English
“MadameHaupt,Hebamme,ranasign,swingingfromasecond-storywindowoverasaloonontheavenue;atasidedoorwasanothersign,withahandpointingupadingyflightofstairs.Jurgiswentupthem,threeatatime.
MadameHauptwasfryingporkandonions,andhadherdoorhalfopentoletoutthesmoke.
Whenhetriedtoknockuponit,itswungopentherestoftheway,andhehadaglimpseofher,withablackbottleturneduptoherlips.
Thenheknockedlouder,andshestartedandputitaway.
ShewasaDutchwoman,enormouslyfat—whenshewalkedsherolledlikeasmallboatontheocean,andthedishesinthecupboardjostledeachother.
Sheworeafilthybluewrapper,andherteethwereblack.
“Votisit?”shesaid,whenshesawJurgis.
Hehadrunlikemadallthewayandwassooutofbreathhecouldhardlyspeak.
Hishairwasflyingandhiseyeswild—helookedlikeamanthathadrisenfromthetomb.“Mywife!”hepanted.“Comequickly!”
MadameHauptsetthefryingpantoonesideandwipedherhandsonherwrapper.
“Youvantmetocomeforacase?”sheinquired.
“Yes,”gaspedJurgis.
“Ihafyustcomebackfromacase,”shesaid.“Ihafhadnotimetoeatmydinner.Still—ifitissobad—”
“Yes—itis!”criedhe.“Vell,den,perhaps—votyoupay?”
“I—I—howmuchdoyouwant?”Jurgisstammered.
“Tventy-fivedollars.”Hisfacefell.“Ican’tpaythat,”hesaid.
Thewomanwaswatchinghimnarrowly.“Howmuchdoyoupay?”shedemanded.
“MustIpaynow—rightaway?”
“Yes;allmycustomersdo.”
“I—Ihaven’tmuchmoney,”Jurgisbeganinanagonyofdread.“I’vebeenin—introuble—andmymoneyisgone.ButI’llpayyou—everycent—justassoonasIcan;Icanwork—”
“Votisyourwork?”
“Ihavenoplacenow.Imustgetone.ButI—”
“Howmuchhafyougotnow?”
Hecouldhardlybringhimselftoreply.Whenhesaid“Adollarandaquarter,”thewomanlaughedinhisface.
“Ivouldnotputonmyhatforadollarandaquarter,”shesaid.
“It’sallI’vegot,”hepleaded,hisvoicebreaking.“Imustgetsomeone—mywifewilldie.Ican’thelpit—I—”
MadameHaupthadputbackherporkandonionsonthestove.Sheturnedtohimandanswered,outofthesteamandnoise:“Gitmetendollarscash,undsoyoucanpaymetherestnextmont’.”
“Ican’tdoit—Ihaven’tgotit!”Jurgisprotested.“ItellyouIhaveonlyadollarandaquarter.”
Thewomanturnedtoherwork.“Idon’tbelieveyou,”shesaid.“Dotisalltotrytosheatme.Votisdereasonabigmanlikeyouhasgotonlyadollarundaquarter?”
“I’vejustbeeninjail,”Jurgiscried—hewasreadytogetdownuponhiskneestothewoman—”andIhadnomoneybefore,andmyfamilyhasalmoststarved.”
“Vereisyourfriends,dotoughttohelpyou?”
“Theyareallpoor,”heanswered.“Theygavemethis.IhavedoneeverythingIcan—”
“Haven’tyougotnottingyoucansell?”
“Ihavenothing,Itellyou—Ihavenothing,”hecried,frantically.
“Can’tyouborrowit,den?Don’tyourstorepeopletrustyou?”
Then,asheshookhishead,shewenton:“Listentome—ifyougitmeyouvillbegladofit.
Ivillsaveyourwifeundbabyforyou,anditvillnotseemlikemoochtoyouindeend.
Ifyouloosedemnowhowyoutinkyoufeelden?
Undhereisaladydotknowsherbusiness—Icouldsendyoutopeopleindisblock,unddeyvouldtellyou—”
MadameHauptwaspointinghercooking-forkatJurgispersuasively;butherwordsweremorethanhecouldbear.
Heflunguphishandswithagestureofdespairandturnedandstartedaway.
“It’snouse,”heexclaimed—butsuddenlyheheardthewoman’svoicebehindhimagain—
“Ivillmakeitfivedollarsforyou.”
Shefollowedbehindhim,arguingwithhim.
“Youvillbefoolishnottotakesuchanoffer,”shesaid.
“Youvon’tfindnobodygooutonarainydaylikedisforless.
Vy,Ihafnevertookacaseinmylifesosheapasdot.Icouldn’tpaymineroomrent—”
Jurgisinterruptedherwithanoathofrage.
“IfIhaven’tgotit,”heshouted,“howcanIpayit?
Damnit,IwouldpayyouifIcould,butItellyouIhaven’tgotit.Ihaven’tgotit!DoyouhearmeIhaven’tgotit!”
Heturnedandstartedawayagain.HewashalfwaydownthestairsbeforeMadameHauptcouldshouttohim:“Vait!Ivillgomityou!Comeback!”
Hewentbackintotheroomagain.
“Itisnotgoottotinkofanybodysuffering,”shesaid,inamelancholyvoice.“Imightasvellgomityoufornoffingasvotyouofferme,butIvilltrytohelpyou.Howfarisit?”
“Threeorfourblocksfromhere.”
“Treeorfour!UndsoIshallgetsoaked!
GottinHimmel,itoughttobevorthmore!
Vundollarundaquarter,undadaylikedis!
—Butyouunderstandnow—youvillpaymederestoftwenty-fivedollarssoon?”
“AssoonasIcan.”
“Sometimedismont’?”
“Yes,withinamonth,”saidpoorJurgis.“Anything!Hurryup!”
“Vereisdedollarundaquarter?”persistedMadameHaupt,relentlessly.
Jurgisputthemoneyonthetableandthewomancounteditandstoweditaway.
Thenshewipedhergreasyhandsagainandproceededtogetready,complainingallthetime;shewassofatthatitwaspainfulforhertomove,andshegruntedandgaspedateverystep.
ShetookoffherwrapperwithouteventakingthetroubletoturnherbacktoJurgis,andputonhercorsetsanddress.
Thentherewasablackbonnetwhichhadtobeadjustedcarefully,andanumbrellawhichwasmislaid,andabagfullofnecessarieswhichhadtobecollectedfromhereandthere—themanbeingnearlycrazywithanxietyinthemeantime.
Whentheywereonthestreethekeptaboutfourpacesaheadofher,turningnowandthen,asifhecouldhurryheronbytheforceofhisdesire.
ButMadameHauptcouldonlygosofaratastep,andittookallherattentiontogettheneededbreathforthat.
Theycameatlasttothehouse,andtothegroupoffrightenedwomeninthekitchen.
Itwasnotoveryet,Jurgislearned—heheardOnacryingstill;andmeantimeMadameHauptremovedherbonnetandlaiditonthemantelpiece,andgotoutofherbag,firstanolddressandthenasaucerofgoosegrease,whichsheproceededtorubuponherhands.
Themorecasesthisgoosegreaseisusedin,thebetterluckitbringstothemidwife,andsoshekeepsituponherkitchenmantelpieceorstowedawayinacupboardwithherdirtyclothes,formonths,andsometimesevenforyears.
Thentheyescortedhertotheladder,andJurgisheardhergiveanexclamationofdismay.
“GottinHimmel,votforhafyoubroughtmetoaplacelikedis?Icouldnotclimbupdotladder.Icouldnotgittrooatrapdoor!
Ivillnottryit—vy,Imightkillmyselfalready.
Votsortofaplaceisdotforawomantobearachildin—upinagarret,mitonlyaladdertoit?Yououghttobeashamedofyourselves!”
Jurgisstoodinthedoorwayandlistenedtoherscolding,halfdrowningoutthehorriblemoansandscreamsofOna.
AtlastAnielesucceededinpacifyingher,andsheessayedtheascent;then,however,shehadtobestoppedwhiletheoldwomancautionedheraboutthefloorofthegarret.
Theyhadnorealfloor—theyhadlaidoldboardsinoneparttomakeaplaceforthefamilytolive;itwasallrightandsafethere,buttheotherpartofthegarrethadonlythejoistsofthefloor,andthelathandplasteroftheceilingbelow,andifonesteppedonthistherewouldbeacatastrophe.
Asitwashalfdarkupabove,perhapsoneoftheothershadbestgoupfirstwithacandle.
Thenthereweremoreoutcriesandthreatening,untilatlastJurgishadavisionofapairofelephantinelegsdisappearingthroughthetrapdoor,andfeltthehouseshakeasMadameHauptstartedtowalk.
ThensuddenlyAnielecametohimandtookhimbythearm.
“Now,”shesaid,“yougoaway.DoasItellyou—youhavedoneallyoucan,andyouareonlyintheway.Goawayandstayaway.”
“ButwhereshallIgo?”Jurgisasked,helplessly.
“Idon’tknowwhere,”sheanswered.“Goonthestreet,ifthereisnootherplace—onlygo!Andstayallnight!”
IntheendsheandMarijapushedhimoutofthedoorandshutitbehindhim.
Itwasjustaboutsundown,anditwasturningcold—therainhadchangedtosnow,andtheslushwasfreezing.
Jurgisshiveredinhisthinclothing,andputhishandsintohispocketsandstartedaway.
Hehadnoteatensincemorning,andhefeltweakandill;withasuddenthrobofhopeherecollectedhewasonlyafewblocksfromthesaloonwherehehadbeenwonttoeathisdinner.
Theymighthavemercyonhimthere,orhemightmeetafriend.
Hesetoutfortheplaceasfastashecouldwalk.
“Hello,Jack,”saidthesaloonkeeper,whenheentered—theycallallforeignersandunskilledmen“Jack”inPackingtown.“Where’veyoubeen?”
Jurgiswentstraighttothebar.“I’vebeeninjail,”hesaid,“andI’vejustgotout.
Iwalkedhomealltheway,andI’venotacent,andhadnothingtoeatsincethismorning.
AndI’velostmyhome,andmywife’sill,andI’mdoneup.”
Thesaloonkeepergazedathim,withhishaggardwhitefaceandhisbluetremblinglips.Thenhepushedabigbottletowardhim.“Fillherup!”hesaid.
Jurgiscouldhardlyholdthebottle,hishandsshookso.
“Don’tbeafraid,”saidthesaloonkeeper,“fillherup!”
SoJurgisdrankalargeglassofwhisky,andthenturnedtothelunchcounter,inobediencetotheother’ssuggestion.
Heateallhedared,stuffingitinasfastashecould;andthen,aftertryingtospeakhisgratitude,hewentandsatdownbythebigredstoveinthemiddleoftheroom.
Itwastoogoodtolast,however—likeallthingsinthishardworld.
Hissoakedclothingbegantosteam,andthehorriblestenchoffertilizertofilltheroom.
Inanhourorsothepackinghouseswouldbeclosingandthemencominginfromtheirwork;andtheywouldnotcomeintoaplacethatsmeltofJurgis.
AlsoitwasSaturdaynight,andinacoupleofhourswouldcomeaviolinandacornet,andintherearpartofthesaloonthefamiliesoftheneighborhoodwoulddanceandfeastuponwienerwurstandlager,untiltwoorthreeo’clockinthemorning.
Thesaloon-keepercoughedonceortwice,andthenremarked,“Say,Jack,I’mafraidyou’llhavetoquit.”
Hewasusedtothesightofhumanwrecks,thissaloonkeeper;he“fired”dozensofthemeverynight,justashaggardandcoldandforlornasthisone.
Buttheywereallmenwhohadgivenupandbeencountedout,whileJurgiswasstillinthefight,andhadremindersofdecencyabouthim.
Ashegotupmeekly,theotherreflectedthathehadalwaysbeenasteadyman,andmightsoonbeagoodcustomeragain.
“You’vebeenupagainstit,Isee,”hesaid.“Comethisway.”
Intherearofthesaloonwerethecellarstairs.
Therewasadooraboveandanotherbelow,bothsafelypadlocked,makingthestairsanadmirableplacetostowawayacustomerwhomightstillchancetohavemoney,orapoliticallightwhomitwasnotadvisabletokickoutofdoors.
SoJurgisspentthenight.Thewhiskyhadonlyhalfwarmedhim,andhecouldnotsleep,exhaustedashewas;hewouldnodforward,andthenstartup,shiveringwiththecold,andbegintorememberagain.
Hourafterhourpassed,untilhecouldonlypersuadehimselfthatitwasnotmorningbythesoundsofmusicandlaughterandsingingthatweretobeheardfromtheroom.
Whenatlasttheseceased,heexpectedthathewouldbeturnedoutintothestreet;asthisdidnothappen,hefelltowonderingwhetherthemanhadforgottenhim.
Intheend,whenthesilenceandsuspensewerenolongertobeborne,hegotupandhammeredonthedoor;andtheproprietorcame,yawningandrubbinghiseyes.
Hewaskeepingopenallnight,anddozingbetweencustomers.
“Iwanttogohome,”Jurgissaid.“I’mworriedaboutmywife—Ican’twaitanylonger.”
“Whythehelldidn’tyousaysobefore?”saidtheman.
“Ithoughtyoudidn’thaveanyhometogoto.”Jurgiswentoutside.
Itwasfouro’clockinthemorning,andasblackasnight.
Therewerethreeorfourinchesoffreshsnowontheground,andtheflakeswerefallingthickandfast.
HeturnedtowardAniele’sandstartedatarun.
Therewasalightburninginthekitchenwindowandtheblindsweredrawn.ThedoorwasunlockedandJurgisrushedin.
Aniele,Marija,andtherestofthewomenwerehuddledaboutthestove,exactlyasbefore;withthemwereseveralnewcomers,Jurgisnoticed—alsohenoticedthatthehousewassilent.
“Well?”hesaid.
Nooneansweredhim,theysatstaringathimwiththeirpalefaces.Hecriedagain:“Well?”
Andthen,bythelightofthesmokylamp,hesawMarijawhosatnearesthim,shakingherheadslowly.“Notyet,”shesaid.
AndJurgisgaveacryofdismay.“Notyet?”
AgainMarija’sheadshook.Thepoorfellowstooddumfounded.“Idon’thearher,”hegasped.
“She’sbeenquietalongtime,”repliedtheother.
Therewasanotherpause—brokensuddenlybyavoicefromtheattic:“Hello,there!”
Severalofthewomenranintothenextroom,whileMarijasprangtowardJurgis.“Waithere!”
shecried,andthetwostood,paleandtrembling,listening.
InafewmomentsitbecameclearthatMadameHauptwasengagedindescendingtheladder,scoldingandexhortingagain,whiletheladdercreakedinprotest.
Inamomentortwoshereachedtheground,angryandbreathless,andtheyheardhercomingintotheroom.
Jurgisgaveoneglanceather,andthenturnedwhiteandreeled.
Shehadherjacketoff,likeoneoftheworkersonthekillingbeds.
Herhandsandarmsweresmearedwithblood,andbloodwassplasheduponherclothingandherface.
Shestoodbreathinghard,andgazingabouther;noonemadeasound.“Ihafdonemybest,”shebegansuddenly.“Icandonoffingmore—dereisnousetotry.”
Againtherewassilence.
“Itain’tmyfault,”shesaid.“Youhadoughttohafhadadoctor,undnotvaitedsolong—itvastoolatealreadyvenIcome.”
Oncemoretherewasdeathlikestillness.
MarijawasclutchingJurgiswithallthepowerofheronewellarm.
ThensuddenlyMadameHauptturnedtoAniele.“Youhafnotgotsomethingtodrink,hey?”shequeried.“Somebrandy?”
Anieleshookherhead.
“HerrGott!”exclaimedMadameHaupt.“Suchpeople!
Perhapsyouvillgivemesometingtoeatden—Ihafhadnoffingsinceyesterdaymorning,undIhafvorkedmyselfneartodeathhere.
IfIcouldhafknownitvaslikedis,Ivouldneverhafcomeforsuchmoneyasyougifme.”
Atthismomentshechancedtolookround,andsawJurgis:Sheshookherfingerathim.
“Youunderstandme,”shesaid,“youpaysmedotmoneyyustdesame!
ItisnotmyfaultdatyousendformesolateIcan’thelpyourvife.
Itisnotmyfaultifderbabycomesmitonearmfirst,sodotIcan’tsaveit.
Ihaftriedallnight,undindotplacevereitisnotfitfordogstobeborn,undmitnottingtoeatonlyvotIbringsinmineownpockets.”
HereMadameHauptpausedforamomenttogetherbreath;andMarija,seeingthebeadsofsweatonJurgis’sforehead,andfeelingthequiveringofhisframe,brokeoutinalowvoice:“HowisOna?”
“Howisshe?”echoedMadameHaupt.
“Howdoyoutinkshecanbevenyouleavehertokillherselfso?
Itolddemdotventheysendfordepriest.
Sheisyoung,undshemighthafgotoverit,undbeenvellundstrong,ifshehadbeentreatedright.
Shefighthard,dotgirl—sheisnotyetquitedead.”
AndJurgisgaveafranticscream.“Dead!”
“Shevilldie,ofcourse,”saidtheotherangrily.“Derbabyisdeadnow.”
Thegarretwaslightedbyacandlestuckuponaboard;ithadalmostburneditselfout,andwassputteringandsmokingasJurgisrusheduptheladder.
Hecouldmakeoutdimlyinonecornerapalletofragsandoldblankets,spreaduponthefloor;atthefootofitwasacrucifix,andnearitapriestmutteringaprayer.
InafarcornercrouchedElzbieta,moaningandwailing.UponthepalletlayOna.
Shewascoveredwithablanket,buthecouldseehershouldersandonearmlyingbare;shewassoshrunkenhewouldscarcelyhaveknownher—shewasallbutaskeleton,andaswhiteasapieceofchalk.
Hereyelidswereclosed,andshelaystillasdeath.
Hestaggeredtowardherandfelluponhiskneeswithacryofanguish:“Ona!Ona!”
Shedidnotstir.Hecaughtherhandinhis,andbegantoclaspitfrantically,calling:“Lookatme!Answerme!ItisJurgiscomeback—don’tyouhearme?”
Therewasthefaintestquiveringoftheeyelids,andhecalledagaininfrenzy:“Ona!Ona!”
Thensuddenlyhereyesopenedoneinstant.
Oneinstantshelookedathim—therewasaflashofrecognitionbetweenthem,hesawherafaroff,asthroughadimvista,standingforlorn.
Hestretchedouthisarmstoher,hecalledherinwilddespair;afearfulyearningsurgedupinhim,hungerforherthatwasagony,desirethatwasanewbeingbornwithinhim,tearinghisheartstrings,torturinghim.
Butitwasallinvain—shefadedfromhim,sheslippedbackandwasgone.
Andawailofanguishburstfromhim,greatsobsshookallhisframe,andhottearsrandownhischeeksandfelluponher.
Heclutchedherhands,heshookher,hecaughtherinhisarmsandpressedhertohimbutshelaycoldandstill—shewasgone—shewasgone!
Thewordrangthroughhimlikethesoundofabell,echoinginthefardepthsofhim,makingforgottenchordstovibrate,oldshadowyfearstostir—fearsofthedark,fearsofthevoid,fearsofannihilation.Shewasdead!Shewasdead!
Hewouldneverseeheragain,neverhearheragain!
Anicyhorroroflonelinessseizedhim;hesawhimselfstandingapartandwatchingalltheworldfadeawayfromhim—aworldofshadows,offickledreams.
Hewaslikealittlechild,inhisfrightandgrief;hecalledandcalled,andgotnoanswer,andhiscriesofdespairechoedthroughthehouse,makingthewomendownstairsdrawnearertoeachotherinfear.
Hewasinconsolable,besidehimself—thepriestcameandlaidhishanduponhisshoulderandwhisperedtohim,butheheardnotasound.
Hewasgoneawayhimself,stumblingthroughtheshadows,andgropingafterthesoulthathadfled.
Sohelay.Thegraydawncameupandcreptintotheattic.
Thepriestleft,thewomenleft,andhewasalonewiththestill,whitefigure—quieternow,butmoaningandshuddering,wrestlingwiththegrislyfiend.
Nowandthenhewouldraisehimselfandstareatthewhitemaskbeforehim,thenhidehiseyesbecausehecouldnotbearit.Dead!dead!
Andshewasonlyagirl,shewasbarelyeighteen!
Herlifehadhardlybegun—andhereshelaymurdered—mangled,torturedtodeath!
Itwasmorningwhenheroseupandcamedownintothekitchen—haggardandashengray,reelinganddazed.
Moreoftheneighborshadcomein,andtheystaredathiminsilenceashesankdownuponachairbythetableandburiedhisfaceinhisarms.
Afewminuteslaterthefrontdooropened;ablastofcoldandsnowrushedin,andbehinditlittleKotrina,breathlessfromrunning,andbluewiththecold.“I’mhomeagain!”sheexclaimed.“Icouldhardly—”
Andthen,seeingJurgis,shestoppedwithanexclamation.Lookingfromonetoanothershesawthatsomethinghadhappened,andsheasked,inalowervoice:“What’sthematter?”
Beforeanyonecouldreply,Jurgisstartedup;hewenttowardher,walkingunsteadily.“Wherehaveyoubeen?”hedemanded.
“Sellingpaperswiththeboys,”shesaid.“Thesnow—”
“Haveyouanymoney?”hedemanded.
“Yes.”
“Howmuch?”
“Nearlythreedollars,Jurgis.”
“Giveittome.”
Kotrina,frightenedbyhismanner,glancedattheothers.“Giveittome!”
hecommandedagain,andsheputherhandintoherpocketandpulledoutalumpofcoinstiedinabitofrag.
Jurgistookitwithoutaword,andwentoutofthedooranddownthestreet.
Threedoorsawaywasasaloon.“Whisky,”hesaid,asheentered,andasthemanpushedhimsome,hetoreattheragwithhisteethandpulledouthalfadollar.“Howmuchisthebottle?”hesaid.“Iwanttogetdrunk.”
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