InthreeyearsofexilefromherselfCarolhadcertainexperienceschronicledasimportantbytheDauntless,ordiscussedbytheJollySeventeen,buttheeventunchronicled,undiscussed,andsupremelycontrolling,washerslowadmissionoflongingtofindherownpeople.
Hehadrenouncedhiscriticismsofstateandsociety;hehadgivenuprovingashorse–trader,andwearingredmackinawsinlumber–camps;hehadgonetoworkasengineerinJacksonElder'splaning–mill;hewastobeseenuponthestreetsendeavoringtobeneighborlywithsuspiciousmenwhomhehadtauntedforyears.
Chasethemanoffwithamop,andholdontoyourSvenskawhiletheholding'sgood.Huh?MegototheirScandahoofianwedding?Notachance!"
TherewasanuneasyknotofonlynineguestsattheserviceintheunpaintedLutheranChurch—Carol,Kennicott,GuyPollock,andtheChampPerrys,allbroughtbyCarol;Bea'sfrightenedrusticparents,hercousinTina,andPete,Miles'sex–partnerinhorse–trading,asurly,hairymanwhohadboughtablacksuitandcometwelvehundredmilesfromSpokanefortheevent.
Milescontinuouslyglancedbackatthechurchdoor.JacksonElderdidnotappear.Thedoordidnotonceopenaftertheawkwardentranceofthefirstguests.Miles'shandclosedonBea'sarm.
Bea'ssuccessorwastheoldish,broad,silentOscarina,whowassuspiciousofherfrivolousmistressforamonth,sothatJuanitaHaydockwasabletocrow,"There,smarty,Itoldyouyou'drunintotheDomesticProblem!"
ButOscarinaadoptedCarolasadaughter,andwithherasfaithfultothekitchenasBeahadbeen,therewasnothingchangedinCarol'slife.
TheothermemberswereDr.Westlake,LymanCass,JuliusFlickerbaughtheattorney,GuyPollock,andMartinMahoney,formerlivery–stablekeeperandnowownerofagarage.Shewasdelighted.
Shewenttothefirstmeetingrathercondescendingly,regardingherselfastheonlyonebesidesGuywhoknewanythingaboutbooksorlibrarymethods.
Hercondescensionwasruinedandherhumilitywholesomelyincreasedwhenshefoundtheboard,intheshabbyroomonthesecondfloorofthehousewhichhadbeenconvertedintothelibrary,notdiscussingtheweatherandlongingtoplaycheckers,buttalkingaboutbooks.
ShediscoveredthatamiableoldDr.Westlakereadeverythinginverseand"lightfiction";thatLymanCass,theveal–faced,bristly–beardedownerofthemill,hadtrampedthroughGibbon,Hume,Grote,Prescott,andtheotherthickhistorians;thathecouldrepeatpagesfromthem—anddid.
WhenDr.Westlakewhisperedtoher,"Yes,Lymisaverywell–informedman,buthe'smodestaboutit,"shefeltuninformedandimmodest,andscoldedatherselfthatshehadmissedthehumanpotentialitiesinthisvastGopherPrairie.
WhenDr.Westlakequotedthe"Paradiso,""DonQuixote,""WilhelmMeister,"andtheKoran,shereflectedthatnoonesheknew,notevenherfather,hadreadallfour.
Shehopedthatthewiseeldersmightbesotolerantastolistentohersuggestionsaboutchangingtheshelvingofthejuveniles.
Shehadfoundthatforalltheirprideinbeingreadingmen,WestlakeandCassandevenGuyhadnoconceptionofmakingthelibraryfamiliartothewholetown.
OnlytheHentybooksandtheElsiebooksandthelatestoptimismsbymoralfemalenovelistsandvirileclergymenwereingeneraldemand,andtheboardthemselveswereinterestedonlyinold,stiltedvolumes.
Andforalltheirtalkoftheneedofadditionallibrary–taxnoneofthemwaswillingtoriskcensurebybattlingforit,thoughtheynowhadsosmallafundthat,afterpayingforrent,heat,light,andMissVillets'ssalary,theyhadonlyahundreddollarsayearforthepurchaseofbooks.
ShehadmadealistofthirtyEuropeannovelsofthepasttenyears,withtwentyimportantbooksonpsychology,education,andeconomicswhichthelibrarylacked.
LymCasslookedalarmed,scratchedhimself,andprotested,"Ithinkitwouldbeabadprecedentfortheboard–memberstocontributemoney—uh—notthatImind,butitwouldn'tbefair—establishprecedent.Gracious!
TherestofthemeetingtheygavetoabellicoseinvestigationofthefactthattherewasseventeencentslessthanthereshouldbeintheFund.
MissVilletswassummoned;shespenthalfanhourinexplosivelydefendingherself;theseventeencentsweregnawedover,pennybypenny;andCarol,glancingatthecarefullyinscribedlistwhichhadbeensolovelyandexcitinganhourbefore,wassilent,andsorryforMissVillets,andsorrierforherself.
ShewasreasonablyregularinattendancetillhertwoyearswereupandVidaSherwinwasappointedtotheboardinherplace,butshedidnottrytoberevolutionary.
Whatdidagitateherwashisannouncement,halfwhisperedandhalfblurted,halftenderandhalfcoldlymedical,thatthey"oughttohaveababy,nowtheycouldaffordit."
Theyhadsolongagreedthat"perhapsitwouldbejustaswellnottohaveanychildrenforawhileyet,"thatchildlessnesshadcometobenatural.
Idlingontheporchoftheirsummercottageatthelake,onafternoonswhenKennicottwasintown,whenthewaterwasglazedandthewholeairlanguid,shepicturedahundredescapes:FifthAvenueinasnow–storm,withlimousines,goldenshops,acathedralspire.
Alongthedrivebelowhersweptbarouches,withamechanicaltlot–tlot,tlot–tlot,tlot–tlot,andgreatcarswithpolishedblackhoodsandenginesquietasthesighofanoldman.
Inthemwerewomenerect,slender,enameled,andexpressionlessasmarionettes,theirsmallhandsuponparasols,theirunchangingeyesalwaysforward,ignoringthemenbesidethem,tallmenwithgrayhairanddistinguishedfaces.
Nothingmovedexcepttheglidingcarriages,andthepeopleweresmallandwooden,spotsinapicturedrenchedwithgoldandhardbrightblues.
Therewasnosoundofseaorwinds;nosoftnessofwhispersnoroffallingpetals;nothingbutyellowandcobaltandstaringlight,andthenever–changingtlot–tlot,tlot–tlot—
Noachingcoloroftheseaandprideofsuperciliouspeople,buttherealityofaround–belliednickelalarm–clockonashelfagainstafuzzyunplanedpinewall,withastiffgraywash–raghangingaboveitandakerosene–stovestandingbelow.
Athousanddreamsgovernedbythefictionshehadread,drawnfromthepicturesshehadenvied,absorbedherdrowsylakeafternoons,butalwaysinthemidstofthemKennicottcameoutfromtown,drewonkhakitrouserswhichwereplasteredwithdryfish–scales,asked,"Enjoyingyourself?"anddidnotlistentoheranswer.
Atthelakecottageshemissedthepassingofthetrains.Sherealizedthatintownshehaddependeduponthemforassurancethatthereremainedaworldbeyond.
Itwasanewgod;amonsterofsteellimbs,oakribs,fleshofgravel,andastupendoushungerforfreight;adeitycreatedbymanthathemightkeephimselfrespectfultoProperty,aselsewherehehadelevatedandservedastribalgodsthemines,cotton–mills,motor–factories,colleges,army.
TheEastrememberedgenerationswhentherehadbeennorailroad,andhadnoaweofit;butheretherailroadshadbeenbeforetimewas.
Thetownshadbeenstakedoutonbarrenprairieasconvenientpointsforfuturetrain–halts;andbackin1860and1870therehadbeenmuchprofit,muchopportunitytofoundaristocraticfamilies,inthepossessionofadvanceknowledgeastowherethetownswouldarise.
ThesmallestboyorthemostsecludedgrandamcouldtellyouwhetherNo.32hadahot–boxlastTuesday,whetherNo.7wasgoingtoputonanextraday–coach;andthenameofthepresidentoftheroadwasfamiliartoeverybreakfasttable.
Itwastheirromance;theironlymysterybesidesmassattheCatholicChurch;andfromthetrainscamelordsoftheouterworld—travelingsalesmenwithpipingontheirwaistcoats,andvisitingcousinsfromMilwaukee.
Theroundhouseandrepair–shopsweregone,buttwoconductorsstillretainedresidence,andtheywerepersonsofdistinction,menwhotraveledandtalkedtostrangers,whoworeuniformswithbrassbuttons,andknewallaboutthesecrookedgamesofcon–men.
Thenighttelegraph–operatorattherailroadstationwasthemostmelodramaticfigureintown:awakeatthreeinthemorning,aloneinaroomhecticwithclatterofthetelegraphkey.
Heneverwas,butroundhimwasasuggestionofmaskedfacesatthewindow,revolvers,cordsbindinghimtoachair,hisstruggletocrawltothekeybeforehefainted.
Atlasttherotarysnow–plowcamethrough,buckingthedrifts,sendingupageyser,andthewaytotheOutsidewasopenagain.
Thebrakemen,inmufflersandfurcaps,runningalongthetopsofice–coatedfreight–cars;theengineersscratchingfrostfromthecabwindowsandlookingout,inscrutable,self–contained,pilotsoftheprairiesea—theywereheroism,theyweretoCarolthedaringofthequestinaworldofgroceriesandsermons.
Theyclimbedtheironladdersonthesidesofthebox–cars;builtfiresbehindpilesofoldties;wavedtofavoritebrakemen.ButtoCarolitwasmagic.
ShewasmotoringwithKennicott,thecarlumpingthroughdarkness,thelightsshowingmud–puddlesandraggedweedsbytheroad.Atraincoming!
Instantlythevisionwasgone;Carolwasbackinthelongdarkness;andKennicottwasgivinghisversionofthatfireandwonder:"No.19.Mustbe'bouttenminuteslate."
—faint,nervous,distrait,hornofthefreenightridersjourneyingtothetalltownswherewerelaughterandbannersandthesoundofbells—Uuuuu!Uuuuu!—theworldgoingby—Uuuuuuu!—fainter,morewistful,gone.
BesidesthepermanentMotherChautauqua,inNewYork,thereare,allovertheseStates,commercialChautauquacompanieswhichsendouttoeverysmallesttowntroupesoflecturersand"entertainers"togiveaweekofcultureundercanvas.
LivinginMinneapolis,CarolhadneverencounteredtheambulantChautauqua,andtheannouncementofitscomingtoGopherPrairiegaveherhopethatothersmightbedoingthevaguethingswhichshehadattempted.
MorningswhenshecameinfromthelakewithKennicottshesawplacardsineveryshop–window,andstrungonacordacrossMainStreet,alineofpennantsalternatelyworded"TheBolandChautauquaCOMING!"
Itdidnotseemtobeatabloiduniversity;itdidnotseemtobeanykindofauniversity;itseemedtobeacombinationofvaudevilleperformanceY.M.C.A.lecture,andthegraduationexercisesofanelocutionclass.
ShetookherdoubttoKennicott.Heinsisted,"Well,maybeitwon'tbesoawfuldarnintellectual,thewayyouandImightlikeit,butit'sawholelotbetterthannothing."
Shewasimpressedbytheaudience:thesallowwomeninskirtsandblouses,eagertobemadetothink,themeninvestsandshirt–sleeves,eagertobeallowedtolaugh,andthewrigglingchildren,eagertosneakaway.
Shelikedtheplainbenches,theportablestageunderitsredmarquee,thegreattentoverall,shadowyabovestringsofincandescentbulbsatnightandbydaycastinganamberradianceonthepatientcrowd.
Thescentofdustandtrampledgrassandsun–bakedwoodgaveheranillusionofSyriancaravans;sheforgotthespeakerswhileshelistenedtonoisesoutsidethetent:twofarmerstalkinghoarsely,awagoncreakingdownMainStreet,thecrowofarooster.Shewascontent.
ForfromtheChautauquaitselfshegotnothingbutwindandchaffandheavylaughter,thelaughterofyokelsatoldjokes,amirthlessandprimitivesoundlikethecriesofbeastsonafarm.
Ninelecturers,fourofthemex–ministers,andoneanex–congressman,allofthemdelivering"inspirationaladdresses."
TheonlyfactsoropinionswhichCarolderivedfromthemwere:LincolnwasacelebratedpresidentoftheUnitedStates,butinhisyouthextremelypoor.
Honestyandcourtesyinbusinessarepreferabletoboorishnessandexposedtrickery,butthisisnottobetakenpersonally,sinceallpersonsinGopherPrairieareknowntobehonestandcourteous.Londonisalargecity.
Four"entertainers"whotoldJewishstories,Irishstories,Germanstories,Chinesestories,andTennesseemountaineerstories,mostofwhichCarolhadheard.
Threebrass–bands,acompanyofsixopera–singers,aHawaiiansextette,andfouryouthswhoplayedsaxophonesandguitarsdisguisedaswash–boards.
Thelocalsuperintendent,whoremainedthroughtheweekwhiletheotherenlightenerswenttootherChautauquasfortheirdailyperformances.
Thesuperintendentwasabookish,underfedmanwhoworkedhardatrousingartificialenthusiasm,attryingtomaketheaudiencecheerbydividingthemintocompetitivesquadsandtellingthemthattheywereintelligentandmadesplendidcommunalnoises.
Hegavemostofthemorninglectures,droningwithequalunhappyfacilityaboutpoetry,theHolyLand,andtheinjusticetoemployersinanysystemofprofit–sharing.
Thefinalitemwasamanwhoneitherlectured,inspired,norentertained;aplainlittlemanwithhishandsinhispockets.
Alltheotherspeakershadconfessed,"Icannotkeepfromtellingthecitizensofyourbeautifulcitythatnoneofthetalentonthiscircuithavefoundamorecharmingspotormoreenterprisingandhospitablepeople."
ButthelittlemansuggestedthatthearchitectureofGopherPrairiewashaphazard,andthatitwassottishtoletthelake–frontbemonopolizedbythecinder–heapedwalloftherailroadembankment.
Afterwardtheaudiencegrumbled,"Maybethatguy'sgottherightdope,butwhat'stheuseoflookingonthedarksideofthingsallthetime?
ForamonthGopherPrairiehadthedelightofshuddering,then,asthewarsettleddowntoabusinessoftrench–fighting,theyforgot.
WhenCaroltalkedabouttheBalkans,andthepossibilityofaGermanrevolution,Kennicottyawned,"Ohyes,it'sagreatoldscrap,butit'snoneofourbusiness.
ItwasMilesBjornstamwhosaid,"Ican'tfigureitout.I'mopposedtowars,butstill,seemslikeGermanyhasgottobelickedbecausethemJunkersstandsinthewayofprogress."
Theyhadreceivedherwithcries,withdustingofchairs,andarunningtofetchwaterforcoffee.Milesstoodandbeamedather.
HefelloftenandjoyouslyintohisoldirreverenceaboutthelordsofGopherPrairie,butalways—withacertaindifficulty—headdedsomethingdecorousandappreciative.
"Why,Bea'scousinTinacomesinrightalong,andtheforemanatthemill,and—Oh,wehavegoodtimes.Say,takealookatthatBea!
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