a mountain woman(山妇)-第24节
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this happy con… dition of nothingness by the spectacle of an enormous
bull…dog approaching her with threatening teeth。 She had noticed the
monster often in his kennel near the sta… bles； and it was well understood
that he was never to be permitted his freedom。 Now he walked toward her
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with a solid step and an alarming deliberateness。 Kate sat still and tried to
assure herself that he meant no mis… chief； but by the time the great body
had made itself felt on the skirt of her gown she could restrain her fear no
longer； and gave a nervous cry of alarm。 The brute answered with a growl。
If he had lacked provocation before； he considered that he had it now。 He
showed his teeth and flung his detestable body upon her； and Kate felt
herself grow… ing dizzy with fear。 But just then an arm was interposed and
the dog was flung back。 There was a momentary struggle。 Some
gentlemen came hurrying out of the office； and as they beat the dog back
to its retreat； Kate summoned words from her parched throat to thank her
benefactor。
It was the melancholy man with the new clothes。 This morning he was
dressed in a suit of the lightest gray； with a white marseilles waistcoat；
over which his glitter… ing chain shone ostentatiously。 White tennis…
shoes； a white rose in his button… hole； and a white straw hat in his hand
com… pleted a toilet over which much time had evidently been spent。
Kate noted these details as she held out her hand。
〃I may have been alarmed without cause；〃 she said； 〃but I was horribly
frightened。 Thank you so much for coming to my res… cue。 And I think； if
you would add to your kindness by getting me a glass of water 〃
When he came back； his hand was trem… bling a little； and as Kate
looked up to learn the cause； she saw that his face was flushed。 He was
embarrassed。 She decided that he was not accustomed to the society of
ladies。 〃Brutes like that dog ain't no place in th' world that's my opinion。
There are some bad things we can't help havin' aroun'； but a bull…dog ain't
one of 'em。〃
〃I quite agree with you；〃 Kate acqui… esced； as she drank the water。
〃But as this is the first unpleasant experience of any kind that I have had
since I came here； I don't feel that I have any right to complain。〃
〃You're here fur yur health？〃
〃Yes。 And I am getting it。 You're not an invalid； I imagine？〃
〃No no…op。 I'm here be well； I've thought fur a long time I'd like t'
stay at this here hotel。〃
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A Mountain Woman
〃Indeed！〃
〃Yes。 I've been up th' gulch these fif… teen years。 Bin livin' on a shelf of
black rock。 Th' sun got 'round 'bout ten。 Couldn't make a thing grow。〃
The man was look… ing off toward the hills； with an expression of deep
sadness in his eyes。 〃Didn't never live in a place where nothin' 'd grow；
did you？ I took geraniums up thar time an' time agin。 Red ones。 Made me
think of mother； she's in Germany。 Watered 'em mornin' an' night。 Th'
damned things died。〃
The oath slipped out with an artless un… consciousness； and there was a
little moist… ure in his eyes。 Kate felt she ought to bring the conversation to
a close。 She wondered what Jack would say if he saw her talking with a
perfect stranger who used oaths！ She would have gone into the house but
for something that caught her eye。 It was the hand of the man； that hand
was a bludgeon。 All grace and flexibility had gone out of it； and it had
become a mere instrument of toil。 It was seamed and misshapen； yet it
had been carefully mani… cured； and the pointed nails looked fantastic and
animal…like。 A great seal…ring bore an elaborate monogram； while the little
finger displayed a collection of diamonds and emeralds truly dazzling to
behold。 An impulse of humanity and a sort of artistic curiosity； much
stronger than her discretion； urged Kate to continue her conversation。
〃What were you doing up the gulch？〃 she said。
The man leaned back in his chair and regarded her a moment before
answering。 He realized the significance of her question。 He took it as a
sign that she was willing to be friendly。 A look of gratitude； almost tender；
sprang into his eyes； dull gray eyes； they were； with a kindliness for
their only recommendation。
〃Makin' my pile；〃 he replied。 〃I've been in these parts twenty years。
When I come here； I thought I was goin' to make a fortune right off。 I had
all th' money that mother could give me； and I lost everything I had in
three months。 I went up th' gulch。〃 He paused； and wiped his forehead
with his handkerchief。
There was something in his remark and the intonation which made
Kate say softly：
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〃I suppose you've had a hard time of it。〃
〃Thar you were！〃 he cried。 〃Thar was th' rock risin'； risin'； black！
At th' bottom wus th' creek； howlin' day an' night！ Lonesome！ Gee！ No
one t' talk to。 Of course； th' men。 Had some with me always。 They didn't
talk。 It's too too quiet t' talk much。 They played cards。 Curious； but I
never played cards。 Don't think I'd find it amusin'。 No； I worked。 Came
down here once in six months or three months。 Had t' come grub…staked
th' men； you know。 Did you ever eat salt pork？〃 He turned to Kate
suddenly with this question。
〃Why； yes； a few times。 Did you have it？〃
〃Nothin' else； much。 I used t' think of th' things mother cooked。 Mother
under… stood cookin'； if ever a woman did。 I'll never forget th' dinner she
gave me th' day I came away。 A woman ought t' cook。 I hear American
women don't go in much for cookin'。〃
〃Oh； I think that's a mistake；〃 Kate hastened to interrupt。 〃All that I
know un… derstand how to serve excellent dinners。 Of course； they may not
cook them themselves； but I think they could if it were necessary。〃
〃Hum！〃 He picked up a long glove that had fallen from Kate's lap and
fingered it before returning it。
〃I s'pose you cook？〃
〃I make a specialty of salads and sor… bets；〃 smiled Kate。 〃I guess I
could roast meat and make bread； but circumstances have not yet
compelled me to do it。 But I've a theory that an American woman can do
anything she puts her mind to。〃
The man laughed out loud； a laugh quite out of proportion to the
mild good humor of the remark； but it was evident that he could no longer
conceal his delight at this companionship。
〃How about raisin' flowers？〃 he asked。 〃Are you strong on that？〃
〃I've only to look at a plant to make it grow；〃 Kate cried； with
enthusiasm。 〃When my friends are in despair over a plant； they bring it to
me； and I just pet it a little； and it brightens up。 I've the most wonderful
fernery you ever saw。 It's green； summer and winter。 Hundreds of people
stop and look up at it； it is so green and enticing； there above the city
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streets。〃
〃What city？〃
〃Philadelphia。〃
〃Mother's jest that way。 She has a gar… den of roses。 And the
mignonette 〃
But he broke off suddenly； and sat once more staring before him。
〃But not a damned thing；〃 he added； with poetic pensiveness； 〃would
grow in that gulch。〃
〃Why did you stay there so long？〃 asked Kate； after a little pause in
which she man… aged to regain her waning courage。
〃Bad luck。 You never see a place with so many false leads。 To…day
you'd get a streak that looked big。 To…morrow you'd find it a pocket。 One
night I'd go t' bed with my heart goin' like a race…horse。 Next night it
would be ploddin' along like a winded burro。 Don't know what made me
stick t' it。 I
