English
I
Thehousewashaunted,longbeforeevening.Shadowsslippeddownthewallsandwaitedbehindeverychair.
Didthatdoormove?
No.Shewouldn'tgototheJollySeventeen.
Shehadn'tenergyenoughtocaperbeforethem,tosmileblandlyatJuanita'srudeness.Nottoday.Butshedidwantaparty.Now!
Ifsomeonewouldcomeinthisafternoon,someonewholikedher—VidaorMrs.SamClarkoroldMrs.ChampPerryorgentleMrs.Dr.Westlake.OrGuyPollock!She'dtelephone—
No.Thatwouldn'tbeit.Theymustcomeofthemselves.
Perhapstheywould.
Whynot?
She'dhaveteaready,anyway.Iftheycame—splendid.Ifnot—whatdidshecare?
Shewasn'tgoingtoyieldtothevillageandletdown;shewasgoingtokeepupabeliefintheriteoftea,towhichshehadalwayslookedforwardasthesymbolofaleisurelyfineexistence.
Anditwouldbejustasmuchfun,evenifitwassobabyish,tohaveteabyherselfandpretendthatshewasentertainingclevermen.Itwould!
Sheturnedtheshiningthoughtintoaction.
Shebustledtothekitchen,stokedthewood–range,sangSchumannwhilesheboiledthekettle,warmedupraisincookiesonanewspaperspreadontherackintheoven.
Shescamperedup–stairstobringdownherfilmiesttea–cloth.Shearrangedasilvertray.
Sheproudlycarrieditintotheliving–roomandsetitonthelongcherrywoodtable,pushingasideahoopofembroidery,avolumeofConradfromthelibrary,copiesoftheSaturdayEveningPost,theLiteraryDigest,andKennicott'sNationalGeographicMagazine.
Shemovedthetraybackandforthandregardedtheeffect.Sheshookherhead.
Shebusilyunfoldedthesewing–tablesetitinthebay–window,pattedthetea–clothtosmoothness,movedthetray.
"SometimeI'llhaveamahoganytea–table,"shesaidhappily.
Shehadbroughtintwocups,twoplates.Forherself,astraightchair,butfortheguestthebigwing–chair,whichshepantinglytuggedtothetable.
Shehadfinishedallthepreparationsshecouldthinkof.Shesatandwaited.Shelistenedforthedoor–bell,thetelephone.Hereagernesswasstilled.Herhandsdrooped.
SurelyVidaSherwinwouldhearthesummons.
Sheglancedthroughthebay–window.SnowwassiftingovertheridgeoftheHowlandhouselikespraysofwaterfromahose.
Thewideyardsacrossthestreetweregraywithmovingeddies.Theblacktreesshivered.
Theroadwaywasgashedwithrutsofice.
Shelookedattheextracupandplate.Shelookedatthewing–chair.Itwassoempty.
Theteawascoldinthepot.Withwearilydippingfingertipshetestedit.Yes.Quitecold.Shecouldn'twaitanylonger.
Thecupacrossfromherwasicilyclean,glisteninglyempty.
Simplyabsurdtowait.Shepouredherowncupoftea.Shesatandstaredatit.Whatwasitshewasgoingtodonow?Ohyes;howidiotic;takealumpofsugar.
Shedidn'twantthebeastlytea.
Shewasspringingup.Shewasonthecouch,sobbing.
II
Shewasthinkingmoresharplythanshehadforweeks.
Sherevertedtoherresolutiontochangethetown—awakenit,prodit,"reform"it.
Whatiftheywerewolvesinsteadoflambs?
They'deatherallthesoonerifshewasmeektothem.Fightorbeeaten.
Itwaseasiertochangethetowncompletelythantoconciliateit!
Shecouldnottaketheirpointofview;itwasanegativething;anintellectualsqualor;aswampofprejudicesandfears.Shewouldhavetomakethemtakehers.
ShewasnotaVincentdePaul,togovernandmoldapeople.Whatofthat?
Thetiniestchangeintheirdistrustofbeautywouldbethebeginningoftheend;aseedtosproutandsomedaywiththickeningrootstocracktheirwallofmediocrity.
Ifshecouldnot,asshedesired,doagreatthingnoblyandwithlaughter,yetsheneednotbecontentwithvillagenothingness.
Shewouldplantoneseedintheblankwall.
Wasshejust?Wasitmerelyablankwall,thistownwhichtothreethousandandmorepeoplewasthecenteroftheuniverse?
Hadn'tshe,returningfromLac–qui–Meurt,felttheheartinessoftheirgreetings?No.
ThetenthousandGopherPrairieshadnomonopolyofgreetingsandfriendlyhands.
SamClarkwasnomoreloyalthangirllibrarianssheknewinSt.Paul,thepeopleshehadmetinChicago.
AndthoseothershadsomuchthatGopherPrairiecomplacentlylacked—theworldofgaietyandadventure,ofmusicandtheintegrityofbronze,ofrememberedmistsfromtropicislesandParisnightsandthewallsofBagdad,ofindustrialjusticeandaGodwhospakenotindoggerelhymns.
Oneseed.Whichseeditwasdidnotmatter.Allknowledgeandfreedomwereone.
Butshehaddelayedsolonginfindingthatseed.
CouldshedosomethingwiththisThanatopsisClub?
Orshouldshemakeherhousesocharmingthatitwouldbeaninfluence?She'dmakeKennicottlikepoetry.Thatwasit,forabeginning!
Sheconceivedsoclearapictureoftheirbendingoverlargefairpagesbythefire(inanon–existentfireplace)thatthespectralpresencesslippedaway.
Doorsnolongermoved;curtainswerenotcreepingshadowsbutlovelydarkmassesinthedusk;andwhenBeacamehomeCarolwassingingatthepianowhichshehadnottouchedformanydays.
Theirsupperwasthefeastoftwogirls.
Carolwasinthedining–room,inafrockofblacksatinedgedwithgold,andBea,inblueginghamandanapron,dinedinthekitchen;butthedoorwasopenbetween,andCarolwasinquiring,"DidyouseeanyducksinDahl'swindow?"andBeachanting,"No,ma'am.
Say,vehaveasvelltime,disafternoon.
Tinashehavecoffeeandknackebrod,andherfellavosdere,andveyoostlaughedandlaughed,andherfellasayhevospresidentandhegoingtomakemequeenofFinland,andAystickafedderinmayhairandsayAybanegoingtogotovar—oh,vevossofoolishandveLAUGHso!"
WhenCarolsatatthepianoagainshedidnotthinkofherhusbandbutofthebook–druggedhermit,GuyPollock.ShewishedthatPollockwouldcomecalling.
"Ifagirlreallykissedhim,he'dcreepoutofhisdenandbehuman.
IfWillwereasliterateasGuy,orGuywereasexecutiveasWill,IthinkIcouldendureevenGopherPrairie.It'ssohardtomotherWill.IcouldbematernalwithGuy.
IsthatwhatIwant,somethingtomother,amanorababyoratown?IWILLhaveababy.Someday.
Buttohavehimisolatedhereallhisreceptiveyears—
"Andsotobed.
"HaveIfoundmyreallevelinBeaandkitchen–gossip?
"Oh,Idomissyou,Will.ButitwillbepleasanttoturnoverinbedasoftenasIwantto,withoutworryingaboutwakingyouup.
"AmIreallythissettledthingcalleda'marriedwoman'?Ifeelsounmarriedtonight.Sofree.
TothinkthattherewasonceaMrs.KennicottwholetherselfworryoveratowncalledGopherPrairiewhentherewasawholeworldoutsideit!
"OfcourseWillisgoingtolikepoetry."
III
AblackFebruaryday.Cloudshewnofponderoustimberweighingdownontheearth;anirresolutedroppingofsnowspecksuponthetrampledwastes.Gloombutnoveilingofangularity.
Thelinesofroofsandsidewalkssharpandinescapable.
TheseconddayofKennicott'sabsence.
Shefledfromthecreepyhouseforawalk.
Itwasthirtybelowzero;toocoldtoexhilarateher.
Inthespacesbetweenhousesthewindcaughther.
Itstung,itgnawedatnoseandearsandachingcheeks,andshehastenedfromsheltertoshelter,catchingherbreathintheleeofabarn,gratefulfortheprotectionofabillboardcoveredwithraggedpostersshowinglayerunderlayerofpaste–smearedgreenandstreakyred.
ThegroveofoaksattheendofthestreetsuggestedIndians,hunting,snow–shoes,andshestruggledpasttheearth–bankedcottagestotheopencountry,toafarmandalowhillcorrugatedwithhardsnow.
Inherloosenutriacoat,sealtoque,virginalcheeksunmarkedbylinesofvillagejealousies,shewasasoutofplaceonthisdrearyhillsideasascarlettanageronanice–floe.ShelookeddownonGopherPrairie.
Thesnow,stretchingwithoutbreakfromstreetstodevouringprairiebeyond,wipedoutthetown'spretenseofbeingashelter.
Thehouseswereblackspecksonawhitesheet.
Herheartshiveredwiththatstilllonelinessasherbodyshiveredwiththewind.
Sheranbackintothehuddleofstreets,allthewhileprotestingthatshewantedacity'syellowglareofshop–windowsandrestaurants,ortheprimitiveforestwithhoodedfursandarifle,orabarnyardwarmandsteamy,noisywithhensandcattle,certainlynotthesedunhouses,theseyardschokedwithwinterash–piles,theseroadsofdirtysnowandclottedfrozenmud.Thezestofwinterwasgone.
Threemonthsmore,tillMay,thecoldmightdragon,withthesnoweverfilthier,theweakenedbodylessresistent.
Shewonderedwhythegoodcitizensinsistedonaddingthechillofprejudice,whytheydidnotmakethehousesoftheirspiritsmorewarmandfrivolous,likethewisechatterersofStockholmandMoscow.
Shecircledtheoutskirtsofthetownandviewedtheslumof"SwedeHollow."
Whereverasmanyasthreehousesaregatheredtherewillbeaslumofatleastonehouse.
InGopherPrairie,theSamClarksboasted,"youdon'tgetanyofthispovertythatyoufindincities—alwaysplentyofwork—noneedofcharity—mangottobeblameshiftlessifhedon'tgetahead."
Butnowthatthesummermaskofleavesandgrasswasgone,Caroldiscoveredmiseryanddeadhope.
Inashackofthinboardscoveredwithtar–papershesawthewasherwoman,Mrs.Steinhof,workingingraysteam.
Outside,hersix–year–oldboychoppedwood.
Hehadatornjacket,mufflerofabluelikeskimmedmilk.
Hishandswerecoveredwithredmittensthroughwhichprotrudedhischappedrawknuckles.
Hehaltedtoblowonthem,tocrydisinterestedly.
AfamilyofrecentlyarrivedFinnswerecampedinanabandonedstable.Amanofeightywaspickinguplumpsofcoalalongtherailroad.
Shedidnotknowwhattodoaboutit.Shefeltthattheseindependentcitizens,whohadbeentaughtthattheybelongedtoademocracy,wouldresenthertryingtoplayLadyBountiful.
Shelostherlonelinessintheactivityofthevillageindustries—therailroad–yardswithafreight–trainswitching,thewheat–elevator,oil–tanks,aslaughter–housewithblood–marksonthesnow,thecreamerywiththesledsoffarmersandpilesofmilk–cans,anunexplainedstonehutlabeled"Danger—PowderStoredHere."
Thejollytombstone–yard,whereautilitariansculptorinaredcalfskinovercoatwhistledashehammeredtheshiniestofgraniteheadstones.
JacksonElder'ssmallplaning–mill,withthesmelloffreshpineshavingsandtheburrofcircularsaws.
Mostimportant,theGopherPrairieFlourandMillingCompany,LymanCasspresident.
Itswindowswereblanketedwithflour–dust,butitwasthemoststirringspotintown.
Workmenwerewheelingbarrelsofflourintoabox–car;afarmersittingonsacksofwheatinabobsledarguedwiththewheat–buyer;machinerywithinthemillboomedandwhined,watergurgledintheice–freedmill–race.
TheclatterwasarelieftoCarolaftermonthsofsmughouses.Shewishedthatshecouldworkinthemill;thatshedidnotbelongtothecasteofprofessional–man's–wife.
Shestartedforhome,throughthesmallslum.
Beforeatar–papershack,atagatelessgate,amaninroughbrowndogskincoatandblackplushcapwithlappetswaswatchingher.
Hissquarefacewasconfident,hisfoxymustachewaspicaresque.
Hestooderect,hishandsinhisside–pockets,hispipepuffingslowly.Hewasforty–fiveor–six,perhaps.
"Howdo,Mrs.Kennicott,"hedrawled.
Sherecalledhim—thetownhandyman,whohadrepairedtheirfurnaceatthebeginningofwinter.
"Oh,howdoyoudo,"shefluttered.
"Myname'sBjornstam.'TheRedSwede'theycallme.Remember?AlwaysthoughtI'dkindofliketosayhowdytoyouagain."
"Ye—yes—I'vebeenexploringtheoutskirtsoftown."
"Yump.Finemess.
Nosewage,nostreetcleaning,andtheLutheranministerandthepriestrepresenttheartsandsciences.
Well,thunder,wesubmergedtenthdownhereinSwedeHollowarenoworseoffthanyoufolks.
ThankGod,wedon'thavetogoandpurratJuanityHaydockattheJollyOldSeventeen."
TheCarolwhoregardedherselfascompletelyadaptablewasuncomfortableatbeingchosenascomradebyapipe–reekingodd–jobman.
Probablyhewasoneofherhusband'spatients.Butshemustkeepherdignity.
"Yes,eventheJollySeventeenisn'talwayssoexciting.It'sverycoldagaintoday,isn'tit.Well—"
Bjornstamwasnotrespectfullyvaledictory.Heshowednosignsofpullingaforelock.Hiseyebrowsmovedasthoughtheyhadalifeoftheirown.Withasubgrinhewenton:
"MaybeIhadn'toughttotalkaboutMrs.HaydockandherSolemcholySeventeeninthatfreshway.
IsupposeI'dbetickledtodeathifIwasinvitedtositinwiththatgang.I'mwhattheycallapariah,Iguess.
I'mthetownbadman,Mrs.Kennicott:townatheist,andIsupposeImustbeananarchist,too.
Everybodywhodoesn'tlovethebankersandtheGrandOldRepublicanPartyisananarchist."
Carolhadunconsciouslyslippedfromherattitudeofdepartureintoanattitudeoflistening,herfacefulltowardhim,hermufflowered.Shefumbled:
"Yes,Isupposeso."Herowngrudgescameinaflood."Idon'tseewhyyoushouldn'tcriticizetheJollySeventeenifyouwantto.Theyaren'tsacred."
"Ohyes,theyare!Thedollar–signhaschasedthecrucifixcleanoffthemap.Butthen,I'vegotnokick.IdowhatIplease,andIsupposeIoughttoletthemdothesame."
"Whatdoyoumeanbysayingyou'reapariah?"
"I'mpoor,andyetIdon'tdecentlyenvytherich.I'manoldbach.
Imakeenoughmoneyforastake,andthenIsitaroundbymyself,andshakehandswithmyself,andhaveasmoke,andreadhistory,andIdon'tcontributetothewealthofBrotherElderorDaddyCass."
"You—Ifancyyoureadagooddeal."
"Yep.Inahit–or–a–missway.I'lltellyou:I'malonewolf.
Itradehorses,andsawwood,andworkinlumber–camps—I'mafirst–rateswamper.AlwayswishedIcouldgotocollege.
ThoughIs'poseI'dfinditprettyslow,andthey'dprobablykickmeout."
"Youreallyareacuriousperson,Mr.—"
"Bjornstam.MilesBjornstam.HalfYankandhalfSwede.
Usuallyknownas'thatdamnlazybig–mouthedcalamity–howlerthatain'tsatisfiedwiththewaywerunthings.'
No,Iain'tcurious—whateveryoumeanbythat!I'mjustabookworm.
ProbablytoomuchreadingfortheamountofdigestionI'vegot.Probablyhalf–baked.
I'mgoingtogetin'half–baked'first,andbeatyoutoit,becauseit'sdeadsuretobehandedtoaradicalthatwearsjeans!"
Theygrinnedtogether.Shedemanded:
"YousaythattheJollySeventeenisstupid.Whatmakesyouthinkso?"
"Oh,trustusborersintothefoundationtoknowaboutyourleisureclass.
Fact,Mrs.Kennicott,I'llsaythatfarasIcanmakeout,theonlypeopleinthisman'stownthatdohaveanybrains—Idon'tmeanledger–keepingbrainsorduck–huntingbrainsorbaby–spankingbrains,butrealimaginativebrains—areyouandmeandGuyPollockandtheforemanattheflour–mill.He'sasocialist,theforeman.(Don'ttellLymCassthat!
Lymwouldfireasocialistquickerthanhewouldahorse–thief!)"
"Indeedno,Isha'n'ttellhim."
"ThisforemanandIhavesomegreatset–to's.He'saregularold–lineparty–member.Toodogmatic.
Expectstoreformeverythingfromdeforestrationtonosebleedbysayingphraseslike'surplusvalue.'Likereadingtheprayer–book.
Butsametime,he'saPlatoJ.AristotlecomparedwithpeoplelikeEzryStowbodyorProfessorMottorJuliusFlickerbaugh."
"It'sinterestingtohearabouthim."
Hedughistoeintoadrift,likeaschoolboy."Rats.YoumeanItalktoomuch.Well,Ido,whenIgetholdofsomebodylikeyou.Youprobablywanttorunalongandkeepyournosefromfreezing."
"Yes,Imustgo,Isuppose.Buttellme:WhydidyouleaveMissSherwin,ofthehighschool,outofyourlistofthetownintelligentsia?"
"Iguessmaybeshedoesbelonginit.FromallIcanhearshe'sineverythingandbehindeverythingthatlookslikeareform—lotmorethanmostfolksrealize.
SheletsMrs.ReverendWarren,thepresidentofthis–hereThanatopsisClub,thinkshe'srunningtheworks,butMissSherwinisthesecretboss,andnagsalltheeasy–goingdamesintodoingsomething.
ButwayIfigureitout—Yousee,I'mnotinterestedinthesedinkyreforms.
MissSherwin'stryingtorepairtheholesinthisbarnacle–coveredshipofatownbykeepingbusybailingoutthewater.
AndPollocktriestorepairitbyreadingpoetrytothecrew!
Me,Iwanttoyankitupontheways,andfirethepoorbumofashoemakerthatbuiltitsoitsailscrooked,andhaveitrebuiltright,fromthekeelup."
"Yes—that—thatwouldbebetter.ButImustrunhome.Mypoornoseisnearlyfrozen."
"Say,youbettercomeinandgetwarm,andseewhatanoldbach'sshackislike."
Shelookeddoubtfullyathim,atthelowshanty,theyardthatwaslitteredwithcord–wood,moldyplanks,ahooplesswash–tub.
Shewasdisquieted,butBjornstamdidnotgivehertheopportunitytobedelicate.
Heflungouthishandinawelcominggesturewhichassumedthatshewasherowncounselor,thatshewasnotaRespectableMarriedWomanbutfullyahumanbeing.
Withashaky,"Well,justamoment,towarmmynose,"sheglanceddownthestreettomakesurethatshewasnotspiedon,andboltedtowardtheshanty.
Sheremainedforonehour,andneverhadsheknownamoreconsideratehostthantheRedSwede.
Hehadbutoneroom:barepinefloor,smallwork–bench,wallbunkwithamazinglyneatbed,frying–panandash–stippledcoffee–potontheshelfbehindthepot–belliedcannon–ballstove,backwoodschairs—oneconstructedfromhalfabarrel,onefromatiltedplank—andarowofbooksincrediblyassorted;ByronandTennysonandStevenson,amanualofgas–engines,abookbyThorsteinVeblen,andaspottytreatiseon"TheCare,Feeding,Diseases,andBreedingofPoultryandCattle."
Therewasbutonepicture—amagazinecolor–plateofasteep–roofedvillageintheHarzMountainswhichsuggestedkoboldsandmaidenswithgoldenhair.
Bjornstamdidnotfussoverher.Hesuggested,"Mightthrowopenyourcoatandputyourfeetupontheboxinfrontofthestove."
Hetossedhisdogskincoatintothebunk,loweredhimselfintothebarrelchair,anddronedon:
"Yeh,I'mprobablyayahoo,butbygumIdokeepmyindependencebydoingoddjobs,andthat'smore'nthesepolitecussesliketheclerksinthebanksdo.
WhenI'mrudetosomeslob,itmaybepartlybecauseIdon'tknowbetter(andGodknowsI'mnotnoauthorityontrickforksandwhatpantsyouwearwithaPrinceAlbert),butmostlyit'sbecauseImeansomething.
I'mabouttheonlymaninJohnsonCountythatremembersthejokerintheDeclarationofIndependenceaboutAmericansbeingsupposedtohavetherightto'life,liberty,andthepursuitofhappiness.'
"ImeetoldEzraStowbodyonthestreet.Helooksatmelikehewantsmetorememberhe'sahighmuckamuckandworthtwohundredthousanddollars,andhesays,'Uh,Bjornquist—'
"'Bjornstam'smyname,Ezra,'Isays.HEknowsmyname,allrightee.
"'Well,whateveryournameis,'hesays,'Iunderstandyouhaveagasolinesaw.Iwantyoutocomearoundandsawupfourcordsofmapleforme,'hesays.
"'Soyoulikemylooks,eh?'Isays,kindofinnocent.
"'Whatdifferencedoesthatmake?WantyoutosawthatwoodbeforeSaturday,'hesays,realsharp.
Commonworkmangoingandgettingfreshwithafifthofamilliondollarsallwalkingaroundinahand–me–downfurcoat!
"'Here'sthedifferenceitmakes,'Isays,justtodevilhim.'HowdoyouknowIlikeYOURlooks?'Maybehedidn'tlooksore!
'Nope,'Isays,thinkingitallover,'Idon'tlikeyourapplicationforaloan.
Takeittoanotherbank,onlythereain'tany,'Isays,andIwalksoffonhim.
"Sure.ProbablyIwassurly—andfoolish.ButIfiguredtherehadtobeONEmanintownindependentenoughtosassthebanker!"
Hehitchedoutofhischair,madecoffee,gaveCarolacup,andtalkedon,halfdefiantandhalfapologetic,halfwistfulforfriendlinessandhalfamusedbyhersurpriseatthediscoverythattherewasaproletarianphilosophy.
Atthedoor,shehinted:
"Mr.Bjornstam,ifyouwereI,wouldyouworrywhenpeoplethoughtyouwereaffected?"
"Huh?Kick'emintheface!Say,ifIwereasea–gull,andalloversilver,thinkI'dcarewhatapackofdirtysealsthoughtaboutmyflying?"
Itwasnotthewindatherback,itwasthethrustofBjornstam'sscornwhichcarriedherthroughtown.
ShefacedJuanitaHaydock,cockedherheadatMaudDyer'sbriefnod,andcamehometoBearadiant.
ShetelephonedVidaSherwinto"runoverthisevening."
ShelustilyplayedTschaikowsky—thevirilechordsanechooftheredlaughingphilosopherofthetar–papershack.
(WhenshehintedtoVida,"Isn'tthereamanherewhoamuseshimselfbybeingirreverenttothevillagegods—Bjornstam,somesuchaname?"thereform–leadersaid"Bjornstam?Ohyes.Fixesthings.He'sawfullyimpertinent.")
IV
Kennicotthadreturnedatmidnight.Atbreakfasthesaidfourseveraltimesthathehadmissedhereverymoment.
OnherwaytomarketSamClarkhailedher,"Thetopo'themornin'toyez!
GoingtostopandpassthetimeofdaymitSam'l?Warmer,eh?
What'dthedoc'sthermometersayitwas?
Say,youfolksbettercomeroundandvisitwithus,oneoftheseevenings.
Don'tbesodog–goneproud,stayingbyyourselves."
ChampPerrythepioneer,wheat–buyerattheelevator,stoppedherinthepost–office,heldherhandinhiswitheredpaws,peeredatherwithfadedeyes,andchuckled,"Youaresofreshandblooming,mydear.
Motherwassayingt'otherdaythatasightofyouwasbetter'nadoseofmedicine."
IntheBonTonStoreshefoundGuyPollocktentativelybuyingamodestgrayscarf.
"Wehaven'tseenyouforsolong,"shesaid.
"Wouldn'tyouliketocomeinandplaycribbage,someevening?"
Asthoughhemeantit,Pollockbegged,"MayI,really?"
WhileshewaspurchasingtwoyardsofmalinesthevocalRaymieWutherspoontiptoeduptoher,hislongsallowfacebobbing,andhebesought,"You'vejustgottocomebacktomydepartmentandseeapairofpatentleatherslippersIsetasideforyou."
Inamannerofmorethansacerdotalreverenceheunlacedherboots,tuckedherskirtaboutherankles,slidontheslippers.Shetookthem.
"You'reagoodsalesman,"shesaid.
"I'mnotasalesmanatall!Ijustlikeelegantthings.Allthisissoinartistic."
Heindicatedwithaforlornlywavinghandtheshelvesofshoe–boxes,theseatofthinwoodperforatedinrosettes,thedisplayofshoe–treesandtinboxesofblacking,thelithographofasmirkingyoungwomanwithcherrycheekswhoproclaimedintheexaltedpoetryofadvertising,"MytootsiesnevergotheptowhatpedalperfectionwastillIgotapairofcleverclassyCleopatraShoes."
"Butsometimes,"Raymiesighed,"thereisapairofdaintylittleshoeslikethese,andIsetthemasideforsomeonewhowillappreciate.
WhenIsawtheseIsaidrightaway,'Wouldn'titbeniceiftheyfittedMrs.Kennicott,'andImeanttospeaktoyoufirstchanceIhad.
Ihaven'tforgottenourjollytalksatMrs.Gurrey's!"
ThateveningGuyPollockcameinand,thoughKennicottinstantlyimpressedhimintoacribbagegame,Carolwashappyagain.
V
Shedidnot,inrecoveringsomethingofherbuoyancy,forgetherdeterminationtobegintheliberalizingofGopherPrairiebytheeasyandagreeablepropagandaofteachingKennicotttoenjoyreadingpoetryinthelamplight.Thecampaignwasdelayed.
Twicehesuggestedthattheycallonneighbors;oncehewasinthecountry.
Thefourtheveningheyawnedpleasantly,stretched,andinquired,"Well,what'llwedotonight?Shallwegotothemovies?"
"Iknowexactlywhatwe'regoingtodo.Nowdon'taskquestions!Comeandsitdownbythetable.There,areyoucomfy?Leanbackandforgetyou'reapracticalman,andlistentome."
ItmaybethatshehadbeeninfluencedbythemanagerialVidaSherwin;certainlyshesoundedasthoughshewassellingculture.
Butshedroppeditwhenshesatonthecouch,herchininherhands,avolumeofYeatsonherknees,andreadaloud.
Instantlyshewasreleasedfromthehomelycomfortofaprairietown.
Shewasintheworldoflonelythings—theflutteroftwilightlinnets,theachingcallofgullsalongashoretowhichthenettedfoamcreptoutofdarkness,theislandofAengusandtheeldergodsandtheeternalgloriesthatneverwere,tallkingsandwomengirdledwithcrustedgold,thewofulincessantchantingandthe—
"Heh–cha–cha!"coughedDr.Kennicott.Shestopped.
Sherememberedthathewasthesortofpersonwhochewedtobacco.
Sheglared,whileheuneasilypetitioned,"That'sgreatstuff.Studyitincollege?
Ilikepoetryfine—JamesWhitcombRileyandsomeofLongfellow—this'Hiawatha.'
Gosh,IwishIcouldappreciatethathighbrowartstuff.
ButIguessI'mtoooldadogtolearnnewtricks."
Withpityforhisbewilderment,andacertaindesiretogiggle,sheconsoledhim,"Thenlet'strysomeTennyson.You'vereadhim?"
"Tennyson?Youbet.Readhiminschool.There'sthat:
Andlettherebeno(whatisit?)offarewell
WhenIputouttosea,
Butletthe—
Well,Idon'trememberallofitbut—Oh,sure!Andthere'sthat'Imetalittlecountryboywho—'Idon'trememberexactlyhowitgoes,butthechorusendsup,'Weareseven.'"
"Yes.Well—Shallwetry'TheIdyllsoftheKing?'They'resofullofcolor."
"Gotoit.Shoot."Buthehastenedtoshelterhimselfbehindacigar.
ShewasnottransportedtoCamelot.Shereadwithaneyecockedonhim,andwhenshesawhowmuchhewassufferingsherantohim,kissedhisforehead,cried,"Youpoorforcedtube–rosethatwantstobeadecentturnip!"
"Lookherenow,thatain't—"
"Anyway,Isha'n'ttortureyouanylonger."
Shecouldnotquitegiveup.ShereadKipling,withagreatdealofemphasis:
There'saREGIMENTa–COMINGdowntheGRANDTrunkROAD.
Hetappedhisfoottotherhythm;helookednormalandreassured.
Butwhenhecomplimentedher,"Thatwasfine.
Idon'tknowbutwhatyoucanelocutejustasgoodasEllaStowbody,"shebangedthebookandsuggestedthattheywerenottoolateforthenineo'clockshowatthemovies.
ThatwasherlastefforttoharvesttheAprilwind,toteachdivineunhappinessbyacorrespondencecourse,tobuytheliliesofAvalonandthesunsetsofCockaigneintincansatOleJenson'sGrocery.
Butthefactisthatatthemotion–picturesshediscoveredherselflaughingasheartilyasKennicottatthehumorofanactorwhostuffedspaghettidownawoman'seveningfrock.
Forasecondsheloathedherlaughter;mournedforthedaywhenonherhillbytheMississippishehadwalkedthebattlementswithqueens.
Butthecelebratedcinemajester'sconceitofdroppingtoadsintoasoup–plateflungherintounwillingtittering,andtheafterglowfaded,thedeadqueensfledthroughdarkness.
VI
ShewenttotheJollySeventeen'safternoonbridge.
ShehadlearnedtheelementsofthegamefromtheSamClarks.
Sheplayedquietlyandreasonablybadly.
Shehadnoopinionsonanythingmorepolemicthanwoolenunion–suits,atopiconwhichMrs.Howlanddiscoursedforfiveminutes.
Shesmiledfrequently,andwasthecompletecanary–birdinhermannerofthankingthehostess,Mrs.DaveDyer.
Heronlyanxiousperiodwasduringtheconferenceonhusbands.
TheyoungmatronsdiscussedtheintimaciesofdomesticitywithafranknessandaminutenesswhichdismayedCarol.
JuanitaHaydockcommunicatedHarry'smethodofshaving,andhisinterestindeer–shooting.
Mrs.Gougerlingreportedfully,andwithsomeirritation,herhusband'sinappreciationofliverandbacon.
MaudDyerchronicledDave'sdigestivedisorders;quotedarecentbedtimecontroversywithhiminregardtoChristianScience,socksandthesewingofbuttonsuponvests;announcedthatshe"simplywasn'tgoingtostandhisalwayspawinggirlswhenhewentandgotcrazy–jealousifamanjustdancedwithher";andrathermorethansketchedDave'svarietiesofkisses.
SomeeklydidCarolgiveattention,soobviouslywassheatlastdesirousofbeingoneofthem,thattheylookedonherfondly,andencouragedhertogivesuchdetailsofherhoneymoonasmightbeofinterest.
Shewasembarrassedratherthanresentful.Shedeliberatelymisunderstood.
ShetalkedofKennicott'sovershoesandmedicalidealstilltheywerethoroughlybored.
Theyregardedherasagreeablebutgreen.
Tilltheendshelaboredtosatisfytheinquisition.
ShebubbledatJuanita,thepresidentoftheclub,thatshewantedtoentertainthem.
"Only,"shesaid,"Idon'tknowthatIcangiveyouanyrefreshmentsasniceasMrs.Dyer'ssalad,orthatsimplydeliciousangel's–foodwehadatyourhouse,dear."
"Fine!WeneedahostessfortheseventeenthofMarch.
Wouldn'titbeawfullyoriginalifyoumadeitaSt.Patrick'sDaybridge!
I'llbetickledtodeathtohelpyouwithit.I'mgladyou'velearnedtoplaybridge.
AtfirstIdidn'thardlyknowifyouweregoingtolikeGopherPrairie.
Isn'titdandythatyou'vesettleddowntobeinghomeywithus!
Maybewearen'tashighbrowastheCities,butwedohavethedaisiesttimesand—oh,wegoswimminginsummer,anddancesand—oh,lotsofgoodtimes.
Iffolkswilljusttakeusasweare,Ithinkwe'reaprettygoodbunch!"
"I'msureofit.ThankyousomuchfortheideaabouthavingaSt.Patrick'sDaybridge."
"Oh,that'snothing.IalwaysthinktheJollySeventeenaresogoodatoriginalideas.
IfyouknewtheseothertownsWakaminandJoralemonandall,you'dfindoutandrealizethatG.P.istheliveliest,smartesttowninthestate.
DidyouknowthatPercyBresnahan,thefamousautomanufacturer,camefromhereand—Yes,IthinkthataSt.Patrick'sDaypartywouldbeawfullycunningandoriginal,andyetnottooqueerorfreakyoranything."
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