English
I
KennicottwasnotsoinhumanlypatientthathecouldcontinuetoforgiveCarol'sheresies,towooherashehadontheventuretoCalifornia.
Shetriedtobeinconspicuous,butshewasbetrayedbyherfailuretoglowovertheboosting.
Kennicottbelievedinit;demandedthatshesaypatrioticthingsabouttheWhiteWayandthenewfactory.
Hesnorted,"Bygolly,I'vedoneallIcould,andnowIexpectyoutoplaythegame.
Hereyoubeencomplainingforyearsaboutusbeingsopoky,andnowwhenBlaussercomesalonganddoesstirupexcitementandbeautifythetownlikeyou'vealwayswantedsomebodyto,why,yousayhe'saroughneck,andyouwon'tjumpontheband–wagon."
Once,whenKennicottannouncedatnoon–dinner,"Whatdoyouknowaboutthis!
Theysaythere'sachancewemaygetanotherfactory—cream–separatorworks!"
headded,"Youmighttrytolookinterested,evenifyouain't!"
ThebabywasfrightenedbytheJovianroar;ranwailingtohidehisfaceinCarol'slap;andKennicotthadtomakehimselfhumbleandcourtbothmotherandchild.
Thediminjusticeofnotbeingunderstoodevenbyhissonlefthimirritable.Hefeltinjured.
Aneventwhichdidnotdirectlytouchthembroughtdownhiswrath.
Intheearlyautumn,newscamefromWakaminthatthesheriffhadforbiddenanorganizerfortheNationalNonpartisanLeaguetospeakanywhereinthecounty.
Theorganizerhaddefiedthesheriff,andannouncedthatinafewdayshewouldaddressafarmers'politicalmeeting.
Thatnight,thenewsran,amobofahundredbusinessmenledbythesheriff—thetamevillagestreetandthesmugvillagefacesruddledbythelightofbobbinglanterns,themobflowingbetweenthesquattyrowsofshops—hadtakentheorganizerfromhishotel,riddenhimonafence–rail,puthimonafreighttrain,andwarnedhimnottoreturn.
ThestorywasthreshedoutinDaveDyer'sdrugstore,withSamClark,Kennicott,andCarolpresent.
"That'sthewaytotreatthosefellows—onlytheyoughttohavelynchedhim!"declaredSam,andKennicottandDaveDyerjoinedinaproud"Youbet!"
Carolwalkedouthastily,Kennicottobservingher.
Throughsupper–timesheknewthathewasbubblingandwouldsoonboilover.
Whenthebabywasabed,andtheysatcomposedlyincanvaschairsontheporch,heexperimented;"IhadahunchyouthoughtSamwaskindofhardonthatfellowtheykickedoutofWakamin."
"Wasn'tSamratherneedlesslyheroic?"
"Alltheseorganizers,yes,andawholelotoftheGermanandSquareheadfarmersthemselves,they'reseditiousasthedevil—disloyal,non–patriotic,pro–Germanpacifists,that'swhattheyare!"
"Didthisorganizersayanythingpro–German?"
"Notonyourlife!Theydidn'tgivehimachance!"Hislaughwasstagey.
"Sothewholethingwasillegal—andledbythesheriff!Preciselyhowdoyouexpectthesealienstoobeyyourlawiftheofficerofthelawteachesthemtobreakit?Isitanewkindoflogic?"
"Maybeitwasn'texactlyregular,butwhat'stheodds?
Theyknewthisfellowwouldtrytostiruptrouble.
WheneveritcomesrightdowntoaquestionofdefendingAmericanismandourconstitutionalrights,it'sjustifiabletosetasideordinaryprocedure."
"Whateditorialdidhegetthatfrom?"shewondered,assheprotested,"Seehere,mybeloved,whycan'tyouToriesdeclarewarhonestly?
Youdon'topposethisorganizerbecauseyouthinkhe'sseditiousbutbecauseyou'reafraidthatthefarmersheisorganizingwilldepriveyoutownsmenofthemoneyyoumakeoutofmortgagesandwheatandshops.
Ofcourse,sincewe'reatwarwithGermany,anythingthatanyoneofusdoesn'tlikeis'pro–German,'whetherit'sbusinesscompetitionorbadmusic.
IfwewerefightingEngland,you'dcalltheradicals'pro–English.'
Whenthiswarisover,Isupposeyou'llbecallingthem'redanarchists.'
Whataneternalartitis—suchaglitterydelightfulart—findinghardnamesforouropponents!
Howwedosanctifyoureffortstokeepthemfromgettingtheholydollarswewantforourselves!
Thechurcheshavealwaysdoneit,andthepoliticalorators—andIsupposeIdoitwhenIcallMrs.Bogarta'Puritan'andMr.Stowbodya'capitalist.'
Butyoubusinessmenaregoingtobeatalltherestofusatit,withyoursimple–hearted,energetic,pompous—"
ShegotsofaronlybecauseKennicottwasslowinshakingoffrespectforher.Nowhebayed:
"That'llbeaboutallfromyou!I'vestoodforyoursneeringatthistown,andsayinghowuglyanddullitis.
I'vestoodforyourrefusingtoappreciategoodfellowslikeSam.
I'veevenstoodforyourridiculingourWatchGopherPrairieGrowcampaign.
ButonethingI'mnotgoingtostand:I'mnotgoingtostandmyownwifebeingseditious.
Youcancamouflageallyouwantto,butyouknowdarnwellthattheseradicals,asyoucall'em,areopposedtothewar,andletmetellyourighthereandnow,andyouandalltheselong–hairedmenandshort–hairedwomencanbeefallyouwantto,butwe'regoingtotakethesefellows,andiftheyain'tpatriotic,we'regoingtomakethembepatriotic.
And—LordknowsIneverthoughtI'dhavetosaythistomyownwife—butifyougodefendingthesefellows,thenthesamethingappliestoyou!
Nextthing,Isupposeyou'llbeyappingaboutfreespeech.Freespeech!
There'stoomuchfreespeechandfreegasandfreebeerandfreeloveandalltherestofyourdamnedmouthyfreedom,andifIhadmywayI'dmakeyoufolksliveuptotheestablishedrulesofdecencyevenifIhadtotakeyou—"
"Will!"Shewasnottimorousnow."AmIpro–GermanifIfailtothrobtoHonestJimBlausser,too?Let'shavemywholedutyasawife!"
Hewasgrumbling,"Thewholething'srightinlinewiththecriticismyou'vealwaysbeenmaking.Mighthaveknownyou'dopposeanydecentconstructiveworkforthetownorfor—"
"You'reright.AllI'vedonehasbeeninline.Idon'tbelongtoGopherPrairie.
Thatisn'tmeantasacondemnationofGopherPrairie,anditmaybeacondemnationofme.Allright!Idon'tcare!Idon'tbelonghere,andI'mgoing.I'mnotaskingpermissionanymore.I'msimplygoing."
Hegrunted."Doyoumindtellingme,ifitisn'ttoomuchtrouble,howlongyou'regoingfor?"
"Idon'tknow.Perhapsforayear.Perhapsforalifetime."
"Isee.Well,ofcourse,I'llbetickledtodeathtoselloutmypractiseandgoanywhereyousay.
WouldyouliketohavemegowithyoutoParisandstudyart,maybe,andwearvelveteenpantsandawoman'sbonnet,andliveonspaghetti?"
"No,Ithinkwecansaveyouthattrouble.Youdon'tquiteunderstand.Iamgoing—Ireallyam—andalone!I'vegottofindoutwhatmyworkis—"
"Work?Work?Sure!That'sthewholetroublewithyou!Youhaven'tgotenoughworktodo.
Ifyouhadfivekidsandnohiredgirl,andhadtohelpwiththechoresandseparatethecream,likethesefarmers'wives,thenyouwouldn'tbesodiscontented."
"Iknow.That'swhatmostmen—andwomen—likeyouWOULDsay.
That'showtheywouldexplainallIamandallIwant.AndIshouldn'targuewiththem.
Thesebusinessmen,fromtheircrushinglaborsofsittinginanofficesevenhoursaday,wouldcalmlyrecommendthatIhaveadozenchildren.
Asithappens,I'vedonethatsortofthing.
There'vebeenagoodmanytimeswhenwehadn'tamaid,andIdidallthehousework,andcaredforHugh,andwenttoRedCross,anddiditallveryefficiently.
I'magoodcookandagoodsweeper,andyoudon'tdaresayI'mnot!"
"N–no,you're—"
"ButwasImorehappywhenIwasdrudging?Iwasnot.Iwasjustbedraggledandunhappy.It'swork—butnotmywork.
Icouldrunanofficeoralibrary,ornurseandteachchildren.
Butsolitarydish–washingisn'tenoughtosatisfyme—ormanyotherwomen.We'regoingtochuckit.
We'regoingtowash'embymachinery,andcomeoutandplaywithyoumenintheofficesandclubsandpoliticsyou'vecleverlykeptforyourselves!
Oh,we'rehopeless,wedissatisfiedwomen!
Thenwhydoyouwanttohaveusabouttheplace,tofretyou?Soit'sforyoursakethatI'mgoing!"
"OfcoursealittlethinglikeHughmakesnodifference!"
"Yes,allthedifference.That'swhyI'mgoingtotakehimwithme."
"SupposeIrefuse?"
"Youwon't!"
Forlornly,"Uh—Carrie,whatthedevilisityouwant,anyway?"
"Oh,conversation!No,it'smuchmorethanthat.Ithinkit'sagreatnessoflife—arefusaltobecontentwitheventhehealthiestmud."
"Don'tyouknowthatnobodyeversolvedaproblembyrunningawayfromit?"
"Perhaps.OnlyIchoosetomakemyowndefinitionof'runningaway'Idon'tcall—DoyourealizehowbigaworldthereisbeyondthisGopherPrairiewhereyou'dkeepmeallmylife?
ItmaybethatsomedayI'llcomeback,butnottillIcanbringsomethingmorethanIhavenow.
AndevenifIamcowardlyandrunaway—allright,callitcowardly,callmeanythingyouwantto!
I'vebeenruledtoolongbyfearofbeingcalledthings.I'mgoingawaytobequietandthink.I'm—I'mgoing!Ihavearighttomyownlife."
"SohaveItomine!"
"Well?"
"Ihavearighttomylife—andyou'reit,you'remylife!You'vemadeyourselfso.
I'mdamnedifI'llagreetoallyourfreaknotions,butIwillsayI'vegottodependonyou.
Neverthoughtofthatcomplication,didyou,inthis'offtoBohemia,andexpressyourself,andfreelove,andliveyourownlife'stuff!"
"Youhavearighttomeifyoucankeepme.Canyou?"
Hemoveduneasily.
II
Foramonththeydiscussedit.Theyhurteachotherverymuch,andsometimestheywereclosetoweeping,andinvariablyheusedbanalphrasesaboutherdutiesandsheusedphrasesquiteasbanalaboutfreedom,andthroughitall,herdiscoverythatshereallycouldgetawayfromMainStreetwasassweetasthediscoveryoflove.Kennicottneverconsenteddefinitely.
Atmostheagreedtoapublictheorythatshewas"goingtotakeashorttripandseewhattheEastwaslikeinwartime."
ShesetoutforWashingtoninOctober—justbeforethewarended.
ShehaddeterminedonWashingtonbecauseitwaslessintimidatingthantheobviousNewYork,becauseshehopedtofindstreetsinwhichHughcouldplay,andbecauseinthestressofwar–work,withitsdemandforthousandsoftemporaryclerks,shecouldbeinitiatedintotheworldofoffices.
Hughwastogowithher,despitethewailsandratherextensivecommentsofAuntBessie.
ShewonderedifshemightnotencounterErikintheEastbutitwasachancethought,soonforgotten.
III
ThelastthingshesawonthestationplatformwasKennicott,faithfullywavinghishand,hisfacesofullofuncomprehendinglonelinessthathecouldnotsmilebutonlytwitchuphislips.
Shewavedtohimaslongasshecould,andwhenhewaslostshewantedtoleapfromthevestibuleandrunbacktohim.
Shethoughtofahundredtendernessesshehadneglected.
Shehadherfreedom,anditwasempty.Themomentwasnotthehighestofherlife,butthelowestandmostdesolate,whichwasaltogetherexcellent,forinsteadofslippingdownwardshebegantoclimb.
Shesighed,"Icouldn'tdothisifitweren'tforWill'skindness,hisgivingmemoney."Butasecondafter:"Iwonderhowmanywomenwouldalwaysstayhomeiftheyhadthemoney?"
Hughcomplained,"Noticeme,mummy!"Hewasbesideherontheredplushseatoftheday–coach;aboyofthreeandahalf."I'mtiredofplayingtrain.Let'splaysomethingelse.Let'sgoseeAuntieBogart."
"Oh,NO!DoyoureallylikeMrs.Bogart?"
"Yes.ShegivesmecookiesandshetellsmeabouttheDearLord.YounevertellmeabouttheDearLord.
Whydon'tyoutellmeabouttheDearLord?
AuntieBogartsaysI'mgoingtobeapreacher.CanIbeapreacher?CanIpreachabouttheDearLord?"
"Oh,pleasewaittillmygenerationhasstoppedrebellingbeforeyoursstartsin!"
"What'sageneration?"
"It'sarayintheilluminationofthespirit."
"That'sfoolish."Hewasaseriousandliteralperson,andratherhumorless.Shekissedhisfrown,andmarveled:
"Iamrunningawayfrommyhusband,afterlikingaSwedishne'er–do–wellandexpressingimmoralopinions,justasinaromanticstory.
AndmyownsonreprovesmebecauseIhaven'tgivenhimreligiousinstruction.Butthestorydoesn'tgoright.
I'mneithergroaningnorbeingdramaticallysaved.Ikeeponrunningaway,andIenjoyit.I'mmadwithjoyoverit.
GopherPrairieislostbackthereinthedustandstubble,andIlookforward—"
ShecontinuedittoHugh:"Darling,doyouknowwhatmotherandyouaregoingtofindbeyondthebluehorizonrim?"
"What?"flatly.
"We'regoingtofindelephantswithgoldenhowdahsfromwhichpeepyoungmaharaneeswithnecklacesofrubies,andadawnseacoloredlikethebreastofadove,andawhiteandgreenhousefilledwithbooksandsilvertea–sets."
"Andcookies?"
"Cookies?Oh,mostdecidedlycookies.We'vehadenoughofbreadandporridge.We'dgetsickontoomanycookies,buteversomuchsickeronnocookiesatall."
"That'sfoolish."
"Itis,OmaleKennicott!"
"Huh!"saidKennicottII,andwenttosleeponhershoulder.
IV
ThetheoryoftheDauntlessregardingCarol'sabsence:
Mrs.WillKennicottandsonHughleftonNo.24onSaturdaylastforastayofsomemonthsinMinneapolis,Chicago,NewYorkandWashington.
Mrs.KennicottconfidedtoYeScribethatshewillbeconnectedwithoneofthemultifariouswaractivitiesnowcenteringintheNation'sCapitalforabriefperiodbeforereturning.
HercountlessfriendswhoappreciatehersplendidlaborswiththelocalRedCrossrealizehowvaluableshewillbetoanywarboardwithwhichshechoosestobecomeconnected.
GopherPrairiethusaddsanothershiningstartoitsserviceflagandwithoutwishingtoknockanyneighboringcommunities,wewouldliketoknowanytownofanywheresnearoursizeinthestatethathassuchasterlingwarrecord.
Anotherreasonwhyyou'dbetterWatchGopherPrairieGrow.
Mr.andMrs.DavidDyer,Mrs.Dyer'ssister,Mrs.JennieDaybornofJackrabbit,andDr.WillKennicottdrovetoMinniemashieonTuesdayforadelightfulpicnic.
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