VOA慢速英语2019--《心与十字架》by欧·亨利(一)

We present part one of the short story "Hearts and Crosses," by O. Henry. The story was originally¹ adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State.

Baldy woods reached for a drink and got it. When Baldy wanted something, he usually got it. He — but this is not Baldy's story. Now he took his third drink, which was larger than the first and the second. Baldy had been listening to the troubles of a friend. Now Baldy was going to tell his friend what to do. So the friend was buying him the drinks. This was the right thing for the friend to do.

"I'd be king if I were you," said Baldy. He said it loudly and strongly.

Webb Yeager moved his wide hat back on his head. He put his fingers in his yellow hair and moved it about. It now looked wilder than before. But this did not help him to think better. And therefore he also got another drink.

"If a man marries a queen, it ought not make him nothing," said Webb. Here was his real problem.

"Surely² not," said Baldy. "You ought to be a king. But you're only the queen's husband. That's what happens to a man in Europe if he marries the king's daughter. His wife becomes a queen. But is he a king? No. His only duty is to appear with the queen in pictures. And be the father of the next king. That's not right. Yes, Webb, you are only the queen's husband. And if I were you, I'd turn everything upside³ down and I would be king."

Baldy finished his drink.

"Baldy," said Webb, "you and I have been cowboys⁵ together for years. We've been riding the same roads since we were very young. I wouldn't talk about my family to anyone but you. You were working on the Nopalito Ranch⁶ when I married Santa McAllister. I was foreman then. But what am I now? Nothing."

"When old McAllister was the cattle⁷ king of West Texas," continued Baldy, "you were important. You told people what to do. Your commands were as strong as his."

"That was true," said Webb, "until he discovered that I wanted to marry Santa. Then he sent me as far away from the ranch house as he could. When the old man died, they started to call Santa the ‘cattle queen.' Now I tell the cattle what to do. That's all. She takes care of all the business. She takes care of all the money. I can't sell any cattle— not one animal. Santa is the queen, and I... I'm nothing."

"I would be king if I were you," said Baldy Woods again. "When a man marries a queen he ought to be the same as she is. Plenty of people think it's strange, Webb. Your words mean nothing on the Nopalito Ranch. Mrs. Yeager is a fine little lady. But a man ought to be head of his own house."

Webb's brown face grew long with sadness. With that expression, and his wild yellow hair, and his blue eyes, he looked like a schoolboy who had lost his leadership to another, strong boy. Yet his tall body looked too strong for such a thing to happen to him.

"I'm riding back to the ranch today," he said. It was easy to see that he did not want to go. "I have to start some cattle on the road to San Antonio tomorrow morning."

"Well, I'll go with you as far as Dry Lake," said Baldy.

The two friends got on their horses and left the little town where they had met that morning.

At Dry Lake, they stopped to say goodbye. They had been riding for miles without talking. But in Texas, talk does not often continue steadily⁸. Many things may happen between words. But when you begin to talk again, you are still talking about the same thing. So now Webb added⁹ something to the talk that began ten miles away.

"You remember, Baldy, there was a time when Santa was different. You remember the days when old McAllister kept me away from the ranch house. You remember how she would send me a sign that she wanted to see me? Old McAllister said that he would kill me if I came near enough. You remember the sign she used to send, Baldy? The picture of a heart with a cross inside it?"

"Me?" cried Baldy. "Sure I remember. Every cowboy⁴ on the ranch knew that sign of the heart and the cross. We would see it on things sent out from the ranch. We would see it on anything. It would be on newspapers. On boxes of food. Once I saw it on the back of the shirt of a cook that McAllister sent from the ranch."

"Santa's father made her promise that she wouldn't write to me or send me any word. That heart-and-cross sign was her plan. When she wanted to see me, she would put that mark on something that she knew I would see. And when I saw it, I traveled fast to the ranch that same night. I would meet her outside the house."

"We all knew it," said Baldy. "But we never said anything. We wanted you to marry Santa. We knew why you had that fast horse. When we saw the heart and cross on something from the ranch, we always knew your horse was going to go fast that night."

"The last time Santa sent me the sign," said Webb, "was when she was sick. When I saw it, I got on my horse and started. It was a forty-mile ride. She wasn't at our meeting-place. I went to the house. Old McAllister met me at the door. ‘Did you come here to get killed?' he said. ‘I won't kill you this time. I was going to send for you. Santa wants you. Go in that room and see her. Then come out here and see me.'

"Santa was lying in bed very sick. But she smiled, and put her hand in mine, and I sat down by the bed—mud and riding clothes and all. ‘I could hear you coming for hours, Webb,' she said. ‘I was sure you would come. You saw the sign?' ‘I saw it,' I said. ‘It's our sign,' she said. ‘Hearts and crosses. To love and to suffer—that's what they mean.'

"And old Doctor Musgrove was there. And Santa goes to sleep and Doctor Musgrove touches her face, and he says to me: ‘You were good for her. But go away now. The little lady will be all right in the morning.'

"Old McAllister was outside her room. ‘She's sleeping,' I said. ‘And now you can start killing¹⁰ me. You have plenty of time. I haven't any- thing to fight with.'

"Old McAllister laughs, and he says to me: ‘Killing the best foreman in West Texas is not good business. I don't know where I could get another good foreman. I don't want you in the family. But I can use you on the Nopalito if you stay away from the ranch house. You go up and sleep, and then we'll talk.' "

The two men prepared to separate¹¹. They took each other's hand. "Goodbye, Baldy," said Webb. "I'm glad I saw you and had this talk." With a sudden¹² rush, the two riders¹³ were on their way.

Then Baldy pulled his horse to a stop and shouted. Webb turned.

"If I were you," came Baldy's loud voice, "I would be king!"

At eight the following morning, Bud¹⁴ Turner got off his horse at the Nopalito ranch house. Bud was the cowboy who was taking the cattle to San Antonio. Mrs. Yeager was outside the house, putting water on some flowers.

In many ways Santa was like her father, "King" McAllister. She was sure about everything. She was afraid of nothing. She was proud. But Santa looked like her mother. She had a strong body and a soft prettiness. Because she was a woman, her manners¹⁵ were womanly. Yet she liked to be queen, as her father had liked to be king.

Webb stood near her, giving orders to two or three cowboys. "Good morning," said Bud. "Where do you want the cattle to go? To Barber¹⁶'s as usual?"

The queen always answered such a question. All the business— buying, selling, and banking—had been held in her hands. Care of the cattle was given to her husband. When "King" McAllister was alive, Santa was his secretary and his helper¹⁷. She had continued her work and her work had been successful. But before she could answer, the queen's husband spoke¹⁸:

"You drive those cattle to Zimmerman's and Nesbit's. I spoke to Zimmerman about it."

Bud turned, ready to go.

"Wait!" called Santa quickly. She looked at her husband with surprise in her gray eyes.

"What do you mean, Webb?" she asked. "I never deal with Zimmerman and Nesbit. Barber has bought all the cattle from this ranch for five years. I'm not going to change." She said to Bud Turner: "Take those cattle to Barber."

Bud did not look at either of them. He stood there waiting.

"I want those cattle to go to Zimmerman and Nesbit," said Webb.

There was a cold light in his blue eyes.

"It's time to start," said Santa to Bud. "Tell Barber we'll have more cattle ready in about a month."

Bud allowed his eyes to turn and meet Webb's. "You take those cattle," said Webb, "to—"

"Barber," said Santa quickly. "Let's say no more about it. What are you waiting for, Bud?"

"Nothing," said Bud. But he did not hurry to move away, for man is man's friend, and he did not like what had happened.

"You heard what she said," cried Webb. "We do what she commands." He took off his hat and made a wide movement with it, touching¹⁹ the floor.

"Webb," said Santa, "what's wrong with you today?"

"I'm acting²⁰ like the queen's fool," said Webb. "What can you expect? Let me tell you. I was a man before I married a cattle queen. What am I now? Something for the cowboys to laugh at. But I'm going to be a man again."

Santa looked at him.

"Be reasonable, Webb," she said quietly. "There is nothing wrong. You take care of the cattle. I take care of the business. You understand the cattle. I understand the business better than you do. I learned²¹ it from my father."

"I don't like kings and queens," said Webb, "unless I'm one of them myself. Alright. It's your ranch. Barber gets the cattle."

Webb's horse was tied near the house. He walked into the house and brought out the supplies he took on long rides. These he began to tie on his horse. Santa followed him. Her face had lost some of its color.

Webb got on his horse. There was no expression on his face except a strange light burning in his eyes.

"There are some cattle at the Hondo water-hole," he said. "They ought to be moved. Wild animals have killed three of them. I did not remember to tell Simms to do it. You tell him."

Santa put a hand on the horse and looked her husband in the eye. "Are you going to leave me, Webb?" she asked quietly.

"I'm going to be a man again," he answered.

"I wish you success," she said, with a sudden coldness. She turned and walked into the house.

Webb Yeager went to the southeast as straight as he could ride. And when he came to the place where sky and earth seem to meet, he was gone. Those at the Nopalito knew nothing more about him.

Days passed, then weeks, then months. But Webb Yeager did not return.

Words in This Story

king – n. a boy or man who is highly²² respected and very successful or popular

queen – n. a girl or woman who is highly respected and very successful or popular

cowboy(s) – n. a man who rides a horse and whose job is to take care of cows or horses especially in the western U.S.

ranch – n. a large farm especially in the U.S. where animals such as cattle, horses, and sheep are raised

foreman – n. a person who is in charge of a group of workers

cattle – n. cows, bulls²³, or steers²⁴ that are kept on a farm or ranch for meat or milk

cross – n. an object or image in the shape of a cross that is used as a symbol of Christianity

proud – n. very happy and pleased because of something you have done, something you own, someone you know or are related to

1 originally   

adv.本来，原来，最初，就起源而论，独创地

参考例句：

• Originally I didn't want to go.我本意不想去。
• After much discussion they settled on the plan originally proposed.他们讨论了很久，然后确定了原来提出的那个计划。

2 surely   

adv.确实地，无疑地；必定地，一定地

参考例句：

• It'should surely be possible for them to reach an agreement.想必他们可以达成协议。
• Surely we'll profit from your work.我们肯定会从你的工作中得到益处。

3 upside   

n.上侧，上段，上部

参考例句：

• The children hung the picture upside down.小孩把画挂倒了。
• If you turn the envelope upside down, the key will fall out.你如果把信封倒过来，钥匙就会掉出。

4 cowboy   

n.牛仔，牛郎，牧童

参考例句：

• I felt sure I had all the skills to be a cowboy.我确信自己具备当牛仔的一切本领。
• He loved to see cowboy movies.他爱看牛仔影片。

5 cowboys   

n.牧牛工( cowboy的名词复数 )；牛仔；冒失鬼；（尤指无能的）缺德的商人

参考例句：

• children playing a game of cowboys and Indians 玩美国西部牛仔与印第安人游戏的孩子们
• There are too many cowboys in the business these days. 近来商界中，瞎吵胡闹的家伙太多。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

7 cattle   

n.牛，牲口，畜生

参考例句：

• He has twenty head of cattle on the farm.他在农场养了20头牛。
• On big farms cattle are usually stamped with brands.在大农场，牲畜通常是打烙印的。

8 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

9 added   

adj.更多的，附加的，额外的

参考例句：

• They have added a new scene at the beginning.在开头他们又增加了一场戏。
• The pop music added to our enjoyment of the film.片中的流行音乐使我们对这部电影更加喜爱。

10 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

11 separate   

n.分开，抽印本；adj.分开的，各自的，单独的；v.分开，隔开，分居

参考例句：

• Are they joined together or separate?它们是合在一起还是分开的？
• Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering.洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。

12 sudden   

n.突然，忽然；adj.突然的，意外的，快速的

参考例句：

• All of a sudden he turned about and saw me.他突然转过身来看见了我。
• The horse was badly frightened by the sudden noise.那匹马被突然而来的嘈杂声吓坏了。

13 riders   

骑（马、自行车等）的人( rider的名词复数 )； 乘客； 附文； 附加条款

参考例句：

• a group of riders strung out along the beach 沿海滩散开的一队骑手
• The riders came trotting down the lane. 这骑手骑着马在小路上慢跑。

14 bud   

vi.发芽，萌芽；n.芽，花蕾

参考例句：

• Some flowers bud their leaves very early in spring.有些花在春季里很早发出叶来。
• A bad habit in a child should be nipped in the bud.应该尽早把孩子的坏习惯改过来。

15 manners   

n.礼貌；规矩

参考例句：

• You should mend your manners.你的态度应当纠正。
• His manners are rough,but he is a kind man at heart.他虽然举止粗鲁，但心地善良。

16 barber   

n.理发员，美容师

参考例句：

• She asked the barber to crop her hair short.她叫理发师把她的头发剪短了。
• My Mum took me to the barber's.我妈带我理发去了。

17 helper   

n.帮助者，帮手，助手

参考例句：

• The cook is in charge of the kitchen helper.这位厨师负责管理厨工。
• She was a voluntary helper.她是自愿帮忙的。

18 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

19 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

20 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

21 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

22 highly   

adv.高度地，极，非常；非常赞许地

参考例句：

• It is highly important to provide for the future.预先做好准备非常重要。
• The teacher speaks very highly of the boy's behaviour.老师称赞这个男孩的表现。

23 bulls   

n.公牛( bull的名词复数 )；法令；力大如牛的人；（象、鲸等动物的）雄兽

参考例句：

• Riding bulls is always an exciting event at a rodeo. 骑公牛总是放牧人竞技会上激动人心的表演。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Two white bulls were sacrificed and a feast was held. 献祭了两头白牛，并举行了盛宴。 来自辞典例句

24 steers   

n.阉公牛，肉用公牛( steer的名词复数 )v.驾驶( steer的第三人称单数 )；操纵；控制；引导

参考例句：

• This car steers easily. 这部车子易于驾驶。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Good fodder fleshed the steers up. 优质饲料使菜牛长肉。 来自辞典例句