按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ly over shapes and lines and angles and surfaces too numerous and too great for the sight of man to hold； made an ever…changing spectacle of supreme beauty and colorful grandeur。
She talked very little while at the Canyon。 It silenced her。 She had come to see it at the critical time of her life and in the right mood。 The superficialities of the world shrunk to their proper insignificance。 Once she asked her aunt： 〃Why did not Glenn bring me here？〃 As if this Canyon proved the nature of all things！
But in the end Carley found that the rending strife of the transformation of her attitude toward life had insensibly ceased。 It had ceased during the long watching of this cataclysm of nature； this canyon of gold…banded black…fringed ramparts； and red…walled mountains which sloped down to be lost in purple depths。 That was final proof of the strength of nature to soothe； to clarify； to stabilize the tried and weary and upward…gazing soul。 Stronger than the recorded deeds of saints； stronger than the eloquence of the gifted uplifters of men； stronger than any words ever written； was the grand； brooding； sculptured aspect of nature。 And it must have been so because thousands of years before the age of saints or preachersbefore the fret and symbol and figure were cut in stone…man must have watched with thoughtdeveloping sight the wonders of the earth； the monuments of time； the glooming of the dark…blue sea； the handiwork of God。
In May； Carley returned to Flagstaff to take up with earnest inspiration the labors of homebuilding in a primitive land。
It required two trucks to transport her baggage and purchases out to Deep Lake。 The road was good for eighteen miles of the distance； until it branched off to reach her land； and from there it was desert rock and sand。 But eventually they made it； and Carley found herself and belongings dumped out into the windy and sunny open。 The moment was singularly thrilling and full of transport。 She was free。 She had shaken off the shackles。 She faced lonely； wild； barren desert that must be made habitable by the genius of her direction and the labor of her hands。 Always a thought of Glenn hovered tenderly； dreamily in the back of her consciousness； but she welcomed the opportunity to have a few weeks of work and activity and solitude before taking up her life with him。 She wanted to adapt herself to the metamorphosis that had been wrought in her。
To her amazement and delight； a very considerable progress had been made with her plans。 Under a sheltered red cliff among the cedars had been erected the tents where she expected to live until the house was completed。 These tents were large； with broad floors high off the ground； and there were four of them。 Her living tent had a porch under a wide canvas awning。 The bed was a boxlike affair； raised off the floor two feet； and it contained a great； fragrant mass of cedar boughs upon which the blankets were to be spread。 At one end was a dresser with large mirror； and a chiffonier。 There were table and lamp； a low rocking chair； a shelf for books； a row of hooks upon which to hang things； a washstand with its necessary accessories； a little stove and a neat stack of cedar chips and sticks。 Navajo rugs on the floor lent brightness and comfort。
Carley heard the rustling of cedar branches over her head； and saw where they brushed against the tent roof。 It appeared warm and fragrant inside； and protected from the wind； and a subdued white light filtered through the canvas。 Almost she felt like reproving herself for the comfort surrounding her。 For she had come West to welcome the hard knocks of primitive life。
It took less than an hour to have her trunks stored in one of the spare tents； and to unpack clothes and necessaries for immediate use。 Carley donned the comfortable and somewhat shabby outdoor garb she had worn at Oak Creek the year before； and it seemed to be the last thing needed to make her fully realize the glorious truth of the present。
〃I'm here；〃 she said to her pale； yet happy face in the mirror。 〃The impossible has happened。 I have accepted Glenn's life。 I have answered that strange call out of the West。〃
She wanted to throw herself on the sunlit woolly blankets of her bed and hug them； to think and think of the bewildering present happiness； to dream of the future； but she could not lie or sit still； nor keep her mind from grasping at actualities and possibilities of this place； nor her hands from itching to do things。
It developed； presently； that she could not have idled away the time even if she had wanted to； for the Mexican woman came for her； with smiling gesticulation and jabber that manifestly meant dinner。 Carley could not understand many Mexican words； and herein she saw another task。 This swarthy woman and her sloe…eyed husband favorably impressed Carley。
Next to claim her was Hoyle； the superintendent。 〃Miss Burch；〃 he said； 〃in the early days we could run up a log cabin in a jiffy。 Axes； horses； strong arms； and a few pegsthat was all we needed。 But this house you've planned is different。 It's good you've come to take the responsibility。〃
Carley had chosen the site for her home on top of the knoll where Glenn had taken her to show her the magnificent view of mountains and desert。 Carley climbed it now with beating heart and mingled emotions。 A thousand times already that day； it seemed； she had turned to gaze up at the noble white…clad peaks。 They were closer now； apparently looming over her； and she felt a great sense of peace and protection in the thought that they would always be there。 But she had not yet seen the desert that had haunted her for a year。 When she reached the summit of the knoll and gazed out across the open space it seemed that she must stand spellbound。 How green the cedared foreground…how gray and barren the downward slopehow wonderful the painted steppes！ The vision that had lived in her memory shrank to nothingness。 The reality was immense； more than beautiful； appalling in its isolation； beyond comprehension with its lure and strength to uplift。
But the superintendent drew her attention to the business at hand。
Carley had planned an L…shaped house of one story。 Some of her ideas appeared to be impractical； and these she abandoned。 The framework was up and half a dozen carpenters were lustily at work with saw and hammer。
〃We'd made better progress if this house was in an ordinary place；〃 explained Hoyle。 〃But you see the wind blows here； so the framework had to be made as solid and strong as possible。 In fact； it's bolted to the sills。〃
Both living room and sleeping room were arranged so that the Painted Desert could be seen from one window； and on the other side the whole of the San Francisco Mountains。 Both rooms were to have open fireplaces。 Carley's idea was for service and durability。 She thought of comfort in the severe winters of that high latitude； but elegance and luxury had no more significance in her life。
Hoyle made his suggestions as to changes and adaptations； and； receiving her approval； he went on to show her what had been already accomplished。 Back on higher ground a reservoir of concrete was being constructed near an ever…flowing spring of snow water from the peaks。 This water was being piped by gravity to the house； and was a matter of greatest satisfaction to Hoyle； for he claimed that it would never freeze in winter； and would be cold and abundant during the hottest and driest of summers。 This assurance solved the most difficult and serious problem of ranch life in the desert。
Next Hoyle led Carley down off the knoll to the wide cedar valley adjacent to the lake。 He was enthusiastic over its possibilities。 Two small corrals and a large one had been erected； the latter having a low flat barn connected with it。 Ground was already being cleared along the lake where alfalfa and hay were to be raised。 Carley saw the blue and yellow smoke from burning brush； and the fragrant odor thrilled her。 Mexicans were chopping the cleared cedars into firewood for winter use。
The day was spent before she realized it。 At sunset the carpenters and mechanics left in two old Ford cars for town。 The Mexicans had a camp in the cedars； and the Hoyles had theirs at the spring under the knoll where Carley had camped with Glenn and the Hutters。 Carley watched the golden rosy sunset； and as the day ended she breathed deeply as if in unutterable relief。 Supper found her with appetite she had long since lost。 Twilight brought cold wind； the staccato bark of coyotes； the flicker of camp fires through the cedars。 She tried to embrace all her sensations； but they were so rapid and many that she failed。
The cold； clear； silent night brought back the charm of the desert。 How flaming white the stars！。 The great spire…pointed peaks lifted cold pale…gray outlines up into the deep star…studded sky。 Carley walked a little to and fro； loath to go to her tent； though tired。 She wanted calm。 But instead of achieving calmness she grew more and more towards a strange state of exultation。
Westward； only a matter of twenty or thirty miles； lay the deep rent in the level desertOak Creek Canyon。 If Glenn had been there this night would have been perfect； yet almost unendurable。 She was