Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Buthepreferredtopassitinout-of-doorwork,sometimesherdingcattle,sometimespitchinghay,sometimesworkingwithpickanddynamite-stickontheditchesinthefourthdivisionoftheranch,ridingtherange,mendingbreaksinthewirefences,makinghimselfgenerallyuseful.Collegebredthoughhewas,thelifepleasedhim.Hewas,ashedesired,closetonature,livingthefullmeasureoflife,aworkeramongworkers,takingenjoymentinsimplepleasures,healthyinmindandbody.Hebelievedinanexistencepassedinthisfashioninthecountry,workinghard,eatingfull,drinkingdeep,sleepingdreamlessly.

           Buteverynight,aftersupper,hesaddledhisponyandrodeovertothegardenoftheoldMission.The’dobedividingwallonthatside,whichoncehadseparatedtheMissiongardenandtheSeedranch,hadlongsincecrumbledaway,andtheboundarybetweenthetwopiecesofgroundwasmarkedonlybyalineofvenerablepeartrees.Here,underthesetrees,hefoundAngeleawaitinghim,andtherethetwowouldsitthroughthehot,stillevening,theirarmsabouteachother,watchingthemoonriseoverthefoothills,listeningtothetrickleofthewaterinthemoss-encrustedfountaininthegarden,andthesteadycroakofthegreatfrogsthatlivedinthedampnorthcorneroftheenclosure.Throughallonesummertheenchantmentofthatnew-found,wonderfullove,pureanduntainted,filledthelivesofeachofthemwithitssweetness.Thesummerpassed,theharvestmooncameandwent.Thenightswereverydark.Inthedeepshadeofthepeartreestheycouldnolongerseeeachother.