a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第32章
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'honor；' and relying only on his own courage and his knowledge of human
weakness。 Imagine him cruel and bloodya gambler by profession； an
outlaw among men； an outcast from the Church； voluntarily abandoning
friends and family；the wife he should have cherished； the son he should
have reared and educatedfor the gratification of his deadly passions。
Yet imagine that man suddenly confronted with the thought of that
heritage of shame and disgust which he had brought upon his innocent
offspringto whom he cannot give even his own desperate recklessness to
sustain its vicarious suffering。 What must be the feelings of a parent〃
〃Father Sobriente；〃 said Clarence softly。
To the boy's surprise； scarcely had he spoken when the soft protecting
palm of the priest was already upon his shoulder； and the snuffy but kindly
upper lip； trembling with some strange emotion； close beside his cheek。
〃What is it； Clarence？〃 he said hurriedly。 〃Speak； my son； without
fear！ You would ask〃
〃I only wanted to know if 'padre' takes a masculine verb here；〃 replied
Clarence naively。
Father Sobriente blew his nose violently。 〃Trulythough used for
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either gender； by the context masculine；〃 he responded gravely。 〃Ah；〃 he
added； leaning over Clarence； and scanning his work hastily； 〃Good； very
good！ And now； possibly；〃 he continued； passing his hand like a damp
sponge over his heated brow； 〃we shall reverse our exercise。 I shall
deliver to you in Spanish what you shall render back in English； eh？
Andlet us considerwe shall make something more familiar and
narrative； eh？〃
To this Clarence； somewhat bored by these present solemn abstractions；
assented gladly； and took up his pen。 Father Sobriente； resuming his
noiseless pacing； began：
〃On the fertile plains of Guadalajara lived a certain caballero；
possessed of flocks and lands； and a wife and son。 But； being also
possessed of a fiery and roving nature； he did not value them as he did
perilous adventure； feats of arms； and sanguinary encounters。 To this may
be added riotous excesses； gambling and drunkenness； which in time
decreased his patrimony； even as his rebellious and quarrelsome spirit had
alienated his family and neighbors。 His wife； borne down by shame and
sorrow； died while her son was still an infant。 In a fit of equal remorse
and recklessness the caballero married again within the year。 But the
new wife was of a temper and bearing as bitter as her consort。 Violent
quarrels ensued between them； ending in the husband abandoning his wife
and son； and leaving St。 LouisI should say Guadalajarafor ever。 Joining
some adventurers in a foreign land； under an assumed name； he pursued
his reckless course； until； by one or two acts of outlawry； he made his
return to civilization impossible。 The deserted wife and step…mother of
his child coldly accepted the situation； forbidding his name to be spoken
again in her presence； announced that he was dead； and kept the
knowledge of his existence from his own son； whom she placed under the
charge of her sister。 But the sister managed to secretly communicate with
the outlawed father； and； under a pretext； arranged between them； of
sending the boy to another relation； actually dispatched the innocent child
to his unworthy parent。 Perhaps stirred by remorse； the infamous man〃
〃Stop！〃 said Clarence suddenly。
He had thrown down his pen； and was standing erect and rigid before
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the Father。
〃You are trying to tell me something； Father Sobriente；〃 he said； with
an effort。 〃Speak out； I implore you。 I can stand anything but this
mystery。 I am no longer a child。 I have a right to know all。 This that
you are telling me is no fableI see it in your face； Father Sobriente； it is
the story ofof〃
〃Your father； Clarence！〃 said the priest； in a trembling voice。
The boy drew back； with a white face。 〃My father！〃 he repeated。
〃Living； or dead？〃
〃Living； when you first left your home；〃 said the old man hurriedly；
seizing Clarence's hand； 〃for it was he who in the name of your cousin
sent for you。 Livingyes； while you were here； for it was he who for the
past three years stood in the shadow of this assumed cousin； Don Juan；
and at last sent you to this school。 Living； Clarence； yes； but living under a
name and reputation that would have blasted you！ And now DEAD
dead in Mexico； shot as an insurgent and in a still desperate career！ May
God have mercy on his soul！〃
〃Dead！〃 repeated Clarence； trembling； 〃only now？〃
〃The news of the insurrection and his fate came only an hour since；〃
continued the Padre quickly； 〃his complicity with it and his identity were
known only to Don Juan。 He would have spared you any knowledge of
the truth； even as this dead man would； but I and my brothers thought
otherwise。 I have broken it to you badly； my son； but forgive me？〃
An hysterical laugh broke from Clarence and the priest recoiled before
him。 〃Forgive YOU！ What was this man to me？〃 he said； with boyish
vehemence。 〃He never LOVED me！ He deserted me； he made my life
a lie。 He never sought me； came near me； or stretched a hand to me that I
could take？〃
〃Hush！ hush！〃 said the priest； with a horrified look； laying his huge
hand upon the boy's shoulder and bearing him down to his seat。 〃You
know not what you say。 Thinkthink； Clarence！ Was there none of all
those who have befriended youwho were kind to you in your
wanderingsto whom your heart turned unconsciously？ Think； Clarence！
You yourself have spoken to me of such a one。 Let your heart speak
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again； for his sakefor the sake of the dead。〃
A gentler light suffused the boy's eyes； and he started。 Catching
convulsively at his companion's sleeve； he said in an eager； boyish whisper；
〃There was one； a wicked； desperate man； whom they all fearedFlynn；
who brought me from the mines。 Yes； I thought that he was my cousin's
loyal friendmore than all the rest； and I told him everythingall； that I
never told the man I thought my cousin； or anyone； or even you； and I
think； I think； Father； I liked him best of all。 I thought since it was
wrong；〃 he continued； with a trembling smile； 〃for I was foolishly fond
even of the way the others feared him； he that I feared not； and who was so
kind to me。 Yet he； too； left me without a word； and when I would have
followed him〃 But the boy broke down； and buried his face in his
hands。
〃No； no；〃 said Father Sobriente； with eager per
