a mountain woman(山妇)-第14章
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hackneyed stories。 Catherine Ford laughed a good deal； and she took the
three Johns into her confidence； and they laughed with her。 There was
Minerva Fitch； who insisted on coming over to tell Catherine how to raise
her children； and who was almost offended that the children wouldn't die
of sunstroke when she predicted。 And there was Bob Ackerman； who had
inflam… matory rheumatism and a Past； and who confided the latter to Mrs。
Ford while she doctored the former with homoeopathic medicines。 And
there were all the strange visionaries who came out prospecting； and quite
naturally drifted to Mrs。 Ford's cabin for a meal； and paid her in
compliments of a peculiarly Western type。 And there were the three Johns
themselves。 Catherine con… sidered it no treason to laugh at them a little。
Yet at Waite she did not laugh much。 There had come to be something
pathetic in the constant service he rendered her。 The beginning of his more
particular devotion had started in a particular way。 Malaria was very bad
in the country。 It had carried off some of the most vigorous on the prairie；
and twice that summer Catherine herself had laid out the cold forms of her
neighbors on ironing…boards； and； with the assistance of Bill Deems of
Missourah； had read the burial service over them。 She had averted several
other fatal runs of fever by the con… tents of her little medicine…case。
These remedies she dealt out with an intelligence that astonished her
patients； until it was learned that she was studying medicine at the time
that she met her late husband； and was persuaded to assume the
responsibilities of matrimony instead of those of the medi… cal profession。
One day in midsummer； when the sun was focussing itself on the raw
pine boards of her shanty； and Catherine had the shades drawn for
coolness and the water…pitcher swathed in wet rags； East Indian fashion；
she heard the familiar halloo of Waite down the road。 This greeting； which
was usually sent to her from the point where the dip… ping road lifted itself
into the first view of the house； did not contain its usual note of
cheerfulness。 Catherine； wiping her hands on her checked apron； ran out to
wave a welcome； and Waite； his squat body looking more distorted than
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A Mountain Woman
ever； his huge shoulders lurching as he walked； came fairly plung… ing
down the hill。
〃It's all up with Henderson！〃 he cried； as Catherine approached。 〃He's
got the malery； an' he says he's dyin'。〃
〃That's no sign he's dying； because he says so；〃 retorted Catherine。
〃He wants to see yeh；〃 panted Waite； mopping his big ugly head。 〃I
think he's got somethin' particular to say。〃
〃How long has he been down？〃
〃Three days； an' yeh wouldn't know 'im。〃
The children were playing on the floor at that side of the house where
it was least hot。 Catherine poured out three bowls of milk； and cut some
bread； meanwhile telling Kitty how to feed the baby。
〃She's a sensible thing； is the little daughter；〃 said Catherine； as she
tied on her sunbonnet and packed a little basket with things from the
cupboard。 She kissed the babies tenderly； flung her hoe her only weapon
of defence over her shoulder； and the two started off。
They did not speak； for their throats were soon too parched。 The
prairie was burned brown with the sun； the grasses curled as if they had
been on a gridiron。 A strong wind was blowing； but it brought no com… fort；
for it was heavy with a scorching heat。 The skin smarted and blistered
under it； and the eyes felt as if they were filled with sand。 The sun seemed
to swing but a little way above the earth； and though the sky was intensest
blue； around about this burning ball there was a halo of copper； as if the
very ether were being consumed in yellow fire。
Waite put some big burdock…leaves on Catherine's head under her
bonnet； and now and then he took a bottle of water from his pocket and
made her swallow a mouthful。 She staggered often as she walked； and the
road was black before her。 Still； it was not very long before the oddly
shaped shack of the three Johns came in sight； and as he caught a glimpse
of it； Waite quickened his footsteps。
〃What if he should be gone？〃 he said； under his breath。
〃Oh； come off！〃 said Catherine； angrily。 〃He's not gone。 You make me
tired！〃
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A Mountain Woman
But she was trembling when she stopped just before the door to
compose herself for a moment。 Indeed； she trembled so very much that
Waite put out his sprawling hand to steady her。 She gently felt the pressure
tightening； and Waite whispered in her ear：
〃I guess I'd stand by him as well as any… body； excep' you； Mis' Ford。
He's been my bes' friend。 But I guess you like him better； eh？〃
Catherine raised her finger。 She could hear Henderson's voice within；
it was pitiably querulous。 He was half sitting up in his bunk； and Gillispie
had just handed him a plate on which two cakes were swim… ming in black
molasses and pork gravy。 Henderson looked at it a moment； then over his
face came a look of utter despair。 He dropped his head in his arms and
broke into uncontrolled crying。
〃Oh； my God； Gillispie；〃 he sobbed； 〃I shall die out here in this
wretched hole！ I want my mother。 Great God； Gillispie； am I going to die
without ever seeing my mother？〃
Gillispie； maddened at this anguish； which he could in no way
alleviate； sought comfort by first lighting his pipe and then taking his
revolver out of his hip…pocket and playing with it。 Henderson continued to
shake with sobs； and Catherine； who had never before in her life heard a
man cry； leaned against the door for a moment to gather courage。 Then she
ran into the house quickly； laugh… ing as she came。 She took Henderson's
arms away from his face and laid him back on the pillow； and she stooped
over him and kissed his forehead in the most matter… of…fact way。
〃That's what your mother would do if she were here；〃 she cried；
merrily。 〃Where's the water？〃
She washed his face and hands a long time； till they were cool and his
convulsive sobs had ceased。 Then she took a slice of thin bread from her
basket and a spoonful of amber jelly。 She beat an egg into some milk and
dropped a little liquor within it； and served them together on the first clean
napkin that had been in the cabin of the three Johns since it was built
At this the great fool on the bed cried again； only quietly； tears of weak
happi… ness running from his feverish eyes。 And Catherine straightened the
disorderly cabin。 She came every day for two weeks； and by that time
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Henderson； very uncertain as to the strength of his legs； but once more
accoutred in his native pluck； sat up in a chair； for which she had made
clean soft cushions； writing a letter to his mother。 The floor was scrubbed；
the cabin had taken to itself cupboards made of
