Deserted

Edward Bellamy

Description

On a cross-country train trip, a pair of romantics find something in common in their shared appreciation of the vast desert landscape. During a brief pit stop, they set off on a quick jaunt to explore their surroundings -- and find themselves left behind.

Sujets

• Romance

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776585311
• Langue: English

Extrait

DESERTED
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EDWARD BELLAMY
 
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Deserted First published in 1898 Epub ISBN 978-1-77658-531-1 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77658-532-8 © 2014 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Deserted
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"What a glorious, all-satisfying country this Nevada desert would be,if one were only all eyes, and had no need of food, drink, and shelter!Would n't it, Miss Dwyer? Do you know, I 've no doubt that this is thetrue location of heaven. You see, the lack of water and vegetation wouldbe no inconvenience to spirits, while the magnificent scenery and thecloudless sky would be just the thing to make them thrive."
"But what I can't get over," responded the young lady addressed, "isthat these alkali plains, which have been described as so dreary anduninteresting, should prove to be in reality one of the most wonderfullyimpressive and beautiful regions in the world. What awful fibbers, orwhat awfully dull people, they must have been whose descriptions haveso misled the public! It is perfectly unaccountable. Here I expected todoze all the way across the desert, while in fact I 've grudged my eyestime enough to wink ever since I left my berth this morning."
"The trouble is," replied her companion, "that persons in search ofthe picturesque, or with much eye for it, are rare travelers along thisroute. The people responsible for the descriptions you complain ofare thrifty businessmen, with no idea that there can be any possibleattraction in a country where crops can't be raised, timber cut, or oredug up. For my part, I thank the Lord for the beautiful barrenness thathas consecrated this great region to loneliness. Here there will alwaysbe a chance to get out of sight and sound of the swarming millions whohave already left scarcely standing-room for a man in the East. Iwouldn't give much for a country where there are no wildernesses left."
"But I really think it is rather hard to say in just what the beauty ofthe desert consists," said Miss Dwyer. "It is so simple. I scribbled twopages of description in my note-book this morning, but when I read themover, and then looked out of the window, I tore them up. I think thewonderfully fine, clear, brilliant air transfigures the landscape andmakes it something that must be seen and can't be told. After seeing howthis air makes the ugly sagebrush and the patches of alkali and brownearth a feast to the eye, one can understand how the light of heaven maymake the ugliest faces beautiful."
The pretty talker is sitting next the window of palace-car No. 30 ofthe Central Pacific line, which has already been her flying home fortwo days. The gentleman who sits beside her professes to be sharingthe view, but it is only fair I should tell the reader that under thispretense he is nefariously delighting in the rounded contour of hiscompanion's half-averted face, as she, in unfeigned engrossment, scansthe panorama unrolled before them by the swift motion of the car.