rudder grange-第22部分

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was　locked。　　We　ran　to　the　carriage…gate；　that　was　locked　too。
Just　then　I　noticed　a　placard　on　the　fence；　it　was　not　printed；　but
the　lettering　was　large；　apparently　made　with　ink　and　a　brush。　　It
read：


　　　　　TO　BE　SOLD

　　　　　　For　TAXES。


We　stood　and　looked　at　each　other。　　Euphemia　turned　pale。

〃What　does　this　mean？〃　said　I。　　〃Has　our　landlord〃

I　could　say　no　more。　　The　dreadful　thought　arose　that　the　place
might　pass　away　from　us。　　We　were　not　yet　ready　to　buy　it。　　But　I
did　not　put　the　thought　in　words。　　There　was　a　field　next　to　our
lot；　and　I　got　over　the　fence　and　helped　Euphemia　over。　　Then　we
climbed　our　side…fence。　　This　was　more　difficult；　but　we
accomplished　it　without　thinking　much　about　its　difficulties；　our
hearts　were　too　full　of　painful　apprehensions。　　I　hurried　to　the
front　door；　it　was　locked。　　All　the　lower　windows　were　shut。　　We
went　around　to　the　kitchen。　　What　surprised　us　more　than　anything
else　was　the　absence　of　Lord　Edward。　　Had　HE　been　sold？

Before　we　reached　the　back　part　of　the　house；　Euphemia　said　she
felt　faint　and　must　sit　down。　　I　led　her　to　a　tree　near　by；　under
which　I　had　made　a　rustic　chair。　　The　chair　was　gone。　　She　sat　on
the　grass　and　I　ran　to　the　pump　for　some　water。　　I　looked　for　the
bright　tin　dipper　which　always　hung　by　the　pump。　　It　was　not　there。
But　I　had　a　traveling…cup　in　my　pocket；　and　as　I　was　taking　it　out
I　looked　around　me。　　There　was　an　air　of　bareness　over　everything。
I　did　not　know　what　it　all　meant；　but　I　know　that　my　hand　trembled
as　I　took　hold　of　the　pump…handle　and　began　to　pump。

At　the　first　sound　of　the　pump…handle　I　heard　a　deep　bark　in　the
direction　of　the　barn；　and　then　furiously　around　the　corner　came
Lord　Edward。　　Before　I　had　filled　the　cup　he　was　bounding　about　me。
I　believe　the　glad　welcome　of　the　dog　did　more　to　revive　Euphemia
than　the　water。　　He　was　delighted　to　see　us；　and　in　a　moment　up
came　Pomona；　running　from　the　barn。　　Her　face　was　radiant；　too。　　We
felt　relieved。　　Here　were　two　friends　who　looked　as　if　they　were
neither　sold　nor　ruined。

Pomona　quickly　saw　that　we　were　ill　at　ease；　and　before　I　could　put
a　question　to　her；　she　divined　the　cause。　　Her　countenance　fell。

〃You　know；〃　said　she；　〃you　said　you　wasn't　comin'　till　to…morrow。
If　you　only　HAD　come　thenI　was　goin'　to　have　everything　just
exactly　rightan'　now　you　had　to　climb　in〃

And　the　poor　girl　looked　as　if　she　might　cry；　which　would　have　been
a　wonderful　thing　for　Pomona　to　do。

〃Tell　me　one　thing；〃　said　I。　　〃What　aboutthose　taxes？〃

〃Oh；　that's　all　right；〃　she　cried。　　〃Don't　think　another　minute
about　that。　　I'll　tell　you　all　about　it　soon。　　But　come　in　first；
and　I'll　get　you　some　lunch　in　a　minute。〃

We　were　somewhat　relieved　by　Pomona's　statement　that　it　was　〃all
right〃　in　regard　to　the　tax…poster；　but　we　were　very　anxious　to
know　all　about　the　matter。　　Pomona；　however；　gave　us　little　chance
to　ask　her　any　questions。　　As　soon　as　she　had　made　ready　our　lunch；
she　asked　us；　as　a　particular　favor；　to　give　her　three…quarters　of
an　hour　to　herself；　and　then；　said　she；　〃I'll　have　everything
looking　just　as　if　it　was　to…morrow。〃

We　respected　her　feelings；　for；　of　course；　it　was　a　great
disappointment　to　her　to　be　taken　thus　unawares；　and　we　remained　in
the　dining…room　until　she　appeared；　and　announced　that　she　was
ready　for　us　to　go　about。　　We　availed　ourselves　quickly　of　the
privilege；　and　Euphemia　hurried　to　the　chicken…yard；　while　I　bent
my　steps　toward　the　garden　and　barn。　　As　I　went　out　I　noticed　that
the　rustic　chair　was　in　its　place；　and　passing　the　pump　I　looked
for　the　dipper。　　It　was　there。　　I　asked　Pomona　about　the　chair；　but
she　did　not　answer　as　quickly　as　was　her　habit。

〃Would　you　rather；〃　said　she；　〃hear　it　all　together；　when　you　come
in；　or　have　it　in　little　bits；　head　and　tail；　all　of　a　jumble？〃

I　called　to　Euphemia　and　asked　her　what　she　thought；　and　she　was　so
anxious　to　get　to　her　chickens　that　she　said　she　would　much　rather
wait　and　hear　it　all　together。　　We　found　everything　in　perfect
order；the　garden　was　even　free　from　weeds；　a　thing　I　had　not
expected。　　If　it　had　not　been　for　that　cloud　on　the　front　fence；　I
should　have　been　happy　enough。　　Pomona　had　said　it　was　all　right；
but　she　could　not　have　paid　the　taxeshowever；　I　would　wait；　and　I
went　to　the　barn。

When　Euphemia　came　in　from　the　poultry…yard；　she　called　me　and　said
she　was　in　a　hurry　to　hear　Pomona's　account　of　things。　　So　I　went
in；　and　we　sat　on　the　side　porch；　where　it　was　shady；　while　Pomona；
producing　some　sheets　of　foolscap　paper；　took　her　seat　on　the　upper
step。

〃I　wrote　down　the　things　of　any　account　what　happened；〃　said　she；
〃as　you　told　me　to；　and　while　I　was　about　it；　I　thought　I'd　make　it
like　a　novel。　　It　would　be　jus'　as　true；　and　p'r'aps　more　amusin'。
I　suppose　you　don't　mind？〃

No；　we　didn't　mind。　　So　she　went　on。

〃I　haven't　got　no　name　for　my　novel。　　I　intended　to　think　one　out
to…night。　　I　wrote　this　all　of　nights。　　And　I　don't　read　the　first
chapters；　for　they　tell　about　my　birth　and　my　parentage　and　my
early　adventures。　　I'll　just　come　down　to　what　happened　to　me　while
you　was　away；　because　you'll　be　more　anxious　to　hear　about　that。
All　that's　written　here　is　true；　jus'　the　same　as　if　I　told　it　to
you；　but　I've　put　it　into　novel　language　because　it　seems　to　come
easier　to　me。〃

And　then；　in　a　voice　somewhat　different　from　her　ordinary　tones；　as
if　the　〃novel　language〃　demanded　it；　she　began　to　read：

〃Chapter　Five。　　The　Lonely　house　and　the　Faithful　friend。　　Thus　was
I　left　alone。　　None　but　two　dogs　to　keep　me　com…pa…ny。　　I　milk…ed
the　lowing　kine　and　water…ed　and　fed　the　steed；　and　then；　after　my
fru…gal　repast；　I　clos…ed　the　man…si…on；　shutting　out　all　re…
collections　of　the　past　and　also　foresights　into　the　future。　　That
night　was　a　me…mor…able　one。　　I　slept　soundly　until　the　break　of
morn；　but　had　the　events　transpired　which　afterward　occur…red；　what
would　have　hap…pen…ed　to　me　no　tongue　can　tell。　　Early　the　next　day
nothing　hap…pened。　　Soon　after　breakfast；　the　vener…able　John　came
to　bor…row　some　ker…osene　oil　and　a　half　a　pound　of　sugar；　but　his
attempt　was　foil…ed。　　I　knew　too　well　the　in…sid…ious　foe。　　In　the
very　out…set　of　his　vil…li…an…y　I　sent　him　home　with　a　empty　can。
For　two　long　days　I　wander…ed　amid　the　ver…dant　pathways　of　the
gar…den　and　to　the　barn；　whenever　and　anon　my　du…ty　call…ed　me；　nor
did　I　ere　neg…lect　the　fowlery。　　No　cloud　o'er…spread　this　happy
pe…ri…od　of　my　life。　　But　the　cloud　was　ri…sing　in　the　horizon
although　I　saw　it　not。

〃It　was　about　twenty…five　minutes　after　eleven；　on　the　morning　of　a
Thursday；　that　I　sat　pondering　in　my　mind　the　ques…ti…on　what　to　do
with　the　butter　and　the　veg…et…ables。　　Here　was　butter；　and　here
was　green　corn　and　lima…beans　and　trophy　tomats；　far　more　than　I
ere　could　use。　　And　here　was　a　horse；　idly　cropping　the　fol…i…age
in　the　field；　for　as　my　employer　had　advis…ed　and　order…ed　I　had
put　the　steed　to　grass。　　And　here　was　a　wagon；　none　too　new；　which
had　it　the　top　taken　off；　or　even　the　curtains　roll…ed　up；　would　do
for　a　li…cen…ced　vender。　　With　the　truck　and　butter；　and　mayhap
some　milk；　I　could　load　that　wagon〃

〃O；　Pomona；〃　interrupted　Euphemia。　　〃You　don't　mean　to　say　that　you
were　thinking　of　doing　anything　like　that？〃

〃Well；　I　was　just　beginning　to　think　of　it；〃　said　Pomona；　〃but　of
course　I　couldn't　have　gone　away　and　left　the　house。　　And　you'll
see　I　didn't　do　it。〃　　And　then　she　continued　her　novel。　　〃But　while
my　thoughts　were　thus　employ…ed；　I　heard　Lord　Edward　burst　into
bark…ter〃

At　this　Euphemia　and　I　could　not　help　bursting　into　laughter。
Pomona　did　not　seem　at　all　confused；　but　went　on　with　her　reading。

〃I　hurried　to　the　door；　and；　look…ing　out；　I　saw　a　wagon　at　the
gate。　　Re…pair…ing　there；　I　saw　a　man。　　Said　he；　'Wilt　open　this
gate？'　　I　had　fasten…ed　up　the　gates　and　remov…ed　every　steal…able
ar…ticle　from　the　yard。〃

Euphemia　and　I　looked　at　each　other。　　This　explained　the　absence　of
the　rustic　seat　and　the　dipper。

〃Thus；　with　my　mind　at　ease；　I　could　let　my　faith…ful　fri…end；　the
dog　（for　he　it　was）；　roam　with　me　through　the　grounds；　while　the
fi…erce　bull…dog　guard…ed　the　man…si…on　within。　　Then　said　I；　quite
bold；　unto　him；　'No。　　I　let　in　no　man　here。　　My　em…ploy…er　and
employ…er…ess　are　now　from　home。　　What　do　you　want？'　　Then　says　he；
as　bold　as　brass；　'I've　come　to　put　the　light…en…ing　rods　upon　the
house。　　Open　the　gate。'　　'What　rods？'　says　I。　　'The　rods　as　was
ordered；'　says　he；　'open　the　gate。'　　I　stood　and　gaz…ed　at　him。
Full　well　I　saw　through　his　pinch…beck　mask。　　I　knew　his　tricks。
In　the　ab…sence　of　my　em…ployer；　he　would　put　up　rods；　and　ever　so
many　more　than　was　wanted；　and　likely；　too；　some　miser…able　trash
that　would　attrack　the　light…ening；　instead　of　keep…ing　it　off。
Then；　as　it　would　spoil　the　house　to　take　them　down；　they　would　be
kept；　and　pay　demand…ed。　　'No；　sir；'　says　I。　　'No　light…en…ing　rods
upon　this　house　whilst　I　stand　here；'　and　with　that　I　walk…ed　away；
and　let　Lord　Edward　loose。　　The　man　he　storm…ed　with　pas…si…on。
His　eyes　flash…ed　fire。　　He　would　e'en　have　scal…ed　the　gate；　but
when　he　saw　the　dog　he　did　forbear。　　As　it　was　then　near　noon；　I
strode　away　to　feed　the　fowls；　but　when　I　did　return；　I　saw　a　sight
which　froze　the　blood　with…in　my　veins〃

〃The　dog　didn't　kill　him？〃　cried　Euphemia。

〃Oh　no；　ma'am！〃　said　Pomona。　　〃You'll　see　that　that　wasn't　it。　　At
one　corn…er　of　the　lot；　in　front；　a　base　boy；　who　had　accompa…ni…ed
this　man；　was　bang…ing　on　the　fence　with　a　long　stick；　and　thus
attrack…ing　to　hisself　the　rage　of　Lord　Edward；　while　the　vile
intrig…er　of　a　light…en…ing　rod…der　had　brought　a　lad…der　to　the
other　side　of　the　house；　up　which　he　had　now　as…cend…ed；　and　was　on
the　roof。　　What　horrors　fill…ed　my　soul！　　How　my　form　trembl…ed！
This；〃　continued　Pomona；　〃is　the　end　of　the　novel；〃　and　she　laid
her　foolscap　pages　on　the　porch。

Euphemia　and　I　exclaimed；　with　one　voice；　against　this。　　We　had
just　reached　the　most　exciting　part；　and；　I　added；　we　had　heard
nothing　yet　about　that　affair　of　the　taxes。

〃You　see；　sir；〃　said　Pomona；　〃it　took　me　so　long　to　write　o