stories of a western town-第15部分

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！


rown　with　every　inch　of　her！〃　But　in　the　morning　she　surprised　her　daughter。　　〃Tilly；〃　said　she　at　the　breakfast…table；　〃Tilly；　I　got　something　I　must　do；　and　I　don't　want　you　to　oppose　me。〃　〃Good　gracious；　ma！〃　said　Tilly；　〃as　if　I　ever　opposed　you！〃　〃You　know　how　bad　I　have　been　feeling　about　the　poor　Russians　〃　〃Well？〃　〃And　how　I've　wished　and　wished　I　could　do　something　something　to　COUNT？　　I　never　could；　Tilly；　because　I　ain't　got　the　money　or　the　intellect；　but　s'posing　I　could　do　it　for　somebody　else；　like　this　Captain　Ferguson　who　could　do　so　much　if　he　just　could　get　a　hired　girl　to　take　care　of　his　wife。　Well；　I　do　know　how　to　cook　and　to　keep　a　house　neat　and　to　do　for　the　sick　〃　Tilly　could　restrain　herself　no　longer；　her　voice　rose　to　a　shout　of　dismay〃Mother　Louder；　you　AIN'T　thinking　of　going　to　be　the　Ferguson's　_hired　girl！_〃　〃Not　their　hired　girl；　Tilly；　just　their　help；　so　as　he　can　work　for　those　poor　starving　creatures。〃　　Jane　strangled　a　sob　in　her　throat。　　Tilly；　in　a　kind　of　stupor　of　bewilderment；　frowned　at　her　plate。　　Then　her　clouded　face　cleared。　If　Mrs。　Louder　had　surprised　her　daughter；　her　daughter　repaid　the　surprise。　　〃Well；　if　you　feel　that　way；　mother；〃　said　she；　〃I　won't　say　a　word；　and　I'll　ask　Mr。　Lossing　to　explain　to　the　Fergusons　and　fix　everything。　　He　will。〃　〃You're　real　good；　Tilly。〃　〃And　while　you're　gone　I　guess　it　will　be　a　good　plan　to　move　and　git　settled　〃　For　some　reason　Tilly's　throat　felt　dry；　she　lifted　her　cup。　She　did　not　intend　to　look　across　the　table；　but　her　eyes　escaped　her。　She　set　the　coffee　down　untasted。　　The　clock　was　slow；　she　muttered；　and　she　left　the　room。　Jane　Louder　remained　in　her　place；　with　the　same　pale　face；　staring　at　the　table…cloth。　〃It　don't　seem　like　I　COULD　go；　now；〃　she　thought　dully　to　herself；　〃the　time's　so　awful　short；　I　don't　s'pose　Maria　Carleton　can　git　up　to　see　me　more'n　once　or　twice　a　month；　busy　as　she　is！　I　got　so　to　depend　on　seeing　her　every　day。　　A　sister　couldn't　be　kinder！　　I　don't　see　how　I　am　going　to　bear　it。　And　to　go　away；　beforehand　〃　For　a　long　while　she　sat；　her　face　hardly　changing。　　At　last；　when　she　did　push　her　chair　away；　her　lips　were　tightly　closed。　She　spoke　to　the　little　pile　of　books　lying　on　the　table　in　the　corner。　　〃I　cayn'tthese　are　my　own　and　you　are　strangers！〃　She　walked　across　the　room　to　take　up　the　same　magazine　which　Tilly　had　found　her　reading　the　day　before。　　When　she　began　reading　she　looked　sternpoor　Jane；　she　was　steeling　her　heart　but　in　a　little　while　she　was　sniffing　and　blowing　her　nose。　With　a　groan　she　flung　the　book　aside。　　〃It's　no　use；　I　would　feel　like　a　murderer　if　I　don't　go！〃　said　she。　She　did　go。　　Harry　Lossing　made　all　the　arrangements。　Tilly　was　satisfied。　　But；　then；　Tilly　had　not　heard　Harry's　remark　to　his　mother：　　〃Alma　says　Miss　Louder　is　trying　to　make　the　old　lady　move　against　her　will。　I　dare　say　it　would　be　better　to　give　the　young　woman　a　chance　to　miss　her　mother　and　take　a　little　quiet　think。〃　Tilly　saw　her　mother　off　on　the　train　to　Baxter；　the　Fergusons'　station。　Being　a　provident；　far…sighted；　and　also　inexperienced　traveller；　she　had　allowed　a　full　half…hour　for　preliminary　passages　at　arms　with　the　railway　officials；　and；　as　the　train　happened　to　be　an　hour　late；　she　found　herself　with　time　to　spare；　even　after　she　had　exhausted　the　catalogue　of　possible　deceptions　and　catastrophes　by　rail。　During　the　silence　that　followed　her　last　warning；　she　sat　mentally　keeping　tally　on　her　fingers。　　〃Confidence　men〃　Tilly　began　with　the　thumb〃Never　give　anybody　her　check。　Never　lend　anybody　money。　　Never　write　her　name　to　anything。　Don't　get　out　till　conductor　tells　her。　　In　case　of　accident；　telegraph　me；　and　keep　in　the　middle　of　the　car；　off　the　trucks。　Not　take　care　of　anybody's　baby　while　she　goes　off　for　a　minute。　Not　take　care　of　babies　at　all。　　Or　children。　　Not　talk　to　strangersgood　gracious！〃　Tilly　felt　a　movement　of　impatience；　there；　after　all　her　cautions；　there　was　her　mother　helping　an　old　woman；　an　utterly　strange　old　woman；　to　pile　a　bird…cage　on　a　bandbox　surmounting　a　bag。　The　old　woman　was　clad　in　a　black　alpaca　frock；　made　with　the　voluminous　draperies　of　years　ago；　but　with　the　uncreased　folds　and　the　brilliant　gloss　of　a　new　gown。　She　wore　a　bonnet　of　a　singular　shape；　unknown　to　fashion；　but　made　out　of　good　velvet。　　Beneath　the　bonnet　（which　was　large）　appeared　a　little；　round；　agitated　old　face；　with　bobbing　white　curls　and　white　teeth　set　a　little　apart　in　the　mouth；　a　defect　that　brought　a　kind　of　palpitating　frankness　into　the　expression。　〃Now；　who　HAS　mother　picked　up　now？〃　thought　Tilly。　　〃Well；　praise　be；　she　hasn't　a　baby；　anyhow！〃　She　could　hear　the　talk　between　the　two；　for　the　old　woman　being　deaf；　Mrs。　Louder　elevated　her　voice；　and　the　old　woman；　herself；　spoke　in　a　high；　thin　pipe　that　somehow　reminded　Tilly　of　a　lost　lamb。　〃That's　just　so；〃　said　Mrs。　Louder；　〃a　body　cayn't　help　worrying　over　a　sick　child；　especially　if　they're　away　from　you。〃　〃Solon　and　Minnie　wouldn't　tell　me；〃　bleated　the　other　woman；　〃they　knew　I'd　worry。　　Kinder　hurt　me　they　should　keep　things　from　me；　but　they　hate　to　have　me　upset。　　They　are　awful　good　children。　But　I　suspicioned　something　when　Alonzo　kept　writing。　Minnie；　she　wouldn't　tell　me；　but　I　pinned　her　down　and　it　come　out；　Eliza　had　the　grip　bad。　　And；　then；　nothing　would　do　but　I　must　go　to　herwhy；　Mrs。　Louder；　she's　my　child！　But　they　wouldn't　hark　to　it。　　'Fraid　to　have　me　travel　alone　〃　〃I　guess　they　take　awful　good　care　of　you；〃　said　Mrs。　Louder；　and　she　sighed。　〃Yes；　ma'am；　awful。〃　　She；　too；　sighed。　As　she　talked　her　eyes　were　darting　about　the　room；　eagerly　fixed　on　every　new　arrival。　〃Are　you　expecting　anyone；　Mrs。　Higbee？〃　said　Jane。　They　seemed；　at　least；　to　know　each　other　by　name；　thought　Tilly；　it　was　amazing　the　number　of　people　mother　did　know！　〃No；〃　said　Mrs。　Higbee；　〃II　fact　is；　I'm　kinder　frightened。　Ifact　is；　Mrs。　Louder；　I　guess　I'll　tell　you；　though　I　don't　know　you　very　well；　but　I've　known　about　you　so　long　I　run　away　and　didn't　tell　'em。　I　just　couldn't　stay　way　from　Liza。　And　I　took　the　birdfor　the　children；　and　it's　my　bird；　and　I　was　'fraid　Minnie　would　forget　to　feed　it　and　it　would　be　lonesome。　My　children　are　awful　kind　good　children；　but　they　don't　understand。　And　if　Solon　sees　me　he　will　want　me　to　go　back。　　I　know　I'm　dretful　foolish；　and　Solon　and　Minnie　will　make　me　see　I　am。　There　won't　be　no　good　reason　for　me　to　go；　and　I'll　have　to　stay；　and　I　feel　as　if　I　should　FLYOh；　massy　sakes！　there's　Solon　coming　down　the　street　〃　She　ran　a　few　steps　in　half　a　dozen　ways；　then　fluttered　back　to　her　bag　and　her　cage。　〃Well；〃　said　Mrs。　Louder；　drawing　herself　up　to　her　full　height；　〃you　SHALL　go　if　you　want　to。〃　〃Solon　will　find　me；　he'll　know　the　bird…cage！　　Oh；　dear！　　Oh；　dear！〃　Then　a　most　unexpected　helper　stepped　upon　the　stage。　What　is　the　mysterious　instinct　of　rebellion　to　authority　that；　nine　cases　out　of　ten；　sends　us　to　the　aid　of　a　fugitive？　Tilly；　the　unconscious　despot　of　her　own　mother；　promptly　aided　and　abetted　Solon's　rebel　mother　in　her　flight。　〃Not　if　_I_　carry　it；〃　said　she；　snatching　up　the　bird…cage；　〃run　inside　that　den　where　they　sell　refreshments；　he'll　see　ME　and　go　somewhere　else。〃　It　fell　out　precisely　as　she　planned。　　They　heard　Solon　demanding　a　lady　with　a　bird…cage　of　the　agent；　they　heard　the　agent's　reply；　given　with　official　indifference；　〃There　she　is；　inside。〃　Directly；　Solon；　a　small　man　with　an　anxious　mien；　ran　into　the　waiting…room；　flung　a　glance　of　disappointment　at　Tilly；　and　ran　out　again。　Tilly　went　to　her　client。　　〃Did　he　look　like　he　was　anxious？〃　was　the　mother's　greeting。　　〃Oh；　I　just　know　he　and　Minnie　will　be　hunting　me　everywhere。　　Maybe　I　had　better　go　home；　'stead　of　to　Baxter。〃　〃No；　you　hadn't；〃　said　Tilly；　with　decision。　　〃Mother's　going　to　Baxter；　too；　and　if　you　like；　minnit　you're　safely　off；　I'll　go　tell　your　folks。〃　〃You're　real　kind；　I'd　be　ever　so　much　obliged。　　And　you　don't　mind　your　ma　travelling　alone？　ain't　that　nice　for　her！〃　She　seemed　much　cheered　by　the　prospect　of　company　and　warmed　into　confidences。　〃I　am　kinder　lonesome；　sometimes；　that's　a　fact；〃　said　she；　〃and　I　kinder　wish　I　lived　in　a　block　or　a　flat　like　your　ma。　You　see；　Minnie　teaches　in　the　public　school　and　she's　away　all　day；　and　she　don't　like　to　have　me　make　company　of　the　hired　girl；　though　she's　a　real　nice　girl。　　And　there　ain't　nothing　for　me　to　do；　and　I　feel　like　I　wasn't　no　use　any　more　in　the　world。　I　remember　that's　what　our　old　minister　in　Ohio　said　once。　He　was　a　real　nice　old　man；　and　they　HAD　thought　everything　of　him　in　the　parish；　but　he　got　old　and　his　sermons　were　long；　and　so　they　got　a　young　man　for　assistant；　and　they　made　HIM　a　_pastor　americus_；　they　called　itsome　sort　of　Latin。　Folks　did　say　the　young　feller　was　stuck　up　and　snubbed　the　old　man；　anyhow；　he　never　preached　after　young　Lisbon　come；　and　only　made　the　first　prayers。　　But　when　the　old　folks　would　ask　him　to　preach　some　of　the　old　sermons　they　had　liked；　he　only　would　say；　'No；　friends；　I　know　more　about　my　sermons；　now。'　He　didn't　live　very　long；　and　I　always　kinder　fancied　being　a　AMERICUS　killed　him。　　And　some　days　I　git　to　feeling　like　I　was　a　kinder　AMERICUS　myself。〃　〃That　ain't　fair　to　your　children；〃　said　Tilly；　〃you　ought　to　let　them　know　how　you　feel。　　Then　they'd　act　different。〃　〃Oh；　I　don't　know；　I　don't　know。　　You　see；　miss；　they're　so　sure　they　know　better'n　me。　　Say；　Mrs。　Louder；　be　you　going　to　visit　relatives　in　Baxter？〃　〃No；　ma'am；　I'm　going　to　take　care　of　a　sick　lady；〃　said　Jane；　〃it's　kinder　queer。　　Her　name's　Ferguson；　her　〃　〃For　the　land's　sake！〃　screamed　Mrs。　Higbee；　〃why；　that's　my　'Liza！〃　　She　was　in　a　flutter　of　surprise　and　delight；　and　so　absorbed　was　Tilly　in　getting　her　and　her　unwieldy　luggage　into　the　car；　that　Jane's　daughter　forgot　to　kiss　her　mother　good…by。　〃Put　your　arm　in　QUICK；〃　she　yelled；　as　Jane　essayed　to　kiss　her　hand　through　the　window；　〃don't　EVER　put　your　arm　or　your　head　out　of　a　train！〃the　train　moved　away〃I　do　hope　she'll　remember　what　I　told　her；　and　not　lend　anybody　money；　or　come　home　lugging　somebody　else's　baby！〃　With　such　reflections；　and　an　ugly　sensation　of　loneliness　creeping　over　her；　Tilly　went　to　assure　Miss