stories of a western town-第15章

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k　you；　dear　daughter；　for　being　so　nice　and　considerate　about　the　Russians。　　Give　my　love　to　Mrs。　Carleton　and　all　of　them；　and　if　little　Bobby　Green　hasn't　missed　school　since　I　left；　give　him　a　nickel；　please；　and　please　give　that　medical　student　on　the　fifth　floorI　forget　his　namethe　stockings　I　mended。　They　are　in　the　first　drawer　of　the　walnut　bureau。　Good…by；　my　dear；　good　daughter。　〃MOTHER；　JANE　M。　LOUDER。〃

When　Tilly　read　the　letter　she　was　surrounded　by　wall…paper　and　carpet　samples。　　Her　eyes　grew　moist　before　she　laid　it　down；　but　she　set　her　mouth　more　firmly。　〃It　is　an　awful　short　time；　but　I've　just　got　to　hurry　and　have　it　over　before　she　comes；〃　said　she。　Next　week　Jane　returned。　　She　was　on　the　train；　waiting　in　her　seat　in　the　car；　when　Captain　Ferguson　handed　her　Tilly's　last　letter；　which　had　lain　in　the　post…office　for　three　days。　It　was　very　short：

〃DEAR　MOTHER：　　I　shall　be　very　glad　indeed　to　see　you。　I　have　a　surprise　which　I　hope　will　be　pleasant　for　you；　anyhow；　I　truly　have　meant　it　for　your　happiness。　　　　　　　　　　Your　affectionate　daughter；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　M。　E。　LOUDER。〃

There　must　have　been；　despite　her　shrewd　sense；　an　obtuse　streak　in　Tilly；　else　she　would　never　have　written　that　letter。　Jane　read　it　twice。　　The　paper　rattled　in　her　hands。　〃Tilly　has　moved　while　I　was　gone；〃　she　said；　〃I　never　shall　live　in　the　block　again。〃　　She　dropped　her　veil　over　her　face。　She　sat　very　quietly　in　her　seat；　but　the　conductor　who　came　for　her　ticket　watched　her　sharply；　she　seemed　so　dazed　by　his　demand　and　was　so　long　in　finding　the　ticket。　The　train　rumbled　and　hissed　through　darkening　cornfields；　into　scattered　yellow　lights　of　low　houses；　into　angles　of　white　light　of　street…arcs　and　shop…windows；　into　the　red　and　blue　lights　dancing　before　the　engines　in　the　station。　〃Mother！〃　cried　Tilly's　voice。　Jane　let　her　and　Harry　Lossing　take　all　her　bundles　and　lift　her　out　of　the　car。　　Whether　she　spoke　a　word　she　could　not　tell。　She　did　rouse　a　little　at　the　vision　of　the　Lossing　carriage　glittering　at　the　street　corner；　but　she　had　not　the　sense　to　thank　Harry　Lossing；　who　placed　her　in　the　carriage　and　lifted　his　hat　in　farewell。　〃What's　he　doing　all　that　for；　Tilly？〃　cried　she；　〃there　ain't　there　ain't　nobody　deadMaria　Carleton　〃　She　stared　at　Tilly　wildly。　Tilly　was　oddly　moved；　though　she　tried　to　speak　lightly。　〃No；　no；　there　ain't　nothing　wrong；　at　all。　It's　because　you've　done　so　much　for　the　Russians　and　other　folks！　　Now；　ma；　I'm　going　to　be　mysterious。　You　must　shut　your　eyes　and　shut　your　mouth　until　I　tell　you。　That's　a　dear　ma。〃　It　was　vaguely　comforting　to　have　Tilly　so　affectionate。　〃I'm　a　wicked；　ungrateful　woman　to　be　so　wretched；〃　thought　Jane；　〃I'll　never　let　Tilly　know　how　I　felt。〃　In　a　surprisingly　short　time　the　carriage　stopped。　〃Now；　ma；〃　said　Tilly。　A　great　blaze　of　light　seemed　all　about　Jane　Louder。　There　were　the　dear　familiar　windows　of　the　Lossing　block。　〃Come　up…stairs；　ma；〃　said　Tilly。　She　followed　like　one　in　a　dream；　and　like　one　in　a　dream　she　was　pushed　into　her　own　old　parlor。　　The　old　parlor；　but　not　quite　the　old　parlor；　hung　with　new　wall…paper；　shining　with　new　paint；　soft　under　her　feet　with　a　new　carpet；　it　looked　to　Jane　Louder　like　fairyland。　〃Oh；　Tilly；〃　she　gasped；　〃oh；　Tilly；　ain't　you　moved？〃　〃No；　nor　we　ain't　going　to　move；　mathat's　the　surprise！　I　took　the　money　I'd　saved　for　moving；　for　the　new　carpet　and　new　dishes；　and　the　Lossings　they　papered　and　painted。　I　was　SO　'fraid　we　couldn't　get　done　in　time。　　Alma　and　all　the　boarders　are　coming　in　pretty　soon　to　welcome　you；　and　they've　all　chipped　in　for　a　little　banquet　at　Mrs。　Carleton's　why；　mother；　you're　crying！　　Mother；　you　didn't　really　think　I'd　move　when　it　made　you　feel　so　bad？　　I　know　I'm　set　and　stubborn；　and　I　didn't　take　it　well　when　Mr。　Lossing　talked　to　me；　but　the　more　I　thought　it　over；　the　more　I　seemed　to　myself　like　that　hateful　Minnie。　　Oh；　mother；　I　ain't；　am　I？　　You　shall　do　just　exactly　as　you　like　all　the　days　of　your　life！〃

AN　ASSISTED　PROVIDENCE　IT　was　the　Christmas　turkeys　that　should　be　held　responsible。　Every　year　the　Lossings　give　each　head　of　a　family　in　their　employ；　and　each　lad　helping　to　support　his　mother；　a　turkey　at　Christmastide。　As　the　business　has　grown；　so　has　the　number　of　turkeys；　until　it　is　now　well　up　in　the　hundreds；　and　requires　a　special　contract。　Harry；　one　Christmas；　some　two　years　ago；　bought　the　turkeys　at　so　good　a　bargain　that　he　felt　the　natural　reaction　in　an　impulse　to　extravagance。　　In　the　very　flood…tide　of　the　money…spending　yearnings；　he　chanced　to　pass　Deacon　Hurst's　stables　and　to　see　two　Saint　Bernard　puppies；　of　elephantine　size　but　of　the　tenderest　age；　gambolling　on　the　sidewalk　before　the　office。　Deacon　Hurst；　I　should　explain；　is　no　more　a　deacon　than　I　am；　he　is　a　livery…stable　keeper；　very　honest；　a　keen　and　solemn　sportsman；　and　withal　of　a　staid　demeanor　and　a　habitual　garb　of　black。　Now　you　know　as　well　as　I　any　reason　for　his　nickname。　Deacon　Hurst　is　fond　of　the　dog　as　well　as　of　that　noble　animal　the　horse　（he　has　three　copies　of　〃Black　Beauty〃　in　his　stable；　which　would　do　an　incalculable　amount　of　good　if　they　were　ever　read！）；　and　he　usually　has　half　a　dozen　dogs　of　his　own；　with　pedigrees　long　enough　for　a　poor　gentlewoman　in　a　New　England　village。　He　told　Harry　that　the　Saint　Bernards　were　grandsons　of　Sir　Bevidere；　the　〃finest　dog　of　his　time　in　the　world；　sir；〃　that　they　were　perfectly　marked　and　very　large　for　their　age　（which　Harry　found　it　easy　to　believe　of　the　young　giants）；　and　that　they　were　〃ridiculous；　sir；　at　the　figger　of　two　hundred　and　fifty！〃　（which　Harry　did　not　believe　so　readily）；　and；　after　Harry　had　admired　and　studied　the　dogs　for　the　space　of　half　an　hour；　he　dropped　the　price；　in　a　kind　of　spasm　of　generosity；　to　two　hundred　dollars。　Harry　was　tempted　to　close　the　bargain　on　the　spot；　hot…headed；　but　he　decided　to　wait　and　prepare　his　mother　for　such　a　large　addition　to　the　stable。　The　more　he　dwelt　on　the　subject　the　more　he　longed　to　buy　the　dogs。　In　fact；　a　time　comes　to　every　healthy　man　when　he　wants　a　dog；　just　as　a　time　comes　when　he　wants　a　wife；　and　Harry's　dog　was　dead。　By　consequence；　Harry　was　in　the　state　of　sensitive　affection　and　desolation　to　which　a　promising　new　object　makes　the　most　moving　appeal。　The　departed　dog　（Bruce　by　name）　had　been　a　Saint　Bernard；　and　Deacon　Hurst　found　one　of　the　puppies　to　have　so　much　the　expression　of　countenance　of　the　late　Bruce　that　he　named　him　Bruce　on　the　spota　little　before　Harry　joined　the　group。　Harry　did　not　at　first　recognize　this　resemblance；　but　he　grew　to　see　it；　and；　combined　with　the　dog's　affectionate　disposition；　it　softened　his　heart。　　By　the　time　he　told　his　mother　he　was　come　to　quoting　Hurst's　adjectives　as　his　own。　〃Beauties；　mother；〃　says　Harry；　with　sparkling　eyes；　〃the　markings　are　perfectcouldn't　be　better；　and　their　heads　are　shaped　just　right！　You　can't　get　such　watch…dogs　in　the　world！　　And；　for　all　their　enormous　strength；　gentle　as　a　lamb　to　women　and　children！　And；　mother；　one　of　them　looks　like　Bruce！〃　〃I　suppose　they　would　want　to　be　housedogs；〃　says　Mrs。　Lossing；　a　little　dubiously；　but　looking　fondly　at　Harry's　handsome　face；　〃you　know；　somehow；　all　our　dogs；　no　matter　how　properly　they　start　in　a　kennel；　end　by　being　so　hurt　if　we　keep　them　there　that　they　come　into　the　house。　　And　they　are　so　large；　it　is　like　having　a　pet　lion　about。〃　〃These　dogs；　mother；　shall　never　put　a　paw　in　the　house。〃　〃Well；　I　hope　just　as　I　get　fond　of　them　they　will　not　have　the　distemper　and　die！〃　said　Mrs。　Lossing；　which　speech　Harry　rightly　took　for　the　white　flag　of　surrender。　That　evening　he　went　to　find　Hurst　and　clinch　the　bargain。　As　it　happened；　Hurst　was　away；　driving　an　especially　important　political　personage　to　an　especially　important　political　council。　The　day　following　was　a　Sunday；　but；　by　this　time；　Harry　was　so　bent　upon　obtaining　the　dogs　that　he　had　it　in　mind　to　go　to　Hurst's　house　for　them　in　the　afternoon。　When　Harry　wants　anything；　from　Saint　Bernards　to　purity　in　politics；　he　wants　it　with　an　irresistible　impetus！　If　he　did　wrong；　his　error　was　linked　to　its　own　punishment。　But　this　is　anticipating；　if　not　presuming；　I　prefer　to　leave　Harry　Lossing's　experience　to　paint　its　own　moral　without　pushing。　The　event　that　happened　next　was　Harry's　pulling　out　his　check…book　and　beginning　to　write　a　check；　remarking；　with　a　slight　drooping　of　his　eyelids；　〃Best　catch　the　deacon's　generosity　on　the　fly；　or　it　may　make　a　home　run！〃　Then　he　let　the　pen　fall　on　the　blotter；　for　he　had　remembered　the　day。　After　an　instant's　hesitation　he　took　a　couple　of　hundred…dollar　bank…notes　out　of　a　drawer　（I　think　they　were　gifts　for　his　two　sisters　on　Christmas　day；　for　he　is　a　generous　brother；　and　most　likely　there　would　be　some　small　domestic　joke　about　engravings　to　go　with　them）；　these　he　placed　in　the　right…hand　pocket　of　his　waistcoat。　In　his　left…hand　waistcoat　pocket　were　two　five…dollar　notes。　Harry　was　now　arrayed　for　church。　　He　was　a　figure　to　please　any　woman's　eye；　thought　his　mother；　as　she　walked　beside　him；　and　gloried　silently　in　his　six　feet　of　health　and　muscle　and　dainty　cleanliness。　He　was　in　a　most　amiable　mood；　what　with　the　Saint　Bernards　and　the　season。　　As　they　approached　the　cathedral　close；　Harry；　not　for　the　first　time；　admired　the　pure　Gothic　lines　of　the　cathedral；　and　the　soft　blending　of　grays　in　the　stone　with　the　warmer　hues　of　the　brown　network　of　Virginia　creeper　that　still　fluttered；　a　remnant　of　the　crimson　adornings　of　autumn。　　Beyond　were　the　bare；　square　outlines　of　the　old　college；　with　a　wooden　cupola　perched　on　the　roof；　like　a　little　hat　on　a　fat　man；　the　dull…red　tints　of　the　professors'　houses；　and　the　withered　lawns　and　bare　trees。　The　turrets　and　balconies　and　arched　windows　of　the　boys'　school　displayed　a　red　background　for　a　troop　of　gray　uniforms　and　blazing　buttons；　the　boys　were　forming　to　march　to　church。　Opposite　the　boys'　school　stood　the　modest　square　brick　house　that　had　served　the　first　bishop　of　the　diocese　during　laborious　years。　Now　it　was　the　dean's　residence。　　Facing　it；　just　as　you　approached　the　cathedral；　the　street　curved　into　a　half…circle　on　either　side；　and　in　the　centre　the　granite　soldier　on　his　shaft　looked　over　the　city　that　would　honor　him。　　Harry　saw　the　tall　figure　of　the　dean　come　out　of　his　gate；　the　long　black　skirts　of　his　cassock　fluttering　under　the　wind　of　his　big　steps。　Beside　him　skipped　and　ran；　to　keep　step　with　him；　a　little　man　in　ill…fitting　black；　of　whose　appearance；　thus　viewed　from　the　rear；　one　could　only　observe　stooping　shoulders　and　iron…gray　hair　that　curled　at　the　ends。　〃He　must　be　the　poor　missionary　who　built　his　church　himself；〃　Mrs。　Lossing　observed；　〃he　is　not　much　of　a　preacher；　the　dean　said；　but　he　is　a　great　worker　and　a　good　pastor。〃　〃So　much　the　better　for　his　people；　and　the　worse　for　us！〃　says　Harry；　cheerfully。　〃Why？〃　〃Naturally。　We　shall　get　the　poor　sermon　and　they　will　get　the　good　pastoring！〃　Then　Harry　caught　sight　of　a　woman's　frock　and　a　profile　that　he　knew；　and　thought　no　more　of　the　preacher；　whoever　he　might　be。　But　he　was　in　the　chancel　in　plain　view；　after　the　procession　of　choir…boys　had　taken　their　seats。