a mountain woman(山妇)-第29节
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eyes half closed； conjuring visions of the warm inte… riors； the leaping fires；
the groups of laughing men seen dimly through clouds of tobacco…smoke。
A delicious scent of coffee met his hun… gry sense and made him really
think he was taking the savory black draught from his familiar tin cup； but
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the muddy streets； the blinding lights； the cruel； rushing peo… ple； were still
there。 The buildings； how… ever； now became different。 They were
lower and meaner； with dirty windows。 Women laughing loudly crowded
about the doors； and the establishments seemed to be equally divided
between saloon…keepers； pawnbrokers； and dealers in second…hand clothes。
Luther wondered where they all drew their support from。 Upon one sign…
board he read； 〃Lodgings 10 cents to 50 cents。 A Square Meal for 15
cents；〃 and； thankful for some haven； entered。 Here he spent his first night
and other nights； while his purse dwindled and his strength waned。 At last
he got a man in a drug…store to search the directory for his sister's resi…
dence。 They found a name he took to be his brother…in…law's。 It was two
days later when he found the address； a great； many… storied mansion on
one of the southern boulevards； and found also that his search had been
in vain。 Sore and faint； he stag… gered back to his miserable shelter； only to
arise feverish and ill in the morning。 He frequented the great shop doors；
thronged with brilliantly…dressed ladies； and watched to see if his little
sister might not dash up in one of those satin…lined coaches and take him
where he would be warm and safe and would sleep undisturbed by
drunken； ribald songs and loathsome surroundings。 There were days when
he almost forgot his name； and； striving to remember； would lose his
senses for a moment and drift back to the harmonious solitudes of the
North and breathe the resin…scented frosty atmosphere。 He grew terrified
at the blood he coughed from his lacerated lungs； and wondered bit… terly
why the boys did not come to take him home。
One day； as he painfully dragged himself down a residence street； he
tried to collect his thoughts and form some plan for the future。 He had
no trade； understood no handiwork； he could fell trees。 He looked at the
gaunt； scrawny； transplanted speci… mens that met his eye； and gave
himself up to the homesickness that filled his soul。 He slept that night in
the shelter of a sta… ble； and spent his last money in the morn… ing for a
biscuit。
He travelled many miles that afternoon looking for something to
which he might turn his hand。 Once he got permission to carry a hod for
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half an hour。 At the end of that time he fainted。 When he recovered； the
foreman paid him twenty…five cents。 〃For God's sake； man； go home；〃 he
said。 Luther stared at him with a white face and went on。
There came days when he so forgot his native dignity as to beg。 He
seldom received anything； he was referred to vari… ous charitable
institutions the existence of which he had never heard。
One morning； when a pall of smoke enve… loped the city and the odors
of coal…gas refused to lift their nauseating poison through the heavy air；
Luther； chilled with dew and famished； awoke to a happier life。 The
loneliness at his heart was gone。 The feeling of hopeless imprisonment
that the miles and miles of streets had terrified him with gave place to one
of freedom and exal… tation。 Above him he heard the rasping of pine
boughs； his feet trod on a rebounding mat of decay； the sky was as coldly
blue as the bosom of Huron。 He walked as if on ether； singing a senseless
jargon the wood… men had aroused the echoes with；
〃Hi yi halloo！ The owl sees you！ Look what you do！ Hi yi halloo！〃
Swung over his shoulder was a stick he had used to assist his limping
gait； but now transformed into the beloved axe。 He would reach the
clearing soon； he thought； and strode on like a giant； while people hur…
ried from his path。 Suddenly a smooth trunk； stripped of its bark and
bleached by weather； arose before him。
〃Hi yi halloo！〃 High went the wasted arm crash！ a broken staff； a
jingle of wires； a maddened； shouting man the centre of a group of amused
spectators！ A few moments later； four broad…shouldered men in blue had
him in their grasp； pinioned and guarded； clattering over the noisy streets
behind two spirited horses。 They drew after them a troop of noisy；
jeering boys； who danced about the wagon like a swirl of autumn leaves。
Then came a halt； and Luther was dragged up the steps of a square brick
building with a belfry on the top。 They entered a large bare room with
benches ranged about the walls； and brought him before a man at a desk。
〃What is your name？〃 asked the man at the desk。
〃Hi yi halloo！〃 said Luther。
〃He's drunk； sergeant；〃 said one of the men in blue； and the axe…man
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was led into the basement。 He was conscious of an involuntary
resistance； a short struggle； and a final shock of pain； then oblivion。
The chopper awoke to the realization of three stone walls and an iron
grating in front。 Through this he looked out upon a stone flooring across
which was a row of similar apartments。 He neither knew nor cared where
he was。 The feeling of im… prisonment was no greater than he had felt on
the endless； cheerless streets。 He laid himself on the bench that ran along
a side wall； and； closing his eyes； listened to the babble of the clear stream
and the thunder of the 〃drive〃 on its journey。 How the logs hurried and
jostled！ crushing； whirling； ducking； with the merry lads leaping about
them with shouts and laughter。 Suddenly he was recalled by a voice。
Some one handed a narrow tin cup full of coffee and a thick slice of bread
through the grating。 Across the way he dimly saw a man eating a similar
slice of bread。 Men in other com… partments were swearing and singing。
He knew these now for the voices he had heard in his dreams。 He tried to
force some of the bread down his parched and swollen throat； but failed；
the coffee strangled him； and he threw himself upon the bench。
The forest again； the night…wind； the whistle of the axe through the air。
Once when he opened his eyes he found it dark。 It would soon be time to
go to work。 He fancied there would be hoar…frost on the trees in the
morning。 How close the cabin seemed！ Ha！ here came his little sister。
Her voice sounded like the wind on a spring morning。 How loud it swelled
now！ 〃Lu！ Lu！〃 she cried。
The next morning the lock…up keeper opened the cell door。 Luther
lay with his head in a pool of blood。 His soul had escaped from the
thrall of the forest。
〃Well； well！〃 said the little fat police… justice； when he was told of it。
〃We ought to have a doctor around to look after such cases。〃
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A Mountain Woman
A Lady of Yesterday
〃A LIGHT wind blew from the gates of the sun；〃 the morning she first
walked down the street of the little Iowa town。 Not a cloud flecked the
blue； there was a humming of happy insects； a smell of rich and moist
loam perfumed the air； and in the dusk of beeches and of oaks stood the
quiet homes。 She paused now and then； looking in the gardens； or at a
group of children； then passed on； smiling in content。
Her accent was so strange； that the agent for real estate； whom she
visited； asked her； twice and once again； what it was she said。
〃I want；〃 she had repeated smilingly； 〃an upland meadow； where
clover will grow； and mignonette。〃
At the tea…tables that
