Этюд в багровых тонах
The Flower of Utah.
HehadbeenapioneerinCalifornia,andcouldnarratemanyastrangetaleoffortunesmadeandfortuneslostinthosewild,halcyondays. Hehadbeenascouttoo,andatrapper,asilverexplorer,andaranchman. Whereverstirringadventuresweretobehad,JeffersonHopehadbeenthereinsearchofthem. Hesoonbecameafavouritewiththeoldfarmer,whospokeeloquentlyofhisvirtues. Onsuchoccasions,Lucywassilent,butherblushingcheekandherbright,happyeyes,showedonlytooclearlythatheryoungheartwasnolongerherown. Herhonestfathermaynothaveobservedthesesymptoms,buttheywereassuredlynotthrownawayuponthemanwhohadwonheraffections.
Itwasasummereveningwhenhecamegallopingdowntheroadandpulledupatthegate. Shewasatthedoorway,andcamedowntomeethim. Hethrewthebridleoverthefenceandstrodeupthepathway.
“Iamoff,Lucy,”hesaid,takinghertwohandsinhis,andgazingtenderlydownintoherface; “Iwon’taskyoutocomewithmenow,butwillyoubereadytocomewhenIamhereagain?”
“Andwhenwillthatbe?”sheasked,blushingandlaughing.
“Acoupleofmonthsattheoutside. Iwillcomeandclaimyouthen,mydarling. There’snoonewhocanstandbetweenus.”
“Andhowaboutfather?”sheasked.
“Hehasgivenhisconsent,providedwegettheseminesworkingallright. Ihavenofearonthathead.”
“Oh,well;ofcourse,ifyouandfatherhavearrangeditall,there’snomoretobesaid,”shewhispered,withhercheekagainsthisbroadbreast.
