me　the　lie。〃

〃French；　I　wish　to　apologize　for　what　I　said　just　now；〃　said　Brown。　〃I　said　you　knew　you　were　speaking　a　lie。　　I　take　that　back；　and　apologize。　　I　cannot　believe　you　knew。　　All　the　same；　what　you　said　was　not　the　truth。　　No　one　asks　you；　nor　does　that　letter　ask　you；　to　be　a　hypocrite。　　You　said　I　did。　　That　was　not　true。　　Now；　if　you　wish　to　slap　my　face；　go　on。〃

French　stood　motionless。　　His　rage　well…nigh　overpowered　him；　but　he　knew　this　man　was　speaking　the　truth。　　For　some　moments　they　stood　face　to　face。　　Then；　impulsively　offering　his　hand；　and　with　a　quick　change　of　voice；　Brown　said；　〃I　am　awfully　sorry；　French；　let's　forget　it。〃

But　ignoring　the　outstretched　hand；　French　turned　from　him　without　a　word；　mounted　his　horse；　and　rode　away。

Brown　stood　watching　him　until　he　was　out　of　sight。　　〃My　God；　forgive　me；〃　he　cried；　〃what　a　mess　I　made　of　that！　　I　have　lost　him　and　the　boy　too；〃　and　with　that　he　passed　into　the　woods；　coming　home　to　his　wife　and　baby　late　at　night；　weary；　spent；　and　too　sad　for　speech　or　sleep。



CHAPTER　XV

THE　MAIDEN　OF　THE　BROWN　HAIR


Rumours　of　the　westward　march　of　civilization　had　floated　from　time　to　time　up　the　country　from　the　main　line　as　far　as　the　Crossing；　and　had　penetrated　even　to　the　Night　Hawk　ranch；　only　to　be　allayed　by　succeeding　rumours　of　postponement　of　the　advance　for　another　year。

It　was　Mackenzie　who　brought　word　of　the　appearance　of　the　first　bona　fide　scout　of　the　advancing　host。

〃There　was　a　man　with　a　bit　flag　over　the　Creek　yonder；〃　he　announced　one　spring　evening；　while　the　snow　was　still　lying　in　the　hollows；　〃and　another　man　with　a　stick　or　something；　and　two　or　three　behind　him。〃

〃Ah；　ha！〃　exclaimed　French；　〃surveyors；　no　doubt；　they　have　come　at　last。〃

〃And　what　will　that　be？〃　said　Mackenzie　anxiously。

〃The　men　who　lay　out　the　route　for　the　railroad；〃　replied　French。

Mackenzie　looked　glum。　　〃And　will　they　be　putting　a　railroad　across　our　ranch？〃　he　asked　indignantly。

〃Right　across；〃　said　French；　〃and　just　where　it　suits　them。〃

〃Indeed；　and　it　wouldn't　be　my　land　they　would　be　putting　that　railroad　over；　I'll　warrant　ye。〃

〃You　could　not　stop　them；　Mack；〃　said　French；　〃they　have　got　the　whole　Government　behind　them。〃

〃I　would　be　putting　some　slugs　into　them；　whateffer；〃　said　Mackenzie。　　〃There　will　be　no　room　in　the　country　any　more；　and　no　sleeping　at　night　for　the　noise　of　them　injins。〃

Mackenzie　was　right。　　That　surveyor's　flag　was　the　signal　that　waved　out　the　old　order　and　waved　in　the　new。　　The　old　free　life；　the　only　life　Mackenzie　knew；　where　each　man's　will　was　his　law；　and　where　law　was　enforced　by　the　strength　of　a　man's　right　hand；　was　gone　forever　from　the　plains。　　Those　great　empty　spaces　of　rolling　prairie；　swept　by　viewless　winds；　were　to　be　filled　up　now　with　the　abodes　of　men。　　Mackenzie　and　his　world　must　now　disappear　in　the　wake　of　the　red　man　and　the　buffalo　before　the　railroad　and　the　settler。　　To　Jack　French　the　invasion　brought　mingled　feelings。　He　hated　to　surrender　the　untrammelled；　unconventional　mode　of　life；　for　which　twenty　years　ago　he　had　left　an　ancient　and；　as　it　seemed　to　his　adventurous　spirit；　a　worn…out　civilization；　but　he　was　quick　to　recognize；　and　in　his　heart　was　glad　to　welcome；　a　change　that　would　mean　new　life　and　assured　prosperity　to　Kalman。　whom　he　had　come　to　love　as　a　son。　　To　Kalman　that　surveyor's　flag　meant　the　opening　up　of　a　new　world；　a　new　life；　rich　in　promise　of　adventure　and　achievement。　　French　noticed　his　glowing　face　and　eyes。

〃Yes；　Kalman；　boy；〃　he　said；　〃it　will　be　a　great　thing　for　you；　great　for　the　country。　　It　means　towns　and　settlements；　markets　and　money；　and　all　the　rest。〃

〃We　will　have　no　trouble　selling　our　potatoes　and　our　oats　now；〃　said　the　boy。

〃Not　a　bit；〃　said　French；　〃we　could　sell　ten　times　what　we　have　to　sell。〃

〃And　why　not　get　ten　times　the　stuff？〃　cried　the　boy。

French　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　It　was　hard　to　throw　off　the　old　laissez　faire　of　the　pioneer。

〃All　right；　Kalman；　you　go　on。　　I　will　give　you　a　free　hand。　Mackenzie　and　I　will　back　you　up；　only　don't　ask　too　much　of　us。　There　will　be　hundreds　of　teams　at　work　here　next　year。〃

〃One　hundred　teams！〃　exclaimed　Kalman。　　〃How　much　oats　do　you　think　they　will　need？　　One　thousand　bushels？〃

〃One　thousand！　yes；　ten　thousand；　twenty　thousand。〃

Kalman　made　a　rapid　calculation。

〃Why；　that　would