diff options
Diffstat (limited to '24-h/24-h.htm')
| -rw-r--r-- | 24-h/24-h.htm | 6132 |
1 files changed, 2943 insertions, 3189 deletions
diff --git a/24-h/24-h.htm b/24-h/24-h.htm index 5fac4a9..dbc1814 100644 --- a/24-h/24-h.htm +++ b/24-h/24-h.htm @@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> -<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of O Pioneers!, by Willa Cather</title> - +<title>O Pioneers! | Project Gutenberg</title> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> body { margin-left: 20%; @@ -69,14 +69,14 @@ a:hover {color:red} </style> </head> <body> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK O PIONEERS! ***</div> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 24 ***</div> <h1>O PIONEERS!</h1> <h2 class="no-break">by Willa Sibert Cather</h2> <p class="letter"> -“Those fields, colored by various grain!” +“Those fields, colored by various grain!” </p> <p class="letter"> @@ -278,14 +278,14 @@ Out of the earthy dusk.<br/> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_PART" id="link2H_PART"></a>PART I.<br/> +<h2><a name="link2H_PART"></a>PART I.<br/> The Wild Land</h2> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"></a>I</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0002"></a>I</h2> <p> One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a @@ -297,19 +297,19 @@ been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain. None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them. The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red -railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the -town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end. On either side of -this road straggled two uneven rows of wooden buildings; the general -merchandise stores, the two banks, the drug store, the feed store, the saloon, -the post-office. The board sidewalks were gray with trampled snow, but at two -o’clock in the afternoon the shopkeepers, having come back from dinner, -were keeping well behind their frosty windows. The children were all in school, -and there was nobody abroad in the streets but a few rough-looking countrymen -in coarse overcoats, with their long caps pulled down to their noses. Some of -them had brought their wives to town, and now and then a red or a plaid shawl -flashed out of one store into the shelter of another. At the hitch-bars along -the street a few heavy work-horses, harnessed to farm wagons, shivered under -their blankets. About the station everything was quiet, for there would not be +railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the +lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end. On either side of this road +straggled two uneven rows of wooden buildings; the general merchandise stores, +the two banks, the drug store, the feed store, the saloon, the post-office. The +board sidewalks were gray with trampled snow, but at two o’clock in the +afternoon the shopkeepers, having come back from dinner, were keeping well +behind their frosty windows. The children were all in school, and there was +nobody abroad in the streets but a few rough-looking countrymen in coarse +overcoats, with their long caps pulled down to their noses. Some of them had +brought their wives to town, and now and then a red or a plaid shawl flashed +out of one store into the shelter of another. At the hitch-bars along the +street a few heavy work-horses, harnessed to farm wagons, shivered under their +blankets. About the station everything was quiet, for there would not be another train in until night. </p> @@ -323,54 +323,53 @@ pulled down over his ears; his nose and his chubby cheeks were chapped and red with cold. He cried quietly, and the few people who hurried by did not notice him. He was afraid to stop any one, afraid to go into the store and ask for help, so he sat wringing his long sleeves and looking up a telegraph pole -beside him, whimpering, “My kitten, oh, my kitten! Her will -fweeze!” At the top of the pole crouched a shivering gray kitten, mewing -faintly and clinging desperately to the wood with her claws. The boy had been -left at the store while his sister went to the doctor’s office, and in -her absence a dog had chased his kitten up the pole. The little creature had -never been so high before, and she was too frightened to move. Her master was -sunk in despair. He was a little country boy, and this village was to him a -very strange and perplexing place, where people wore fine clothes and had hard -hearts. He always felt shy and awkward here, and wanted to hide behind things -for fear some one might laugh at him. Just now, he was too unhappy to care who -laughed. At last he seemed to see a ray of hope: his sister was coming, and he -got up and ran toward her in his heavy shoes. +beside him, whimpering, “My kitten, oh, my kitten! Her will fweeze!” At the top +of the pole crouched a shivering gray kitten, mewing faintly and clinging +desperately to the wood with her claws. The boy had been left at the store +while his sister went to the doctor’s office, and in her absence a dog had +chased his kitten up the pole. The little creature had never been so high +before, and she was too frightened to move. Her master was sunk in despair. He +was a little country boy, and this village was to him a very strange and +perplexing place, where people wore fine clothes and had hard hearts. He always +felt shy and awkward here, and wanted to hide behind things for fear some one +might laugh at him. Just now, he was too unhappy to care who laughed. At last +he seemed to see a ray of hope: his sister was coming, and he got up and ran +toward her in his heavy shoes. </p> <p> His sister was a tall, strong girl, and she walked rapidly and resolutely, as if she knew exactly where she was going and what she was going to do next. She -wore a man’s long ulster (not as if it were an affliction, but as if it -were very comfortable and belonged to her; carried it like a young soldier), -and a round plush cap, tied down with a thick veil. She had a serious, -thoughtful face, and her clear, deep blue eyes were fixed intently on the -distance, without seeming to see anything, as if she were in trouble. She did -not notice the little boy until he pulled her by the coat. Then she stopped -short and stooped down to wipe his wet face. +wore a man’s long ulster (not as if it were an affliction, but as if it were +very comfortable and belonged to her; carried it like a young soldier), and a +round plush cap, tied down with a thick veil. She had a serious, thoughtful +face, and her clear, deep blue eyes were fixed intently on the distance, +without seeming to see anything, as if she were in trouble. She did not notice +the little boy until he pulled her by the coat. Then she stopped short and +stooped down to wipe his wet face. </p> <p> -“Why, Emil! I told you to stay in the store and not to come out. What is -the matter with you?” +“Why, Emil! I told you to stay in the store and not to come out. What is the +matter with you?” </p> <p> -“My kitten, sister, my kitten! A man put her out, and a dog chased her up -there.” His forefinger, projecting from the sleeve of his coat, pointed -up to the wretched little creature on the pole. +“My kitten, sister, my kitten! A man put her out, and a dog chased her up +there.” His forefinger, projecting from the sleeve of his coat, pointed up to +the wretched little creature on the pole. </p> <p> -“Oh, Emil! Didn’t I tell you she’d get us into trouble of -some kind, if you brought her? What made you tease me so? But there, I ought to -have known better myself.” She went to the foot of the pole and held out -her arms, crying, “Kitty, kitty, kitty,” but the kitten only mewed -and faintly waved its tail. Alexandra turned away decidedly. “No, she -won’t come down. Somebody will have to go up after her. I saw the -Linstrums’ wagon in town. I’ll go and see if I can find Carl. Maybe -he can do something. Only you must stop crying, or I won’t go a step. -Where’s your comforter? Did you leave it in the store? Never mind. Hold -still, till I put this on you.” +“Oh, Emil! Didn’t I tell you she’d get us into trouble of some kind, if you +brought her? What made you tease me so? But there, I ought to have known better +myself.” She went to the foot of the pole and held out her arms, crying, +“Kitty, kitty, kitty,” but the kitten only mewed and faintly waved its tail. +Alexandra turned away decidedly. “No, she won’t come down. Somebody will have +to go up after her. I saw the Linstrums’ wagon in town. I’ll go and see if I +can find Carl. Maybe he can do something. Only you must stop crying, or I won’t +go a step. Where’s your comforter? Did you leave it in the store? Never mind. +Hold still, till I put this on you.” </p> <p> @@ -380,115 +379,109 @@ the saloon, stopped and gazed stupidly at the shining mass of hair she bared when she took off her veil; two thick braids, pinned about her head in the German way, with a fringe of reddish-yellow curls blowing out from under her cap. He took his cigar out of his mouth and held the wet end between the -fingers of his woolen glove. “My God, girl, what a head of hair!” -he exclaimed, quite innocently and foolishly. She stabbed him with a glance of -Amazonian fierceness and drew in her lower lip—most unnecessary severity. -It gave the little clothing drummer such a start that he actually let his cigar -fall to the sidewalk and went off weakly in the teeth of the wind to the -saloon. His hand was still unsteady when he took his glass from the bartender. -His feeble flirtatious instincts had been crushed before, but never so -mercilessly. He felt cheap and ill-used, as if some one had taken advantage of -him. When a drummer had been knocking about in little drab towns and crawling -across the wintry country in dirty smoking-cars, was he to be blamed if, when -he chanced upon a fine human creature, he suddenly wished himself more of a -man? +fingers of his woolen glove. “My God, girl, what a head of hair!” he exclaimed, +quite innocently and foolishly. She stabbed him with a glance of Amazonian +fierceness and drew in her lower lip—most unnecessary severity. It gave the +little clothing drummer such a start that he actually let his cigar fall to the +sidewalk and went off weakly in the teeth of the wind to the saloon. His hand +was still unsteady when he took his glass from the bartender. His feeble +flirtatious instincts had been crushed before, but never so mercilessly. He +felt cheap and ill-used, as if some one had taken advantage of him. When a +drummer had been knocking about in little drab towns and crawling across the +wintry country in dirty smoking-cars, was he to be blamed if, when he chanced +upon a fine human creature, he suddenly wished himself more of a man? </p> <p> While the little drummer was drinking to recover his nerve, Alexandra hurried to the drug store as the most likely place to find Carl Linstrum. There he was, -turning over a portfolio of chromo “studies” which the druggist -sold to the Hanover women who did china-painting. Alexandra explained her -predicament, and the boy followed her to the corner, where Emil still sat by -the pole. +turning over a portfolio of chromo “studies” which the druggist sold to the +Hanover women who did china-painting. Alexandra explained her predicament, and +the boy followed her to the corner, where Emil still sat by the pole. </p> <p> -“I’ll have to go up after her, Alexandra. I think at the depot they -have some spikes I can strap on my feet. Wait a minute.” Carl thrust his -hands into his pockets, lowered his head, and darted up the street against the -north wind. He was a tall boy of fifteen, slight and narrow-chested. When he -came back with the spikes, Alexandra asked him what he had done with his -overcoat. +“I’ll have to go up after her, Alexandra. I think at the depot they have some +spikes I can strap on my feet. Wait a minute.” Carl thrust his hands into his +pockets, lowered his head, and darted up the street against the north wind. He +was a tall boy of fifteen, slight and narrow-chested. When he came back with +the spikes, Alexandra asked him what he had done with his overcoat. </p> <p> -“I left it in the drug store. I couldn’t climb in it, anyhow. Catch -me if I fall, Emil,” he called back as he began his ascent. Alexandra -watched him anxiously; the cold was bitter enough on the ground. The kitten -would not budge an inch. Carl had to go to the very top of the pole, and then -had some difficulty in tearing her from her hold. When he reached the ground, -he handed the cat to her tearful little master. “Now go into the store -with her, Emil, and get warm.” He opened the door for the child. -“Wait a minute, Alexandra. Why can’t I drive for you as far as our -place? It’s getting colder every minute. Have you seen the doctor?” +“I left it in the drug store. I couldn’t climb in it, anyhow. Catch me if I +fall, Emil,” he called back as he began his ascent. Alexandra watched him +anxiously; the cold was bitter enough on the ground. The kitten would not budge +an inch. Carl had to go to the very top of the pole, and then had some +difficulty in tearing her from her hold. When he reached the ground, he handed +the cat to her tearful little master. “Now go into the store with her, Emil, +and get warm.” He opened the door for the child. “Wait a minute, Alexandra. Why +can’t I drive for you as far as our place? It’s getting colder every minute. +Have you seen the doctor?” </p> <p> -“Yes. He is coming over to-morrow. But he says father can’t get -better; can’t get well.” The girl’s lip trembled. She looked -fixedly up the bleak street as if she were gathering her strength to face -something, as if she were trying with all her might to grasp a situation which, -no matter how painful, must be met and dealt with somehow. The wind flapped the -skirts of her heavy coat about her. +“Yes. He is coming over to-morrow. But he says father can’t get better; can’t +get well.” The girl’s lip trembled. She looked fixedly up the bleak street as +if she were gathering her strength to face something, as if she were trying +with all her might to grasp a situation which, no matter how painful, must be +met and dealt with somehow. The wind flapped the skirts of her heavy coat about +her. </p> <p> Carl did not say anything, but she felt his sympathy. He, too, was lonely. He was a thin, frail boy, with brooding dark eyes, very quiet in all his movements. There was a delicate pallor in his thin face, and his mouth was too -sensitive for a boy’s. The lips had already a little curl of bitterness -and skepticism. The two friends stood for a few moments on the windy street -corner, not speaking a word, as two travelers, who have lost their way, -sometimes stand and admit their perplexity in silence. When Carl turned away he -said, “I’ll see to your team.” Alexandra went into the store -to have her purchases packed in the egg-boxes, and to get warm before she set -out on her long cold drive. +sensitive for a boy’s. The lips had already a little curl of bitterness and +skepticism. The two friends stood for a few moments on the windy street corner, +not speaking a word, as two travelers, who have lost their way, sometimes stand +and admit their perplexity in silence. When Carl turned away he said, “I’ll see +to your team.” Alexandra went into the store to have her purchases packed in +the egg-boxes, and to get warm before she set out on her long cold drive. </p> <p> When she looked for Emil, she found him sitting on a step of the staircase that led up to the clothing and carpet department. He was playing with a little -Bohemian girl, Marie Tovesky, who was tying her handkerchief over the -kitten’s head for a bonnet. Marie was a stranger in the country, having -come from Omaha with her mother to visit her uncle, Joe Tovesky. She was a dark -child, with brown curly hair, like a brunette doll’s, a coaxing little -red mouth, and round, yellow-brown eyes. Every one noticed her eyes; the brown -iris had golden glints that made them look like gold-stone, or, in softer -lights, like that Colorado mineral called tiger-eye. +Bohemian girl, Marie Tovesky, who was tying her handkerchief over the kitten’s +head for a bonnet. Marie was a stranger in the country, having come from Omaha +with her mother to visit her uncle, Joe Tovesky. She was a dark child, with +brown curly hair, like a brunette doll’s, a coaxing little red mouth, and +round, yellow-brown eyes. Every one noticed her eyes; the brown iris had golden +glints that made them look like gold-stone, or, in softer lights, like that +Colorado mineral called tiger-eye. </p> <p> The country children thereabouts wore their dresses to their shoe-tops, but -this city child was dressed in what was then called the “Kate -Greenaway” manner, and her red cashmere frock, gathered full from the -yoke, came almost to the floor. This, with her poke bonnet, gave her the look -of a quaint little woman. She had a white fur tippet about her neck and made no -fussy objections when Emil fingered it admiringly. Alexandra had not the heart -to take him away from so pretty a playfellow, and she let them tease the kitten -together until Joe Tovesky came in noisily and picked up his little niece, -setting her on his shoulder for every one to see. His children were all boys, -and he adored this little creature. His cronies formed a circle about him, -admiring and teasing the little girl, who took their jokes with great good -nature. They were all delighted with her, for they seldom saw so pretty and -carefully nurtured a child. They told her that she must choose one of them for -a sweetheart, and each began pressing his suit and offering her bribes; candy, -and little pigs, and spotted calves. She looked archly into the big, brown, -mustached faces, smelling of spirits and tobacco, then she ran her tiny -forefinger delicately over Joe’s bristly chin and said, “Here is my -sweetheart.” -</p> - -<p> -The Bohemians roared with laughter, and Marie’s uncle hugged her until -she cried, “Please don’t, Uncle Joe! You hurt me.” Each of -Joe’s friends gave her a bag of candy, and she kissed them all around, -though she did not like country candy very well. Perhaps that was why she -bethought herself of Emil. “Let me down, Uncle Joe,” she said, -“I want to give some of my candy to that nice little boy I found.” -She walked graciously over to Emil, followed by her lusty admirers, who formed -a new circle and teased the little boy until he hid his face in his -sister’s skirts, and she had to scold him for being such a baby. +this city child was dressed in what was then called the “Kate Greenaway” +manner, and her red cashmere frock, gathered full from the yoke, came almost to +the floor. This, with her poke bonnet, gave her the look of a quaint little +woman. She had a white fur tippet about her neck and made no fussy objections +when Emil fingered it admiringly. Alexandra had not the heart to take him away +from so pretty a playfellow, and she let them tease the kitten together until +Joe Tovesky came in noisily and picked up his little niece, setting her on his +shoulder for every one to see. His children were all boys, and he adored this +little creature. His cronies formed a circle about him, admiring and teasing +the little girl, who took their jokes with great good nature. They were all +delighted with her, for they seldom saw so pretty and carefully nurtured a +child. They told her that she must choose one of them for a sweetheart, and +each began pressing his suit and offering her bribes; candy, and little pigs, +and spotted calves. She looked archly into the big, brown, mustached faces, +smelling of spirits and tobacco, then she ran her tiny forefinger delicately +over Joe’s bristly chin and said, “Here is my sweetheart.” +</p> + +<p> +The Bohemians roared with laughter, and Marie’s uncle hugged her until she +cried, “Please don’t, Uncle Joe! You hurt me.” Each of Joe’s friends gave her a +bag of candy, and she kissed them all around, though she did not like country +candy very well. Perhaps that was why she bethought herself of Emil. “Let me +down, Uncle Joe,” she said, “I want to give some of my candy to that nice +little boy I found.” She walked graciously over to Emil, followed by her lusty +admirers, who formed a new circle and teased the little boy until he hid his +face in his sister’s skirts, and she had to scold him for being such a baby. </p> <p> @@ -505,35 +498,33 @@ of pipe smoke, damp woolens, and kerosene. <p> Carl came in, wearing his overcoat and carrying a wooden box with a brass -handle. “Come,” he said, “I’ve fed and watered your -team, and the wagon is ready.” He carried Emil out and tucked him down in -the straw in the wagonbox. The heat had made the little boy sleepy, but he -still clung to his kitten. +handle. “Come,” he said, “I’ve fed and watered your team, and the wagon is +ready.” He carried Emil out and tucked him down in the straw in the wagonbox. +The heat had made the little boy sleepy, but he still clung to his kitten. </p> <p> -“You were awful good to climb so high and get my kitten, Carl. When I get -big I’ll climb and get little boys’ kittens for them,” he -murmured drowsily. Before the horses were over the first hill, Emil and his cat -were both fast asleep. +“You were awful good to climb so high and get my kitten, Carl. When I get big +I’ll climb and get little boys’ kittens for them,” he murmured drowsily. Before +the horses were over the first hill, Emil and his cat were both fast asleep. </p> <p> -Although it was only four o’clock, the winter day was fading. The road -led southwest, toward the streak of pale, watery light that glimmered in the -leaden sky. The light fell upon the two sad young faces that were turned mutely -toward it: upon the eyes of the girl, who seemed to be looking with such -anguished perplexity into the future; upon the sombre eyes of the boy, who -seemed already to be looking into the past. The little town behind them had -vanished as if it had never been, had fallen behind the swell of the prairie, -and the stern frozen country received them into its bosom. The homesteads were -few and far apart; here and there a windmill gaunt against the sky, a sod house -crouching in a hollow. But the great fact was the land itself, which seemed to -overwhelm the little beginnings of human society that struggled in its sombre -wastes. It was from facing this vast hardness that the boy’s mouth had -become so bitter; because he felt that men were too weak to make any mark here, -that the land wanted to be let alone, to preserve its own fierce strength, its -peculiar, savage kind of beauty, its uninterrupted mournfulness. +Although it was only four o’clock, the winter day was fading. The road led +southwest, toward the streak of pale, watery light that glimmered in the leaden +sky. The light fell upon the two sad young faces that were turned mutely toward +it: upon the eyes of the girl, who seemed to be looking with such anguished +perplexity into the future; upon the sombre eyes of the boy, who seemed already +to be looking into the past. The little town behind them had vanished as if it +had never been, had fallen behind the swell of the prairie, and the stern +frozen country received them into its bosom. The homesteads were few and far +apart; here and there a windmill gaunt against the sky, a sod house crouching +in a hollow. But the great fact was the land itself, which seemed to overwhelm +the little beginnings of human society that struggled in its sombre wastes. It +was from facing this vast hardness that the boy’s mouth had become so bitter; +because he felt that men were too weak to make any mark here, that the land +wanted to be let alone, to preserve its own fierce strength, its peculiar, +savage kind of beauty, its uninterrupted mournfulness. </p> <p> @@ -542,16 +533,15 @@ each other than usual, as if the cold had somehow penetrated to their hearts. </p> <p> -“Did Lou and Oscar go to the Blue to cut wood to-day?” Carl asked. +“Did Lou and Oscar go to the Blue to cut wood to-day?” Carl asked. </p> <p> -“Yes. I’m almost sorry I let them go, it’s turned so cold. -But mother frets if the wood gets low.” She stopped and put her hand to -her forehead, brushing back her hair. “I don’t know what is to -become of us, Carl, if father has to die. I don’t dare to think about it. -I wish we could all go with him and let the grass grow back over -everything.” +“Yes. I’m almost sorry I let them go, it’s turned so cold. But mother frets if +the wood gets low.” She stopped and put her hand to her forehead, brushing back +her hair. “I don’t know what is to become of us, Carl, if father has to die. I +don’t dare to think about it. I wish we could all go with him and let the grass +grow back over everything.” </p> <p> @@ -562,84 +552,82 @@ was nothing he could say. </p> <p> -“Of course,” Alexandra went on, steadying her voice a little, -“the boys are strong and work hard, but we’ve always depended so on -father that I don’t see how we can go ahead. I almost feel as if there -were nothing to go ahead for.” +“Of course,” Alexandra went on, steadying her voice a little, “the boys are +strong and work hard, but we’ve always depended so on father that I don’t see +how we can go ahead. I almost feel as if there were nothing to go ahead for.” </p> <p> -“Does your father know?” +“Does your father know?” </p> <p> -“Yes, I think he does. He lies and counts on his fingers all day. I think -he is trying to count up what he is leaving for us. It’s a comfort to him -that my chickens are laying right on through the cold weather and bringing in a -little money. I wish we could keep his mind off such things, but I don’t -have much time to be with him now.” +“Yes, I think he does. He lies and counts on his fingers all day. I think he is +trying to count up what he is leaving for us. It’s a comfort to him that my +chickens are laying right on through the cold weather and bringing in a little +money. I wish we could keep his mind off such things, but I don’t have much +time to be with him now.” </p> <p> -“I wonder if he’d like to have me bring my magic lantern over some -evening?” +“I wonder if he’d like to have me bring my magic lantern over some evening?” </p> <p> -Alexandra turned her face toward him. “Oh, Carl! Have you got it?” +Alexandra turned her face toward him. “Oh, Carl! Have you got it?” </p> <p> -“Yes. It’s back there in the straw. Didn’t you notice the box -I was carrying? I tried it all morning in the drug-store cellar, and it worked -ever so well, makes fine big pictures.” +“Yes. It’s back there in the straw. Didn’t you notice the box I was carrying? I +tried it all morning in the drug-store cellar, and it worked ever so well, +makes fine big pictures.” </p> <p> -“What are they about?” +“What are they about?” </p> <p> -“Oh, hunting pictures in Germany, and Robinson Crusoe and funny pictures -about cannibals. I’m going to paint some slides for it on glass, out of -the Hans Andersen book.” +“Oh, hunting pictures in Germany, and Robinson Crusoe and funny pictures about +cannibals. I’m going to paint some slides for it on glass, out of the Hans +Andersen book.” </p> <p> Alexandra seemed actually cheered. There is often a good deal of the child left -in people who have had to grow up too soon. “Do bring it over, Carl. I -can hardly wait to see it, and I’m sure it will please father. Are the -pictures colored? Then I know he’ll like them. He likes the calendars I -get him in town. I wish I could get more. You must leave me here, mustn’t -you? It’s been nice to have company.” +in people who have had to grow up too soon. “Do bring it over, Carl. I can +hardly wait to see it, and I’m sure it will please father. Are the pictures +colored? Then I know he’ll like them. He likes the calendars I get him in town. +I wish I could get more. You must leave me here, mustn’t you? It’s been nice to +have company.” </p> <p> -Carl stopped the horses and looked dubiously up at the black sky. -“It’s pretty dark. Of course the horses will take you home, but I -think I’d better light your lantern, in case you should need it.” +Carl stopped the horses and looked dubiously up at the black sky. “It’s pretty +dark. Of course the horses will take you home, but I think I’d better light +your lantern, in case you should need it.” </p> <p> He gave her the reins and climbed back into the wagon-box, where he crouched down and made a tent of his overcoat. After a dozen trials he succeeded in lighting the lantern, which he placed in front of Alexandra, half covering it -with a blanket so that the light would not shine in her eyes. “Now, wait -until I find my box. Yes, here it is. Good-night, Alexandra. Try not to -worry.” Carl sprang to the ground and ran off across the fields toward -the Linstrum homestead. “Hoo, hoo-o-o-o!” he called back as he -disappeared over a ridge and dropped into a sand gully. The wind answered him -like an echo, “Hoo, hoo-o-o-o-o-o!” Alexandra drove off alone. The -rattle of her wagon was lost in the howling of the wind, but her lantern, held -firmly between her feet, made a moving point of light along the highway, going -deeper and deeper into the dark country. +with a blanket so that the light would not shine in her eyes. “Now, wait until +I find my box. Yes, here it is. Good-night, Alexandra. Try not to worry.” Carl +sprang to the ground and ran off across the fields toward the Linstrum +homestead. “Hoo, hoo-o-o-o!” he called back as he disappeared over a ridge and +dropped into a sand gully. The wind answered him like an echo, “Hoo, +hoo-o-o-o-o-o!” Alexandra drove off alone. The rattle of her wagon was lost in +the howling of the wind, but her lantern, held firmly between her feet, made a +moving point of light along the highway, going deeper and deeper into the dark +country. </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"></a>II</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0003"></a>II</h2> <p> On one of the ridges of that wintry waste stood the low log house in which John @@ -665,10 +653,10 @@ land he had come to tame. It was still a wild thing that had its ugly moods; and no one knew when they were likely to come, or why. Mischance hung over it. Its Genius was unfriendly to man. The sick man was feeling this as he lay looking out of the window, after the doctor had left him, on the day following -Alexandra’s trip to town. There it lay outside his door, the same land, -the same lead-colored miles. He knew every ridge and draw and gully between him -and the horizon. To the south, his plowed fields; to the east, the sod stables, -the cattle corral, the pond,—and then the grass. +Alexandra’s trip to town. There it lay outside his door, the same land, the +same lead-colored miles. He knew every ridge and draw and gully between him and +the horizon. To the south, his plowed fields; to the east, the sod stables, the +cattle corral, the pond,—and then the grass. </p> <p> @@ -726,19 +714,19 @@ work. <p> Alexandra, her father often said to himself, was like her grandfather; which -was his way of saying that she was intelligent. John Bergson’s father had -been a shipbuilder, a man of considerable force and of some fortune. Late in -life he married a second time, a Stockholm woman of questionable character, -much younger than he, who goaded him into every sort of extravagance. On the -shipbuilder’s part, this marriage was an infatuation, the despairing -folly of a powerful man who cannot bear to grow old. In a few years his -unprincipled wife warped the probity of a lifetime. He speculated, lost his own -fortune and funds entrusted to him by poor seafaring men, and died disgraced, -leaving his children nothing. But when all was said, he had come up from the -sea himself, had built up a proud little business with no capital but his own -skill and foresight, and had proved himself a man. In his daughter, John -Bergson recognized the strength of will, and the simple direct way of thinking -things out, that had characterized his father in his better days. He would much +was his way of saying that she was intelligent. John Bergson’s father had been +a shipbuilder, a man of considerable force and of some fortune. Late in life he +married a second time, a Stockholm woman of questionable character, much +younger than he, who goaded him into every sort of extravagance. On the +shipbuilder’s part, this marriage was an infatuation, the despairing folly of a +powerful man who cannot bear to grow old. In a few years his unprincipled wife +warped the probity of a lifetime. He speculated, lost his own fortune and funds +entrusted to him by poor seafaring men, and died disgraced, leaving his +children nothing. But when all was said, he had come up from the sea himself, +had built up a proud little business with no capital but his own skill and +foresight, and had proved himself a man. In his daughter, John Bergson +recognized the strength of will, and the simple direct way of thinking things +out, that had characterized his father in his better days. He would much rather, of course, have seen this likeness in one of his sons, but it was not a question of choice. As he lay there day after day he had to accept the situation as it was, and to be thankful that there was one among his children @@ -754,16 +742,16 @@ looked at his white hands, with all the work gone out of them. He was ready to give up, he felt. He did not know how it had come about, but he was quite willing to go deep under his fields and rest, where the plow could not find him. He was tired of making mistakes. He was content to leave the tangle to -other hands; he thought of his Alexandra’s strong ones. +other hands; he thought of his Alexandra’s strong ones. </p> <p> -“<i>Dotter</i>,” he called feebly, “<i>dotter!</i>” He -heard her quick step and saw her tall figure appear in the doorway, with the -light of the lamp behind her. He felt her youth and strength, how easily she -moved and stooped and lifted. But he would not have had it again if he could, -not he! He knew the end too well to wish to begin again. He knew where it all -went to, what it all became. +“<i>Dotter</i>,” he called feebly, “<i>dotter!</i>” He heard her quick step and +saw her tall figure appear in the doorway, with the light of the lamp behind +her. He felt her youth and strength, how easily she moved and stooped and +lifted. But he would not have had it again if he could, not he! He knew the end +too well to wish to begin again. He knew where it all went to, what it all +became. </p> <p> @@ -773,30 +761,30 @@ to him in the shipyard. </p> <p> -“Tell the boys to come here, daughter. I want to speak to them.” +“Tell the boys to come here, daughter. I want to speak to them.” </p> <p> -“They are feeding the horses, father. They have just come back from the -Blue. Shall I call them?” +“They are feeding the horses, father. They have just come back from the Blue. +Shall I call them?” </p> <p> -He sighed. “No, no. Wait until they come in. Alexandra, you will have to -do the best you can for your brothers. Everything will come on you.” +He sighed. “No, no. Wait until they come in. Alexandra, you will have to do the +best you can for your brothers. Everything will come on you.” </p> <p> -“I will do all I can, father.” +“I will do all I can, father.” </p> <p> -“Don’t let them get discouraged and go off like Uncle Otto. I want -them to keep the land.” +“Don’t let them get discouraged and go off like Uncle Otto. I want them to keep +the land.” </p> <p> -“We will, father. We will never lose the land.” +“We will, father. We will never lose the land.” </p> <p> @@ -810,34 +798,34 @@ vacillating. </p> <p> -“Boys,” said the father wearily, “I want you to keep the land -together and to be guided by your sister. I have talked to her since I have -been sick, and she knows all my wishes. I want no quarrels among my children, -and so long as there is one house there must be one head. Alexandra is the -oldest, and she knows my wishes. She will do the best she can. If she makes -mistakes, she will not make so many as I have made. When you marry, and want a -house of your own, the land will be divided fairly, according to the courts. -But for the next few years you will have it hard, and you must all keep -together. Alexandra will manage the best she can.” +“Boys,” said the father wearily, “I want you to keep the land together and to +be guided by your sister. I have talked to her since I have been sick, and she +knows all my wishes. I want no quarrels among my children, and so long as there +is one house there must be one head. Alexandra is the oldest, and she knows my +wishes. She will do the best she can. If she makes mistakes, she will not make +so many as I have made. When you marry, and want a house of your own, the land +will be divided fairly, according to the courts. But for the next few years you +will have it hard, and you must all keep together. Alexandra will manage the +best she can.” </p> <p> Oscar, who was usually the last to speak, replied because he was the older, -“Yes, father. It would be so anyway, without your speaking. We will all -work the place together.” +“Yes, father. It would be so anyway, without your speaking. We will all work +the place together.” </p> <p> -“And you will be guided by your sister, boys, and be good brothers to -her, and good sons to your mother? That is good. And Alexandra must not work in -the fields any more. There is no necessity now. Hire a man when you need help. -She can make much more with her eggs and butter than the wages of a man. It was -one of my mistakes that I did not find that out sooner. Try to break a little -more land every year; sod corn is good for fodder. Keep turning the land, and -always put up more hay than you need. Don’t grudge your mother a little -time for plowing her garden and setting out fruit trees, even if it comes in a -busy season. She has been a good mother to you, and she has always missed the -old country.” +“And you will be guided by your sister, boys, and be good brothers to her, and +good sons to your mother? That is good. And Alexandra must not work in the +fields any more. There is no necessity now. Hire a man when you need help. She +can make much more with her eggs and butter than the wages of a man. It was one +of my mistakes that I did not find that out sooner. Try to break a little more +land every year; sod corn is good for fodder. Keep turning the land, and always +put up more hay than you need. Don’t grudge your mother a little time for +plowing her garden and setting out fruit trees, even if it comes in a busy +season. She has been a good mother to you, and she has always missed the old +country.” </p> <p class="p2"> @@ -872,80 +860,75 @@ plums, like a wild creature in search of prey. She made a yellow jam of the insipid ground-cherries that grew on the prairie, flavoring it with lemon peel; and she made a sticky dark conserve of garden tomatoes. She had experimented even with the rank buffalo-pea, and she could not see a fine bronze cluster of -them without shaking her head and murmuring, “What a pity!” When -there was nothing more to preserve, she began to pickle. The amount of sugar -she used in these processes was sometimes a serious drain upon the family -resources. She was a good mother, but she was glad when her children were old -enough not to be in her way in the kitchen. She had never quite forgiven John -Bergson for bringing her to the end of the earth; but, now that she was there, -she wanted to be let alone to reconstruct her old life in so far as that was -possible. She could still take some comfort in the world if she had bacon in -the cave, glass jars on the shelves, and sheets in the press. She disapproved -of all her neighbors because of their slovenly housekeeping, and the women -thought her very proud. Once when Mrs. Bergson, on her way to Norway Creek, -stopped to see old Mrs. Lee, the old woman hid in the haymow “for fear -Mis’ Bergson would catch her barefoot.” +them without shaking her head and murmuring, “What a pity!” When there was +nothing more to preserve, she began to pickle. The amount of sugar she used in +these processes was sometimes a serious drain upon the family resources. She +was a good mother, but she was glad when her children were old enough not to be +in her way in the kitchen. She had never quite forgiven John Bergson for +bringing her to the end of the earth; but, now that she was there, she wanted +to be let alone to reconstruct her old life in so far as that was possible. She +could still take some comfort in the world if she had bacon in the cave, glass +jars on the shelves, and sheets in the press. She disapproved of all her +neighbors because of their slovenly housekeeping, and the women thought her +very proud. Once when Mrs. Bergson, on her way to Norway Creek, stopped to see +old Mrs. Lee, the old woman hid in the haymow “for fear Mis’ Bergson would +catch her barefoot.” </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"></a>III</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0004"></a>III</h2> <p> -One Sunday afternoon in July, six months after John Bergson’s death, Carl -was sitting in the doorway of the Linstrum kitchen, dreaming over an -illustrated paper, when he heard the rattle of a wagon along the hill road. -Looking up he recognized the Bergsons’ team, with two seats in the wagon, -which meant they were off for a pleasure excursion. Oscar and Lou, on the front -seat, wore their cloth hats and coats, never worn except on Sundays, and Emil, -on the second seat with Alexandra, sat proudly in his new trousers, made from a -pair of his father’s, and a pink-striped shirt, with a wide ruffled -collar. Oscar stopped the horses and waved to Carl, who caught up his hat and -ran through the melon patch to join them. +One Sunday afternoon in July, six months after John Bergson’s death, Carl was +sitting in the doorway of the Linstrum kitchen, dreaming over an illustrated +paper, when he heard the rattle of a wagon along the hill road. Looking up he +recognized the Bergsons’ team, with two seats in the wagon, which meant they +were off for a pleasure excursion. Oscar and Lou, on the front seat, wore their +cloth hats and coats, never worn except on Sundays, and Emil, on the second +seat with Alexandra, sat proudly in his new trousers, made from a pair of his +father’s, and a pink-striped shirt, with a wide ruffled collar. Oscar stopped +the horses and waved to Carl, who caught up his hat and ran through the melon +patch to join them. </p> <p> -“Want to go with us?” Lou called. “We’re going to Crazy -Ivar’s to buy a hammock.” +“Want to go with us?” Lou called. “We’re going to Crazy Ivar’s to buy a +hammock.” </p> <p> -“Sure.” Carl ran up panting, and clambering over the wheel sat down -beside Emil. “I’ve always wanted to see Ivar’s pond. They say -it’s the biggest in all the country. Aren’t you afraid to go to -Ivar’s in that new shirt, Emil? He might want it and take it right off -your back.” +“Sure.” Carl ran up panting, and clambering over the wheel sat down beside +Emil. “I’ve always wanted to see Ivar’s pond. They say it’s the biggest in all +the country. Aren’t you afraid to go to Ivar’s in that new shirt, Emil? He +might want it and take it right off your back.” </p> <p> -Emil grinned. “I’d be awful scared to go,” he admitted, -“if you big boys weren’t along to take care of me. Did you ever -hear him howl, Carl? People say sometimes he runs about the country howling at -night because he is afraid the Lord will destroy him. Mother thinks he must -have done something awful wicked.” +Emil grinned. “I’d be awful scared to go,” he admitted, “if you big boys +weren’t along to take care of me. Did you ever hear him howl, Carl? People say +sometimes he runs about the country howling at night because he is afraid the +Lord will destroy him. Mother thinks he must have done something awful wicked.” </p> <p> -Lou looked back and winked at Carl. “What would you do, Emil, if you was -out on the prairie by yourself and seen him coming?” +Lou looked back and winked at Carl. “What would you do, Emil, if you was out on +the prairie by yourself and seen him coming?” </p> <p> -Emil stared. “Maybe I could hide in a badger-hole,” he suggested -doubtfully. +Emil stared. “Maybe I could hide in a badger-hole,” he suggested doubtfully. </p> <p> -“But suppose there wasn’t any badger-hole,” Lou persisted. -“Would you run?” +“But suppose there wasn’t any badger-hole,” Lou persisted. “Would you run?” </p> <p> -“No, I’d be too scared to run,” Emil admitted mournfully, -twisting his fingers. “I guess I’d sit right down on the ground and -say my prayers.” +“No, I’d be too scared to run,” Emil admitted mournfully, twisting his fingers. +“I guess I’d sit right down on the ground and say my prayers.” </p> <p> @@ -954,13 +937,12 @@ horses. </p> <p> -“He wouldn’t hurt you, Emil,” said Carl persuasively. -“He came to doctor our mare when she ate green corn and swelled up most -as big as the water-tank. He petted her just like you do your cats. I -couldn’t understand much he said, for he don’t talk any English, -but he kept patting her and groaning as if he had the pain himself, and saying, -‘There now, sister, that’s easier, that’s -better!’” +“He wouldn’t hurt you, Emil,” said Carl persuasively. “He came to doctor our +mare when she ate green corn and swelled up most as big as the water-tank. He +petted her just like you do your cats. I couldn’t understand much he said, for +he don’t talk any English, but he kept patting her and groaning as if he had +the pain himself, and saying, ‘There now, sister, that’s easier, that’s +better!’” </p> <p> @@ -969,92 +951,90 @@ sister. </p> <p> -“I don’t think he knows anything at all about doctoring,” -said Oscar scornfully. “They say when horses have distemper he takes the -medicine himself, and then prays over the horses.” +“I don’t think he knows anything at all about doctoring,” said Oscar +scornfully. “They say when horses have distemper he takes the medicine himself, +and then prays over the horses.” </p> <p> -Alexandra spoke up. “That’s what the Crows said, but he cured their -horses, all the same. Some days his mind is cloudy, like. But if you can get -him on a clear day, you can learn a great deal from him. He understands -animals. Didn’t I see him take the horn off the Berquist’s cow when -she had torn it loose and went crazy? She was tearing all over the place, -knocking herself against things. And at last she ran out on the roof of the old -dugout and her legs went through and there she stuck, bellowing. Ivar came -running with his white bag, and the moment he got to her she was quiet and let -him saw her horn off and daub the place with tar.” +Alexandra spoke up. “That’s what the Crows said, but he cured their horses, all +the same. Some days his mind is cloudy, like. But if you can get him on a clear +day, you can learn a great deal from him. He understands animals. Didn’t I see +him take the horn off the Berquist’s cow when she had torn it loose and went +crazy? She was tearing all over the place, knocking herself against things. And +at last she ran out on the roof of the old dugout and her legs went through and +there she stuck, bellowing. Ivar came running with his white bag, and the +moment he got to her she was quiet and let him saw her horn off and daub the +place with tar.” </p> <p> Emil had been watching his sister, his face reflecting the sufferings of the -cow. “And then didn’t it hurt her any more?” he asked. +cow. “And then didn’t it hurt her any more?” he asked. </p> <p> -Alexandra patted him. “No, not any more. And in two days they could use -her milk again.” +Alexandra patted him. “No, not any more. And in two days they could use her +milk again.” </p> <p> -The road to Ivar’s homestead was a very poor one. He had settled in the -rough country across the county line, where no one lived but some -Russians,—half a dozen families who dwelt together in one long house, -divided off like barracks. Ivar had explained his choice by saying that the -fewer neighbors he had, the fewer temptations. Nevertheless, when one -considered that his chief business was horse-doctoring, it seemed rather -short-sighted of him to live in the most inaccessible place he could find. The -Bergson wagon lurched along over the rough hummocks and grass banks, followed -the bottom of winding draws, or skirted the margin of wide lagoons, where the -golden coreopsis grew up out of the clear water and the wild ducks rose with a -whirr of wings. +The road to Ivar’s homestead was a very poor one. He had settled in the rough +country across the county line, where no one lived but some Russians,—half a +dozen families who dwelt together in one long house, divided off like barracks. +Ivar had explained his choice by saying that the fewer neighbors he had, the +fewer temptations. Nevertheless, when one considered that his chief business +was horse-doctoring, it seemed rather short-sighted of him to live in the most +inaccessible place he could find. The Bergson wagon lurched along over the +rough hummocks and grass banks, followed the bottom of winding draws, or +skirted the margin of wide lagoons, where the golden coreopsis grew up out of +the clear water and the wild ducks rose with a whirr of wings. </p> <p> -Lou looked after them helplessly. “I wish I’d brought my gun, -anyway, Alexandra,” he said fretfully. “I could have hidden it -under the straw in the bottom of the wagon.” +Lou looked after them helplessly. “I wish I’d brought my gun, anyway, +Alexandra,” he said fretfully. “I could have hidden it under the straw in the +bottom of the wagon.” </p> <p> -“Then we’d have had to lie to Ivar. Besides, they say he can smell -dead birds. And if he knew, we wouldn’t get anything out of him, not even -a hammock. I want to talk to him, and he won’t talk sense if he’s -angry. It makes him foolish.” +“Then we’d have had to lie to Ivar. Besides, they say he can smell dead birds. +And if he knew, we wouldn’t get anything out of him, not even a hammock. I want +to talk to him, and he won’t talk sense if he’s angry. It makes him foolish.” </p> <p> -Lou sniffed. “Whoever heard of him talking sense, anyhow! I’d -rather have ducks for supper than Crazy Ivar’s tongue.” +Lou sniffed. “Whoever heard of him talking sense, anyhow! I’d rather have ducks +for supper than Crazy Ivar’s tongue.” </p> <p> -Emil was alarmed. “Oh, but, Lou, you don’t want to make him mad! He -might howl!” +Emil was alarmed. “Oh, but, Lou, you don’t want to make him mad! He might +howl!” </p> <p> They all laughed again, and Oscar urged the horses up the crumbling side of a clay bank. They had left the lagoons and the red grass behind them. In Crazy -Ivar’s country the grass was short and gray, the draws deeper than they -were in the Bergsons’ neighborhood, and the land was all broken up into -hillocks and clay ridges. The wild flowers disappeared, and only in the bottom -of the draws and gullies grew a few of the very toughest and hardiest: -shoestring, and ironweed, and snow-on-the-mountain. +Ivar’s country the grass was short and gray, the draws deeper than they were in +the Bergsons’ neighborhood, and the land was all broken up into hillocks and +clay ridges. The wild flowers disappeared, and only in the bottom of the draws +and gullies grew a few of the very toughest and hardiest: shoestring, and +ironweed, and snow-on-the-mountain. </p> <p> -“Look, look, Emil, there’s Ivar’s big pond!” Alexandra -pointed to a shining sheet of water that lay at the bottom of a shallow draw. -At one end of the pond was an earthen dam, planted with green willow bushes, -and above it a door and a single window were set into the hillside. You would -not have seen them at all but for the reflection of the sunlight upon the four -panes of window-glass. And that was all you saw. Not a shed, not a corral, not -a well, not even a path broken in the curly grass. But for the piece of rusty -stovepipe sticking up through the sod, you could have walked over the roof of -Ivar’s dwelling without dreaming that you were near a human habitation. -Ivar had lived for three years in the clay bank, without defiling the face of -nature any more than the coyote that had lived there before him had done. +“Look, look, Emil, there’s Ivar’s big pond!” Alexandra pointed to a shining +sheet of water that lay at the bottom of a shallow draw. At one end of the pond +was an earthen dam, planted with green willow bushes, and above it a door and a +single window were set into the hillside. You would not have seen them at all +but for the reflection of the sunlight upon the four panes of window-glass. And +that was all you saw. Not a shed, not a corral, not a well, not even a path +broken in the curly grass. But for the piece of rusty stovepipe sticking up +through the sod, you could have walked over the roof of Ivar’s dwelling without +dreaming that you were near a human habitation. Ivar had lived for three years +in the clay bank, without defiling the face of nature any more than the coyote +that had lived there before him had done. </p> <p> @@ -1065,12 +1045,12 @@ thick mane about his ruddy cheeks, made him look older than he was. He was barefoot, but he wore a clean shirt of unbleached cotton, open at the neck. He always put on a clean shirt when Sunday morning came round, though he never went to church. He had a peculiar religion of his own and could not get on with -any of the denominations. Often he did not see anybody from one week’s -end to another. He kept a calendar, and every morning he checked off a day, so -that he was never in any doubt as to which day of the week it was. Ivar hired -himself out in threshing and corn-husking time, and he doctored sick animals -when he was sent for. When he was at home, he made hammocks out of twine and -committed chapters of the Bible to memory. +any of the denominations. Often he did not see anybody from one week’s end to +another. He kept a calendar, and every morning he checked off a day, so that he +was never in any doubt as to which day of the week it was. Ivar hired himself +out in threshing and corn-husking time, and he doctored sick animals when he +was sent for. When he was at home, he made hammocks out of twine and committed +chapters of the Bible to memory. </p> <p> @@ -1089,7 +1069,7 @@ silence, one understood what Ivar meant. <p> On this Sunday afternoon his face shone with happiness. He closed the book on -his knee, keeping the place with his horny finger, and repeated softly:— +his knee, keeping the place with his horny finger, and repeated softly:— </p> <p class="poem"> @@ -1104,16 +1084,16 @@ The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. </p> <p> -Before he opened his Bible again, Ivar heard the Bergsons’ wagon -approaching, and he sprang up and ran toward it. +Before he opened his Bible again, Ivar heard the Bergsons’ wagon approaching, +and he sprang up and ran toward it. </p> <p> -“No guns, no guns!” he shouted, waving his arms distractedly. +“No guns, no guns!” he shouted, waving his arms distractedly. </p> <p> -“No, Ivar, no guns,” Alexandra called reassuringly. +“No, Ivar, no guns,” Alexandra called reassuringly. </p> <p> @@ -1122,24 +1102,22 @@ them out of his pale blue eyes. </p> <p> -“We want to buy a hammock, if you have one,” Alexandra explained, -“and my little brother, here, wants to see your big pond, where so many -birds come.” +“We want to buy a hammock, if you have one,” Alexandra explained, “and my +little brother, here, wants to see your big pond, where so many birds come.” </p> <p> -Ivar smiled foolishly, and began rubbing the horses’ noses and feeling -about their mouths behind the bits. “Not many birds just now. A few ducks -this morning; and some snipe come to drink. But there was a crane last week. -She spent one night and came back the next evening. I don’t know why. It -is not her season, of course. Many of them go over in the fall. Then the pond -is full of strange voices every night.” +Ivar smiled foolishly, and began rubbing the horses’ noses and feeling about +their mouths behind the bits. “Not many birds just now. A few ducks this +morning; and some snipe come to drink. But there was a crane last week. She +spent one night and came back the next evening. I don’t know why. It is not her +season, of course. Many of them go over in the fall. Then the pond is full of +strange voices every night.” </p> <p> -Alexandra translated for Carl, who looked thoughtful. “Ask him, -Alexandra, if it is true that a sea gull came here once. I have heard -so.” +Alexandra translated for Carl, who looked thoughtful. “Ask him, Alexandra, if +it is true that a sea gull came here once. I have heard so.” </p> <p> @@ -1148,41 +1126,38 @@ She had some difficulty in making the old man understand. <p> He looked puzzled at first, then smote his hands together as he remembered. -“Oh, yes, yes! A big white bird with long wings and pink feet. My! what a -voice she had! She came in the afternoon and kept flying about the pond and -screaming until dark. She was in trouble of some sort, but I could not -understand her. She was going over to the other ocean, maybe, and did not know -how far it was. She was afraid of never getting there. She was more mournful -than our birds here; she cried in the night. She saw the light from my window -and darted up to it. Maybe she thought my house was a boat, she was such a wild -thing. Next morning, when the sun rose, I went out to take her food, but she -flew up into the sky and went on her way.” Ivar ran his fingers through -his thick hair. “I have many strange birds stop with me here. They come -from very far away and are great company. I hope you boys never shoot wild -birds?” +“Oh, yes, yes! A big white bird with long wings and pink feet. My! what a voice +she had! She came in the afternoon and kept flying about the pond and screaming +until dark. She was in trouble of some sort, but I could not understand her. +She was going over to the other ocean, maybe, and did not know how far it was. +She was afraid of never getting there. She was more mournful than our birds +here; she cried in the night. She saw the light from my window and darted up to +it. Maybe she thought my house was a boat, she was such a wild thing. Next +morning, when the sun rose, I went out to take her food, but she flew up into +the sky and went on her way.” Ivar ran his fingers through his thick hair. “I +have many strange birds stop with me here. They come from very far away and are +great company. I hope you boys never shoot wild birds?” </p> <p> -Lou and Oscar grinned, and Ivar shook his bushy head. “Yes, I know boys -are thoughtless. But these wild things are God’s birds. He watches over -them and counts them, as we do our cattle; Christ says so in the New -Testament.” +Lou and Oscar grinned, and Ivar shook his bushy head. “Yes, I know boys are +thoughtless. But these wild things are God’s birds. He watches over them and +counts them, as we do our cattle; Christ says so in the New Testament.” </p> <p> -“Now, Ivar,” Lou asked, “may we water our horses at your pond -and give them some feed? It’s a bad road to your place.” +“Now, Ivar,” Lou asked, “may we water our horses at your pond and give them +some feed? It’s a bad road to your place.” </p> <p> -“Yes, yes, it is.” The old man scrambled about and began to loose -the tugs. “A bad road, eh, girls? And the bay with a colt at home!” +“Yes, yes, it is.” The old man scrambled about and began to loose the tugs. “A +bad road, eh, girls? And the bay with a colt at home!” </p> <p> -Oscar brushed the old man aside. “We’ll take care of the horses, -Ivar. You’ll be finding some disease on them. Alexandra wants to see your -hammocks.” +Oscar brushed the old man aside. “We’ll take care of the horses, Ivar. You’ll +be finding some disease on them. Alexandra wants to see your hammocks.” </p> <p> @@ -1194,47 +1169,45 @@ cupboard. </p> <p> -“But where do you sleep, Ivar?” Emil asked, looking about. +“But where do you sleep, Ivar?” Emil asked, looking about. </p> <p> Ivar unslung a hammock from a hook on the wall; in it was rolled a buffalo -robe. “There, my son. A hammock is a good bed, and in winter I wrap up in -this skin. Where I go to work, the beds are not half so easy as this.” +robe. “There, my son. A hammock is a good bed, and in winter I wrap up in this +skin. Where I go to work, the beds are not half so easy as this.” </p> <p> By this time Emil had lost all his timidity. He thought a cave a very superior kind of house. There was something pleasantly unusual about it and about Ivar. -“Do the birds know you will be kind to them, Ivar? Is that why so many -come?” he asked. +“Do the birds know you will be kind to them, Ivar? Is that why so many come?” +he asked. </p> <p> -Ivar sat down on the floor and tucked his feet under him. “See, little -brother, they have come from a long way, and they are very tired. From up there -where they are flying, our country looks dark and flat. They must have water to -drink and to bathe in before they can go on with their journey. They look this -way and that, and far below them they see something shining, like a piece of -glass set in the dark earth. That is my pond. They come to it and are not -disturbed. Maybe I sprinkle a little corn. They tell the other birds, and next -year more come this way. They have their roads up there, as we have down -here.” +Ivar sat down on the floor and tucked his feet under him. “See, little brother, +they have come from a long way, and they are very tired. From up there where +they are flying, our country looks dark and flat. They must have water to drink +and to bathe in before they can go on with their journey. They look this way +and that, and far below them they see something shining, like a piece of glass +set in the dark earth. That is my pond. They come to it and are not disturbed. +Maybe I sprinkle a little corn. They tell the other birds, and next year more +come this way. They have their roads up there, as we have down here.” </p> <p> -Emil rubbed his knees thoughtfully. “And is that true, Ivar, about the -head ducks falling back when they are tired, and the hind ones taking their -place?” +Emil rubbed his knees thoughtfully. “And is that true, Ivar, about the head +ducks falling back when they are tired, and the hind ones taking their place?” </p> <p> -“Yes. The point of the wedge gets the worst of it; they cut the wind. -They can only stand it there a little while—half an hour, maybe. Then -they fall back and the wedge splits a little, while the rear ones come up the -middle to the front. Then it closes up and they fly on, with a new edge. They -are always changing like that, up in the air. Never any confusion; just like -soldiers who have been drilled.” +“Yes. The point of the wedge gets the worst of it; they cut the wind. They can +only stand it there a little while—half an hour, maybe. Then they fall back and +the wedge splits a little, while the rear ones come up the middle to the front. +Then it closes up and they fly on, with a new edge. They are always changing +like that, up in the air. Never any confusion; just like soldiers who have been +drilled.” </p> <p> @@ -1246,43 +1219,42 @@ he never ate meat, fresh or salt. <p> Alexandra was sitting on one of the wooden chairs, her arms resting on the -table. Ivar was sitting on the floor at her feet. “Ivar,” she said -suddenly, beginning to trace the pattern on the oilcloth with her forefinger, -“I came to-day more because I wanted to talk to you than because I wanted -to buy a hammock.” +table. Ivar was sitting on the floor at her feet. “Ivar,” she said suddenly, +beginning to trace the pattern on the oilcloth with her forefinger, “I came +to-day more because I wanted to talk to you than because I wanted to buy a +hammock.” </p> <p> -“Yes?” The old man scraped his bare feet on the plank floor. +“Yes?” The old man scraped his bare feet on the plank floor. </p> <p> -“We have a big bunch of hogs, Ivar. I wouldn’t sell in the spring, -when everybody advised me to, and now so many people are losing their hogs that -I am frightened. What can be done?” +“We have a big bunch of hogs, Ivar. I wouldn’t sell in the spring, when +everybody advised me to, and now so many people are losing their hogs that I am +frightened. What can be done?” </p> <p> -Ivar’s little eyes began to shine. They lost their vagueness. +Ivar’s little eyes began to shine. They lost their vagueness. </p> <p> -“You feed them swill and such stuff? Of course! And sour milk? Oh, yes! -And keep them in a stinking pen? I tell you, sister, the hogs of this country -are put upon! They become unclean, like the hogs in the Bible. If you kept your +“You feed them swill and such stuff? Of course! And sour milk? Oh, yes! And +keep them in a stinking pen? I tell you, sister, the hogs of this country are +put upon! They become unclean, like the hogs in the Bible. If you kept your chickens like that, what would happen? You have a little sorghum patch, maybe? Put a fence around it, and turn the hogs in. Build a shed to give them shade, a thatch on poles. Let the boys haul water to them in barrels, clean water, and plenty. Get them off the old stinking ground, and do not let them go back there until winter. Give them only grain and clean feed, such as you would give -horses or cattle. Hogs do not like to be filthy.” +horses or cattle. Hogs do not like to be filthy.” </p> <p> -The boys outside the door had been listening. Lou nudged his brother. -“Come, the horses are done eating. Let’s hitch up and get out of -here. He’ll fill her full of notions. She’ll be for having the pigs -sleep with us, next.” +The boys outside the door had been listening. Lou nudged his brother. “Come, +the horses are done eating. Let’s hitch up and get out of here. He’ll fill her +full of notions. She’ll be for having the pigs sleep with us, next.” </p> <p> @@ -1297,11 +1269,11 @@ talk about them. <p> Once they were on the homeward road, the boys forgot their ill-humor and joked about Ivar and his birds. Alexandra did not propose any reforms in the care of -the pigs, and they hoped she had forgotten Ivar’s talk. They agreed that -he was crazier than ever, and would never be able to prove up on his land -because he worked it so little. Alexandra privately resolved that she would -have a talk with Ivar about this and stir him up. The boys persuaded Carl to -stay for supper and go swimming in the pasture pond after dark. +the pigs, and they hoped she had forgotten Ivar’s talk. They agreed that he was +crazier than ever, and would never be able to prove up on his land because he +worked it so little. Alexandra privately resolved that she would have a talk +with Ivar about this and stir him up. The boys persuaded Carl to stay for +supper and go swimming in the pasture pond after dark. </p> <p> @@ -1320,13 +1292,13 @@ was planning to make her new pig corral. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"></a>IV</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0005"></a>IV</h2> <p> -For the first three years after John Bergson’s death, the affairs of his -family prospered. Then came the hard times that brought every one on the Divide -to the brink of despair; three years of drouth and failure, the last struggle -of a wild soil against the encroaching plowshare. The first of these fruitless +For the first three years after John Bergson’s death, the affairs of his family +prospered. Then came the hard times that brought every one on the Divide to the +brink of despair; three years of drouth and failure, the last struggle of a +wild soil against the encroaching plowshare. The first of these fruitless summers the Bergson boys bore courageously. The failure of the corn crop made labor cheap. Lou and Oscar hired two men and put in bigger crops than ever before. They lost everything they spent. The whole country was discouraged. @@ -1347,12 +1319,12 @@ things more than the things themselves. <p> The second of these barren summers was passing. One September afternoon Alexandra had gone over to the garden across the draw to dig sweet -potatoes—they had been thriving upon the weather that was fatal to -everything else. But when Carl Linstrum came up the garden rows to find her, -she was not working. She was standing lost in thought, leaning upon her -pitchfork, her sunbonnet lying beside her on the ground. The dry garden patch -smelled of drying vines and was strewn with yellow seed-cucumbers and pumpkins -and citrons. At one end, next the rhubarb, grew feathery asparagus, with red +potatoes—they had been thriving upon the weather that was fatal to everything +else. But when Carl Linstrum came up the garden rows to find her, she was not +working. She was standing lost in thought, leaning upon her pitchfork, her +sunbonnet lying beside her on the ground. The dry garden patch smelled of +drying vines and was strewn with yellow seed-cucumbers and pumpkins and +citrons. At one end, next the rhubarb, grew feathery asparagus, with red berries. Down the middle of the garden was a row of gooseberry and currant bushes. A few tough zenias and marigolds and a row of scarlet sage bore witness to the buckets of water that Mrs. Bergson had carried there after sundown, @@ -1360,127 +1332,119 @@ against the prohibition of her sons. Carl came quietly and slowly up the garden path, looking intently at Alexandra. She did not hear him. She was standing perfectly still, with that serious ease so characteristic of her. Her thick, reddish braids, twisted about her head, fairly burned in the sunlight. The air -was cool enough to make the warm sun pleasant on one’s back and -shoulders, and so clear that the eye could follow a hawk up and up, into the -blazing blue depths of the sky. Even Carl, never a very cheerful boy, and -considerably darkened by these last two bitter years, loved the country on days -like this, felt something strong and young and wild come out of it, that -laughed at care. +was cool enough to make the warm sun pleasant on one’s back and shoulders, and +so clear that the eye could follow a hawk up and up, into the blazing blue +depths of the sky. Even Carl, never a very cheerful boy, and considerably +darkened by these last two bitter years, loved the country on days like this, +felt something strong and young and wild come out of it, that laughed at care. </p> <p> -“Alexandra,” he said as he approached her, “I want to talk to -you. Let’s sit down by the gooseberry bushes.” He picked up her -sack of potatoes and they crossed the garden. “Boys gone to town?” -he asked as he sank down on the warm, sun-baked earth. “Well, we have -made up our minds at last, Alexandra. We are really going away.” +“Alexandra,” he said as he approached her, “I want to talk to you. Let’s sit +down by the gooseberry bushes.” He picked up her sack of potatoes and they +crossed the garden. “Boys gone to town?” he asked as he sank down on the warm, +sun-baked earth. “Well, we have made up our minds at last, Alexandra. We are +really going away.” </p> <p> -She looked at him as if she were a little frightened. “Really, Carl? Is -it settled?” +She looked at him as if she were a little frightened. “Really, Carl? Is it +settled?” </p> <p> -“Yes, father has heard from St. Louis, and they will give him back his -old job in the cigar factory. He must be there by the first of November. They -are taking on new men then. We will sell the place for whatever we can get, and -auction the stock. We haven’t enough to ship. I am going to learn -engraving with a German engraver there, and then try to get work in -Chicago.” +“Yes, father has heard from St. Louis, and they will give him back his old job +in the cigar factory. He must be there by the first of November. They are +taking on new men then. We will sell the place for whatever we can get, and +auction the stock. We haven’t enough to ship. I am going to learn engraving +with a German engraver there, and then try to get work in Chicago.” </p> <p> -Alexandra’s hands dropped in her lap. Her eyes became dreamy and filled -with tears. +Alexandra’s hands dropped in her lap. Her eyes became dreamy and filled with +tears. </p> <p> -Carl’s sensitive lower lip trembled. He scratched in the soft earth -beside him with a stick. “That’s all I hate about it, -Alexandra,” he said slowly. “You’ve stood by us through so -much and helped father out so many times, and now it seems as if we were -running off and leaving you to face the worst of it. But it isn’t as if -we could really ever be of any help to you. We are only one more drag, one more -thing you look out for and feel responsible for. Father was never meant for a -farmer, you know that. And I hate it. We’d only get in deeper and -deeper.” +Carl’s sensitive lower lip trembled. He scratched in the soft earth beside him +with a stick. “That’s all I hate about it, Alexandra,” he said slowly. “You’ve +stood by us through so much and helped father out so many times, and now it +seems as if we were running off and leaving you to face the worst of it. But it +isn’t as if we could really ever be of any help to you. We are only one more +drag, one more thing you look out for and feel responsible for. Father was +never meant for a farmer, you know that. And I hate it. We’d only get in deeper +and deeper.” </p> <p> -“Yes, yes, Carl, I know. You are wasting your life here. You are able to -do much better things. You are nearly nineteen now, and I wouldn’t have -you stay. I’ve always hoped you would get away. But I can’t help -feeling scared when I think how I will miss you—more than you will ever -know.” She brushed the tears from her cheeks, not trying to hide them. +“Yes, yes, Carl, I know. You are wasting your life here. You are able to do +much better things. You are nearly nineteen now, and I wouldn’t have you stay. +I’ve always hoped you would get away. But I can’t help feeling scared when I +think how I will miss you—more than you will ever know.” She brushed the tears +from her cheeks, not trying to hide them. </p> <p> -“But, Alexandra,” he said sadly and wistfully, “I’ve -never been any real help to you, beyond sometimes trying to keep the boys in a -good humor.” +“But, Alexandra,” he said sadly and wistfully, “I’ve never been any real help +to you, beyond sometimes trying to keep the boys in a good humor.” </p> <p> -Alexandra smiled and shook her head. “Oh, it’s not that. Nothing -like that. It’s by understanding me, and the boys, and mother, that -you’ve helped me. I expect that is the only way one person ever really -can help another. I think you are about the only one that ever helped me. -Somehow it will take more courage to bear your going than everything that has -happened before.” +Alexandra smiled and shook her head. “Oh, it’s not that. Nothing like that. +It’s by understanding me, and the boys, and mother, that you’ve helped me. I +expect that is the only way one person ever really can help another. I think +you are about the only one that ever helped me. Somehow it will take more +courage to bear your going than everything that has happened before.” </p> <p> -Carl looked at the ground. “You see, we’ve all depended so on -you,” he said, “even father. He makes me laugh. When anything comes -up he always says, ‘I wonder what the Bergsons are going to do about -that? I guess I’ll go and ask her.’ I’ll never forget that -time, when we first came here, and our horse had the colic, and I ran over to -your place—your father was away, and you came home with me and showed -father how to let the wind out of the horse. You were only a little girl then, -but you knew ever so much more about farm work than poor father. You remember -how homesick I used to get, and what long talks we used to have coming from -school? We’ve someway always felt alike about things.” +Carl looked at the ground. “You see, we’ve all depended so on you,” he said, +“even father. He makes me laugh. When anything comes up he always says, ‘I +wonder what the Bergsons are going to do about that? I guess I’ll go and ask +her.’ I’ll never forget that time, when we first came here, and our horse had +the colic, and I ran over to your place—your father was away, and you came home +with me and showed father how to let the wind out of the horse. You were only a +little girl then, but you knew ever so much more about farm work than poor +father. You remember how homesick I used to get, and what long talks we used to +have coming from school? We’ve someway always felt alike about things.” </p> <p> -“Yes, that’s it; we’ve liked the same things and we’ve -liked them together, without anybody else knowing. And we’ve had good -times, hunting for Christmas trees and going for ducks and making our plum wine -together every year. We’ve never either of us had any other close friend. -And now—” Alexandra wiped her eyes with the corner of her apron, -“and now I must remember that you are going where you will have many -friends, and will find the work you were meant to do. But you’ll write to -me, Carl? That will mean a great deal to me here.” +“Yes, that’s it; we’ve liked the same things and we’ve liked them together, +without anybody else knowing. And we’ve had good times, hunting for Christmas +trees and going for ducks and making our plum wine together every year. We’ve +never either of us had any other close friend. And now—” Alexandra wiped her +eyes with the corner of her apron, “and now I must remember that you are going +where you will have many friends, and will find the work you were meant to do. +But you’ll write to me, Carl? That will mean a great deal to me here.” </p> <p> -“I’ll write as long as I live,” cried the boy impetuously. -“And I’ll be working for you as much as for myself, Alexandra. I -want to do something you’ll like and be proud of. I’m a fool here, -but I know I can do something!” He sat up and frowned at the red grass. +“I’ll write as long as I live,” cried the boy impetuously. “And I’ll be working +for you as much as for myself, Alexandra. I want to do something you’ll like +and be proud of. I’m a fool here, but I know I can do something!” He sat up and +frowned at the red grass. </p> <p> -Alexandra sighed. “How discouraged the boys will be when they hear. They -always come home from town discouraged, anyway. So many people are trying to -leave the country, and they talk to our boys and make them low-spirited. -I’m afraid they are beginning to feel hard toward me because I -won’t listen to any talk about going. Sometimes I feel like I’m -getting tired of standing up for this country.” +Alexandra sighed. “How discouraged the boys will be when they hear. They always +come home from town discouraged, anyway. So many people are trying to leave the +country, and they talk to our boys and make them low-spirited. I’m afraid they +are beginning to feel hard toward me because I won’t listen to any talk about +going. Sometimes I feel like I’m getting tired of standing up for this +country.” </p> <p> -“I won’t tell the boys yet, if you’d rather not.” +“I won’t tell the boys yet, if you’d rather not.” </p> <p> -“Oh, I’ll tell them myself, to-night, when they come home. -They’ll be talking wild, anyway, and no good comes of keeping bad news. -It’s all harder on them than it is on me. Lou wants to get married, poor -boy, and he can’t until times are better. See, there goes the sun, Carl. -I must be getting back. Mother will want her potatoes. It’s chilly -already, the moment the light goes.” +“Oh, I’ll tell them myself, to-night, when they come home. They’ll be talking +wild, anyway, and no good comes of keeping bad news. It’s all harder on them +than it is on me. Lou wants to get married, poor boy, and he can’t until times +are better. See, there goes the sun, Carl. I must be getting back. Mother will +want her potatoes. It’s chilly already, the moment the light goes.” </p> <p> @@ -1490,11 +1454,10 @@ western hill, the Lee boy was bringing in the herd from the other half-section. Emil ran from the windmill to open the corral gate. From the log house, on the little rise across the draw, the smoke was curling. The cattle lowed and bellowed. In the sky the pale half-moon was slowly silvering. Alexandra and -Carl walked together down the potato rows. “I have to keep telling myself -what is going to happen,” she said softly. “Since you have been -here, ten years now, I have never really been lonely. But I can remember what -it was like before. Now I shall have nobody but Emil. But he is my boy, and he -is tender-hearted.” +Carl walked together down the potato rows. “I have to keep telling myself what +is going to happen,” she said softly. “Since you have been here, ten years now, +I have never really been lonely. But I can remember what it was like before. +Now I shall have nobody but Emil. But he is my boy, and he is tender-hearted.” </p> <p> @@ -1514,25 +1477,25 @@ down. But he was as indolent of mind as he was unsparing of his body. His love of routine amounted to a vice. He worked like an insect, always doing the same thing over in the same way, regardless of whether it was best or no. He felt that there was a sovereign virtue in mere bodily toil, and he rather liked to -do things in the hardest way. If a field had once been in corn, he -couldn’t bear to put it into wheat. He liked to begin his corn-planting -at the same time every year, whether the season were backward or forward. He -seemed to feel that by his own irreproachable regularity he would clear himself -of blame and reprove the weather. When the wheat crop failed, he threshed the -straw at a dead loss to demonstrate how little grain there was, and thus prove -his case against Providence. +do things in the hardest way. If a field had once been in corn, he couldn’t +bear to put it into wheat. He liked to begin his corn-planting at the same time +every year, whether the season were backward or forward. He seemed to feel that +by his own irreproachable regularity he would clear himself of blame and +reprove the weather. When the wheat crop failed, he threshed the straw at a +dead loss to demonstrate how little grain there was, and thus prove his case +against Providence. </p> <p> Lou, on the other hand, was fussy and flighty; always planned to get through -two days’ work in one, and often got only the least important things -done. He liked to keep the place up, but he never got round to doing odd jobs -until he had to neglect more pressing work to attend to them. In the middle of -the wheat harvest, when the grain was over-ripe and every hand was needed, he -would stop to mend fences or to patch the harness; then dash down to the field -and overwork and be laid up in bed for a week. The two boys balanced each -other, and they pulled well together. They had been good friends since they -were children. One seldom went anywhere, even to town, without the other. +two days’ work in one, and often got only the least important things done. He +liked to keep the place up, but he never got round to doing odd jobs until he +had to neglect more pressing work to attend to them. In the middle of the wheat +harvest, when the grain was over-ripe and every hand was needed, he would stop +to mend fences or to patch the harness; then dash down to the field and +overwork and be laid up in bed for a week. The two boys balanced each other, +and they pulled well together. They had been good friends since they were +children. One seldom went anywhere, even to town, without the other. </p> <p> @@ -1542,101 +1505,97 @@ plate. It was Alexandra herself who at last opened the discussion. </p> <p> -“The Linstrums,” she said calmly, as she put another plate of hot -biscuit on the table, “are going back to St. Louis. The old man is going -to work in the cigar factory again.” +“The Linstrums,” she said calmly, as she put another plate of hot biscuit on +the table, “are going back to St. Louis. The old man is going to work in the +cigar factory again.” </p> <p> -At this Lou plunged in. “You see, Alexandra, everybody who can crawl out -is going away. There’s no use of us trying to stick it out, just to be -stubborn. There’s something in knowing when to quit.” +At this Lou plunged in. “You see, Alexandra, everybody who can crawl out is +going away. There’s no use of us trying to stick it out, just to be stubborn. +There’s something in knowing when to quit.” </p> <p> -“Where do you want to go, Lou?” +“Where do you want to go, Lou?” </p> <p> -“Any place where things will grow,” said Oscar grimly. +“Any place where things will grow,” said Oscar grimly. </p> <p> -Lou reached for a potato. “Chris Arnson has traded his half-section for a -place down on the river.” +Lou reached for a potato. “Chris Arnson has traded his half-section for a place +down on the river.” </p> <p> -“Who did he trade with?” +“Who did he trade with?” </p> <p> -“Charley Fuller, in town.” +“Charley Fuller, in town.” </p> <p> -“Fuller the real estate man? You see, Lou, that Fuller has a head on him. -He’s buying and trading for every bit of land he can get up here. -It’ll make him a rich man, some day.” +“Fuller the real estate man? You see, Lou, that Fuller has a head on him. He’s +buying and trading for every bit of land he can get up here. It’ll make him a +rich man, some day.” </p> <p> -“He’s rich now, that’s why he can take a chance.” +“He’s rich now, that’s why he can take a chance.” </p> <p> -“Why can’t we? We’ll live longer than he will. Some day the -land itself will be worth more than all we can ever raise on it.” +“Why can’t we? We’ll live longer than he will. Some day the land itself will be +worth more than all we can ever raise on it.” </p> <p> -Lou laughed. “It could be worth that, and still not be worth much. Why, -Alexandra, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Our place -wouldn’t bring now what it would six years ago. The fellows that settled -up here just made a mistake. Now they’re beginning to see this high land -wasn’t never meant to grow nothing on, and everybody who ain’t -fixed to graze cattle is trying to crawl out. It’s too high to farm up -here. All the Americans are skinning out. That man Percy Adams, north of town, -told me that he was going to let Fuller take his land and stuff for four -hundred dollars and a ticket to Chicago.” +Lou laughed. “It could be worth that, and still not be worth much. Why, +Alexandra, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Our place wouldn’t bring +now what it would six years ago. The fellows that settled up here just made a +mistake. Now they’re beginning to see this high land wasn’t never meant to grow +nothing on, and everybody who ain’t fixed to graze cattle is trying to crawl +out. It’s too high to farm up here. All the Americans are skinning out. That +man Percy Adams, north of town, told me that he was going to let Fuller take +his land and stuff for four hundred dollars and a ticket to Chicago.” </p> <p> -“There’s Fuller again!” Alexandra exclaimed. “I wish -that man would take me for a partner. He’s feathering his nest! If only -poor people could learn a little from rich people! But all these fellows who -are running off are bad farmers, like poor Mr. Linstrum. They couldn’t -get ahead even in good years, and they all got into debt while father was -getting out. I think we ought to hold on as long as we can on father’s -account. He was so set on keeping this land. He must have seen harder times -than this, here. How was it in the early days, mother?” +“There’s Fuller again!” Alexandra exclaimed. “I wish that man would take me for +a partner. He’s feathering his nest! If only poor people could learn a little +from rich people! But all these fellows who are running off are bad farmers, +like poor Mr. Linstrum. They couldn’t get ahead even in good years, and they +all got into debt while father was getting out. I think we ought to hold on as +long as we can on father’s account. He was so set on keeping this land. He must +have seen harder times than this, here. How was it in the early days, mother?” </p> <p> Mrs. Bergson was weeping quietly. These family discussions always depressed -her, and made her remember all that she had been torn away from. “I -don’t see why the boys are always taking on about going away,” she -said, wiping her eyes. “I don’t want to move again; out to some raw -place, maybe, where we’d be worse off than we are here, and all to do -over again. I won’t move! If the rest of you go, I will ask some of the -neighbors to take me in, and stay and be buried by father. I’m not going -to leave him by himself on the prairie, for cattle to run over.” She -began to cry more bitterly. +her, and made her remember all that she had been torn away from. “I don’t see +why the boys are always taking on about going away,” she said, wiping her eyes. +“I don’t want to move again; out to some raw place, maybe, where we’d be worse +off than we are here, and all to do over again. I won’t move! If the rest of +you go, I will ask some of the neighbors to take me in, and stay and be buried +by father. I’m not going to leave him by himself on the prairie, for cattle to +run over.” She began to cry more bitterly. </p> <p> -The boys looked angry. Alexandra put a soothing hand on her mother’s -shoulder. “There’s no question of that, mother. You don’t -have to go if you don’t want to. A third of the place belongs to you by -American law, and we can’t sell without your consent. We only want you to -advise us. How did it use to be when you and father first came? Was it really -as bad as this, or not?” +The boys looked angry. Alexandra put a soothing hand on her mother’s shoulder. +“There’s no question of that, mother. You don’t have to go if you don’t want +to. A third of the place belongs to you by American law, and we can’t sell +without your consent. We only want you to advise us. How did it use to be when +you and father first came? Was it really as bad as this, or not?” </p> <p> -“Oh, worse! Much worse,” moaned Mrs. Bergson. “Drouth, -chince-bugs, hail, everything! My garden all cut to pieces like sauerkraut. No -grapes on the creek, no nothing. The people all lived just like coyotes.” +“Oh, worse! Much worse,” moaned Mrs. Bergson. “Drouth, chince-bugs, hail, +everything! My garden all cut to pieces like sauerkraut. No grapes on the +creek, no nothing. The people all lived just like coyotes.” </p> <p> @@ -1654,22 +1613,22 @@ Sunday, and it relieved their feelings. Alexandra stayed in the house. On Sunday afternoon Mrs. Bergson always took a nap, and Alexandra read. During the week she read only the newspaper, but on Sunday, and in the long evenings of winter, she read a good deal; read a few -things over a great many times. She knew long portions of the “Frithjof -Saga” by heart, and, like most Swedes who read at all, she was fond of -Longfellow’s verse,—the ballads and the “Golden Legend” -and “The Spanish Student.” To-day she sat in the wooden -rocking-chair with the Swedish Bible open on her knees, but she was not -reading. She was looking thoughtfully away at the point where the upland road -disappeared over the rim of the prairie. Her body was in an attitude of perfect -repose, such as it was apt to take when she was thinking earnestly. Her mind -was slow, truthful, steadfast. She had not the least spark of cleverness. +things over a great many times. She knew long portions of the “Frithjof Saga” +by heart, and, like most Swedes who read at all, she was fond of Longfellow’s +verse,—the ballads and the “Golden Legend” and “The Spanish Student.” To-day +she sat in the wooden rocking-chair with the Swedish Bible open on her knees, +but she was not reading. She was looking thoughtfully away at the point where +the upland road disappeared over the rim of the prairie. Her body was in an +attitude of perfect repose, such as it was apt to take when she was thinking +earnestly. Her mind was slow, truthful, steadfast. She had not the least spark +of cleverness. </p> <p> All afternoon the sitting-room was full of quiet and sunlight. Emil was making rabbit traps in the kitchen shed. The hens were clucking and scratching brown -holes in the flower beds, and the wind was teasing the prince’s feather -by the door. +holes in the flower beds, and the wind was teasing the prince’s feather by the +door. </p> <p> @@ -1677,42 +1636,40 @@ That evening Carl came in with the boys to supper. </p> <p> -“Emil,” said Alexandra, when they were all seated at the table, -“how would you like to go traveling? Because I am going to take a trip, -and you can go with me if you want to.” +“Emil,” said Alexandra, when they were all seated at the table, “how would you +like to go traveling? Because I am going to take a trip, and you can go with me +if you want to.” </p> <p> -The boys looked up in amazement; they were always afraid of Alexandra’s +The boys looked up in amazement; they were always afraid of Alexandra’s schemes. Carl was interested. </p> <p> -“I’ve been thinking, boys,” she went on, “that maybe I -am too set against making a change. I’m going to take Brigham and the -buckboard to-morrow and drive down to the river country and spend a few days -looking over what they’ve got down there. If I find anything good, you -boys can go down and make a trade.” +“I’ve been thinking, boys,” she went on, “that maybe I am too set against +making a change. I’m going to take Brigham and the buckboard to-morrow and +drive down to the river country and spend a few days looking over what they’ve +got down there. If I find anything good, you boys can go down and make a +trade.” </p> <p> -“Nobody down there will trade for anything up here,” said Oscar -gloomily. +“Nobody down there will trade for anything up here,” said Oscar gloomily. </p> <p> -“That’s just what I want to find out. Maybe they are just as -discontented down there as we are up here. Things away from home often look -better than they are. You know what your Hans Andersen book says, Carl, about -the Swedes liking to buy Danish bread and the Danes liking to buy Swedish -bread, because people always think the bread of another country is better than -their own. Anyway, I’ve heard so much about the river farms, I -won’t be satisfied till I’ve seen for myself.” +“That’s just what I want to find out. Maybe they are just as discontented down +there as we are up here. Things away from home often look better than they are. +You know what your Hans Andersen book says, Carl, about the Swedes liking to +buy Danish bread and the Danes liking to buy Swedish bread, because people +always think the bread of another country is better than their own. Anyway, +I’ve heard so much about the river farms, I won’t be satisfied till I’ve seen +for myself.” </p> <p> -Lou fidgeted. “Look out! Don’t agree to anything. Don’t let -them fool you.” +Lou fidgeted. “Look out! Don’t agree to anything. Don’t let them fool you.” </p> <p> @@ -1723,17 +1680,17 @@ shell-game wagons that followed the circus. <p> After supper Lou put on a necktie and went across the fields to court Annie Lee, and Carl and Oscar sat down to a game of checkers, while Alexandra read -“The Swiss Family Robinson” aloud to her mother and Emil. It was -not long before the two boys at the table neglected their game to listen. They -were all big children together, and they found the adventures of the family in -the tree house so absorbing that they gave them their undivided attention. +“The Swiss Family Robinson” aloud to her mother and Emil. It was not long +before the two boys at the table neglected their game to listen. They were all +big children together, and they found the adventures of the family in the tree +house so absorbing that they gave them their undivided attention. </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"></a>V</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0006"></a>V</h2> <p> Alexandra and Emil spent five days down among the river farms, driving up and @@ -1741,18 +1698,18 @@ down the valley. Alexandra talked to the men about their crops and to the women about their poultry. She spent a whole day with one young farmer who had been away at school, and who was experimenting with a new kind of clover hay. She learned a great deal. As they drove along, she and Emil talked and planned. At -last, on the sixth day, Alexandra turned Brigham’s head northward and -left the river behind. +last, on the sixth day, Alexandra turned Brigham’s head northward and left the +river behind. </p> <p> -“There’s nothing in it for us down there, Emil. There are a few -fine farms, but they are owned by the rich men in town, and couldn’t be -bought. Most of the land is rough and hilly. They can always scrape along down -there, but they can never do anything big. Down there they have a little -certainty, but up with us there is a big chance. We must have faith in the high -land, Emil. I want to hold on harder than ever, and when you’re a man -you’ll thank me.” She urged Brigham forward. +“There’s nothing in it for us down there, Emil. There are a few fine farms, but +they are owned by the rich men in town, and couldn’t be bought. Most of the +land is rough and hilly. They can always scrape along down there, but they can +never do anything big. Down there they have a little certainty, but up with us +there is a big chance. We must have faith in the high land, Emil. I want to +hold on harder than ever, and when you’re a man you’ll thank me.” She urged +Brigham forward. </p> <p> @@ -1773,136 +1730,127 @@ and told her brothers all that she had seen and heard. </p> <p> -“I want you boys to go down yourselves and look it over. Nothing will -convince you like seeing with your own eyes. The river land was settled before -this, and so they are a few years ahead of us, and have learned more about -farming. The land sells for three times as much as this, but in five years we -will double it. The rich men down there own all the best land, and they are -buying all they can get. The thing to do is to sell our cattle and what little -old corn we have, and buy the Linstrum place. Then the next thing to do is to -take out two loans on our half-sections, and buy Peter Crow’s place; -raise every dollar we can, and buy every acre we can.” +“I want you boys to go down yourselves and look it over. Nothing will convince +you like seeing with your own eyes. The river land was settled before this, and +so they are a few years ahead of us, and have learned more about farming. The +land sells for three times as much as this, but in five years we will double +it. The rich men down there own all the best land, and they are buying all they +can get. The thing to do is to sell our cattle and what little old corn we +have, and buy the Linstrum place. Then the next thing to do is to take out two +loans on our half-sections, and buy Peter Crow’s place; raise every dollar we +can, and buy every acre we can.” </p> <p> -“Mortgage the homestead again?” Lou cried. He sprang up and began -to wind the clock furiously. “I won’t slave to pay off another -mortgage. I’ll never do it. You’d just as soon kill us all, -Alexandra, to carry out some scheme!” +“Mortgage the homestead again?” Lou cried. He sprang up and began to wind the +clock furiously. “I won’t slave to pay off another mortgage. I’ll never do it. +You’d just as soon kill us all, Alexandra, to carry out some scheme!” </p> <p> -Oscar rubbed his high, pale forehead. “How do you propose to pay off your -mortgages?” +Oscar rubbed his high, pale forehead. “How do you propose to pay off your +mortgages?” </p> <p> Alexandra looked from one to the other and bit her lip. They had never seen her -so nervous. “See here,” she brought out at last. “We borrow -the money for six years. Well, with the money we buy a half-section from -Linstrum and a half from Crow, and a quarter from Struble, maybe. That will -give us upwards of fourteen hundred acres, won’t it? You won’t have -to pay off your mortgages for six years. By that time, any of this land will be -worth thirty dollars an acre—it will be worth fifty, but we’ll say -thirty; then you can sell a garden patch anywhere, and pay off a debt of -sixteen hundred dollars. It’s not the principal I’m worried about, -it’s the interest and taxes. We’ll have to strain to meet the -payments. But as sure as we are sitting here to-night, we can sit down here ten -years from now independent landowners, not struggling farmers any longer. The -chance that father was always looking for has come.” +so nervous. “See here,” she brought out at last. “We borrow the money for six +years. Well, with the money we buy a half-section from Linstrum and a half from +Crow, and a quarter from Struble, maybe. That will give us upwards of fourteen +hundred acres, won’t it? You won’t have to pay off your mortgages for six +years. By that time, any of this land will be worth thirty dollars an acre—it +will be worth fifty, but we’ll say thirty; then you can sell a garden patch +anywhere, and pay off a debt of sixteen hundred dollars. It’s not the principal +I’m worried about, it’s the interest and taxes. We’ll have to strain to meet +the payments. But as sure as we are sitting here to-night, we can sit down here +ten years from now independent landowners, not struggling farmers any longer. +The chance that father was always looking for has come.” </p> <p> -Lou was pacing the floor. “But how do you <i>know</i> that land is going -to go up enough to pay the mortgages and—” +Lou was pacing the floor. “But how do you <i>know</i> that land is going to go +up enough to pay the mortgages and—” </p> <p> -“And make us rich besides?” Alexandra put in firmly. “I -can’t explain that, Lou. You’ll have to take my word for it. I -<i>know</i>, that’s all. When you drive about over the country you can -feel it coming.” +“And make us rich besides?” Alexandra put in firmly. “I can’t explain that, +Lou. You’ll have to take my word for it. I <i>know</i>, that’s all. When you +drive about over the country you can feel it coming.” </p> <p> Oscar had been sitting with his head lowered, his hands hanging between his -knees. “But we can’t work so much land,” he said dully, as if -he were talking to himself. “We can’t even try. It would just lie -there and we’d work ourselves to death.” He sighed, and laid his -calloused fist on the table. +knees. “But we can’t work so much land,” he said dully, as if he were talking +to himself. “We can’t even try. It would just lie there and we’d work ourselves +to death.” He sighed, and laid his calloused fist on the table. </p> <p> -Alexandra’s eyes filled with tears. She put her hand on his shoulder. -“You poor boy, you won’t have to work it. The men in town who are -buying up other people’s land don’t try to farm it. They are the -men to watch, in a new country. Let’s try to do like the shrewd ones, and -not like these stupid fellows. I don’t want you boys always to have to -work like this. I want you to be independent, and Emil to go to school.” +Alexandra’s eyes filled with tears. She put her hand on his shoulder. “You poor +boy, you won’t have to work it. The men in town who are buying up other +people’s land don’t try to farm it. They are the men to watch, in a new +country. Let’s try to do like the shrewd ones, and not like these stupid +fellows. I don’t want you boys always to have to work like this. I want you to +be independent, and Emil to go to school.” </p> <p> -Lou held his head as if it were splitting. “Everybody will say we are -crazy. It must be crazy, or everybody would be doing it.” +Lou held his head as if it were splitting. “Everybody will say we are crazy. It +must be crazy, or everybody would be doing it.” </p> <p> -“If they were, we wouldn’t have much chance. No, Lou, I was talking -about that with the smart young man who is raising the new kind of clover. He -says the right thing is usually just what everybody don’t do. Why are we -better fixed than any of our neighbors? Because father had more brains. Our -people were better people than these in the old country. We <i>ought</i> to do -more than they do, and see further ahead. Yes, mother, I’m going to clear -the table now.” +“If they were, we wouldn’t have much chance. No, Lou, I was talking about that +with the smart young man who is raising the new kind of clover. He says the +right thing is usually just what everybody don’t do. Why are we better fixed +than any of our neighbors? Because father had more brains. Our people were +better people than these in the old country. We <i>ought</i> to do more than +they do, and see further ahead. Yes, mother, I’m going to clear the table now.” </p> <p> Alexandra rose. The boys went to the stable to see to the stock, and they were gone a long while. When they came back Lou played on his <i>dragharmonika</i> -and Oscar sat figuring at his father’s secretary all evening. They said -nothing more about Alexandra’s project, but she felt sure now that they -would consent to it. Just before bedtime Oscar went out for a pail of water. -When he did not come back, Alexandra threw a shawl over her head and ran down -the path to the windmill. She found him sitting there with his head in his -hands, and she sat down beside him. +and Oscar sat figuring at his father’s secretary all evening. They said nothing +more about Alexandra’s project, but she felt sure now that they would consent +to it. Just before bedtime Oscar went out for a pail of water. When he did not +come back, Alexandra threw a shawl over her head and ran down the path to the +windmill. She found him sitting there with his head in his hands, and she sat +down beside him. </p> <p> -“Don’t do anything you don’t want to do, Oscar,” she -whispered. She waited a moment, but he did not stir. “I won’t say -any more about it, if you’d rather not. What makes you so -discouraged?” +“Don’t do anything you don’t want to do, Oscar,” she whispered. She waited a +moment, but he did not stir. “I won’t say any more about it, if you’d rather +not. What makes you so discouraged?” </p> <p> -“I dread signing my name to them pieces of paper,” he said slowly. -“All the time I was a boy we had a mortgage hanging over us.” +“I dread signing my name to them pieces of paper,” he said slowly. “All the +time I was a boy we had a mortgage hanging over us.” </p> <p> -“Then don’t sign one. I don’t want you to, if you feel that -way.” +“Then don’t sign one. I don’t want you to, if you feel that way.” </p> <p> -Oscar shook his head. “No, I can see there’s a chance that way. -I’ve thought a good while there might be. We’re in so deep now, we -might as well go deeper. But it’s hard work pulling out of debt. Like -pulling a threshing-machine out of the mud; breaks your back. Me and -Lou’s worked hard, and I can’t see it’s got us ahead -much.” +Oscar shook his head. “No, I can see there’s a chance that way. I’ve thought a +good while there might be. We’re in so deep now, we might as well go deeper. +But it’s hard work pulling out of debt. Like pulling a threshing-machine out of +the mud; breaks your back. Me and Lou’s worked hard, and I can’t see it’s got +us ahead much.” </p> <p> -“Nobody knows about that as well as I do, Oscar. That’s why I want -to try an easier way. I don’t want you to have to grub for every -dollar.” +“Nobody knows about that as well as I do, Oscar. That’s why I want to try an +easier way. I don’t want you to have to grub for every dollar.” </p> <p> -“Yes, I know what you mean. Maybe it’ll come out right. But signing -papers is signing papers. There ain’t no maybe about that.” He took -his pail and trudged up the path to the house. +“Yes, I know what you mean. Maybe it’ll come out right. But signing papers is +signing papers. There ain’t no maybe about that.” He took his pail and trudged +up the path to the house. </p> <p> @@ -1926,14 +1874,14 @@ future stirring. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_PART2" id="link2H_PART2"></a>PART II.<br/> +<h2><a name="link2H_PART2"></a>PART II.<br/> Neighboring Fields</h2> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"></a>I</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0008"></a>I</h2> <p> IT is sixteen years since John Bergson died. His wife now lies beside him, and @@ -1947,8 +1895,8 @@ angles. From the graveyard gate one can count a dozen gayly painted farmhouses; the gilded weather-vanes on the big red barns wink at each other across the green and brown and yellow fields. The light steel windmills tremble throughout their frames and tug at their moorings, as they vibrate in the wind that often -blows from one week’s end to another across that high, active, resolute -stretch of country. +blows from one week’s end to another across that high, active, resolute stretch +of country. </p> <p> @@ -1982,24 +1930,24 @@ white flannel shirt were rolled back to the elbow. When he was satisfied with the edge of his blade, he slipped the whetstone into his hip pocket and began to swing his scythe, still whistling, but softly, out of respect to the quiet folk about him. Unconscious respect, probably, for he seemed intent upon his -own thoughts, and, like the Gladiator’s, they were far away. He was a -splendid figure of a boy, tall and straight as a young pine tree, with a -handsome head, and stormy gray eyes, deeply set under a serious brow. The space -between his two front teeth, which were unusually far apart, gave him the -proficiency in whistling for which he was distinguished at college. (He also -played the cornet in the University band.) +own thoughts, and, like the Gladiator’s, they were far away. He was a splendid +figure of a boy, tall and straight as a young pine tree, with a handsome head, +and stormy gray eyes, deeply set under a serious brow. The space between his +two front teeth, which were unusually far apart, gave him the proficiency in +whistling for which he was distinguished at college. (He also played the cornet +in the University band.) </p> <p> When the grass required his close attention, or when he had to stoop to cut -about a head-stone, he paused in his lively air,—the “Jewel” -song,—taking it up where he had left it when his scythe swung free again. -He was not thinking about the tired pioneers over whom his blade glittered. The -old wild country, the struggle in which his sister was destined to succeed -while so many men broke their hearts and died, he can scarcely remember. That -is all among the dim things of childhood and has been forgotten in the brighter -pattern life weaves to-day, in the bright facts of being captain of the track -team, and holding the interstate record for the high jump, in the all-suffusing +about a head-stone, he paused in his lively air,—the “Jewel” song,—taking it up +where he had left it when his scythe swung free again. He was not thinking +about the tired pioneers over whom his blade glittered. The old wild country, +the struggle in which his sister was destined to succeed while so many men +broke their hearts and died, he can scarcely remember. That is all among the +dim things of childhood and has been forgotten in the brighter pattern life +weaves to-day, in the bright facts of being captain of the track team, and +holding the interstate record for the high jump, in the all-suffusing brightness of being twenty-one. Yet sometimes, in the pauses of his work, the young man frowned and looked at the ground with an intentness which suggested that even twenty-one might have its problems. @@ -2009,8 +1957,8 @@ that even twenty-one might have its problems. When he had been mowing the better part of an hour, he heard the rattle of a light cart on the road behind him. Supposing that it was his sister coming back from one of her farms, he kept on with his work. The cart stopped at the gate -and a merry contralto voice called, “Almost through, Emil?” He -dropped his scythe and went toward the fence, wiping his face and neck with his +and a merry contralto voice called, “Almost through, Emil?” He dropped his +scythe and went toward the fence, wiping his face and neck with his handkerchief. In the cart sat a young woman who wore driving gauntlets and a wide shade hat, trimmed with red poppies. Her face, too, was rather like a poppy, round and brown, with rich color in her cheeks and lips, and her dancing @@ -2020,103 +1968,93 @@ youth. </p> <p> -“What time did you get over here? That’s not much of a job for an -athlete. Here I’ve been to town and back. Alexandra lets you sleep late. -Oh, I know! Lou’s wife was telling me about the way she spoils you. I was -going to give you a lift, if you were done.” She gathered up her reins. +“What time did you get over here? That’s not much of a job for an athlete. Here +I’ve been to town and back. Alexandra lets you sleep late. Oh, I know! Lou’s +wife was telling me about the way she spoils you. I was going to give you a +lift, if you were done.” She gathered up her reins. </p> <p> -“But I will be, in a minute. Please wait for me, Marie,” Emil -coaxed. “Alexandra sent me to mow our lot, but I’ve done half a -dozen others, you see. Just wait till I finish off the Kourdnas’. By the -way, they were Bohemians. Why aren’t they up in the Catholic -graveyard?” +“But I will be, in a minute. Please wait for me, Marie,” Emil coaxed. +“Alexandra sent me to mow our lot, but I’ve done half a dozen others, you see. +Just wait till I finish off the Kourdnas’. By the way, they were Bohemians. Why +aren’t they up in the Catholic graveyard?” </p> <p> -“Free-thinkers,” replied the young woman laconically. +“Free-thinkers,” replied the young woman laconically. </p> <p> -“Lots of the Bohemian boys at the University are,” said Emil, -taking up his scythe again. “What did you ever burn John Huss for, -anyway? It’s made an awful row. They still jaw about it in history -classes.” +“Lots of the Bohemian boys at the University are,” said Emil, taking up his +scythe again. “What did you ever burn John Huss for, anyway? It’s made an awful +row. They still jaw about it in history classes.” </p> <p> -“We’d do it right over again, most of us,” said the young -woman hotly. “Don’t they ever teach you in your history classes -that you’d all be heathen Turks if it hadn’t been for the -Bohemians?” +“We’d do it right over again, most of us,” said the young woman hotly. “Don’t +they ever teach you in your history classes that you’d all be heathen Turks if +it hadn’t been for the Bohemians?” </p> <p> -Emil had fallen to mowing. “Oh, there’s no denying you’re a -spunky little bunch, you Czechs,” he called back over his shoulder. +Emil had fallen to mowing. “Oh, there’s no denying you’re a spunky little +bunch, you Czechs,” he called back over his shoulder. </p> <p> Marie Shabata settled herself in her seat and watched the rhythmical movement -of the young man’s long arms, swinging her foot as if in time to some air -that was going through her mind. The minutes passed. Emil mowed vigorously and -Marie sat sunning herself and watching the long grass fall. She sat with the -ease that belongs to persons of an essentially happy nature, who can find a +of the young man’s long arms, swinging her foot as if in time to some air that +was going through her mind. The minutes passed. Emil mowed vigorously and Marie +sat sunning herself and watching the long grass fall. She sat with the ease +that belongs to persons of an essentially happy nature, who can find a comfortable spot almost anywhere; who are supple, and quick in adapting themselves to circumstances. After a final swish, Emil snapped the gate and -sprang into the cart, holding his scythe well out over the wheel. -“There,” he sighed. “I gave old man Lee a cut or so, too. -Lou’s wife needn’t talk. I never see Lou’s scythe over -here.” +sprang into the cart, holding his scythe well out over the wheel. “There,” he +sighed. “I gave old man Lee a cut or so, too. Lou’s wife needn’t talk. I never +see Lou’s scythe over here.” </p> <p> -Marie clucked to her horse. “Oh, you know Annie!” She looked at the -young man’s bare arms. “How brown you’ve got since you came -home. I wish I had an athlete to mow my orchard. I get wet to my knees when I -go down to pick cherries.” +Marie clucked to her horse. “Oh, you know Annie!” She looked at the young man’s +bare arms. “How brown you’ve got since you came home. I wish I had an athlete +to mow my orchard. I get wet to my knees when I go down to pick cherries.” </p> <p> -“You can have one, any time you want him. Better wait until after it -rains.” Emil squinted off at the horizon as if he were looking for -clouds. +“You can have one, any time you want him. Better wait until after it rains.” +Emil squinted off at the horizon as if he were looking for clouds. </p> <p> -“Will you? Oh, there’s a good boy!” She turned her head to -him with a quick, bright smile. He felt it rather than saw it. Indeed, he had -looked away with the purpose of not seeing it. “I’ve been up -looking at Angélique’s wedding clothes,” Marie went on, “and -I’m so excited I can hardly wait until Sunday. Amédée will be a handsome -bridegroom. Is anybody but you going to stand up with him? Well, then it will -be a handsome wedding party.” She made a droll face at Emil, who flushed. -“Frank,” Marie continued, flicking her horse, “is cranky at -me because I loaned his saddle to Jan Smirka, and I’m terribly afraid he -won’t take me to the dance in the evening. Maybe the supper will tempt -him. All Angélique’s folks are baking for it, and all Amédée’s -twenty cousins. There will be barrels of beer. If once I get Frank to the -supper, I’ll see that I stay for the dance. And by the way, Emil, you -mustn’t dance with me but once or twice. You must dance with all the -French girls. It hurts their feelings if you don’t. They think -you’re proud because you’ve been away to school or -something.” +“Will you? Oh, there’s a good boy!” She turned her head to him with a quick, +bright smile. He felt it rather than saw it. Indeed, he had looked away with +the purpose of not seeing it. “I’ve been up looking at Angélique’s wedding +clothes,” Marie went on, “and I’m so excited I can hardly wait until Sunday. +Amédée will be a handsome bridegroom. Is anybody but you going to stand up with +him? Well, then it will be a handsome wedding party.” She made a droll face at +Emil, who flushed. “Frank,” Marie continued, flicking her horse, “is cranky at +me because I loaned his saddle to Jan Smirka, and I’m terribly afraid he won’t +take me to the dance in the evening. Maybe the supper will tempt him. All +Angélique’s folks are baking for it, and all Amédée’s twenty cousins. There +will be barrels of beer. If once I get Frank to the supper, I’ll see that I +stay for the dance. And by the way, Emil, you mustn’t dance with me but once or +twice. You must dance with all the French girls. It hurts their feelings if you +don’t. They think you’re proud because you’ve been away to school or +something.” </p> <p> -Emil sniffed. “How do you know they think that?” +Emil sniffed. “How do you know they think that?” </p> <p> -“Well, you didn’t dance with them much at Raoul Marcel’s -party, and I could tell how they took it by the way they looked at -you—and at me.” +“Well, you didn’t dance with them much at Raoul Marcel’s party, and I could +tell how they took it by the way they looked at you—and at me.” </p> <p> -“All right,” said Emil shortly, studying the glittering blade of -his scythe. +“All right,” said Emil shortly, studying the glittering blade of his scythe. </p> <p> @@ -2135,14 +2073,14 @@ woman, Alexandra Bergson. </p> <p> -If you go up the hill and enter Alexandra’s big house, you will find that -it is curiously unfinished and uneven in comfort. One room is papered, -carpeted, over-furnished; the next is almost bare. The pleasantest rooms in the -house are the kitchen—where Alexandra’s three young Swedish girls -chatter and cook and pickle and preserve all summer long—and the -sitting-room, in which Alexandra has brought together the old homely furniture -that the Bergsons used in their first log house, the family portraits, and the -few things her mother brought from Sweden. +If you go up the hill and enter Alexandra’s big house, you will find that it is +curiously unfinished and uneven in comfort. One room is papered, carpeted, +over-furnished; the next is almost bare. The pleasantest rooms in the house are +the kitchen—where Alexandra’s three young Swedish girls chatter and cook and +pickle and preserve all summer long—and the sitting-room, in which Alexandra +has brought together the old homely furniture that the Bergsons used in their +first log house, the family portraits, and the few things her mother brought +from Sweden. </p> <p> @@ -2151,31 +2089,31 @@ order and fine arrangement manifest all over the great farm; in the fencing and hedging, in the windbreaks and sheds, in the symmetrical pasture ponds, planted with scrub willows to give shade to the cattle in fly-time. There is even a white row of beehives in the orchard, under the walnut trees. You feel that, -properly, Alexandra’s house is the big out-of-doors, and that it is in -the soil that she expresses herself best. +properly, Alexandra’s house is the big out-of-doors, and that it is in the soil +that she expresses herself best. </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"></a>II</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0009"></a>II</h2> <p> Emil reached home a little past noon, and when he went into the kitchen Alexandra was already seated at the head of the long table, having dinner with her men, as she always did unless there were visitors. He slipped into his -empty place at his sister’s right. The three pretty young Swedish girls -who did Alexandra’s housework were cutting pies, refilling coffeecups, -placing platters of bread and meat and potatoes upon the red tablecloth, and -continually getting in each other’s way between the table and the stove. -To be sure they always wasted a good deal of time getting in each other’s -way and giggling at each other’s mistakes. But, as Alexandra had -pointedly told her sisters-in-law, it was to hear them giggle that she kept -three young things in her kitchen; the work she could do herself, if it were -necessary. These girls, with their long letters from home, their finery, and -their love-affairs, afforded her a great deal of entertainment, and they were -company for her when Emil was away at school. +empty place at his sister’s right. The three pretty young Swedish girls who did +Alexandra’s housework were cutting pies, refilling coffeecups, placing platters +of bread and meat and potatoes upon the red tablecloth, and continually getting +in each other’s way between the table and the stove. To be sure they always +wasted a good deal of time getting in each other’s way and giggling at each +other’s mistakes. But, as Alexandra had pointedly told her sisters-in-law, it +was to hear them giggle that she kept three young things in her kitchen; the +work she could do herself, if it were necessary. These girls, with their long +letters from home, their finery, and their love-affairs, afforded her a great +deal of entertainment, and they were company for her when Emil was away at +school. </p> <p> @@ -2189,13 +2127,12 @@ how far the matter has progressed. Nelse watches her glumly as she waits upon the table, and in the evening he sits on a bench behind the stove with his DRAGHARMONIKA, playing mournful airs and watching her as she goes about her work. When Alexandra asked Signa whether she thought Nelse was in earnest, the -poor child hid her hands under her apron and murmured, “I don’t -know, ma’m. But he scolds me about everything, like as if he wanted to -have me!” +poor child hid her hands under her apron and murmured, “I don’t know, ma’m. But +he scolds me about everything, like as if he wanted to have me!” </p> <p> -At Alexandra’s left sat a very old man, barefoot and wearing a long blue +At Alexandra’s left sat a very old man, barefoot and wearing a long blue blouse, open at the neck. His shaggy head is scarcely whiter than it was sixteen years ago, but his little blue eyes have become pale and watery, and his ruddy face is withered, like an apple that has clung all winter to the @@ -2236,55 +2173,54 @@ foolishly. To-day Barney Flinn, the big red-headed Irishman who had been with Alexandra for five years and who was actually her foreman, though he had no such title, was grumbling about the new silo she had put up that spring. It happened to be -the first silo on the Divide, and Alexandra’s neighbors and her men were -skeptical about it. “To be sure, if the thing don’t work, -we’ll have plenty of feed without it, indeed,” Barney conceded. +the first silo on the Divide, and Alexandra’s neighbors and her men were +skeptical about it. “To be sure, if the thing don’t work, we’ll have plenty of +feed without it, indeed,” Barney conceded. </p> <p> -Nelse Jensen, Signa’s gloomy suitor, had his word. “Lou, he says he -wouldn’t have no silo on his place if you’d give it to him. He says -the feed outen it gives the stock the bloat. He heard of somebody lost four -head of horses, feedin’ ’em that stuff.” +Nelse Jensen, Signa’s gloomy suitor, had his word. “Lou, he says he wouldn’t +have no silo on his place if you’d give it to him. He says the feed outen it +gives the stock the bloat. He heard of somebody lost four head of horses, +feedin’ ’em that stuff.” </p> <p> -Alexandra looked down the table from one to another. “Well, the only way -we can find out is to try. Lou and I have different notions about feeding -stock, and that’s a good thing. It’s bad if all the members of a -family think alike. They never get anywhere. Lou can learn by my mistakes and I -can learn by his. Isn’t that fair, Barney?” +Alexandra looked down the table from one to another. “Well, the only way we can +find out is to try. Lou and I have different notions about feeding stock, and +that’s a good thing. It’s bad if all the members of a family think alike. They +never get anywhere. Lou can learn by my mistakes and I can learn by his. Isn’t +that fair, Barney?” </p> <p> The Irishman laughed. He had no love for Lou, who was always uppish with him -and who said that Alexandra paid her hands too much. “I’ve no -thought but to give the thing an honest try, mum. ’T would be only right, -after puttin’ so much expense into it. Maybe Emil will come out an’ -have a look at it wid me.” He pushed back his chair, took his hat from -the nail, and marched out with Emil, who, with his university ideas, was -supposed to have instigated the silo. The other hands followed them, all except -old Ivar. He had been depressed throughout the meal and had paid no heed to the -talk of the men, even when they mentioned cornstalk bloat, upon which he was -sure to have opinions. +and who said that Alexandra paid her hands too much. “I’ve no thought but to +give the thing an honest try, mum. ’T would be only right, after puttin’ so +much expense into it. Maybe Emil will come out an’ have a look at it wid me.” +He pushed back his chair, took his hat from the nail, and marched out with +Emil, who, with his university ideas, was supposed to have instigated the silo. +The other hands followed them, all except old Ivar. He had been depressed +throughout the meal and had paid no heed to the talk of the men, even when they +mentioned cornstalk bloat, upon which he was sure to have opinions. </p> <p> -“Did you want to speak to me, Ivar?” Alexandra asked as she rose -from the table. “Come into the sitting-room.” +“Did you want to speak to me, Ivar?” Alexandra asked as she rose from the +table. “Come into the sitting-room.” </p> <p> The old man followed Alexandra, but when she motioned him to a chair he shook his head. She took up her workbasket and waited for him to speak. He stood looking at the carpet, his bushy head bowed, his hands clasped in front of him. -Ivar’s bandy legs seemed to have grown shorter with years, and they were +Ivar’s bandy legs seemed to have grown shorter with years, and they were completely misfitted to his broad, thick body and heavy shoulders. </p> <p> -“Well, Ivar, what is it?” Alexandra asked after she had waited -longer than usual. +“Well, Ivar, what is it?” Alexandra asked after she had waited longer than +usual. </p> <p> @@ -2295,73 +2231,72 @@ girls, whom he thought too familiar in their manners. </p> <p> -“Mistress,” he began faintly, without raising his eyes, “the -folk have been looking coldly at me of late. You know there has been -talk.” +“Mistress,” he began faintly, without raising his eyes, “the folk have been +looking coldly at me of late. You know there has been talk.” </p> <p> -“Talk about what, Ivar?” +“Talk about what, Ivar?” </p> <p> -“About sending me away; to the asylum.” +“About sending me away; to the asylum.” </p> <p> -Alexandra put down her sewing-basket. “Nobody has come to me with such -talk,” she said decidedly. “Why need you listen? You know I would -never consent to such a thing.” +Alexandra put down her sewing-basket. “Nobody has come to me with such talk,” +she said decidedly. “Why need you listen? You know I would never consent to +such a thing.” </p> <p> -Ivar lifted his shaggy head and looked at her out of his little eyes. -“They say that you cannot prevent it if the folk complain of me, if your -brothers complain to the authorities. They say that your brothers are -afraid—God forbid!—that I may do you some injury when my spells are -on me. Mistress, how can any one think that?—that I could bite the hand -that fed me!” The tears trickled down on the old man’s beard. +Ivar lifted his shaggy head and looked at her out of his little eyes. “They say +that you cannot prevent it if the folk complain of me, if your brothers +complain to the authorities. They say that your brothers are afraid—God +forbid!—that I may do you some injury when my spells are on me. Mistress, how +can any one think that?—that I could bite the hand that fed me!” The tears +trickled down on the old man’s beard. </p> <p> -Alexandra frowned. “Ivar, I wonder at you, that you should come bothering -me with such nonsense. I am still running my own house, and other people have +Alexandra frowned. “Ivar, I wonder at you, that you should come bothering me +with such nonsense. I am still running my own house, and other people have nothing to do with either you or me. So long as I am suited with you, there is -nothing to be said.” +nothing to be said.” </p> <p> Ivar pulled a red handkerchief out of the breast of his blouse and wiped his -eyes and beard. “But I should not wish you to keep me if, as they say, it -is against your interests, and if it is hard for you to get hands because I am -here.” +eyes and beard. “But I should not wish you to keep me if, as they say, it is +against your interests, and if it is hard for you to get hands because I am +here.” </p> <p> Alexandra made an impatient gesture, but the old man put out his hand and went -on earnestly:— +on earnestly:— </p> <p> -“Listen, mistress, it is right that you should take these things into -account. You know that my spells come from God, and that I would not harm any -living creature. You believe that every one should worship God in the way -revealed to him. But that is not the way of this country. The way here is for -all to do alike. I am despised because I do not wear shoes, because I do not -cut my hair, and because I have visions. At home, in the old country, there -were many like me, who had been touched by God, or who had seen things in the -graveyard at night and were different afterward. We thought nothing of it, and -let them alone. But here, if a man is different in his feet or in his head, -they put him in the asylum. Look at Peter Kralik; when he was a boy, drinking -out of a creek, he swallowed a snake, and always after that he could eat only -such food as the creature liked, for when he ate anything else, it became -enraged and gnawed him. When he felt it whipping about in him, he drank alcohol -to stupefy it and get some ease for himself. He could work as good as any man, -and his head was clear, but they locked him up for being different in his -stomach. That is the way; they have built the asylum for people who are -different, and they will not even let us live in the holes with the badgers. -Only your great prosperity has protected me so far. If you had had ill-fortune, -they would have taken me to Hastings long ago.” +“Listen, mistress, it is right that you should take these things into account. +You know that my spells come from God, and that I would not harm any living +creature. You believe that every one should worship God in the way revealed to +him. But that is not the way of this country. The way here is for all to do +alike. I am despised because I do not wear shoes, because I do not cut my hair, +and because I have visions. At home, in the old country, there were many like +me, who had been touched by God, or who had seen things in the graveyard at +night and were different afterward. We thought nothing of it, and let them +alone. But here, if a man is different in his feet or in his head, they put him +in the asylum. Look at Peter Kralik; when he was a boy, drinking out of a +creek, he swallowed a snake, and always after that he could eat only such food +as the creature liked, for when he ate anything else, it became enraged and +gnawed him. When he felt it whipping about in him, he drank alcohol to stupefy +it and get some ease for himself. He could work as good as any man, and his +head was clear, but they locked him up for being different in his stomach. That +is the way; they have built the asylum for people who are different, and they +will not even let us live in the holes with the badgers. Only your great +prosperity has protected me so far. If you had had ill-fortune, they would have +taken me to Hastings long ago.” </p> <p> @@ -2372,173 +2307,165 @@ was poison to him. </p> <p> -“There is a great deal in what you say, Ivar. Like as not they will be -wanting to take me to Hastings because I have built a silo; and then I may take -you with me. But at present I need you here. Only don’t come to me again -telling me what people say. Let people go on talking as they like, and we will -go on living as we think best. You have been with me now for twelve years, and -I have gone to you for advice oftener than I have ever gone to any one. That -ought to satisfy you.” +“There is a great deal in what you say, Ivar. Like as not they will be wanting +to take me to Hastings because I have built a silo; and then I may take you +with me. But at present I need you here. Only don’t come to me again telling me +what people say. Let people go on talking as they like, and we will go on +living as we think best. You have been with me now for twelve years, and I have +gone to you for advice oftener than I have ever gone to any one. That ought to +satisfy you.” </p> <p> -Ivar bowed humbly. “Yes, mistress, I shall not trouble you with their -talk again. And as for my feet, I have observed your wishes all these years, -though you have never questioned me; washing them every night, even in -winter.” +Ivar bowed humbly. “Yes, mistress, I shall not trouble you with their talk +again. And as for my feet, I have observed your wishes all these years, though +you have never questioned me; washing them every night, even in winter.” </p> <p> -Alexandra laughed. “Oh, never mind about your feet, Ivar. We can remember -when half our neighbors went barefoot in summer. I expect old Mrs. Lee would -love to slip her shoes off now sometimes, if she dared. I’m glad -I’m not Lou’s mother-in-law.” +Alexandra laughed. “Oh, never mind about your feet, Ivar. We can remember when +half our neighbors went barefoot in summer. I expect old Mrs. Lee would love to +slip her shoes off now sometimes, if she dared. I’m glad I’m not Lou’s +mother-in-law.” </p> <p> -Ivar looked about mysteriously and lowered his voice almost to a whisper. -“You know what they have over at Lou’s house? A great white tub, -like the stone water-troughs in the old country, to wash themselves in. When -you sent me over with the strawberries, they were all in town but the old woman -Lee and the baby. She took me in and showed me the thing, and she told me it -was impossible to wash yourself clean in it, because, in so much water, you -could not make a strong suds. So when they fill it up and send her in there, -she pretends, and makes a splashing noise. Then, when they are all asleep, she -washes herself in a little wooden tub she keeps under her bed.” +Ivar looked about mysteriously and lowered his voice almost to a whisper. “You +know what they have over at Lou’s house? A great white tub, like the stone +water-troughs in the old country, to wash themselves in. When you sent me over +with the strawberries, they were all in town but the old woman Lee and the +baby. She took me in and showed me the thing, and she told me it was impossible +to wash yourself clean in it, because, in so much water, you could not make a +strong suds. So when they fill it up and send her in there, she pretends, and +makes a splashing noise. Then, when they are all asleep, she washes herself in +a little wooden tub she keeps under her bed.” </p> <p> -Alexandra shook with laughter. “Poor old Mrs. Lee! They won’t let -her wear nightcaps, either. Never mind; when she comes to visit me, she can do -all the old things in the old way, and have as much beer as she wants. -We’ll start an asylum for old-time people, Ivar.” +Alexandra shook with laughter. “Poor old Mrs. Lee! They won’t let her wear +nightcaps, either. Never mind; when she comes to visit me, she can do all the +old things in the old way, and have as much beer as she wants. We’ll start an +asylum for old-time people, Ivar.” </p> <p> Ivar folded his big handkerchief carefully and thrust it back into his blouse. -“This is always the way, mistress. I come to you sorrowing, and you send -me away with a light heart. And will you be so good as to tell the Irishman -that he is not to work the brown gelding until the sore on its shoulder is -healed?” +“This is always the way, mistress. I come to you sorrowing, and you send me +away with a light heart. And will you be so good as to tell the Irishman that +he is not to work the brown gelding until the sore on its shoulder is healed?” </p> <p> -“That I will. Now go and put Emil’s mare to the cart. I am going to -drive up to the north quarter to meet the man from town who is to buy my -alfalfa hay.” +“That I will. Now go and put Emil’s mare to the cart. I am going to drive up to +the north quarter to meet the man from town who is to buy my alfalfa hay.” </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"></a>III</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0010"></a>III</h2> <p> -Alexandra was to hear more of Ivar’s case, however. On Sunday her married +Alexandra was to hear more of Ivar’s case, however. On Sunday her married brothers came to dinner. She had asked them for that day because Emil, who -hated family parties, would be absent, dancing at Amédée Chevalier’s -wedding, up in the French country. The table was set for company in the -dining-room, where highly varnished wood and colored glass and useless pieces -of china were conspicuous enough to satisfy the standards of the new -prosperity. Alexandra had put herself into the hands of the Hanover furniture -dealer, and he had conscientiously done his best to make her dining-room look -like his display window. She said frankly that she knew nothing about such -things, and she was willing to be governed by the general conviction that the -more useless and utterly unusable objects were, the greater their virtue as -ornament. That seemed reasonable enough. Since she liked plain things herself, -it was all the more necessary to have jars and punchbowls and candlesticks in -the company rooms for people who did appreciate them. Her guests liked to see -about them these reassuring emblems of prosperity. -</p> - -<p> -The family party was complete except for Emil, and Oscar’s wife who, in -the country phrase, “was not going anywhere just now.” Oscar sat at -the foot of the table and his four tow-headed little boys, aged from twelve to -five, were ranged at one side. Neither Oscar nor Lou has changed much; they -have simply, as Alexandra said of them long ago, grown to be more and more like -themselves. Lou now looks the older of the two; his face is thin and shrewd and -wrinkled about the eyes, while Oscar’s is thick and dull. For all his -dullness, however, Oscar makes more money than his brother, which adds to -Lou’s sharpness and uneasiness and tempts him to make a show. The trouble -with Lou is that he is tricky, and his neighbors have found out that, as Ivar -says, he has not a fox’s face for nothing. Politics being the natural -field for such talents, he neglects his farm to attend conventions and to run -for county offices. -</p> - -<p> -Lou’s wife, formerly Annie Lee, has grown to look curiously like her -husband. Her face has become longer, sharper, more aggressive. She wears her -yellow hair in a high pompadour, and is bedecked with rings and chains and -“beauty pins.” Her tight, high-heeled shoes give her an awkward -walk, and she is always more or less preoccupied with her clothes. As she sat -at the table, she kept telling her youngest daughter to “be careful now, -and not drop anything on mother.” -</p> - -<p> -The conversation at the table was all in English. Oscar’s wife, from the +hated family parties, would be absent, dancing at Amédée Chevalier’s wedding, +up in the French country. The table was set for company in the dining-room, +where highly varnished wood and colored glass and useless pieces of china were +conspicuous enough to satisfy the standards of the new prosperity. Alexandra +had put herself into the hands of the Hanover furniture dealer, and he had +conscientiously done his best to make her dining-room look like his display +window. She said frankly that she knew nothing about such things, and she was +willing to be governed by the general conviction that the more useless and +utterly unusable objects were, the greater their virtue as ornament. That +seemed reasonable enough. Since she liked plain things herself, it was all the +more necessary to have jars and punchbowls and candlesticks in the company +rooms for people who did appreciate them. Her guests liked to see about them +these reassuring emblems of prosperity. +</p> + +<p> +The family party was complete except for Emil, and Oscar’s wife who, in the +country phrase, “was not going anywhere just now.” Oscar sat at the foot of the +table and his four tow-headed little boys, aged from twelve to five, were +ranged at one side. Neither Oscar nor Lou has changed much; they have simply, +as Alexandra said of them long ago, grown to be more and more like themselves. +Lou now looks the older of the two; his face is thin and shrewd and wrinkled +about the eyes, while Oscar’s is thick and dull. For all his dullness, however, +Oscar makes more money than his brother, which adds to Lou’s sharpness and +uneasiness and tempts him to make a show. The trouble with Lou is that he is +tricky, and his neighbors have found out that, as Ivar says, he has not a fox’s +face for nothing. Politics being the natural field for such talents, he +neglects his farm to attend conventions and to run for county offices. +</p> + +<p> +Lou’s wife, formerly Annie Lee, has grown to look curiously like her husband. +Her face has become longer, sharper, more aggressive. She wears her yellow hair +in a high pompadour, and is bedecked with rings and chains and “beauty pins.” +Her tight, high-heeled shoes give her an awkward walk, and she is always more +or less preoccupied with her clothes. As she sat at the table, she kept telling +her youngest daughter to “be careful now, and not drop anything on mother.” +</p> + +<p> +The conversation at the table was all in English. Oscar’s wife, from the malaria district of Missouri, was ashamed of marrying a foreigner, and his boys do not understand a word of Swedish. Annie and Lou sometimes speak Swedish at -home, but Annie is almost as much afraid of being “caught” at it as -ever her mother was of being caught barefoot. Oscar still has a thick accent, -but Lou speaks like anybody from Iowa. +home, but Annie is almost as much afraid of being “caught” at it as ever her +mother was of being caught barefoot. Oscar still has a thick accent, but Lou +speaks like anybody from Iowa. </p> <p> -“When I was in Hastings to attend the convention,” he was saying, -“I saw the superintendent of the asylum, and I was telling him about -Ivar’s symptoms. He says Ivar’s case is one of the most dangerous -kind, and it’s a wonder he hasn’t done something violent before -this.” +“When I was in Hastings to attend the convention,” he was saying, “I saw the +superintendent of the asylum, and I was telling him about Ivar’s symptoms. He +says Ivar’s case is one of the most dangerous kind, and it’s a wonder he hasn’t +done something violent before this.” </p> <p> -Alexandra laughed good-humoredly. “Oh, nonsense, Lou! The doctors would -have us all crazy if they could. Ivar’s queer, certainly, but he has more -sense than half the hands I hire.” +Alexandra laughed good-humoredly. “Oh, nonsense, Lou! The doctors would have us +all crazy if they could. Ivar’s queer, certainly, but he has more sense than +half the hands I hire.” </p> <p> -Lou flew at his fried chicken. “Oh, I guess the doctor knows his -business, Alexandra. He was very much surprised when I told him how you’d -put up with Ivar. He says he’s likely to set fire to the barn any night, -or to take after you and the girls with an axe.” +Lou flew at his fried chicken. “Oh, I guess the doctor knows his business, +Alexandra. He was very much surprised when I told him how you’d put up with +Ivar. He says he’s likely to set fire to the barn any night, or to take after +you and the girls with an axe.” </p> <p> Little Signa, who was waiting on the table, giggled and fled to the kitchen. -Alexandra’s eyes twinkled. “That was too much for Signa, Lou. We -all know that Ivar’s perfectly harmless. The girls would as soon expect -me to chase them with an axe.” +Alexandra’s eyes twinkled. “That was too much for Signa, Lou. We all know that +Ivar’s perfectly harmless. The girls would as soon expect me to chase them with +an axe.” </p> <p> -Lou flushed and signaled to his wife. “All the same, the neighbors will -be having a say about it before long. He may burn anybody’s barn. -It’s only necessary for one property-owner in the township to make -complaint, and he’ll be taken up by force. You’d better send him -yourself and not have any hard feelings.” +Lou flushed and signaled to his wife. “All the same, the neighbors will be +having a say about it before long. He may burn anybody’s barn. It’s only +necessary for one property-owner in the township to make complaint, and he’ll +be taken up by force. You’d better send him yourself and not have any hard +feelings.” </p> <p> -Alexandra helped one of her little nephews to gravy. “Well, Lou, if any -of the neighbors try that, I’ll have myself appointed Ivar’s -guardian and take the case to court, that’s all. I am perfectly satisfied -with him.” +Alexandra helped one of her little nephews to gravy. “Well, Lou, if any of the +neighbors try that, I’ll have myself appointed Ivar’s guardian and take the +case to court, that’s all. I am perfectly satisfied with him.” </p> <p> -“Pass the preserves, Lou,” said Annie in a warning tone. She had -reasons for not wishing her husband to cross Alexandra too openly. “But -don’t you sort of hate to have people see him around here, -Alexandra?” she went on with persuasive smoothness. “He IS a -disgraceful object, and you’re fixed up so nice now. It sort of makes -people distant with you, when they never know when they’ll hear him -scratching about. My girls are afraid as death of him, aren’t you, Milly, -dear?” +“Pass the preserves, Lou,” said Annie in a warning tone. She had reasons for +not wishing her husband to cross Alexandra too openly. “But don’t you sort of +hate to have people see him around here, Alexandra?” she went on with +persuasive smoothness. “He IS a disgraceful object, and you’re fixed up so nice +now. It sort of makes people distant with you, when they never know when +they’ll hear him scratching about. My girls are afraid as death of him, aren’t +you, Milly, dear?” </p> <p> @@ -2550,64 +2477,59 @@ Alexandra winked a reply. </p> <p> -“Milly needn’t be afraid of Ivar. She’s an especial favorite -of his. In my opinion Ivar has just as much right to his own way of dressing -and thinking as we have. But I’ll see that he doesn’t bother other -people. I’ll keep him at home, so don’t trouble any more about him, -Lou. I’ve been wanting to ask you about your new bathtub. How does it -work?” +“Milly needn’t be afraid of Ivar. She’s an especial favorite of his. In my +opinion Ivar has just as much right to his own way of dressing and thinking as +we have. But I’ll see that he doesn’t bother other people. I’ll keep him at +home, so don’t trouble any more about him, Lou. I’ve been wanting to ask you +about your new bathtub. How does it work?” </p> <p> -Annie came to the fore to give Lou time to recover himself. “Oh, it works -something grand! I can’t keep him out of it. He washes himself all over -three times a week now, and uses all the hot water. I think it’s -weakening to stay in as long as he does. You ought to have one, -Alexandra.” +Annie came to the fore to give Lou time to recover himself. “Oh, it works +something grand! I can’t keep him out of it. He washes himself all over three +times a week now, and uses all the hot water. I think it’s weakening to stay in +as long as he does. You ought to have one, Alexandra.” </p> <p> -“I’m thinking of it. I might have one put in the barn for Ivar, if -it will ease people’s minds. But before I get a bathtub, I’m going -to get a piano for Milly.” +“I’m thinking of it. I might have one put in the barn for Ivar, if it will ease +people’s minds. But before I get a bathtub, I’m going to get a piano for +Milly.” </p> <p> -Oscar, at the end of the table, looked up from his plate. “What does -Milly want of a pianny? What’s the matter with her organ? She can make -some use of that, and play in church.” +Oscar, at the end of the table, looked up from his plate. “What does Milly want +of a pianny? What’s the matter with her organ? She can make some use of that, +and play in church.” </p> <p> Annie looked flustered. She had begged Alexandra not to say anything about this -plan before Oscar, who was apt to be jealous of what his sister did for -Lou’s children. Alexandra did not get on with Oscar’s wife at all. -“Milly can play in church just the same, and she’ll still play on -the organ. But practising on it so much spoils her touch. Her teacher says -so,” Annie brought out with spirit. +plan before Oscar, who was apt to be jealous of what his sister did for Lou’s +children. Alexandra did not get on with Oscar’s wife at all. “Milly can play in +church just the same, and she’ll still play on the organ. But practising on it +so much spoils her touch. Her teacher says so,” Annie brought out with spirit. </p> <p> -Oscar rolled his eyes. “Well, Milly must have got on pretty good if -she’s got past the organ. I know plenty of grown folks that -ain’t,” he said bluntly. +Oscar rolled his eyes. “Well, Milly must have got on pretty good if she’s got +past the organ. I know plenty of grown folks that ain’t,” he said bluntly. </p> <p> -Annie threw up her chin. “She has got on good, and she’s going to -play for her commencement when she graduates in town next year.” +Annie threw up her chin. “She has got on good, and she’s going to play for her +commencement when she graduates in town next year.” </p> <p> -“Yes,” said Alexandra firmly, “I think Milly deserves a -piano. All the girls around here have been taking lessons for years, but Milly -is the only one of them who can ever play anything when you ask her. I’ll -tell you when I first thought I would like to give you a piano, Milly, and that -was when you learned that book of old Swedish songs that your grandfather used -to sing. He had a sweet tenor voice, and when he was a young man he loved to -sing. I can remember hearing him singing with the sailors down in the shipyard, -when I was no bigger than Stella here,” pointing to Annie’s younger -daughter. +“Yes,” said Alexandra firmly, “I think Milly deserves a piano. All the girls +around here have been taking lessons for years, but Milly is the only one of +them who can ever play anything when you ask her. I’ll tell you when I first +thought I would like to give you a piano, Milly, and that was when you learned +that book of old Swedish songs that your grandfather used to sing. He had a +sweet tenor voice, and when he was a young man he loved to sing. I can remember +hearing him singing with the sailors down in the shipyard, when I was no bigger +than Stella here,” pointing to Annie’s younger daughter. </p> <p> @@ -2620,15 +2542,15 @@ distance, as if they already beheld the New World. </p> <p> -After dinner Lou and Oscar went to the orchard to pick cherries—they had -neither of them had the patience to grow an orchard of their own—and -Annie went down to gossip with Alexandra’s kitchen girls while they -washed the dishes. She could always find out more about Alexandra’s -domestic economy from the prattling maids than from Alexandra herself, and what -she discovered she used to her own advantage with Lou. On the Divide, -farmers’ daughters no longer went out into service, so Alexandra got her -girls from Sweden, by paying their fare over. They stayed with her until they -married, and were replaced by sisters or cousins from the old country. +After dinner Lou and Oscar went to the orchard to pick cherries—they had +neither of them had the patience to grow an orchard of their own—and Annie went +down to gossip with Alexandra’s kitchen girls while they washed the dishes. She +could always find out more about Alexandra’s domestic economy from the +prattling maids than from Alexandra herself, and what she discovered she used +to her own advantage with Lou. On the Divide, farmers’ daughters no longer went +out into service, so Alexandra got her girls from Sweden, by paying their fare +over. They stayed with her until they married, and were replaced by sisters or +cousins from the old country. </p> <p> @@ -2647,76 +2569,70 @@ low, pleasant voice. </p> <p> -“Don’t you know me, Alexandra? I would have known you, -anywhere.” +“Don’t you know me, Alexandra? I would have known you, anywhere.” </p> <p> Alexandra shaded her eyes with her hand. Suddenly she took a quick step -forward. “Can it be!” she exclaimed with feeling; “can it be -that it is Carl Linstrum? Why, Carl, it is!” She threw out both her hands -and caught his across the gate. “Sadie, Milly, run tell your father and -Uncle Oscar that our old friend Carl Linstrum is here. Be quick! Why, Carl, how -did it happen? I can’t believe this!” Alexandra shook the tears -from her eyes and laughed. +forward. “Can it be!” she exclaimed with feeling; “can it be that it is Carl +Linstrum? Why, Carl, it is!” She threw out both her hands and caught his across +the gate. “Sadie, Milly, run tell your father and Uncle Oscar that our old +friend Carl Linstrum is here. Be quick! Why, Carl, how did it happen? I can’t +believe this!” Alexandra shook the tears from her eyes and laughed. </p> <p> The stranger nodded to his driver, dropped his suitcase inside the fence, and -opened the gate. “Then you are glad to see me, and you can put me up -overnight? I couldn’t go through this country without stopping off to -have a look at you. How little you have changed! Do you know, I was sure it -would be like that. You simply couldn’t be different. How fine you -are!” He stepped back and looked at her admiringly. +opened the gate. “Then you are glad to see me, and you can put me up overnight? +I couldn’t go through this country without stopping off to have a look at you. +How little you have changed! Do you know, I was sure it would be like that. You +simply couldn’t be different. How fine you are!” He stepped back and looked at +her admiringly. </p> <p> -Alexandra blushed and laughed again. “But you yourself, Carl—with -that beard—how could I have known you? You went away a little boy.” -She reached for his suitcase and when he intercepted her she threw up her -hands. “You see, I give myself away. I have only women come to visit me, -and I do not know how to behave. Where is your trunk?” +Alexandra blushed and laughed again. “But you yourself, Carl—with that +beard—how could I have known you? You went away a little boy.” She reached for +his suitcase and when he intercepted her she threw up her hands. “You see, I +give myself away. I have only women come to visit me, and I do not know how to +behave. Where is your trunk?” </p> <p> -“It’s in Hanover. I can stay only a few days. I am on my way to the -coast.” +“It’s in Hanover. I can stay only a few days. I am on my way to the coast.” </p> <p> -They started up the path. “A few days? After all these years!” -Alexandra shook her finger at him. “See this, you have walked into a -trap. You do not get away so easy.” She put her hand affectionately on -his shoulder. “You owe me a visit for the sake of old times. Why must you -go to the coast at all?” +They started up the path. “A few days? After all these years!” Alexandra shook +her finger at him. “See this, you have walked into a trap. You do not get away +so easy.” She put her hand affectionately on his shoulder. “You owe me a visit +for the sake of old times. Why must you go to the coast at all?” </p> <p> -“Oh, I must! I am a fortune hunter. From Seattle I go on to -Alaska.” +“Oh, I must! I am a fortune hunter. From Seattle I go on to Alaska.” </p> <p> -“Alaska?” She looked at him in astonishment. “Are you going -to paint the Indians?” +“Alaska?” She looked at him in astonishment. “Are you going to paint the +Indians?” </p> <p> -“Paint?” the young man frowned. “Oh! I’m not a painter, -Alexandra. I’m an engraver. I have nothing to do with painting.” +“Paint?” the young man frowned. “Oh! I’m not a painter, Alexandra. I’m an +engraver. I have nothing to do with painting.” </p> <p> -“But on my parlor wall I have the paintings—” +“But on my parlor wall I have the paintings—” </p> <p> -He interrupted nervously. “Oh, water-color sketches—done for -amusement. I sent them to remind you of me, not because they were good. What a -wonderful place you have made of this, Alexandra.” He turned and looked -back at the wide, map-like prospect of field and hedge and pasture. “I -would never have believed it could be done. I’m disappointed in my own -eye, in my imagination.” +He interrupted nervously. “Oh, water-color sketches—done for amusement. I sent +them to remind you of me, not because they were good. What a wonderful place +you have made of this, Alexandra.” He turned and looked back at the wide, +map-like prospect of field and hedge and pasture. “I would never have believed +it could be done. I’m disappointed in my own eye, in my imagination.” </p> <p> @@ -2727,160 +2643,151 @@ longer. </p> <p> -Alexandra beckoned to them. “They think I am trying to fool them. Come, -boys, it’s Carl Linstrum, our old Carl!” +Alexandra beckoned to them. “They think I am trying to fool them. Come, boys, +it’s Carl Linstrum, our old Carl!” </p> <p> -Lou gave the visitor a quick, sidelong glance and thrust out his hand. -“Glad to see you.” +Lou gave the visitor a quick, sidelong glance and thrust out his hand. “Glad to +see you.” </p> <p> -Oscar followed with “How d’ do.” Carl could not tell whether -their offishness came from unfriendliness or from embarrassment. He and -Alexandra led the way to the porch. +Oscar followed with “How d’ do.” Carl could not tell whether their offishness +came from unfriendliness or from embarrassment. He and Alexandra led the way to +the porch. </p> <p> -“Carl,” Alexandra explained, “is on his way to Seattle. He is -going to Alaska.” +“Carl,” Alexandra explained, “is on his way to Seattle. He is going to Alaska.” </p> <p> -Oscar studied the visitor’s yellow shoes. “Got business -there?” he asked. +Oscar studied the visitor’s yellow shoes. “Got business there?” he asked. </p> <p> -Carl laughed. “Yes, very pressing business. I’m going there to get -rich. Engraving’s a very interesting profession, but a man never makes -any money at it. So I’m going to try the goldfields.” +Carl laughed. “Yes, very pressing business. I’m going there to get rich. +Engraving’s a very interesting profession, but a man never makes any money at +it. So I’m going to try the goldfields.” </p> <p> Alexandra felt that this was a tactful speech, and Lou looked up with some -interest. “Ever done anything in that line before?” +interest. “Ever done anything in that line before?” </p> <p> -“No, but I’m going to join a friend of mine who went out from New -York and has done well. He has offered to break me in.” +“No, but I’m going to join a friend of mine who went out from New York and has +done well. He has offered to break me in.” </p> <p> -“Turrible cold winters, there, I hear,” remarked Oscar. “I -thought people went up there in the spring.” +“Turrible cold winters, there, I hear,” remarked Oscar. “I thought people went +up there in the spring.” </p> <p> -“They do. But my friend is going to spend the winter in Seattle and I am -to stay with him there and learn something about prospecting before we start -north next year.” +“They do. But my friend is going to spend the winter in Seattle and I am to +stay with him there and learn something about prospecting before we start north +next year.” </p> <p> -Lou looked skeptical. “Let’s see, how long have you been away from -here?” +Lou looked skeptical. “Let’s see, how long have you been away from here?” </p> <p> -“Sixteen years. You ought to remember that, Lou, for you were married -just after we went away.” +“Sixteen years. You ought to remember that, Lou, for you were married just +after we went away.” </p> <p> -“Going to stay with us some time?” Oscar asked. +“Going to stay with us some time?” Oscar asked. </p> <p> -“A few days, if Alexandra can keep me.” +“A few days, if Alexandra can keep me.” </p> <p> -“I expect you’ll be wanting to see your old place,” Lou -observed more cordially. “You won’t hardly know it. But -there’s a few chunks of your old sod house left. Alexandra wouldn’t -never let Frank Shabata plough over it.” +“I expect you’ll be wanting to see your old place,” Lou observed more +cordially. “You won’t hardly know it. But there’s a few chunks of your old sod +house left. Alexandra wouldn’t never let Frank Shabata plough over it.” </p> <p> Annie Lee, who, ever since the visitor was announced, had been touching up her hair and settling her lace and wishing she had worn another dress, now emerged with her three daughters and introduced them. She was greatly impressed by -Carl’s urban appearance, and in her excitement talked very loud and threw -her head about. “And you ain’t married yet? At your age, now! Think -of that! You’ll have to wait for Milly. Yes, we’ve got a boy, too. -The youngest. He’s at home with his grandma. You must come over to see -mother and hear Milly play. She’s the musician of the family. She does -pyrography, too. That’s burnt wood, you know. You wouldn’t believe -what she can do with her poker. Yes, she goes to school in town, and she is the -youngest in her class by two years.” +Carl’s urban appearance, and in her excitement talked very loud and threw her +head about. “And you ain’t married yet? At your age, now! Think of that! You’ll +have to wait for Milly. Yes, we’ve got a boy, too. The youngest. He’s at home +with his grandma. You must come over to see mother and hear Milly play. She’s +the musician of the family. She does pyrography, too. That’s burnt wood, you +know. You wouldn’t believe what she can do with her poker. Yes, she goes to +school in town, and she is the youngest in her class by two years.” </p> <p> Milly looked uncomfortable and Carl took her hand again. He liked her creamy -skin and happy, innocent eyes, and he could see that her mother’s way of -talking distressed her. “I’m sure she’s a clever little -girl,” he murmured, looking at her thoughtfully. “Let me -see—Ah, it’s your mother that she looks like, Alexandra. Mrs. -Bergson must have looked just like this when she was a little girl. Does Milly -run about over the country as you and Alexandra used to, Annie?” +skin and happy, innocent eyes, and he could see that her mother’s way of +talking distressed her. “I’m sure she’s a clever little girl,” he murmured, +looking at her thoughtfully. “Let me see—Ah, it’s your mother that she looks +like, Alexandra. Mrs. Bergson must have looked just like this when she was a +little girl. Does Milly run about over the country as you and Alexandra used +to, Annie?” </p> <p> -Milly’s mother protested. “Oh, my, no! Things has changed since we -was girls. Milly has it very different. We are going to rent the place and move -into town as soon as the girls are old enough to go out into company. A good -many are doing that here now. Lou is going into business.” +Milly’s mother protested. “Oh, my, no! Things has changed since we was girls. +Milly has it very different. We are going to rent the place and move into town +as soon as the girls are old enough to go out into company. A good many are +doing that here now. Lou is going into business.” </p> <p> -Lou grinned. “That’s what she says. You better go get your things -on. Ivar’s hitching up,” he added, turning to Annie. +Lou grinned. “That’s what she says. You better go get your things on. Ivar’s +hitching up,” he added, turning to Annie. </p> <p> -Young farmers seldom address their wives by name. It is always -“you,” or “she.” +Young farmers seldom address their wives by name. It is always “you,” or “she.” </p> <p> Having got his wife out of the way, Lou sat down on the step and began to -whittle. “Well, what do folks in New York think of William Jennings -Bryan?” Lou began to bluster, as he always did when he talked politics. -“We gave Wall Street a scare in ninety-six, all right, and we’re -fixing another to hand them. Silver wasn’t the only issue,” he -nodded mysteriously. “There’s a good many things got to be changed. -The West is going to make itself heard.” +whittle. “Well, what do folks in New York think of William Jennings Bryan?” Lou +began to bluster, as he always did when he talked politics. “We gave Wall +Street a scare in ninety-six, all right, and we’re fixing another to hand them. +Silver wasn’t the only issue,” he nodded mysteriously. “There’s a good many +things got to be changed. The West is going to make itself heard.” </p> <p> -Carl laughed. “But, surely, it did do that, if nothing else.” +Carl laughed. “But, surely, it did do that, if nothing else.” </p> <p> -Lou’s thin face reddened up to the roots of his bristly hair. “Oh, -we’ve only begun. We’re waking up to a sense of our -responsibilities, out here, and we ain’t afraid, neither. You fellows -back there must be a tame lot. If you had any nerve you’d get together -and march down to Wall Street and blow it up. Dynamite it, I mean,” with -a threatening nod. +Lou’s thin face reddened up to the roots of his bristly hair. “Oh, we’ve only +begun. We’re waking up to a sense of our responsibilities, out here, and we +ain’t afraid, neither. You fellows back there must be a tame lot. If you had +any nerve you’d get together and march down to Wall Street and blow it up. +Dynamite it, I mean,” with a threatening nod. </p> <p> -He was so much in earnest that Carl scarcely knew how to answer him. -“That would be a waste of powder. The same business would go on in -another street. The street doesn’t matter. But what have you fellows out -here got to kick about? You have the only safe place there is. Morgan himself -couldn’t touch you. One only has to drive through this country to see -that you’re all as rich as barons.” +He was so much in earnest that Carl scarcely knew how to answer him. “That +would be a waste of powder. The same business would go on in another street. +The street doesn’t matter. But what have you fellows out here got to kick +about? You have the only safe place there is. Morgan himself couldn’t touch +you. One only has to drive through this country to see that you’re all as rich +as barons.” </p> <p> -“We have a good deal more to say than we had when we were poor,” -said Lou threateningly. “We’re getting on to a whole lot of -things.” +“We have a good deal more to say than we had when we were poor,” said Lou +threateningly. “We’re getting on to a whole lot of things.” </p> <p> @@ -2890,50 +2797,49 @@ carriage, while Lou lingered for a word with his sister. </p> <p> -“What do you suppose he’s come for?” he asked, jerking his -head toward the gate. +“What do you suppose he’s come for?” he asked, jerking his head toward the +gate. </p> <p> -“Why, to pay us a visit. I’ve been begging him to for years.” +“Why, to pay us a visit. I’ve been begging him to for years.” </p> <p> -Oscar looked at Alexandra. “He didn’t let you know he was -coming?” +Oscar looked at Alexandra. “He didn’t let you know he was coming?” </p> <p> -“No. Why should he? I told him to come at any time.” +“No. Why should he? I told him to come at any time.” </p> <p> -Lou shrugged his shoulders. “He doesn’t seem to have done much for -himself. Wandering around this way!” +Lou shrugged his shoulders. “He doesn’t seem to have done much for himself. +Wandering around this way!” </p> <p> -Oscar spoke solemnly, as from the depths of a cavern. “He never was much -account.” +Oscar spoke solemnly, as from the depths of a cavern. “He never was much +account.” </p> <p> Alexandra left them and hurried down to the gate where Annie was rattling on to -Carl about her new dining-room furniture. “You must bring Mr. Linstrum -over real soon, only be sure to telephone me first,” she called back, as -Carl helped her into the carriage. Old Ivar, his white head bare, stood holding -the horses. Lou came down the path and climbed into the front seat, took up the -reins, and drove off without saying anything further to any one. Oscar picked -up his youngest boy and trudged off down the road, the other three trotting -after him. Carl, holding the gate open for Alexandra, began to laugh. “Up -and coming on the Divide, eh, Alexandra?” he cried gayly. +Carl about her new dining-room furniture. “You must bring Mr. Linstrum over +real soon, only be sure to telephone me first,” she called back, as Carl helped +her into the carriage. Old Ivar, his white head bare, stood holding the horses. +Lou came down the path and climbed into the front seat, took up the reins, and +drove off without saying anything further to any one. Oscar picked up his +youngest boy and trudged off down the road, the other three trotting after him. +Carl, holding the gate open for Alexandra, began to laugh. “Up and coming on +the Divide, eh, Alexandra?” he cried gayly. </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"></a>IV</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0011"></a>IV</h2> <p> Carl had changed, Alexandra felt, much less than one might have expected. He @@ -2957,241 +2863,231 @@ the moonlight, and below them the fields lay white and still. </p> <p> -“Do you know, Alexandra,” he was saying, “I’ve been -thinking how strangely things work out. I’ve been away engraving other -men’s pictures, and you’ve stayed at home and made your own.” -He pointed with his cigar toward the sleeping landscape. “How in the -world have you done it? How have your neighbors done it?” +“Do you know, Alexandra,” he was saying, “I’ve been thinking how strangely +things work out. I’ve been away engraving other men’s pictures, and you’ve +stayed at home and made your own.” He pointed with his cigar toward the +sleeping landscape. “How in the world have you done it? How have your neighbors +done it?” </p> <p> -“We hadn’t any of us much to do with it, Carl. The land did it. It -had its little joke. It pretended to be poor because nobody knew how to work it -right; and then, all at once, it worked itself. It woke up out of its sleep and +“We hadn’t any of us much to do with it, Carl. The land did it. It had its +little joke. It pretended to be poor because nobody knew how to work it right; +and then, all at once, it worked itself. It woke up out of its sleep and stretched itself, and it was so big, so rich, that we suddenly found we were rich, just from sitting still. As for me, you remember when I began to buy land. For years after that I was always squeezing and borrowing until I was ashamed to show my face in the banks. And then, all at once, men began to come -to me offering to lend me money—and I didn’t need it! Then I went -ahead and built this house. I really built it for Emil. I want you to see Emil, -Carl. He is so different from the rest of us!” +to me offering to lend me money—and I didn’t need it! Then I went ahead and +built this house. I really built it for Emil. I want you to see Emil, Carl. He +is so different from the rest of us!” </p> <p> -“How different?” +“How different?” </p> <p> -“Oh, you’ll see! I’m sure it was to have sons like Emil, and -to give them a chance, that father left the old country. It’s curious, -too; on the outside Emil is just like an American boy,—he graduated from -the State University in June, you know,—but underneath he is more Swedish -than any of us. Sometimes he is so like father that he frightens me; he is so -violent in his feelings like that.” +“Oh, you’ll see! I’m sure it was to have sons like Emil, and to give them a +chance, that father left the old country. It’s curious, too; on the outside +Emil is just like an American boy,—he graduated from the State University in +June, you know,—but underneath he is more Swedish than any of us. Sometimes he +is so like father that he frightens me; he is so violent in his feelings like +that.” </p> <p> -“Is he going to farm here with you?” +“Is he going to farm here with you?” </p> <p> -“He shall do whatever he wants to,” Alexandra declared warmly. -“He is going to have a chance, a whole chance; that’s what -I’ve worked for. Sometimes he talks about studying law, and sometimes, -just lately, he’s been talking about going out into the sand hills and -taking up more land. He has his sad times, like father. But I hope he -won’t do that. We have land enough, at last!” Alexandra laughed. +“He shall do whatever he wants to,” Alexandra declared warmly. “He is going to +have a chance, a whole chance; that’s what I’ve worked for. Sometimes he talks +about studying law, and sometimes, just lately, he’s been talking about going +out into the sand hills and taking up more land. He has his sad times, like +father. But I hope he won’t do that. We have land enough, at last!” Alexandra +laughed. </p> <p> -“How about Lou and Oscar? They’ve done well, haven’t -they?” +“How about Lou and Oscar? They’ve done well, haven’t they?” </p> <p> -“Yes, very well; but they are different, and now that they have farms of -their own I do not see so much of them. We divided the land equally when Lou -married. They have their own way of doing things, and they do not altogether -like my way, I am afraid. Perhaps they think me too independent. But I have had -to think for myself a good many years and am not likely to change. On the -whole, though, we take as much comfort in each other as most brothers and -sisters do. And I am very fond of Lou’s oldest daughter.” +“Yes, very well; but they are different, and now that they have farms of their +own I do not see so much of them. We divided the land equally when Lou married. +They have their own way of doing things, and they do not altogether like my +way, I am afraid. Perhaps they think me too independent. But I have had to +think for myself a good many years and am not likely to change. On the whole, +though, we take as much comfort in each other as most brothers and sisters do. +And I am very fond of Lou’s oldest daughter.” </p> <p> -“I think I liked the old Lou and Oscar better, and they probably feel the -same about me. I even, if you can keep a secret,”—Carl leaned -forward and touched her arm, smiling,—“I even think I liked the old -country better. This is all very splendid in its way, but there was something -about this country when it was a wild old beast that has haunted me all these -years. Now, when I come back to all this milk and honey, I feel like the old -German song, ‘Wo bist du, wo bist du, mein geliebtest -Land?’—Do you ever feel like that, I wonder?” +“I think I liked the old Lou and Oscar better, and they probably feel the same +about me. I even, if you can keep a secret,”—Carl leaned forward and touched +her arm, smiling,—“I even think I liked the old country better. This is all +very splendid in its way, but there was something about this country when it +was a wild old beast that has haunted me all these years. Now, when I come back +to all this milk and honey, I feel like the old German song, ‘Wo bist du, wo +bist du, mein geliebtest Land?’—Do you ever feel like that, I wonder?” </p> <p> -“Yes, sometimes, when I think about father and mother and those who are -gone; so many of our old neighbors.” Alexandra paused and looked up -thoughtfully at the stars. “We can remember the graveyard when it was -wild prairie, Carl, and now—” +“Yes, sometimes, when I think about father and mother and those who are gone; +so many of our old neighbors.” Alexandra paused and looked up thoughtfully at +the stars. “We can remember the graveyard when it was wild prairie, Carl, and +now—” </p> <p> -“And now the old story has begun to write itself over there,” said -Carl softly. “Isn’t it queer: there are only two or three human -stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never -happened before; like the larks in this country, that have been singing the -same five notes over for thousands of years.” +“And now the old story has begun to write itself over there,” said Carl softly. +“Isn’t it queer: there are only two or three human stories, and they go on +repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before; like the +larks in this country, that have been singing the same five notes over for +thousands of years.” </p> <p> -“Oh, yes! The young people, they live so hard. And yet I sometimes envy -them. There is my little neighbor, now; the people who bought your old place. I -wouldn’t have sold it to any one else, but I was always fond of that -girl. You must remember her, little Marie Tovesky, from Omaha, who used to -visit here? When she was eighteen she ran away from the convent school and got -married, crazy child! She came out here a bride, with her father and husband. -He had nothing, and the old man was willing to buy them a place and set them -up. Your farm took her fancy, and I was glad to have her so near me. I’ve -never been sorry, either. I even try to get along with Frank on her -account.” +“Oh, yes! The young people, they live so hard. And yet I sometimes envy them. +There is my little neighbor, now; the people who bought your old place. I +wouldn’t have sold it to any one else, but I was always fond of that girl. You +must remember her, little Marie Tovesky, from Omaha, who used to visit here? +When she was eighteen she ran away from the convent school and got married, +crazy child! She came out here a bride, with her father and husband. He had +nothing, and the old man was willing to buy them a place and set them up. Your +farm took her fancy, and I was glad to have her so near me. I’ve never been +sorry, either. I even try to get along with Frank on her account.” </p> <p> -“Is Frank her husband?” +“Is Frank her husband?” </p> <p> -“Yes. He’s one of these wild fellows. Most Bohemians are -good-natured, but Frank thinks we don’t appreciate him here, I guess. -He’s jealous about everything, his farm and his horses and his pretty -wife. Everybody likes her, just the same as when she was little. Sometimes I go -up to the Catholic church with Emil, and it’s funny to see Marie standing -there laughing and shaking hands with people, looking so excited and gay, with -Frank sulking behind her as if he could eat everybody alive. Frank’s not -a bad neighbor, but to get on with him you’ve got to make a fuss over him -and act as if you thought he was a very important person all the time, and -different from other people. I find it hard to keep that up from one -year’s end to another.” +“Yes. He’s one of these wild fellows. Most Bohemians are good-natured, but +Frank thinks we don’t appreciate him here, I guess. He’s jealous about +everything, his farm and his horses and his pretty wife. Everybody likes her, +just the same as when she was little. Sometimes I go up to the Catholic church +with Emil, and it’s funny to see Marie standing there laughing and shaking +hands with people, looking so excited and gay, with Frank sulking behind her as +if he could eat everybody alive. Frank’s not a bad neighbor, but to get on with +him you’ve got to make a fuss over him and act as if you thought he was a very +important person all the time, and different from other people. I find it hard +to keep that up from one year’s end to another.” </p> <p> -“I shouldn’t think you’d be very successful at that kind of -thing, Alexandra.” Carl seemed to find the idea amusing. +“I shouldn’t think you’d be very successful at that kind of thing, Alexandra.” +Carl seemed to find the idea amusing. </p> <p> -“Well,” said Alexandra firmly, “I do the best I can, on -Marie’s account. She has it hard enough, anyway. She’s too young -and pretty for this sort of life. We’re all ever so much older and -slower. But she’s the kind that won’t be downed easily. -She’ll work all day and go to a Bohemian wedding and dance all night, and -drive the hay wagon for a cross man next morning. I could stay by a job, but I -never had the go in me that she has, when I was going my best. I’ll have -to take you over to see her to-morrow.” +“Well,” said Alexandra firmly, “I do the best I can, on Marie’s account. She +has it hard enough, anyway. She’s too young and pretty for this sort of life. +We’re all ever so much older and slower. But she’s the kind that won’t be +downed easily. She’ll work all day and go to a Bohemian wedding and dance all +night, and drive the hay wagon for a cross man next morning. I could stay by a +job, but I never had the go in me that she has, when I was going my best. I’ll +have to take you over to see her to-morrow.” </p> <p> Carl dropped the end of his cigar softly among the castor beans and sighed. -“Yes, I suppose I must see the old place. I’m cowardly about things -that remind me of myself. It took courage to come at all, Alexandra. I -wouldn’t have, if I hadn’t wanted to see you very, very -much.” +“Yes, I suppose I must see the old place. I’m cowardly about things that remind +me of myself. It took courage to come at all, Alexandra. I wouldn’t have, if I +hadn’t wanted to see you very, very much.” </p> <p> -Alexandra looked at him with her calm, deliberate eyes. “Why do you dread -things like that, Carl?” she asked earnestly. “Why are you -dissatisfied with yourself?” +Alexandra looked at him with her calm, deliberate eyes. “Why do you dread +things like that, Carl?” she asked earnestly. “Why are you dissatisfied with +yourself?” </p> <p> -Her visitor winced. “How direct you are, Alexandra! Just like you used to -be. Do I give myself away so quickly? Well, you see, for one thing, -there’s nothing to look forward to in my profession. Wood-engraving is -the only thing I care about, and that had gone out before I began. -Everything’s cheap metal work nowadays, touching up miserable -photographs, forcing up poor drawings, and spoiling good ones. I’m -absolutely sick of it all.” Carl frowned. “Alexandra, all the way -out from New York I’ve been planning how I could deceive you and make you -think me a very enviable fellow, and here I am telling you the truth the first -night. I waste a lot of time pretending to people, and the joke of it is, I -don’t think I ever deceive any one. There are too many of my kind; people -know us on sight.” +Her visitor winced. “How direct you are, Alexandra! Just like you used to be. +Do I give myself away so quickly? Well, you see, for one thing, there’s nothing +to look forward to in my profession. Wood-engraving is the only thing I care +about, and that had gone out before I began. Everything’s cheap metal work +nowadays, touching up miserable photographs, forcing up poor drawings, and +spoiling good ones. I’m absolutely sick of it all.” Carl frowned. “Alexandra, +all the way out from New York I’ve been planning how I could deceive you and +make you think me a very enviable fellow, and here I am telling you the truth +the first night. I waste a lot of time pretending to people, and the joke of it +is, I don’t think I ever deceive any one. There are too many of my kind; people +know us on sight.” </p> <p> Carl paused. Alexandra pushed her hair back from her brow with a puzzled, -thoughtful gesture. “You see,” he went on calmly, “measured -by your standards here, I’m a failure. I couldn’t buy even one of -your cornfields. I’ve enjoyed a great many things, but I’ve got -nothing to show for it all.” +thoughtful gesture. “You see,” he went on calmly, “measured by your standards +here, I’m a failure. I couldn’t buy even one of your cornfields. I’ve enjoyed a +great many things, but I’ve got nothing to show for it all.” </p> <p> -“But you show for it yourself, Carl. I’d rather have had your -freedom than my land.” +“But you show for it yourself, Carl. I’d rather have had your freedom than my +land.” </p> <p> -Carl shook his head mournfully. “Freedom so often means that one -isn’t needed anywhere. Here you are an individual, you have a background -of your own, you would be missed. But off there in the cities there are -thousands of rolling stones like me. We are all alike; we have no ties, we know -nobody, we own nothing. When one of us dies, they scarcely know where to bury -him. Our landlady and the delicatessen man are our mourners, and we leave -nothing behind us but a frock-coat and a fiddle, or an easel, or a typewriter, -or whatever tool we got our living by. All we have ever managed to do is to pay -our rent, the exorbitant rent that one has to pay for a few square feet of -space near the heart of things. We have no house, no place, no people of our -own. We live in the streets, in the parks, in the theatres. We sit in -restaurants and concert halls and look about at the hundreds of our own kind -and shudder.” +Carl shook his head mournfully. “Freedom so often means that one isn’t needed +anywhere. Here you are an individual, you have a background of your own, you +would be missed. But off there in the cities there are thousands of rolling +stones like me. We are all alike; we have no ties, we know nobody, we own +nothing. When one of us dies, they scarcely know where to bury him. Our +landlady and the delicatessen man are our mourners, and we leave nothing behind +us but a frock-coat and a fiddle, or an easel, or a typewriter, or whatever +tool we got our living by. All we have ever managed to do is to pay our rent, +the exorbitant rent that one has to pay for a few square feet of space near the +heart of things. We have no house, no place, no people of our own. We live in +the streets, in the parks, in the theatres. We sit in restaurants and concert +halls and look about at the hundreds of our own kind and shudder.” </p> <p> Alexandra was silent. She sat looking at the silver spot the moon made on the surface of the pond down in the pasture. He knew that she understood what he -meant. At last she said slowly, “And yet I would rather have Emil grow up -like that than like his two brothers. We pay a high rent, too, though we pay -differently. We grow hard and heavy here. We don’t move lightly and -easily as you do, and our minds get stiff. If the world were no wider than my -cornfields, if there were not something beside this, I wouldn’t feel that -it was much worth while to work. No, I would rather have Emil like you than -like them. I felt that as soon as you came.” +meant. At last she said slowly, “And yet I would rather have Emil grow up like +that than like his two brothers. We pay a high rent, too, though we pay +differently. We grow hard and heavy here. We don’t move lightly and easily as +you do, and our minds get stiff. If the world were no wider than my cornfields, +if there were not something beside this, I wouldn’t feel that it was much worth +while to work. No, I would rather have Emil like you than like them. I felt +that as soon as you came.” </p> <p> -“I wonder why you feel like that?” Carl mused. +“I wonder why you feel like that?” Carl mused. </p> <p> -“I don’t know. Perhaps I am like Carrie Jensen, the sister of one -of my hired men. She had never been out of the cornfields, and a few years ago -she got despondent and said life was just the same thing over and over, and she -didn’t see the use of it. After she had tried to kill herself once or -twice, her folks got worried and sent her over to Iowa to visit some relations. -Ever since she’s come back she’s been perfectly cheerful, and she -says she’s contented to live and work in a world that’s so big and -interesting. She said that anything as big as the bridges over the Platte and -the Missouri reconciled her. And it’s what goes on in the world that -reconciles me.” +“I don’t know. Perhaps I am like Carrie Jensen, the sister of one of my hired +men. She had never been out of the cornfields, and a few years ago she got +despondent and said life was just the same thing over and over, and she didn’t +see the use of it. After she had tried to kill herself once or twice, her folks +got worried and sent her over to Iowa to visit some relations. Ever since she’s +come back she’s been perfectly cheerful, and she says she’s contented to live +and work in a world that’s so big and interesting. She said that anything as +big as the bridges over the Platte and the Missouri reconciled her. And it’s +what goes on in the world that reconciles me.” </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"></a>V</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0012"></a>V</h2> <p> -Alexandra did not find time to go to her neighbor’s the next day, nor the -next. It was a busy season on the farm, with the corn-plowing going on, and -even Emil was in the field with a team and cultivator. Carl went about over the -farms with Alexandra in the morning, and in the afternoon and evening they -found a great deal to talk about. Emil, for all his track practice, did not -stand up under farmwork very well, and by night he was too tired to talk or -even to practise on his cornet. +Alexandra did not find time to go to her neighbor’s the next day, nor the next. +It was a busy season on the farm, with the corn-plowing going on, and even Emil +was in the field with a team and cultivator. Carl went about over the farms +with Alexandra in the morning, and in the afternoon and evening they found a +great deal to talk about. Emil, for all his track practice, did not stand up +under farmwork very well, and by night he was too tired to talk or even to +practise on his cornet. </p> <p> @@ -3229,54 +3125,52 @@ in. </p> <p> -He crossed the fence into the pasture that was now the Shabatas’ and -continued his walk toward the pond. He had not gone far, however, when he -discovered that he was not the only person abroad. In the draw below, his gun -in his hands, was Emil, advancing cautiously, with a young woman beside him. -They were moving softly, keeping close together, and Carl knew that they -expected to find ducks on the pond. At the moment when they came in sight of -the bright spot of water, he heard a whirr of wings and the ducks shot up into -the air. There was a sharp crack from the gun, and five of the birds fell to -the ground. Emil and his companion laughed delightedly, and Emil ran to pick -them up. When he came back, dangling the ducks by their feet, Marie held her -apron and he dropped them into it. As she stood looking down at them, her face -changed. She took up one of the birds, a rumpled ball of feathers with the -blood dripping slowly from its mouth, and looked at the live color that still -burned on its plumage. +He crossed the fence into the pasture that was now the Shabatas’ and continued +his walk toward the pond. He had not gone far, however, when he discovered that +he was not the only person abroad. In the draw below, his gun in his hands, was +Emil, advancing cautiously, with a young woman beside him. They were moving +softly, keeping close together, and Carl knew that they expected to find ducks +on the pond. At the moment when they came in sight of the bright spot of water, +he heard a whirr of wings and the ducks shot up into the air. There was a sharp +crack from the gun, and five of the birds fell to the ground. Emil and his +companion laughed delightedly, and Emil ran to pick them up. When he came back, +dangling the ducks by their feet, Marie held her apron and he dropped them into +it. As she stood looking down at them, her face changed. She took up one of the +birds, a rumpled ball of feathers with the blood dripping slowly from its +mouth, and looked at the live color that still burned on its plumage. </p> <p> -As she let it fall, she cried in distress, “Oh, Emil, why did you?” +As she let it fall, she cried in distress, “Oh, Emil, why did you?” </p> <p> -“I like that!” the boy exclaimed indignantly. “Why, Marie, -you asked me to come yourself.” +“I like that!” the boy exclaimed indignantly. “Why, Marie, you asked me to come +yourself.” </p> <p> -“Yes, yes, I know,” she said tearfully, “but I didn’t -think. I hate to see them when they are first shot. They were having such a -good time, and we’ve spoiled it all for them.” +“Yes, yes, I know,” she said tearfully, “but I didn’t think. I hate to see them +when they are first shot. They were having such a good time, and we’ve spoiled +it all for them.” </p> <p> -Emil gave a rather sore laugh. “I should say we had! I’m not going -hunting with you any more. You’re as bad as Ivar. Here, let me take -them.” He snatched the ducks out of her apron. +Emil gave a rather sore laugh. “I should say we had! I’m not going hunting with +you any more. You’re as bad as Ivar. Here, let me take them.” He snatched the +ducks out of her apron. </p> <p> -“Don’t be cross, Emil. Only—Ivar’s right about wild -things. They’re too happy to kill. You can tell just how they felt when -they flew up. They were scared, but they didn’t really think anything -could hurt them. No, we won’t do that any more.” +“Don’t be cross, Emil. Only—Ivar’s right about wild things. They’re too happy +to kill. You can tell just how they felt when they flew up. They were scared, +but they didn’t really think anything could hurt them. No, we won’t do that any +more.” </p> <p> -“All right,” Emil assented. “I’m sorry I made you feel -bad.” As he looked down into her tearful eyes, there was a curious, sharp -young bitterness in his own. +“All right,” Emil assented. “I’m sorry I made you feel bad.” As he looked down +into her tearful eyes, there was a curious, sharp young bitterness in his own. </p> <p> @@ -3290,120 +3184,115 @@ the pasture in the early morning. He decided that he needed his breakfast. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"></a>VI</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0013"></a>VI</h2> <p> At dinner that day Alexandra said she thought they must really manage to go -over to the Shabatas’ that afternoon. “It’s not often I let -three days go by without seeing Marie. She will think I have forsaken her, now -that my old friend has come back.” +over to the Shabatas’ that afternoon. “It’s not often I let three days go by +without seeing Marie. She will think I have forsaken her, now that my old +friend has come back.” </p> <p> After the men had gone back to work, Alexandra put on a white dress and her -sun-hat, and she and Carl set forth across the fields. “You see we have -kept up the old path, Carl. It has been so nice for me to feel that there was a -friend at the other end of it again.” +sun-hat, and she and Carl set forth across the fields. “You see we have kept up +the old path, Carl. It has been so nice for me to feel that there was a friend +at the other end of it again.” </p> <p> -Carl smiled a little ruefully. “All the same, I hope it hasn’t been -<i>quite</i> the same.” +Carl smiled a little ruefully. “All the same, I hope it hasn’t been +<i>quite</i> the same.” </p> <p> -Alexandra looked at him with surprise. “Why, no, of course not. Not the -same. She could not very well take your place, if that’s what you mean. -I’m friendly with all my neighbors, I hope. But Marie is really a -companion, some one I can talk to quite frankly. You wouldn’t want me to -be more lonely than I have been, would you?” +Alexandra looked at him with surprise. “Why, no, of course not. Not the same. +She could not very well take your place, if that’s what you mean. I’m friendly +with all my neighbors, I hope. But Marie is really a companion, some one I can +talk to quite frankly. You wouldn’t want me to be more lonely than I have been, +would you?” </p> <p> Carl laughed and pushed back the triangular lock of hair with the edge of his -hat. “Of course I don’t. I ought to be thankful that this path -hasn’t been worn by—well, by friends with more pressing errands -than your little Bohemian is likely to have.” He paused to give Alexandra -his hand as she stepped over the stile. “Are you the least bit -disappointed in our coming together again?” he asked abruptly. “Is -it the way you hoped it would be?” +hat. “Of course I don’t. I ought to be thankful that this path hasn’t been worn +by—well, by friends with more pressing errands than your little Bohemian is +likely to have.” He paused to give Alexandra his hand as she stepped over the +stile. “Are you the least bit disappointed in our coming together again?” he +asked abruptly. “Is it the way you hoped it would be?” </p> <p> -Alexandra smiled at this. “Only better. When I’ve thought about -your coming, I’ve sometimes been a little afraid of it. You have lived -where things move so fast, and everything is slow here; the people slowest of -all. Our lives are like the years, all made up of weather and crops and cows. -How you hated cows!” She shook her head and laughed to herself. +Alexandra smiled at this. “Only better. When I’ve thought about your coming, +I’ve sometimes been a little afraid of it. You have lived where things move so +fast, and everything is slow here; the people slowest of all. Our lives are +like the years, all made up of weather and crops and cows. How you hated cows!” +She shook her head and laughed to herself. </p> <p> -“I didn’t when we milked together. I walked up to the pasture -corners this morning. I wonder whether I shall ever be able to tell you all -that I was thinking about up there. It’s a strange thing, Alexandra; I -find it easy to be frank with you about everything under the sun -except—yourself!” +“I didn’t when we milked together. I walked up to the pasture corners this +morning. I wonder whether I shall ever be able to tell you all that I was +thinking about up there. It’s a strange thing, Alexandra; I find it easy to be +frank with you about everything under the sun except—yourself!” </p> <p> -“You are afraid of hurting my feelings, perhaps.” Alexandra looked -at him thoughtfully. +“You are afraid of hurting my feelings, perhaps.” Alexandra looked at him +thoughtfully. </p> <p> -“No, I’m afraid of giving you a shock. You’ve seen yourself -for so long in the dull minds of the people about you, that if I were to tell -you how you seem to me, it would startle you. But you must see that you -astonish me. You must feel when people admire you.” +“No, I’m afraid of giving you a shock. You’ve seen yourself for so long in the +dull minds of the people about you, that if I were to tell you how you seem to +me, it would startle you. But you must see that you astonish me. You must feel +when people admire you.” </p> <p> -Alexandra blushed and laughed with some confusion. “I felt that you were -pleased with me, if you mean that.” +Alexandra blushed and laughed with some confusion. “I felt that you were +pleased with me, if you mean that.” </p> <p> -“And you’ve felt when other people were pleased with you?” he -insisted. +“And you’ve felt when other people were pleased with you?” he insisted. </p> <p> -“Well, sometimes. The men in town, at the banks and the county offices, -seem glad to see me. I think, myself, it is more pleasant to do business with -people who are clean and healthy-looking,” she admitted blandly. +“Well, sometimes. The men in town, at the banks and the county offices, seem +glad to see me. I think, myself, it is more pleasant to do business with people +who are clean and healthy-looking,” she admitted blandly. </p> <p> -Carl gave a little chuckle as he opened the Shabatas’ gate for her. -“Oh, do you?” he asked dryly. +Carl gave a little chuckle as he opened the Shabatas’ gate for her. “Oh, do +you?” he asked dryly. </p> <p> -There was no sign of life about the Shabatas’ house except a big yellow -cat, sunning itself on the kitchen doorstep. +There was no sign of life about the Shabatas’ house except a big yellow cat, +sunning itself on the kitchen doorstep. </p> <p> -Alexandra took the path that led to the orchard. “She often sits there -and sews. I didn’t telephone her we were coming, because I didn’t -want her to go to work and bake cake and freeze ice-cream. She’ll always -make a party if you give her the least excuse. Do you recognize the apple -trees, Carl?” +Alexandra took the path that led to the orchard. “She often sits there and +sews. I didn’t telephone her we were coming, because I didn’t want her to go to +work and bake cake and freeze ice-cream. She’ll always make a party if you give +her the least excuse. Do you recognize the apple trees, Carl?” </p> <p> -Linstrum looked about him. “I wish I had a dollar for every bucket of -water I’ve carried for those trees. Poor father, he was an easy man, but -he was perfectly merciless when it came to watering the orchard.” +Linstrum looked about him. “I wish I had a dollar for every bucket of water +I’ve carried for those trees. Poor father, he was an easy man, but he was +perfectly merciless when it came to watering the orchard.” </p> <p> -“That’s one thing I like about Germans; they make an orchard grow -if they can’t make anything else. I’m so glad these trees belong to -some one who takes comfort in them. When I rented this place, the tenants never -kept the orchard up, and Emil and I used to come over and take care of it -ourselves. It needs mowing now. There she is, down in the corner. -Maria-a-a!” she called. +“That’s one thing I like about Germans; they make an orchard grow if they can’t +make anything else. I’m so glad these trees belong to some one who takes +comfort in them. When I rented this place, the tenants never kept the orchard +up, and Emil and I used to come over and take care of it ourselves. It needs +mowing now. There she is, down in the corner. Maria-a-a!” she called. </p> <p> @@ -3412,29 +3301,26 @@ through the flickering screen of light and shade. </p> <p> -“Look at her! Isn’t she like a little brown rabbit?” -Alexandra laughed. +“Look at her! Isn’t she like a little brown rabbit?” Alexandra laughed. </p> <p> -Maria ran up panting and threw her arms about Alexandra. “Oh, I had begun -to think you were not coming at all, maybe. I knew you were so busy. Yes, Emil -told me about Mr. Linstrum being here. Won’t you come up to the -house?” +Maria ran up panting and threw her arms about Alexandra. “Oh, I had begun to +think you were not coming at all, maybe. I knew you were so busy. Yes, Emil +told me about Mr. Linstrum being here. Won’t you come up to the house?” </p> <p> -“Why not sit down there in your corner? Carl wants to see the orchard. He -kept all these trees alive for years, watering them with his own back.” +“Why not sit down there in your corner? Carl wants to see the orchard. He kept +all these trees alive for years, watering them with his own back.” </p> <p> -Marie turned to Carl. “Then I’m thankful to you, Mr. Linstrum. -We’d never have bought the place if it hadn’t been for this -orchard, and then I wouldn’t have had Alexandra, either.” She gave -Alexandra’s arm a little squeeze as she walked beside her. “How -nice your dress smells, Alexandra; you put rosemary leaves in your chest, like -I told you.” +Marie turned to Carl. “Then I’m thankful to you, Mr. Linstrum. We’d never have +bought the place if it hadn’t been for this orchard, and then I wouldn’t have +had Alexandra, either.” She gave Alexandra’s arm a little squeeze as she walked +beside her. “How nice your dress smells, Alexandra; you put rosemary leaves in +your chest, like I told you.” </p> <p> @@ -3448,100 +3334,97 @@ and a workbasket. </p> <p> -“You must have the seat, Alexandra. The grass would stain your -dress,” the hostess insisted. She dropped down on the ground at -Alexandra’s side and tucked her feet under her. Carl sat at a little -distance from the two women, his back to the wheatfield, and watched them. -Alexandra took off her shade-hat and threw it on the ground. Marie picked it up -and played with the white ribbons, twisting them about her brown fingers as she -talked. They made a pretty picture in the strong sunlight, the leafy pattern -surrounding them like a net; the Swedish woman so white and gold, kindly and -amused, but armored in calm, and the alert brown one, her full lips parted, -points of yellow light dancing in her eyes as she laughed and chattered. Carl -had never forgotten little Marie Tovesky’s eyes, and he was glad to have -an opportunity to study them. The brown iris, he found, was curiously slashed -with yellow, the color of sunflower honey, or of old amber. In each eye one of -these streaks must have been larger than the others, for the effect was that of -two dancing points of light, two little yellow bubbles, such as rise in a glass -of champagne. Sometimes they seemed like the sparks from a forge. She seemed so -easily excited, to kindle with a fierce little flame if one but breathed upon -her. “What a waste,” Carl reflected. “She ought to be doing -all that for a sweetheart. How awkwardly things come about!” +“You must have the seat, Alexandra. The grass would stain your dress,” the +hostess insisted. She dropped down on the ground at Alexandra’s side and tucked +her feet under her. Carl sat at a little distance from the two women, his back +to the wheatfield, and watched them. Alexandra took off her shade-hat and threw +it on the ground. Marie picked it up and played with the white ribbons, +twisting them about her brown fingers as she talked. They made a pretty picture +in the strong sunlight, the leafy pattern surrounding them like a net; the +Swedish woman so white and gold, kindly and amused, but armored in calm, and +the alert brown one, her full lips parted, points of yellow light dancing in +her eyes as she laughed and chattered. Carl had never forgotten little Marie +Tovesky’s eyes, and he was glad to have an opportunity to study them. The brown +iris, he found, was curiously slashed with yellow, the color of sunflower +honey, or of old amber. In each eye one of these streaks must have been larger +than the others, for the effect was that of two dancing points of light, two +little yellow bubbles, such as rise in a glass of champagne. Sometimes they +seemed like the sparks from a forge. She seemed so easily excited, to kindle +with a fierce little flame if one but breathed upon her. “What a waste,” Carl +reflected. “She ought to be doing all that for a sweetheart. How awkwardly +things come about!” </p> <p> -It was not very long before Marie sprang up out of the grass again. “Wait -a moment. I want to show you something.” She ran away and disappeared -behind the low-growing apple trees. +It was not very long before Marie sprang up out of the grass again. “Wait a +moment. I want to show you something.” She ran away and disappeared behind the +low-growing apple trees. </p> <p> -“What a charming creature,” Carl murmured. “I don’t -wonder that her husband is jealous. But can’t she walk? does she always -run?” +“What a charming creature,” Carl murmured. “I don’t wonder that her husband is +jealous. But can’t she walk? does she always run?” </p> <p> -Alexandra nodded. “Always. I don’t see many people, but I -don’t believe there are many like her, anywhere.” +Alexandra nodded. “Always. I don’t see many people, but I don’t believe there +are many like her, anywhere.” </p> <p> Marie came back with a branch she had broken from an apricot tree, laden with -pale yellow, pink-cheeked fruit. She dropped it beside Carl. “Did you -plant those, too? They are such beautiful little trees.” +pale yellow, pink-cheeked fruit. She dropped it beside Carl. “Did you plant +those, too? They are such beautiful little trees.” </p> <p> Carl fingered the blue-green leaves, porous like blotting-paper and shaped like -birch leaves, hung on waxen red stems. “Yes, I think I did. Are these the -circus trees, Alexandra?” +birch leaves, hung on waxen red stems. “Yes, I think I did. Are these the +circus trees, Alexandra?” </p> <p> -“Shall I tell her about them?” Alexandra asked. “Sit down -like a good girl, Marie, and don’t ruin my poor hat, and I’ll tell -you a story. A long time ago, when Carl and I were, say, sixteen and twelve, a -circus came to Hanover and we went to town in our wagon, with Lou and Oscar, to -see the parade. We hadn’t money enough to go to the circus. We followed -the parade out to the circus grounds and hung around until the show began and -the crowd went inside the tent. Then Lou was afraid we looked foolish standing -outside in the pasture, so we went back to Hanover feeling very sad. There was -a man in the streets selling apricots, and we had never seen any before. He had -driven down from somewhere up in the French country, and he was selling them -twenty-five cents a peck. We had a little money our fathers had given us for -candy, and I bought two pecks and Carl bought one. They cheered us a good deal, -and we saved all the seeds and planted them. Up to the time Carl went away, -they hadn’t borne at all.” +“Shall I tell her about them?” Alexandra asked. “Sit down like a good girl, +Marie, and don’t ruin my poor hat, and I’ll tell you a story. A long time ago, +when Carl and I were, say, sixteen and twelve, a circus came to Hanover and we +went to town in our wagon, with Lou and Oscar, to see the parade. We hadn’t +money enough to go to the circus. We followed the parade out to the circus +grounds and hung around until the show began and the crowd went inside the +tent. Then Lou was afraid we looked foolish standing outside in the pasture, so +we went back to Hanover feeling very sad. There was a man in the streets +selling apricots, and we had never seen any before. He had driven down from +somewhere up in the French country, and he was selling them twenty-five cents a +peck. We had a little money our fathers had given us for candy, and I bought +two pecks and Carl bought one. They cheered us a good deal, and we saved all +the seeds and planted them. Up to the time Carl went away, they hadn’t borne at +all.” </p> <p> -“And now he’s come back to eat them,” cried Marie, nodding at -Carl. “That IS a good story. I can remember you a little, Mr. Linstrum. I -used to see you in Hanover sometimes, when Uncle Joe took me to town. I -remember you because you were always buying pencils and tubes of paint at the -drug store. Once, when my uncle left me at the store, you drew a lot of little -birds and flowers for me on a piece of wrapping-paper. I kept them for a long -while. I thought you were very romantic because you could draw and had such -black eyes.” +“And now he’s come back to eat them,” cried Marie, nodding at Carl. “That IS a +good story. I can remember you a little, Mr. Linstrum. I used to see you in +Hanover sometimes, when Uncle Joe took me to town. I remember you because you +were always buying pencils and tubes of paint at the drug store. Once, when my +uncle left me at the store, you drew a lot of little birds and flowers for me +on a piece of wrapping-paper. I kept them for a long while. I thought you were +very romantic because you could draw and had such black eyes.” </p> <p> -Carl smiled. “Yes, I remember that time. Your uncle bought you some kind -of a mechanical toy, a Turkish lady sitting on an ottoman and smoking a hookah, -wasn’t it? And she turned her head backwards and forwards.” +Carl smiled. “Yes, I remember that time. Your uncle bought you some kind of a +mechanical toy, a Turkish lady sitting on an ottoman and smoking a hookah, +wasn’t it? And she turned her head backwards and forwards.” </p> <p> -“Oh, yes! Wasn’t she splendid! I knew well enough I ought not to -tell Uncle Joe I wanted it, for he had just come back from the saloon and was -feeling good. You remember how he laughed? She tickled him, too. But when we -got home, my aunt scolded him for buying toys when she needed so many things. -We wound our lady up every night, and when she began to move her head my aunt -used to laugh as hard as any of us. It was a music-box, you know, and the -Turkish lady played a tune while she smoked. That was how she made you feel so -jolly. As I remember her, she was lovely, and had a gold crescent on her -turban.” +“Oh, yes! Wasn’t she splendid! I knew well enough I ought not to tell Uncle Joe +I wanted it, for he had just come back from the saloon and was feeling good. +You remember how he laughed? She tickled him, too. But when we got home, my +aunt scolded him for buying toys when she needed so many things. We wound our +lady up every night, and when she began to move her head my aunt used to laugh +as hard as any of us. It was a music-box, you know, and the Turkish lady played +a tune while she smoked. That was how she made you feel so jolly. As I remember +her, she was lovely, and had a gold crescent on her turban.” </p> <p> @@ -3552,44 +3435,42 @@ breathing hard, as if he had been running, and was muttering to himself. <p> Marie ran forward, and, taking him by the arm, gave him a little push toward -her guests. “Frank, this is Mr. Linstrum.” +her guests. “Frank, this is Mr. Linstrum.” </p> <p> Frank took off his broad straw hat and nodded to Alexandra. When he spoke to Carl, he showed a fine set of white teeth. He was burned a dull red down to his -neckband, and there was a heavy three-days’ stubble on his face. Even in -his agitation he was handsome, but he looked a rash and violent man. +neckband, and there was a heavy three-days’ stubble on his face. Even in his +agitation he was handsome, but he looked a rash and violent man. </p> <p> Barely saluting the callers, he turned at once to his wife and began, in an -outraged tone, “I have to leave my team to drive the old woman -Hiller’s hogs out-a my wheat. I go to take dat old woman to de court if -she ain’t careful, I tell you!” +outraged tone, “I have to leave my team to drive the old woman Hiller’s hogs +out-a my wheat. I go to take dat old woman to de court if she ain’t careful, I +tell you!” </p> <p> -His wife spoke soothingly. “But, Frank, she has only her lame boy to help -her. She does the best she can.” +His wife spoke soothingly. “But, Frank, she has only her lame boy to help her. +She does the best she can.” </p> <p> -Alexandra looked at the excited man and offered a suggestion. “Why -don’t you go over there some afternoon and hog-tight her fences? -You’d save time for yourself in the end.” +Alexandra looked at the excited man and offered a suggestion. “Why don’t you go +over there some afternoon and hog-tight her fences? You’d save time for +yourself in the end.” </p> <p> -Frank’s neck stiffened. “Not-a-much, I won’t. I keep my hogs -home. Other peoples can do like me. See? If that Louis can mend shoes, he can -mend fence.” +Frank’s neck stiffened. “Not-a-much, I won’t. I keep my hogs home. Other +peoples can do like me. See? If that Louis can mend shoes, he can mend fence.” </p> <p> -“Maybe,” said Alexandra placidly; “but I’ve found it -sometimes pays to mend other people’s fences. Good-bye, Marie. Come to -see me soon.” +“Maybe,” said Alexandra placidly; “but I’ve found it sometimes pays to mend +other people’s fences. Good-bye, Marie. Come to see me soon.” </p> <p> @@ -3603,27 +3484,24 @@ put her hand coaxingly on his shoulder. </p> <p> -“Poor Frank! You’ve run until you’ve made your head ache, now -haven’t you? Let me make you some coffee.” +“Poor Frank! You’ve run until you’ve made your head ache, now haven’t you? Let +me make you some coffee.” </p> <p> -“What else am I to do?” he cried hotly in Bohemian. “Am I to -let any old woman’s hogs root up my wheat? Is that what I work myself to -death for?” +“What else am I to do?” he cried hotly in Bohemian. “Am I to let any old +woman’s hogs root up my wheat? Is that what I work myself to death for?” </p> <p> -“Don’t worry about it, Frank. I’ll speak to Mrs. Hiller -again. But, really, she almost cried last time they got out, she was so -sorry.” +“Don’t worry about it, Frank. I’ll speak to Mrs. Hiller again. But, really, she +almost cried last time they got out, she was so sorry.” </p> <p> -Frank bounced over on his other side. “That’s it; you always side -with them against me. They all know it. Anybody here feels free to borrow the -mower and break it, or turn their hogs in on me. They know you won’t -care!” +Frank bounced over on his other side. “That’s it; you always side with them +against me. They all know it. Anybody here feels free to borrow the mower and +break it, or turn their hogs in on me. They know you won’t care!” </p> <p> @@ -3640,23 +3518,23 @@ with, and that they bore with Frank for her sake. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"></a>VII</h2> - -<p> -Marie’s father, Albert Tovesky, was one of the more intelligent Bohemians -who came West in the early seventies. He settled in Omaha and became a leader -and adviser among his people there. Marie was his youngest child, by a second -wife, and was the apple of his eye. She was barely sixteen, and was in the -graduating class of the Omaha High School, when Frank Shabata arrived from the -old country and set all the Bohemian girls in a flutter. He was easily the buck -of the beer-gardens, and on Sunday he was a sight to see, with his silk hat and -tucked shirt and blue frock-coat, wearing gloves and carrying a little wisp of -a yellow cane. He was tall and fair, with splendid teeth and close-cropped -yellow curls, and he wore a slightly disdainful expression, proper for a young -man with high connections, whose mother had a big farm in the Elbe valley. -There was often an interesting discontent in his blue eyes, and every Bohemian -girl he met imagined herself the cause of that unsatisfied expression. He had a -way of drawing out his cambric handkerchief slowly, by one corner, from his +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0014"></a>VII</h2> + +<p> +Marie’s father, Albert Tovesky, was one of the more intelligent Bohemians who +came West in the early seventies. He settled in Omaha and became a leader and +adviser among his people there. Marie was his youngest child, by a second wife, +and was the apple of his eye. She was barely sixteen, and was in the graduating +class of the Omaha High School, when Frank Shabata arrived from the old country +and set all the Bohemian girls in a flutter. He was easily the buck of the +beer-gardens, and on Sunday he was a sight to see, with his silk hat and tucked +shirt and blue frock-coat, wearing gloves and carrying a little wisp of a +yellow cane. He was tall and fair, with splendid teeth and close-cropped yellow +curls, and he wore a slightly disdainful expression, proper for a young man +with high connections, whose mother had a big farm in the Elbe valley. There +was often an interesting discontent in his blue eyes, and every Bohemian girl +he met imagined herself the cause of that unsatisfied expression. He had a way +of drawing out his cambric handkerchief slowly, by one corner, from his breast-pocket, that was melancholy and romantic in the extreme. He took a little flight with each of the more eligible Bohemian girls, but it was when he was with little Marie Tovesky that he drew his handkerchief out most slowly, @@ -3666,38 +3544,36 @@ somebody. </p> <p> -One Sunday, late in the summer after Marie’s graduation, she met Frank at -a Bohemian picnic down the river and went rowing with him all the afternoon. -When she got home that evening she went straight to her father’s room and -told him that she was engaged to Shabata. Old Tovesky was having a comfortable -pipe before he went to bed. When he heard his daughter’s announcement, he -first prudently corked his beer bottle and then leaped to his feet and had a -turn of temper. He characterized Frank Shabata by a Bohemian expression which -is the equivalent of stuffed shirt. +One Sunday, late in the summer after Marie’s graduation, she met Frank at a +Bohemian picnic down the river and went rowing with him all the afternoon. When +she got home that evening she went straight to her father’s room and told him +that she was engaged to Shabata. Old Tovesky was having a comfortable pipe +before he went to bed. When he heard his daughter’s announcement, he first +prudently corked his beer bottle and then leaped to his feet and had a turn of +temper. He characterized Frank Shabata by a Bohemian expression which is the +equivalent of stuffed shirt. </p> <p> -“Why don’t he go to work like the rest of us did? His farm in the -Elbe valley, indeed! Ain’t he got plenty brothers and sisters? It’s -his mother’s farm, and why don’t he stay at home and help her? -Haven’t I seen his mother out in the morning at five o’clock with -her ladle and her big bucket on wheels, putting liquid manure on the cabbages? -Don’t I know the look of old Eva Shabata’s hands? Like an old -horse’s hoofs they are—and this fellow wearing gloves and rings! -Engaged, indeed! You aren’t fit to be out of school, and that’s -what’s the matter with you. I will send you off to the Sisters of the -Sacred Heart in St. Louis, and they will teach you some sense, <i>I</i> -guess!” +“Why don’t he go to work like the rest of us did? His farm in the Elbe valley, +indeed! Ain’t he got plenty brothers and sisters? It’s his mother’s farm, and +why don’t he stay at home and help her? Haven’t I seen his mother out in the +morning at five o’clock with her ladle and her big bucket on wheels, putting +liquid manure on the cabbages? Don’t I know the look of old Eva Shabata’s +hands? Like an old horse’s hoofs they are—and this fellow wearing gloves and +rings! Engaged, indeed! You aren’t fit to be out of school, and that’s what’s +the matter with you. I will send you off to the Sisters of the Sacred Heart in +St. Louis, and they will teach you some sense, <i>I</i> guess!” </p> <p> Accordingly, the very next week, Albert Tovesky took his daughter, pale and tearful, down the river to the convent. But the way to make Frank want anything -was to tell him he couldn’t have it. He managed to have an interview with -Marie before she went away, and whereas he had been only half in love with her +was to tell him he couldn’t have it. He managed to have an interview with Marie +before she went away, and whereas he had been only half in love with her before, he now persuaded himself that he would not stop at anything. Marie took with her to the convent, under the canvas lining of her trunk, the results of a -laborious and satisfying morning on Frank’s part; no less than a dozen +laborious and satisfying morning on Frank’s part; no less than a dozen photographs of himself, taken in a dozen different love-lorn attitudes. There was a little round photograph for her watch-case, photographs for her wall and dresser, and even long narrow ones to be used as bookmarks. More than once the @@ -3723,24 +3599,24 @@ he felt sorry for himself, that was his own affair. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"></a>VIII</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0015"></a>VIII</h2> <p> -On the evening of the day of Alexandra’s call at the Shabatas’, a -heavy rain set in. Frank sat up until a late hour reading the Sunday -newspapers. One of the Goulds was getting a divorce, and Frank took it as a -personal affront. In printing the story of the young man’s marital -troubles, the knowing editor gave a sufficiently colored account of his career, -stating the amount of his income and the manner in which he was supposed to -spend it. Frank read English slowly, and the more he read about this divorce -case, the angrier he grew. At last he threw down the page with a snort. He -turned to his farm-hand who was reading the other half of the paper. +On the evening of the day of Alexandra’s call at the Shabatas’, a heavy rain +set in. Frank sat up until a late hour reading the Sunday newspapers. One of +the Goulds was getting a divorce, and Frank took it as a personal affront. In +printing the story of the young man’s marital troubles, the knowing editor gave +a sufficiently colored account of his career, stating the amount of his income +and the manner in which he was supposed to spend it. Frank read English slowly, +and the more he read about this divorce case, the angrier he grew. At last he +threw down the page with a snort. He turned to his farm-hand who was reading +the other half of the paper. </p> <p> -“By God! if I have that young feller in de hayfield once, I show him -someting. Listen here what he do wit his money.” And Frank began the -catalogue of the young man’s reputed extravagances. +“By God! if I have that young feller in de hayfield once, I show him someting. +Listen here what he do wit his money.” And Frank began the catalogue of the +young man’s reputed extravagances. </p> <p> @@ -3756,40 +3632,38 @@ similar ideas, and they were two of the political agitators of the county. <p> The next morning broke clear and brilliant, but Frank said the ground was too wet to plough, so he took the cart and drove over to Sainte-Agnes to spend the -day at Moses Marcel’s saloon. After he was gone, Marie went out to the -back porch to begin her butter-making. A brisk wind had come up and was driving +day at Moses Marcel’s saloon. After he was gone, Marie went out to the back +porch to begin her butter-making. A brisk wind had come up and was driving puffy white clouds across the sky. The orchard was sparkling and rippling in the sun. Marie stood looking toward it wistfully, her hand on the lid of the churn, when she heard a sharp ring in the air, the merry sound of the whetstone on the scythe. That invitation decided her. She ran into the house, put on a -short skirt and a pair of her husband’s boots, caught up a tin pail and -started for the orchard. Emil had already begun work and was mowing vigorously. -When he saw her coming, he stopped and wiped his brow. His yellow canvas -leggings and khaki trousers were splashed to the knees. +short skirt and a pair of her husband’s boots, caught up a tin pail and started +for the orchard. Emil had already begun work and was mowing vigorously. When he +saw her coming, he stopped and wiped his brow. His yellow canvas leggings and +khaki trousers were splashed to the knees. </p> <p> -“Don’t let me disturb you, Emil. I’m going to pick cherries. -Isn’t everything beautiful after the rain? Oh, but I’m glad to get -this place mowed! When I heard it raining in the night, I thought maybe you -would come and do it for me to-day. The wind wakened me. Didn’t it blow -dreadfully? Just smell the wild roses! They are always so spicy after a rain. -We never had so many of them in here before. I suppose it’s the wet -season. Will you have to cut them, too?” +“Don’t let me disturb you, Emil. I’m going to pick cherries. Isn’t everything +beautiful after the rain? Oh, but I’m glad to get this place mowed! When I +heard it raining in the night, I thought maybe you would come and do it for me +to-day. The wind wakened me. Didn’t it blow dreadfully? Just smell the wild +roses! They are always so spicy after a rain. We never had so many of them in +here before. I suppose it’s the wet season. Will you have to cut them, too?” </p> <p> -“If I cut the grass, I will,” Emil said teasingly. -“What’s the matter with you? What makes you so flighty?” +“If I cut the grass, I will,” Emil said teasingly. “What’s the matter with you? +What makes you so flighty?” </p> <p> -“Am I flighty? I suppose that’s the wet season, too, then. -It’s exciting to see everything growing so fast,—and to get the -grass cut! Please leave the roses till last, if you must cut them. Oh, I -don’t mean all of them, I mean that low place down by my tree, where -there are so many. Aren’t you splashed! Look at the spider-webs all over -the grass. Good-bye. I’ll call you if I see a snake.” +“Am I flighty? I suppose that’s the wet season, too, then. It’s exciting to see +everything growing so fast,—and to get the grass cut! Please leave the roses +till last, if you must cut them. Oh, I don’t mean all of them, I mean that low +place down by my tree, where there are so many. Aren’t you splashed! Look at +the spider-webs all over the grass. Good-bye. I’ll call you if I see a snake.” </p> <p> @@ -3807,186 +3681,177 @@ than Shabata and his man could do to keep up with the corn; the orchard was a neglected wilderness. All sorts of weeds and herbs and flowers had grown up there; splotches of wild larkspur, pale green-and-white spikes of hoarhound, plantations of wild cotton, tangles of foxtail and wild wheat. South of the -apricot trees, cornering on the wheatfield, was Frank’s alfalfa, where -myriads of white and yellow butterflies were always fluttering above the purple +apricot trees, cornering on the wheatfield, was Frank’s alfalfa, where myriads +of white and yellow butterflies were always fluttering above the purple blossoms. When Emil reached the lower corner by the hedge, Marie was sitting under her white mulberry tree, the pailful of cherries beside her, looking off at the gentle, tireless swelling of the wheat. </p> <p> -“Emil,” she said suddenly—he was mowing quietly about under -the tree so as not to disturb her—“what religion did the Swedes -have away back, before they were Christians?” +“Emil,” she said suddenly—he was mowing quietly about under the tree so as not +to disturb her—“what religion did the Swedes have away back, before they were +Christians?” </p> <p> -Emil paused and straightened his back. “I don’t know. About like -the Germans’, wasn’t it?” +Emil paused and straightened his back. “I don’t know. About like the Germans’, +wasn’t it?” </p> <p> -Marie went on as if she had not heard him. “The Bohemians, you know, were -tree worshipers before the missionaries came. Father says the people in the -mountains still do queer things, sometimes,—they believe that trees bring -good or bad luck.” +Marie went on as if she had not heard him. “The Bohemians, you know, were tree +worshipers before the missionaries came. Father says the people in the +mountains still do queer things, sometimes,—they believe that trees bring good +or bad luck.” </p> <p> -Emil looked superior. “Do they? Well, which are the lucky trees? -I’d like to know.” +Emil looked superior. “Do they? Well, which are the lucky trees? I’d like to +know.” </p> <p> -“I don’t know all of them, but I know lindens are. The old people -in the mountains plant lindens to purify the forest, and to do away with the -spells that come from the old trees they say have lasted from heathen times. -I’m a good Catholic, but I think I could get along with caring for trees, -if I hadn’t anything else.” +“I don’t know all of them, but I know lindens are. The old people in the +mountains plant lindens to purify the forest, and to do away with the spells +that come from the old trees they say have lasted from heathen times. I’m a +good Catholic, but I think I could get along with caring for trees, if I hadn’t +anything else.” </p> <p> -“That’s a poor saying,” said Emil, stooping over to wipe his -hands in the wet grass. +“That’s a poor saying,” said Emil, stooping over to wipe his hands in the wet +grass. </p> <p> -“Why is it? If I feel that way, I feel that way. I like trees because -they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do. I -feel as if this tree knows everything I ever think of when I sit here. When I -come back to it, I never have to remind it of anything; I begin just where I -left off.” +“Why is it? If I feel that way, I feel that way. I like trees because they seem +more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do. I feel as if +this tree knows everything I ever think of when I sit here. When I come back to +it, I never have to remind it of anything; I begin just where I left off.” </p> <p> Emil had nothing to say to this. He reached up among the branches and began to -pick the sweet, insipid fruit,—long ivory-colored berries, tipped with -faint pink, like white coral, that fall to the ground unheeded all summer -through. He dropped a handful into her lap. +pick the sweet, insipid fruit,—long ivory-colored berries, tipped with faint +pink, like white coral, that fall to the ground unheeded all summer through. He +dropped a handful into her lap. </p> <p> -“Do you like Mr. Linstrum?” Marie asked suddenly. +“Do you like Mr. Linstrum?” Marie asked suddenly. </p> <p> -“Yes. Don’t you?” +“Yes. Don’t you?” </p> <p> -“Oh, ever so much; only he seems kind of staid and school-teachery. But, -of course, he is older than Frank, even. I’m sure I don’t want to -live to be more than thirty, do you? Do you think Alexandra likes him very -much?” +“Oh, ever so much; only he seems kind of staid and school-teachery. But, of +course, he is older than Frank, even. I’m sure I don’t want to live to be more +than thirty, do you? Do you think Alexandra likes him very much?” </p> <p> -“I suppose so. They were old friends.” +“I suppose so. They were old friends.” </p> <p> -“Oh, Emil, you know what I mean!” Marie tossed her head -impatiently. “Does she really care about him? When she used to tell me -about him, I always wondered whether she wasn’t a little in love with -him.” +“Oh, Emil, you know what I mean!” Marie tossed her head impatiently. “Does she +really care about him? When she used to tell me about him, I always wondered +whether she wasn’t a little in love with him.” </p> <p> -“Who, Alexandra?” Emil laughed and thrust his hands into his -trousers pockets. “Alexandra’s never been in love, you -crazy!” He laughed again. “She wouldn’t know how to go about -it. The idea!” +“Who, Alexandra?” Emil laughed and thrust his hands into his trousers pockets. +“Alexandra’s never been in love, you crazy!” He laughed again. “She wouldn’t +know how to go about it. The idea!” </p> <p> -Marie shrugged her shoulders. “Oh, you don’t know Alexandra as well -as you think you do! If you had any eyes, you would see that she is very fond -of him. It would serve you all right if she walked off with Carl. I like him -because he appreciates her more than you do.” +Marie shrugged her shoulders. “Oh, you don’t know Alexandra as well as you +think you do! If you had any eyes, you would see that she is very fond of him. +It would serve you all right if she walked off with Carl. I like him because he +appreciates her more than you do.” </p> <p> -Emil frowned. “What are you talking about, Marie? Alexandra’s all -right. She and I have always been good friends. What more do you want? I like -to talk to Carl about New York and what a fellow can do there.” +Emil frowned. “What are you talking about, Marie? Alexandra’s all right. She +and I have always been good friends. What more do you want? I like to talk to +Carl about New York and what a fellow can do there.” </p> <p> -“Oh, Emil! Surely you are not thinking of going off there?” +“Oh, Emil! Surely you are not thinking of going off there?” </p> <p> -“Why not? I must go somewhere, mustn’t I?” The young man took -up his scythe and leaned on it. “Would you rather I went off in the sand -hills and lived like Ivar?” +“Why not? I must go somewhere, mustn’t I?” The young man took up his scythe and +leaned on it. “Would you rather I went off in the sand hills and lived like +Ivar?” </p> <p> -Marie’s face fell under his brooding gaze. She looked down at his wet -leggings. “I’m sure Alexandra hopes you will stay on here,” -she murmured. +Marie’s face fell under his brooding gaze. She looked down at his wet leggings. +“I’m sure Alexandra hopes you will stay on here,” she murmured. </p> <p> -“Then Alexandra will be disappointed,” the young man said roughly. -“What do I want to hang around here for? Alexandra can run the farm all -right, without me. I don’t want to stand around and look on. I want to be -doing something on my own account.” +“Then Alexandra will be disappointed,” the young man said roughly. “What do I +want to hang around here for? Alexandra can run the farm all right, without me. +I don’t want to stand around and look on. I want to be doing something on my +own account.” </p> <p> -“That’s so,” Marie sighed. “There are so many, many -things you can do. Almost anything you choose.” +“That’s so,” Marie sighed. “There are so many, many things you can do. Almost +anything you choose.” </p> <p> -“And there are so many, many things I can’t do.” Emil echoed -her tone sarcastically. “Sometimes I don’t want to do anything at -all, and sometimes I want to pull the four corners of the Divide -together,”—he threw out his arm and brought it back with a -jerk,—“so, like a table-cloth. I get tired of seeing men and horses -going up and down, up and down.” +“And there are so many, many things I can’t do.” Emil echoed her tone +sarcastically. “Sometimes I don’t want to do anything at all, and sometimes I +want to pull the four corners of the Divide together,”—he threw out his arm and +brought it back with a jerk,—“so, like a table-cloth. I get tired of seeing men +and horses going up and down, up and down.” </p> <p> -Marie looked up at his defiant figure and her face clouded. “I wish you -weren’t so restless, and didn’t get so worked up over -things,” she said sadly. +Marie looked up at his defiant figure and her face clouded. “I wish you weren’t +so restless, and didn’t get so worked up over things,” she said sadly. </p> <p> -“Thank you,” he returned shortly. +“Thank you,” he returned shortly. </p> <p> -She sighed despondently. “Everything I say makes you cross, don’t -it? And you never used to be cross to me.” +She sighed despondently. “Everything I say makes you cross, don’t it? And you +never used to be cross to me.” </p> <p> Emil took a step nearer and stood frowning down at her bent head. He stood in an attitude of self-defense, his feet well apart, his hands clenched and drawn -up at his sides, so that the cords stood out on his bare arms. “I -can’t play with you like a little boy any more,” he said slowly. -“That’s what you miss, Marie. You’ll have to get some other -little boy to play with.” He stopped and took a deep breath. Then he went -on in a low tone, so intense that it was almost threatening: “Sometimes -you seem to understand perfectly, and then sometimes you pretend you -don’t. You don’t help things any by pretending. It’s then -that I want to pull the corners of the Divide together. If you WON’T -understand, you know, I could make you!” +up at his sides, so that the cords stood out on his bare arms. “I can’t play +with you like a little boy any more,” he said slowly. “That’s what you miss, +Marie. You’ll have to get some other little boy to play with.” He stopped and +took a deep breath. Then he went on in a low tone, so intense that it was +almost threatening: “Sometimes you seem to understand perfectly, and then +sometimes you pretend you don’t. You don’t help things any by pretending. It’s +then that I want to pull the corners of the Divide together. If you WON’T +understand, you know, I could make you!” </p> <p> Marie clasped her hands and started up from her seat. She had grown very pale -and her eyes were shining with excitement and distress. “But, Emil, if I +and her eyes were shining with excitement and distress. “But, Emil, if I understand, then all our good times are over, we can never do nice things together any more. We shall have to behave like Mr. Linstrum. And, anyhow, -there’s nothing to understand!” She struck the ground with her -little foot fiercely. “That won’t last. It will go away, and things -will be just as they used to. I wish you were a Catholic. The Church helps -people, indeed it does. I pray for you, but that’s not the same as if you -prayed yourself.” +there’s nothing to understand!” She struck the ground with her little foot +fiercely. “That won’t last. It will go away, and things will be just as they +used to. I wish you were a Catholic. The Church helps people, indeed it does. I +pray for you, but that’s not the same as if you prayed yourself.” </p> <p> @@ -3995,18 +3860,17 @@ defiant, gazing down at her. </p> <p> -“I can’t pray to have the things I want,” he said slowly, -“and I won’t pray not to have them, not if I’m damned for -it.” +“I can’t pray to have the things I want,” he said slowly, “and I won’t pray not +to have them, not if I’m damned for it.” </p> <p> -Marie turned away, wringing her hands. “Oh, Emil, you won’t try! -Then all our good times are over.” +Marie turned away, wringing her hands. “Oh, Emil, you won’t try! Then all our +good times are over.” </p> <p> -“Yes; over. I never expect to have any more.” +“Yes; over. I never expect to have any more.” </p> <p> @@ -4018,126 +3882,120 @@ cherries and went slowly toward the house, crying bitterly. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"></a>IX</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0016"></a>IX</h2> <p> -On Sunday afternoon, a month after Carl Linstrum’s arrival, he rode with -Emil up into the French country to attend a Catholic fair. He sat for most of -the afternoon in the basement of the church, where the fair was held, talking -to Marie Shabata, or strolled about the gravel terrace, thrown up on the -hillside in front of the basement doors, where the French boys were jumping and +On Sunday afternoon, a month after Carl Linstrum’s arrival, he rode with Emil +up into the French country to attend a Catholic fair. He sat for most of the +afternoon in the basement of the church, where the fair was held, talking to +Marie Shabata, or strolled about the gravel terrace, thrown up on the hillside +in front of the basement doors, where the French boys were jumping and wrestling and throwing the discus. Some of the boys were in their white baseball suits; they had just come up from a Sunday practice game down in the -ballgrounds. Amédée, the newly married, Emil’s best friend, was their -pitcher, renowned among the country towns for his dash and skill. Amédée was a -little fellow, a year younger than Emil and much more boyish in appearance; -very lithe and active and neatly made, with a clear brown and white skin, and -flashing white teeth. The Sainte-Agnes boys were to play the Hastings nine in a -fortnight, and Amédée’s lightning balls were the hope of his team. The -little Frenchman seemed to get every ounce there was in him behind the ball as -it left his hand. +ballgrounds. Amédée, the newly married, Emil’s best friend, was their pitcher, +renowned among the country towns for his dash and skill. Amédée was a little +fellow, a year younger than Emil and much more boyish in appearance; very lithe +and active and neatly made, with a clear brown and white skin, and flashing +white teeth. The Sainte-Agnes boys were to play the Hastings nine in a +fortnight, and Amédée’s lightning balls were the hope of his team. The little +Frenchman seemed to get every ounce there was in him behind the ball as it left +his hand. </p> <p> -“You’d have made the battery at the University for sure, -’Médée,” Emil said as they were walking from the ball-grounds back -to the church on the hill. “You’re pitching better than you did in -the spring.” +“You’d have made the battery at the University for sure, ’Médée,” Emil said as +they were walking from the ball-grounds back to the church on the hill. “You’re +pitching better than you did in the spring.” </p> <p> -Amédée grinned. “Sure! A married man don’t lose his head no -more.” He slapped Emil on the back as he caught step with him. “Oh, -Emil, you wanna get married right off quick! It’s the greatest thing -ever!” +Amédée grinned. “Sure! A married man don’t lose his head no more.” He slapped +Emil on the back as he caught step with him. “Oh, Emil, you wanna get married +right off quick! It’s the greatest thing ever!” </p> <p> -Emil laughed. “How am I going to get married without any girl?” +Emil laughed. “How am I going to get married without any girl?” </p> <p> -Amédée took his arm. “Pooh! There are plenty girls will have you. You -wanna get some nice French girl, now. She treat you well; always be jolly. -See,”—he began checking off on his fingers,—“there is -Sévérine, and Alphosen, and Joséphine, and Hectorine, and Louise, and -Malvina—why, I could love any of them girls! Why don’t you get -after them? Are you stuck up, Emil, or is anything the matter with you? I never -did know a boy twenty-two years old before that didn’t have no girl. You -wanna be a priest, maybe? Not-a for me!” Amédée swaggered. “I bring -many good Catholics into this world, I hope, and that’s a way I help the -Church.” +Amédée took his arm. “Pooh! There are plenty girls will have you. You wanna get +some nice French girl, now. She treat you well; always be jolly. See,”—he began +checking off on his fingers,—“there is Sévérine, and Alphosen, and Joséphine, +and Hectorine, and Louise, and Malvina—why, I could love any of them girls! Why +don’t you get after them? Are you stuck up, Emil, or is anything the matter +with you? I never did know a boy twenty-two years old before that didn’t have +no girl. You wanna be a priest, maybe? Not-a for me!” Amédée swaggered. “I +bring many good Catholics into this world, I hope, and that’s a way I help the +Church.” </p> <p> -Emil looked down and patted him on the shoulder. “Now you’re windy, -’Médée. You Frenchies like to brag.” +Emil looked down and patted him on the shoulder. “Now you’re windy, ’Médée. You +Frenchies like to brag.” </p> <p> But Amédée had the zeal of the newly married, and he was not to be lightly -shaken off. “Honest and true, Emil, don’t you want ANY girl? Maybe -there’s some young lady in Lincoln, now, very grand,”—Amédée -waved his hand languidly before his face to denote the fan of heartless -beauty,—“and you lost your heart up there. Is that it?” +shaken off. “Honest and true, Emil, don’t you want ANY girl? Maybe there’s some +young lady in Lincoln, now, very grand,”—Amédée waved his hand languidly before +his face to denote the fan of heartless beauty,—“and you lost your heart up +there. Is that it?” </p> <p> -“Maybe,” said Emil. +“Maybe,” said Emil. </p> <p> -But Amédée saw no appropriate glow in his friend’s face. -“Bah!” he exclaimed in disgust. “I tell all the French girls -to keep ’way from you. You gotta rock in there,” thumping Emil on -the ribs. +But Amédée saw no appropriate glow in his friend’s face. “Bah!” he exclaimed in +disgust. “I tell all the French girls to keep ’way from you. You gotta rock in +there,” thumping Emil on the ribs. </p> <p> When they reached the terrace at the side of the church, Amédée, who was excited by his success on the ball-grounds, challenged Emil to a jumping-match, though he knew he would be beaten. They belted themselves up, and Raoul Marcel, -the choir tenor and Father Duchesne’s pet, and Jean Bordelau, held the -string over which they vaulted. All the French boys stood round, cheering and -humping themselves up when Emil or Amédée went over the wire, as if they were -helping in the lift. Emil stopped at five-feet-five, declaring that he would -spoil his appetite for supper if he jumped any more. +the choir tenor and Father Duchesne’s pet, and Jean Bordelau, held the string +over which they vaulted. All the French boys stood round, cheering and humping +themselves up when Emil or Amédée went over the wire, as if they were helping +in the lift. Emil stopped at five-feet-five, declaring that he would spoil his +appetite for supper if he jumped any more. </p> <p> -Angélique, Amédée’s pretty bride, as blonde and fair as her name, who had -come out to watch the match, tossed her head at Emil and said:— +Angélique, Amédée’s pretty bride, as blonde and fair as her name, who had come +out to watch the match, tossed her head at Emil and said:— </p> <p> -“’Médée could jump much higher than you if he were as tall. And -anyhow, he is much more graceful. He goes over like a bird, and you have to -hump yourself all up.” +“’Médée could jump much higher than you if he were as tall. And anyhow, he is +much more graceful. He goes over like a bird, and you have to hump yourself all +up.” </p> <p> -“Oh, I do, do I?” Emil caught her and kissed her saucy mouth -squarely, while she laughed and struggled and called, “’Médée! -’Médée!” +“Oh, I do, do I?” Emil caught her and kissed her saucy mouth squarely, while +she laughed and struggled and called, “’Médée! ’Médée!” </p> <p> -“There, you see your ’Médée isn’t even big enough to get you -away from me. I could run away with you right now and he could only sit down -and cry about it. I’ll show you whether I have to hump myself!” -Laughing and panting, he picked Angélique up in his arms and began running -about the rectangle with her. Not until he saw Marie Shabata’s tiger eyes -flashing from the gloom of the basement doorway did he hand the disheveled -bride over to her husband. “There, go to your graceful; I haven’t -the heart to take you away from him.” +“There, you see your ’Médée isn’t even big enough to get you away from me. I +could run away with you right now and he could only sit down and cry about it. +I’ll show you whether I have to hump myself!” Laughing and panting, he picked +Angélique up in his arms and began running about the rectangle with her. Not +until he saw Marie Shabata’s tiger eyes flashing from the gloom of the basement +doorway did he hand the disheveled bride over to her husband. “There, go to +your graceful; I haven’t the heart to take you away from him.” </p> <p> Angélique clung to her husband and made faces at Emil over the white shoulder -of Amédée’s ball-shirt. Emil was greatly amused at her air of -proprietorship and at Amédée’s shameless submission to it. He was -delighted with his friend’s good fortune. He liked to see and to think -about Amédée’s sunny, natural, happy love. +of Amédée’s ball-shirt. Emil was greatly amused at her air of proprietorship +and at Amédée’s shameless submission to it. He was delighted with his friend’s +good fortune. He liked to see and to think about Amédée’s sunny, natural, happy +love. </p> <p> @@ -4155,27 +4013,26 @@ grains from the other lay still in the earth and rotted; and nobody knew why. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"></a>X</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0017"></a>X</h2> <p> While Emil and Carl were amusing themselves at the fair, Alexandra was at home, busy with her account-books, which had been neglected of late. She was almost through with her figures when she heard a cart drive up to the gate, and looking out of the window she saw her two older brothers. They had seemed to -avoid her ever since Carl Linstrum’s arrival, four weeks ago that day, -and she hurried to the door to welcome them. She saw at once that they had come -with some very definite purpose. They followed her stiffly into the -sitting-room. Oscar sat down, but Lou walked over to the window and remained -standing, his hands behind him. +avoid her ever since Carl Linstrum’s arrival, four weeks ago that day, and she +hurried to the door to welcome them. She saw at once that they had come with +some very definite purpose. They followed her stiffly into the sitting-room. +Oscar sat down, but Lou walked over to the window and remained standing, his +hands behind him. </p> <p> -“You are by yourself?” he asked, looking toward the doorway into -the parlor. +“You are by yourself?” he asked, looking toward the doorway into the parlor. </p> <p> -“Yes. Carl and Emil went up to the Catholic fair.” +“Yes. Carl and Emil went up to the Catholic fair.” </p> <p> @@ -4183,73 +4040,70 @@ For a few moments neither of the men spoke. </p> <p> -Then Lou came out sharply. “How soon does he intend to go away from -here?” +Then Lou came out sharply. “How soon does he intend to go away from here?” </p> <p> -“I don’t know, Lou. Not for some time, I hope.” Alexandra -spoke in an even, quiet tone that often exasperated her brothers. They felt -that she was trying to be superior with them. +“I don’t know, Lou. Not for some time, I hope.” Alexandra spoke in an even, +quiet tone that often exasperated her brothers. They felt that she was trying +to be superior with them. </p> <p> -Oscar spoke up grimly. “We thought we ought to tell you that people have -begun to talk,” he said meaningly. +Oscar spoke up grimly. “We thought we ought to tell you that people have begun +to talk,” he said meaningly. </p> <p> -Alexandra looked at him. “What about?” +Alexandra looked at him. “What about?” </p> <p> -Oscar met her eyes blankly. “About you, keeping him here so long. It -looks bad for him to be hanging on to a woman this way. People think -you’re getting taken in.” +Oscar met her eyes blankly. “About you, keeping him here so long. It looks bad +for him to be hanging on to a woman this way. People think you’re getting taken +in.” </p> <p> -Alexandra shut her account-book firmly. “Boys,” she said seriously, -“don’t let’s go on with this. We won’t come out -anywhere. I can’t take advice on such a matter. I know you mean well, but -you must not feel responsible for me in things of this sort. If we go on with -this talk it will only make hard feeling.” +Alexandra shut her account-book firmly. “Boys,” she said seriously, “don’t +let’s go on with this. We won’t come out anywhere. I can’t take advice on such +a matter. I know you mean well, but you must not feel responsible for me in +things of this sort. If we go on with this talk it will only make hard +feeling.” </p> <p> -Lou whipped about from the window. “You ought to think a little about -your family. You’re making us all ridiculous.” +Lou whipped about from the window. “You ought to think a little about your +family. You’re making us all ridiculous.” </p> <p> -“How am I?” +“How am I?” </p> <p> -“People are beginning to say you want to marry the fellow.” +“People are beginning to say you want to marry the fellow.” </p> <p> -“Well, and what is ridiculous about that?” +“Well, and what is ridiculous about that?” </p> <p> -Lou and Oscar exchanged outraged looks. “Alexandra! Can’t you see -he’s just a tramp and he’s after your money? He wants to be taken -care of, he does!” +Lou and Oscar exchanged outraged looks. “Alexandra! Can’t you see he’s just a +tramp and he’s after your money? He wants to be taken care of, he does!” </p> <p> -“Well, suppose I want to take care of him? Whose business is it but my -own?” +“Well, suppose I want to take care of him? Whose business is it but my own?” </p> <p> -“Don’t you know he’d get hold of your property?” +“Don’t you know he’d get hold of your property?” </p> <p> -“He’d get hold of what I wished to give him, certainly.” +“He’d get hold of what I wished to give him, certainly.” </p> <p> @@ -4257,149 +4111,144 @@ Oscar sat up suddenly and Lou clutched at his bristly hair. </p> <p> -“Give him?” Lou shouted. “Our property, our homestead?” +“Give him?” Lou shouted. “Our property, our homestead?” </p> <p> -“I don’t know about the homestead,” said Alexandra quietly. -“I know you and Oscar have always expected that it would be left to your -children, and I’m not sure but what you’re right. But I’ll do -exactly as I please with the rest of my land, boys.” +“I don’t know about the homestead,” said Alexandra quietly. “I know you and +Oscar have always expected that it would be left to your children, and I’m not +sure but what you’re right. But I’ll do exactly as I please with the rest of my +land, boys.” </p> <p> -“The rest of your land!” cried Lou, growing more excited every -minute. “Didn’t all the land come out of the homestead? It was -bought with money borrowed on the homestead, and Oscar and me worked ourselves -to the bone paying interest on it.” +“The rest of your land!” cried Lou, growing more excited every minute. “Didn’t +all the land come out of the homestead? It was bought with money borrowed on +the homestead, and Oscar and me worked ourselves to the bone paying interest on +it.” </p> <p> -“Yes, you paid the interest. But when you married we made a division of -the land, and you were satisfied. I’ve made more on my farms since -I’ve been alone than when we all worked together.” +“Yes, you paid the interest. But when you married we made a division of the +land, and you were satisfied. I’ve made more on my farms since I’ve been alone +than when we all worked together.” </p> <p> -“Everything you’ve made has come out of the original land that us -boys worked for, hasn’t it? The farms and all that comes out of them -belongs to us as a family.” +“Everything you’ve made has come out of the original land that us boys worked +for, hasn’t it? The farms and all that comes out of them belongs to us as a +family.” </p> <p> -Alexandra waved her hand impatiently. “Come now, Lou. Stick to the facts. -You are talking nonsense. Go to the county clerk and ask him who owns my land, -and whether my titles are good.” +Alexandra waved her hand impatiently. “Come now, Lou. Stick to the facts. You +are talking nonsense. Go to the county clerk and ask him who owns my land, and +whether my titles are good.” </p> <p> -Lou turned to his brother. “This is what comes of letting a woman meddle -in business,” he said bitterly. “We ought to have taken things in -our own hands years ago. But she liked to run things, and we humored her. We -thought you had good sense, Alexandra. We never thought you’d do anything -foolish.” +Lou turned to his brother. “This is what comes of letting a woman meddle in +business,” he said bitterly. “We ought to have taken things in our own hands +years ago. But she liked to run things, and we humored her. We thought you had +good sense, Alexandra. We never thought you’d do anything foolish.” </p> <p> -Alexandra rapped impatiently on her desk with her knuckles. “Listen, Lou. -Don’t talk wild. You say you ought to have taken things into your own -hands years ago. I suppose you mean before you left home. But how could you -take hold of what wasn’t there? I’ve got most of what I have now -since we divided the property; I’ve built it up myself, and it has -nothing to do with you.” +Alexandra rapped impatiently on her desk with her knuckles. “Listen, Lou. Don’t +talk wild. You say you ought to have taken things into your own hands years +ago. I suppose you mean before you left home. But how could you take hold of +what wasn’t there? I’ve got most of what I have now since we divided the +property; I’ve built it up myself, and it has nothing to do with you.” </p> <p> -Oscar spoke up solemnly. “The property of a family really belongs to the -men of the family, no matter about the title. If anything goes wrong, -it’s the men that are held responsible.” +Oscar spoke up solemnly. “The property of a family really belongs to the men of +the family, no matter about the title. If anything goes wrong, it’s the men +that are held responsible.” </p> <p> -“Yes, of course,” Lou broke in. “Everybody knows that. Oscar -and me have always been easy-going and we’ve never made any fuss. We were -willing you should hold the land and have the good of it, but you got no right -to part with any of it. We worked in the fields to pay for the first land you -bought, and whatever’s come out of it has got to be kept in the -family.” +“Yes, of course,” Lou broke in. “Everybody knows that. Oscar and me have always +been easy-going and we’ve never made any fuss. We were willing you should hold +the land and have the good of it, but you got no right to part with any of it. +We worked in the fields to pay for the first land you bought, and whatever’s +come out of it has got to be kept in the family.” </p> <p> Oscar reinforced his brother, his mind fixed on the one point he could see. -“The property of a family belongs to the men of the family, because they -are held responsible, and because they do the work.” +“The property of a family belongs to the men of the family, because they are +held responsible, and because they do the work.” </p> <p> Alexandra looked from one to the other, her eyes full of indignation. She had -been impatient before, but now she was beginning to feel angry. “And what -about my work?” she asked in an unsteady voice. +been impatient before, but now she was beginning to feel angry. “And what about +my work?” she asked in an unsteady voice. </p> <p> -Lou looked at the carpet. “Oh, now, Alexandra, you always took it pretty -easy! Of course we wanted you to. You liked to manage round, and we always -humored you. We realize you were a great deal of help to us. There’s no -woman anywhere around that knows as much about business as you do, and -we’ve always been proud of that, and thought you were pretty smart. But, -of course, the real work always fell on us. Good advice is all right, but it -don’t get the weeds out of the corn.” +Lou looked at the carpet. “Oh, now, Alexandra, you always took it pretty easy! +Of course we wanted you to. You liked to manage round, and we always humored +you. We realize you were a great deal of help to us. There’s no woman anywhere +around that knows as much about business as you do, and we’ve always been proud +of that, and thought you were pretty smart. But, of course, the real work +always fell on us. Good advice is all right, but it don’t get the weeds out of +the corn.” </p> <p> -“Maybe not, but it sometimes puts in the crop, and it sometimes keeps the -fields for corn to grow in,” said Alexandra dryly. “Why, Lou, I can -remember when you and Oscar wanted to sell this homestead and all the -improvements to old preacher Ericson for two thousand dollars. If I’d -consented, you’d have gone down to the river and scraped along on poor -farms for the rest of your lives. When I put in our first field of alfalfa you -both opposed me, just because I first heard about it from a young man who had -been to the University. You said I was being taken in then, and all the -neighbors said so. You know as well as I do that alfalfa has been the salvation -of this country. You all laughed at me when I said our land here was about -ready for wheat, and I had to raise three big wheat crops before the neighbors -quit putting all their land in corn. Why, I remember you cried, Lou, when we -put in the first big wheat-planting, and said everybody was laughing at -us.” +“Maybe not, but it sometimes puts in the crop, and it sometimes keeps the +fields for corn to grow in,” said Alexandra dryly. “Why, Lou, I can remember +when you and Oscar wanted to sell this homestead and all the improvements to +old preacher Ericson for two thousand dollars. If I’d consented, you’d have +gone down to the river and scraped along on poor farms for the rest of your +lives. When I put in our first field of alfalfa you both opposed me, just +because I first heard about it from a young man who had been to the University. +You said I was being taken in then, and all the neighbors said so. You know as +well as I do that alfalfa has been the salvation of this country. You all +laughed at me when I said our land here was about ready for wheat, and I had to +raise three big wheat crops before the neighbors quit putting all their land in +corn. Why, I remember you cried, Lou, when we put in the first big +wheat-planting, and said everybody was laughing at us.” </p> <p> -Lou turned to Oscar. “That’s the woman of it; if she tells you to -put in a crop, she thinks she’s put it in. It makes women conceited to -meddle in business. I shouldn’t think you’d want to remind us how -hard you were on us, Alexandra, after the way you baby Emil.” +Lou turned to Oscar. “That’s the woman of it; if she tells you to put in a +crop, she thinks she’s put it in. It makes women conceited to meddle in +business. I shouldn’t think you’d want to remind us how hard you were on us, +Alexandra, after the way you baby Emil.” </p> <p> -“Hard on you? I never meant to be hard. Conditions were hard. Maybe I -would never have been very soft, anyhow; but I certainly didn’t choose to -be the kind of girl I was. If you take even a vine and cut it back again and -again, it grows hard, like a tree.” +“Hard on you? I never meant to be hard. Conditions were hard. Maybe I would +never have been very soft, anyhow; but I certainly didn’t choose to be the kind +of girl I was. If you take even a vine and cut it back again and again, it +grows hard, like a tree.” </p> <p> Lou felt that they were wandering from the point, and that in digression Alexandra might unnerve him. He wiped his forehead with a jerk of his -handkerchief. “We never doubted you, Alexandra. We never questioned -anything you did. You’ve always had your own way. But you can’t -expect us to sit like stumps and see you done out of the property by any loafer -who happens along, and making yourself ridiculous into the bargain.” +handkerchief. “We never doubted you, Alexandra. We never questioned anything +you did. You’ve always had your own way. But you can’t expect us to sit like +stumps and see you done out of the property by any loafer who happens along, +and making yourself ridiculous into the bargain.” </p> <p> -Oscar rose. “Yes,” he broke in, “everybody’s laughing -to see you get took in; at your age, too. Everybody knows he’s nearly -five years younger than you, and is after your money. Why, Alexandra, you are -forty years old!” +Oscar rose. “Yes,” he broke in, “everybody’s laughing to see you get took in; +at your age, too. Everybody knows he’s nearly five years younger than you, and +is after your money. Why, Alexandra, you are forty years old!” </p> <p> -“All that doesn’t concern anybody but Carl and me. Go to town and -ask your lawyers what you can do to restrain me from disposing of my own -property. And I advise you to do what they tell you; for the authority you can -exert by law is the only influence you will ever have over me again.” -Alexandra rose. “I think I would rather not have lived to find out what I -have to-day,” she said quietly, closing her desk. +“All that doesn’t concern anybody but Carl and me. Go to town and ask your +lawyers what you can do to restrain me from disposing of my own property. And I +advise you to do what they tell you; for the authority you can exert by law is +the only influence you will ever have over me again.” Alexandra rose. “I think +I would rather not have lived to find out what I have to-day,” she said +quietly, closing her desk. </p> <p> @@ -4408,43 +4257,40 @@ do but to go, and they walked out. </p> <p> -“You can’t do business with women,” Oscar said heavily as he -clambered into the cart. “But anyhow, we’ve had our say, at -last.” +“You can’t do business with women,” Oscar said heavily as he clambered into the +cart. “But anyhow, we’ve had our say, at last.” </p> <p> -Lou scratched his head. “Talk of that kind might come too high, you know; -but she’s apt to be sensible. You hadn’t ought to said that about -her age, though, Oscar. I’m afraid that hurt her feelings; and the worst -thing we can do is to make her sore at us. She’d marry him out of -contrariness.” +Lou scratched his head. “Talk of that kind might come too high, you know; but +she’s apt to be sensible. You hadn’t ought to said that about her age, though, +Oscar. I’m afraid that hurt her feelings; and the worst thing we can do is to +make her sore at us. She’d marry him out of contrariness.” </p> <p> -“I only meant,” said Oscar, “that she is old enough to know -better, and she is. If she was going to marry, she ought to done it long ago, -and not go making a fool of herself now.” +“I only meant,” said Oscar, “that she is old enough to know better, and she is. +If she was going to marry, she ought to done it long ago, and not go making a +fool of herself now.” </p> <p> -Lou looked anxious, nevertheless. “Of course,” he reflected -hopefully and inconsistently, “Alexandra ain’t much like other -women-folks. Maybe it won’t make her sore. Maybe she’d as soon be -forty as not!” +Lou looked anxious, nevertheless. “Of course,” he reflected hopefully and +inconsistently, “Alexandra ain’t much like other women-folks. Maybe it won’t +make her sore. Maybe she’d as soon be forty as not!” </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"></a>XI</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0018"></a>XI</h2> <p> -Emil came home at about half-past seven o’clock that evening. Old Ivar -met him at the windmill and took his horse, and the young man went directly -into the house. He called to his sister and she answered from her bedroom, -behind the sitting-room, saying that she was lying down. +Emil came home at about half-past seven o’clock that evening. Old Ivar met him +at the windmill and took his horse, and the young man went directly into the +house. He called to his sister and she answered from her bedroom, behind the +sitting-room, saying that she was lying down. </p> <p> @@ -4452,22 +4298,21 @@ Emil went to her door. </p> <p> -“Can I see you for a minute?” he asked. “I want to talk to -you about something before Carl comes.” +“Can I see you for a minute?” he asked. “I want to talk to you about something +before Carl comes.” </p> <p> -Alexandra rose quickly and came to the door. “Where is Carl?” +Alexandra rose quickly and came to the door. “Where is Carl?” </p> <p> -“Lou and Oscar met us and said they wanted to talk to him, so he rode -over to Oscar’s with them. Are you coming out?” Emil asked -impatiently. +“Lou and Oscar met us and said they wanted to talk to him, so he rode over to +Oscar’s with them. Are you coming out?” Emil asked impatiently. </p> <p> -“Yes, sit down. I’ll be dressed in a moment.” +“Yes, sit down. I’ll be dressed in a moment.” </p> <p> @@ -4481,33 +4326,31 @@ the dusk. Her face was swollen from crying. </p> <p> -Emil started up and then sat down again. “Alexandra,” he said -slowly, in his deep young baritone, “I don’t want to go away to law -school this fall. Let me put it off another year. I want to take a year off and -look around. It’s awfully easy to rush into a profession you don’t -really like, and awfully hard to get out of it. Linstrum and I have been -talking about that.” +Emil started up and then sat down again. “Alexandra,” he said slowly, in his +deep young baritone, “I don’t want to go away to law school this fall. Let me +put it off another year. I want to take a year off and look around. It’s +awfully easy to rush into a profession you don’t really like, and awfully hard +to get out of it. Linstrum and I have been talking about that.” </p> <p> -“Very well, Emil. Only don’t go off looking for land.” She -came up and put her hand on his shoulder. “I’ve been wishing you -could stay with me this winter.” +“Very well, Emil. Only don’t go off looking for land.” She came up and put her +hand on his shoulder. “I’ve been wishing you could stay with me this winter.” </p> <p> -“That’s just what I don’t want to do, Alexandra. I’m -restless. I want to go to a new place. I want to go down to the City of Mexico -to join one of the University fellows who’s at the head of an electrical -plant. He wrote me he could give me a little job, enough to pay my way, and I -could look around and see what I want to do. I want to go as soon as harvest is -over. I guess Lou and Oscar will be sore about it.” +“That’s just what I don’t want to do, Alexandra. I’m restless. I want to go to +a new place. I want to go down to the City of Mexico to join one of the +University fellows who’s at the head of an electrical plant. He wrote me he +could give me a little job, enough to pay my way, and I could look around and +see what I want to do. I want to go as soon as harvest is over. I guess Lou and +Oscar will be sore about it.” </p> <p> -“I suppose they will.” Alexandra sat down on the lounge beside him. -“They are very angry with me, Emil. We have had a quarrel. They will not -come here again.” +“I suppose they will.” Alexandra sat down on the lounge beside him. “They are +very angry with me, Emil. We have had a quarrel. They will not come here +again.” </p> <p> @@ -4516,94 +4359,85 @@ tone. He was thinking about the reckless life he meant to live in Mexico. </p> <p> -“What about?” he asked absently. +“What about?” he asked absently. </p> <p> -“About Carl Linstrum. They are afraid I am going to marry him, and that -some of my property will get away from them.” +“About Carl Linstrum. They are afraid I am going to marry him, and that some of +my property will get away from them.” </p> <p> -Emil shrugged his shoulders. “What nonsense!” he murmured. -“Just like them.” +Emil shrugged his shoulders. “What nonsense!” he murmured. “Just like them.” </p> <p> -Alexandra drew back. “Why nonsense, Emil?” +Alexandra drew back. “Why nonsense, Emil?” </p> <p> -“Why, you’ve never thought of such a thing, have you? They always -have to have something to fuss about.” +“Why, you’ve never thought of such a thing, have you? They always have to have +something to fuss about.” </p> <p> -“Emil,” said his sister slowly, “you ought not to take things -for granted. Do you agree with them that I have no right to change my way of -living?” +“Emil,” said his sister slowly, “you ought not to take things for granted. Do +you agree with them that I have no right to change my way of living?” </p> <p> -Emil looked at the outline of his sister’s head in the dim light. They -were sitting close together and he somehow felt that she could hear his -thoughts. He was silent for a moment, and then said in an embarrassed tone, -“Why, no, certainly not. You ought to do whatever you want to. I’ll -always back you.” +Emil looked at the outline of his sister’s head in the dim light. They were +sitting close together and he somehow felt that she could hear his thoughts. He +was silent for a moment, and then said in an embarrassed tone, “Why, no, +certainly not. You ought to do whatever you want to. I’ll always back you.” </p> <p> -“But it would seem a little bit ridiculous to you if I married -Carl?” +“But it would seem a little bit ridiculous to you if I married Carl?” </p> <p> Emil fidgeted. The issue seemed to him too far-fetched to warrant discussion. -“Why, no. I should be surprised if you wanted to. I can’t see -exactly why. But that’s none of my business. You ought to do as you -please. Certainly you ought not to pay any attention to what the boys -say.” +“Why, no. I should be surprised if you wanted to. I can’t see exactly why. But +that’s none of my business. You ought to do as you please. Certainly you ought +not to pay any attention to what the boys say.” </p> <p> -Alexandra sighed. “I had hoped you might understand, a little, why I do -want to. But I suppose that’s too much to expect. I’ve had a pretty -lonely life, Emil. Besides Marie, Carl is the only friend I have ever -had.” +Alexandra sighed. “I had hoped you might understand, a little, why I do want +to. But I suppose that’s too much to expect. I’ve had a pretty lonely life, +Emil. Besides Marie, Carl is the only friend I have ever had.” </p> <p> Emil was awake now; a name in her last sentence roused him. He put out his hand -and took his sister’s awkwardly. “You ought to do just as you wish, -and I think Carl’s a fine fellow. He and I would always get on. I -don’t believe any of the things the boys say about him, honest I -don’t. They are suspicious of him because he’s intelligent. You -know their way. They’ve been sore at me ever since you let me go away to -college. They’re always trying to catch me up. If I were you, I -wouldn’t pay any attention to them. There’s nothing to get upset -about. Carl’s a sensible fellow. He won’t mind them.” +and took his sister’s awkwardly. “You ought to do just as you wish, and I think +Carl’s a fine fellow. He and I would always get on. I don’t believe any of the +things the boys say about him, honest I don’t. They are suspicious of him +because he’s intelligent. You know their way. They’ve been sore at me ever +since you let me go away to college. They’re always trying to catch me up. If I +were you, I wouldn’t pay any attention to them. There’s nothing to get upset +about. Carl’s a sensible fellow. He won’t mind them.” </p> <p> -“I don’t know. If they talk to him the way they did to me, I think -he’ll go away.” +“I don’t know. If they talk to him the way they did to me, I think he’ll go +away.” </p> <p> -Emil grew more and more uneasy. “Think so? Well, Marie said it would -serve us all right if you walked off with him.” +Emil grew more and more uneasy. “Think so? Well, Marie said it would serve us +all right if you walked off with him.” </p> <p> -“Did she? Bless her little heart! SHE would.” Alexandra’s -voice broke. +“Did she? Bless her little heart! SHE would.” Alexandra’s voice broke. </p> <p> -Emil began unlacing his leggings. “Why don’t you talk to her about -it? There’s Carl, I hear his horse. I guess I’ll go upstairs and -get my boots off. No, I don’t want any supper. We had supper at five -o’clock, at the fair.” +Emil began unlacing his leggings. “Why don’t you talk to her about it? There’s +Carl, I hear his horse. I guess I’ll go upstairs and get my boots off. No, I +don’t want any supper. We had supper at five o’clock, at the fair.” </p> <p> @@ -4625,8 +4459,8 @@ eyes? <p> Then he fell to imagining that he looked once more and found it there, and what -it would be like if she loved him,—she who, as Alexandra said, could give -her whole heart. In that dream he could lie for hours, as if in a trance. His +it would be like if she loved him,—she who, as Alexandra said, could give her +whole heart. In that dream he could lie for hours, as if in a trance. His spirit went out of his body and crossed the fields to Marie Shabata. </p> @@ -4636,17 +4470,17 @@ young Swede with the fine head, leaning against the wall and frowning, his arms folded, his eyes fixed on the ceiling or the floor. All the girls were a little afraid of him. He was distinguished-looking, and not the jollying kind. They felt that he was too intense and preoccupied. There was something queer about -him. Emil’s fraternity rather prided itself upon its dances, and -sometimes he did his duty and danced every dance. But whether he was on the -floor or brooding in a corner, he was always thinking about Marie Shabata. For -two years the storm had been gathering in him. +him. Emil’s fraternity rather prided itself upon its dances, and sometimes he +did his duty and danced every dance. But whether he was on the floor or +brooding in a corner, he was always thinking about Marie Shabata. For two years +the storm had been gathering in him. </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"></a>XII</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0019"></a>XII</h2> <p> Carl came into the sitting-room while Alexandra was lighting the lamp. She @@ -4656,83 +4490,77 @@ dark eyes. His anger had burned itself out and left him sick and disgusted. </p> <p> -“You have seen Lou and Oscar?” Alexandra asked. +“You have seen Lou and Oscar?” Alexandra asked. </p> <p> -“Yes.” His eyes avoided hers. +“Yes.” His eyes avoided hers. </p> <p> -Alexandra took a deep breath. “And now you are going away. I thought -so.” +Alexandra took a deep breath. “And now you are going away. I thought so.” </p> <p> Carl threw himself into a chair and pushed the dark lock back from his forehead -with his white, nervous hand. “What a hopeless position you are in, -Alexandra!” he exclaimed feverishly. “It is your fate to be always -surrounded by little men. And I am no better than the rest. I am too little to -face the criticism of even such men as Lou and Oscar. Yes, I am going away; -to-morrow. I cannot even ask you to give me a promise until I have something to -offer you. I thought, perhaps, I could do that; but I find I -can’t.” +with his white, nervous hand. “What a hopeless position you are in, Alexandra!” +he exclaimed feverishly. “It is your fate to be always surrounded by little +men. And I am no better than the rest. I am too little to face the criticism of +even such men as Lou and Oscar. Yes, I am going away; to-morrow. I cannot even +ask you to give me a promise until I have something to offer you. I thought, +perhaps, I could do that; but I find I can’t.” </p> <p> -“What good comes of offering people things they don’t need?” -Alexandra asked sadly. “I don’t need money. But I have needed you -for a great many years. I wonder why I have been permitted to prosper, if it is -only to take my friends away from me.” +“What good comes of offering people things they don’t need?” Alexandra asked +sadly. “I don’t need money. But I have needed you for a great many years. I +wonder why I have been permitted to prosper, if it is only to take my friends +away from me.” </p> <p> -“I don’t deceive myself,” Carl said frankly. “I know -that I am going away on my own account. I must make the usual effort. I must -have something to show for myself. To take what you would give me, I should -have to be either a very large man or a very small one, and I am only in the -middle class.” +“I don’t deceive myself,” Carl said frankly. “I know that I am going away on my +own account. I must make the usual effort. I must have something to show for +myself. To take what you would give me, I should have to be either a very large +man or a very small one, and I am only in the middle class.” </p> <p> -Alexandra sighed. “I have a feeling that if you go away, you will not -come back. Something will happen to one of us, or to both. People have to -snatch at happiness when they can, in this world. It is always easier to lose -than to find. What I have is yours, if you care enough about me to take -it.” +Alexandra sighed. “I have a feeling that if you go away, you will not come +back. Something will happen to one of us, or to both. People have to snatch at +happiness when they can, in this world. It is always easier to lose than to +find. What I have is yours, if you care enough about me to take it.” </p> <p> -Carl rose and looked up at the picture of John Bergson. “But I -can’t, my dear, I can’t! I will go North at once. Instead of idling -about in California all winter, I shall be getting my bearings up there. I -won’t waste another week. Be patient with me, Alexandra. Give me a -year!” +Carl rose and looked up at the picture of John Bergson. “But I can’t, my dear, +I can’t! I will go North at once. Instead of idling about in California all +winter, I shall be getting my bearings up there. I won’t waste another week. Be +patient with me, Alexandra. Give me a year!” </p> <p> -“As you will,” said Alexandra wearily. “All at once, in a -single day, I lose everything; and I do not know why. Emil, too, is going -away.” Carl was still studying John Bergson’s face and -Alexandra’s eyes followed his. “Yes,” she said, “if he -could have seen all that would come of the task he gave me, he would have been -sorry. I hope he does not see me now. I hope that he is among the old people of -his blood and country, and that tidings do not reach him from the New -World.” +“As you will,” said Alexandra wearily. “All at once, in a single day, I lose +everything; and I do not know why. Emil, too, is going away.” Carl was still +studying John Bergson’s face and Alexandra’s eyes followed his. “Yes,” she +said, “if he could have seen all that would come of the task he gave me, he +would have been sorry. I hope he does not see me now. I hope that he is among +the old people of his blood and country, and that tidings do not reach him from +the New World.” </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_PART3" id="link2H_PART3"></a>PART III.<br/> +<h2><a name="link2H_PART3"></a>PART III.<br/> Winter Memories</h2> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"></a>I</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0021"></a>I</h2> <p> Winter has settled down over the Divide again; the season in which Nature @@ -4755,11 +4583,11 @@ Alexandra has settled back into her old routine. There are weekly letters from Emil. Lou and Oscar she has not seen since Carl went away. To avoid awkward encounters in the presence of curious spectators, she has stopped going to the Norwegian Church and drives up to the Reform Church at Hanover, or goes with -Marie Shabata to the Catholic Church, locally known as “the French -Church.” She has not told Marie about Carl, or her differences with her -brothers. She was never very communicative about her own affairs, and when she -came to the point, an instinct told her that about such things she and Marie -would not understand one another. +Marie Shabata to the Catholic Church, locally known as “the French Church.” She +has not told Marie about Carl, or her differences with her brothers. She was +never very communicative about her own affairs, and when she came to the point, +an instinct told her that about such things she and Marie would not understand +one another. </p> <p> @@ -4767,23 +4595,23 @@ Old Mrs. Lee had been afraid that family misunderstandings might deprive her of her yearly visit to Alexandra. But on the first day of December Alexandra telephoned Annie that to-morrow she would send Ivar over for her mother, and the next day the old lady arrived with her bundles. For twelve years Mrs. Lee -had always entered Alexandra’s sitting-room with the same exclamation, -“Now we be yust-a like old times!” She enjoyed the liberty -Alexandra gave her, and hearing her own language about her all day long. Here -she could wear her nightcap and sleep with all her windows shut, listen to Ivar -reading the Bible, and here she could run about among the stables in a pair of -Emil’s old boots. Though she was bent almost double, she was as spry as a -gopher. Her face was as brown as if it had been varnished, and as full of -wrinkles as a washerwoman’s hands. She had three jolly old teeth left in -the front of her mouth, and when she grinned she looked very knowing, as if -when you found out how to take it, life wasn’t half bad. While she and -Alexandra patched and pieced and quilted, she talked incessantly about stories -she read in a Swedish family paper, telling the plots in great detail; or about -her life on a dairy farm in Gottland when she was a girl. Sometimes she forgot -which were the printed stories and which were the real stories, it all seemed -so far away. She loved to take a little brandy, with hot water and sugar, -before she went to bed, and Alexandra always had it ready for her. “It -sends good dreams,” she would say with a twinkle in her eye. +had always entered Alexandra’s sitting-room with the same exclamation, “Now we +be yust-a like old times!” She enjoyed the liberty Alexandra gave her, and +hearing her own language about her all day long. Here she could wear her +nightcap and sleep with all her windows shut, listen to Ivar reading the Bible, +and here she could run about among the stables in a pair of Emil’s old boots. +Though she was bent almost double, she was as spry as a gopher. Her face was as +brown as if it had been varnished, and as full of wrinkles as a washerwoman’s +hands. She had three jolly old teeth left in the front of her mouth, and when +she grinned she looked very knowing, as if when you found out how to take it, +life wasn’t half bad. While she and Alexandra patched and pieced and quilted, +she talked incessantly about stories she read in a Swedish family paper, +telling the plots in great detail; or about her life on a dairy farm in +Gottland when she was a girl. Sometimes she forgot which were the printed +stories and which were the real stories, it all seemed so far away. She loved +to take a little brandy, with hot water and sugar, before she went to bed, and +Alexandra always had it ready for her. “It sends good dreams,” she would say +with a twinkle in her eye. </p> <p> @@ -4794,41 +4622,40 @@ her new cross-stitched apron, which she had finished only the night before; a checked gingham apron worked with a design ten inches broad across the bottom; a hunting scene, with fir trees and a stag and dogs and huntsmen. Mrs. Lee was firm with herself at dinner, and refused a second helping of apple dumplings. -“I ta-ank I save up,” she said with a giggle. +“I ta-ank I save up,” she said with a giggle. </p> <p> -At two o’clock in the afternoon Alexandra’s cart drove up to the -Shabatas’ gate, and Marie saw Mrs. Lee’s red shawl come bobbing up -the path. She ran to the door and pulled the old woman into the house with a -hug, helping her to take off her wraps while Alexandra blanketed the horse -outside. Mrs. Lee had put on her best black satine dress—she abominated -woolen stuffs, even in winter—and a crocheted collar, fastened with a big -pale gold pin, containing faded daguerreotypes of her father and mother. She -had not worn her apron for fear of rumpling it, and now she shook it out and -tied it round her waist with a conscious air. Marie drew back and threw up her -hands, exclaiming, “Oh, what a beauty! I’ve never seen this one -before, have I, Mrs. Lee?” +At two o’clock in the afternoon Alexandra’s cart drove up to the Shabatas’ +gate, and Marie saw Mrs. Lee’s red shawl come bobbing up the path. She ran to +the door and pulled the old woman into the house with a hug, helping her to +take off her wraps while Alexandra blanketed the horse outside. Mrs. Lee had +put on her best black satine dress—she abominated woolen stuffs, even in +winter—and a crocheted collar, fastened with a big pale gold pin, containing +faded daguerreotypes of her father and mother. She had not worn her apron for +fear of rumpling it, and now she shook it out and tied it round her waist with +a conscious air. Marie drew back and threw up her hands, exclaiming, “Oh, what +a beauty! I’ve never seen this one before, have I, Mrs. Lee?” </p> <p> -The old woman giggled and ducked her head. “No, yust las’ night I -ma-ake. See dis tread; verra strong, no wa-ash out, no fade. My sister send -from Sveden. I yust-a ta-ank you like dis.” +The old woman giggled and ducked her head. “No, yust las’ night I ma-ake. See +dis tread; verra strong, no wa-ash out, no fade. My sister send from Sveden. I +yust-a ta-ank you like dis.” </p> <p> -Marie ran to the door again. “Come in, Alexandra. I have been looking at -Mrs. Lee’s apron. Do stop on your way home and show it to Mrs. Hiller. -She’s crazy about cross-stitch.” +Marie ran to the door again. “Come in, Alexandra. I have been looking at Mrs. +Lee’s apron. Do stop on your way home and show it to Mrs. Hiller. She’s crazy +about cross-stitch.” </p> <p> While Alexandra removed her hat and veil, Mrs. Lee went out to the kitchen and settled herself in a wooden rocking-chair by the stove, looking with great interest at the table, set for three, with a white cloth, and a pot of pink -geraniums in the middle. “My, a-an’t you gotta fine plants; such-a -much flower. How you keep from freeze?” +geraniums in the middle. “My, a-an’t you gotta fine plants; such-a much flower. +How you keep from freeze?” </p> <p> @@ -4836,121 +4663,114 @@ She pointed to the window-shelves, full of blooming fuchsias and geraniums. </p> <p> -“I keep the fire all night, Mrs. Lee, and when it’s very cold I put -them all on the table, in the middle of the room. Other nights I only put -newspapers behind them. Frank laughs at me for fussing, but when they -don’t bloom he says, ‘What’s the matter with the darned -things?’—What do you hear from Carl, Alexandra?” +“I keep the fire all night, Mrs. Lee, and when it’s very cold I put them all on +the table, in the middle of the room. Other nights I only put newspapers behind +them. Frank laughs at me for fussing, but when they don’t bloom he says, +‘What’s the matter with the darned things?’—What do you hear from Carl, +Alexandra?” </p> <p> -“He got to Dawson before the river froze, and now I suppose I won’t -hear any more until spring. Before he left California he sent me a box of -orange flowers, but they didn’t keep very well. I have brought a bunch of -Emil’s letters for you.” Alexandra came out from the sitting-room -and pinched Marie’s cheek playfully. “You don’t look as if -the weather ever froze you up. Never have colds, do you? That’s a good -girl. She had dark red cheeks like this when she was a little girl, Mrs. Lee. -She looked like some queer foreign kind of a doll. I’ve never forgot the -first time I saw you in Mieklejohn’s store, Marie, the time father was -lying sick. Carl and I were talking about that before he went away.” +“He got to Dawson before the river froze, and now I suppose I won’t hear any +more until spring. Before he left California he sent me a box of orange +flowers, but they didn’t keep very well. I have brought a bunch of Emil’s +letters for you.” Alexandra came out from the sitting-room and pinched Marie’s +cheek playfully. “You don’t look as if the weather ever froze you up. Never +have colds, do you? That’s a good girl. She had dark red cheeks like this when +she was a little girl, Mrs. Lee. She looked like some queer foreign kind of a +doll. I’ve never forgot the first time I saw you in Mieklejohn’s store, Marie, +the time father was lying sick. Carl and I were talking about that before he +went away.” </p> <p> -“I remember, and Emil had his kitten along. When are you going to send -Emil’s Christmas box?” +“I remember, and Emil had his kitten along. When are you going to send Emil’s +Christmas box?” </p> <p> -“It ought to have gone before this. I’ll have to send it by mail -now, to get it there in time.” +“It ought to have gone before this. I’ll have to send it by mail now, to get it +there in time.” </p> <p> -Marie pulled a dark purple silk necktie from her workbasket. “I knit this -for him. It’s a good color, don’t you think? Will you please put it -in with your things and tell him it’s from me, to wear when he goes -serenading.” +Marie pulled a dark purple silk necktie from her workbasket. “I knit this for +him. It’s a good color, don’t you think? Will you please put it in with your +things and tell him it’s from me, to wear when he goes serenading.” </p> <p> -Alexandra laughed. “I don’t believe he goes serenading much. He -says in one letter that the Mexican ladies are said to be very beautiful, but -that don’t seem to me very warm praise.” +Alexandra laughed. “I don’t believe he goes serenading much. He says in one +letter that the Mexican ladies are said to be very beautiful, but that don’t +seem to me very warm praise.” </p> <p> -Marie tossed her head. “Emil can’t fool me. If he’s bought a -guitar, he goes serenading. Who wouldn’t, with all those Spanish girls -dropping flowers down from their windows! I’d sing to them every night, -wouldn’t you, Mrs. Lee?” +Marie tossed her head. “Emil can’t fool me. If he’s bought a guitar, he goes +serenading. Who wouldn’t, with all those Spanish girls dropping flowers down +from their windows! I’d sing to them every night, wouldn’t you, Mrs. Lee?” </p> <p> The old lady chuckled. Her eyes lit up as Marie bent down and opened the oven -door. A delicious hot fragrance blew out into the tidy kitchen. “My, -somet’ing smell good!” She turned to Alexandra with a wink, her -three yellow teeth making a brave show, “I ta-ank dat stop my yaw from -ache no more!” she said contentedly. +door. A delicious hot fragrance blew out into the tidy kitchen. “My, somet’ing +smell good!” She turned to Alexandra with a wink, her three yellow teeth making +a brave show, “I ta-ank dat stop my yaw from ache no more!” she said +contentedly. </p> <p> Marie took out a pan of delicate little rolls, stuffed with stewed apricots, -and began to dust them over with powdered sugar. “I hope you’ll -like these, Mrs. Lee; Alexandra does. The Bohemians always like them with their -coffee. But if you don’t, I have a coffee-cake with nuts and poppy seeds. -Alexandra, will you get the cream jug? I put it in the window to keep -cool.” +and began to dust them over with powdered sugar. “I hope you’ll like these, +Mrs. Lee; Alexandra does. The Bohemians always like them with their coffee. But +if you don’t, I have a coffee-cake with nuts and poppy seeds. Alexandra, will +you get the cream jug? I put it in the window to keep cool.” </p> <p> -“The Bohemians,” said Alexandra, as they drew up to the table, -“certainly know how to make more kinds of bread than any other people in -the world. Old Mrs. Hiller told me once at the church supper that she could -make seven kinds of fancy bread, but Marie could make a dozen.” +“The Bohemians,” said Alexandra, as they drew up to the table, “certainly know +how to make more kinds of bread than any other people in the world. Old Mrs. +Hiller told me once at the church supper that she could make seven kinds of +fancy bread, but Marie could make a dozen.” </p> <p> Mrs. Lee held up one of the apricot rolls between her brown thumb and -forefinger and weighed it critically. “Yust like-a fedders,” she -pronounced with satisfaction. “My, a-an’t dis nice!” she -exclaimed as she stirred her coffee. “I yust ta-ake a liddle yelly now, -too, I ta-ank.” +forefinger and weighed it critically. “Yust like-a fedders,” she pronounced +with satisfaction. “My, a-an’t dis nice!” she exclaimed as she stirred her +coffee. “I yust ta-ake a liddle yelly now, too, I ta-ank.” </p> <p> Alexandra and Marie laughed at her forehandedness, and fell to talking of their -own affairs. “I was afraid you had a cold when I talked to you over the -telephone the other night, Marie. What was the matter, had you been -crying?” +own affairs. “I was afraid you had a cold when I talked to you over the +telephone the other night, Marie. What was the matter, had you been crying?” </p> <p> -“Maybe I had,” Marie smiled guiltily. “Frank was out late -that night. Don’t you get lonely sometimes in the winter, when everybody -has gone away?” +“Maybe I had,” Marie smiled guiltily. “Frank was out late that night. Don’t you +get lonely sometimes in the winter, when everybody has gone away?” </p> <p> -“I thought it was something like that. If I hadn’t had company, -I’d have run over to see for myself. If you get down-hearted, what will -become of the rest of us?” Alexandra asked. +“I thought it was something like that. If I hadn’t had company, I’d have run +over to see for myself. If you get down-hearted, what will become of the rest +of us?” Alexandra asked. </p> <p> -“I don’t, very often. There’s Mrs. Lee without any -coffee!” +“I don’t, very often. There’s Mrs. Lee without any coffee!” </p> <p> Later, when Mrs. Lee declared that her powers were spent, Marie and Alexandra went upstairs to look for some crochet patterns the old lady wanted to borrow. -“Better put on your coat, Alexandra. It’s cold up there, and I have -no idea where those patterns are. I may have to look through my old -trunks.” Marie caught up a shawl and opened the stair door, running up -the steps ahead of her guest. “While I go through the bureau drawers, you -might look in those hat-boxes on the closet-shelf, over where Frank’s -clothes hang. There are a lot of odds and ends in them.” +“Better put on your coat, Alexandra. It’s cold up there, and I have no idea +where those patterns are. I may have to look through my old trunks.” Marie +caught up a shawl and opened the stair door, running up the steps ahead of her +guest. “While I go through the bureau drawers, you might look in those +hat-boxes on the closet-shelf, over where Frank’s clothes hang. There are a lot +of odds and ends in them.” </p> <p> @@ -4960,101 +4780,98 @@ in her hand. </p> <p> -“What in the world is this, Marie? You don’t mean to tell me Frank -ever carried such a thing?” +“What in the world is this, Marie? You don’t mean to tell me Frank ever carried +such a thing?” </p> <p> -Marie blinked at it with astonishment and sat down on the floor. “Where -did you find it? I didn’t know he had kept it. I haven’t seen it -for years.” +Marie blinked at it with astonishment and sat down on the floor. “Where did you +find it? I didn’t know he had kept it. I haven’t seen it for years.” </p> <p> -“It really is a cane, then?” +“It really is a cane, then?” </p> <p> -“Yes. One he brought from the old country. He used to carry it when I -first knew him. Isn’t it foolish? Poor Frank!” +“Yes. One he brought from the old country. He used to carry it when I first +knew him. Isn’t it foolish? Poor Frank!” </p> <p> -Alexandra twirled the stick in her fingers and laughed. “He must have -looked funny!” +Alexandra twirled the stick in her fingers and laughed. “He must have looked +funny!” </p> <p> -Marie was thoughtful. “No, he didn’t, really. It didn’t seem -out of place. He used to be awfully gay like that when he was a young man. I -guess people always get what’s hardest for them, Alexandra.” Marie -gathered the shawl closer about her and still looked hard at the cane. -“Frank would be all right in the right place,” she said -reflectively. “He ought to have a different kind of wife, for one thing. -Do you know, Alexandra, I could pick out exactly the right sort of woman for -Frank—now. The trouble is you almost have to marry a man before you can -find out the sort of wife he needs; and usually it’s exactly the sort you -are not. Then what are you going to do about it?” she asked candidly. +Marie was thoughtful. “No, he didn’t, really. It didn’t seem out of place. He +used to be awfully gay like that when he was a young man. I guess people always +get what’s hardest for them, Alexandra.” Marie gathered the shawl closer about +her and still looked hard at the cane. “Frank would be all right in the right +place,” she said reflectively. “He ought to have a different kind of wife, for +one thing. Do you know, Alexandra, I could pick out exactly the right sort of +woman for Frank—now. The trouble is you almost have to marry a man before you +can find out the sort of wife he needs; and usually it’s exactly the sort you +are not. Then what are you going to do about it?” she asked candidly. </p> <p> -Alexandra confessed she didn’t know. “However,” she added, -“it seems to me that you get along with Frank about as well as any woman -I’ve ever seen or heard of could.” +Alexandra confessed she didn’t know. “However,” she added, “it seems to me that +you get along with Frank about as well as any woman I’ve ever seen or heard of +could.” </p> <p> Marie shook her head, pursing her lips and blowing her warm breath softly out -into the frosty air. “No; I was spoiled at home. I like my own way, and I -have a quick tongue. When Frank brags, I say sharp things, and he never -forgets. He goes over and over it in his mind; I can feel him. Then I’m -too giddy. Frank’s wife ought to be timid, and she ought not to care -about another living thing in the world but just Frank! I didn’t, when I -married him, but I suppose I was too young to stay like that.” Marie -sighed. +into the frosty air. “No; I was spoiled at home. I like my own way, and I have +a quick tongue. When Frank brags, I say sharp things, and he never forgets. He +goes over and over it in his mind; I can feel him. Then I’m too giddy. Frank’s +wife ought to be timid, and she ought not to care about another living thing in +the world but just Frank! I didn’t, when I married him, but I suppose I was too +young to stay like that.” Marie sighed. </p> <p> Alexandra had never heard Marie speak so frankly about her husband before, and she felt that it was wiser not to encourage her. No good, she reasoned, ever came from talking about such things, and while Marie was thinking aloud, -Alexandra had been steadily searching the hat-boxes. “Aren’t these -the patterns, Maria?” +Alexandra had been steadily searching the hat-boxes. “Aren’t these the +patterns, Maria?” </p> <p> -Maria sprang up from the floor. “Sure enough, we were looking for -patterns, weren’t we? I’d forgot about everything but Frank’s -other wife. I’ll put that away.” +Maria sprang up from the floor. “Sure enough, we were looking for patterns, +weren’t we? I’d forgot about everything but Frank’s other wife. I’ll put that +away.” </p> <p> -She poked the cane behind Frank’s Sunday clothes, and though she laughed, +She poked the cane behind Frank’s Sunday clothes, and though she laughed, Alexandra saw there were tears in her eyes. </p> <p> -When they went back to the kitchen, the snow had begun to fall, and -Marie’s visitors thought they must be getting home. She went out to the -cart with them, and tucked the robes about old Mrs. Lee while Alexandra took -the blanket off her horse. As they drove away, Marie turned and went slowly -back to the house. She took up the package of letters Alexandra had brought, -but she did not read them. She turned them over and looked at the foreign -stamps, and then sat watching the flying snow while the dusk deepened in the -kitchen and the stove sent out a red glow. +When they went back to the kitchen, the snow had begun to fall, and Marie’s +visitors thought they must be getting home. She went out to the cart with them, +and tucked the robes about old Mrs. Lee while Alexandra took the blanket off +her horse. As they drove away, Marie turned and went slowly back to the house. +She took up the package of letters Alexandra had brought, but she did not read +them. She turned them over and looked at the foreign stamps, and then sat +watching the flying snow while the dusk deepened in the kitchen and the stove +sent out a red glow. </p> <p> -Marie knew perfectly well that Emil’s letters were written more for her -than for Alexandra. They were not the sort of letters that a young man writes -to his sister. They were both more personal and more painstaking; full of -descriptions of the gay life in the old Mexican capital in the days when the -strong hand of Porfirio Diaz was still strong. He told about bull-fights and -cock-fights, churches and <i>fiestas</i>, the flower-markets and the fountains, -the music and dancing, the people of all nations he met in the Italian -restaurants on San Francisco Street. In short, they were the kind of letters a -young man writes to a woman when he wishes himself and his life to seem -interesting to her, when he wishes to enlist her imagination in his behalf. +Marie knew perfectly well that Emil’s letters were written more for her than +for Alexandra. They were not the sort of letters that a young man writes to his +sister. They were both more personal and more painstaking; full of descriptions +of the gay life in the old Mexican capital in the days when the strong hand of +Porfirio Diaz was still strong. He told about bull-fights and cock-fights, +churches and <i>fiestas</i>, the flower-markets and the fountains, the music +and dancing, the people of all nations he met in the Italian restaurants on San +Francisco Street. In short, they were the kind of letters a young man writes to +a woman when he wishes himself and his life to seem interesting to her, when he +wishes to enlist her imagination in his behalf. </p> <p> @@ -5065,13 +4882,12 @@ there was a little blind boot-black in front of the cathedral who could play any tune you asked for by dropping the lids of blacking-boxes on the stone steps. When everything is done and over for one at twenty-three, it is pleasant to let the mind wander forth and follow a young adventurer who has life before -him. “And if it had not been for me,” she thought, “Frank -might still be free like that, and having a good time making people admire him. -Poor Frank, getting married wasn’t very good for him either. I’m -afraid I do set people against him, as he says. I seem, somehow, to give him -away all the time. Perhaps he would try to be agreeable to people again, if I -were not around. It seems as if I always make him just as bad as he can -be.” +him. “And if it had not been for me,” she thought, “Frank might still be free +like that, and having a good time making people admire him. Poor Frank, getting +married wasn’t very good for him either. I’m afraid I do set people against +him, as he says. I seem, somehow, to give him away all the time. Perhaps he +would try to be agreeable to people again, if I were not around. It seems as if +I always make him just as bad as he can be.” </p> <p> @@ -5106,29 +4922,29 @@ white fields, or watch the currents of snow whirling over the orchard. She seemed to feel the weight of all the snow that lay down there. The branches had become so hard that they wounded your hand if you but tried to break a twig. And yet, down under the frozen crusts, at the roots of the trees, the secret of -life was still safe, warm as the blood in one’s heart; and the spring -would come again! Oh, it would come again! +life was still safe, warm as the blood in one’s heart; and the spring would +come again! Oh, it would come again! </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"></a>II</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0022"></a>II</h2> <p> If Alexandra had had much imagination she might have guessed what was going on -in Marie’s mind, and she would have seen long before what was going on in -Emil’s. But that, as Emil himself had more than once reflected, was -Alexandra’s blind side, and her life had not been of the kind to sharpen -her vision. Her training had all been toward the end of making her proficient -in what she had undertaken to do. Her personal life, her own realization of -herself, was almost a subconscious existence; like an underground river that -came to the surface only here and there, at intervals months apart, and then -sank again to flow on under her own fields. Nevertheless, the underground -stream was there, and it was because she had so much personality to put into -her enterprises and succeeded in putting it into them so completely, that her -affairs prospered better than those of her neighbors. +in Marie’s mind, and she would have seen long before what was going on in +Emil’s. But that, as Emil himself had more than once reflected, was Alexandra’s +blind side, and her life had not been of the kind to sharpen her vision. Her +training had all been toward the end of making her proficient in what she had +undertaken to do. Her personal life, her own realization of herself, was almost +a subconscious existence; like an underground river that came to the surface +only here and there, at intervals months apart, and then sank again to flow on +under her own fields. Nevertheless, the underground stream was there, and it +was because she had so much personality to put into her enterprises and +succeeded in putting it into them so completely, that her affairs prospered +better than those of her neighbors. </p> <p> @@ -5150,19 +4966,19 @@ disporting herself very happily in the flickering light and shade. They sat for a long time, watching the solitary bird take its pleasure. No living thing had ever seemed to Alexandra as beautiful as that wild duck. Emil must have felt about it as she did, for afterward, when they were at home, he used sometimes -to say, “Sister, you know our duck down there—” Alexandra -remembered that day as one of the happiest in her life. Years afterward she -thought of the duck as still there, swimming and diving all by herself in the -sunlight, a kind of enchanted bird that did not know age or change. +to say, “Sister, you know our duck down there—” Alexandra remembered that day +as one of the happiest in her life. Years afterward she thought of the duck as +still there, swimming and diving all by herself in the sunlight, a kind of +enchanted bird that did not know age or change. </p> <p> -Most of Alexandra’s happy memories were as impersonal as this one; yet to -her they were very personal. Her mind was a white book, with clear writing -about weather and beasts and growing things. Not many people would have cared -to read it; only a happy few. She had never been in love, she had never -indulged in sentimental reveries. Even as a girl she had looked upon men as -work-fellows. She had grown up in serious times. +Most of Alexandra’s happy memories were as impersonal as this one; yet to her +they were very personal. Her mind was a white book, with clear writing about +weather and beasts and growing things. Not many people would have cared to read +it; only a happy few. She had never been in love, she had never indulged in +sentimental reveries. Even as a girl she had looked upon men as work-fellows. +She had grown up in serious times. </p> <p> @@ -5199,14 +5015,14 @@ strong being who took from her all her bodily weariness. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_PART4" id="link2H_PART4"></a>PART IV.<br/> +<h2><a name="link2H_PART4"></a>PART IV.<br/> The White Mulberry Tree</h2> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"></a>I</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0024"></a>I</h2> <p> The French Church, properly the Church of Sainte-Agnes, stood upon a hill. The @@ -5227,17 +5043,17 @@ about the red church on the hill. Beside Alexandra lounged a strikingly exotic figure in a tall Mexican hat, a silk sash, and a black velvet jacket sewn with silver buttons. Emil had returned only the night before, and his sister was so proud of him that she decided at once to take him up to the church supper, and -to make him wear the Mexican costume he had brought home in his trunk. -“All the girls who have stands are going to wear fancy costumes,” -she argued, “and some of the boys. Marie is going to tell fortunes, and -she sent to Omaha for a Bohemian dress her father brought back from a visit to -the old country. If you wear those clothes, they will all be pleased. And you -must take your guitar. Everybody ought to do what they can to help along, and -we have never done much. We are not a talented family.” +to make him wear the Mexican costume he had brought home in his trunk. “All the +girls who have stands are going to wear fancy costumes,” she argued, “and some +of the boys. Marie is going to tell fortunes, and she sent to Omaha for a +Bohemian dress her father brought back from a visit to the old country. If you +wear those clothes, they will all be pleased. And you must take your guitar. +Everybody ought to do what they can to help along, and we have never done much. +We are not a talented family.” </p> <p> -The supper was to be at six o’clock, in the basement of the church, and +The supper was to be at six o’clock, in the basement of the church, and afterward there would be a fair, with charades and an auction. Alexandra had set out from home early, leaving the house to Signa and Nelse Jensen, who were to be married next week. Signa had shyly asked to have the wedding put off @@ -5250,31 +5066,30 @@ rolling French country toward the westering sun and the stalwart church, she was thinking of that time long ago when she and Emil drove back from the river valley to the still unconquered Divide. Yes, she told herself, it had been worth while; both Emil and the country had become what she had hoped. Out of -her father’s children there was one who was fit to cope with the world, -who had not been tied to the plow, and who had a personality apart from the -soil. And that, she reflected, was what she had worked for. She felt well -satisfied with her life. +her father’s children there was one who was fit to cope with the world, who had +not been tied to the plow, and who had a personality apart from the soil. And +that, she reflected, was what she had worked for. She felt well satisfied with +her life. </p> <p> When they reached the church, a score of teams were hitched in front of the basement doors that opened from the hillside upon the sanded terrace, where the boys wrestled and had jumping-matches. Amédée Chevalier, a proud father of one -week, rushed out and embraced Emil. Amédée was an only son,—hence he was -a very rich young man,—but he meant to have twenty children himself, like -his uncle Xavier. “Oh, Emil,” he cried, hugging his old friend -rapturously, “why ain’t you been up to see my boy? You come -to-morrow, sure? Emil, you wanna get a boy right off! It’s the greatest -thing ever! No, no, no! Angel not sick at all. Everything just fine. That boy -he come into this world laughin’, and he been laughin’ ever since. -You come an’ see!” He pounded Emil’s ribs to emphasize each -announcement. +week, rushed out and embraced Emil. Amédée was an only son,—hence he was a very +rich young man,—but he meant to have twenty children himself, like his uncle +Xavier. “Oh, Emil,” he cried, hugging his old friend rapturously, “why ain’t +you been up to see my boy? You come to-morrow, sure? Emil, you wanna get a boy +right off! It’s the greatest thing ever! No, no, no! Angel not sick at all. +Everything just fine. That boy he come into this world laughin’, and he been +laughin’ ever since. You come an’ see!” He pounded Emil’s ribs to emphasize +each announcement. </p> <p> -Emil caught his arms. “Stop, Amédée. You’re knocking the wind out -of me. I brought him cups and spoons and blankets and moccasins enough for an -orphan asylum. I’m awful glad it’s a boy, sure enough!” +Emil caught his arms. “Stop, Amédée. You’re knocking the wind out of me. I +brought him cups and spoons and blankets and moccasins enough for an orphan +asylum. I’m awful glad it’s a boy, sure enough!” </p> <p> @@ -5302,15 +5117,15 @@ encouragingly. </p> <p> -“Oh, he will be here, Marie. The boys have taken him off to show him -something. You won’t know him. He is a man now, sure enough. I have no -boy left. He smokes terrible-smelling Mexican cigarettes and talks Spanish. How -pretty you look, child. Where did you get those beautiful earrings?” +“Oh, he will be here, Marie. The boys have taken him off to show him something. +You won’t know him. He is a man now, sure enough. I have no boy left. He smokes +terrible-smelling Mexican cigarettes and talks Spanish. How pretty you look, +child. Where did you get those beautiful earrings?” </p> <p> -“They belonged to father’s mother. He always promised them to me. -He sent them with the dress and said I could keep them.” +“They belonged to father’s mother. He always promised them to me. He sent them +with the dress and said I could keep them.” </p> <p> @@ -5330,7 +5145,7 @@ very nervous to hear him and not to see him; for, certainly, she told herself, she was not going out to look for him. When the supper bell rang and the boys came trooping in to get seats at the first table, she forgot all about her annoyance and ran to greet the tallest of the crowd, in his conspicuous attire. -She didn’t mind showing her embarrassment at all. She blushed and laughed +She didn’t mind showing her embarrassment at all. She blushed and laughed excitedly as she gave Emil her hand, and looked delightedly at the black velvet coat that brought out his fair skin and fine blond head. Marie was incapable of being lukewarm about anything that pleased her. She simply did not know how to @@ -5340,11 +5155,11 @@ laughed with them. </p> <p> -“Do the men wear clothes like that every day, in the street?” She -caught Emil by his sleeve and turned him about. “Oh, I wish I lived where -people wore things like that! Are the buttons real silver? Put on the hat, -please. What a heavy thing! How do you ever wear it? Why don’t you tell -us about the bull-fights?” +“Do the men wear clothes like that every day, in the street?” She caught Emil +by his sleeve and turned him about. “Oh, I wish I lived where people wore +things like that! Are the buttons real silver? Put on the hat, please. What a +heavy thing! How do you ever wear it? Why don’t you tell us about the +bull-fights?” </p> <p> @@ -5353,52 +5168,50 @@ moment. Emil smiled tolerantly and stood looking down at her with his old, brooding gaze, while the French girls fluttered about him in their white dresses and ribbons, and Alexandra watched the scene with pride. Several of the French girls, Marie knew, were hoping that Emil would take them to supper, and -she was relieved when he took only his sister. Marie caught Frank’s arm -and dragged him to the same table, managing to get seats opposite the Bergsons, -so that she could hear what they were talking about. Alexandra made Emil tell -Mrs. Xavier Chevalier, the mother of the twenty, about how he had seen a famous +she was relieved when he took only his sister. Marie caught Frank’s arm and +dragged him to the same table, managing to get seats opposite the Bergsons, so +that she could hear what they were talking about. Alexandra made Emil tell Mrs. +Xavier Chevalier, the mother of the twenty, about how he had seen a famous matador killed in the bull-ring. Marie listened to every word, only taking her -eyes from Emil to watch Frank’s plate and keep it filled. When Emil -finished his account,—bloody enough to satisfy Mrs. Xavier and to make -her feel thankful that she was not a matador,—Marie broke out with a -volley of questions. How did the women dress when they went to bull-fights? Did -they wear mantillas? Did they never wear hats? +eyes from Emil to watch Frank’s plate and keep it filled. When Emil finished +his account,—bloody enough to satisfy Mrs. Xavier and to make her feel thankful +that she was not a matador,—Marie broke out with a volley of questions. How did +the women dress when they went to bull-fights? Did they wear mantillas? Did +they never wear hats? </p> <p> After supper the young people played charades for the amusement of their elders, who sat gossiping between their guesses. All the shops in Sainte-Agnes -were closed at eight o’clock that night, so that the merchants and their -clerks could attend the fair. The auction was the liveliest part of the -entertainment, for the French boys always lost their heads when they began to -bid, satisfied that their extravagance was in a good cause. After all the -pincushions and sofa pillows and embroidered slippers were sold, Emil -precipitated a panic by taking out one of his turquoise shirt studs, which -every one had been admiring, and handing it to the auctioneer. All the French -girls clamored for it, and their sweethearts bid against each other recklessly. -Marie wanted it, too, and she kept making signals to Frank, which he took a -sour pleasure in disregarding. He didn’t see the use of making a fuss -over a fellow just because he was dressed like a clown. When the turquoise went -to Malvina Sauvage, the French banker’s daughter, Marie shrugged her -shoulders and betook herself to her little tent of shawls, where she began to -shuffle her cards by the light of a tallow candle, calling out, -“Fortunes, fortunes!” +were closed at eight o’clock that night, so that the merchants and their clerks +could attend the fair. The auction was the liveliest part of the entertainment, +for the French boys always lost their heads when they began to bid, satisfied +that their extravagance was in a good cause. After all the pincushions and sofa +pillows and embroidered slippers were sold, Emil precipitated a panic by taking +out one of his turquoise shirt studs, which every one had been admiring, and +handing it to the auctioneer. All the French girls clamored for it, and their +sweethearts bid against each other recklessly. Marie wanted it, too, and she +kept making signals to Frank, which he took a sour pleasure in disregarding. He +didn’t see the use of making a fuss over a fellow just because he was dressed +like a clown. When the turquoise went to Malvina Sauvage, the French banker’s +daughter, Marie shrugged her shoulders and betook herself to her little tent of +shawls, where she began to shuffle her cards by the light of a tallow candle, +calling out, “Fortunes, fortunes!” </p> <p> The young priest, Father Duchesne, went first to have his fortune read. Marie -took his long white hand, looked at it, and then began to run off her cards. -“I see a long journey across water for you, Father. You will go to a town -all cut up by water; built on islands, it seems to be, with rivers and green -fields all about. And you will visit an old lady with a white cap and gold -hoops in her ears, and you will be very happy there.” +took his long white hand, looked at it, and then began to run off her cards. “I +see a long journey across water for you, Father. You will go to a town all cut +up by water; built on islands, it seems to be, with rivers and green fields all +about. And you will visit an old lady with a white cap and gold hoops in her +ears, and you will be very happy there.” </p> <p> -“Mais, oui,” said the priest, with a melancholy smile. -“C’est L’Isle-Adam, chez ma mère. Vous êtes très savante, ma -fille.” He patted her yellow turban, calling, “Venez donc, mes -garçons! Il y a ici une véritable clairvoyante!” +“Mais, oui,” said the priest, with a melancholy smile. “C’est L’Isle-Adam, chez +ma mère. Vous êtes très savante, ma fille.” He patted her yellow turban, +calling, “Venez donc, mes garçons! Il y a ici une véritable clairvoyante!” </p> <p> @@ -5408,26 +5221,26 @@ a girl of sixteen, and live happily on a crust. Sholte, the fat Russian boy, who lived for his stomach, was to be disappointed in love, grow thin, and shoot himself from despondency. Amédée was to have twenty children, and nineteen of them were to be girls. Amédée slapped Frank on the back and asked him why he -didn’t see what the fortune-teller would promise him. But Frank shook off -his friendly hand and grunted, “She tell my fortune long ago; bad -enough!” Then he withdrew to a corner and sat glowering at his wife. -</p> - -<p> -Frank’s case was all the more painful because he had no one in particular -to fix his jealousy upon. Sometimes he could have thanked the man who would -bring him evidence against his wife. He had discharged a good farm-boy, Jan -Smirka, because he thought Marie was fond of him; but she had not seemed to -miss Jan when he was gone, and she had been just as kind to the next boy. The -farm-hands would always do anything for Marie; Frank couldn’t find one so -surly that he would not make an effort to please her. At the bottom of his -heart Frank knew well enough that if he could once give up his grudge, his wife -would come back to him. But he could never in the world do that. The grudge was -fundamental. Perhaps he could not have given it up if he had tried. Perhaps he -got more satisfaction out of feeling himself abused than he would have got out -of being loved. If he could once have made Marie thoroughly unhappy, he might -have relented and raised her from the dust. But she had never humbled herself. -In the first days of their love she had been his slave; she had admired him +didn’t see what the fortune-teller would promise him. But Frank shook off his +friendly hand and grunted, “She tell my fortune long ago; bad enough!” Then he +withdrew to a corner and sat glowering at his wife. +</p> + +<p> +Frank’s case was all the more painful because he had no one in particular to +fix his jealousy upon. Sometimes he could have thanked the man who would bring +him evidence against his wife. He had discharged a good farm-boy, Jan Smirka, +because he thought Marie was fond of him; but she had not seemed to miss Jan +when he was gone, and she had been just as kind to the next boy. The farm-hands +would always do anything for Marie; Frank couldn’t find one so surly that he +would not make an effort to please her. At the bottom of his heart Frank knew +well enough that if he could once give up his grudge, his wife would come back +to him. But he could never in the world do that. The grudge was fundamental. +Perhaps he could not have given it up if he had tried. Perhaps he got more +satisfaction out of feeling himself abused than he would have got out of being +loved. If he could once have made Marie thoroughly unhappy, he might have +relented and raised her from the dust. But she had never humbled herself. In +the first days of their love she had been his slave; she had admired him abandonedly. But the moment he began to bully her and to be unjust, she began to draw away; at first in tearful amazement, then in quiet, unspoken disgust. The distance between them had widened and hardened. It no longer contracted and @@ -5442,21 +5255,20 @@ of how much she had once loved him. For that Marie was grateful to him. <p> While Marie was chattering to the French boys, Amédée called Emil to the back of the room and whispered to him that they were going to play a joke on the -girls. At eleven o’clock, Amédée was to go up to the switchboard in the +girls. At eleven o’clock, Amédée was to go up to the switchboard in the vestibule and turn off the electric lights, and every boy would have a chance to kiss his sweetheart before Father Duchesne could find his way up the stairs -to turn the current on again. The only difficulty was the candle in -Marie’s tent; perhaps, as Emil had no sweetheart, he would oblige the -boys by blowing out the candle. Emil said he would undertake to do that. +to turn the current on again. The only difficulty was the candle in Marie’s +tent; perhaps, as Emil had no sweetheart, he would oblige the boys by blowing +out the candle. Emil said he would undertake to do that. </p> <p> -At five minutes to eleven he sauntered up to Marie’s booth, and the -French boys dispersed to find their girls. He leaned over the card-table and -gave himself up to looking at her. “Do you think you could tell my -fortune?” he murmured. It was the first word he had had alone with her -for almost a year. “My luck hasn’t changed any. It’s just the -same.” +At five minutes to eleven he sauntered up to Marie’s booth, and the French boys +dispersed to find their girls. He leaned over the card-table and gave himself +up to looking at her. “Do you think you could tell my fortune?” he murmured. It +was the first word he had had alone with her for almost a year. “My luck hasn’t +changed any. It’s just the same.” </p> <p> @@ -5464,41 +5276,38 @@ Marie had often wondered whether there was anyone else who could look his thoughts to you as Emil could. To-night, when she met his steady, powerful eyes, it was impossible not to feel the sweetness of the dream he was dreaming; it reached her before she could shut it out, and hid itself in her heart. She -began to shuffle her cards furiously. “I’m angry with you, -Emil,” she broke out with petulance. “Why did you give them that -lovely blue stone to sell? You might have known Frank wouldn’t buy it for -me, and I wanted it awfully!” +began to shuffle her cards furiously. “I’m angry with you, Emil,” she broke out +with petulance. “Why did you give them that lovely blue stone to sell? You +might have known Frank wouldn’t buy it for me, and I wanted it awfully!” </p> <p> -Emil laughed shortly. “People who want such little things surely ought to -have them,” he said dryly. He thrust his hand into the pocket of his -velvet trousers and brought out a handful of uncut turquoises, as big as -marbles. Leaning over the table he dropped them into her lap. “There, -will those do? Be careful, don’t let any one see them. Now, I suppose you -want me to go away and let you play with them?” +Emil laughed shortly. “People who want such little things surely ought to have +them,” he said dryly. He thrust his hand into the pocket of his velvet trousers +and brought out a handful of uncut turquoises, as big as marbles. Leaning over +the table he dropped them into her lap. “There, will those do? Be careful, +don’t let any one see them. Now, I suppose you want me to go away and let you +play with them?” </p> <p> -Marie was gazing in rapture at the soft blue color of the stones. “Oh, -Emil! Is everything down there beautiful like these? How could you ever come -away?” +Marie was gazing in rapture at the soft blue color of the stones. “Oh, Emil! Is +everything down there beautiful like these? How could you ever come away?” </p> <p> At that instant Amédée laid hands on the switchboard. There was a shiver and a -giggle, and every one looked toward the red blur that Marie’s candle made -in the dark. Immediately that, too, was gone. Little shrieks and currents of -soft laughter ran up and down the dark hall. Marie started up,—directly -into Emil’s arms. In the same instant she felt his lips. The veil that -had hung uncertainly between them for so long was dissolved. Before she knew -what she was doing, she had committed herself to that kiss that was at once a -boy’s and a man’s, as timid as it was tender; so like Emil and so -unlike any one else in the world. Not until it was over did she realize what it -meant. And Emil, who had so often imagined the shock of this first kiss, was -surprised at its gentleness and naturalness. It was like a sigh which they had -breathed together; almost sorrowful, as if each were afraid of wakening -something in the other. +giggle, and every one looked toward the red blur that Marie’s candle made in +the dark. Immediately that, too, was gone. Little shrieks and currents of soft +laughter ran up and down the dark hall. Marie started up,—directly into Emil’s +arms. In the same instant she felt his lips. The veil that had hung uncertainly +between them for so long was dissolved. Before she knew what she was doing, she +had committed herself to that kiss that was at once a boy’s and a man’s, as +timid as it was tender; so like Emil and so unlike any one else in the world. +Not until it was over did she realize what it meant. And Emil, who had so often +imagined the shock of this first kiss, was surprised at its gentleness and +naturalness. It was like a sigh which they had breathed together; almost +sorrowful, as if each were afraid of wakening something in the other. </p> <p> @@ -5507,29 +5316,28 @@ French girls were rosy and shining with mirth. Only Marie, in her little tent of shawls, was pale and quiet. Under her yellow turban the red coral pendants swung against white cheeks. Frank was still staring at her, but he seemed to see nothing. Years ago, he himself had had the power to take the blood from her -cheeks like that. Perhaps he did not remember—perhaps he had never -noticed! Emil was already at the other end of the hall, walking about with the +cheeks like that. Perhaps he did not remember—perhaps he had never noticed! +Emil was already at the other end of the hall, walking about with the shoulder-motion he had acquired among the Mexicans, studying the floor with his intent, deep-set eyes. Marie began to take down and fold her shawls. She did not glance up again. The young people drifted to the other end of the hall -where the guitar was sounding. In a moment she heard Emil and Raoul -singing:— +where the guitar was sounding. In a moment she heard Emil and Raoul singing:— </p> <p class="poem"> -“Across the Rio Grand-e<br/> +“Across the Rio Grand-e<br/> There lies a sunny land-e,<br/> -My bright-eyed Mexico!” +My bright-eyed Mexico!” </p> <p> -Alexandra Bergson came up to the card booth. “Let me help you, Marie. You -look tired.” +Alexandra Bergson came up to the card booth. “Let me help you, Marie. You look +tired.” </p> <p> -She placed her hand on Marie’s arm and felt her shiver. Marie stiffened -under that kind, calm hand. Alexandra drew back, perplexed and hurt. +She placed her hand on Marie’s arm and felt her shiver. Marie stiffened under +that kind, calm hand. Alexandra drew back, perplexed and hurt. </p> <p> @@ -5543,30 +5351,30 @@ to the touch of pain. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0025" id="link2H_4_0025"></a>II</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0025"></a>II</h2> <p> -Signa’s wedding supper was over. The guests, and the tiresome little -Norwegian preacher who had performed the marriage ceremony, were saying -good-night. Old Ivar was hitching the horses to the wagon to take the wedding -presents and the bride and groom up to their new home, on Alexandra’s -north quarter. When Ivar drove up to the gate, Emil and Marie Shabata began to -carry out the presents, and Alexandra went into her bedroom to bid Signa -good-bye and to give her a few words of good counsel. She was surprised to find -that the bride had changed her slippers for heavy shoes and was pinning up her -skirts. At that moment Nelse appeared at the gate with the two milk cows that -Alexandra had given Signa for a wedding present. +Signa’s wedding supper was over. The guests, and the tiresome little Norwegian +preacher who had performed the marriage ceremony, were saying good-night. Old +Ivar was hitching the horses to the wagon to take the wedding presents and the +bride and groom up to their new home, on Alexandra’s north quarter. When Ivar +drove up to the gate, Emil and Marie Shabata began to carry out the presents, +and Alexandra went into her bedroom to bid Signa good-bye and to give her a few +words of good counsel. She was surprised to find that the bride had changed her +slippers for heavy shoes and was pinning up her skirts. At that moment Nelse +appeared at the gate with the two milk cows that Alexandra had given Signa for +a wedding present. </p> <p> -Alexandra began to laugh. “Why, Signa, you and Nelse are to ride home. -I’ll send Ivar over with the cows in the morning.” +Alexandra began to laugh. “Why, Signa, you and Nelse are to ride home. I’ll +send Ivar over with the cows in the morning.” </p> <p> Signa hesitated and looked perplexed. When her husband called her, she pinned -her hat on resolutely. “I ta-ank I better do yust like he say,” she -murmured in confusion. +her hat on resolutely. “I ta-ank I better do yust like he say,” she murmured in +confusion. </p> <p> @@ -5576,34 +5384,34 @@ each leading a cow. Emil burst into a laugh before they were out of hearing. </p> <p> -“Those two will get on,” said Alexandra as they turned back to the -house. “They are not going to take any chances. They will feel safer with -those cows in their own stable. Marie, I am going to send for an old woman -next. As soon as I get the girls broken in, I marry them off.” +“Those two will get on,” said Alexandra as they turned back to the house. “They +are not going to take any chances. They will feel safer with those cows in +their own stable. Marie, I am going to send for an old woman next. As soon as I +get the girls broken in, I marry them off.” </p> <p> -“I’ve no patience with Signa, marrying that grumpy fellow!” -Marie declared. “I wanted her to marry that nice Smirka boy who worked -for us last winter. I think she liked him, too.” +“I’ve no patience with Signa, marrying that grumpy fellow!” Marie declared. “I +wanted her to marry that nice Smirka boy who worked for us last winter. I think +she liked him, too.” </p> <p> -“Yes, I think she did,” Alexandra assented, “but I suppose -she was too much afraid of Nelse to marry any one else. Now that I think of it, -most of my girls have married men they were afraid of. I believe there is a -good deal of the cow in most Swedish girls. You high-strung Bohemian -can’t understand us. We’re a terribly practical people, and I guess -we think a cross man makes a good manager.” +“Yes, I think she did,” Alexandra assented, “but I suppose she was too much +afraid of Nelse to marry any one else. Now that I think of it, most of my girls +have married men they were afraid of. I believe there is a good deal of the cow +in most Swedish girls. You high-strung Bohemian can’t understand us. We’re a +terribly practical people, and I guess we think a cross man makes a good +manager.” </p> <p> Marie shrugged her shoulders and turned to pin up a lock of hair that had fallen on her neck. Somehow Alexandra had irritated her of late. Everybody -irritated her. She was tired of everybody. “I’m going home alone, -Emil, so you needn’t get your hat,” she said as she wound her scarf -quickly about her head. “Good-night, Alexandra,” she called back in -a strained voice, running down the gravel walk. +irritated her. She was tired of everybody. “I’m going home alone, Emil, so you +needn’t get your hat,” she said as she wound her scarf quickly about her head. +“Good-night, Alexandra,” she called back in a strained voice, running down the +gravel walk. </p> <p> @@ -5613,8 +5421,8 @@ glimmering over the wheat. </p> <p> -“Marie,” said Emil after they had walked for a while, “I -wonder if you know how unhappy I am?” +“Marie,” said Emil after they had walked for a while, “I wonder if you know how +unhappy I am?” </p> <p> @@ -5623,55 +5431,51 @@ little. </p> <p> -Emil kicked a clod from the path and went on:— +Emil kicked a clod from the path and went on:— </p> <p> -“I wonder whether you are really shallow-hearted, like you seem? -Sometimes I think one boy does just as well as another for you. It never seems -to make much difference whether it is me or Raoul Marcel or Jan Smirka. Are you -really like that?” +“I wonder whether you are really shallow-hearted, like you seem? Sometimes I +think one boy does just as well as another for you. It never seems to make much +difference whether it is me or Raoul Marcel or Jan Smirka. Are you really like +that?” </p> <p> -“Perhaps I am. What do you want me to do? Sit round and cry all day? When -I’ve cried until I can’t cry any more, then—then I must do -something else.” +“Perhaps I am. What do you want me to do? Sit round and cry all day? When I’ve +cried until I can’t cry any more, then—then I must do something else.” </p> <p> -“Are you sorry for me?” he persisted. +“Are you sorry for me?” he persisted. </p> <p> -“No, I’m not. If I were big and free like you, I wouldn’t let -anything make me unhappy. As old Napoleon Brunot said at the fair, I -wouldn’t go lovering after no woman. I’d take the first train and -go off and have all the fun there is.” +“No, I’m not. If I were big and free like you, I wouldn’t let anything make me +unhappy. As old Napoleon Brunot said at the fair, I wouldn’t go lovering after +no woman. I’d take the first train and go off and have all the fun there is.” </p> <p> -“I tried that, but it didn’t do any good. Everything reminded me. -The nicer the place was, the more I wanted you.” They had come to the -stile and Emil pointed to it persuasively. “Sit down a moment, I want to -ask you something.” Marie sat down on the top step and Emil drew nearer. -“Would you tell me something that’s none of my business if you -thought it would help me out? Well, then, tell me, <i>please</i> tell me, why -you ran away with Frank Shabata!” +“I tried that, but it didn’t do any good. Everything reminded me. The nicer the +place was, the more I wanted you.” They had come to the stile and Emil pointed +to it persuasively. “Sit down a moment, I want to ask you something.” Marie sat +down on the top step and Emil drew nearer. “Would you tell me something that’s +none of my business if you thought it would help me out? Well, then, tell me, +<i>please</i> tell me, why you ran away with Frank Shabata!” </p> <p> -Marie drew back. “Because I was in love with him,” she said firmly. +Marie drew back. “Because I was in love with him,” she said firmly. </p> <p> -“Really?” he asked incredulously. +“Really?” he asked incredulously. </p> <p> -“Yes, indeed. Very much in love with him. I think I was the one who -suggested our running away. From the first it was more my fault than -his.” +“Yes, indeed. Very much in love with him. I think I was the one who suggested +our running away. From the first it was more my fault than his.” </p> <p> @@ -5679,36 +5483,34 @@ Emil turned away his face. </p> <p> -“And now,” Marie went on, “I’ve got to remember that. -Frank is just the same now as he was then, only then I would see him as I -wanted him to be. I would have my own way. And now I pay for it.” +“And now,” Marie went on, “I’ve got to remember that. Frank is just the same +now as he was then, only then I would see him as I wanted him to be. I would +have my own way. And now I pay for it.” </p> <p> -“You don’t do all the paying.” +“You don’t do all the paying.” </p> <p> -“That’s it. When one makes a mistake, there’s no telling -where it will stop. But you can go away; you can leave all this behind -you.” +“That’s it. When one makes a mistake, there’s no telling where it will stop. +But you can go away; you can leave all this behind you.” </p> <p> -“Not everything. I can’t leave you behind. Will you go away with -me, Marie?” +“Not everything. I can’t leave you behind. Will you go away with me, Marie?” </p> <p> -Marie started up and stepped across the stile. “Emil! How wickedly you -talk! I am not that kind of a girl, and you know it. But what am I going to do -if you keep tormenting me like this!” she added plaintively. +Marie started up and stepped across the stile. “Emil! How wickedly you talk! I +am not that kind of a girl, and you know it. But what am I going to do if you +keep tormenting me like this!” she added plaintively. </p> <p> -“Marie, I won’t bother you any more if you will tell me just one -thing. Stop a minute and look at me. No, nobody can see us. Everybody’s -asleep. That was only a firefly. Marie, <i>stop</i> and tell me!” +“Marie, I won’t bother you any more if you will tell me just one thing. Stop a +minute and look at me. No, nobody can see us. Everybody’s asleep. That was only +a firefly. Marie, <i>stop</i> and tell me!” </p> <p> @@ -5717,11 +5519,10 @@ were trying to awaken a sleepwalker. </p> <p> -Marie hid her face on his arm. “Don’t ask me anything more. I -don’t know anything except how miserable I am. And I thought it would be -all right when you came back. Oh, Emil,” she clutched his sleeve and -began to cry, “what am I to do if you don’t go away? I can’t -go, and one of us must. Can’t you see?” +Marie hid her face on his arm. “Don’t ask me anything more. I don’t know +anything except how miserable I am. And I thought it would be all right when +you came back. Oh, Emil,” she clutched his sleeve and began to cry, “what am I +to do if you don’t go away? I can’t go, and one of us must. Can’t you see?” </p> <p> @@ -5729,13 +5530,12 @@ Emil stood looking down at her, holding his shoulders stiff and stiffening the arm to which she clung. Her white dress looked gray in the darkness. She seemed like a troubled spirit, like some shadow out of the earth, clinging to him and entreating him to give her peace. Behind her the fireflies were weaving in and -out over the wheat. He put his hand on her bent head. “On my honor, -Marie, if you will say you love me, I will go away.” +out over the wheat. He put his hand on her bent head. “On my honor, Marie, if +you will say you love me, I will go away.” </p> <p> -She lifted her face to his. “How could I help it? Didn’t you -know?” +She lifted her face to his. “How could I help it? Didn’t you know?” </p> <p> @@ -5748,11 +5548,11 @@ fireflies and the stars. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"></a>III</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0026"></a>III</h2> <p> -One evening, a week after Signa’s wedding, Emil was kneeling before a box -in the sitting-room, packing his books. From time to time he rose and wandered +One evening, a week after Signa’s wedding, Emil was kneeling before a box in +the sitting-room, packing his books. From time to time he rose and wandered about the house, picking up stray volumes and bringing them listlessly back to his box. He was packing without enthusiasm. He was not very sanguine about his future. Alexandra sat sewing by the table. She had helped him pack his trunk in @@ -5760,15 +5560,14 @@ the afternoon. As Emil came and went by her chair with his books, he thought to himself that it had not been so hard to leave his sister since he first went away to school. He was going directly to Omaha, to read law in the office of a Swedish lawyer until October, when he would enter the law school at Ann Arbor. -They had planned that Alexandra was to come to Michigan—a long journey -for her—at Christmas time, and spend several weeks with him. -Nevertheless, he felt that this leave-taking would be more final than his -earlier ones had been; that it meant a definite break with his old home and the -beginning of something new—he did not know what. His ideas about the -future would not crystallize; the more he tried to think about it, the vaguer -his conception of it became. But one thing was clear, he told himself; it was -high time that he made good to Alexandra, and that ought to be incentive enough -to begin with. +They had planned that Alexandra was to come to Michigan—a long journey for +her—at Christmas time, and spend several weeks with him. Nevertheless, he felt +that this leave-taking would be more final than his earlier ones had been; that +it meant a definite break with his old home and the beginning of something +new—he did not know what. His ideas about the future would not crystallize; the +more he tried to think about it, the vaguer his conception of it became. But +one thing was clear, he told himself; it was high time that he made good to +Alexandra, and that ought to be incentive enough to begin with. </p> <p> @@ -5778,57 +5577,56 @@ was little, and lay looking up at the familiar cracks in the ceiling. </p> <p> -“Tired, Emil?” his sister asked. +“Tired, Emil?” his sister asked. </p> <p> -“Lazy,” he murmured, turning on his side and looking at her. He -studied Alexandra’s face for a long time in the lamplight. It had never -occurred to him that his sister was a handsome woman until Marie Shabata had -told him so. Indeed, he had never thought of her as being a woman at all, only -a sister. As he studied her bent head, he looked up at the picture of John -Bergson above the lamp. “No,” he thought to himself, “she -didn’t get it there. I suppose I am more like that.” +“Lazy,” he murmured, turning on his side and looking at her. He studied +Alexandra’s face for a long time in the lamplight. It had never occurred to him +that his sister was a handsome woman until Marie Shabata had told him so. +Indeed, he had never thought of her as being a woman at all, only a sister. As +he studied her bent head, he looked up at the picture of John Bergson above the +lamp. “No,” he thought to himself, “she didn’t get it there. I suppose I am +more like that.” </p> <p> -“Alexandra,” he said suddenly, “that old walnut secretary you -use for a desk was father’s, wasn’t it?” +“Alexandra,” he said suddenly, “that old walnut secretary you use for a desk +was father’s, wasn’t it?” </p> <p> -Alexandra went on stitching. “Yes. It was one of the first things he -bought for the old log house. It was a great extravagance in those days. But he -wrote a great many letters back to the old country. He had many friends there, -and they wrote to him up to the time he died. No one ever blamed him for -grandfather’s disgrace. I can see him now, sitting there on Sundays, in -his white shirt, writing pages and pages, so carefully. He wrote a fine, -regular hand, almost like engraving. Yours is something like his, when you take -pains.” +Alexandra went on stitching. “Yes. It was one of the first things he bought for +the old log house. It was a great extravagance in those days. But he wrote a +great many letters back to the old country. He had many friends there, and they +wrote to him up to the time he died. No one ever blamed him for grandfather’s +disgrace. I can see him now, sitting there on Sundays, in his white shirt, +writing pages and pages, so carefully. He wrote a fine, regular hand, almost +like engraving. Yours is something like his, when you take pains.” </p> <p> -“Grandfather was really crooked, was he?” +“Grandfather was really crooked, was he?” </p> <p> -“He married an unscrupulous woman, and then—then I’m afraid -he was really crooked. When we first came here father used to have dreams about -making a great fortune and going back to Sweden to pay back to the poor sailors -the money grandfather had lost.” +“He married an unscrupulous woman, and then—then I’m afraid he was really +crooked. When we first came here father used to have dreams about making a +great fortune and going back to Sweden to pay back to the poor sailors the +money grandfather had lost.” </p> <p> -Emil stirred on the lounge. “I say, that would have been worth while, -wouldn’t it? Father wasn’t a bit like Lou or Oscar, was he? I -can’t remember much about him before he got sick.” +Emil stirred on the lounge. “I say, that would have been worth while, wouldn’t +it? Father wasn’t a bit like Lou or Oscar, was he? I can’t remember much about +him before he got sick.” </p> <p> -“Oh, not at all!” Alexandra dropped her sewing on her knee. -“He had better opportunities; not to make money, but to make something of -himself. He was a quiet man, but he was very intelligent. You would have been -proud of him, Emil.” +“Oh, not at all!” Alexandra dropped her sewing on her knee. “He had better +opportunities; not to make money, but to make something of himself. He was a +quiet man, but he was very intelligent. You would have been proud of him, +Emil.” </p> <p> @@ -5844,54 +5642,51 @@ All his interests they treated as affectations. </p> <p> -Alexandra took up her sewing again. “I can remember father when he was -quite a young man. He belonged to some kind of a musical society, a male -chorus, in Stockholm. I can remember going with mother to hear them sing. There -must have been a hundred of them, and they all wore long black coats and white -neckties. I was used to seeing father in a blue coat, a sort of jacket, and -when I recognized him on the platform, I was very proud. Do you remember that -Swedish song he taught you, about the ship boy?” +Alexandra took up her sewing again. “I can remember father when he was quite a +young man. He belonged to some kind of a musical society, a male chorus, in +Stockholm. I can remember going with mother to hear them sing. There must have +been a hundred of them, and they all wore long black coats and white neckties. +I was used to seeing father in a blue coat, a sort of jacket, and when I +recognized him on the platform, I was very proud. Do you remember that Swedish +song he taught you, about the ship boy?” </p> <p> -“Yes. I used to sing it to the Mexicans. They like anything -different.” Emil paused. “Father had a hard fight here, -didn’t he?” he added thoughtfully. +“Yes. I used to sing it to the Mexicans. They like anything different.” Emil +paused. “Father had a hard fight here, didn’t he?” he added thoughtfully. </p> <p> -“Yes, and he died in a dark time. Still, he had hope. He believed in the -land.” +“Yes, and he died in a dark time. Still, he had hope. He believed in the land.” </p> <p> -“And in you, I guess,” Emil said to himself. There was another -period of silence; that warm, friendly silence, full of perfect understanding, -in which Emil and Alexandra had spent many of their happiest half-hours. +“And in you, I guess,” Emil said to himself. There was another period of +silence; that warm, friendly silence, full of perfect understanding, in which +Emil and Alexandra had spent many of their happiest half-hours. </p> <p> -At last Emil said abruptly, “Lou and Oscar would be better off if they -were poor, wouldn’t they?” +At last Emil said abruptly, “Lou and Oscar would be better off if they were +poor, wouldn’t they?” </p> <p> -Alexandra smiled. “Maybe. But their children wouldn’t. I have great -hopes of Milly.” +Alexandra smiled. “Maybe. But their children wouldn’t. I have great hopes of +Milly.” </p> <p> -Emil shivered. “I don’t know. Seems to me it gets worse as it goes -on. The worst of the Swedes is that they’re never willing to find out how -much they don’t know. It was like that at the University. Always so -pleased with themselves! There’s no getting behind that conceited Swedish -grin. The Bohemians and Germans were so different.” +Emil shivered. “I don’t know. Seems to me it gets worse as it goes on. The +worst of the Swedes is that they’re never willing to find out how much they +don’t know. It was like that at the University. Always so pleased with +themselves! There’s no getting behind that conceited Swedish grin. The +Bohemians and Germans were so different.” </p> <p> -“Come, Emil, don’t go back on your own people. Father wasn’t -conceited, Uncle Otto wasn’t. Even Lou and Oscar weren’t when they -were boys.” +“Come, Emil, don’t go back on your own people. Father wasn’t conceited, Uncle +Otto wasn’t. Even Lou and Oscar weren’t when they were boys.” </p> <p> @@ -5905,21 +5700,20 @@ wandering fit was over, and that he would soon be settled in life. </p> <p> -“Alexandra,” said Emil suddenly, “do you remember the wild -duck we saw down on the river that time?” +“Alexandra,” said Emil suddenly, “do you remember the wild duck we saw down on +the river that time?” </p> <p> -His sister looked up. “I often think of her. It always seems to me -she’s there still, just like we saw her.” +His sister looked up. “I often think of her. It always seems to me she’s there +still, just like we saw her.” </p> <p> -“I know. It’s queer what things one remembers and what things one -forgets.” Emil yawned and sat up. “Well, it’s time to turn -in.” He rose, and going over to Alexandra stooped down and kissed her -lightly on the cheek. “Good-night, sister. I think you did pretty well by -us.” +“I know. It’s queer what things one remembers and what things one forgets.” +Emil yawned and sat up. “Well, it’s time to turn in.” He rose, and going over +to Alexandra stooped down and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Good-night, +sister. I think you did pretty well by us.” </p> <p> @@ -5931,42 +5725,40 @@ nightshirt, that must go in the top tray of his trunk. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0027" id="link2H_4_0027"></a>IV</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0027"></a>IV</h2> <p> -The next morning Angélique, Amédée’s wife, was in the kitchen baking -pies, assisted by old Mrs. Chevalier. Between the mixing-board and the stove -stood the old cradle that had been Amédée’s, and in it was his black-eyed -son. As Angélique, flushed and excited, with flour on her hands, stopped to -smile at the baby, Emil Bergson rode up to the kitchen door on his mare and -dismounted. +The next morning Angélique, Amédée’s wife, was in the kitchen baking pies, +assisted by old Mrs. Chevalier. Between the mixing-board and the stove stood +the old cradle that had been Amédée’s, and in it was his black-eyed son. As +Angélique, flushed and excited, with flour on her hands, stopped to smile at +the baby, Emil Bergson rode up to the kitchen door on his mare and dismounted. </p> <p> -“’Médée is out in the field, Emil,” Angélique called as she -ran across the kitchen to the oven. “He begins to cut his wheat to-day; -the first wheat ready to cut anywhere about here. He bought a new header, you -know, because all the wheat’s so short this year. I hope he can rent it -to the neighbors, it cost so much. He and his cousins bought a steam thresher -on shares. You ought to go out and see that header work. I watched it an hour -this morning, busy as I am with all the men to feed. He has a lot of hands, but -he’s the only one that knows how to drive the header or how to run the -engine, so he has to be everywhere at once. He’s sick, too, and ought to -be in his bed.” +“’Médée is out in the field, Emil,” Angélique called as she ran across the +kitchen to the oven. “He begins to cut his wheat to-day; the first wheat ready +to cut anywhere about here. He bought a new header, you know, because all the +wheat’s so short this year. I hope he can rent it to the neighbors, it cost so +much. He and his cousins bought a steam thresher on shares. You ought to go out +and see that header work. I watched it an hour this morning, busy as I am with +all the men to feed. He has a lot of hands, but he’s the only one that knows +how to drive the header or how to run the engine, so he has to be everywhere at +once. He’s sick, too, and ought to be in his bed.” </p> <p> Emil bent over Hector Baptiste, trying to make him blink his round, bead-like -black eyes. “Sick? What’s the matter with your daddy, kid? Been -making him walk the floor with you?” +black eyes. “Sick? What’s the matter with your daddy, kid? Been making him walk +the floor with you?” </p> <p> -Angélique sniffed. “Not much! We don’t have that kind of babies. It -was his father that kept Baptiste awake. All night I had to be getting up and -making mustard plasters to put on his stomach. He had an awful colic. He said -he felt better this morning, but I don’t think he ought to be out in the -field, overheating himself.” +Angélique sniffed. “Not much! We don’t have that kind of babies. It was his +father that kept Baptiste awake. All night I had to be getting up and making +mustard plasters to put on his stomach. He had an awful colic. He said he felt +better this morning, but I don’t think he ought to be out in the field, +overheating himself.” </p> <p> @@ -5977,9 +5769,9 @@ cradle and a new header in the field. </p> <p> -Emil stroked the black fuzz on Baptiste’s head. “I say, Angélique, -one of ’Médée’s grandmothers, ’way back, must have been a -squaw. This kid looks exactly like the Indian babies.” +Emil stroked the black fuzz on Baptiste’s head. “I say, Angélique, one of +’Médée’s grandmothers, ’way back, must have been a squaw. This kid looks +exactly like the Indian babies.” </p> <p> @@ -5996,48 +5788,47 @@ wheatfield, where he recognized, on the header, the slight, wiry figure of his friend, coatless, his white shirt puffed out by the wind, his straw hat stuck jauntily on the side of his head. The six big work-horses that drew, or rather pushed, the header, went abreast at a rapid walk, and as they were still green -at the work they required a good deal of management on Amédée’s part; +at the work they required a good deal of management on Amédée’s part; especially when they turned the corners, where they divided, three and three, and then swung round into line again with a movement that looked as complicated as a wheel of artillery. Emil felt a new thrill of admiration for his friend, and with it the old pang of envy at the way in which Amédée could do with his might what his hand found to do, and feel that, whatever it was, it was the -most important thing in the world. “I’ll have to bring Alexandra up -to see this thing work,” Emil thought; “it’s splendid!” +most important thing in the world. “I’ll have to bring Alexandra up to see this +thing work,” Emil thought; “it’s splendid!” </p> <p> When he saw Emil, Amédée waved to him and called to one of his twenty cousins to take the reins. Stepping off the header without stopping it, he ran up to -Emil who had dismounted. “Come along,” he called. “I have to -go over to the engine for a minute. I gotta green man running it, and I gotta -to keep an eye on him.” +Emil who had dismounted. “Come along,” he called. “I have to go over to the +engine for a minute. I gotta green man running it, and I gotta to keep an eye +on him.” </p> <p> Emil thought the lad was unnaturally flushed and more excited than even the cares of managing a big farm at a critical time warranted. As they passed -behind a last year’s stack, Amédée clutched at his right side and sank -down for a moment on the straw. +behind a last year’s stack, Amédée clutched at his right side and sank down for +a moment on the straw. </p> <p> -“Ouch! I got an awful pain in me, Emil. Something’s the matter with -my insides, for sure.” +“Ouch! I got an awful pain in me, Emil. Something’s the matter with my insides, +for sure.” </p> <p> -Emil felt his fiery cheek. “You ought to go straight to bed, -’Médée, and telephone for the doctor; that’s what you ought to -do.” +Emil felt his fiery cheek. “You ought to go straight to bed, ’Médée, and +telephone for the doctor; that’s what you ought to do.” </p> <p> -Amédée staggered up with a gesture of despair. “How can I? I got no time -to be sick. Three thousand dollars’ worth of new machinery to manage, and -the wheat so ripe it will begin to shatter next week. My wheat’s short, -but it’s gotta grand full berries. What’s he slowing down for? We -haven’t got header boxes enough to feed the thresher, I guess.” +Amédée staggered up with a gesture of despair. “How can I? I got no time to be +sick. Three thousand dollars’ worth of new machinery to manage, and the wheat +so ripe it will begin to shatter next week. My wheat’s short, but it’s gotta +grand full berries. What’s he slowing down for? We haven’t got header boxes +enough to feed the thresher, I guess.” </p> <p> @@ -6048,13 +5839,13 @@ ran, and waved to the engineer not to stop the engine. <p> Emil saw that this was no time to talk about his own affairs. He mounted his mare and rode on to Sainte-Agnes, to bid his friends there good-bye. He went -first to see Raoul Marcel, and found him innocently practising the -“Gloria” for the big confirmation service on Sunday while he -polished the mirrors of his father’s saloon. +first to see Raoul Marcel, and found him innocently practising the “Gloria” for +the big confirmation service on Sunday while he polished the mirrors of his +father’s saloon. </p> <p> -As Emil rode homewards at three o’clock in the afternoon, he saw Amédée +As Emil rode homewards at three o’clock in the afternoon, he saw Amédée staggering out of the wheatfield, supported by two of his cousins. Emil stopped and helped them put the boy to bed. </p> @@ -6063,37 +5854,35 @@ and helped them put the boy to bed. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0028" id="link2H_4_0028"></a>V</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0028"></a>V</h2> <p> -When Frank Shabata came in from work at five o’clock that evening, old -Moses Marcel, Raoul’s father, telephoned him that Amédée had had a -seizure in the wheatfield, and that Doctor Paradis was going to operate on him -as soon as the Hanover doctor got there to help. Frank dropped a word of this -at the table, bolted his supper, and rode off to Sainte-Agnes, where there -would be sympathetic discussion of Amédée’s case at Marcel’s -saloon. +When Frank Shabata came in from work at five o’clock that evening, old Moses +Marcel, Raoul’s father, telephoned him that Amédée had had a seizure in the +wheatfield, and that Doctor Paradis was going to operate on him as soon as the +Hanover doctor got there to help. Frank dropped a word of this at the table, +bolted his supper, and rode off to Sainte-Agnes, where there would be +sympathetic discussion of Amédée’s case at Marcel’s saloon. </p> <p> As soon as Frank was gone, Marie telephoned Alexandra. It was a comfort to hear -her friend’s voice. Yes, Alexandra knew what there was to be known about +her friend’s voice. Yes, Alexandra knew what there was to be known about Amédée. Emil had been there when they carried him out of the field, and had -stayed with him until the doctors operated for appendicitis at five -o’clock. They were afraid it was too late to do much good; it should have -been done three days ago. Amédée was in a very bad way. Emil had just come -home, worn out and sick himself. She had given him some brandy and put him to -bed. +stayed with him until the doctors operated for appendicitis at five o’clock. +They were afraid it was too late to do much good; it should have been done +three days ago. Amédée was in a very bad way. Emil had just come home, worn out +and sick himself. She had given him some brandy and put him to bed. </p> <p> -Marie hung up the receiver. Poor Amédée’s illness had taken on a new -meaning to her, now that she knew Emil had been with him. And it might so -easily have been the other way—Emil who was ill and Amédée who was sad! -Marie looked about the dusky sitting-room. She had seldom felt so utterly -lonely. If Emil was asleep, there was not even a chance of his coming; and she -could not go to Alexandra for sympathy. She meant to tell Alexandra everything, -as soon as Emil went away. Then whatever was left between them would be honest. +Marie hung up the receiver. Poor Amédée’s illness had taken on a new meaning to +her, now that she knew Emil had been with him. And it might so easily have been +the other way—Emil who was ill and Amédée who was sad! Marie looked about the +dusky sitting-room. She had seldom felt so utterly lonely. If Emil was asleep, +there was not even a chance of his coming; and she could not go to Alexandra +for sympathy. She meant to tell Alexandra everything, as soon as Emil went +away. Then whatever was left between them would be honest. </p> <p> @@ -6103,13 +5892,13 @@ the smell of wild cotton. The fresh, salty scent of the wild roses had given way before this more powerful perfume of midsummer. Wherever those ashes-of-rose balls hung on their milky stalks, the air about them was saturated with their breath. The sky was still red in the west and the evening -star hung directly over the Bergsons’ wind-mill. Marie crossed the fence -at the wheatfield corner, and walked slowly along the path that led to -Alexandra’s. She could not help feeling hurt that Emil had not come to -tell her about Amédée. It seemed to her most unnatural that he should not have -come. If she were in trouble, certainly he was the one person in the world she -would want to see. Perhaps he wished her to understand that for her he was as -good as gone already. +star hung directly over the Bergsons’ wind-mill. Marie crossed the fence at the +wheatfield corner, and walked slowly along the path that led to Alexandra’s. +She could not help feeling hurt that Emil had not come to tell her about +Amédée. It seemed to her most unnatural that he should not have come. If she +were in trouble, certainly he was the one person in the world she would want to +see. Perhaps he wished her to understand that for her he was as good as gone +already. </p> <p> @@ -6117,10 +5906,10 @@ Marie stole slowly, flutteringly, along the path, like a white night-moth out of the fields. The years seemed to stretch before her like the land; spring, summer, autumn, winter, spring; always the same patient fields, the patient little trees, the patient lives; always the same yearning, the same pulling at -the chain—until the instinct to live had torn itself and bled and -weakened for the last time, until the chain secured a dead woman, who might -cautiously be released. Marie walked on, her face lifted toward the remote, -inaccessible evening star. +the chain—until the instinct to live had torn itself and bled and weakened for +the last time, until the chain secured a dead woman, who might cautiously be +released. Marie walked on, her face lifted toward the remote, inaccessible +evening star. </p> <p> @@ -6129,20 +5918,19 @@ people when you could not really share their lives! </p> <p> -Yes, in so far as she was concerned, Emil was already gone. They couldn’t -meet any more. There was nothing for them to say. They had spent the last penny -of their small change; there was nothing left but gold. The day of love-tokens -was past. They had now only their hearts to give each other. And Emil being -gone, what was her life to be like? In some ways, it would be easier. She would -not, at least, live in perpetual fear. If Emil were once away and settled at -work, she would not have the feeling that she was spoiling his life. With the -memory he left her, she could be as rash as she chose. Nobody could be the -worse for it but herself; and that, surely, did not matter. Her own case was -clear. When a girl had loved one man, and then loved another while that man was -still alive, everybody knew what to think of her. What happened to her was of -little consequence, so long as she did not drag other people down with her. -Emil once away, she could let everything else go and live a new life of perfect -love. +Yes, in so far as she was concerned, Emil was already gone. They couldn’t meet +any more. There was nothing for them to say. They had spent the last penny of +their small change; there was nothing left but gold. The day of love-tokens was +past. They had now only their hearts to give each other. And Emil being gone, +what was her life to be like? In some ways, it would be easier. She would not, +at least, live in perpetual fear. If Emil were once away and settled at work, +she would not have the feeling that she was spoiling his life. With the memory +he left her, she could be as rash as she chose. Nobody could be the worse for +it but herself; and that, surely, did not matter. Her own case was clear. When +a girl had loved one man, and then loved another while that man was still +alive, everybody knew what to think of her. What happened to her was of little +consequence, so long as she did not drag other people down with her. Emil once +away, she could let everything else go and live a new life of perfect love. </p> <p> @@ -6152,26 +5940,26 @@ the path and went across the pasture. The moon was almost full. An owl was hooting somewhere in the fields. She had scarcely thought about where she was going when the pond glittered before her, where Emil had shot the ducks. She stopped and looked at it. Yes, there would be a dirty way out of life, if one -chose to take it. But she did not want to die. She wanted to live and -dream—a hundred years, forever! As long as this sweetness welled up in -her heart, as long as her breast could hold this treasure of pain! She felt as -the pond must feel when it held the moon like that; when it encircled and -swelled with that image of gold. +chose to take it. But she did not want to die. She wanted to live and dream—a +hundred years, forever! As long as this sweetness welled up in her heart, as +long as her breast could hold this treasure of pain! She felt as the pond must +feel when it held the moon like that; when it encircled and swelled with that +image of gold. </p> <p class="p2"> In the morning, when Emil came down-stairs, Alexandra met him in the -sitting-room and put her hands on his shoulders. “Emil, I went to your -room as soon as it was light, but you were sleeping so sound I hated to wake -you. There was nothing you could do, so I let you sleep. They telephoned from -Sainte-Agnes that Amédée died at three o’clock this morning.” +sitting-room and put her hands on his shoulders. “Emil, I went to your room as +soon as it was light, but you were sleeping so sound I hated to wake you. There +was nothing you could do, so I let you sleep. They telephoned from Sainte-Agnes +that Amédée died at three o’clock this morning.” </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0029" id="link2H_4_0029"></a>VI</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0029"></a>VI</h2> <p> The Church has always held that life is for the living. On Saturday, while half @@ -6188,19 +5976,18 @@ bringing flowers. <p> On Sunday morning the bishop was to drive overland to Sainte-Agnes from -Hanover, and Emil Bergson had been asked to take the place of one of -Amédée’s cousins in the cavalcade of forty French boys who were to ride -across country to meet the bishop’s carriage. At six o’clock on -Sunday morning the boys met at the church. As they stood holding their horses -by the bridle, they talked in low tones of their dead comrade. They kept -repeating that Amédée had always been a good boy, glancing toward the red brick -church which had played so large a part in Amédée’s life, had been the -scene of his most serious moments and of his happiest hours. He had played and -wrestled and sung and courted under its shadow. Only three weeks ago he had -proudly carried his baby there to be christened. They could not doubt that that -invisible arm was still about Amédée; that through the church on earth he had -passed to the church triumphant, the goal of the hopes and faith of so many -hundred years. +Hanover, and Emil Bergson had been asked to take the place of one of Amédée’s +cousins in the cavalcade of forty French boys who were to ride across country +to meet the bishop’s carriage. At six o’clock on Sunday morning the boys met at +the church. As they stood holding their horses by the bridle, they talked in +low tones of their dead comrade. They kept repeating that Amédée had always +been a good boy, glancing toward the red brick church which had played so large +a part in Amédée’s life, had been the scene of his most serious moments and of +his happiest hours. He had played and wrestled and sung and courted under its +shadow. Only three weeks ago he had proudly carried his baby there to be +christened. They could not doubt that that invisible arm was still about +Amédée; that through the church on earth he had passed to the church +triumphant, the goal of the hopes and faith of so many hundred years. </p> <p> @@ -6215,17 +6002,16 @@ Like one man the boys swung off their hats in a broad salute, and bowed their heads as the handsome old man lifted his two fingers in the episcopal blessing. The horsemen closed about the carriage like a guard, and whenever a restless horse broke from control and shot down the road ahead of the body, the bishop -laughed and rubbed his plump hands together. “What fine boys!” he -said to his priests. “The Church still has her cavalry.” +laughed and rubbed his plump hands together. “What fine boys!” he said to his +priests. “The Church still has her cavalry.” </p> <p> -As the troop swept past the graveyard half a mile east of the town,—the -first frame church of the parish had stood there,—old Pierre Seguin was -already out with his pick and spade, digging Amédée’s grave. He knelt and -uncovered as the bishop passed. The boys with one accord looked away from old -Pierre to the red church on the hill, with the gold cross flaming on its -steeple. +As the troop swept past the graveyard half a mile east of the town,—the first +frame church of the parish had stood there,—old Pierre Seguin was already out +with his pick and spade, digging Amédée’s grave. He knelt and uncovered as the +bishop passed. The boys with one accord looked away from old Pierre to the red +church on the hill, with the gold cross flaming on its steeple. </p> <p> @@ -6233,18 +6019,17 @@ Mass was at eleven. While the church was filling, Emil Bergson waited outside, watching the wagons and buggies drive up the hill. After the bell began to ring, he saw Frank Shabata ride up on horseback and tie his horse to the hitch-bar. Marie, then, was not coming. Emil turned and went into the church. -Amédée’s was the only empty pew, and he sat down in it. Some of -Amédée’s cousins were there, dressed in black and weeping. When all the -pews were full, the old men and boys packed the open space at the back of the -church, kneeling on the floor. There was scarcely a family in town that was not -represented in the confirmation class, by a cousin, at least. The new -communicants, with their clear, reverent faces, were beautiful to look upon as -they entered in a body and took the front benches reserved for them. Even -before the Mass began, the air was charged with feeling. The choir had never -sung so well and Raoul Marcel, in the “Gloria,” drew even the -bishop’s eyes to the organ loft. For the offertory he sang Gounod’s -“Ave Maria,”—always spoken of in Sainte-Agnes as “the -Ave Maria.” +Amédée’s was the only empty pew, and he sat down in it. Some of Amédée’s +cousins were there, dressed in black and weeping. When all the pews were full, +the old men and boys packed the open space at the back of the church, kneeling +on the floor. There was scarcely a family in town that was not represented in +the confirmation class, by a cousin, at least. The new communicants, with their +clear, reverent faces, were beautiful to look upon as they entered in a body +and took the front benches reserved for them. Even before the Mass began, the +air was charged with feeling. The choir had never sung so well and Raoul +Marcel, in the “Gloria,” drew even the bishop’s eyes to the organ loft. For the +offertory he sang Gounod’s “Ave Maria,”—always spoken of in Sainte-Agnes as +“the Ave Maria.” </p> <p> @@ -6260,14 +6045,14 @@ possible to men. He seemed to discover that there was a kind of rapture in which he could love forever without faltering and without sin. He looked across the heads of the people at Frank Shabata with calmness. That rapture was for those who could feel it; for people who could not, it was non-existent. He -coveted nothing that was Frank Shabata’s. The spirit he had met in music -was his own. Frank Shabata had never found it; would never find it if he lived +coveted nothing that was Frank Shabata’s. The spirit he had met in music was +his own. Frank Shabata had never found it; would never find it if he lived beside it a thousand years; would have destroyed it if he had found it, as Herod slew the innocents, as Rome slew the martyrs. </p> <p class="poem"> -San—cta Mari-i-i-a, +San—cta Mari-i-i-a, </p> <p class="noindent"> @@ -6275,7 +6060,7 @@ wailed Raoul from the organ loft; </p> <p class="poem"> -O—ra pro no-o-bis! +O—ra pro no-o-bis! </p> <p class="noindent"> @@ -6294,24 +6079,24 @@ Father Duchesne, the bishop, and the visiting priests dined with Fabien Sauvage, the banker. Emil and Frank Shabata were both guests of old Moise Marcel. After dinner Frank and old Moise retired to the rear room of the saloon to play California Jack and drink their cognac, and Emil went over to the -banker’s with Raoul, who had been asked to sing for the bishop. +banker’s with Raoul, who had been asked to sing for the bishop. </p> <p> -At three o’clock, Emil felt that he could stand it no longer. He slipped -out under cover of “The Holy City,” followed by Malvina’s -wistful eye, and went to the stable for his mare. He was at that height of -excitement from which everything is foreshortened, from which life seems short -and simple, death very near, and the soul seems to soar like an eagle. As he -rode past the graveyard he looked at the brown hole in the earth where Amédée -was to lie, and felt no horror. That, too, was beautiful, that simple doorway -into forgetfulness. The heart, when it is too much alive, aches for that brown -earth, and ecstasy has no fear of death. It is the old and the poor and the -maimed who shrink from that brown hole; its wooers are found among the young, -the passionate, the gallant-hearted. It was not until he had passed the -graveyard that Emil realized where he was going. It was the hour for saying -good-bye. It might be the last time that he would see her alone, and today he -could leave her without rancor, without bitterness. +At three o’clock, Emil felt that he could stand it no longer. He slipped out +under cover of “The Holy City,” followed by Malvina’s wistful eye, and went to +the stable for his mare. He was at that height of excitement from which +everything is foreshortened, from which life seems short and simple, death very +near, and the soul seems to soar like an eagle. As he rode past the graveyard +he looked at the brown hole in the earth where Amédée was to lie, and felt no +horror. That, too, was beautiful, that simple doorway into forgetfulness. The +heart, when it is too much alive, aches for that brown earth, and ecstasy has +no fear of death. It is the old and the poor and the maimed who shrink from +that brown hole; its wooers are found among the young, the passionate, the +gallant-hearted. It was not until he had passed the graveyard that Emil +realized where he was going. It was the hour for saying good-bye. It might be +the last time that he would see her alone, and today he could leave her without +rancor, without bitterness. </p> <p> @@ -6326,46 +6111,45 @@ before him as he rode to the Shabata farm. </p> <p> -When Emil alighted at the Shabatas’ gate, his horse was in a lather. He -tied her in the stable and hurried to the house. It was empty. She might be at -Mrs. Hiller’s or with Alexandra. But anything that reminded him of her -would be enough, the orchard, the mulberry tree... When he reached the orchard -the sun was hanging low over the wheatfield. Long fingers of light reached -through the apple branches as through a net; the orchard was riddled and shot -with gold; light was the reality, the trees were merely interferences that -reflected and refracted light. Emil went softly down between the cherry trees -toward the wheatfield. When he came to the corner, he stopped short and put his -hand over his mouth. Marie was lying on her side under the white mulberry tree, -her face half hidden in the grass, her eyes closed, her hands lying limply -where they had happened to fall. She had lived a day of her new life of perfect -love, and it had left her like this. Her breast rose and fell faintly, as if -she were asleep. Emil threw himself down beside her and took her in his arms. -The blood came back to her cheeks, her amber eyes opened slowly, and in them -Emil saw his own face and the orchard and the sun. “I was dreaming -this,” she whispered, hiding her face against him, “don’t -take my dream away!” +When Emil alighted at the Shabatas’ gate, his horse was in a lather. He tied +her in the stable and hurried to the house. It was empty. She might be at Mrs. +Hiller’s or with Alexandra. But anything that reminded him of her would be +enough, the orchard, the mulberry tree... When he reached the orchard the sun +was hanging low over the wheatfield. Long fingers of light reached through the +apple branches as through a net; the orchard was riddled and shot with gold; +light was the reality, the trees were merely interferences that reflected and +refracted light. Emil went softly down between the cherry trees toward the +wheatfield. When he came to the corner, he stopped short and put his hand over +his mouth. Marie was lying on her side under the white mulberry tree, her face +half hidden in the grass, her eyes closed, her hands lying limply where they +had happened to fall. She had lived a day of her new life of perfect love, and +it had left her like this. Her breast rose and fell faintly, as if she were +asleep. Emil threw himself down beside her and took her in his arms. The blood +came back to her cheeks, her amber eyes opened slowly, and in them Emil saw his +own face and the orchard and the sun. “I was dreaming this,” she whispered, +hiding her face against him, “don’t take my dream away!” </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0030" id="link2H_4_0030"></a>VII</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0030"></a>VII</h2> <p> -When Frank Shabata got home that night, he found Emil’s mare in his -stable. Such an impertinence amazed him. Like everybody else, Frank had had an -exciting day. Since noon he had been drinking too much, and he was in a bad -temper. He talked bitterly to himself while he put his own horse away, and as -he went up the path and saw that the house was dark he felt an added sense of -injury. He approached quietly and listened on the doorstep. Hearing nothing, he -opened the kitchen door and went softly from one room to another. Then he went -through the house again, upstairs and down, with no better result. He sat down -on the bottom step of the box stairway and tried to get his wits together. In -that unnatural quiet there was no sound but his own heavy breathing. Suddenly -an owl began to hoot out in the fields. Frank lifted his head. An idea flashed -into his mind, and his sense of injury and outrage grew. He went into his -bedroom and took his murderous 405 Winchester from the closet. +When Frank Shabata got home that night, he found Emil’s mare in his stable. +Such an impertinence amazed him. Like everybody else, Frank had had an exciting +day. Since noon he had been drinking too much, and he was in a bad temper. He +talked bitterly to himself while he put his own horse away, and as he went up +the path and saw that the house was dark he felt an added sense of injury. He +approached quietly and listened on the doorstep. Hearing nothing, he opened the +kitchen door and went softly from one room to another. Then he went through the +house again, upstairs and down, with no better result. He sat down on the +bottom step of the box stairway and tried to get his wits together. In that +unnatural quiet there was no sound but his own heavy breathing. Suddenly an owl +began to hoot out in the fields. Frank lifted his head. An idea flashed into +his mind, and his sense of injury and outrage grew. He went into his bedroom +and took his murderous 405 Winchester from the closet. </p> <p> @@ -6394,28 +6178,27 @@ had he left his horse? <p> At the wheatfield corner, where the orchard hedge ended and the path led across -the pasture to the Bergsons’, Frank stopped. In the warm, breathless -night air he heard a murmuring sound, perfectly inarticulate, as low as the -sound of water coming from a spring, where there is no fall, and where there -are no stones to fret it. Frank strained his ears. It ceased. He held his -breath and began to tremble. Resting the butt of his gun on the ground, he -parted the mulberry leaves softly with his fingers and peered through the hedge -at the dark figures on the grass, in the shadow of the mulberry tree. It seemed -to him that they must feel his eyes, that they must hear him breathing. But -they did not. Frank, who had always wanted to see things blacker than they -were, for once wanted to believe less than he saw. The woman lying in the -shadow might so easily be one of the Bergsons’ farm-girls.... Again the -murmur, like water welling out of the ground. This time he heard it more -distinctly, and his blood was quicker than his brain. He began to act, just as -a man who falls into the fire begins to act. The gun sprang to his shoulder, he -sighted mechanically and fired three times without stopping, stopped without -knowing why. Either he shut his eyes or he had vertigo. He did not see anything -while he was firing. He thought he heard a cry simultaneous with the second -report, but he was not sure. He peered again through the hedge, at the two dark -figures under the tree. They had fallen a little apart from each other, and -were perfectly still—No, not quite; in a white patch of light, where the -moon shone through the branches, a man’s hand was plucking spasmodically -at the grass. +the pasture to the Bergsons’, Frank stopped. In the warm, breathless night air +he heard a murmuring sound, perfectly inarticulate, as low as the sound of +water coming from a spring, where there is no fall, and where there are no +stones to fret it. Frank strained his ears. It ceased. He held his breath and +began to tremble. Resting the butt of his gun on the ground, he parted the +mulberry leaves softly with his fingers and peered through the hedge at the +dark figures on the grass, in the shadow of the mulberry tree. It seemed to him +that they must feel his eyes, that they must hear him breathing. But they did +not. Frank, who had always wanted to see things blacker than they were, for +once wanted to believe less than he saw. The woman lying in the shadow might so +easily be one of the Bergsons’ farm-girls.... Again the murmur, like water +welling out of the ground. This time he heard it more distinctly, and his blood +was quicker than his brain. He began to act, just as a man who falls into the +fire begins to act. The gun sprang to his shoulder, he sighted mechanically and +fired three times without stopping, stopped without knowing why. Either he shut +his eyes or he had vertigo. He did not see anything while he was firing. He +thought he heard a cry simultaneous with the second report, but he was not +sure. He peered again through the hedge, at the two dark figures under the +tree. They had fallen a little apart from each other, and were perfectly +still—No, not quite; in a white patch of light, where the moon shone through +the branches, a man’s hand was plucking spasmodically at the grass. </p> <p> @@ -6424,16 +6207,15 @@ was living! She was dragging herself toward the hedge! Frank dropped his gun and ran back along the path, shaking, stumbling, gasping. He had never imagined such horror. The cries followed him. They grew fainter and thicker, as if she were choking. He dropped on his knees beside the hedge and crouched like a -rabbit, listening; fainter, fainter; a sound like a whine; again—a -moan—another—silence. Frank scrambled to his feet and ran on, -groaning and praying. From habit he went toward the house, where he was used to -being soothed when he had worked himself into a frenzy, but at the sight of the +rabbit, listening; fainter, fainter; a sound like a whine; again—a +moan—another—silence. Frank scrambled to his feet and ran on, groaning and +praying. From habit he went toward the house, where he was used to being +soothed when he had worked himself into a frenzy, but at the sight of the black, open door, he started back. He knew that he had murdered somebody, that a woman was bleeding and moaning in the orchard, but he had not realized before that it was his wife. The gate stared him in the face. He threw his hands over his head. Which way to turn? He lifted his tormented face and looked at the -sky. “Holy Mother of God, not to suffer! She was a good girl—not to -suffer!” +sky. “Holy Mother of God, not to suffer! She was a good girl—not to suffer!” </p> <p> @@ -6443,10 +6225,10 @@ facing his own black doorway, he did not see himself at all. He stood like the hare when the dogs are approaching from all sides. And he ran like a hare, back and forth about that moonlit space, before he could make up his mind to go into the dark stable for a horse. The thought of going into a doorway was terrible -to him. He caught Emil’s horse by the bit and led it out. He could not -have buckled a bridle on his own. After two or three attempts, he lifted -himself into the saddle and started for Hanover. If he could catch the one -o’clock train, he had money enough to get as far as Omaha. +to him. He caught Emil’s horse by the bit and led it out. He could not have +buckled a bridle on his own. After two or three attempts, he lifted himself +into the saddle and started for Hanover. If he could catch the one o’clock +train, he had money enough to get as far as Omaha. </p> <p> @@ -6454,39 +6236,38 @@ While he was thinking dully of this in some less sensitized part of his brain, his acuter faculties were going over and over the cries he had heard in the orchard. Terror was the only thing that kept him from going back to her, terror that she might still be she, that she might still be suffering. A woman, -mutilated and bleeding in his orchard—it was because it was a woman that -he was so afraid. It was inconceivable that he should have hurt a woman. He -would rather be eaten by wild beasts than see her move on the ground as she had -moved in the orchard. Why had she been so careless? She knew he was like a -crazy man when he was angry. She had more than once taken that gun away from -him and held it, when he was angry with other people. Once it had gone off -while they were struggling over it. She was never afraid. But, when she knew -him, why hadn’t she been more careful? Didn’t she have all summer -before her to love Emil Bergson in, without taking such chances? Probably she -had met the Smirka boy, too, down there in the orchard. He didn’t care. -She could have met all the men on the Divide there, and welcome, if only she -hadn’t brought this horror on him. -</p> - -<p> -There was a wrench in Frank’s mind. He did not honestly believe that of -her. He knew that he was doing her wrong. He stopped his horse to admit this to -himself the more directly, to think it out the more clearly. He knew that he -was to blame. For three years he had been trying to break her spirit. She had a -way of making the best of things that seemed to him a sentimental affectation. -He wanted his wife to resent that he was wasting his best years among these -stupid and unappreciative people; but she had seemed to find the people quite -good enough. If he ever got rich he meant to buy her pretty clothes and take -her to California in a Pullman car, and treat her like a lady; but in the mean -time he wanted her to feel that life was as ugly and as unjust as he felt it. -He had tried to make her life ugly. He had refused to share any of the little +mutilated and bleeding in his orchard—it was because it was a woman that he was +so afraid. It was inconceivable that he should have hurt a woman. He would +rather be eaten by wild beasts than see her move on the ground as she had moved +in the orchard. Why had she been so careless? She knew he was like a crazy man +when he was angry. She had more than once taken that gun away from him and held +it, when he was angry with other people. Once it had gone off while they were +struggling over it. She was never afraid. But, when she knew him, why hadn’t +she been more careful? Didn’t she have all summer before her to love Emil +Bergson in, without taking such chances? Probably she had met the Smirka boy, +too, down there in the orchard. He didn’t care. She could have met all the men +on the Divide there, and welcome, if only she hadn’t brought this horror on +him. +</p> + +<p> +There was a wrench in Frank’s mind. He did not honestly believe that of her. He +knew that he was doing her wrong. He stopped his horse to admit this to himself +the more directly, to think it out the more clearly. He knew that he was to +blame. For three years he had been trying to break her spirit. She had a way of +making the best of things that seemed to him a sentimental affectation. He +wanted his wife to resent that he was wasting his best years among these stupid +and unappreciative people; but she had seemed to find the people quite good +enough. If he ever got rich he meant to buy her pretty clothes and take her to +California in a Pullman car, and treat her like a lady; but in the mean time he +wanted her to feel that life was as ugly and as unjust as he felt it. He had +tried to make her life ugly. He had refused to share any of the little pleasures she was so plucky about making for herself. She could be gay about the least thing in the world; but she must be gay! When she first came to him, -her faith in him, her adoration—Frank struck the mare with his fist. Why -had Marie made him do this thing; why had she brought this upon him? He was -overwhelmed by sickening misfortune. All at once he heard her cries -again—he had forgotten for a moment. “Maria,” he sobbed -aloud, “Maria!” +her faith in him, her adoration—Frank struck the mare with his fist. Why had +Marie made him do this thing; why had she brought this upon him? He was +overwhelmed by sickening misfortune. All at once he heard her cries again—he +had forgotten for a moment. “Maria,” he sobbed aloud, “Maria!” </p> <p> @@ -6501,22 +6282,22 @@ have turned and gone back to her meekly enough. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0031" id="link2H_4_0031"></a>VIII</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0031"></a>VIII</h2> <p> -When old Ivar climbed down from his loft at four o’clock the next -morning, he came upon Emil’s mare, jaded and lather-stained, her bridle -broken, chewing the scattered tufts of hay outside the stable door. The old man -was thrown into a fright at once. He put the mare in her stall, threw her a -measure of oats, and then set out as fast as his bow-legs could carry him on -the path to the nearest neighbor. +When old Ivar climbed down from his loft at four o’clock the next morning, he +came upon Emil’s mare, jaded and lather-stained, her bridle broken, chewing the +scattered tufts of hay outside the stable door. The old man was thrown into a +fright at once. He put the mare in her stall, threw her a measure of oats, and +then set out as fast as his bow-legs could carry him on the path to the nearest +neighbor. </p> <p> -“Something is wrong with that boy. Some misfortune has come upon us. He -would never have used her so, in his right senses. It is not his way to abuse -his mare,” the old man kept muttering, as he scuttled through the short, -wet pasture grass on his bare feet. +“Something is wrong with that boy. Some misfortune has come upon us. He would +never have used her so, in his right senses. It is not his way to abuse his +mare,” the old man kept muttering, as he scuttled through the short, wet +pasture grass on his bare feet. </p> <p> @@ -6531,127 +6312,124 @@ for Marie Shabata it had not been so easy. One ball had torn through her right lung, another had shattered the carotid artery. She must have started up and gone toward the hedge, leaving a trail of blood. There she had fallen and bled. From that spot there was another trail, heavier than the first, where she must -have dragged herself back to Emil’s body. Once there, she seemed not to -have struggled any more. She had lifted her head to her lover’s breast, -taken his hand in both her own, and bled quietly to death. She was lying on her -right side in an easy and natural position, her cheek on Emil’s shoulder. -On her face there was a look of ineffable content. Her lips were parted a -little; her eyes were lightly closed, as if in a day-dream or a light slumber. -After she lay down there, she seemed not to have moved an eyelash. The hand she -held was covered with dark stains, where she had kissed it. +have dragged herself back to Emil’s body. Once there, she seemed not to have +struggled any more. She had lifted her head to her lover’s breast, taken his +hand in both her own, and bled quietly to death. She was lying on her right +side in an easy and natural position, her cheek on Emil’s shoulder. On her face +there was a look of ineffable content. Her lips were parted a little; her eyes +were lightly closed, as if in a day-dream or a light slumber. After she lay +down there, she seemed not to have moved an eyelash. The hand she held was +covered with dark stains, where she had kissed it. </p> <p> But the stained, slippery grass, the darkened mulberries, told only half the -story. Above Marie and Emil, two white butterflies from Frank’s -alfalfa-field were fluttering in and out among the interlacing shadows; diving -and soaring, now close together, now far apart; and in the long grass by the -fence the last wild roses of the year opened their pink hearts to die. +story. Above Marie and Emil, two white butterflies from Frank’s alfalfa-field +were fluttering in and out among the interlacing shadows; diving and soaring, +now close together, now far apart; and in the long grass by the fence the last +wild roses of the year opened their pink hearts to die. </p> <p> -When Ivar reached the path by the hedge, he saw Shabata’s rifle lying in -the way. He turned and peered through the branches, falling upon his knees as -if his legs had been mowed from under him. “Merciful God!” he -groaned. +When Ivar reached the path by the hedge, he saw Shabata’s rifle lying in the +way. He turned and peered through the branches, falling upon his knees as if +his legs had been mowed from under him. “Merciful God!” he groaned. </p> <p class="p2"> Alexandra, too, had risen early that morning, because of her anxiety about -Emil. She was in Emil’s room upstairs when, from the window, she saw Ivar -coming along the path that led from the Shabatas’. He was running like a -spent man, tottering and lurching from side to side. Ivar never drank, and -Alexandra thought at once that one of his spells had come upon him, and that he -must be in a very bad way indeed. She ran downstairs and hurried out to meet -him, to hide his infirmity from the eyes of her household. The old man fell in -the road at her feet and caught her hand, over which he bowed his shaggy head. -“Mistress, mistress,” he sobbed, “it has fallen! Sin and -death for the young ones! God have mercy upon us!” +Emil. She was in Emil’s room upstairs when, from the window, she saw Ivar +coming along the path that led from the Shabatas’. He was running like a spent +man, tottering and lurching from side to side. Ivar never drank, and Alexandra +thought at once that one of his spells had come upon him, and that he must be +in a very bad way indeed. She ran downstairs and hurried out to meet him, to +hide his infirmity from the eyes of her household. The old man fell in the road +at her feet and caught her hand, over which he bowed his shaggy head. +“Mistress, mistress,” he sobbed, “it has fallen! Sin and death for the young +ones! God have mercy upon us!” </p> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_PART5" id="link2H_PART5"></a>PART V.<br/> +<h2><a name="link2H_PART5"></a>PART V.<br/> Alexandra</h2> </div><!--end chapter--> <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0033" id="link2H_4_0033"></a>I</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0033"></a>I</h2> <p> -Ivar was sitting at a cobbler’s bench in the barn, mending harness by the -light of a lantern and repeating to himself the 101st Psalm. It was only five -o’clock of a mid-October day, but a storm had come up in the afternoon, -bringing black clouds, a cold wind and torrents of rain. The old man wore his -buffalo-skin coat, and occasionally stopped to warm his fingers at the lantern. -Suddenly a woman burst into the shed, as if she had been blown in, accompanied -by a shower of rain-drops. It was Signa, wrapped in a man’s overcoat and -wearing a pair of boots over her shoes. In time of trouble Signa had come back -to stay with her mistress, for she was the only one of the maids from whom -Alexandra would accept much personal service. It was three months now since the -news of the terrible thing that had happened in Frank Shabata’s orchard -had first run like a fire over the Divide. Signa and Nelse were staying on with -Alexandra until winter. +Ivar was sitting at a cobbler’s bench in the barn, mending harness by the light +of a lantern and repeating to himself the 101st Psalm. It was only five o’clock +of a mid-October day, but a storm had come up in the afternoon, bringing black +clouds, a cold wind and torrents of rain. The old man wore his buffalo-skin +coat, and occasionally stopped to warm his fingers at the lantern. Suddenly a +woman burst into the shed, as if she had been blown in, accompanied by a shower +of rain-drops. It was Signa, wrapped in a man’s overcoat and wearing a pair of +boots over her shoes. In time of trouble Signa had come back to stay with her +mistress, for she was the only one of the maids from whom Alexandra would +accept much personal service. It was three months now since the news of the +terrible thing that had happened in Frank Shabata’s orchard had first run like +a fire over the Divide. Signa and Nelse were staying on with Alexandra until +winter. </p> <p> -“Ivar,” Signa exclaimed as she wiped the rain from her face, -“do you know where she is?” +“Ivar,” Signa exclaimed as she wiped the rain from her face, “do you know where +she is?” </p> <p> -The old man put down his cobbler’s knife. “Who, the -mistress?” +The old man put down his cobbler’s knife. “Who, the mistress?” </p> <p> -“Yes. She went away about three o’clock. I happened to look out of -the window and saw her going across the fields in her thin dress and sun-hat. -And now this storm has come on. I thought she was going to Mrs. Hiller’s, -and I telephoned as soon as the thunder stopped, but she had not been there. -I’m afraid she is out somewhere and will get her death of cold.” +“Yes. She went away about three o’clock. I happened to look out of the window +and saw her going across the fields in her thin dress and sun-hat. And now this +storm has come on. I thought she was going to Mrs. Hiller’s, and I telephoned +as soon as the thunder stopped, but she had not been there. I’m afraid she is +out somewhere and will get her death of cold.” </p> <p> -Ivar put on his cap and took up the lantern. “<i>Ja</i>, <i>ja</i>, we -will see. I will hitch the boy’s mare to the cart and go.” +Ivar put on his cap and took up the lantern. “<i>Ja</i>, <i>ja</i>, we will +see. I will hitch the boy’s mare to the cart and go.” </p> <p> -Signa followed him across the wagon-shed to the horses’ stable. She was -shivering with cold and excitement. “Where do you suppose she can be, -Ivar?” +Signa followed him across the wagon-shed to the horses’ stable. She was +shivering with cold and excitement. “Where do you suppose she can be, Ivar?” </p> <p> -The old man lifted a set of single harness carefully from its peg. “How -should I know?” +The old man lifted a set of single harness carefully from its peg. “How should +I know?” </p> <p> -“But you think she is at the graveyard, don’t you?” Signa -persisted. “So do I. Oh, I wish she would be more like herself! I -can’t believe it’s Alexandra Bergson come to this, with no head -about anything. I have to tell her when to eat and when to go to bed.” +“But you think she is at the graveyard, don’t you?” Signa persisted. “So do I. +Oh, I wish she would be more like herself! I can’t believe it’s Alexandra +Bergson come to this, with no head about anything. I have to tell her when to +eat and when to go to bed.” </p> <p> -“Patience, patience, sister,” muttered Ivar as he settled the bit -in the horse’s mouth. “When the eyes of the flesh are shut, the -eyes of the spirit are open. She will have a message from those who are gone, -and that will bring her peace. Until then we must bear with her. You and I are -the only ones who have weight with her. She trusts us.” +“Patience, patience, sister,” muttered Ivar as he settled the bit in the +horse’s mouth. “When the eyes of the flesh are shut, the eyes of the spirit are +open. She will have a message from those who are gone, and that will bring her +peace. Until then we must bear with her. You and I are the only ones who have +weight with her. She trusts us.” </p> <p> -“How awful it’s been these last three months.” Signa held the -lantern so that he could see to buckle the straps. “It don’t seem -right that we must all be so miserable. Why do we all have to be punished? -Seems to me like good times would never come again.” +“How awful it’s been these last three months.” Signa held the lantern so that +he could see to buckle the straps. “It don’t seem right that we must all be so +miserable. Why do we all have to be punished? Seems to me like good times would +never come again.” </p> <p> @@ -6660,34 +6438,33 @@ sandburr from his toe. </p> <p> -“Ivar,” Signa asked suddenly, “will you tell me why you go -barefoot? All the time I lived here in the house I wanted to ask you. Is it for -a penance, or what?” +“Ivar,” Signa asked suddenly, “will you tell me why you go barefoot? All the +time I lived here in the house I wanted to ask you. Is it for a penance, or +what?” </p> <p> -“No, sister. It is for the indulgence of the body. From my youth up I -have had a strong, rebellious body, and have been subject to every kind of -temptation. Even in age my temptations are prolonged. It was necessary to make -some allowances; and the feet, as I understand it, are free members. There is -no divine prohibition for them in the Ten Commandments. The hands, the tongue, -the eyes, the heart, all the bodily desires we are commanded to subdue; but the +“No, sister. It is for the indulgence of the body. From my youth up I have had +a strong, rebellious body, and have been subject to every kind of temptation. +Even in age my temptations are prolonged. It was necessary to make some +allowances; and the feet, as I understand it, are free members. There is no +divine prohibition for them in the Ten Commandments. The hands, the tongue, the +eyes, the heart, all the bodily desires we are commanded to subdue; but the feet are free members. I indulge them without harm to any one, even to -trampling in filth when my desires are low. They are quickly cleaned -again.” +trampling in filth when my desires are low. They are quickly cleaned again.” </p> <p> Signa did not laugh. She looked thoughtful as she followed Ivar out to the wagon-shed and held the shafts up for him, while he backed in the mare and -buckled the hold-backs. “You have been a good friend to the mistress, -Ivar,” she murmured. +buckled the hold-backs. “You have been a good friend to the mistress, Ivar,” +she murmured. </p> <p> -“And you, God be with you,” replied Ivar as he clambered into the -cart and put the lantern under the oilcloth lap-cover. “Now for a -ducking, my girl,” he said to the mare, gathering up the reins. +“And you, God be with you,” replied Ivar as he clambered into the cart and put +the lantern under the oilcloth lap-cover. “Now for a ducking, my girl,” he said +to the mare, gathering up the reins. </p> <p> @@ -6695,9 +6472,9 @@ As they emerged from the shed, a stream of water, running off the thatch, struck the mare on the neck. She tossed her head indignantly, then struck out bravely on the soft ground, slipping back again and again as she climbed the hill to the main road. Between the rain and the darkness Ivar could see very -little, so he let Emil’s mare have the rein, keeping her head in the -right direction. When the ground was level, he turned her out of the dirt road -upon the sod, where she was able to trot without slipping. +little, so he let Emil’s mare have the rein, keeping her head in the right +direction. When the ground was level, he turned her out of the dirt road upon +the sod, where she was able to trot without slipping. </p> <p> @@ -6705,26 +6482,25 @@ Before Ivar reached the graveyard, three miles from the house, the storm had spent itself, and the downpour had died into a soft, dripping rain. The sky and the land were a dark smoke color, and seemed to be coming together, like two waves. When Ivar stopped at the gate and swung out his lantern, a white figure -rose from beside John Bergson’s white stone. +rose from beside John Bergson’s white stone. </p> <p> The old man sprang to the ground and shuffled toward the gate calling, -“Mistress, mistress!” +“Mistress, mistress!” </p> <p> -Alexandra hurried to meet him and put her hand on his shoulder. -“<i>Tyst!</i> Ivar. There’s nothing to be worried about. I’m -sorry if I’ve scared you all. I didn’t notice the storm till it was -on me, and I couldn’t walk against it. I’m glad you’ve come. -I am so tired I didn’t know how I’d ever get home.” +Alexandra hurried to meet him and put her hand on his shoulder. “<i>Tyst!</i> +Ivar. There’s nothing to be worried about. I’m sorry if I’ve scared you all. I +didn’t notice the storm till it was on me, and I couldn’t walk against it. I’m +glad you’ve come. I am so tired I didn’t know how I’d ever get home.” </p> <p> -Ivar swung the lantern up so that it shone in her face. “<i>Gud!</i> You -are enough to frighten us, mistress. You look like a drowned woman. How could -you do such a thing!” +Ivar swung the lantern up so that it shone in her face. “<i>Gud!</i> You are +enough to frighten us, mistress. You look like a drowned woman. How could you +do such a thing!” </p> <p> @@ -6733,9 +6509,9 @@ wrapping her in the dry blankets on which he had been sitting. </p> <p> -Alexandra smiled at his solicitude. “Not much use in that, Ivar. You will -only shut the wet in. I don’t feel so cold now; but I’m heavy and -numb. I’m glad you came.” +Alexandra smiled at his solicitude. “Not much use in that, Ivar. You will only +shut the wet in. I don’t feel so cold now; but I’m heavy and numb. I’m glad you +came.” </p> <p> @@ -6745,23 +6521,22 @@ continual spatter of mud. <p> Alexandra spoke to the old man as they jogged along through the sullen gray -twilight of the storm. “Ivar, I think it has done me good to get cold -clear through like this, once. I don’t believe I shall suffer so much any -more. When you get so near the dead, they seem more real than the living. -Worldly thoughts leave one. Ever since Emil died, I’ve suffered so when -it rained. Now that I’ve been out in it with him, I shan’t dread -it. After you once get cold clear through, the feeling of the rain on you is -sweet. It seems to bring back feelings you had when you were a baby. It carries -you back into the dark, before you were born; you can’t see things, but -they come to you, somehow, and you know them and aren’t afraid of them. -Maybe it’s like that with the dead. If they feel anything at all, -it’s the old things, before they were born, that comfort people like the -feeling of their own bed does when they are little.” +twilight of the storm. “Ivar, I think it has done me good to get cold clear +through like this, once. I don’t believe I shall suffer so much any more. When +you get so near the dead, they seem more real than the living. Worldly thoughts +leave one. Ever since Emil died, I’ve suffered so when it rained. Now that I’ve +been out in it with him, I shan’t dread it. After you once get cold clear +through, the feeling of the rain on you is sweet. It seems to bring back +feelings you had when you were a baby. It carries you back into the dark, +before you were born; you can’t see things, but they come to you, somehow, and +you know them and aren’t afraid of them. Maybe it’s like that with the dead. If +they feel anything at all, it’s the old things, before they were born, that +comfort people like the feeling of their own bed does when they are little.” </p> <p> -“Mistress,” said Ivar reproachfully, “those are bad thoughts. -The dead are in Paradise.” +“Mistress,” said Ivar reproachfully, “those are bad thoughts. The dead are in +Paradise.” </p> <p> @@ -6801,12 +6576,12 @@ to sleep. Alexandra wakened in the morning with nothing worse than a hard cold and a stiff shoulder. She kept her bed for several days, and it was during that time that she formed a resolution to go to Lincoln to see Frank Shabata. Ever since -she last saw him in the courtroom, Frank’s haggard face and wild eyes had +she last saw him in the courtroom, Frank’s haggard face and wild eyes had haunted her. The trial had lasted only three days. Frank had given himself up to the police in Omaha and pleaded guilty of killing without malice and without premeditation. The gun was, of course, against him, and the judge had given him -the full sentence,—ten years. He had now been in the State Penitentiary -for a month. +the full sentence,—ten years. He had now been in the State Penitentiary for a +month. </p> <p> @@ -6819,46 +6594,44 @@ knew Frank was surly about doing little things to help his wife, she was always sending Emil over to spade or plant or carpenter for Marie. She was glad to have Emil see as much as possible of an intelligent, city-bred girl like their neighbor; she noticed that it improved his manners. She knew that Emil was fond -of Marie, but it had never occurred to her that Emil’s feeling might be +of Marie, but it had never occurred to her that Emil’s feeling might be different from her own. She wondered at herself now, but she had never thought -of danger in that direction. If Marie had been unmarried,—oh, yes! Then -she would have kept her eyes open. But the mere fact that she was -Shabata’s wife, for Alexandra, settled everything. That she was -beautiful, impulsive, barely two years older than Emil, these facts had had no -weight with Alexandra. Emil was a good boy, and only bad boys ran after married -women. +of danger in that direction. If Marie had been unmarried,—oh, yes! Then she +would have kept her eyes open. But the mere fact that she was Shabata’s wife, +for Alexandra, settled everything. That she was beautiful, impulsive, barely +two years older than Emil, these facts had had no weight with Alexandra. Emil +was a good boy, and only bad boys ran after married women. </p> <p> Now, Alexandra could in a measure realize that Marie was, after all, Marie; not -merely a “married woman.” Sometimes, when Alexandra thought of her, -it was with an aching tenderness. The moment she had reached them in the -orchard that morning, everything was clear to her. There was something about -those two lying in the grass, something in the way Marie had settled her cheek -on Emil’s shoulder, that told her everything. She wondered then how they -could have helped loving each other; how she could have helped knowing that -they must. Emil’s cold, frowning face, the girl’s -content—Alexandra had felt awe of them, even in the first shock of her -grief. +merely a “married woman.” Sometimes, when Alexandra thought of her, it was with +an aching tenderness. The moment she had reached them in the orchard that +morning, everything was clear to her. There was something about those two lying +in the grass, something in the way Marie had settled her cheek on Emil’s +shoulder, that told her everything. She wondered then how they could have +helped loving each other; how she could have helped knowing that they must. +Emil’s cold, frowning face, the girl’s content—Alexandra had felt awe of them, +even in the first shock of her grief. </p> <p> The idleness of those days in bed, the relaxation of body which attended them, -enabled Alexandra to think more calmly than she had done since Emil’s -death. She and Frank, she told herself, were left out of that group of friends -who had been overwhelmed by disaster. She must certainly see Frank Shabata. -Even in the courtroom her heart had grieved for him. He was in a strange -country, he had no kinsmen or friends, and in a moment he had ruined his life. -Being what he was, she felt, Frank could not have acted otherwise. She could -understand his behavior more easily than she could understand Marie’s. -Yes, she must go to Lincoln to see Frank Shabata. +enabled Alexandra to think more calmly than she had done since Emil’s death. +She and Frank, she told herself, were left out of that group of friends who had +been overwhelmed by disaster. She must certainly see Frank Shabata. Even in the +courtroom her heart had grieved for him. He was in a strange country, he had no +kinsmen or friends, and in a moment he had ruined his life. Being what he was, +she felt, Frank could not have acted otherwise. She could understand his +behavior more easily than she could understand Marie’s. Yes, she must go to +Lincoln to see Frank Shabata. </p> <p> -The day after Emil’s funeral, Alexandra had written to Carl Linstrum; a -single page of notepaper, a bare statement of what had happened. She was not a -woman who could write much about such a thing, and about her own feelings she -could never write very freely. She knew that Carl was away from post-offices, +The day after Emil’s funeral, Alexandra had written to Carl Linstrum; a single +page of notepaper, a bare statement of what had happened. She was not a woman +who could write much about such a thing, and about her own feelings she could +never write very freely. She knew that Carl was away from post-offices, prospecting somewhere in the interior. Before he started he had written her where he expected to go, but her ideas about Alaska were vague. As the weeks went by and she heard nothing from him, it seemed to Alexandra that her heart @@ -6870,18 +6643,17 @@ finish her life alone. What was left of life seemed unimportant. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0034" id="link2H_4_0034"></a>II</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0034"></a>II</h2> <p> Late in the afternoon of a brilliant October day, Alexandra Bergson, dressed in a black suit and traveling-hat, alighted at the Burlington depot in Lincoln. She drove to the Lindell Hotel, where she had stayed two years ago when she -came up for Emil’s Commencement. In spite of her usual air of sureness -and self-possession, Alexandra felt ill at ease in hotels, and she was glad, -when she went to the clerk’s desk to register, that there were not many -people in the lobby. She had her supper early, wearing her hat and black jacket -down to the dining-room and carrying her handbag. After supper she went out for -a walk. +came up for Emil’s Commencement. In spite of her usual air of sureness and +self-possession, Alexandra felt ill at ease in hotels, and she was glad, when +she went to the clerk’s desk to register, that there were not many people in +the lobby. She had her supper early, wearing her hat and black jacket down to +the dining-room and carrying her handbag. After supper she went out for a walk. </p> <p> @@ -6904,96 +6676,92 @@ She wished she could ask them whether they had known Emil. As she lingered by the south gate she actually did encounter one of the boys. He had on his drill cap and was swinging his books at the end of a long strap. It was dark by this time; he did not see her and ran against her. He snatched -off his cap and stood bareheaded and panting. “I’m awfully -sorry,” he said in a bright, clear voice, with a rising inflection, as if -he expected her to say something. +off his cap and stood bareheaded and panting. “I’m awfully sorry,” he said in a +bright, clear voice, with a rising inflection, as if he expected her to say +something. </p> <p> -“Oh, it was my fault!” said Alexandra eagerly. “Are you an -old student here, may I ask?” +“Oh, it was my fault!” said Alexandra eagerly. “Are you an old student here, +may I ask?” </p> <p> -“No, ma’am. I’m a Freshie, just off the farm. Cherry County. -Were you hunting somebody?” +“No, ma’am. I’m a Freshie, just off the farm. Cherry County. Were you hunting +somebody?” </p> <p> -“No, thank you. That is—” Alexandra wanted to detain him. -“That is, I would like to find some of my brother’s friends. He -graduated two years ago.” +“No, thank you. That is—” Alexandra wanted to detain him. “That is, I would +like to find some of my brother’s friends. He graduated two years ago.” </p> <p> -“Then you’d have to try the Seniors, wouldn’t you? -Let’s see; I don’t know any of them yet, but there’ll be sure -to be some of them around the library. That red building, right there,” -he pointed. +“Then you’d have to try the Seniors, wouldn’t you? Let’s see; I don’t know any +of them yet, but there’ll be sure to be some of them around the library. That +red building, right there,” he pointed. </p> <p> -“Thank you, I’ll try there,” said Alexandra lingeringly. +“Thank you, I’ll try there,” said Alexandra lingeringly. </p> <p> -“Oh, that’s all right! Good-night.” The lad clapped his cap -on his head and ran straight down Eleventh Street. Alexandra looked after him -wistfully. +“Oh, that’s all right! Good-night.” The lad clapped his cap on his head and ran +straight down Eleventh Street. Alexandra looked after him wistfully. </p> <p> -She walked back to her hotel unreasonably comforted. “What a nice voice -that boy had, and how polite he was. I know Emil was always like that to -women.” And again, after she had undressed and was standing in her -nightgown, brushing her long, heavy hair by the electric light, she remembered -him and said to herself, “I don’t think I ever heard a nicer voice -than that boy had. I hope he will get on well here. Cherry County; that’s -where the hay is so fine, and the coyotes can scratch down to water.” +She walked back to her hotel unreasonably comforted. “What a nice voice that +boy had, and how polite he was. I know Emil was always like that to women.” And +again, after she had undressed and was standing in her nightgown, brushing her +long, heavy hair by the electric light, she remembered him and said to herself, +“I don’t think I ever heard a nicer voice than that boy had. I hope he will get +on well here. Cherry County; that’s where the hay is so fine, and the coyotes +can scratch down to water.” </p> <p> -At nine o’clock the next morning Alexandra presented herself at the -warden’s office in the State Penitentiary. The warden was a German, a -ruddy, cheerful-looking man who had formerly been a harness-maker. Alexandra -had a letter to him from the German banker in Hanover. As he glanced at the -letter, Mr. Schwartz put away his pipe. +At nine o’clock the next morning Alexandra presented herself at the warden’s +office in the State Penitentiary. The warden was a German, a ruddy, +cheerful-looking man who had formerly been a harness-maker. Alexandra had a +letter to him from the German banker in Hanover. As he glanced at the letter, +Mr. Schwartz put away his pipe. </p> <p> -“That big Bohemian, is it? Sure, he’s gettin’ along -fine,” said Mr. Schwartz cheerfully. +“That big Bohemian, is it? Sure, he’s gettin’ along fine,” said Mr. Schwartz +cheerfully. </p> <p> -“I am glad to hear that. I was afraid he might be quarrelsome and get -himself into more trouble. Mr. Schwartz, if you have time, I would like to tell -you a little about Frank Shabata, and why I am interested in him.” +“I am glad to hear that. I was afraid he might be quarrelsome and get himself +into more trouble. Mr. Schwartz, if you have time, I would like to tell you a +little about Frank Shabata, and why I am interested in him.” </p> <p> -The warden listened genially while she told him briefly something of -Frank’s history and character, but he did not seem to find anything -unusual in her account. +The warden listened genially while she told him briefly something of Frank’s +history and character, but he did not seem to find anything unusual in her +account. </p> <p> -“Sure, I’ll keep an eye on him. We’ll take care of him all -right,” he said, rising. “You can talk to him here, while I go to -see to things in the kitchen. I’ll have him sent in. He ought to be done -washing out his cell by this time. We have to keep ’em clean, you -know.” +“Sure, I’ll keep an eye on him. We’ll take care of him all right,” he said, +rising. “You can talk to him here, while I go to see to things in the kitchen. +I’ll have him sent in. He ought to be done washing out his cell by this time. +We have to keep ’em clean, you know.” </p> <p> The warden paused at the door, speaking back over his shoulder to a pale young -man in convicts’ clothes who was seated at a desk in the corner, writing -in a big ledger. +man in convicts’ clothes who was seated at a desk in the corner, writing in a +big ledger. </p> <p> -“Bertie, when 1037 is brought in, you just step out and give this lady a -chance to talk.” +“Bertie, when 1037 is brought in, you just step out and give this lady a chance +to talk.” </p> <p> @@ -7004,28 +6772,26 @@ The young man bowed his head and bent over his ledger again. When Mr. Schwartz disappeared, Alexandra thrust her black-edged handkerchief nervously into her handbag. Coming out on the streetcar she had not had the least dread of meeting Frank. But since she had been here the sounds and smells -in the corridor, the look of the men in convicts’ clothes who passed the -glass door of the warden’s office, affected her unpleasantly. +in the corridor, the look of the men in convicts’ clothes who passed the glass +door of the warden’s office, affected her unpleasantly. </p> <p> -The warden’s clock ticked, the young convict’s pen scratched busily -in the big book, and his sharp shoulders were shaken every few seconds by a -loose cough which he tried to smother. It was easy to see that he was a sick -man. Alexandra looked at him timidly, but he did not once raise his eyes. He -wore a white shirt under his striped jacket, a high collar, and a necktie, very -carefully tied. His hands were thin and white and well cared for, and he had a -seal ring on his little finger. When he heard steps approaching in the -corridor, he rose, blotted his book, put his pen in the rack, and left the room -without raising his eyes. Through the door he opened a guard came in, bringing -Frank Shabata. +The warden’s clock ticked, the young convict’s pen scratched busily in the big +book, and his sharp shoulders were shaken every few seconds by a loose cough +which he tried to smother. It was easy to see that he was a sick man. Alexandra +looked at him timidly, but he did not once raise his eyes. He wore a white +shirt under his striped jacket, a high collar, and a necktie, very carefully +tied. His hands were thin and white and well cared for, and he had a seal ring +on his little finger. When he heard steps approaching in the corridor, he rose, +blotted his book, put his pen in the rack, and left the room without raising +his eyes. Through the door he opened a guard came in, bringing Frank Shabata. </p> <p> -“You the lady that wanted to talk to 1037? Here he is. Be on your good -behavior, now. He can set down, lady,” seeing that Alexandra remained -standing. “Push that white button when you’re through with him, and -I’ll come.” +“You the lady that wanted to talk to 1037? Here he is. Be on your good +behavior, now. He can set down, lady,” seeing that Alexandra remained standing. +“Push that white button when you’re through with him, and I’ll come.” </p> <p> @@ -7043,18 +6809,16 @@ gave him a criminal look which he had not had during the trial. </p> <p> -Alexandra held out her hand. “Frank,” she said, her eyes filling -suddenly, “I hope you’ll let me be friendly with you. I understand -how you did it. I don’t feel hard toward you. They were more to blame -than you.” +Alexandra held out her hand. “Frank,” she said, her eyes filling suddenly, “I +hope you’ll let me be friendly with you. I understand how you did it. I don’t +feel hard toward you. They were more to blame than you.” </p> <p> Frank jerked a dirty blue handkerchief from his trousers pocket. He had begun -to cry. He turned away from Alexandra. “I never did mean to do -not’ing to dat woman,” he muttered. “I never mean to do -not’ing to dat boy. I ain’t had not’ing ag’in’ -dat boy. I always like dat boy fine. An’ then I find him—” He +to cry. He turned away from Alexandra. “I never did mean to do not’ing to dat +woman,” he muttered. “I never mean to do not’ing to dat boy. I ain’t had +not’ing ag’in’ dat boy. I always like dat boy fine. An’ then I find him—” He stopped. The feeling went out of his face and eyes. He dropped into a chair and sat looking stolidly at the floor, his hands hanging loosely between his knees, the handkerchief lying across his striped leg. He seemed to have stirred up in @@ -7062,17 +6826,16 @@ his mind a disgust that had paralyzed his faculties. </p> <p> -“I haven’t come up here to blame you, Frank. I think they were more -to blame than you.” Alexandra, too, felt benumbed. +“I haven’t come up here to blame you, Frank. I think they were more to blame +than you.” Alexandra, too, felt benumbed. </p> <p> -Frank looked up suddenly and stared out of the office window. “I guess -dat place all go to hell what I work so hard on,” he said with a slow, -bitter smile. “I not care a damn.” He stopped and rubbed the palm -of his hand over the light bristles on his head with annoyance. “I no can -t’ink without my hair,” he complained. “I forget English. We -not talk here, except swear.” +Frank looked up suddenly and stared out of the office window. “I guess dat +place all go to hell what I work so hard on,” he said with a slow, bitter +smile. “I not care a damn.” He stopped and rubbed the palm of his hand over the +light bristles on his head with annoyance. “I no can t’ink without my hair,” he +complained. “I forget English. We not talk here, except swear.” </p> <p> @@ -7083,21 +6846,20 @@ not know what to say to him. </p> <p> -“You do not feel hard to me, Frank?” she asked at last. +“You do not feel hard to me, Frank?” she asked at last. </p> <p> -Frank clenched his fist and broke out in excitement. “I not feel hard at -no woman. I tell you I not that kind-a man. I never hit my wife. No, never I -hurt her when she devil me something awful!” He struck his fist down on -the warden’s desk so hard that he afterward stroked it absently. A pale -pink crept over his neck and face. “Two, t’ree years I know dat -woman don’ care no more ’bout me, Alexandra Bergson. I know she -after some other man. I know her, oo-oo! An’ I ain’t never hurt -her. I never would-a done dat, if I ain’t had dat gun along. I don’ -know what in hell make me take dat gun. She always say I ain’t no man to -carry gun. If she been in dat house, where she ought-a been—But das a -foolish talk.” +Frank clenched his fist and broke out in excitement. “I not feel hard at no +woman. I tell you I not that kind-a man. I never hit my wife. No, never I hurt +her when she devil me something awful!” He struck his fist down on the warden’s +desk so hard that he afterward stroked it absently. A pale pink crept over his +neck and face. “Two, t’ree years I know dat woman don’ care no more ’bout me, +Alexandra Bergson. I know she after some other man. I know her, oo-oo! An’ I +ain’t never hurt her. I never would-a done dat, if I ain’t had dat gun along. I +don’ know what in hell make me take dat gun. She always say I ain’t no man to +carry gun. If she been in dat house, where she ought-a been—But das a foolish +talk.” </p> <p> @@ -7107,22 +6869,20 @@ something came up in him that extinguished his power of feeling or thinking. </p> <p> -“Yes, Frank,” she said kindly. “I know you never meant to -hurt Marie.” +“Yes, Frank,” she said kindly. “I know you never meant to hurt Marie.” </p> <p> -Frank smiled at her queerly. His eyes filled slowly with tears. “You -know, I most forgit dat woman’s name. She ain’t got no name for me -no more. I never hate my wife, but dat woman what make me do dat—Honest -to God, but I hate her! I no man to fight. I don’ want to kill no boy and -no woman. I not care how many men she take under dat tree. I no care for -not’ing but dat fine boy I kill, Alexandra Bergson. I guess I go crazy -sure ’nough.” +Frank smiled at her queerly. His eyes filled slowly with tears. “You know, I +most forgit dat woman’s name. She ain’t got no name for me no more. I never +hate my wife, but dat woman what make me do dat—Honest to God, but I hate her! +I no man to fight. I don’ want to kill no boy and no woman. I not care how many +men she take under dat tree. I no care for not’ing but dat fine boy I kill, +Alexandra Bergson. I guess I go crazy sure ’nough.” </p> <p> -Alexandra remembered the little yellow cane she had found in Frank’s +Alexandra remembered the little yellow cane she had found in Frank’s clothes-closet. She thought of how he had come to this country a gay young fellow, so attractive that the prettiest Bohemian girl in Omaha had run away with him. It seemed unreasonable that life should have landed him in such a @@ -7136,29 +6896,27 @@ home, and here was Frank Shabata. Alexandra rose and took him by the hand. </p> <p> -“Frank Shabata, I am never going to stop trying until I get you pardoned. -I’ll never give the Governor any peace. I know I can get you out of this -place.” +“Frank Shabata, I am never going to stop trying until I get you pardoned. I’ll +never give the Governor any peace. I know I can get you out of this place.” </p> <p> Frank looked at her distrustfully, but he gathered confidence from her face. -“Alexandra,” he said earnestly, “if I git out-a here, I not -trouble dis country no more. I go back where I come from; see my mother.” +“Alexandra,” he said earnestly, “if I git out-a here, I not trouble dis country +no more. I go back where I come from; see my mother.” </p> <p> Alexandra tried to withdraw her hand, but Frank held on to it nervously. He put -out his finger and absently touched a button on her black jacket. -“Alexandra,” he said in a low tone, looking steadily at the button, -“you ain’ t’ink I use dat girl awful bad before—” +out his finger and absently touched a button on her black jacket. “Alexandra,” +he said in a low tone, looking steadily at the button, “you ain’ t’ink I use +dat girl awful bad before—” </p> <p> -“No, Frank. We won’t talk about that,” Alexandra said, -pressing his hand. “I can’t help Emil now, so I’m going to do -what I can for you. You know I don’t go away from home often, and I came -up here on purpose to tell you this.” +“No, Frank. We won’t talk about that,” Alexandra said, pressing his hand. “I +can’t help Emil now, so I’m going to do what I can for you. You know I don’t go +away from home often, and I came up here on purpose to tell you this.” </p> <p> @@ -7166,23 +6924,23 @@ The warden at the glass door looked in inquiringly. Alexandra nodded, and he came in and touched the white button on his desk. The guard appeared, and with a sinking heart Alexandra saw Frank led away down the corridor. After a few words with Mr. Schwartz, she left the prison and made her way to the -street-car. She had refused with horror the warden’s cordial invitation -to “go through the institution.” As the car lurched over its uneven -roadbed, back toward Lincoln, Alexandra thought of how she and Frank had been -wrecked by the same storm and of how, although she could come out into the -sunlight, she had not much more left in her life than he. She remembered some -lines from a poem she had liked in her schooldays:— +street-car. She had refused with horror the warden’s cordial invitation to “go +through the institution.” As the car lurched over its uneven roadbed, back +toward Lincoln, Alexandra thought of how she and Frank had been wrecked by the +same storm and of how, although she could come out into the sunlight, she had +not much more left in her life than he. She remembered some lines from a poem +she had liked in her schooldays:— </p> <p class="poem"> Henceforth the world will only be<br/> -A wider prison-house to me,— +A wider prison-house to me,— </p> <p class="noindent"> and sighed. A disgust of life weighed upon her heart; some such feeling as had -twice frozen Frank Shabata’s features while they talked together. She -wished she were back on the Divide. +twice frozen Frank Shabata’s features while they talked together. She wished +she were back on the Divide. </p> <p> @@ -7192,7 +6950,7 @@ yellow envelope and looked at it in perplexity, then stepped into the elevator without opening it. As she walked down the corridor toward her room, she reflected that she was, in a manner, immune from evil tidings. On reaching her room she locked the door, and sitting down on a chair by the dresser, opened -the telegram. It was from Hanover, and it read:— +the telegram. It was from Hanover, and it read:— </p> <p class="letter"> @@ -7211,15 +6969,15 @@ Alexandra put her head down on the dresser and burst into tears. <div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="link2H_4_0035" id="link2H_4_0035"></a>III</h2> +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0035"></a>III</h2> <p> The next afternoon Carl and Alexandra were walking across the fields from Mrs. -Hiller’s. Alexandra had left Lincoln after midnight, and Carl had met her -at the Hanover station early in the morning. After they reached home, Alexandra -had gone over to Mrs. Hiller’s to leave a little present she had bought -for her in the city. They stayed at the old lady’s door but a moment, and -then came out to spend the rest of the afternoon in the sunny fields. +Hiller’s. Alexandra had left Lincoln after midnight, and Carl had met her at +the Hanover station early in the morning. After they reached home, Alexandra +had gone over to Mrs. Hiller’s to leave a little present she had bought for her +in the city. They stayed at the old lady’s door but a moment, and then came out +to spend the rest of the afternoon in the sunny fields. </p> <p> @@ -7238,183 +6996,178 @@ on the Divide. There are always dreamers on the frontier. Carl and Alexandra had been talking since morning. Her letter had never reached him. He had first learned of her misfortune from a San Francisco paper, four weeks old, which he had picked up in a saloon, and which contained a brief -account of Frank Shabata’s trial. When he put down the paper, he had -already made up his mind that he could reach Alexandra as quickly as a letter -could; and ever since he had been on the way; day and night, by the fastest -boats and trains he could catch. His steamer had been held back two days by -rough weather. +account of Frank Shabata’s trial. When he put down the paper, he had already +made up his mind that he could reach Alexandra as quickly as a letter could; +and ever since he had been on the way; day and night, by the fastest boats and +trains he could catch. His steamer had been held back two days by rough +weather. </p> <p> -As they came out of Mrs. Hiller’s garden they took up their talk again -where they had left it. +As they came out of Mrs. Hiller’s garden they took up their talk again where +they had left it. </p> <p> -“But could you come away like that, Carl, without arranging things? Could -you just walk off and leave your business?” Alexandra asked. +“But could you come away like that, Carl, without arranging things? Could you +just walk off and leave your business?” Alexandra asked. </p> <p> -Carl laughed. “Prudent Alexandra! You see, my dear, I happen to have an -honest partner. I trust him with everything. In fact, it’s been his -enterprise from the beginning, you know. I’m in it only because he took -me in. I’ll have to go back in the spring. Perhaps you will want to go -with me then. We haven’t turned up millions yet, but we’ve got a -start that’s worth following. But this winter I’d like to spend -with you. You won’t feel that we ought to wait longer, on Emil’s -account, will you, Alexandra?” +Carl laughed. “Prudent Alexandra! You see, my dear, I happen to have an honest +partner. I trust him with everything. In fact, it’s been his enterprise from +the beginning, you know. I’m in it only because he took me in. I’ll have to go +back in the spring. Perhaps you will want to go with me then. We haven’t turned +up millions yet, but we’ve got a start that’s worth following. But this winter +I’d like to spend with you. You won’t feel that we ought to wait longer, on +Emil’s account, will you, Alexandra?” </p> <p> -Alexandra shook her head. “No, Carl; I don’t feel that way about -it. And surely you needn’t mind anything Lou and Oscar say now. They are -much angrier with me about Emil, now, than about you. They say it was all my -fault. That I ruined him by sending him to college.” +Alexandra shook her head. “No, Carl; I don’t feel that way about it. And surely +you needn’t mind anything Lou and Oscar say now. They are much angrier with me +about Emil, now, than about you. They say it was all my fault. That I ruined +him by sending him to college.” </p> <p> -“No, I don’t care a button for Lou or Oscar. The moment I knew you -were in trouble, the moment I thought you might need me, it all looked -different. You’ve always been a triumphant kind of person.” Carl -hesitated, looking sidewise at her strong, full figure. “But you do need -me now, Alexandra?” +“No, I don’t care a button for Lou or Oscar. The moment I knew you were in +trouble, the moment I thought you might need me, it all looked different. +You’ve always been a triumphant kind of person.” Carl hesitated, looking +sidewise at her strong, full figure. “But you do need me now, Alexandra?” </p> <p> -She put her hand on his arm. “I needed you terribly when it happened, -Carl. I cried for you at night. Then everything seemed to get hard inside of -me, and I thought perhaps I should never care for you again. But when I got -your telegram yesterday, then—then it was just as it used to be. You are -all I have in the world, you know.” +She put her hand on his arm. “I needed you terribly when it happened, Carl. I +cried for you at night. Then everything seemed to get hard inside of me, and I +thought perhaps I should never care for you again. But when I got your telegram +yesterday, then—then it was just as it used to be. You are all I have in the +world, you know.” </p> <p> -Carl pressed her hand in silence. They were passing the Shabatas’ empty -house now, but they avoided the orchard path and took one that led over by the +Carl pressed her hand in silence. They were passing the Shabatas’ empty house +now, but they avoided the orchard path and took one that led over by the pasture pond. </p> <p> -“Can you understand it, Carl?” Alexandra murmured. “I have -had nobody but Ivar and Signa to talk to. Do talk to me. Can you understand it? -Could you have believed that of Marie Tovesky? I would have been cut to pieces, -little by little, before I would have betrayed her trust in me!” +“Can you understand it, Carl?” Alexandra murmured. “I have had nobody but Ivar +and Signa to talk to. Do talk to me. Can you understand it? Could you have +believed that of Marie Tovesky? I would have been cut to pieces, little by +little, before I would have betrayed her trust in me!” </p> <p> -Carl looked at the shining spot of water before them. “Maybe she was cut -to pieces, too, Alexandra. I am sure she tried hard; they both did. That was -why Emil went to Mexico, of course. And he was going away again, you tell me, +Carl looked at the shining spot of water before them. “Maybe she was cut to +pieces, too, Alexandra. I am sure she tried hard; they both did. That was why +Emil went to Mexico, of course. And he was going away again, you tell me, though he had only been home three weeks. You remember that Sunday when I went with Emil up to the French Church fair? I thought that day there was some kind of feeling, something unusual, between them. I meant to talk to you about it. But on my way back I met Lou and Oscar and got so angry that I forgot -everything else. You mustn’t be hard on them, Alexandra. Sit down here by -the pond a minute. I want to tell you something.” +everything else. You mustn’t be hard on them, Alexandra. Sit down here by the +pond a minute. I want to tell you something.” </p> <p> They sat down on the grass-tufted bank and Carl told her how he had seen Emil and Marie out by the pond that morning, more than a year ago, and how young and -charming and full of grace they had seemed to him. “It happens like that -in the world sometimes, Alexandra,” he added earnestly. “I’ve -seen it before. There are women who spread ruin around them through no fault of -theirs, just by being too beautiful, too full of life and love. They -can’t help it. People come to them as people go to a warm fire in winter. -I used to feel that in her when she was a little girl. Do you remember how all -the Bohemians crowded round her in the store that day, when she gave Emil her -candy? You remember those yellow sparks in her eyes?” +charming and full of grace they had seemed to him. “It happens like that in the +world sometimes, Alexandra,” he added earnestly. “I’ve seen it before. There +are women who spread ruin around them through no fault of theirs, just by being +too beautiful, too full of life and love. They can’t help it. People come to +them as people go to a warm fire in winter. I used to feel that in her when she +was a little girl. Do you remember how all the Bohemians crowded round her in +the store that day, when she gave Emil her candy? You remember those yellow +sparks in her eyes?” </p> <p> -Alexandra sighed. “Yes. People couldn’t help loving her. Poor Frank -does, even now, I think; though he’s got himself in such a tangle that -for a long time his love has been bitterer than his hate. But if you saw there -was anything wrong, you ought to have told me, Carl.” +Alexandra sighed. “Yes. People couldn’t help loving her. Poor Frank does, even +now, I think; though he’s got himself in such a tangle that for a long time his +love has been bitterer than his hate. But if you saw there was anything wrong, +you ought to have told me, Carl.” </p> <p> -Carl took her hand and smiled patiently. “My dear, it was something one -felt in the air, as you feel the spring coming, or a storm in summer. I -didn’t <i>see</i> anything. Simply, when I was with those two young -things, I felt my blood go quicker, I felt—how shall I say it?—an -acceleration of life. After I got away, it was all too delicate, too -intangible, to write about.” +Carl took her hand and smiled patiently. “My dear, it was something one felt in +the air, as you feel the spring coming, or a storm in summer. I didn’t +<i>see</i> anything. Simply, when I was with those two young things, I felt my +blood go quicker, I felt—how shall I say it?—an acceleration of life. After I +got away, it was all too delicate, too intangible, to write about.” </p> <p> -Alexandra looked at him mournfully. “I try to be more liberal about such -things than I used to be. I try to realize that we are not all made alike. -Only, why couldn’t it have been Raoul Marcel, or Jan Smirka? Why did it -have to be my boy?” +Alexandra looked at him mournfully. “I try to be more liberal about such things +than I used to be. I try to realize that we are not all made alike. Only, why +couldn’t it have been Raoul Marcel, or Jan Smirka? Why did it have to be my +boy?” </p> <p> -“Because he was the best there was, I suppose. They were both the best -you had here.” +“Because he was the best there was, I suppose. They were both the best you had +here.” </p> <p> The sun was dropping low in the west when the two friends rose and took the path again. The straw-stacks were throwing long shadows, the owls were flying home to the prairie-dog town. When they came to the corner where the pastures -joined, Alexandra’s twelve young colts were galloping in a drove over the -brow of the hill. +joined, Alexandra’s twelve young colts were galloping in a drove over the brow +of the hill. </p> <p> -“Carl,” said Alexandra, “I should like to go up there with -you in the spring. I haven’t been on the water since we crossed the -ocean, when I was a little girl. After we first came out here I used to dream -sometimes about the shipyard where father worked, and a little sort of inlet, -full of masts.” Alexandra paused. After a moment’s thought she -said, “But you would never ask me to go away for good, would you?” +“Carl,” said Alexandra, “I should like to go up there with you in the spring. I +haven’t been on the water since we crossed the ocean, when I was a little girl. +After we first came out here I used to dream sometimes about the shipyard where +father worked, and a little sort of inlet, full of masts.” Alexandra paused. +After a moment’s thought she said, “But you would never ask me to go away for +good, would you?” </p> <p> -“Of course not, my dearest. I think I know how you feel about this -country as well as you do yourself.” Carl took her hand in both his own -and pressed it tenderly. +“Of course not, my dearest. I think I know how you feel about this country as +well as you do yourself.” Carl took her hand in both his own and pressed it +tenderly. </p> <p> -“Yes, I still feel that way, though Emil is gone. When I was on the train -this morning, and we got near Hanover, I felt something like I did when I drove -back with Emil from the river that time, in the dry year. I was glad to come -back to it. I’ve lived here a long time. There is great peace here, Carl, -and freedom.... I thought when I came out of that prison, where poor Frank is, -that I should never feel free again. But I do, here.” Alexandra took a -deep breath and looked off into the red west. +“Yes, I still feel that way, though Emil is gone. When I was on the train this +morning, and we got near Hanover, I felt something like I did when I drove back +with Emil from the river that time, in the dry year. I was glad to come back to +it. I’ve lived here a long time. There is great peace here, Carl, and +freedom.... I thought when I came out of that prison, where poor Frank is, that +I should never feel free again. But I do, here.” Alexandra took a deep breath +and looked off into the red west. </p> <p> -“You belong to the land,” Carl murmured, “as you have always -said. Now more than ever.” +“You belong to the land,” Carl murmured, “as you have always said. Now more +than ever.” </p> <p> -“Yes, now more than ever. You remember what you once said about the -graveyard, and the old story writing itself over? Only it is we who write it, -with the best we have.” +“Yes, now more than ever. You remember what you once said about the graveyard, +and the old story writing itself over? Only it is we who write it, with the +best we have.” </p> <p> They paused on the last ridge of the pasture, overlooking the house and the -windmill and the stables that marked the site of John Bergson’s -homestead. On every side the brown waves of the earth rolled away to meet the -sky. +windmill and the stables that marked the site of John Bergson’s homestead. On +every side the brown waves of the earth rolled away to meet the sky. </p> <p> -“Lou and Oscar can’t see those things,” said Alexandra -suddenly. “Suppose I do will my land to their children, what difference -will that make? The land belongs to the future, Carl; that’s the way it -seems to me. How many of the names on the county clerk’s plat will be -there in fifty years? I might as well try to will the sunset over there to my -brother’s children. We come and go, but the land is always here. And the -people who love it and understand it are the people who own it—for a -little while.” +“Lou and Oscar can’t see those things,” said Alexandra suddenly. “Suppose I do +will my land to their children, what difference will that make? The land +belongs to the future, Carl; that’s the way it seems to me. How many of the +names on the county clerk’s plat will be there in fifty years? I might as well +try to will the sunset over there to my brother’s children. We come and go, but +the land is always here. And the people who love it and understand it are the +people who own it—for a little while.” </p> <p> @@ -7424,19 +7177,18 @@ deep feeling. The level rays of the sinking sun shone in her clear eyes. </p> <p> -“Why are you thinking of such things now, Alexandra?” +“Why are you thinking of such things now, Alexandra?” </p> <p> -“I had a dream before I went to Lincoln—But I will tell you about -that afterward, after we are married. It will never come true, now, in the way -I thought it might.” She took Carl’s arm and they walked toward the -gate. “How many times we have walked this path together, Carl. How many -times we will walk it again! Does it seem to you like coming back to your own -place? Do you feel at peace with the world here? I think we shall be very -happy. I haven’t any fears. I think when friends marry, they are safe. We -don’t suffer like—those young ones.” Alexandra ended with a -sigh. +“I had a dream before I went to Lincoln—But I will tell you about that +afterward, after we are married. It will never come true, now, in the way I +thought it might.” She took Carl’s arm and they walked toward the gate. “How +many times we have walked this path together, Carl. How many times we will walk +it again! Does it seem to you like coming back to your own place? Do you feel +at peace with the world here? I think we shall be very happy. I haven’t any +fears. I think when friends marry, they are safe. We don’t suffer like—those +young ones.” Alexandra ended with a sigh. </p> <p> @@ -7445,18 +7197,20 @@ kissed her softly, on her lips and on her eyes. </p> <p> -She leaned heavily on his shoulder. “I am tired,” she murmured. -“I have been very lonely, Carl.” +She leaned heavily on his shoulder. “I am tired,” she murmured. “I have been +very lonely, Carl.” </p> <p> They went into the house together, leaving the Divide behind them, under the evening star. Fortunate country, that is one day to receive hearts like -Alexandra’s into its bosom, to give them out again in the yellow wheat, -in the rustling corn, in the shining eyes of youth! +Alexandra’s into its bosom, to give them out again in the yellow wheat, in the +rustling corn, in the shining eyes of youth! </p> </div><!--end chapter--> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK O PIONEERS! ***</div> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 24 ***</div> +</body> +</html>
\ No newline at end of file |