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第19章

stories of a western town-第19章

小说: stories of a western town 字数: 每页4000字

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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 Minnie Higbee of her mother's safety。  She described her reception to Harry Lossing and Alma; later。  〃She really seemed kinder mad at me;〃 says Tilly; 〃seemed to think I was interfering somehow。 And she hadn't any business to feel that way; for SHE didn't know how I'd fooled her brother with that bird…cage。 I guess the poor old lady daren't call her soul her own。 I'd hate to have my mother that wayso 'fraid of me。 MY mother shall go where she pleases; and stay where she pleases; and DO as she pleases。〃 〃That makes me think;〃 says Alma; 〃I heard you were going to move。〃 〃Yes; we are。  Mother is working too hard。  She knows everybody in the building; and they call on her all the time; and I think the easiest way out is just to move。〃 Alma and Mr。 Lossing exchanged glances。  There is an Arabian legend of an angel whose trade it is to decipher the language of faces。 This angel must have perceived that Alma's eyes said; with the courage of a second in a duel; 〃Go on; now is the time!〃 and that Harry's answered; with masculine pusillanimity; 〃I don't like to!〃 But he spoke。  〃Very likely your mother does sometimes work too hard;〃 said he。  〃But don't you think it would be harder for her not to work? Why; she must have been in the building ever since my father bought it; and she's been a janitor and a fire inspector and a doctor and a ministering angel combined!  That is why we never raised the rent to you when we improved the building; and raised it on the others。 My father told me your mother was the best paying tenant he ever had。 And don't you remember how; when I used to come with him; when I was a little boy; she used to take me in her room while he went the rounds?  She was always doing good to everybody; the same way。 She has a heart as big as the Mississippi; and I assure you; Miss Louder; you won't make her happy; but miserable; if you try to dam up its channel。  She has often told me that she loved the building and all the people in it。  They all love her。 I HOPE; Miss Louder; you'll think of those things b

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