a girl of the limberlost-第61章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



goes　first　hasn't　hardly　any　chance　at　all；　because　he　has

to　wipe　off　the　grease　on　himself；　so　the　others　can　get　up

at　last。　　See？〃



〃All　right！〃　said　Terry。　　〃You　go　first　and　then　I　will

and　then　Alice。　　Phew！　　It's　slick。　　He'll　never　get　up。〃



Billy　wrestled　manfully；　and　when　he　was　exhausted

he　boosted　Terry；　and　then　both　of　them　helped　Alice；

to　whom　they　awarded　a　prize　of　her　own　doll。　　As　they

rested　Billy　remembered。



〃Do　your　folks　keep　cows？〃　he　asked。



〃No；　we　buy　milk；〃　said　Terry。



〃Gee！　　Then　what　about　the　butter？　　Maybe　your

ma　needs　it　for　dinner！〃



〃No；　she　doesn't！〃　cried　Alice。　　〃There's　stacks　of　it！　

I　can　have　all　the　butter　I　want。〃



〃Well；　I'm　mighty　glad　of　it！〃　said　Billy。　　〃I　didn't

just　think。　　I'm　afraid　we've　greased　our　clothes；　too。〃



〃That's　no　difference；〃　said　Terry。　　〃We　can　play

what　we　please　in　these　things。〃



〃Well；　we　ought　to　be　all　dirty；　and　bloody；　and　have

feathers　on　us　to　be　real　Indians；〃　said　Billy。



Alice　tried　a　handful　of　dirt　on　her　sleeve　and　it

streaked　beautifully。　　Instantly　all　of　them　began

smearing　themselves。



〃If　we　only　had　feathers；〃　lamented　Billy。



Terry　disappeared　and　shortly　returned　from　the　garage

with　a　feather　duster。　　Billy　fell　on　it　with　a　shriek。　

Around　each　one's　head　he　firmly　tied　a　twisted　handkerchief；

and　stuck　inside　it　a　row　of　stiffly　upstanding　feathers。



〃Now；　if　we　just　only　had　some　pokeberries　to　paint　us

red；　we'd　be　real；　for　sure　enough　Indians；　and　we　could　go

on　the　warpath　and　fight　all　the　other　tribes　and　burn　a

lot　of　them　at　the　stake。〃



Alice　sidled　up　to　him。　　〃Would　huckleberries　do？〃

she　asked　softly。



〃Yes！〃　shouted　Terry；　wild　with　excitement。　　〃Anything　that's

a　colour。〃



Alice　made　another　trip　to　the　refrigerator。　　Billy　crushed

the　berries　in　his　hands　and　smeared　and　streaked　all　their

faces　liberally。



〃Now　are　we　ready？〃　asked　Alice。



Billy　collapsed。　　〃I　forgot　the　ponies！　　You　got　to　ride

ponies　to　go　on　the　warpath！〃



〃You　ain't　neither！〃　contradicted　Terry。　　〃It's　the

very　latest　style　to　go　on　the　warpath　in　a　motor。　

Everybody　does！　　They　go　everywhere　in　them。　　They　are

much　faster　and　better　than　any　old　ponies。〃



Billy　gave　one　genuine　whoop。　　〃Can　we　take　your　motor？〃



Terry　hesitated。



〃I　suppose　you　are　too　little　to　run　it？〃　said　Billy。



〃I　am　not！〃　flashed　Terry。　　〃I　know　how　to　start　and

stop　it；　and　I　drive　lots　for　Stephens。　　It　is　hard　to　turn

over　the　engine　when　you　start。〃



〃I'll　turn　it；〃　volunteered　Billy。　　〃I'm　strong　as　anything。〃



〃Maybe　it　will　start　without。　　If　Stephens　has　just

been　running　it；　sometimes　it　will。　　Come　on；　let's　try。〃



Billy　straightened　up；　lifted　his　chin　and　cried：　　〃Houpe！　

Houpe！　　Houpe！〃



The　little　O'Mores　stared　in　amazement。



〃Why　don't　you　come　on　and　whoop？〃　demanded　Billy。　

〃Don't　you　know　how？　　You　are　great　Indians！　

You　got　to　whoop　before　you　go　on　the　warpath。　

You　ought　to　kill　a　bat；　too；　and　see　if　the　wind

is　right。　　But　maybe　the　engine　won't　run　if　we　wait

to　do　that。　　You　can　whoop；　anyway。　　All　together　now！〃





They　did　whoop；　and　after　several　efforts　the　cry　satisfied

Billy；　so　he　led　the　way　to　the　big　motor；　and　took

the　front　seat　with　Terry。　　Alice　and　Little　Brother

climbed　into　the　back。



〃Will　it　go？〃　asked　Billy；　〃or　do　we　have　to　turn　it？〃



〃It　will　go；〃　said　Terry　as　the　machine　gently　slid　out

into　the　avenue　and　started　under　his　guidance。



〃This　is　no　warpath！〃　scoffed　Billy。　　〃We　got　to　go　a

lot　faster　than　this；　and　we　got　to　whoop。　　Alice；　why

don't　you　whoop？



Alice　arose；　took　hold　of　the　seat　in　front　and　whooped。



〃If　I　open　the　throttle；　I　can't　squeeze　the　bulb　to　scare

people　out　of　our　way；〃　said　Terry。　　〃I　can't　steer　and

squeeze；　too。〃



〃We'll　whoop　enough　to　get　them　out　of　the　way。　　Go　faster！〃

urged　Billy。



Billy　also　stood；　lifted　his　chin　and　whooped　like　the

wildest　little　savage　that　ever　came　out　of　the　West。　

Alice　and　Little　Brother　added　their　voices；　and　when　he

was　not　absorbed　with　the　steering　gear；　Terry　joined　in。



〃Faster！〃　shouted　Billy。



Intoxicated　with　the　speed　and　excitement；　Terry

threw　the　throttle　wider　and　the　big　car　leaped　forward

and　sped　down　the　avenue。　　In　it　four　black；　feather…

bedecked　children　whooped　in　wild　glee　until　suddenly

Terry's　war　cry　changed　to　a　scream　of　panic。



〃The　lake　is　coming！〃



〃Stop！〃　cried　Billy。　　〃Stop！　　Why　don't　you　stop？〃



Paralyzed　with　fear　Terry　clung　to　the　steering　gear　and

the　car　sped　onward。



〃You　little　fool！　　Why　don't　you　stop？〃　screamed

Billy；　catching　Terry's　arm。　　〃Tell　me　how　to　stop！〃



A　bicycle　shot　beside　them　and　Freckles　standing　on

the　pedals　shouted：　　〃Pull　out　the　pin　in　that　little

circle　at　your　feet！〃



Billy　fell　on　his　knees　and　tugged　and　the　pin　yielded

at　last。　　Just　as　the　wheels　struck　the　white　sand　the　bicycle

sheered　close；　Freckles　caught　the　lever　and　with　one　strong

shove　set　the　brake。　　The　water　flew　as　the　car　struck　Huron；

but　luckily　it　was　shallow　and　the　beach　smooth。　　Hub　deep

the　big　motor　stood　quivering　as　Freckles　climbed　in　and

backed　it　to　dry　sand。



Then　he　drew　a　deep　breath　and　stared　at　his　brood。



〃Terence；　would　you　kindly　be　explaining？〃　he　said　at　last。



Billy　looked　at　the　panting　little　figure　of　Terry。



〃I　guess　I　better；〃　he　said。　　〃We　were　playing　Indians

on　the　warpath；　and　we　hadn't　any　ponies；　and　Terry

said　it　was　all　the　style　to　go　in　automobiles　now；

so　we〃



Freckles's　head　went　back；　and　be　did　some　whooping　himself。



〃I　wonder　if　you　realize　how　nearly　you　came　to　being

four　drowned　children？〃　he　said　gravely；　after　a　time。



〃Oh；　I　think　I　could　swim　enough　to　get　most　of　us　out；〃

said　Billy。　　〃Anyway；　we　need　washing。〃



〃You　do　indeed；〃　said　Freckles。　　〃I　will　head　this

procession　to　the　garage；　and　there　we　will　remove　the

first　coat。〃　For　the　remainder　of　Billy's　visit　the　nurse；

chauffeur；　and　every　servant　of　the　O'More　household　had

something　of　importance　on　their　minds；　and　Billy's　every

step　was　shadowed。



〃I　have　Billy's　consent；〃　said　Philip　to　Elnora；　〃and　all

the　other　consent　you　have　stipulated。　　Before　you　think

of　something　more；　give　me　your　left　hand；　please。〃



Elnora　gave　it　gladly；　and　the　emerald　slipped　on　her　finger。　

Then　they　went　together　into　the　forest　to　tell　each　other

all　about　it；　and　talk　it　over。



〃Have　you　seen　Edith？〃　asked　Philip。



〃No；〃　answered　Elnora。　　〃But　she　must　be　here；　or　she

may　have　seen　me　when　we　went　to　Petoskey　a　few　days　ago。　

Her　people　have　a　cottage　over　on　the　bluff；　but　the

Angel　never　told　me　until　to…day。　　I　didn't　want　to　make

that　trip；　but　the　folks　were　so　anxious　to　entertain　me；

and　it　was　only　a　few　days　until　I　intended　to　let　you　know

myself　where　I　was。〃



〃And　I　was　going　to　wait　just　that　long；　and　if　I　didn't

hear　then　I　was　getting　ready　to　turn　over　the　country。　

I　can　scarcely　realize　yet　that　Edith　sent　me　that　telegram。〃



〃No　wonder！　　It's　a　difficult　thing　to　believe。　　I　can't

express　how　I　feel　for　her。〃



〃Let　us　never　speak　of　it　again；〃　said　Philip。　　〃I　came

nearer　feeling　sorry　for　her　last　night　than　I　have　yet。　

I　couldn't　sleep　on　that　boat　coming　over；　and　I　couldn't

put　away　the　thought　of　what　sending　that　message　cost　her。　

I　never　would　have　believed　it　possible　that　she　would　do　it。　

But　it　is　done。　　We　will　forget　it。〃



〃I　scarcely　think　I　shall；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃It　is　something

I　like　to　remember。　　How　suffering　must　have　changed　her！　

I　would　give　anything　to　bring　her　peace。〃



〃Henderson　came　to　see　me　at　the　hospital　a　few　days　ago。　

He's　gone　a　rather　wild　pace；　but　if　he　had　been　held

from　youth　by　the　love　of　a　good　woman　he　might　have

lived　differently。　　There　are　things　about　him　one　cannot

help　admiring。〃



〃I　think　he　loves　her；〃　said　Elnora　softly。



〃He　does！　　He　always　has！　　He　never　made　any　secret

of　it。　　He　will　cut　in　now　and　do　his　level　best；

but　he　told　me　that　he　thought　she　would　send　him　away。　

He　understands　her　thoroughly。〃



Edith　Carr　did　not　understand　herself。　　She　went　to

her　room　after　her　good…bye　to　Henderson；　lay　on　her

bed　and　tried　to　think　why　she　was　suffering　as　she　was。



〃It　is　all　my　selfishness；　my　unrestrained　temper；　my

pride　in　my　looks；　my　ambition　to　be　first；〃　she　said。　

〃That　is　what　has　caused　this　trouble。〃



Then　she　went　deeper。



〃How　does　it　happen　that　I　am　so　selfish；　that　I　never

controlled　my　temper；　that　I　thought　beauty　and　social

position　the　vital　things　of　life？〃　she　muttered。　　〃I　think

that　goes　a　little　past　me。　　I　think　a　mother　who　allows　a

child　to　grow　up　as　I　did；　who　educates　it　only　for　the

frivolities　of　life；　has　a　share　in　that　child's　ending。　

I　think　my　mother　has　some　responsibility　in　this；〃　Edith

Carr　whispered　to　the　night。　　〃But　she　will　recognize　none。　

She　would　laugh　at　me　if　I　tried　to　tell　her　what　I　have

suffered　and　the　bitter；　bitter　lesson　I　have　learned。　

No　one　really　cares；　but　Hart。　　I've　sent　him　away；　so

there　is　no　one！　　No　one！〃



Edith　pressed　her　fingers　across　her　burning　eyes　and

lay　still。



〃He　is　gone！〃　she　whispered　at　last。　　　〃He　would　go　at　once。　

He　would　not　see　me　again。　　I　should　think　he　never　would

want　to　see　me　any　more。　　But　I　will　want　to　see　him！　

My　soul！　　I　want　him　now！　　I　want　him　every　minute！　

He　is　all　I　have。　　And　I've　sent　him　away。　　Oh；　these

dreadful　days　to　come；　alone！　　I　can't　bear　it。　　Hart！　

Hart！〃　she　cried　aloud。　　〃I　want　you！　　No　one　cares　but　you。　

No　one　understands　but　you。　　Oh；　I　want　you！〃



She　sprang　from　her　bed　and　felt　her　way　to　her　desk。　



〃Get　me　some　one　at　the　Henderson　cottage；〃　she　said

to　Central；　and　waited　shivering。



〃They　don't　answer。〃



〃They　are　there！　　You　must　get　them。　　Turn　on　the　buzzer。〃



After　a　time　the　sleepy　voice　of　Mrs。　Henderson　answered。



〃Has　Hart　gone？〃　panted　Edith　Carr。



〃No！　　He　came　in　late　and　began　to　talk　about　starting

to　California。　　He　hasn't　slept　in　weeks　to　amount

to　anything。　　I　put　him　to　bed。　　There　is　time　enough　to

start　to　California　when　he　awakens。　　Edith；　what　are　you

planning　to　do　next　with　that　boy　of　mine？〃



〃Will　you　tell　him　I　want　to　see　him　before　he　goes？〃



〃Yes；　but　I　won't　wake　him。〃



〃I　don't　want　you　to。　　Just　tell　him　in　the　morning。〃



〃Very　well。〃



〃You　will　be　sure？〃



〃Sure！〃



Hart　was　not　gone。　　Edith　fell　asleep。　　She　arose　at

noon　the　next　day；　took　a　cold　bath；　ate　her　breakfast；

dressed　carefully；　and　leaving　word　that　she　had　gone　to

the　forest；　she　walked　slowly　across　the　leaves。　　It　was

cool　and　quiet　there