登陆注册
26108500000036

第36章 MISTRESS AND MAID(2)

It was a long story, but the main points can be told in a paragraph.The grandfather of the two cousins, General Edward Bannister, had worn the Confederate gray for four years, and had lost an arm in the service of the flag with the stars and bars.After the war he returned to his home in Virginia to find it in ruins, his slaves freed and his fields mortgaged.He had pulled himself together for another start, and had practiced law in the little town where his family had lived for generations.Of his two sons, one was a ne'er-do-well.He was one of those brilliant fellows of whom much is expected that never develops.He had a taste for low company, married beneath him, and, after a career that was a continual mortification and humiliation to his father, was killed in a drunken brawl under disgraceful circumstances, leaving behind a son named for the general.The secondson of General Bannister also died young, but not before he had proved his devotion to his father by an exemplary life.He, too, was married and left an only son, also named for the old soldier.The boys were about of an age and were well matched in physical and mental equipment.But the general, who had taken them both to live with him, soon discovered that their characters were as dissimilar as the poles.One grandson was frank, generous, open as the light; the other was of a nature almost degenerate.In fact, each had inherited the qualities of his father.Tales began to come to the old general's ears that at first he refused to credit.But eventually it was made plain to him that one of the boys was a rake of the most objectionable type.

There were many stormy scenes between the general and his grandson, but the boy continued to go from bad to worse.After a peculiarly flagrant case, involving the character of a respectable young girl, young Ned Bannister was forbidden his ancestral home.It had been by means of his cousin that this last iniquity of his had been unearthed, and the boy had taken it to his grandfather in hot indignation as the last hope of protecting the reputation of the injured girl.From that hour the evil hatred of his cousin, always dormant in the heart, flamed into active heat.The disowned youth swore to be revenged.A short time later the general died, leaving what little property he had entirely to the one grandson.This stirred again the bitter rage of the other.He set fire to the house that had been willed his cousin, and took a train that night for Wyoming.By a strange irony of fate they met again in the West years later, and the enmity between them was renewed, growing every month more bitter on the part of the one who called himself the King of the Bighorn Country.

She broke the silence after his story with a gentle "Thank you.I can understand why you don't like to tell the story.""I am very glad of the chance to tell it to you," he answered.

"When you were delirious you sometimes begged some one you called Ned not to break his mother's heart.I thought then you might be speaking to yourself as ill people do.Of course I see now it was your cousin that was on your mind.""When I was out of my head I must have talked a lot of nonsense," hesuggested, in the voice of a question."I expect I had opinions I wouldn't have been scattering around so free if I'd known what I was saying."He was hardly prepared for the tide of color that swept her cheeks at his words nor for the momentary confusion that shuttered the shy eyes with long lashes cast down.

"Sick folks do talk foolishness, they say," he added, his gaze trained on her suspiciously.

"Do they?"

"Mrs.Winslow says I did.But when I asked her what it was I said she only laughed and told me to ask y'u.Well, I'm askin' now."She became very busy over the teapot."You talked about the work at your ranch--sheep dipping and such things.""Was that all?"

"No, about lots of other things--football and your early life.I don't see what Mrs.Winslow meant.Will you have some more tea?""No, thank y'u.I have finished.Yes, that ce'tainly seems harmless.I didn't know but I had been telling secrets." Still his unwavering eyes rested quietly on her.

"Secrets?" She summoned her aplomb to let a question rest lightly in the face she turned toward him, though she was afraid she met his eyes hardly long enough for complete innocence "Why, yes, secrets." He measured looks with her deliberately before he changed the subject, and he knew again the delightful excitement of victory."Are y'u going to read to me this evening?"She took his opening so eagerly that he smiled, at which her color mounted again.

"If y'u like.What shall I read?"

"Some more of Barrie's books, if y'u don't mind.When a fellow is weak as a kitten he sorter takes to things that are about kids."Nora came in and cleared away the supper things.She was just beginning to wash them when McWilliams and Denver dropped into the kitchen by different doors.Each seemed surprised and disappointed at the presence of the other.Nora gave each of them a smile and a dishcloth.

"Reddy, he's shavin' and Frisco's struggling with a biled shirt--I meanwith a necktie," Denver hastily amended."They'll be along right soon, I shouldn't wonder.""Y'u better go tell the boys Miss Nora don't want her kitchen littered up with so many of them," suggested his rival.

"Y'u're foreman here.I don't aim to butt into your business, Mac," grinned back the other, polishing a tea plate with the towel.

"I want to get some table linen over to Lee Ming to-night," said Nora, presently.

"Denver, he'll be glad to take it for y'u, Miss Nora.He's real obliging," offered Mac, generously.

"I've been in the house all day, so I need a walk.I thought perhaps one of you gentlemen--" Miss Nora looked from one to the other of them with deep innocence.

"Sure, I'll go along and carry it.Just as Mac says, I'll be real pleased to go," said Denver, hastily.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 扑热息痛

    扑热息痛

    吴君,女,中国作协会员。曾获首届中国小说双年奖、广东新人新作奖。长篇小说《我们不是一个人类》被媒体评为2004年最值得记忆五部长篇之一。出版多本中篇小说集。根据其中篇小说《亲爱的深圳》改编的电影已在国内及北美地区发行放映。
  • 这个皇帝很腹黑

    这个皇帝很腹黑

    她错了,她不应该专看长样连名字也不弄清楚就把‘他’当作表哥往家领。如今可好,请神容易送神难。他说:“朕是皇帝”。2010年的世界也疯狂了……吓得她连忙扔给他一盒退烧药。他非但不吃且用更‘直接’的方式让她‘承认’了他的身份。一个月后,这个有帝王之相却没帝王作派的男人居然拍拍股屁走人了。一走就是三年,三年后的短暂重逢换来的却是又一次的分离……而且还是在一个陌生遥远的时代……
  • 总裁带娃追妻

    总裁带娃追妻

    初见,她被他儿子撩。:“漂亮姐姐,除了上我爸的车。你就剩迟到了。”再见,她在超市被他壁咚到货架上,用醇厚低哑的声音:“我和我儿子都很喜欢你。所以·······”舒念是h市最有名的幼稚园的教师,第一次接手A2中班就是面对一群调皮捣蛋,却又打不得骂不得娇气小王子小公主。其中数厉宝宝最难搞,小小年纪就公然在班里泡妞,勾搭一众天真小萝莉。有事没事就派豪车接全班女生到自家别墅开泳装派对。还结交班里的大小班朋友,自诩老大。每天出入幼稚园的派场堪比走红毯。以上那些还不算最难搞的,最难搞的是。厉宝宝放学了不回家,还一本正经的拉着舒念的裙角:“爸爸说,妈咪记性不好。让我好好跟着你。以免他老婆走丢了。”
  • 穿越异国:小小废柴逆上天

    穿越异国:小小废柴逆上天

    一个是51世纪的女特工,10岁便成为世界第一的女王,却犯了一个错误——爱上了一个男人,遭他人背叛。奇怪的穿越到古代一位天才身上,那位天才遭人暗算,被水思洛代替。看她怎样报复暗算她的人。
  • 巅峰霸图

    巅峰霸图

    洛宇寒生长在混沌大地中,从小由师父将他抚养长大,直到他成年那一天,他终于能离开这片荒芜黑暗的土地,去探索无尽的新奇世界。与此同时,师父交给他一项任务,收集地之心脉,以此提升自己的实力,他的故事由此开始……
  • 异都志恒

    异都志恒

    前世恩爱,此生争锋。八角玄器,又何惧哉!两世为人的杨婧与王楠,在仙魔争锋,六合分离的情况下,会有怎样的爱情火花!
  • 天朝问剑

    天朝问剑

    赵印青处女座,首发武侠章回体小说。一部奇幻玄妙的天仙武侠世界即将为您展现。
  • 无上刀锋

    无上刀锋

    那年浮屠寺的赤脚和尚一指断山成永河。那年耍剑的先生手持草芥碎了万垒城墙。那年边军的刀疤卷毛驰骋沙场一路尘土飞扬。那年倒骑马的色痞活色生香。酒馆之中喧闹非常,说书先生格外繁忙。在很多年后,有个少年‘哧溜哧溜’的吃着麻辣片汤,听着那些英雄过往。而他的故事要从梦中神女自备嫁妆、不辞万里,只为给他暖床、洗衣、传功、生个小孩诉说,要从在他疑惑的问自己要给这个世界留下什么像样的痕迹开始!这是一段心藏无上刀锋,问天下谁与争锋的故事,这是一段特带劲儿的故事!
  • Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton

    Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 仙人流浪记

    仙人流浪记

    林一凡,本为仙界的大能,却在一次意外中,来到了地球,在这小小的星球上,他发现了许多不为人知的秘密。