one basket(一个篮子)-第32章
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hope for him； as he had inhaled so much gas that it was only a matter of a
few hours。
I could scarcely believe that a man so big and strong as he was could
not pull through。 The first bad attack he had； losing his breath and
nearly choking； rather frightened him； although the doctor and I were both
with him。 He held my hand tightly in his； begging me not to leave him；
and repeating； over and over； that it was good to have a woman near。 He
was propped high in bed and put his head on my shoulder while I fanned
him until he breathed more easily。 I stayed with him all that night；
though I was not on duty。 You see； his eyes also were badly burned。
But before he died he was able to see very well。 I stayed with him every
minute of that night and have never seen a finer character than he showed
during all that fight for life。 He had several bad attacks that night and
came through each one simply because of his great will power and
fighting spirit。 After each attack he would grip my hand and say； 〃Well；
we made it that time； didn't we； nurse？〃 Toward morning he asked me if
he was going to die。 I could not tell him the truth。 He needed all his
strength。 I told him he had one chance in a thousand。 He seemed to
become very strong then； and sitting bolt upright in bed； he said： 〃Then
I'll fight for it！〃 We kept him alive for three days； and actually thought
we had won when on the third day 。 。 。 But even in your sorrow you
must be very proud to have been the mother of such a son。 。 。 。 I am a
Wisconsin girlMadison。 When this is over and I come home； will you
let me see you so that I may tell you more than I can possibly write？
MARIAN KING
It was in March； six months later； that Marian King came。 They had
hoped for it； but never expected it。 And she came。 Four people were
waiting in the living room of the big Baldwin house overlooking the river。
Flora and her husband； Adele and Aunt Sophy。 They sat； waiting。 Now
and then Adele would rise； nervously； and go to the window that faced the
street。 Flora was weeping with audible sniffs。 Baldwin sat in his chair；
frowning a little； a dead cigar in one corner of his mouth。 Only Aunt
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Sophy sat quietly； waiting。
There was little conversation。 None in the last five minutes。 Flora
broke the silence； dabbing at her face with her handkerchief as she spoke。
〃Sophy； how can you sit there like that？ Not that I don't envy you。 I
do。 I remember I used to feel sorry for you。 I used to say ‘Poor Sophy。'
But you unmarried ones are the happiest； after all。 It's the married
woman who drinks the cup to the last； bitter drop。 There you sit； Sophy；
fifty years old； and life hasn't even touched you。 You don't know how
cruel life can be to a mother。〃
Suddenly； 〃There！〃 said Adele。 The other three in the room stood up
and faced the door。 The sound of a motor stopping outside。 Daniel
Oakley's hearty voice： 〃Well； it only took us five minutes from the
station。 Pretty good。〃
Footsteps down the hall。 Marian King stood in the doorway。 They
faced her； the fourBaldwin and Adele and Flora and Sophy。 Marian
King stood a moment； uncertainly； her eyes upon them。 She looked at
the two older women with swift； appraising glances。 Then she came into
the room； quickly； and put her two hands on Aunt Soph's shoulders and
looked into her eyes straight and sure。
〃You must be a very proud woman；〃 she said。 〃You ought to be a
very proud woman；〃
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