stories of a western town-第9节
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e off the consequences。 Let us understand each other。 Who do you suppose I am？〃 〃MissMiss Almer； ain't it？〃 〃It's Alma Brown； Mr。 Forrest。 I saw you coming on the boat and I made Mr。 Martin fetch me over to you。 I told him not to say my name； because I wanted a good plain talk with you。 Well； I've had it。 Things are just about where I thought they were； and I told Mr。 Lossing so。 But I couldn't be sure。 You must have thought me a funny kind of woman to be telling you all those things about myself。〃 Nelson； who had changed color half a dozen times in the darkness； sighed before he said： 〃No； ma'am； I only thought how good you were to tell me。 I hoped maybe you were impressed to trust me as I was to trust you。〃 Being so dark Nelson could not see the queer expression on her face as she slowly shook her head。 She was thinking： 〃If I ever saw a babe in arms trying to do business！ How did HE ever pay for a farm？〃 She said： 〃Well； I did it on purpose； I wanted you to know I wasn't a cruel aristocrat； but a woman that had worked as hard as yourself。 Now； why shouldn't you help me and yourself instead of helping Richards？ You have confidence in me； you say。 Well； show it。 I'll give you your mortgage for your mortgage on Richards's farm。 Come； can't you trust Richards to me？ You think it over。〃 The hiss of a rocket hurled her words into space。 The fireworks had begun。 Miss Brown looked at them and watched Nelson at the same time。 As a good business woman who was also a good citizen； having subscribed five dollars to the carnival； she did not propose to lose the worth of her money； neither did she intend to lose a chance to do business。 Perhaps there was an obscurer and more complex motive lurking in some stray corner of that queer garret； a woman's mind。 Such motivesaimless softenings of the heart； unprofitable diversions of the fancywill seep unconsciously through the toughest business principles of woman。 She was puzzled by the look of exaltation on Nelson's features； illumined as they were by the uncanny light。 If the fool man had not forgotten all his troubles just to see a few fireworks！ No； he was not that kind of a fool； maybeand she almost laughed aloud in her pleasure over her own insightmaybe it all made him think of the war； where he had been so brave。 〃He was a regular hero in the war；〃 Miss Brown concluded； 〃and he certainly is a perfect gentleman； what a pity he hasn't got any sense！〃 She had guessed aright； although she had not guessed deep enough in regard to Nelson。 He watched the great wheels of light； he watched the river aflame with Greek fire； then； with a shiver； he watched the bombs bursting into myriads of flowers； into fizzing snakes； into fields of burning gold； into showers of jewels that made the night splendid for a second and faded。 They were not fireworks to him； they were a magical phantasmagoria that renewed the incoherent and violent emotions of his youth； again he was in the chaos of the battle； or he was dreaming by his camp…fire； or he was pacing his lonely round on guard。 His heart leaped again with the old glow； the wonderful； beautiful worship of Liberty that can do no wrong。 He seemed to hear a thousand voices chanting： 〃In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea； As He died to make men holy； let us die to make men free！〃
His turbid musings clearedor they seemed to him to clear under the strong reaction of his imagination and his memories。 It was all over； the dream and the glory thereof。 The splendid young soldier was an elderly； ruined man。 But one thing was left： he could be true to his flag。 〃A poor soldier； but enlisted for the war；〃 says Nelson； squaring his shoulders； with a lump in his throat and his eyes brimming。 〃I know by the way it hurts me to think of refusing her that it's a temptation to wrong…doing。 No； I can't save myself by sacrificing a brother soldier for humanity。 She is just as kind as she can be； but women don't understand business； she wouldn't make allowance for Richards。〃 He felt a hand on his shoulder； it was Martin apologizing for hurrying Miss Brown； but the baby was fretting and 〃I'm sorryyeswell； I wish you didn't have to go！〃 Nelson began； but a hoarse treble rose from under his elbows： 〃Say； Mr。 Martin； Uncle and me can take Miss Brown home。〃 〃If you will allow me the pleasure；〃 said Nelson； with the touch of courtliness that showed through his homespun ways。 〃Well； I WOULD like to see the hundred bombs bursting at once and Vulcan at his forge！〃 said Miss Brown。 Thus the matter arranged itself。 Tim waited with the lady while Nelson went for the horse； nor was it until afterward that Miss Brown wondered why the lad did not go instead of the man。 But Tim had his own reasons。 No sooner was Nelson out of earshot than he began： 〃Say； Miss Brown； I can tell you something。〃 〃Yes？〃 〃That Richards is no good； but you can't get Uncle to see it。 At least it will take time。 If you'll help me we can get him round in time。 Won't you please not sell us out for six months and give me a show？ I'll see you get your interest and your money； too。〃 〃You？〃 Miss Brown involuntarily took a business attitude； with her arms akimbo； and eyed the boy。 〃Yes； ma'am； me。 I ain't so very old； but I know all about the business。 I got all the figures downhow much we raise and what we got last year。 I can fetch them to you so you can see。 He is a good farmer； and he will catch on to the melons pretty quick。 We'll do better next year； and I'll try to keep him from belonging to things and spending money； and if he won't lend to anybody or start in raising a new kind of crop just when we get the melons going； he will make money sure。 He is awful good and honest。 All the trouble with him is he needs somebody to take care of him。 If Aunt Lizzie had been alive he never would have lent that dead…beat Richards that money。 He ought to get married。〃 Miss Brown did not feel called on to say anything。 Tim continued in a judicial way： 〃He is awful good and kind； always gets up in the morning to make the fire if I have got something else to do； and he'd think everything his wife did was the best in the world； and if he had somebody to take care of him he'd make money。 I don't suppose YOU would think of it？〃 This last in an insinuating tone； with evident anxiety。 〃Well； I never！〃 said Miss Brown。 Whether she was more offended or amused she couldn't tell； and she stood staring at him by the electric light。 To her amazement the hard little face began to twitch。 〃I didn't mean to mad you；〃 Tim grunted； with a quiver in his rough voice。 〃I've been listening to every word you said； and I thought you were so sensible you'd talk over things without nonsense。 Of course I knew he'd have to come and see you Saturday nights； and take you buggy riding； and take you to the theatre； and all such thingsfirst。 But I thought we could sorter fix it up between ourselves。 I've taken care of him ever since Aunt Lizzie died； and I did my best he shouldn't lend that money； but I couldn't help it； and I did keep him from marrying a widow woman with eight children； who kept telling him how much her poor fatherless children needed a man； and I never did see anybody I was willingbeforeand it's it's so lonesome without Aunt Lizzie！〃 He choked and frowned。 Poor Tim； who had sold so many melons to women and seen so much of back doors and kitchen humors that he held the sex very cheap； he did not realize how hard he would find it to talk of the one woman who had been kind to him！ He turned red with shame over his own weakness。 〃You poor little chap！〃 cried Miss Brown； 〃you poor little sharp； innocent chap！〃 The hand she laid on his shoulder patted it as she went on： 〃Never mind； if I can't marry your uncle； I can help you take care of him。 You're a real nice boy； and I'm not mad； don't you think it。 There's your uncle now。〃 Nelson found her so gentle that he began to have qualms lest his carefully prepared speech should hurt her feelings。 But there was no help for it now。 〃I have thought over your kind offer to me； ma'am；〃 said he； humbly； 〃and I got a proposition to make to you。 It is your honest due to have your farm； yes； ma'am。 Well； I know a man would like to buy it； I'll sell it to him； and pay you your money。〃 〃But that wasn't my proposal。〃 〃I know it； ma'am。 I honor you for your kindness； but I can't risk what what might be another person's idea of duty about Richards。 Our consciences ain't all equally enlightened； you know。〃 Miss Brown did not answer a word。 They drove along the streets where the lanterns were fading。 Tim grew uneasy； she was silent so long。 On the brow of the hill she indicated a side street and told them to stop the horse before a little brown house。 One of the windows was a dim square of red。 〃It isn't quite so lonesome coming home to a light；〃 said Miss Brown。 As Nelson cramped the wheel to jump out to help her from the vehicle； the light from the electric arc fell full on his handsome face and showed her the look of compassion and admiration； there。 〃Wait one moment；〃 she said； detaining him with one firm hand。 〃I've got something to say to you。 Let Richards go for the present； all I ask of you about him is that you will do nothing until we can find out if he is
