Веснушки

           Someofthemappearedfoolishandsomegrim,butonemanagedtosaytheydid.

           ThentheAngel’seyesturnedfullonBlackJack,andshegavethemostnaturallittlestartofastonishment.

           “Oh!Ialmostthoughtthatyouwereaghost!”shecried.“ButIseenowthatyouarereallyandtruly.WereyoueverinColorado?”

           “No,”saidJack.

           “Iseeyouaren’tthesameman,”saidtheAngel.“Youknow,wewereinColoradolastyear,andtherewasacowboywhowasthehandsomestmananywherearound.He’dcomeridingintotowneverynight,andallwegirlsjustadoredhim!Oh,buthewasabeauty!Ithoughtatfirstglanceyouwerereallyhe,butIseenowhewasn’tnearlysotallnorsobroadasyou,andonlyhalfashandsome.”

           ThemenbegantolaughwhileJackflushedcrimson.TheAngeljoinedinthelaugh.

           “Well,I’llleaveittoyou!Isn’thehandsome?”shechallenged.“Asforthatcowboy’sface,itcouldn’tbecomparedwithyours.Theonlytroublewithyouisthatyourclothesarespoilingyou.It’sthedressthosecowboyswearthatmakeshalftheirattraction.Ifyouwereproperlyclothed,youcouldbreaktheheartoftheprettiestgirlinthecountry.”

           WithoneaccordtheothermenlookedatBlackJack,andforthefirsttimerealizedthathewasasuperbspecimenofmanhood,forhestoodsixfeettall,wasbroad,well-rounded,andhaddark,evenskin,bigblackeyes,andfullredlips.

           “I’lltellyouwhat!”exclaimedtheAngel.“I’djustlovetoseeyouonhorseback.Nothingsetsahandsomemanoffsosplendidly.