登陆注册
5243000000056

第56章 CHAPTER XII(1)

"THE WAY OF A MAN WITH A MAID"

The next day the Harvester lifted the oilcloth, and picking up a folded note he read----"Aunt Molly found rest in the night. She was more comfortable than she had been since I have known her. Close the end she whispered to me to thank you if I ever saw you again. She will be buried to-morrow.

Past that, I dare not think."

The Harvester sat on the log and studied the lines.

She would not come that day or the next. After a long time he put the note in his pocket, wrote an answer telling her he had been there, and would come on the following day on the chance of her wanting anything he could do, and the next he would bring the ginseng money, so she must be sure to meet him.

Then he went back to the wagon, turned Betsy, and drove around the Jameson land watching closely. There were several vehicles in the barn lot, and a couple of men sitting under the trees of the door yard. Faded bedding hung on the line and women moved through the rooms, but he could not see the Girl. Slowly he drove on until he came to the first house, and there he stopped and went in. He saw the child of the previous day, and as she came forward her mother appeared in the doorway.

The Harvester explained who he was and that he was examining the woods in search of some almost extinct herbs he needed in his business. Then he told of having been at the adjoining farm the day before and mentioned the sick woman. He added that later she had died.

He casually mentioned that a young woman there seemed pale and ill and wondered if the neighbours would see her through. He suggested that the place appeared as if the owner did not take much interest, and when the woman finished with Henry Jameson, he said how very important it seemed to him that some good, kind-hearted soul should go and mother the poor girl, and the woman thought she was the very person. Without knowing exactly how he did it, the Harvester left with her promise to remain with the Girl the coming two nights. The woman had her hands full of strange and delicious fruit without understanding why it had been given her, or why she had made those promises. She thought the Harvester a remarkably fine young man to take such interest in strangers and she told him he was welcome to anything he could find on her place that would help with his medicines.

The Harvester just happened to be coming from the woods as the woman freshly dressed left the house, so he took her in the wagon and drove back to the Jameson place, because he was going that way. Then he returned to Medicine Woods and worked with all his might.

First he polished floors, cleaned windows, and arranged the rooms as best he could inside the cabin; then he gave a finishing touch to everything outside. He could not have told why he did it, but he thought it was because there was hope that now the Girl would come to Onabasha. If he found opportunity to bring her to the city, he hoped that possibly he might drive home with her and show Medicine Woods, so everything must be in order. Then he worked with flying fingers in the dry-house, putting up her ginseng for market, and never was weight so liberal.

The next morning he drove early to Onabasha and came home with a loaded wagon, the contents of which he scattered through the cabin where it seemed most suitable, but the greater part of it was for her. He glanced at the bare floors and walls of the other rooms, and thought of trying to improve them, but he was afraid of not getting the right things.

"I don't know much about what is needed here," he said, "but I am perfectly safe in buying anything a girl ever used."

Then he returned to the city, explained the situation to the doctor, and selected the room he wanted in case the Girl could be persuaded to come to the hospital.

After that he went to see the doctor's wife, and made arrangements for her to be ready for a guest, because there was a possibility he might want to call for help.

He had another jug of fruit juice and all the delicacies he could think of, also a big cake of ice, when he reached the woods. There were only a few words for him.

"I will come to-morrow at two, if at all possible; if not, keep the money until I can."

There was nothing to do except to place his offering under the oilcloth and wait, but he simply was compelled to add a line to say he would be there, and to express the hope that she was comfortable as possible and thinking of the sunshine room. Then he returned to Medicine Woods to wait, and found that possible only by working to exhaustion. There were many things he could do, and one after another he finished them, until completely worn out; and then he slept the deep sleep of weariness.

At noon the next day he bathed, shaved, and dressed in fresh, clean clothing. He stopped in Onabasha for more fruit, and drove to the Jameson woods. He was waiting and watching the usual path the Girl followed, when her step sounded on the other side. The Harvester arose and turned. Her pallor was alarming. She stepped on the rug he had spread, and sank almost breathless to the chair.

"Why do you come a new way that fills you with fear?" asked the Harvester.

"It seems as if Uncle Henry is watching me every minute, and I didn't dare come where he could see. Imust not remain a second. You must take these things away and go at once. He is dreadful."

"So am I," said the Harvester, "when affairs go too everlastingly wrong. I am not afraid of any man living.

What are you planning to do?"

"I want to ask you, are you sure about the prices of my drawing and the ginseng?"

"Absolutely," said the Harvester. "As for the ginseng it went in fresh and early, best wild roots, and it brought eight a pound. There were eight pounds when I made up weight and here is your money."

He handed her a long envelope addressed to her.

"What is the amount?" she asked.

"Sixty-four dollars."

"I can't believe it."

"You have it in your fingers."

"You know that I would like to thank you properly, if I had words to express myself."

同类推荐
  • 文始真经注

    文始真经注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 瑞州洞山良价禅师语录

    瑞州洞山良价禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • In a German Pension

    In a German Pension

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 灵树远禅师云岩集

    灵树远禅师云岩集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 三命通会

    三命通会

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 网游之重拾山河

    网游之重拾山河

    这儿是我最熟悉的土地,当我回来那天……男儿生当带吴钩,收取关山五十州。当然,电竞圈美女那么多,也是可以……,你们先比赛着,我去那边看看。
  • 与杀手为邻

    与杀手为邻

    《与杀手为邻》选自希区柯克短篇故事集,包括《与杀手为邻》《白痴的证词》《逍遥法外》等十余篇短篇小说,文字简洁平实,情节曲折跌宕,结局却出人意料,并且往往让读者有一种身临其境的感觉。小说具有较高的可读性,富于现代特点,符合当下阅读习惯及阅读趋向,颇受年青一代欢迎。
  • 网游之无限跟班

    网游之无限跟班

    开局成为暗黑召唤使……单打独斗打不过?别着急,容我召唤个大家伙!什么?还是打不过?等一下,这次我要召唤两个!哈?还是不行?好吧,我脚下的地狱里可有的是,二三个不行,千百个总行吧?没事,我不急,慢慢来……自此,他猥琐的开挂流派开始了……
  • 仙途蔓延

    仙途蔓延

    一个被遗弃的女婴苏蔓,机缘巧合踏入仙途,却因为灵根特殊一直徘徊在天才与废柴之间,在不着调的师祖和师兄加上冷面师父的三重刺激下,苏蔓终于踏上大道,没想到,等待她的并不是一番坦途,而是更为艰难的考验,突然蹦出来的父母,突然被扼杀的爱情……原来站的越高要承受的就越多……不过所有的付出终将会有回报,找到自己的道,终将站在巅峰,笑看天下
  • 旧忆碎片

    旧忆碎片

    生活中总会出现一些胡思乱想,意淫妄念……(周更)
  • 史前文明:重复的时代(青少年科学探索营)

    史前文明:重复的时代(青少年科学探索营)

    本书介绍了一亿年前的人造地图、七十万年前的月球开采、两千年前的化学电池、矿石中奇特的人造物、埃及的远古飞机雕模、英国的巨石阵遗迹、荒凉高原上的文明遗迹、远古时期的地下古隧道、神秘的史前文明古物、哥斯达黎加巨型石球等内容。
  • 大圣道

    大圣道

    昔日的修炼天才孙圣一朝沦为废柴,受尽欺辱。被逐出家族后,养了许久的青牛竟口吐人言。青牛体内藏着绝世宝物神荒骨,移植神荒骨,可重塑丹田,脱胎换骨!前世记忆纷纷闪现,孙圣这才知道,自己的前世竟是神域高手!九尺方天戟,狂风卷波涛。一怒冲冠天尽啸,踏上云端,与天齐高。纵使血染长衫,纵使诸神挡道,笑逐颜对骂声操!我行我之道,哪管何为大道?圣路一途千磨难,战戟在握,谁人与我漫步九天云霄。
  • 网文超级写手

    网文超级写手

    (无敌流或者说没有敌人流)修行三部曲之一,写给合适的人看。(如果你喜欢血气方刚、快意恩仇、装逼打脸,这本书你基本不会喜欢,我的书会让你很难受、很纠结、很厌烦)我命在我不在天!修行就是掌控自我和升华自我的过程!而修行第一前提便是明心见性。什么是人?什么又是我?另两本为《此世之人》与《诸天传道士》。
  • 二次元的休闲

    二次元的休闲

    隐藏在平淡日常下的迷雾,林逸对着毒舌系统欲哭无泪,次品系统怎么玩?所谓的一切计划最后是为了什么?先不谈这些,生活费还是要解决的,借鉴之类的不能怪我了,这叫推广一下优秀轻小说作品。轻音的目标可不仅仅是武道馆我们的游戏可是要注定大卖哦
  • 总裁的挚爱

    总裁的挚爱

    怀孕两个月的时候,他突然毫无征兆的向她提出离婚。“没有转圜的余地吗?”她正在厨房给他做生日蛋糕,身上脸上都是可笑的面粉,他一贯轻佻的讥诮冷笑,坚定的摇头。“若是我……有了我们的孩子呢?”她试探着望住他,仍是浅浅的微笑。“我向来都有用安全措施,许欢颜。”他烦躁的摆摆手,将离婚协议推在她面前。她签了字,依照他协议上所说,净身出门,所拥有的,不过是那肚中三个月的小生命。五年后,申综昊从未想过,有一天会再和许欢颜这样见面,她挽着别的男人的手,大腹便便的对他微笑点头后,就从他身边头也不回的走过……