stories of a western town-第7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！


when　trouble　comes　on　a　man　and　he　can't　go　nowhere　for　advice。〃　〃Yes；　that's　so；　too。　　Buthave　you　any　children？〃　〃Yes；　ma'am；　that　is；　they　ain't　my　own　children。　　Lizzie　and　I　never　had　any；　but　these　two　we　took　and　they　are　most　like　my　own。　The　girl　is　eighteen　and　the　boy　rising　of　fourteen。〃　〃They　must　be　a　comfort　to　you；　but　they　are　considerable　of　a　responsibility；　too。〃　〃Yes；　ma'am；〃　he　sighed　softly　to　himself。　　〃Sometimes　I　feel　I　haven't　done　the　right　way　by　them；　though　I've　tried。　Not　that　they　ain't　good　children；　for　they　areno　better　anywhere。　Tim；　he　will　work　from　morning　till　night；　and　never　need　to　urge　him；　and　he　never　gives　me　a　promise　he　don't　keep　it；　no　ma'am；　never　did　since　he　was　a　little　mite　of　a　lad。　And　he　is　a　kind　boy；　too；　always　good　to　the　beasts；　and　while　he　may　speak　up　a　little　short　to　his　sister；　he　saves　her　many　a　step。　　He　doesn't　take　to　his　studies　quite　as　I　would　like　to　have　him；　but　he　has　a　wonderful　head　for　business。　There　is　splendid　stuff　in　Tim　if　it　could　only　be　worked　right。〃　While　Nelson　spoke；　Tim　was　hunching　his　shoulders　forward　in　the　darkness；　listening　with　the　whole　of　two　sharp　ears。　His　face　worked　in　spite　of　him；　and　he　gave　an　inarticulate　snort。　〃Well；〃　the　woman　said；　〃I　think　that　speaks　well　for　Tim。　Why　should　you　be　worried　about　him？〃　〃I　am　afraid　he　is　getting　to　love　money　and　worldly　success　too　well；　and　that　is　what　I　fear　for　the　girl；　too。　　You　see；　she　is　so　pretty；　and　the　idols　of　the　tribe　and　the　market；　as　Bacon　calls　them；　are　strong　with　the　young。〃　〃Yes；　that's　so；〃　the　woman　assented　vaguely；　not　at　all　sure　what　either　Bacon　or　his　idols　might　be。　　〃Are　the　children　relations　of　yours？〃　〃No；　ma'am；　it　was　like　this：　　When　I　was　up　in　Henry　County　there　came　a　photographic　artist　to　the　village　near　us；　and　pitched　his　tent　and　took　tintypes　in　his　wagon。　He　had　his　wife　and　his　two　children　with　him。　　The　poor　woman　fell　ill　and　died；　so　we　took　the　two　children。　　My　wife　was　willing；　she　was　a　wonderfully　good　woman；　member　of　the　Methodist　church　till　she　died。　　II　am　not　a　church　member　myself；　ma'am；　I　passed　through　that　stage　of　spiritual　development　a　long　while　ago。〃　He　gave　a　wistful　glance　at　his　companion's　dimly　outlined　profile。　〃But　I　never　tried　to　disturb　her　faith；　it　made　HER　happy。〃　〃Oh；　I　don't　think　it　is　any　good　fooling　with　other　people's　religions；〃　said　the　woman；　easily。　　〃It　is　just　like　trying　to　talk　folks　out　of　drinking；　nobody　knows　what　is　right　for　anybody　else's　soul　any　more　than　they　do　what　is　good　for　anybody　else's　stomach！〃　〃Yes；　ma'am。　You　put　things　very　clearly。〃　〃I　guess　it　is　because　you　understand　so　quickly。　But　you　were　saying　〃　〃That's　all　the　story。　　We　took　the　children；　and　their　father　was　killed　by　the　cars　the　next　year；　poor　man；　and　so　we　have　done　the　best　we　could　ever　since　by　them。〃　〃I　should　say　you　had　done　very　well　by　them。〃　〃No；　ma'am；　I　haven't　done　very　well　somehow　by　anyone；　myself　included；　though　God　knows　I've　tried　hard　enough！〃　Then　followed　the　silence　natural　after　such　a　confession　when　the　listener　does　not　know　the　speaker　well　enough　to　parry　abasement　by　denial。　〃I　am　impressed；〃　said　Nelson；　simply；　〃to　talk　with　you　frankly。　It　isn't　polite　to　bother　strangers　with　your　troubles；　but　I　am　impressed　that　you　won't　mind。〃　〃Oh；　no；　I　won't　mind。〃　It　was　not　extravagant　sympathy；　but　Nelson　thought　how　kind　her　voice　sounded；　and　what　a　musical　voice　it　was。　Most　people　would　have　called　it　rather　sharp。　He　told　herwith　surprisingly　little　egotism；　as　the　keen　listener　notedthe　story　of　his　life；　the　struggle　of　his　boyhood；　his　random　self…education；　his　years　in　the　army　（he　had　criticised　his　superior　officers；　thereby　losing　the　promotion　that　was　coming　for　bravery　in　the　field）；　his　marriage　（apparently　he　had　married　his　wife　because　another　man　had　jilted　her）；　his　wrestle　with　nature　（whose　pranks　included　a　cyclone）　on　a　frontier　farm　that　he　eventually　lost；　having　put　all　his　savings　into　a　〃Greenback〃　newspaper；　and　being　thus　swamped　with　debt；　his　final　slow　success　in　paying　for　his　Iowa　farm；　and　his　purchase　of　the　new　farm；　with　its　resulting　disaster。　〃I've　farmed　in　Kansas；〃　he　said；　〃in　Nebraska；　in　Dakota；　in　Iowa。　I　was　willing　to　go　wherever　the　land　promised。　　It　always　seemed　like　I　was　going　to　succeed；　but　somehow　I　never　did。　The　world　ain't　fixed　right　for　the　workers；　I　take　it。　A　man　who　has　spent　thirty　years　in　hard；　honest　toil　oughtn't　to　be　staring　ruin　in　the　face　like　I　am　to…day。　They　won't　let　it　be　so　when　we　have　the　single　tax　and　when　we　farmers　send　our　own　men　instead　of　city　lawyers；　to　the　Legislature　and　halls　of　Congress。　Sometimes　I　think　it's　the　world　that's　wrong　and　sometimes　I　think　it's　me！〃　The　reply　came　in　crisp　and　assured　accents；　which　were　the　strongest　contrast　to　Nelson's　soft；　undecided　pipe：　　〃Seems　to　me　in　this　last　case　the　one　most　to　blame　is　neither　you　nor　the　world　at　large；　but　this　man　Richards；　who　is　asking　YOU　to　pay　for　HIS　farm。　And　I　notice　you　don't　seem　to　consider　your　creditor　in　this　business。　How　do　you　know　she　don't　need　the　money？　　Look　at　me；　for　instance；　I'm　in　some　financial　difficulty　myself。　　I　have　a　mortgage　for　two　thousand　dollars；　and　that　mortgagefor　which　good　value　was　given；　mind　youfalls　due　this　month。　　I　want　the　money。　　I　want　it　bad。　I　have　a　chance　to　put　my　money　into　stock　at　the　factory。　I　know　all　about　the　investment；　I　haven't　worked　there　all　these　years　and　not　know　how　the　business　stands。　　It　is　a　chance　to　make　a　fortune。　I　ain't　likely　to　ever　have　another　like　it；　and　it　won't　wait　for　me　to　make　up　my　mind　forever；　either。　　Isn't　it　hard　on　me；　too？〃　〃Lord　knows　it　is；　ma'am；〃　said　Nelson；　despondently；　〃it　is　hard　on　us　all！　　Sometimes　I　don't　see　the　end　of　it　all。　A　vast　social　revolution　〃　〃Social　fiddlesticks！　　I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Forrest；　but　it　puts　me　out　of　patience　to　have　people　expecting　to　be　allowed　to　make　every　mortal　kind　of　fools　of　themselves　and　then　have　'a　social　revolution'　jump　in　to　slue　off　the　consequences。　　Let　us　understand　each　other。　Who　do　you　suppose　I　am？〃　〃MissMiss　Almer；　ain't　it？〃　〃It's　Alma　Brown；　Mr。　Forrest。　　I　saw　you　coming　on　the　boat　and　I　made　Mr。　Martin　fetch　me　over　to　you。　　I　told　him　not　to　say　my　name；　because　I　wanted　a　good　plain　talk　with　you。　Well；　I've　had　it。　　Things　are　just　about　where　I　thought　they　were；　and　I　told　Mr。　Lossing　so。　　But　I　couldn't　be　sure。　You　must　have　thought　me　a　funny　kind　of　woman　to　be　telling　you　all　those　things　about　myself。〃　Nelson；　who　had　changed　color　half　a　dozen　times　in　the　darkness；　sighed　before　he　said：　　〃No；　ma'am；　I　only　thought　how　good　you　were　to　tell　me。　　I　hoped　maybe　you　were　impressed　to　trust　me　as　I　was　to　trust　you。〃　Being　so　dark　Nelson　could　not　see　the　queer　expression　on　her　face　as　she　slowly　shook　her　head。　　She　was　thinking：　〃If　I　ever　saw　a　babe　in　arms　trying　to　do　business！　How　did　HE　ever　pay　for　a　farm？〃　　She　said：　　〃Well；　I　did　it　on　purpose；　I　wanted　you　to　know　I　wasn't　a　cruel　aristocrat；　but　a　woman　that　had　worked　as　hard　as　yourself。　Now；　why　shouldn't　you　help　me　and　yourself　instead　of　helping　Richards？　　You　have　confidence　in　me；　you　say。　Well；　show　it。　　I'll　give　you　your　mortgage　for　your　mortgage　on　Richards's　farm。　　Come；　can't　you　trust　Richards　to　me？　You　think　it　over。〃　The　hiss　of　a　rocket　hurled　her　words　into　space。　The　fireworks　had　begun。　　Miss　Brown　looked　at　them　and　watched　Nelson　at　the　same　time。　　As　a　good　business　woman　who　was　also　a　good　citizen；　having　subscribed　five　dollars　to　the　carnival；　she　did　not　propose　to　lose　the　worth　of　her　money；　neither　did　she　intend　to　lose　a　chance　to　do　business。　Perhaps　there　was　an　obscurer　and　more　complex　motive　lurking　in　some　stray　corner　of　that　queer　garret；　a　woman's　mind。　Such　motivesaimless　softenings　of　the　heart；　unprofitable　diversions　of　the　fancywill　seep　unconsciously　through　the　toughest　business　principles　of　woman。　She　was　puzzled　by　the　look　of　exaltation　on　Nelson's　features；　illumined　as　they　were　by　the　uncanny　light。　　If　the　fool　man　had　not　forgotten　all　his　troubles　just　to　see　a　few　fireworks！　No；　he　was　not　that　kind　of　a　fool；　maybeand　she　almost　laughed　aloud　in　her　pleasure　over　her　own　insightmaybe　it　all　made　him　think　of　the　war；　where　he　had　been　so　brave。　〃He　was　a　regular　hero　in　the　war；〃　Miss　Brown　concluded；　〃and　he　certainly　is　a　perfect　gentleman；　what　a　pity　he　hasn't　got　any　sense！〃　She　had　guessed　aright；　although　she　had　not　guessed　deep　enough　in　regard　to　Nelson。　　He　watched　the　great　wheels　of　light；　he　watched　the　river　aflame　with　Greek　fire；　then；　with　a　shiver；　he　watched　the　bombs　bursting　into　myriads　of　flowers；　into　fizzing　snakes；　into　fields　of　burning　gold；　into　showers　of　jewels　that　made　the　night　splendid　for　a　second　and　faded。　They　were　not　fireworks　to　him；　they　were　a　magical　phantasmagoria　that　renewed　the　incoherent　and　violent　emotions　of　his　youth；　again　he　was　in　the　chaos　of　the　battle；　or　he　was　dreaming　by　his　camp…fire；　or　he　was　pacing　his　lonely　round　on　guard。　His　heart　leaped　again　with　the　old　glow；　the　wonderful；　beautiful　worship　of　Liberty　that　can　do　no　wrong。　He　seemed　to　hear　a　thousand　voices　chanting：　〃In　the　beauty　of　the　lilies　Christ　was　born　across　the　sea；　As　He　died　to　make　men　holy；　let　us　die　to　make　men　free！〃

His　turbid　musings　clearedor　they　seemed　to　him　to　clear　under　the　strong　reaction　of　his　imagination　and　his　memories。　It　was　all　over；　the　dream　and　the　glory　thereof。　The　splendid　young　soldier　was　an　elderly；　ruined　man。　But　one　thing　was　left：　　he　could　be　true　to　his　flag。　〃A　poor　soldier；　but　enlisted　for　the　war；〃　says　Nelson；　squaring　his　shoulders；　with　a　lump　in　his　throat　and　his　eyes　brimming。　　〃I　know　by　the　way　it　hurts　me　to　think　of　refusing　her　that　it's　a　temptation　to　wrong…doing。　No；　I　can't　save　myself　by　sacrificing　a　brother　soldier　for　humanity。　She　is　just　as　kind　as　she　can　be；　but　women　don't　understand　business；　she　wouldn't　make　allowance　for　Richards。〃　He　felt　a　hand　on　his　shoulder；　it　was　Martin　apologizing　for　hurrying　Miss　Brown；　but　the　baby　was　fretting　and　　〃I'm　sorryyeswell；　I　wish　you　didn't　have　to　go！〃　Nelson　began；　but　a　hoarse　treble　rose　from　under　his　elbows：　〃Say；　Mr。　Martin；　Uncle　and　me　can　take　Miss　Brown　home。〃　〃If　you　will　allow　me　the　pleasure；〃　said　Nelson；　with　the　touch　of　courtliness　that　showed　through　his　homespun　ways。　〃Well；　I　WOULD　like　to　see　the　hundred　bombs　bursting　at　once　and　Vulcan　at　his　forge！〃　said　Miss　Brown。　Thus　the　matter　arranged　itself。　　Tim　waited　with　the　lady　while　Nelson　went　for　the　horse；　nor　was　it　until　afterward　that　Miss　Brown　wondered　why　the　lad　did　not　go　instead　of　the　man。　But　Tim　had　his　own　reasons。　　No　sooner　was　Nelson　out　of　earshot　than　he　began：　　〃Say；　Miss　Brown；　I　can　tell　you　something。〃　〃Yes？〃　〃That　Richards　is　no　good；　but　you　can't　get　Uncle　to　see　it。　　At　least　it　will　take　time。　　If　you'll　help　me　we　can　get　him　round　in　time。　Won't　you　please　not　sell　us　out　for　six　months　and　give　me　a　show？　I'll　see　you　get　your　interest　and　your　money；　too。〃　〃You？〃　　Miss　Brown　involuntarily　took　a　business　attitude；　with　her　arms　akimbo；　and　eyed