He continued along it as if aimlessly; stopping from
time to time to look at different objects in a dull mechanical
fashion, as if rather to prolong his useless hours, than from any
curious instinct, and to occasionally dip in the unfrequent pools
of water the few crusts of bread he had taken from his pocket.
Even this appeared to be suggested more by coincidence of material
in the bread and water, than from the promptings of hunger. At
last he reached a cup-like hollow in the hills lined with wild
clover and thick with resinous odors. Here he crept under a
manzanita-bush and disposed himself to sleep. The act showed he
was already familiar with the local habits of his class, who used
the unfailing dry starlit nights for their wanderings, and spent
the hours of glaring sunshine asleep or resting in some wayside
shadow.
Meanwhile the light quickened, and gradually disclosed the form and
outline of the adjacent domain. An avenue cut through a park-like
wood, carefully cleared of the undergrowth of gigantic ferns
peculiar to the locality, led to the entrance of the canada. Here
began a vast terrace of lawn, broken up by enormous bouquets of
flower-beds bewildering in color and profusion, from which again
rose the flowering vines and trailing shrubs that hid pillars,
veranda, and even the long facade of a great and dominant mansion.
But the delicacy of floral outlines running to the capitals of
columns and at times mounting to the pediment of the roof, the
opulence of flashing color or the massing of tropical foliage,
could not deprive it of the imperious dignity of size and space.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25