freckles-第39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！



The　Bird　Woman　will　be　here　soon。　　We　will　rest　awhile。〃



She　dropped　into　the　muck　beside　Freckles　and　began　stroking　his

hair　and　hand。　　He　lay　with　his　face　of　agony　turned　to　hers；　and

fought　to　smother　the　groans　that　would　tell　her　what　he　was　suffering。



When　they　stood　ready　to　lift　him；　the　Angel　bent　over　him　in　a

passion　of　tenderness。



〃Dear　old　Limberlost　guard；　we're　going　to　lift　you　now；〃　she　said。

〃I　suspect　you　will　faint　from　the　pain　of　it；　but　we　will　be　as

easy　as　ever　we　can；　and　don't　you　dare　forget　your　promise！〃



A　whimsical　half…smile　touched　Freckles'　quivering　lips。



〃Angel；　can　a　man　be　remembering　a　promise　when　he　ain't　knowing？〃

he　asked。



〃You　can；〃　said　the　Angel　stoutly；　〃because　a　promise　means　so　much

more　to　you　than　it　does　to　most　men。〃



A　look　of　strength　flashed　into　Freckles'　face　at　her　words。



〃I　am　ready；〃　he　said。



With　the　first　touch　his　eyes　closed；　a　mighty　groan　was　wrenched

from　him；　and　he　lay　senseless。　　The　Angel　gave　Duncan　one　panic…

stricken　look。　　Then　she　set　her　lips　and　gathered　her　forces　again。



〃I　guess　that's　a　good　thing；〃　she　said。　　〃Maybe　he　won't　feel　how

we　are　hurting　him。　　Oh　boys；　are　you　being　quick　and　gentle？〃



She　stepped　to　the　side　of　the　cot　and　bathed　Freckles'　face。

Taking　his　hand　in　hers；　she　gave　the　word　to　start。　　She　told　the

men　to　ask　every　able…bodied　man　they　met　to　join　them　so　that　they

could　change　carriers　often　and　make　good　time。



The　Bird　Woman　insisted　upon　taking　the　Angel　into　the　carriage　and

following　the　cot；　but　she　refused　to　leave　Freckles；　and　suggested

that　the　Bird　Woman　drive　ahead；　pack　them　some　clothing；　and　be　at

the　station　ready　to　accompany　them　to　Chicago。　　All　the　way　the

Angel　walked　beside　the　cot；　shading　Freckles'　face　with　a　branch；

and　holding　his　hand。　　At　every　pause　to　change　carriers　she

moistened　his　face　and　lips　and　watched　each　breath　with

heart…breaking　anxiety。



She　scarcely　knew　when　her　father　joined　them；　and　taking　the　branch

from　her；　slipped　an　arm　around　her　waist　and　almost　carried　her。　

To　the　city　streets　and　the　swarm　of　curious；　staring　faces　she

paid　no　more　attention　than　she　had　to　the　trees　of　the　Limberlost。　

When　the　train　came　and　the　gang　placed　Freckles　aboard；　big

Duncan　made　a　place　for　the　Angel　beside　the　cot。



With　the　best　physician　to　be　found；　and　with　the　Bird　Woman　and

McLean　in　attendance；　the　four…hours'　run　to　Chicago　began。　　The　Angel

constantly　watched　over　Freckles；　bathed　his　face；　stroked　his

hand；　and　gently　fanned　him。　　Not　for　an　instant　would　she　yield

her　place；　or　allow　anyone　else　to　do　anything　for　him。　　The　Bird

Woman　and　McLean　regarded　her　in　amazement。　　There　seemed　to　be　no

end　to　her　resources　and　courage。　　The　only　time　she　spoke　was　to

ask　McLean　if　he　were　sure　the　special　would　be　ready　on　the

Pittsburgh　road。　　He　replied　that　it　was　made　up　and　waiting。



At　five　o'clock　Freckles　lay　stretched　on　the　operating…table　of

Lake　View　Hospital；　while　three　of　the　greatest　surgeons　in　Chicago

bent　over　him。　　At　their　command；　McLean　picked　up　the　unwilling

Angel　and　carried　her　to　the　nurses　to　be　bathed；　have　her　bruises

attended；　and　to　be　put　to　bed。



In　a　place　where　it　is　difficult　to　surprise　people；　they　were

astonished　women　as　they　removed　the　Angel's　dainty　stained　and

torn　clothing；　drew　off　hose　muck…baked　to　her　limbs；　soaked　the

dried　loam　from　her　silken　hair；　and　washed　the　beautiful

scratched；　bruised；　dirt…covered　body。　　The　Angel　fell　fast　asleep

long　before　they　had　finished；　and　lay　deeply　unconscious；　while

the　fight　for　Freckles'　life　was　being　waged。



Three　days　later　she　was　the　same　Angel　as　of　old；　except　that

Freckles　was　constantly　in　her　thoughts。　　The　anxiety　and

responsibility　that　she　felt　for　his　condition　had　bred　in　her　a

touch　of　womanliness　and　authority　that　was　new。　　That　morning　she

arose　early　and　hovered　near　Freckles'　door。　　She　had　been　allowed

to　remain　with　him　constantly；　for　the　nurses　and　surgeons　had

learned；　with　his　returning　consciousness；　that　for　her　alone　would

the　active；　highly　strung；　pain…racked　sufferer　be　quiet　and　obey

orders。　　When　she　was　dropping　from　loss　of　sleep；　the　threat　that

she　would　fall　ill　had　to　be　used　to　send　her　to　bed。　　Then　by

telling　Freckles　that　the　Angel　was　asleep　and　they　would　waken　her

the　moment　he　moved；　they　were　able　to　control　him　for　a　short　time。



The　surgeon　was　with　Freckles。　　The　Angel　had　been　told　that　the

word　he　brought　that　morning　would　be　final；　so　she　curled　in　a

window　seat；　dropped　the　curtains　behind　her；　and　in　dire　anxiety；

waited　the　opening　of　the　door。



Just　as　it　unclosed；　McLean　came　hurrying　down　the　hall　and　to　the

surgeon；　but　with　one　glance　at　his　face　he　stepped　back　in　dismay；

while　the　Angel；　who　had　arisen；　sank　to　the　seat　again；　too　dazed

to　come　forward。　　The　men　faced　each　other。　　The　Angel；　with　parted

lips　and　frightened　eyes；　bent　forward　in　tense　anxiety。



〃II　thought　he　was　doing　nicely？〃　faltered　McLean。



〃He　bore　the　operation　well；〃　replied　the　surgeon；　〃and　his　wounds

are　not　necessarily　fatal。　　I　told　you　that　yesterday；　but　I　did　not

tell　you　that　something　else　probably　would　kill　him；　and　it　will。

He　need　not　die　from　the　accident；　but　he　will　not　live　the　day　out。〃



〃But　why？　　What　is　it？〃　asked　McLean　hurriedly。　　〃We　all　dearly　love

the　boy。　　We　have　millions　among　us　to　do　anything　that　money

can　accomplish。　　Why　must　he　die；　if　those　broken　bones　are　not

the　cause？〃



〃That　is　what　I　am　going　to　give　you　the　opportunity　to　tell　me；〃

replied　the　surgeon。　　〃He　need　not　die　from　the　accident；　yet　he　is

dying　as　fast　as　his　splendid　physical　condition　will　permit；　and

it　is　because　he　so　evidently　prefers　death　to　life。　　If　he　were

full　of　hope　and　ambition　to　live；　my　work　would　be　easy。　　If　all　of

you　love　him　as　you　prove　you　do；　and　there　is　unlimited　means　to

give　him　anything　he　wants；　why　should　he　desire　death？〃



〃Is　he　dying？〃　demanded　McLean。



〃He　is；〃　said　the　surgeon。　　〃He　will　not　live　this　day　out；　unless

some　strong　reaction　sets　in　at　once。　　He　is　so　low；　that　preferring

death　to　life；　nature　cannot　overcome　his　inertia。　　If　he　is　to

live；　he　must　be　made　to　desire　life。　　Now　he　undoubtedly　wishes　for

death；　and　that　it　come　quickly。〃



〃Then　he　must　die；〃　said　McLean。



His　broad　shoulders　shook　convulsively。　　His　strong　hands　opened　and

closed　mechanically。



〃Does　that　mean　that　you　know　what　he　desires　and　cannot；　or　will

not；　supply　it？〃



McLean　groaned　in　misery。



〃It　means；〃　he　said　desperately；　〃that　I　know　what　he　wants；　but　it

is　as　far　removed　from　my　power　to　help　him　as　it　would　be　to　give

him　a　star。　　The　thing　for　which　he　will　die；　he　can　never　have。〃



〃Then　you　must　prepare　for　the　end　very　shortly〃　said　the　surgeon；

turning　abruptly　away。



McLean　caught　his　arm　roughly。



〃You　look　here！〃　he　cried　in　desperation。　　〃You　say　that　as　if　I

could　do　something　if　I　would。　　I　tell　you　the　boy　is　dear　to　me

past　expression。　　I　would　do　anythingspend　any　sum。　　You　have

noticed　and　repeatedly　commented　on　the　young　girl　with　me。　　It　is

that　child　that　he　wants！　　He　worships　her　to　adoration；　and　knowing

he　can　never　be　anything　to　her；　he　prefers　death　to　life。　　In　God's

name；　what　can　I　do　about　it？〃



〃Barring　that　missing　hand；　I　never　examined　a　finer　man；〃　said　the

surgeon；　〃and　she　seemed　perfectly　devoted　to　him；　why　cannot　he

have　her？〃



〃Why？〃　echoed　McLean。　　〃Why？　　Well；　for　many　reasons！　　I　told　you　he

was　my　son。　　You　probably　knew　that　he　was　not。　　A　little　over　a　year

ago　I　never　had　seen　him。　　He　joined　one　of　my　lumber　gangs　from

the　road。　　He　is　a　stray；　left　at　one　of　your　homes　for　the　friendless

here　in　Chicago。　　When　he　grew　up　the　superintendent　bound　him　to　a

brutal　man。　　He　ran　away　and　landed　in　one　of　my　lumber　camps。　　He

has　no　name　or　knowledge　of　legal　birth。　　The　Angelwe　have　talked

of　her。　　You　see　what　she　is；　physically　and　mentally。　　She　has

ancestors　reaching　back　to　Plymouth　Rock；　and　across　the　sea　for

generations　before　that。　　She　is　an　idolized；　petted　only　child；　and

there　is　great　wealth。　　Life　holds　everything　for　her；　nothing　for　him。　

He　sees　it　more　plainly　than　anyone　else　could。　　There　is　nothing

for　the　boy　but　death；　if　it　is　the　Angel　that　is　required　to　save　him。〃



The　Angel　stood　between　them。



〃Well；　I　just　guess　not！〃　she　cried。　　〃If　Freckles　wants　me；　all　he

has　to　do　is　to　say　so；　and　he　can　have　me！〃



The　amazed　men　stepped　back；　staring　at　her。



〃That　he　will　never　say；〃　said　McLean　at　last；　〃and　you　don't

understand；　Angel。　　I　don't　know　how　you　came　here。　　I　wouldn't　have

had　you　hear　that　for　the　world；　but　since　you　have；　dear　girl；　you

must　be　told　that　it　isn't　your　friendship　or　your　kindness

Freckles　wants；　it　is　your　love。〃



The　Angel　looked　straight　into　the　great　surgeon's　eyes　with　her　clear；

steady　orbs　of　blue；　and　then　into　McLean's　with　unwavering　frankness。



〃Well；　I　do　love　him；〃　she　said　simply。



McLean's　arms　dropped　helplessly。



〃You　don't　understand；〃　he　reiterated　patiently。　　〃It　isn't　the　love

of　a　friend；　or　a　comrade；　or　a　sister；　that　Freckles　wants　from

you；　it　is　the　love　of　a　sweetheart。　　And　if　to　save　the　life　he　has

offered　for　you；　you　are　thinking　of　being　generous　and　impulsive

enough　to　sacrifice　your　futurein　the　absence　of　your　father；　it

will　become　my　plain　duty；　as　the　protector　in　whose　hands　he　has

placed　you；　to　prevent　such　rashness。　　The　very　words　you　speak；　and

the　manner　in　which　you　say　them；　prove　that　you　are　a　mere　child；

and　have　not　dreamed　what　love　is。〃



Then　the　Angel　grew　splendid。　　A　rosy　flush　swept　the　pallor　of　fear

from　her　face。　　Her　big　eyes　widened　and　dilated　with