a girl of the limberlost-第51章

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she　said。　　〃I　have　met　your　Uncle's　family　frequently

this　winter。　　I've　heard　your　Aunt　Anna　say　that　she

didn't　at　all　like　Miss　Carr；　and　that　she　and　all　your

family　secretly　hoped　that　something　would　happen　to

prevent　your　marrying　her。　　That　chimes　right　in　with

your　saying　that　your　father　sent　you　here。　　I　guess　you

better　speak　your　piece。〃



Philip　gave　his　version　of　the　previous　night。



〃Do　you　believe　me？〃　he　finished。



〃Yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。



〃May　I　stay？〃



〃Oh；　it　looks　all　right　for　you；　but　what　about　her？〃



〃Nothing；　so　far　as　I　am　concerned。　　Her　plans　were　all

made　to　start　to　Europe　to…day。　　I　suspect　she　is　on　the

way　by　this　time。　　Elnora　is　very　sensible；　Mrs。　Comstock。　

Hadn't　you　better　let　her　decide　this？〃



〃The　final　decision　rests　with　her；　of　course；〃　admitted

Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃But　look　you　one　thing！　　She's　all　I　have。　

As　Solomon　says；　‘she　is　the　one　child；　the　only　child

of　her　mother。'　　I've　suffered　enough　in　this　world

that　I　fight　against　any　suffering　which　threatens　her。　

So　far　as　I　know　you've　always　been　a　man；　and　you

may　stay。　　But　if　you　bring　tears　and　heartache　to　her；

don't　have　the　assurance　to　think　I'll　bear　it　tamely。　

I'll　get　right　up　and　fight　like　a　catamount；　if　things

go　wrong　for　Elnora！〃



〃I　have　no　doubt　but　you　will；〃　replied　Philip；　〃and　I

don't　blame　you　in　the　least　if　you　do。　　I　have　the　utmost

devotion　to　offer　Elnora；　a　good　home；　fair　social　position；

and　my　family　will　love　her　dearly。　　Think　it　over。　　I　know

it　is　sudden；　but　my　father　advised　it。〃



〃Yes；　I　reckon　he　did！〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock　dryly。　　〃I　guess

instead　of　me　being　the　catamount；　you　had　the　genuine

article　up　in　Chicago；　masquerading　in　peacock　feathers；

and　posing　as　a　fine　lady；　until　her　time　came　to　scratch。　

Human　nature　seems　to　be　the　same　the　world　over。　　But　I'd

give　a　pretty　to　know　that　secret　thing　you　say　you　don't；

that　set　her　raving　over　your　just　catching　a　moth　for　Elnora。　

You　might　get　that　crock　of　strawberries　in　the　spring　house。〃



They　prepared　and　ate　supper。　　Afterward　they　sat　in

the　arbour　and　talked；　or　Elnora　played　until　time　for

Philip　to　go。



〃Will　you　walk　to　the　gate　with　me？〃　he　asked　Elnora

as　he　arose。



〃Not　to…night；〃　she　answered　lightly。　　〃Come　early　in

the　morning　if　you　like；　and　we　will　go　over　to　Sleepy

Snake　Creek　and　hunt　moths　and　gather　dandelions　for　dinner。〃



Philip　leaned　toward　her。　　〃May　I　tell　you　to…morrow

why　I　came？〃　he　asked。



〃I　think　not；〃　replied　Elnora。　　〃The　fact　is；　I　don't

care　why　you　came。　　It　is　enough　for　me　that　we　are　your

very　good　friends；　and　that　in　trouble；　you　have　found　us

a　refuge。　　I　fancy　we　had　better　live　a　week　or　two　before

you　say　anything。　　There　is　a　possibility　that　what　you

have　to　say　may　change　in　that　length　of　time。



〃It　will　not　change　one　iota！〃　cried　Philip。



〃Then　it　will　have　the　grace　of　that　much　age　to　give　it

some　small　touch　of　flavour；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃Come　early

in　the　morning。〃



She　lifted　the　violin　and　began　to　play。



〃Well　bless　my　soul！〃　ejaculated　the　astounded　Mrs。　Comstock。　

〃To　think　I　was　worrying　for　fear　you　couldn't　take　care

of　yourself！〃



Elnora　laughed　while　she　played。



〃Shall　I　tell　you　what　he　said？〃



〃Nope！　　I　don't　want　to　hear　it！〃　said　Elnora。　　〃He　is

only　six　hours　from　Chicago。　　I'll　give　her　a　week　to

find　him　and　fix　it　up；　if　he　stays　that　long。　　If　she　doesn't

put　in　an　appearance　then；　he　can　tell　me　what　he　wants

to　say；　and　I'll　take　my　time　to　think　it　over。　　Time　in

plenty；　too！　　There　are　three　of　us　in　this；　and　one　must

be　left　with　a　sore　heart　for　life。　　If　the　decision　rests

with　me　I　propose　to　be　very　sure　that　it　is　the　one　who

deserves　such　hard　luck。〃



The　next　morning　Philip　came　early；　dressed　in　the　outing

clothing　he　had　worn　the　previous　summer；　and　aside

from　a　slight　paleness　seemed　very　much　the　same　as　when

he　left。　　Elnora　met　him　on　the　old　footing；　and　for　a

week　life　went　on　exactly　as　it　had　the　previous　summer。　

Mrs。　Comstock　made　mental　notes　and　watched　in　silence。　

She　could　see　that　Elnora　was　on　a　strain；　though　she

hoped　Philip　would　not。　　The　girl　grew　restless　as　the

week　drew　to　a　close。　　Once　when　the　gate　clicked　she

suddenly　lost　colour　and　moved　nervously。　　Billy　came　down

the　walk。



Philip　leaned　toward　Mrs。　Comstock　and　said：　　〃I　am

expressly　forbidden　to　speak　to　Elnora　as　I　would　like。　

Would　you　mind　telling　her　for　me　that　I　had　a　letter　from

my　father　this　morning　saying　that　Miss　Carr　is　on　her　way

to　Europe　for　the　summer？〃



〃Elnora；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock　promptly；　〃I　have　just

heard　that　Carr　woman　is　on　her　way　to　Europe；　and　I

wish　to　my　gracious　stars　she'd　stay　there！〃



Philip　Ammon　shouted；　but　Elnora　arose　hastily　and

went　to　meet　Billy。　　They　came　into　the　arbour　together

and　after　speaking　to　Mrs。　Comstock　and　Philip；　Billy

said：　　〃Uncle　Wesley　and　I　found　something　funny；　and

we　thought　you'd　like　to　see。〃



〃I　don't　know　what　I　should　do　without　you　and　Uncle

Wesley　to　help　me；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃What　have　you　found　now？〃



〃Something　I　couldn't　bring。　　You　have　to　come　to　it。　

I　tried　to　get　one　and　I　killed　it。　　They　are　a　kind　of

insecty　things；　and　they　got　a　long　tail　that　is　three

fine　hairs。　　They　stick　those　hairs　right　into　the　hard

bark　of　trees；　and　if　you　pull；　the　hairs　stay　fast　and

it　kills　the　bug。〃



〃We　will　come　at　once；〃　laughed　Elnora。　　〃I　know

what　they　are；　and　I　can　use　some　in　my　work。〃



〃Billy；　have　you　been　crying？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Comstock。



Billy　lifted　a　chastened　face。　　〃Yes；　ma'am；〃　he　replied。　

〃This　has　been　the　worst　day。〃



〃What's　the　matter　with　the　day？〃



〃The　day　is　all　right；〃　admitted　Billy。　　〃I　mean　every

single　thing　has　gone　wrong　with　me。〃



〃Now　that　is　too　bad！〃　sympathized　Mrs。　Comstock。



〃Began　early　this　morning；〃　said　Billy。　　〃All　Snap's

fault；　too。〃



〃What　has　poor　Snap　been　doing？〃　demanded　Mrs。

Comstock；　her　eyes　beginning　to　twinkle。



〃Digging　for　woodchucks；　like　he　always　does。　　He　gets

up　at　two　o'clock　to　dig　for　them。　　He　was　coming

in　from　the　woods　all　tired　and　covered　thick　with　dirt。　

I　was　going　to　the　barn　with　the　pail　of　water　for　Uncle

Wesley　to　use　in　milking。　　I　had　to　set　down　the　pail　to

shut　the　gate　so　the　chickens　wouldn't　get　into　the　flower

beds；　and　old　Snap　stuck　his　dirty　nose　into　the　water

and　began　to　lap　it　down。　　I　knew　Uncle　Wesley　wouldn't

use　that；　so　I　had　to　go　'way　back　to　the　cistern　for　more；

and　it　pumps　awful　hard。　　Made　me　mad；　so　I　threw　the

water　on　Snap。〃



〃Well；　what　of　it？〃



〃Nothing；　if　he'd　stood　still。　　But　it　scared　him　awful；

and　when　he's　afraid　he　goes　a…humping　for　Aunt　Margaret。　

When　he　got　right　up　against　her　he　stiffened

out　and　gave　a　big　shake。　　You　oughter　seen　the　nice

blue　dress　she　had　put　on　to　go　to　Onabasha！〃



Mrs。　Comstock　and　Philip　laughed；　but　Elnora　put

her　arms　around　the　boy。　　〃Oh　Billy！〃　she　cried。　

〃That　was　too　bad！〃



〃She　got　up　early　and　ironed　that　dress　to　wear　because

it　was　cool。　　Then；　when　it　was　all　dirty；　she

wouldn't　go；　and　she　wanted　to　real　bad。〃　Billy　wiped

his　eyes。　　〃That　ain't　all；　either；〃　he　added。



〃We'd　like　to　know　about　it；　Billy；〃　suggested　Mrs。

Comstock；　struggling　with　her　face。



〃Cos　she　couldn't　go　to　the　city；　she's　most　worked

herself　to　death。　　She's　done　all　the　dirty；　hard　jobs　she

could　find。　　She's　fixing　her　grape　juice　now。〃



〃Sure！〃　cried　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃When　a　woman　is

disappointed　she　always　works　like　a　dog　to　gain　sympathy！〃



〃Well；　Uncle　Wesley　and　I　are　sympathizing　all　we

know　how；　without　her　working　so。　　I've　squeezed　until

I　almost　busted　to　get　the　juice　out　from　the　seeds

and　skins。　　That's　the　hard　part。　　Now；　she　has　to　strain

it　through　white　flannel　and　seal　it　in　bottles；　and　it's

good　for　sick　folks。　　Most　wish　I'd　get　sick　myself；　so

I　could　have　a　glass。　　It's　so　good！〃



Elnora　glanced　swiftly　at　her　mother。　



〃I　worked　so　hard；〃　continued　Billy；　〃that　she　said　if

I　would　throw　the　leavings　in　the　woods；　then　I　could　come

after　you　to　see　about　the　bugs。　　Do　you　want　to　go？〃



〃We　will　all　go；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃I　am　mightily

interested　in　those　bugs　myself。〃



From　afar　commotion　could　be　seen　at　the　Sinton　home。

Wesley　and　Margaret　were　running　around　wildly　and

peculiar　sounds　filled　the　air。



〃What's　the　trouble？〃　asked　Philip；　hurrying　to　Wesley。



〃Cholera！〃　groaned　Sinton。　　〃My　hogs　are　dying　like　flies。〃



Margaret　was　softly　crying。　　〃Wesley；　can't　I　fix

something　hot？　　Can't　we　do　anything？　　It　means　several

hundred　dollars　and　our　winter　meat。〃



〃I　never　saw　stock　taken　so　suddenly　and　so　hard；〃

said　Wesley。　　〃I　have　'phoned　for　the　veterinary　to　come

as　soon　as　he　can　get　here。〃



All　of　them　hurried　to　the　feeding　pen　into　which　the

pigs　seemed　to　be　gathering　from　the　woods。　　Among　the

common　stock　were　big　white　beasts　of　pedigree　which

were　Wesley's　pride　at　county　fairs。　　Several　of　these

rolled　on　their　backs；　pawing　the　air　feebly　and　emitting

little　squeaks。　　A　huge　Berkshire　sat　on　his　haunches；

slowly　shaking　his　head；　the　water　dropping　from　his

eyes；　until　he；　too；　rolled　over　with　faint　grunts。　　A　pair

crossing　the　yard　on　wavering　legs　collided；　and　attacked

each　other　in　anger；　only　to　fall；　so　weak　they　scarcely

could　squeal。　　A　fine　snowy　Plymouth　Rock　rooster；　after

several　attempts；　flew　to　the　fence；　balanced　with　great

effort；　wildly　flapped　his　wings　and　started　a　guttural　crow；

but　fell　sprawling　among　the　pigs；　too　helpless　to　stand。



〃Did　you　ever　see　such　a　dreadful　sight？〃　sobbed　Margaret。



Billy　climbed　on　the　fence；　took　one　long　look　and

turned　an　astounded　face　to　Wesley。



〃Why　them　pigs　is　drunk！〃　he　cried。　　〃They　act　just

like　my　pa！〃



Wesley　turned　to　Margaret。



〃Where　did　you　put　the　leavings　from　that　grape　juice？〃

he　demanded。



〃I　sent　Billy　to　throw　it　in　the　woods。〃



〃Billy〃　began　Wesley。



〃Threw　it　just　where　she　told　me　to；〃　cried　Billy。　

But　some　of　the　pigs　came　by　there　coming　into　the

pen；　and　some　were　close　in　the　fence　corners。〃



〃Did　they　eat　it？〃　demanded　Wesley。



〃They　just　chanked　into　it；〃　replied　Billy　graphically。　

〃They　pushed；　and　squealed；　and　fought　over　it。　

You　couldn't　blame　'em！　　It　was　the　best　stuff　I　ever　tasted！〃



〃Margaret；〃　said　Wesley；　〃run　'phone　that　doctor　he

won't　be　needed。　　Billy；　take　Elnora　and　Mr。　Ammon　to

see　the　bugs。　　Katharine；　suppose　you　help　me　a　minute。〃



Wesley　took　the　clothes　basket　from　the　back　porch　and

started　in　the　direction　of　the　cellar。　　Margaret　returned

from　the　telephone。



〃I　just　caught　him；〃　she　said。