節(jié)選自歐亨利短篇小說集Hearts and Hands

The younger man roused himself sharply at the sound of her voice,seemed to struggle with a slight embarrassment which he threw off instantly,and then clasped her fingers with his left hand.

“It’s Miss Fairchild,”he said,with a smile.“I’ll ask you to excuse the other hand；it’s otherwise engaged just at present.”

He slightly raised his right hand,bound at the wrist by the shining“bracelet”to the left one of his companion.The glad look in the girl’s eyes slowly changed to a bewildered horror.The glow faded from her cheeks.Her lips parted in a vague,relaxing distress.Easton,with a little laugh,as if amused,was about to speak again when the other forestalled him.The glum-faced man had been watching the girl’s countenance with veiled glances from his keen,shrewd eyes.

“You’ll excuse me for speaking,miss,but,I see you’re acquainted with the marshall here.If you’ll ask him to speak a word for me when we get to the pen he’ll do it,and it’ll make things easier for me there.He’s taking me to Leavenworth prison.It’s seven years for counterfeiting.”

“Oh!”said the girl,with a deep breath and returning color.“So that is what you are doing out here? A marshal!”