stories of a western town-第17章

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this　pattern　back　to　your　mother。　　I　am　so　very　much　obliged。　I　don't　know　how　I　WOULD　git　along　without　your　mother；　Tilly。〃　〃I'll　give　the　pattern　to　her；〃　said　Tilly；　and　she　pursued　her　way。　Not　very　far。　　A　stout　woman　and　a　thin　young　man；　with　long；　wavy；　red　hair；　awaited　her　on　the　landing。　The　woman　held　a　plate　of　cake　which　she　thrust　at　Tilly　the　instant　they　were　on　the　same　level；　saying：　　〃The　cake　was　just　splendid；　tell　your　mother；　it's　a　lovely　recipe；　and　will　you　tell　her　to　take　this；　and　see　how　well　I　succeeded？〃　〃AndahMiss　Louder；〃　said　the　man；　as　the　stout　woman　rustled　away；　〃here　are　some　_Banner　of　Lights；_　I　think　she'd　be　interested　in　some　of　the　articles　on　the　true　principles　of　the　inspirational　faith　〃　Tilly　placed　the　bundle　of　newspapers　at　the　base　of　her　load〃andand；　I　wish　you'd　tell　your　dear　mother　that；　under　the　angels；　her　mustard　plaster　really　saved　my　life。〃　〃I'll　tell　her；〃　said　Tilly。　She　had　advanced　a　little　space　before　a　young　girl　in　a　bright　blue　silk　gown　flung　a　radiant　presence　between　her　and　the　door。　〃Oh；　Miss　Tilly；〃　she　murmured；　blushing；　〃will　you　just　give　your　mother　this？it'sit's　Jim's　photograph。　You　tell　her　it's　ALL　right；　and　SHE　was　exactly　right；　and　_I_　was　wrong。　　She'll　understand。〃　Tilly；　with　a　look　of　resignation；　accepted　a　stiff　package　done　up　in　white　tissue　paper。　　She　had　now　only　three　steps　to　take：　she　took　two；　only　two；　for〃Miss　Tilly；　PLEASE！〃　a　voice　pealed　around　the　corner；　while　a　flushed　and　breathless　young　woman；　with　a　large　baby　toppling　over　her　lean　shoulder；　staggered　into　view。　　〃My！〃　she　panted；　〃ain't　it　tiresome　lugging　a　child！　I　missed　the　car；　of　course；　coming　home　from　ma's。　Oh；　say；　Tilly；　your　mother　was　so　good；　she　said　she'd　tend　Blossom　next　time　I　went　to　the　doctor's；　and　〃　〃I'll　take　the　baby；〃　said　Tilly。　　She　hoisted　the　infant　on　to　her　own　shoulder　with　her　right　arm。　　〃Perhaps　you'll　be　so　kind's　to　turn　the　handle　of　the　door；〃　said　she　in　a　slightly　caustic　tone；　〃as　I　haven't　got　any　hands　left。　Please　shut　it；　too。〃　As　the　young　mother　opened　the　door；　Tilly　entered　the　parlor。　For　a　second　she　stood　and　stared　grimly　about　her。　　The　furniture　of　the　room　was　old…fashioned　but　in　the　best　repair。　　There　was　a　cabinet　organ　in　one　corner。　　A　crayon　portrait　of　Tilly's　father　（killed　in　the　civil　war）　glared　out　of　a　florid　gilt　frame。　Perhaps　it　was　the　fault　of　the　portrait；　but　he　had　a　peevish　frown。　There　were　two　other　portraits　of　him；　large　ghastly　gray　tintypes　in　oval　frames　of　rosewood；　obscurely　suggesting　coffins。　In　these　he　looked　distinctly　sullen。　　He　was　represented　in　uniform　（being　a　lieutenant　of　volunteers）；　and　the　artist　had　conscientiously　gilded　his　buttons　until；　as　Mrs。　Louder　was　wont　to　observe；　〃It　most　made　you　want　to　cut　them　off　with　the　scissors。〃　There　were　other　tintypes　and　a　flock　of　photographs　in　the　room。　What　Mrs。　Louder　named　〃a　throw〃　decorated　each　framed　picture　and　each　chair。　　The　largest　arm…chair　was　drawn　up　to　a　table　covered　with　books　and　magazines：　　in　the　chair　sat　Mrs。　Louder；　reading。　At　Tilly's　entrance　she　started　and　turned　her　head；　and　then　one　could　see　that　the　tears　were　streaming　down　her　cheeks。　〃Now；　MOTHER！〃　exploded　Tilly。　　Kicking　the　door　open；　she　marched　into　the　bed…chamber。　An　indignant　sweep　of　one　arm　sent　the　miscellany　of　gifts　into　a　rocking…chair；　an　indignant　curve　of　the　other　landed　the　baby　on　the　bed。　Tilly　turned　on　her　mother。　　〃Now；　mother；　what　did　you　promise　HUSH！　will　you？〃　　（The　latter　part　of　the　sentence　a　fierce　〃ASIDE〃　to　the　infant　on　the　bed。）　　In　a　second　Mrs。　Louder's　arms　were　encircling　him；　and　she　was　soothing　him　on　her　broad　shoulder；　where　I　know　not　how　many　babies　have　found　comfort。　Jane　Louder　was　a　tall　womantall　and　portly。　She　had　a　massive　repose　about　her；　a　kind　of　soft　dignity；　and　a　stranger　would　not　guess　how　tender　was　her　heart。　Deprecatingly　she　looked　up　at　her　only　child；　standing　in　judgment　over　her。　　Her　eyes　were　fine　still；　though　they　had　sparkled　and　wept　for　more　than　half　a　century。　　They　were　not　gray；　like　Tilly's；　but　a　deep　violet；　with　black　eyelashes　and　eyebrows。　Black；　once；　had　been　the　hair　under　the　widow's　cap；　now　streaked　with　silver；　but　Jane　Louder's　skin　was　fresh　and　daintily　tinted　like　her　daughter's；　for　all　its　fine　wrinkles。　Her　voice　when　she　spoke　was　mellow　and　slow；　with　a　nervous　vibration　of　apology。　　〃Never　mind；　dear；〃　she　said；　〃I　was　just　reading　'bout　the　Russians。〃　〃I　KNEW　it！　　You　promised　me　you　wouldn't　cry　about　the　Russians　any　more。〃　〃I　know；　Tilly；　but　Alma　Brown　lent　this　to　me；　herself。　There's　a　beautiful　article　in　it　about　'The　Horrors　of　Hunger。'　It　would　make　your　heart　ache！　　I　wish　you　would　read　it；　Tilly。〃　〃No；　thank　you。　　I　don't　care　to　have　my　heart　ache。　I'm　not　going　to　read　any　more　horrors　about　the　Russians；　or　hear　them　either；　if　I　can　help　it。　　I　have　to　write　Mr。　Lossing's　letters　about　them；　and　that's　enough。　I've　given　all　I　can　afford；　and　you've　given　more　than　you　can　afford；　and　I　helped　get　up　the　subscription　at　the　shops。　I've　done　all　I　could；　and　now　I　ain't　going　to　have　my　feelings　harrowed　up　any　more；　when　it　won't　do　me　nor　the　Russians　a　mite　of　good。〃　〃But　I　cayn't　HELP　it；　Tilly。　　I　cayn't　take　any　comfort　in　my　meals；　thinking　of　that　awful　black　bread　the　poor　children　starve　rather　than　eat；　and；　Tilly；　they　ain't　so　dirty　as　some　folks　think！　I　read　in　a　magazine　how　they　have　GOT　to　bathe　twice　a　week　by　their　religion；　and　there's　a　bath…house　in　every　village。　Tilly；　do　you　know　how　much　money　they've　raised　here？〃　〃Over　three　thousand。　　This　town　is　the　greatest　town　for　giving　give　to　the　cholera　down　South；　give　to　Johnstown；　give　to　Grinnell；　give　to　cyclones；　give　to　fires。　_The　Freeman_　always　starts　up　a　subscription；　and　Mr。　Bayard　runs　the　thing；　and　Mr。　Lossing　always　gives。　　Mother；　I　tell　you　HE　makes　them　hustle　when　he　takes　hold。　　He's　the　chairman　here；　and　he　has　township　chairmen　appointed　for　every　township。　He's　so　popular　they　start　in　to　oblige　him；　and　then；　someway；　he　makes　them　all　interested。　　I　must　tell　you　of　a　funny　letter　he　had　to…day　from　a　Captain　Ferguson；　out　at　Baxter。　He's　a　rich　farmer　with　lots　of　influence　and　a　great　worker；　Mr。　Lossing　says。　　But　this　is　'most　word　for　word　what　he　wrote：　'Dear　Sir：　　I　am　sorry　for　the　Russians；　but　my　wife　is　down　with　the　la　grippe；　and　I　can't　get　a　hired　girl；　so　I　have　to　stay　with　her。　　If　you'll　get　me　a　hired　girl；　I'll　get　you　a　lot　of　money　for　the　Russians。'〃　〃Did　he　git　a　girl？　　I　mean　Mr。　Lossing。〃　〃No；　ma'am。　He　said　he'd　try　if　it　was　the　city；　but　it　was　easier　finding　gold…mines　than　girls　that　would　go　into　the　country。　See　here；　I'm　forgetting　your　presents。　　Mother；　you　look　real　dragged　andqueer！〃　〃It's　nothing；　jist　a　thought　kinder　struck　me　'bout'bout　that　girl。〃　Tilly　was　sorting　out　the　parcels　and　explaining　them；　at　the　end　of　her　task　her　mind　harked　back　to　an　old　grievance。　〃Mother；〃　said　she；　〃I've　been　thinking　for　a　long　time；　and　I've　made　up　my　mind。〃　〃Yes；　dearie。〃　　Mrs。　Louder's　eyes　grew　troubled。　She　knew　something　of　the　quality　of　Tilly's　mind；　which　resembled　her　father's　in　a　peculiar　immobility。　Once　let　her　decision　run　into　any　mould　（be　it　whatsoever　it　might）；　and　let　it　stiffen；　there　was　no　chance；　any　more　than　with　other　iron　things；　of　its　bending。　〃Positively　I　could　hardly　get　up　the　stairs　today；〃　said　Tilly　she　was　putting　her　jacket　and　hat　away　in　her　orderly　fashion；　of　necessity　her　back　was　to　Mrs。　Louder〃there　was　such　a　raft　of　people　wanting　to　send　stuff　and　messages　to　you。　You　are　just　working　yourself　to　death；　and；　mother；　I　am　convinced　we　have　_got　to　move！_〃　Mrs。　Louder　dropped　into　a　chair　and　gasped。　　The　baby；　who　had　fallen　asleep；　stirred　uneasily。　　It　was　not　a　pretty　child；　its　face　was　heavy；　its　little　cheeks　were　roughened　by　the　wind；　its　lower　lip　sagged；　its　chin　creased　into　the　semblance　of　a　fat　old　man's。　But　Jane　Louder　gazed　down　on　it　with　infinite　compassion。　She　stroked　its　head　as　she　spoke。　〃Tilly；〃　said　she；　〃I've　been　in　this　block；　Mrs。　Carleton　and　me；　ever　since　it　was　built；　and；　some　way；　between