stories of a western town-第4章

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in　her　stead。　〃Oh；　well；　Thekla　she　aint　such　a　fool　like　she　looks！〃　he　observed　to　the　cat；　〃say；　pussy；　WAS　it　you　out　yestiddy？〃　The　cat　only　blinked　her　yellow　eyes　and　purred。　She　knew　that　she　had　not　been　out；　last　night。　Not　any　better　than　her　mistress；　however；　who　at　this　moment　was　hailing　a　street…car。　The　street…car　did　not　land　her　anywhere　near　a　market；　it　whirled　her　past　the　lines　of　low　wooden　houses　into　the　big　brick　shops　with　their　arched　windows　and　terra…cotta　ornaments　that　showed　the　ambitious　architecture　of　a　growing　Western　town；　past　these　into　mills　and　factories　and　smoke…stained　chimneys。　Here；　she　stopped。　　An　acquaintance　would　hardly　have　recognized　her；　her　ruddy　cheeks　had　grown　so　pale。　　But　she　trotted　on　to　the　great　building　on　the　corner　from　whence　came　a　low；　incessant　buzz。　She　went　into　the　first　door　and　ran　against　Carl　Olsen。　〃Carl；　I　got　to　see　Mr。　Lossing；〃　said　she　breathlessly。　〃There　ain't　noding　〃　〃No；　Gott　sei　dank'；　but　I　got　to　see　him。〃　It　was　not　Carl's　way　to　ask　questions；　he　promptly　showed　her　the　office　and　she　entered。　　She　had　not　seen　young　Harry　Lossing　half　a　dozen　times；　and；　now；　her　anxious　eyes　wandered　from　one　dapper　figure　at　the　high　desks；　to　another；　until　Lossing　advanced　to　her。　He　was　a　handsome　young　man；　she　thought；　and　he　had　kind　eyes；　but　they　hardened　at　her　first　timid　sentence：　〃I　am　Mrs。　Lieders；　I　come　about　my　man　〃　〃Will　you　walk　in　here；　Mrs。　Lieders？〃　said　Lossing。　His　voice　was　like　the　ice　on　the　window…panes。　She　followed　him　into　a　little　room。　　He　shut　the　door。　Declining　the　chair　that　he　pushed　toward　her　she　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　looking　at　him　with　the　pleading　eyes　of　a　child。　〃Mr。　Lossing；　will　you　please　save　my　Kurt　from　killing　himself？〃　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　　Lossing's　voice　had　not　thawed。　〃It　is　for　you　that　he　will　kill　himself；　Mr。　Lossing。　This　is　the　dird　time　he　has　done　it。　　It　is　because　he　is　so　lonesome　now；　your　father　is　died　and　he　thinks　that　you　forget；　and　he　has　worked　so　hard　for　you；　but　he　thinks　that　you　forget。　He　was　never　tell　me　till　yesterday；　and　thenit　was　it　was　because　I　would　not　let　him　hang　himself　〃　〃Hang　himself？〃　stammered　Lossing；　〃you　don't　mean　〃　〃Yes；　he　was　hang　himself；　but　I　cut　him；　no　I　broke　him　down；〃　said　Thekla；　accurate　in　all　the　disorder　of　her　spirits；　and　forthwith；　with　many　tremors；　but　clearly；　she　told　the　story　of　Kurt's　despair。　She　told；　as　Lieders　never　would　have　known　how　to　tell；　even　had　his　pride　let　him；　all　the　man's　devotion　for　the　business；　all　his　personal　attachment　to　the　firm；　she　told　of　his　gloom　after　the　elder　Lossing　died；　〃for　he　was　think　there　was　no　one　in　this　town　such　good　man　and　so　smart　like　your　fader；　Mr。　Lossing；　no；　and　he　would　set　all　the　evening　and　try　to　draw　and　make　the　lines　all　wrong；　and；　then；　he　would　drow　the　papers　in　the　fire　and　go　and　walk　outside　and　he　say；　'I　can't　do　nothing　righd　no　more　now　the　old　man's　died；　they　don't　have　no　use　for　me　at　the　shop；　pretty　quick！'　and　that　make　him　feel　awful　bad！〃　She　told　of　his　homesick　wanderings　about　the　shops　by　night；　〃but　he　was　better　as　a　watchman；　he　wouldn't　hurt　it　for　the　world！　He　telled　me　how　you　was　hide　his　dinner…pail　onct　for　a　joke；　and　put　in　a　piece　of　your　pie；　and　how　you　climbed　on　the　roof　with　the　hose　when　it　was　afire。　　And　he　telled　me　if　he　shall　die　I　shall　tell　you　that　he　ain't　got　no　hard　feelings；　but　you　didn't　know　how　that　mantel　had　ought　to　be；　so　he　done　it　righd　the　other　way；　but　he　hadn't　no　righd　to　talk　to　you　like　he　done；　nohow；　and　you　was　all　righd　to　send　him　away；　but　you　might　a　shaked　hands；　and　none　of　the　boys　never　said　nothing　nor　none　of　them　never　come　to　see　him；　'cept　Carl　Olsen；　and　that　make　him　feel　awful　bad；　too！　And　when　he　feels　so　bad　he　don't　no　more　want　to　live；　so　I　make　him　promise　if　I　git　him　back　he　never　try　to　kill　himself　again。　Oh；　Mr。　Lossing；　please　don't　let　my　man　die！〃　Bewildered　and　more　touched　than　he　cared　to　feel；　himself；　Lossing　still　made　a　feeble　stand　for　discipline。　　〃I　don't　see　how　Lieders　can　expect　me　to　take　him　back　again；〃　he　began。　〃He　aint　expecting　you；　Mr。　Lossing；　it's　ME！〃　〃But　didn't　Lieders　tell　you　I　told　him　I　would　never　take　him　back？〃　〃No；　sir；　no；　Mr。　Lossing；　it　was　not　that；　it　was　you　said　it　would　be　a　cold　day　that　you　would　take　him　back；　and　it　was　git　so　cold　yesterday；　so　I　think；　'Now　it　would　be　a　cold　day　to…morrow　and　Mr。　Lossing　he　can　take　Kurt　back。'　And　it　IS　the　most　coldest　day　this　year！〃　Lossing　burst　into　a　laugh；　perhaps　he　was　glad　to　have　the　Western　sense　of　humor　come　to　the　rescue　of　his　compassion。　　〃Well；　it　was　a　cold　day　for　you　to　come　all　this　way　for　nothing；〃　said　he。　〃You　go　home　and　tell　Lieders　to　report　to…morrow。〃　Kurt's　manner　of　receiving　the　news　was　characteristic。　He　snorted　in　disgust：　　〃Well；　I　did　think　he　had　more　sand　than　to　give　in　to　a　woman！〃　　But　after　he　heard　the　whole　story　he　chuckled：　　〃Yes；　it　was　that　way　he　said；　and　he　must　do　like　he　said；　but　that　was　a　funny　way　you　done；　Thekla。　Say；　mamma；　yesterday；　was　you　look　out　for　the　cat　or　to　find　how　cold　it　been？〃　〃Never　you　mind；　papa；〃　said　Thekla；　〃you　remember　what　you　promised　if　I　git　you　back？〃　Lieders's　eyes　grew　dull；　he　flung　his　arms　out；　with　a　long　sigh。　〃No；　I　don't　forget；　I　will　keep　my　promise；　butit　is　like　the　handcuffs；　Thekla；　it　is　like　the　handcuffs！〃　In　a　second；　however；　he　added；　in　a　changed　tone；　〃But　thou　art　a　kind　jailer；　mamma；　more　like　a　comrade。　And　no；　it　was　not　fair　to　theeI　know　that　now；　Thekla。〃

THE　FACE　OF　FAILURE　AFTER　the　week's　shower　the　low　Iowa　hills　looked　vividly　green。　At　the　base　of　the　first　range　of　hills　the　Blackhawk　road　winds　from　the　city　to　the　prairie。　　From　its　starting…point；　just　outside　the　city　limits；　the　wayfarer　may　catch　bird's…eye　glimpses　of　the　city；　the　vast　river　that　the　Iowans　love；　and　the　three　bridges　tying　three　towns　to　the　island　arsenal。　But　at　one's　elbow　spreads　Cavendish's　melon　farm。　　Cavendish's　melon　farm　it　still　is；　in　current　phrase；　although　Cavendish；　whose　memory　is　honored　by　lovers　of　the　cantaloupe　melon；　long　ago　departed　to　raise　melons　for　larger　markets；　and　still　a　weather…beaten　sign　creaks　from　a　post　announcing　to　the　world　that　〃the　celebrated　Cavendish　Melons　are　for　Sale　here！〃　To…day　the　melon…vines　were　softly　shaded　by　rain…drops。　A　pleasant　sight　they　made；　spreading　for　acres　in　front　of　the　green…houses　where　mushrooms　and　early　vegetables　strove　to　outwit　the　seasons；　and　before　the　brown　cottage　in　which　Cavendish　had　begun　a　successful　career。　　The　black　roof…tree　of　the　cottage　sagged　in　the　middle；　and　the　weather…boarding　was　dingy　with　the　streaky　dinginess　of　old　paint　that　has　never　had　enough　oil。　The　fences；　too；　were　unpainted　and　rudely　patched。　Nevertheless　a　second　glance　told　one　that　there　were　no　gaps　in　them；　that　the　farm　machines　kept　their　bright　colors　well　under　cover；　and　that　the　garden　rows　were　beautifully　straight　and　clean。　An　old　white　horse　switched　its　sleek　sides　with　its　long　tail　and　drooped　its　untrammelled　neck　in　front　of　the　gate。　The　wagon　to　which　it　was　harnessed　was　new　and　had　just　been　washed。　Near　the　gate　stood　a　girl　and　boy　who　seemed　to　be　mutually　studying　each　other's　person。　　Decidedly　the　girl's　slim；　light　figure　in　its　dainty　frock　repaid　one's　eyes　for　their　trouble；　and　her　face；　with　its　brilliant　violet　eyes；　its　full；　soft　chin；　its　curling　auburn　hair　and　delicate　tints；　was　charming；　but　her　brother's　look　was　anything　but　approving。　His　lip　curled　and　his　small　gray　eyes　grew　smaller　under　his　scowling　brows。　〃Is　THAT　your　best　suit？〃　said　the　girl。　〃Yes；　it　is；　and　it's　GOING　to　be　for　one　while；〃　said　the　boy。　It　was　a　suit　of　the　cotton　mixture　that　looks　like　wool　when　it　is　new；　and　cuts　a　figure　on　the　counters　of　every　dealer　in　cheap　ready…made　clothing。　　It　had　been　Tim　Powell's　best　attire　for　a　year；　perhaps　he　had　not　been　careful　enough　of　it；　and　that　was　why　it　no　longer　cared　even　to　imitate　wool；　it　was　faded　to　the　hue　of　a　clay　bank；　it　was　threadbare；　the　trousers　bagged　at　the　knees；　the　jacket　bagged　at　the　elbows；　the　pockets　bulged　flabbily　from　sheer　force　of　habit；　although　there　was　nothing　in　them。　〃I　thought　you　were　to　have　a　new　suit；〃　said　the　girl。　〃Uncle　told　me　himself　he　was　going　to　buy　you　one　yesterday　when　you　went　to　town。〃　〃I　wouldn't　have　asked　him　to　buy　me　anything　yesterday　for　more'n　a　suit　of　clothes。〃　〃Why？〃　　The　girl　opened　her　eyes。　　〃Didn't　he　do　anything　with　the　lawyer？　Is　that　why　you　are　both　so　glum　this　morning？〃　〃No；　he　didn't。　The　lawyer　says　the　woman　that　owns　the　mortgage　has　got　to　have　the　money。　　And　it's　due　next　week。〃　The　girl　grew　pale　all　over　her　pretty　rosy　cheeks；　her　eyes　filled　with　tears　as　she　gasped；　〃Oh；　how　hateful　of　her；　when　she　promised　〃　〃She　never　promised　nothing；　Eve；　it　ain't　been　hers　for　more　than　three　months。　　Sloan；　that　used　to　have　it；　died；　and　left　his　property　to　be　divided　up　between　his　nieces；　and　the　mortgage　is　her　share。　　See？〃　〃I　don't　care；　it's　just　as　mean。　　Mr。　Sloan　promised。〃　〃No；　he　didn't；　he　jest　said　if　Uncle　was　behind　he　wouldn't　press　him；　and　he　did　let　Uncle　get　behind　with　the　interest　two　times　and　never　kicked。　　But　he　died；　and　now　the　woman；　she　wants　her　money！〃　〃I　think　it　is　mean　and　cruel　of　her　to　turn　us　out！　Uncle　says　mortgages　are　wicked　anyhow；　and　I　believe　him！〃　〃I　guess　he　couldn't　have　bought　this　place　if　he　didn't　give　a　mortgage　on　it。　　And　he'd　have　had　enough　to　pay　cash；　too；　if　Richards　hadn't　begged　him　so　to　lend　it　to　him。〃　〃When　is　Richards　going　to　pay　him？〃　〃It　come　due　three　months　ago；　Richards　ain't　never　paid　up　the　interest　even；　and　now　he　says　he's　got　to　have　the　mortgage　extended　for　three　years；　anyhow　for　two。〃　〃But　don't　he　KNOW　we've　got　to　pay　our　own　mortgage？　How　can　we　help　HIM？　　I　wish　Uncle　would　sell　him　out！〃　The　boy　gave　her　the　superior　smile　of　the　masculine　creature。　〃I　suppose；〃　he　remarked　with　elaborate　irony；　〃that　he's　like　Uncle　and　you；　he　thinks　mortgages　are　wicked。〃　〃And　just　as　like　as　not　Uncle　won't　want　to　go　to　the　carnival；〃　Eve　went　on；　her　eyes　filling　again。　Tim　gazed　at　her；　scowling　and　sneering；　but　she　was　absorbed　in　dreams　and　hopes　with　which　as　yet　his　boyish　mind　had　no　point　of　contact。　〃All　the　girls　in　the　A　class　were　going　to　go　to　see　the　fireworks　together；　and　George　Dean　and　some　of　the　boys　were　going　to　take　us；　and　we　were　going　to　have　tea　at　May　Arlington's　house；　and　I　was　to　stay　all　night；〃this　came　in　a　half　sob。　　〃I　think　it　is　just　too　mean！　I　never　have　any　good　times！〃　〃Oh；　yes；　you　do；　sis；　lots！　　Uncle　always　gits　you　everything　you　want。　And　he　feels　terrible　bad　when　Iwhen　he　knows　he　can't　afford　to　git　something　you　want　〃　〃I　know　well　enough　who　tells　him　we　can't　afford　things！〃　〃Well；　do　you　want　us　to　git　things　we　can't　afford？　I　ain't　never　advised　him　except　the　best　I　knew　how。　I　told　him　Richards　was　a　blow…hard；　and　I　told　him　those　Alliance　grocery　folks　he　bought　such　a　lot　of　truck　of　would　skin　him；　and　they　did；　those　canned　things　they　sold　him　was　all　musty；　and　they　said　there　wasn't　any　freight　on　'em；　and