a mountain woman(山妇)-第9节
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She laid the piteous tiny shape straight on the bed； threw a sheet over it；
and went back to the weltering kitchen to cook for those men； who came
at noon and who must be fed who must be fed。
When they were all seated at the table； Jim among them； and she had
served them； she said； standing at the head of the table； with her hands on
her hips：
〃I don't suppose any of you have time to do anything about it； but I
thought you might like to know that the baby is dead。 I wouldn't think of
asking you to spare the horses； for I know they have to rest。 But I thought；
if you could make out on a cold supper； that I would go to the town for a
coffin。〃
There was satire in the voice that stung even through the dull
perceptions of these men； and Jim arose with a cry and went to the room
where his dead baby lay。
About two months after this Annie in… sisted that she must go home to
Illinois。 Jim protested in a way。
〃You know； I'd like to send you；〃 he said； 〃but I don't see where the
money is to come from。 And since I've got this nomination； I want to run
as well as I can。 My friends expect me to do my best for them。 It's a duty；
you know； and nothing less； for a few men； like me； to get in the
legislature。 We're going to get a railroad bill through this session that will
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A Mountain Woman
straighten out a good many things。 Be patient a little longer； Annie。〃
〃I want to go home；〃 was the only reply he got。 〃You must get the
money； some way； for me to go home with。〃
〃I haven't paid a cent of interest yet；〃 he cried angrily。 〃I don't see what
you mean by being so unreasonable！〃
〃You must get the money； some way；〃 she reiterated。
He did not speak to her for a week； ex… cept when he was obliged to。
But she did not seem to mind； and he gave her the money。 He took her to
the train in the little wagon that had met her when she first came。 At the
station； some women were gossiping excitedly； and Annie asked what they
were saying。
〃It's Mis' Dundy；〃 they said。 〃She's been sent to th' insane asylum at
Lincoln。 She's gone stark mad。 All she said on the way out was； 'Th' butter
won't come！ Th' butter won't come！'〃 Then they laughed a little a
strange laugh； and Annie thought of a drinking…song she had once heard；
〃Here's to the next who dies。〃
Ten days after this Jim got a letter from her。 〃I am never coming back；
Jim；〃 it said。 〃It is hopeless。 I don't think I would mind standing still to
be shot down if there was any good in it。 But I'm not going back there to
work harder than any slave for those money…loaners and the rail… roads。 I
guess they can all get along with… out me。 And I am sure I can get along
without them。 I do not think this will make you feel very bad。 You
haven't seemed to notice me very much lately when I've been around； and
I do not think you will notice very much when I am gone。 I know what
this means。 I know I am breaking my word when I leave you。 But
remember； it is not you I leave； but the soil； Jim！ I will not be its slave any
longer。 If you care to come for me here； and live another life but no；
there would be no use。 Our love； like our toil； has been eaten up by those
rapacious acres。 Let us say good… by。〃
Jim sat all night with this letter in his hand。 Sometimes he dozed
heavily in his chair。 But he did not go to bed； and the next morning he
hitched up his horses and rode to town。 He went to the bank which held
his notes。
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A Mountain Woman
〃I'll confess judgment as soon as you like；〃 he said。 〃It's all up with
me。〃
It was done as quickly as the law would allow。 And the things in the
house were sold by auction。 All the farmers were there with their wives。 It
made quite an outing for them。 Jim moved around impassively； and
chatted； now and then； with some of the men about what the horses ought
to bring。
The auctioneer was a clever fellow。 Be… tween the putting up of the
articles； he sang comic songs； and the funnier the song； the livelier the
bidding that followed。 The horses brought a decent price； and the ma…
chinery a disappointing one； and then； after a delicious snatch about Nell
who rode the sway…backed mare at the county fair； he got down to the
furniture； the furniture which Jim had bought when he was expect… ing
Annie。
Jim was walking around with his hands in his pockets； looking
unconcerned； and； as the furniture began to go off； he came and sat down
in the midst of it。 Every one noticed his indifference。 Some of them said
that after all he couldn't have been very ambitious。 He didn't seem to take
his failure much to heart。 Every one was concentrating attention on the
cooking… stove； when Jim leaned forward； quickly； over a little wicker
work…stand。
There was a bit of unfinished sewing there； and it fell out as he lifted
the cover。 It was a baby's linen shirt。 Jim let it lie； and then lifted from its
receptacle a silver thimble。 He put it in his vest…pocket。
The campaign came on shortly after this； and Jim Lancy was defeated。
〃I'm going to Omaha；〃 said he to the station…master； 〃and I've got just
enough to buy a ticket with。 There's a kind of satisfaction in giv… ing the
last cent I have to the railroads。〃
Two months later； a 〃plain drunk〃 was registered at the station in
Nebraska's me… tropolis。 When they searched him they found nothing in
his pockets but a silver thimble； and Joe Benson； the policeman who had
brought in the 〃drunk；〃 gave it to the matron； with his compliments。 But
she； when no one noticed； went softly to where the man was sleeping； and
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slipped it back into his pocket； with a sigh。 For she knew somehow as
women do know things that he had not stolen that thimble。
THE equinoctial line itself is not more imaginary than the line which
divided the estates of the three Johns。 The herds of the three Johns roamed
at will； and nibbled the short grass far and near without let or hindrance；
and the three Johns them… selves were utterly indifferent as to boun… dary
lines。 Each of them had filed his application at the office of the
government land…agent； each was engaged in the tedious task of 〃proving
up；〃 and each owned one…third of the L…shaped cabin which stood at the
point where the three ranches touched。 The hundred and sixty acres which
would have completed this quadrangle had not yet been 〃taken up。〃
The three Johns were not anxious to have a neighbor。 Indeed； they had
made up their minds that if one appeared on that adjoining 〃hun'erd an'
sixty；〃 it would go hard with him。 For they did not deal in justice very
much the three Johns。 They considered it effete。 It belonged in the
East along with other outgrown supersti… tions。 And they had given it out
widely that it would be healthier for land applicants to give them elbow…
room。 It took a good many miles of sunburnt prairie to afford elbow…room
for the three Johns。
They met by accident in Hamilton at the land…office。 John Henderson；
fresh from Cincinnati； manifestly unused to the ways of the country；
looked at John Gillispie with a lurking smile。 Gillispie wore a sombrero；
fresh； white； and expansive。 His boots had high heels； and were of elegant
leather and finely arched at the instep。 His corduroys disappeared in them
half…way up the thigh。 About his waist a sash of blue held a laced shirt of
the same color in place。 Hender… son puffed at his cigarette； and continued
to look a trifle quizzical。
Suddenly Gillispie walked up to him and said； in a voice of complete
suavity； 〃Damn yeh； smoke a pipe！〃
〃Eh？〃 said Henderson； stupidly。
〃Smoke a pipe；〃 said the other。 〃That thing you have is bad for your
complexion。〃
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〃I can take care of my complexion；〃 said Henderson； firm
