the call of the canyon- 第22部分

〃Yesgreat　bother　and　annoyance；〃　she　said；　laconically。

Whereupon　he　reached　with　long；　arm　and　wrapped　it　round　her　as　they　rocked　side　by　side。　Demonstrations　of　this　nature　were　infrequent　with　Glenn。　Despite　losing　one　foot　out　of　a　stirrup　and　her　seat　in　the　saddle　Carley　rather　encouraged　it。　He　kissed　her　dusty　face；　and　then　set　her　back。

〃By　George！　Carley；　sometimes　I　think　you've　changed　since　you've　been　here；〃　he　said；　with　warmth。　〃To　go　through　that　sandstorm　without　one　kickone　knock　at　my　West！〃

〃Glenn；　I　always　think　of　what　Flo　saysthe　worst　is　yet　to　come；〃　replied　Carley；　trying　to　hide　her　unreasonable　and　tumultuous　pleasure　at　words　of　praise　from　him。

〃Carley　Burch；　you　don't　know　yourself；〃　he　declared；　enigmatically。

〃What　woman　knows　herself？　But　do　you　know　me？〃

〃Not　I。　Yet　sometimes　I　see　depths　in　youwonderful　possibilities…　…submerged　under　your　poiseunder　your　fixed；　complacent　idle　attitude　toward　life。〃

This　seemed　for　Carley　to　be　dangerously　skating　near　thin　ice；　but　she　could　not　resist　a　retort：

〃Depths　in　me？　Why　I　am　a　shallow；　transparent　stream　like　your　West　Fork！　。　。　。　And　as　for　possibilities…may　I　ask　what　of　them　you　imagine　you　see？〃

〃As　a　girl；　before　you　were　claimed　by　the　world；　you　were　earnest　at　heart。　You　had　big　hopes　and　dreams。　And　you　had　intellect；　too。　But　you　have　wasted　your　talents；　Carley。　Having　money；　and　spending　it；　living　for　pleasure；　you　have　not　realized　your　powers。　。　。　。　Now；　don't　look　hurt。　I'm　not　censuring　you；　It's　just　the　way　of　modern　life。　And　most　of　your　friends　have　been　more　careless；　thoughtless；　useless　than　you。　The　aim　of　their　existence　is　to　be　comfortable；　free　from　work；　worry；　pain。　They　want　pleasure；　luxury。　And　what　a　pity　it　is！　The　best　of　you　girls　regard　marriage　as　an　escape；　instead　of　responsibility。　You　don't　marry　to　get　your　shoulders　square　against　the　old　wheel　of　American　progressto　help　some　man　make　goodto　bring　a　troop　of　healthy　American　kids　into　the　world。　You　bare　your　shoulders　to　the　gaze　of　the　multitude　and　like　it　best　if　you　are　strung　with　pearls。〃

〃Glenn；　you　distress　me　when　you　talk　like　this；　〃　replied　Carley；　soberly。　〃You　did　not　use　to　talk　so。　It　seems　to　me　you　are　bitter　against　women。〃

〃Oh　no；　Carley！　I　am　only　sad；〃　he　said。　〃I　only　see　where　once　I　was　blind。　American　women　are　the　finest　on　earth；　but　as　a　race；　if　they　don't　change；　they're　doomed　to　extinction。〃

〃How　can　you　say　such　things？〃　demanded　Carley；　with　spirit。

〃I　say　them　because　they　are　true。　Carley；　on　the　level　now；　tell　me　how　many　of　your　immediate　friends　have　children。〃

Put　to　a　test；　Carley　rapidly　went　over　in　mind　her　circle　of　friends；　with　the　result　that　she　was　somewhat　shocked　and　amazed　to　realize　how　few　of　them　were　even　married；　and　how　the　babies　of　her　acquaintance　were　limited　to　three。　It　was　not　easy　to　admit　this　to　Glenn。

〃My　dear；〃　replied　he；　〃if　that　does　not　show　you　the　handwriting　on　the　wall；　nothing　ever　will。〃

〃A　girl　has　to　find　a　husband；　doesn't　she？〃　asked　Carley；　roused　to　defense　of　her　sex。　〃And　if　she's　anybody　she　has　to　find　one　in　her　set。　Well；　husbands　are　not　plentiful。　Marriage　certainly　is　not　the　end　of　existence　these　days。　We　have　to　get　along　somehow。　The　high　cost　of　living　is　no　inconsderable　factor　today。　Do　you　know　that　most　of　the　better…class　apartment　houses　in　New　York　will　not　take　children？　Women　are　not　all　to　blame。　Take　the　speed　mania。　Men　must　have　automobiles。　I　know　one　girl　who　wanted　a　baby；　but　her　husband　wanted　a　car。　They　couldn't　afford　both。〃

〃Carley；　I'm　not　blaming　women　more　than　men；〃　returned　Glenn。　〃I　don't　know　that　I　blame　them　as　a　class。　But　in　my　own　mind　I　have　worked　it　all　out。　Every　man　or　woman　who　is　genuinely　American　should　read　the　signs　of　the　times；　realize　the　crisis；　and　meet　it　in　an　American　way。　Otherwise　we　are　done　as　a　race。　Money　is　God　in　the　older　countries。　But　it　should　never　become　God　in　America。　If　it　does　we　will　make　the　fall　of　Rome　pale　into　insignificance。〃

〃Glenn；　let's　put　off　the　argument；〃　appealed　Carley。　〃I'm　notjust　up　to　fighting　you　today。　Ohyou　needn't　smile。　I'm　not　showing　a　yellow　streak；　as　Flo　puts　it。　I'll　fight　you　some　other　time。〃

〃You're　right；　Carley；〃　he　assented。　〃Here　we　are　loafing　six　or　seven　miles　from　home。　Let's　rustle　along。〃

Riding　fast　with　Glenn　was　something　Carley　had　only　of　late　added　to　her　achievements。　She　had　greatest　pride　in　it。　So　she　urged　her　mustang　to　keep　pace　with　Glenn's　horse　and　gave　herself　up　to　the　thrill　of　the　motion　and　feel　of　wind　and　sense　of　flying　along。　At　a　good　swinging　lope　Calico　covered　ground　swiftly　and　did　not　tire。　Carley　rode　the　two　miles　to　the　rim　of　the　canyon；　keeping　alongside　of　Glenn　all　the　way。　Indeed；　for　one　long　level　stretch　she　and　Glenn　held　hands。　When　they　arrived　at　the　descent；　which　necessitated　slow　and　careful　riding；　she　was　hot　and　tingling　and　breathless；　worked　by　the　action　into　an　exuberance　of　pleasure。　Glenn　complimented　her　riding　as　well　as　her　rosy　cheeks。　There　was　indeed　a　sweetness　in　working　at　a　task　as　she　had　worked　to　learn　to　ride　in　Western　fashion。　Every　turn　of　her　mind　seemed　to　confront　her　with　sobering　antitheses　of　thought。　Why　had　she　come　to　love　to　ride　down　a　lonely　desert　road；　through　ragged　cedars　where　the　wind　whipped　her　face　with　fragrant　wild　breath；　if　at　the　same　time　she　hated　the　West？　Could　she　hate　a　country；　however　barren　and　rough；　if　it　had　saved　the　health　and　happiness　of　her　future　husband？　Verily　there　were　problems　for　Carley　to　solve。

Early　twilight　purple　lay　low　in　the　hollows　and　clefts　of　the　canyon。　Over　the　western　rim　a　pale　ghost　of　the　evening　star　seemed　to　smile　at　Carley；　to　bid　her　look　and　look。　Like　a　strain　of　distant　music；　the　dreamy　hum　of　falling　water；　the　murmur　and　melody　of　the　stream；　came　again　to　Carley's　sensitive　ear。

〃Do　you　love　this？〃　asked　Glenn；　when　they　reached　the　green…forested　canyon　floor；　with　the　yellow　road　winding　away　into　the　purple　shadows。

〃Yes；　both　the　rideand　you；〃　flashed　Carley；　contrarily。　She　knew　he　had　meant　the　deep…walled　canyon　with　its　brooding　solitude。

〃But　I　want　you　to　love　Arizona；〃　he　said。

〃Glenn；　I'm　a　faithful　creature。　You　should　be　glad　of　that。　I　love　New　York。〃

〃Very　well；　then。　Arizona　to　New　York；〃　he　said；　lightly　brushing　her　cheek　with　his　lips。　And　swerving　back　into　his　saddle；　he　spurred　his　horse　and　called　back　over　his　shoulder：　〃That　mustang　and　Flo　have　beaten　me　many　a　time。　Come　on。〃

It　was　not　so　much　his　words　as　his　tone　and　look　that　roused　Carley。　Had　he　resented　her　loyalty　to　the　city　of　her　nativity？　Always　there　was　a　little　rift　in　the　lute。　Had　his　tone　and　look　meant　that　Flo　might　catch　him　if　Carley　could　not？　Absurd　as　the　idea　was；　it　spurred　her　to　recklessness。　Her　mustang　did　not　need　any　more　than　to　know　she　wanted　him　to　run。　The　road　was　of　soft　yellow　earth　flanked　with　green　foliage　and　overspread　by　pines。　In　a　moment　she　was　racing　at　a　speed　she　had　never　before　half　attained　on　a　horse。　Down　the　winding　road　Glenn's　big　steed　sped；　his　head　low；　his　stride　tremendous；　his　action　beautiful。　But　Carley　saw　the　distance　between　them　diminishing。　Calico　was　overtaking　the　bay。　She　cried　out　in　the　thrilling　excitement　of　the　moment。　Glenn　saw　her　gaining　and　pressed　his　mount　to　greater　speed。　Still　he　could　not　draw　away　from　Calico。　Slowly　the　little　mustang　gained。　It　seemed　to　Carley　that　riding　him　required　no　effort　at　all。　And　at　such　fast　pace；　with　the　wind　roaring　in　her　ears；　the　walls　of　green　vague　and　continuous　in　her　sight；　the　sting　of　pine　tips　on　cheek　and　neck；　the　yellow　road　streaming　toward　her；　under　her；　there　rose　out　of　the　depths　of　her；　out　of　the　tumult　of　her　breast；　a　sense　of　glorious　exultation。　She　closed　in　on　Glenn。　From　the　flying　hoofs　of　his　horse　shot　up　showers　of　damp　sand　and　gravel　that　covered　Carley's　riding　habit　and　spattered　in　her　face。　She　had　to　hold　up　a　hand　before　her　eyes。　Perhaps　this　caused　her　to　lose　something　of　her　confidence；　or　her　swing　in　the　saddle；　for　suddenly　she　realized　she　was　not　riding　well。　The　pace　was　too　fast　for　her　inexperience。　But　nothing　could　have　stopped　her　then。　No　fear　or　awkwardness　of　hers　should　be　allowed　to　hamper　that　thoroughbred　mustang。　Carley　felt　that　Calico　understood　the　situation；　or　at　least　he　knew　he　could　catch　and　pass　this　big　bay　horse；　and　he　intended　to　do　it。　Carley　was　hard　put　to　it　to　hang　on　and　keep　the　flying　sand　from　blinding　her。

When　Calico　drew　alongside　the　bay　horse　and　brought　Carley　breast　to　breast　with　Glenn；　and　then　inch　by　inch　forged　ahead　of　him；　Carley　pealed　out　an　exultant　cry。　Either　it　frightened　Calico　or　inspired　him；　for　he　shot　right　ahead　of　Glenn's　horse。　Then　he　lost　the　smooth；　wonderful　action。　He　seemed　hurtling　through　space　at　the　expense　of　tremendous　muscular　action。　Carley　could　feel　it。　She　lost　her　equilibrium。　She　seemed　rushing　through　a　blurred　green　and　black　aisle　of　the　forest　with　a　gale　in　her　face。　Then；　with　a　sharp　jolt；　a　break；　Calico　plunged　to　the　sand。　Carley　felt　herself　propelled　forward　out　of　the　saddle　into　the　air；　and　down　to　strike　with　a　sliding；　stunning　force　that　ended　in　sudden　dark　oblivion。

Upon　recovering　consciousness　she　first　felt　a　sensation　of　oppression　in　her　chest　and　a　dull　numbness　of　her　whole　body。　When　she　opened　her　eyes　she　saw　Glenn　bending　over　her；　holding　her　head　on　his　knee。　A　wet；　cold；　reviving　sensation　evidently　came　from　the　handkerchief　with　which　he　was　mopping　her　face。

〃Carley；　you　can't　be　hurtreally！〃　he　was　ejaculating；　in　eager　hope。　〃It　was　some　spill。　But　you　lit　on　the　sand　and　slid。　You　can't　be　hurt。〃

The　look　of　his　eyes；　the　tone　of　his　voice；　the　feel　of　his　hands　were　such　that　Carley　chose　for　a　moment　to　pretend　to　be　very　badly　hurt　indeed。　It　was　worth　taking　a　header　to　get　so　much　from　Glenn　Kilbourne。　But　she　believed　she　had　suffered　no　more　than　a　severe　bruising　and　scraping。

〃Glenndear；　〃　she　whispered；　very　low　and　very　eloquently。　〃I　thinkmy　backis　broken。　。　。　。　You'll　be　freesoon。〃

Glenn　gave　a　terrible　start