±´¿Çµç×ÓÊé > Ó¢ÎÄÔ­Öøµç×ÓÊé > lin mclean(ÁÖ¡¤ÂõÁÖ¶÷) >

µÚ43ÕÂ

lin mclean(ÁÖ¡¤ÂõÁÖ¶÷)-µÚ43ÕÂ

С˵£º lin mclean(ÁÖ¡¤ÂõÁÖ¶÷) ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡point¡¡but¡¡one¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡£¨uncharitable¡¡though¡¡it¡¡sound£©¡¡

that¡¡this¡¡girl£»¡¡so¡¡close¡¡upon¡¡bereavement£»¡¡should¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡give¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡

a¡¡lover¡¡was¡¡distasteful¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡most¡¡extraordinary£»¡¡Lin¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡away¡¡without¡¡a¡¡word¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡

she¡¡was¡¡left¡¡as¡¡plainly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡as¡¡myself¡£¡¡After¡¡her¡¡first¡¡frank¡¡surprise¡¡

at¡¡learning¡¡of¡¡his¡¡departure£»¡¡his¡¡name¡¡did¡¡not¡¡come¡¡again¡¡from¡¡her¡¡lips£»¡¡at¡¡

any¡¡¡¡¡¡rate¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Good¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Pierce¡¡¡¡¡¡dropped¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡word¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡day¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡

opinion¡¡of¡¡men¡¡who¡¡deceive¡¡women¡¡into¡¡expecting¡¡something¡¡from¡¡them¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Let¡¡¡¡¡¡us¡¡¡¡¡¡talk¡¡¡¡¡¡straight£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡mean¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡Miss¡¡¡¡¡¡Buckner¡¡¡¡¡¡says¡¡

that£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡you¡¡say¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Why£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡poor¡¡¡¡¡¡thing¡¡¡¡¡¡says¡¡¡¡¡¡nothing£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡exclaimed¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lady¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

man¡¡to¡¡think¡¡she¡¡would¡£¡¡And¡¡I'll¡¡not¡¡say¡¡anything£»¡¡either£»¡¡for¡¡you're¡¡all¡¡just¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡same£»¡¡¡¡¡¡except¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡you're¡¡¡¡¡¡worse£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡Lin¡¡¡¡¡¡McLean¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡going¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡

know¡¡what¡¡I¡¡think¡¡of¡¡him¡¡next¡¡time¡¡we¡¡meet¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡did¡£¡¡On¡¡that¡¡occasion¡¡the¡¡kind¡¡old¡¡dame¡¡told¡¡him¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡best¡¡

boy¡¡in¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡her¡¡toes¡¡and¡¡kissed¡¡him¡£¡¡But¡¡meanwhile¡¡

we¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡why¡¡he¡¡had¡¡gone£»¡¡and¡¡Jessamine¡¡£¨though¡¡he¡¡was¡¡never¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡135¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡136¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡LIN¡¡McLEAN¡¡



subtle¡¡or¡¡cruel¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡plan¡¡such¡¡a¡¡thing£©¡¡missed¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡in¡¡her¡¡

loneliness¡¡had¡¡the¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡how¡¡much¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Though¡¡¡¡¡¡pressed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡stay¡¡¡¡¡¡indefinitely¡¡¡¡¡¡beneath¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Pierce's¡¡¡¡¡¡hospitable¡¡

roof£»¡¡the¡¡girl£»¡¡after¡¡lingering¡¡awhile£»¡¡and¡¡going¡¡often¡¡to¡¡that¡¡nook¡¡in¡¡the¡¡

hill¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡Riverside£»¡¡¡¡¡¡took¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡departure¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡restless£»¡¡¡¡¡¡yet¡¡¡¡¡¡clung¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

neighborhood¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡with¡¡a¡¡wrench¡¡that¡¡she¡¡fixed¡¡her¡¡going¡¡when¡¡I¡¡told¡¡

her¡¡of¡¡my¡¡own¡¡journey¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡railroad¡£¡¡In¡¡Buffalo¡¡she¡¡walked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡

court¡­house¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡as¡¡if¡¡bidding¡¡this¡¡site¡¡of¡¡one¡¡life¡­memory¡¡

farewell£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡the¡¡stage¡¡she¡¡watched¡¡and¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡receding¡¡town¡¡

and¡¡mountains¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡awful¡¡to¡¡be¡¡leaving¡¡him£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Excuse¡¡me¡¡for¡¡

acting¡¡so¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡With¡¡the¡¡poignant¡¡emptiness¡¡overcoming¡¡her¡¡in¡¡

new¡¡guise£»¡¡she¡¡blamed¡¡herself¡¡for¡¡not¡¡waiting¡¡in¡¡Illinois¡¡until¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡

sent¡¡to¡¡Joliet£»¡¡for¡¡then£»¡¡so¡¡near¡¡home£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡with¡¡her¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡could¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡her¡¡that¡¡Nate's¡¡death¡¡was¡¡the¡¡best¡¡end¡¡that¡¡could¡¡have¡¡

come¡¡to¡¡him£¿¡¡But¡¡I¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨You¡¡know¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡it¡¡was¡¡your¡¡fault¡£¡¡You¡¡

know¡¡you¡¡would¡¡do¡¡the¡¡same¡¡again¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡had¡¡

no¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡never¡¡knew¡¡pain£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡pursued£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡he¡¡died¡¡doing¡¡

the¡¡thing¡¡he¡¡liked¡¡best¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡happy¡¡and¡¡enjoying¡¡himself£»¡¡

and¡¡you¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡that¡£¡¡It's¡¡bad¡¡only¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¡Some¡¡would¡¡talk¡¡religion£»¡¡but¡¡

I¡¡can't¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡answered£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡can¡¡think¡¡of¡¡him¡¡so¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡be¡¡free¡£¡¡Thank¡¡you¡¡

for¡¡saying¡¡that¡¡about¡¡religion¡£¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡it's¡¡wicked¡¡not¡¡to¡¡want¡¡it¡¡to¡¡

hate¡¡it¡¡sometimes£¿¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡it's¡¡not¡£¡¡Thank¡¡you£»¡¡truly¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡During¡¡our¡¡journey¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡summoned¡¡her¡¡cheerfulness£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡all¡¡that¡¡she¡¡

said¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡wholesome¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡robust£»¡¡¡¡¡¡coarse¡¡¡¡¡¡soundness¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡fibre£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

wounds¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡grief¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡heal¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡leave¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡sicknessperhaps¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡higher¡¡

sensitiveness¡¡to¡¡human¡¡sufferings¡¡than¡¡her¡¡broad¡¡native¡¡kindness¡¡already¡¡

held¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡touched¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡religion¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡again£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡views¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡shocked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡

Kentucky¡¡¡¡notions£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡told¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡Kentucky¡¡¡¡locked¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡religion¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡iron¡¡

cage¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡called¡¡¡¡¡¡Sunday£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡savage¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fond¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡biting¡¡

strangers¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡run¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡vein¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡deep¡­seated¡¡

prejudice¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡character¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡fine¡¡¡¡¡¡wire¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡short£»¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡

disagreements¡¡¡¡¡¡brought¡¡¡¡¡¡us¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡terms¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡familiar¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡reached¡¡

hitherto¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡last¡¡¡¡¡¡Separ¡¡¡¡¡¡came£»¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡I£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡¡¡¡¡stood¡¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡136¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡137¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡LIN¡¡McLEAN¡¡



McLean¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡waiting£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡suddenness¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡

remember¡¡herself£»¡¡but¡¡stepped¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stage¡¡with¡¡such¡¡a¡¡smile¡¡that¡¡the¡¡

ardent¡¡cow¡­puncher¡¡flushed¡¡and¡¡beamed¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨So¡¡I¡¡went¡¡away¡¡without¡¡telling¡¡you¡¡goodbye£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡began£»¡¡not¡¡wisely¡£¡¡

¡¨Mrs¡£¡¡Pierce¡¡has¡¡been¡¡circulating¡¡war¡¡talk¡¡about¡¡me£»¡¡you¡¡bet£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡maiden¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡Jessamine¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡spoke¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡instantly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Indeed£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡

special¡¡obligation¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡call¡¡on¡¡me£»¡¡or¡¡her¡¡to¡¡notice¡¡if¡¡you¡¡didn't¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Lin£»¡¡crestfallen¡£¡¡¡¨Yu'¡¡sure¡¡don't¡¡mean¡¡that£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡compelled¡¡to¡¡melt¡£¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡neighbor£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡

mean¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Neighbor£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡again£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Neighbor£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡much¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡pleased¡£¡¡

¡¨Now¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡sound¡¡¡¡¡¡kind¡¡¡¡¡¡o'¡¡¡¡¡¡pleasant¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡you'd¡¡¡¡¡¡call¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡steady¡¡

thing¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡would¡¡sound¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡odd£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡McLean£»¡¡thank¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Blamed¡¡if¡¡I¡¡understand¡¡her£»¡¨¡¡cried¡¡¡¡¡¡Lin¡£¡¡¡¨Blamed¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡do¡£¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡you're¡¡

going¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡me¡¡sure¡¡quick£¡¡¨¡¡He¡¡rushed¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡station£»¡¡spoke¡¡

sharply¡¡to¡¡the¡¡agent£»¡¡and¡¡returned¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡tremor¡¡of¡¡elation¡¡that¡¡had¡¡

pushed¡¡him¡¡to¡¡forwardness¡¡with¡¡his¡¡girl£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡near¡¡

bursting¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I've¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡here¡¡¡¡¡¡three¡¡¡¡¡¡days¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡meet¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡There's¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡letter£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

expect¡¡I¡¡know¡¡what's¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡Tubercle¡¡has¡¡got¡¡it¡¡here¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡took¡¡it¡¡from¡¡the¡¡

less¡¡¡¡¡¡hasty¡¡¡¡¡¡agent¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡thrust¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡Jessamine's¡¡¡¡¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡¡¡¡¡needn't¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡fear¡£¡¡

Please¡¡¡¡¡¡open¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it's¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡news¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡time£»¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡bet£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡watched¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡

hand¡¡as¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡of¡¡eight¡¡watches¡¡the¡¡string¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Christmas¡¡parcel¡¡he¡¡wishes¡¡

his¡¡father¡¡would¡¡cut¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡so¡¡carefully¡¡untie¡£¡¡¡¨Open¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡urged¡¡again¡£¡¡

¡¨Keeping¡¡me¡¡waiting¡¡this¡¡way£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡world¡¡¡¡¡¡does¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡mean£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡cried¡¡¡¡¡¡Jessamine£»¡¡¡¡¡¡stopping¡¡

short¡¡at¡¡the¡¡first¡¡sentence¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Read£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Lin¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You've¡¡done¡¡this£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡exclaimed¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Read£»¡¡read£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡read£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡big¡¡¡¡¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡official¡¡¡¡¡¡letter¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡railroad£»¡¡

written¡¡by¡¡the¡¡division¡¡superintendent¡¡at¡¡Edgeford¡£¡¡It¡¡hoped¡¡Miss¡¡Buckner¡¡

might¡¡feel¡¡like¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡position¡¡of¡¡agent¡¡at¡¡Separ¡£¡¡If¡¡she¡¡was¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡

consider¡¡this£»¡¡would¡¡she¡¡stop¡¡over¡¡at¡¡Edgeford£»¡¡on¡¡her¡¡way¡¡east£»¡¡and¡¡talk¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡137¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡138¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡LIN¡¡McLEAN¡¡



with¡¡the¡¡superintendent£¿¡¡In¡¡case¡¡the¡¡duties¡¡were¡¡more¡¡than¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡

accustomed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Louisville¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Nashville£»¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡continue¡¡¡¡¡¡east¡¡

with¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡only¡¡a¡¡day¡£¡¡The¡¡superintendent¡¡believed¡¡the¡¡salary¡¡could¡¡

be¡¡arranged¡¡satisfactorily¡£¡¡Enclosed¡¡please¡¡to¡¡find¡¡an¡¡order¡¡for¡¡a¡¡free¡¡ride¡¡

to¡¡Edgeford¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Jessamine¡¡turned¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡wondering¡¡¡¡¡¡eyes¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡Lin¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡this£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡

repeated£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡time¡¡with¡¡extraordinary¡¡quietness¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡I¡¡am¡¡plumb¡¡proud¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡rich¡¡laugh¡¡of¡¡pleasure¡¡and¡¡amusement£»¡¡a¡¡long¡¡laugh£»¡¡and¡¡

stopped¡£¡¡¡¨Did¡¡anybody¡¡ever£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡can¡¡call¡¡each¡¡other¡¡neighbors¡¡now£»¡¡yu'¡¡see£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡cow¡­puncher¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh¡¡no£¡¡¡oh¡¡no£¡¡¨¡¡Jessamine¡¡declared¡£¡¡¡¨Though¡¡how¡¡am¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡to¡¡thank¡¡

you£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨By¡¡not¡¡argufying£»¡¨¡¡Lin¡¡answered¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh¡¡no£»¡¡no£¡¡¡I¡¡can¡¡do¡¡no¡¡such¡¡thing¡£¡¡Don't¡¡you¡¡see¡¡I¡¡can't£¿¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡you¡¡

are¡¡crazy¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I've¡¡been¡¡waiting¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡yu'¡¡say¡¡that£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡complacent¡¡McLean¡£¡¡

¡¨I'm¡¡not¡¡argufying¡£¡¡We'll¡¡eat¡¡supper¡¡now¡£¡¡The¡¡east¡­bound¡¡is¡¡due¡¡in¡¡an¡¡hour£»¡¡

and¡¡I¡¡expect¡¡you'll¡¡be¡¡wanting¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡I¡¡expect¡¡I'll¡¡go£»¡¡too£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡girl¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡be¡¡plumb¡¡proud¡¡to¡¡have¡¡yu'£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡cow¡­puncher¡¡assented¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡¡¡¡¡going¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡get¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡ticket¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Chicago¡¡¡¡¡¡right¡¡¡¡¡¡now£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡J

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨1£© ²È£¨1£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ