登陆注册
5243000000075

第75章 CHAPTER XIV(2)

"Look here!" cried the Harvester, sickening. "We will end this right now. I was rather busy this afternoon, but I wasn't too hurried to take that little weapon of yours to the chief of police and tell him where and how I got it and what occurred. He was to return it to you to-morrow with his ultimatum. When I have added the history of to-night, reinforced by another gun, he will understand your intentions and know where you belong. You should be confined, but because your name is the same as the Girl's, and there is of your blood in her veins, I'll give you one more chance. I'll let you go this time, but I'll report you, and deliver this implement to be added to your collection at headquarters. And Itell you, and I'll tell them, that if ever I find you on my premises again, I'll finish you on sight. Is that clear?"

Jameson nodded.

"What I should do is to plump you squarely into confinement, as I could easily enough, but that's not my way. I am going to let you off, but you go knowing the law. One thing more: Don't leave with any distorted ideas in your head. I saw Ruth the day she stepped from the cars in Onabasha and I loved her. I wanted to court and marry her, as any man would the girl he loves, but you spoiled that with your woman killing brutality. So I married her in Onabasha this afternoon.

You can see the records at the county clerk's office and interview the minister who performed the ceremony, if you doubt me. Ruth is in her room, comfortable as I can make her, asleep and unafraid, thank God! This grave is for her mother. The Girl wants her lifted from the horrible place you put her, and laid where it is sheltered and pleasant. Now, I'll see you off my land.

Hurry yourself!"

With the Harvester following, Henry Jameson went back over the path he had come, until he reached and mounted the horse he had ridden. As the Harvester watched him, Jameson turned in the saddle and spoke for the second time.

"What will you give me in cold cash to tell you who she is, and where her mother's people are?"

The Harvester leaped for the bridle and missed.

Jameson bent over the horse and lashed it to a run.

Half way to the oak the Harvester remembered the revolver, but being unaccustomed to weapons, he had forgotten it when he needed it most. He replaced the earth in the sack and dragged it away, then plunged into the lake, and afterward went to bed, where he slept soundly until dawn. First, he slipped into the living-room and wrote a note to the Girl. Then he fed Belshazzar and ate a hearty breakfast. He stationed the dog at her door, gave him the note, and went to the oak.

There he arranged everything neatly and as he desired, and then hitching Betsy he quietly guided her down the drive and over the road to Onabasha. He went to an undertaking establishment, made all his arrangements, and then called up and talked with the minister who had performed the marriage ceremony the previous day.

The sun shining in her face awoke Ruth and she lay revelling in the light. "Maybe it will colour me faster than the powder," she thought. "How peculiar for him to say what he did! I always thought men detested it.

But he is not like any one else. "She lay looking around the beautiful room and wondering where the Harvester was. She could not hear him. Then, slowly and painfully, she dragged her aching limbs from the bed and went to the door. The dog was gone from the porch and she could not see the man at the stable. She selected a frock and putting it on opened the door.

Belshazzar arose and offered this letter:

DEAR RUTH:

I have gone to keep my promise. You are locked in with Bel. Please obey me and do not step outside the door until four o'clock. Then put on a pretty white dress, and with the dog, come to the bridge to meet me.

I hope you will not suffer and fret. Put away your clothing, arrange the rooms to keep busy, or better yet, lie in the swing and rest. There is food in the ice chest, pantry, and cellar. Forgive me for leaving you to-day, but I thought you would feel easier to have this over. I am so glad to bring your mother here. I hope it will make you happy enough to meet us with a smile.

Do not forget the pink box until the reality comes.

With love, DAVID.

The Girl went to the kitchen and found food. She offered to share with Belshazzar, but she could see from his indifference he was not hungry. Then she returned to the room flooded with light, and filled with treasures, and tried to decide how she would arrange her clothing.

She spent hours opening boxes and putting dainty, pretty garments in the drawers, hanging the dresses, and placing the toilet articles. Often she wearily dropped to the chairs and couches, or gazed from door and windows at the pictures they framed. "I wonder why he doesn't want me to go outside," she thought. "I wouldn't be afraid in the least, with Bel. I'd just love to go across to that wonderful little river of Singing Water and sit in the shade; but I won't open the door until four o'clock, just as he wrote."

When she thought of where he had gone, and why, the swift tears filled her eyes, but she forced them back and resolutely went to investigate the dining-room. Then for two hours she was a home builder, with a touch of that homing instinct found in the heart of every good woman. First, she looked where the Harvester had said the dishes were, and suddenly sat on the floor exulting.

There was a quantity of old chipped and cracked white ware and some gorgeous baking powder prizes; but there were also big blue, green, and pink bowls, several large lustre plates, and a complete tea set without chip or blemish, two beautiful pitchers, and a number of willow pieces. She set the green bowl on the dining table, the blue on the living-room, and took the pink herself, while a beautiful yellow one she placed in the dining-room window seat.

"Oh, if I only dared fill them with those lovely flowers!"

同类推荐
  • 王阳明靖乱录

    王阳明靖乱录

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Good Soldier

    The Good Soldier

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Signs of Change

    Signs of Change

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上大通经注

    太上大通经注

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 醉古堂剑扫卷

    醉古堂剑扫卷

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 美兽成灾最渣召唤兽神

    美兽成灾最渣召唤兽神

    新书发布!新书发布!《直播:每天出门世界都不一样》求呵护,求收藏,求推荐,各种求!!! 很久很久以后,秦子苏的孩子们依然喜欢缠着她说穿越圣兽大陆的故事。被孩子们围在中间的秦子苏慈爱地笑着:穿越啊,那是发生在我快满十八岁时候的故事……
  • 网游之汉末风云

    网游之汉末风云

    汉末,风云将起,这是妖魔鬼怪存在的魔幻网游世界,妖魔横行占山为王!武侠、烽火并列,战争,军队冲锋,猛将呼啸风云,谋士指点江山。武者,三尺青锋,浪迹江湖,只会心中道义而战。魏蜀吴留在记忆之中,又有新的三国并立。三国非三国,又似三国。思想的冲击,文明的火花,在这里生根发芽,PS:介系哩从未体验过的船新版本,只需三分钟你就会和我一样爱上它。
  • 网游之苍穹憾顶

    网游之苍穹憾顶

    一个马上奔三的落魄大叔,拥有零游戏经验菜鸟玩家,丢失大半记忆,一直在人民底层挣扎,偶然机会使他接触到了苍穹,开始了他寻求自我的道路。
  • 舍与得的人生智慧课(典藏版)

    舍与得的人生智慧课(典藏版)

    舍与得的境界:远离浮躁,淡然处之,即使遭遇挫折也能在跌倒时看到风景;安贫乐道,宠辱不惊,即使目标模糊也能在转角处继续前行;释怀过去,豁达大度,即使红尘纷扰也能在浮沉中延伸幸福。
  • 易象图说外篇

    易象图说外篇

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 爆笑穿越:宝式讨债项目组

    爆笑穿越:宝式讨债项目组

    【N年前旧坑,慎入!】讲述一活宝级小妞穿越时空,把假性植物人、严重自闭的男主活活气醒过来,乃至发展成一段伟大耐情的传奇故事。此文类属:【恶搞型爆笑文】后续发展且看各位看倌之反馈,如果实在不好笑以至冷场,就让主角通通死掉,改走古装青春爆痛路线--|||
  • 请到村里洗桑拿

    请到村里洗桑拿

    入夜,从北京打工回来的合理提着一个包进了村主任家。佛争一炷香,人争一口气。他想在村里建一个桑拿中心。村主任说,合理,你要建洗澡堂子就建洗澡堂子呗,建什么桑拿中心,把我都弄糊涂了。合理说,主任,这桑拿与洗澡不一样。村主任说,一样,不都是洗光屁股?不过是换了个洋说法。你想建就建,不用请示我。村主任爱用请示这个词,显得庄重,气派。村主任是一方的神,大到计划生育宅基地,小到吃喝拉撒睡,人家都有权管哩。主任,不给你请示能行?你得给我找地方呀。我总不能建在半天空里吧。
  • 经络全书

    经络全书

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 凤惊九霄:盛宠重生妃

    凤惊九霄:盛宠重生妃

    国公之女苏婉音,风华绝代,武功高强,心地善良,帮她心爱的男人清敌夺储,却在封后之时被她的庶妹和他的男人合谋放火烧死。什么?仇人来了,还以为她是好骗的吗?上天给了她一次机会,让她的人生可以重来,她再不是那个单纯好骗的女子。苏婉悦、上官轩,这一世姐要你们也尝尝被骗的滋味,你们曾经给姐的,姐要加倍奉还!太子殿下,别怕,有她苏婉音在,没人能动的了你一分一毫。这一世,她要有冤报冤,有仇报仇,有恩报恩!纵使掀起滔天波澜,也要有个不一样的复仇人生!
  • 别殇聚欢

    别殇聚欢

    有一天,你会无端想起这样一个人,他让你对明天有所期待,却从未出现在你的明天里。也有那么一天,你会与这样一个人携手今生,他装点了你油盐酱醋的平淡,却从未出现在你的青春里。每每想起那段高中时光,叶铭寒总会闯入夏熈儿的回忆,那时的他孤高清冷,而她骄傲倔强,明明彼此在乎,却无人承认。直到看过了身边的朋友在感情里挣扎,相爱,又分离,直到做够了旁观者,他们才在重逢之后彼此敞开胸怀。那么,再次重逢的他们又将面临怎杨的波折?