a mountain woman(山妇)-第15节
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never themselves； but always wild Indians； or arctic explorers； or
Robinson Crusoes。 Kitty and Roderick； young as they were； found a
never…ending source of amusement in these little grotesque dreams and
dramas。 The fund of money was get… ting so low that Catherine was
obliged to economize even in the necessities。 If it had not been for her two
cows； she would hardly have known how to find food for her little ones。
But she had a wonderful way of mak… ing things with eggs and milk； and
she kept her little table always inviting。 The day before Thanksgiving she
determined that they should all have a frolic。
〃By Christmas；〃 she said to Kitty； 〃the snow may be so bad that I
cannot get to town。 We'll have our high old time now。〃
There is no denying that Catherine used slang even in talking to the
children。 The little pony had been sold long ago； and going to town meant
a walk of twelve miles。 But Catherine started out early in the morning； and
was back by nightfall； not so very much the worse； and carrying in her
arms bundles which might have fatigued a bronco。
The next morning she was up early； and was as happy and ridiculously
excited over the prospect of the day's merrymaking as if she had been
Kitty。 Busy as she was； she noticed a peculiar oppression in the air； which
intensified as the day went on。 The sky seemed to hang but a little way
above the rolling stretch of frost…bitten grass。 But Kitty laughing over her
new doll； Roderick startling the sullen silence with his drum； the smell of
the chicken； slaughtered to make a prairie holiday； browning in the oven；
drove all apprehensions from Cath… erine's mind。 She was a common
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A Mountain Woman
creature。 Such very little things could make her happy。 She sang as she
worked； and what with the drumming of her boy； and the little exulting
shrieks of her baby； the shack was filled with a deafening and exhilarating
din。
It was a little past noon； when she became conscious that there was
sweeping down on her a gray sheet of snow and ice； and not till then did
she realize what those lowering clouds had signified。 For one moment she
stood half paralyzed。 She thought of every… thing； of the cattle； of the
chance for being buried in this drift； of the stock of provi… sions； of the
power of endurance of the children。 While she was still thinking； the first
ice…needles of the blizzard came pepper… ing the windows。 The cattle ran
bellowing to the lee side of the house and crouched there； and the chickens
scurried for the coop。 Catherine seized such blankets and bits of carpet as
she could find； and crammed them at windows and doors。 Then she piled
coal on the fire； and clothed the children in all they had that was warmest；
their out…door gar… ments included； and with them close about her； she sat
and waited。 The wind seemed to push steadily at the walls of the house。
The howling became horrible。 She could see that the children were crying
with fright； but she could not hear them。 The air was dusky； the cold； in
spite of the fire； intol… erable。 In every crevice of the wretched structure
the ice and snow made their way。 It came through the roof； and began
piling up in little pointed strips under the crevices。 Catherine put the
children all together in one bunk； covered them with all the bed… clothes
she had； and then stood before them defiantly； facing the west； from
whence the wind was driving。 Not suddenly； but by steady pressure； at
length the window…sash yielded； and the next moment that whirlwind was
in the house； a maddening tumult of ice and wind； leaving no room for
resistance； a killing cold； against which it was futile to fight。 Catherine
threw the bedclothes over the heads of the children； and then threw herself
across the bunk； gasping and chok… ing for breath。 Her body would not
have yielded to the suffering yet； so strongly made and sustained was it；
but her dismay stifled her。 She saw in one horrified moment the frozen
forms of her babies； now so pink and pleasant to the sense； and oblivion
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A Mountain Woman
came to save her from further misery。
She was alive just barely alive when Gillispie and Henderson got
there； three hours later； the very balls of their eyes almost frozen into
blindness。 But for an instinct stronger than reason they would never have
been able to have found their way across that trackless stretch。 The chil…
dren lying unconscious under their coverings were neither dead nor
actually frozen； al… though the men putting their hands on their little hearts
could not at first discover the beating。 Stiff and suffering as these young
fellows were； it was no easy matter to get the window back into place and
re…light the fire。 They had tied flasks of liquor about their waists； and this
beneficent fluid they used with that sense of appreciation which only a
pioneer can feel toward whiskey。 It was hours before Catherine rewarded
them with a gleam of consciousness。 Her body had been frozen in many
places。 Her arms； outstretched over her children and holding the clothes
down about them； were rigid。 But consciousness came at length； dimly
struggling up through her brain； and over her she saw her friends rubbing
and rubbing those strong firm arms of hers with snow。
She half raised her head； with a horror of comprehension in her eyes；
and listened。 A cry answered her； a cry of dull pain from the baby。
Henderson dropped on his knees beside her。
〃They are all safe；〃 he said。 〃And we will never leave you again。 I
have been afraid to tell you how I love you。 I thought I might offend you。 I
thought I ought to wait you know why。 But I will never let you run the
risks of this awful life alone again。 You must rename the baby。 From this
day his name is John。 And we will have the three Johns again back at the
old ranch。 It doesn't matter whether you love me or not； Catherine； I am
going to take care of you just the same。 Gillispie agrees with me。〃
〃Damme； yes；〃 muttered Gillispie； feeling of his hip…pocket for
consolation in his old manner。
Catherine struggled to find her voice； but it would not come。
〃Do not speak；〃 whispered John。 〃Tell me with your eyes whether you
will come as my wife or only as our sister。〃
Catherine told him。
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A Mountain Woman
〃This is Thanksgiving day；〃 said he。 〃And we don't know much about
praying； but I guess we all have something in our hearts that does just as
well。〃
〃Damme； yes；〃 said Gillispie； again； as he pensively cocked and
uncocked his re… volver。
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A Mountain Woman
A Resuscitation
AFTER being dead twenty years； he walked out into the sunshine。
It was as if the bones of a bleached skele… ton should join themselves
on some forgotten plain； and look about them for the vanished flesh。
To be dead it is not necessary to be in the grave。 There are places
where the worms creep about the heart instead of the body。
The penitentiary is one of these。 David Culross had been in the
penitentiary twenty years。 Now； with that worm…eaten heart； he came out
into liberty and looked about him for the habiliments with which he had
formerly clothed himself； for hope； self…respect； courage； pugnacity； and
industry。
But they had vanished and left no trace； like the flesh of the dead men
on the plains； and so； morally unapparelled； in the hideous skeleton of his
manhood； he walked on down the street under the mid…June sunshine。
You can understand； can you not； how a skeleton might wish to get
back into its comfortable grave？ David Culross had not walked two blocks
before he was seized with an almost uncontrollable desire to beg to be
shielded
