登陆注册
5438700000041

第41章 XII. QUALITY AND EQUALITY(3)

"Well, it is mighty confusin'. George Taylor, he's your best scholar, and poor Bob, he's your worst, and there's a lot in the middle--and you tell me we're all born equal!"

Molly could only sit giggling in this trap he had so ingeniously laid for her.

"I'll tell you what," pursued the cow-puncher, with slow and growing intensity, "equality is a great big bluff. It's easy called."

"I didn't mean--" began Molly.

"Wait, and let me say what I mean." He had made an imperious gesture with his hand. "I know a man that mostly wins at cyards.

I know a man that mostly loses. He says it is his luck. All right. Call it his luck. I know a man that works hard and he's gettin' rich, and I know another that works hard and is gettin' poor. He says it is his luck. All right. Call it his luck. I look around and I see folks movin' up or movin' down, winners or losers everywhere. All luck, of course. But since folks can be born that different in their luck, where's your equality? No, seh! call your failure luck, or call it laziness, wander around the words, prospect all yu' mind to, and yu'll come out the same old trail of inequality." He paused a moment and looked at her.

"Some holds four aces," he went on, "and some holds nothin', and some poor fello' gets the aces and no show to play 'em; but a man has got to prove himself my equal before I'll believe him."

Molly sat gazing at him, silent.

"I know what yu' meant," he told her now, "by sayin' you're not the wife I'd want. But I am the kind that moves up. I am goin' to be your best scholar." He turned toward her, and that fortress within her began to shake.

"Don't," she murmured. "Don't, please."

"Don't what?"

"Why--spoil this."

"Spoil it?"

"These rides--I don't love you--I can't--but these rides are--"

"What are they?"

"My greatest pleasure. There! And, please, I want them to go on so."

"Go on so! I don't reckon yu' know what you're sayin'. Yu' might as well ask fruit to stay green. If the way we are now can keep bein' enough for you, it can't for me. A pleasure to you, is it?

Well, to me it is--I don't know what to call it. I come to yu' and I hate it, and I come again and I hate it, and I ache and grieve all over when I go. No! You will have to think of some other way than just invitin' me to keep green."

"If I am to see you--" began the girl.

"You're not to see me. Not like this. I can stay away easier than what I am Join'."

"Will you do me a favor, a great one?" said she, now.

"Make it as impossible as you please!" he cried. He thought it was to be some action.

"Go on coming. But don't talk to me about--don't talk in that way--if you can help it" He laughed out, not permitting himself to swear.

"But," she continued, "if you can't help talking that way--sometimes--I promise I will listen. That is the only promise I make."

"That is a bargain," he said.

Then he helped her mount her horse, restraining himself like a Spartan, and they rode home to her cabin.

"You have made it pretty near impossible," he said, as he took his leave. "But you've been square to-day, and I'll show you I can be square when I come back. I'll not do more than ask you if your mind's the same. And now I'll not see you for quite a while.

I am going a long way. But I'll be very busy. And bein' busy always keeps me from grievin' too much about you."

Strange is woman! She would rather have heard some other last remark than this.

"Oh, very well!" she said. "I'll not miss you either."

He smiled at her. "I doubt if yu' can help missin' me," he remarked. And he was gone at once, galloping on his Monte horse.

Which of the two won a victory this day?

同类推荐
  • 代宗朝赠司空大辩正广智三藏和上表制集

    代宗朝赠司空大辩正广智三藏和上表制集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 人海潮

    人海潮

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 洞真太微金虎真符

    洞真太微金虎真符

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Uncle Vanya

    Uncle Vanya

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 痘疹门

    痘疹门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 霸天武帝

    霸天武帝

    “紫色天机现,绝世神功出!”看着天空的十个大字,古风神色恍惚,却突然被吸进一个巨大的漩涡!这究竟是天才的陨落,还是传说的继续…………
  • 地藏菩萨像灵验记

    地藏菩萨像灵验记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 韩非子

    韩非子

    先秦法家思想之集大成者——韩非子,秉持“以霸王之业教君”的宗旨,归纳整合出一套“凭势、用术、行法”的治国理念,中国第一个极权皇帝,欣赏他,自然也疑忌他;第一个全国的权相,畏忌他,害死他,但更贯彻、执行他的计策。汉以后历朝政治莫不阳儒阴法,于是韩非死了,而又还没有死。
  • 都市之极品地仙

    都市之极品地仙

    我有阴阳通明眼,可辨善恶,惩恶扬善。我有阴阳练气诀,可修筑基,救死扶伤。我有阴阳谛听犬,可解百难,助我成仙。
  • 都市之主宰奶爸

    都市之主宰奶爸

    “粑粑,他自称仙帝却抢我的棉花糖!”“那杀了他!”“粑粑,他贵为魔主,却派小魔来吓我!”“那踏平魔域!”“粑粑,妖帝手下的小妖都好可爱哟!”“那都收了给你当灵宠。”“粑粑,我想有个弟弟。”“那……今天晚上我和你麻麻再造一个!”主宰从祖界归来,誓要将女儿宠破天际!
  • 犬来仪

    犬来仪

    以一条狗怀孕即将产下小狗开头,展开以海平为主人公高考后的暑期生活,面对病重的父亲和上大学作艰难选择,父亲病逝,海平今后的生活又该如何面对?
  • 发现龙帝快捕捉

    发现龙帝快捕捉

    世人传言,凤府的凤大小姐相貌丑陋,任性跋扈,凤二小姐美若天仙,温柔似水…凤璎闻言,呸了一口,呵呵!解了体内的毒,容貌重塑,她纤手一挥,顿时掀起一阵腥风血雨。
  • 蔬菜物语

    蔬菜物语

    《蔬菜物语》是一本种菜生活随笔,分为冬春篇和夏秋篇。作者将自己种菜的心得体会细细道来,在他眼里,每一棵菜都善解人意,菜园子里暗藏着生活的大智慧。一箪食,一瓢饮,就这样,把日子过得热气腾腾。在这片“万物有灵”的土地上,在所谓田园牧歌式的生活中,劳作带来的踏实感让人心安。
  • 穿越皇后:鉴鬼复仇实录

    穿越皇后:鉴鬼复仇实录

    她温如烟是21世纪知名女主播,一朝穿越,成了个废后?而且,身边这只神出鬼没的......不明生物是什么?!闹鬼?!卧槽,就算穿越,她也不能接受这样的设定好吧?管她闹鬼不闹鬼,她要出冷宫,一统后宫!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 喊一声战友

    喊一声战友

    赵平思索了很长一段时间,最终还是决定去找县长张思甜。作为一名转业军人,赵平刚脱下军装时,和其他战友一样怀着到地方大干一番事业的壮志凌云,可到了地方,他发现要想把自己的梦想变成现实,并不像前些年转业的战友说的那样容易,赵平的许多战友转业到地方工作后,经常向他吹嘘地方赚钱如何容易、工作如何轻松,战友的话使赵平产生了错觉,以为地方遍地是黄金,转业到地方后,过不了几年便能飞黄腾达。事实上,赵平的战友转业到地方工作后,混得很好的并不是太多,他们到部队探望领导和战友时,往自己脸上贴金,那是因为他们抹不下面子,想在部队领导面前摆摆谱。