the woman-haters-第24部分

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The　lady　refused　to　〃scooch。〃

〃If　I　ain't　ashamed　of　bein'　seen；〃　she　observed；　〃I　don't　know　why
you　should　be。　　What　are　you　doin'　over　here　anyhow；　skippin'　'round
in　the　sand　like　a　hoptoad？〃

The　lightkeeper　repeated　his　plea。

〃Do　set　down；　Emeline；　please；〃　he　urged。　　〃I　thought　you　and　me'd
agreed　that　nobody'd　ought　to　see　us　together。〃

Mrs。　Bascom　gathered　her　skirts　about　her　and　with　great
deliberation　seated　herself　upon　a　hummock。

〃We　did　have　some　such　bargain；〃　she　replied。　　〃That's　why　I　can't
understand　your　hidin'　at　my　back　door　and　whistlin'　and　wavin'　like
a　young　one。　　What　did　you　come　here　for；　anyway？〃

Seth　answered　with　righteous　indignation。

〃I　come　for　my　shirt；〃　he　declared。

〃Your　shirt？〃

〃Yes；　my　other　shirt。　　I　left　it　in　the　kitchen　this　mornin'；　and
thatthat　helper　of　mine　says　you　was　in　the　chair　along　with　it。〃

〃Humph！　　Did　he　have　the　impudence　to　say　I　took　it？〃

〃Noo。　　No；　course　he　didn't。　　But　it's　gone　andand〃

〃What　would　I　want　of　your　shirt？　　Didn't　think　I　was　cal'latin'　to
wear　it；　did　you？〃

〃No；　but〃

〃I　should　hope　not。　　I　ain't　a　Doctor　Mary　Walker；　or　whatever　her
name　is。〃

〃But　you　did　take　it；　just　the　same。　　I'm　sartin　you　did。　　You　must
have。〃

The　lady's　mouth　relaxed；　and　there　was　a　twinkle　in　her　eye。

〃All　right；　Seth；〃　she　said。　　〃Suppose　I　did；　what　then？〃

〃I　want　it　back；　that's　all。〃

〃You　can　have　it。　　Now　what　do　you　s'pose　I　took　it　for？〃

〃III　don't　know。〃

〃You　don't　know？　　Humph！　　Did　you　think　I　wanted　to　keep　it　as　a
souveneer　of　last　night's　doin's？〃

Her　companion　looked　rather　foolish。　　He　picked　up　a　handful　of　sand
and　sifted　it　through　his　fingers。

〃Noo；〃　he　stammered。　　〃II　know　how　partic'lar　you　areyou　used
to　be　about　such　things；　and　I　thought　maybe　you　didn't　like　the　way
that　button　was　sewed　on。〃

He　glanced　up　at　her　with　an　embarrassed　smile；　which　broadened　as
he　noticed　her　expression。

〃Well；〃　she　admitted；　〃you　guessed　right。　　There's　some　things　I
can't　bear　to　have　in　my　neighborhood；　and　your　kind　of　sewin'　is
one　of　'em。　　Besides；　I　owed　you　that　much　for　keepin'　me　out　of　the
wet　last　night。〃

〃Oh！　　I　judged　by　the　way　you　lit　into　me　for　luggin'　you　acrost
that　marsh　that　all　you　owed　me　was　a　grudge。　　I　DID　lug　you；
though；　in　spite　of　your　kickin'；　didn't　I？〃

He　nodded　with　grim　triumph。　　She　smiled。

〃You　did；　that's　a　fact；〃　she　said。　　〃I　was　pretty　mad　at　the　time；
but　when　I　come　to　think　it　over　I　felt　diff'rent。　　Anyhow　I've
sewed　on　those　buttons　the　way　they'd　ought　to　be。〃

〃Much　obliged。　　I　guess　they'll　stay　now　for　a　spell。　　You　always
could　sew　on　buttons　better'n　anybody　ever　I　see。〃

〃Humph！〃　。　。　。　　Then；　after　an　interval　of　silence：　〃What　are　you
grinnin'　to　yourself　about？〃

〃Hey？　。　。　。　　Oh；　I　was　just　thinkin'　how　you　mended　up　that　Rogers
young　one's　duds　when　he　fell　out　of　our　Bartlett　pear　tree。　　He　was
the　raggedest　mess　ever　I　come　acrost　when　I　picked　him　up。　　Yellin'
like　a　wild　thing　he　was；　and　his　clothes　half　tore　off。〃

〃No　wonder　he　yelled。　　Caught　stealin'　pearshe　expected　to　be
thrashed　for　thatand　he　KNEW　Melindy　Rogers　would　whip　him；　for
tearin'　his　Sunday　suit。　　Poor　little　thing！　　Least　I　could　do　was
to　make　his　clothes　whole。　　I　always　pity　a　child　with　a　stepmother；
special　when　she's　Melindy's　kind。〃

〃What's　become　of　them　Rogerses？　　Still　livin'　in　the　Perry　house；
are　they？〃

〃No。　　Old　Abel　Perry　turned　'em　out　of　that　when　the　rent　got
behind。　　He's　the　meanest　skinflint　that　ever　strained　skim　milk。
He　got　married　again　a　year　ago。〃

〃NO！　　Who　was　the　victim？　　Somebody　from　the　Feeble…Minded　Home？〃

She　gave　the　name　of　Mr。　Perry's　bride；　and　before　they　knew　it　the
pair　were　deep　in　village　gossip。　　For　many　minutes　they　discussed
the　happenings　in　the　Cape　Ann　hamlet；　and　then　Seth　was　recalled　to
the　present　by　a　casual　glance　at　his　watch。

〃Land！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Look　at　the　time！　　This　talk　with　you　has
seemed　soso　natural　and　old…timey；　that　。　。　。　　Well；　I've　got　to
go。〃

He　was　scrambling　to　his　feet。　　She　also　attempted　to　rise；　but
found　it　difficult。

〃Here；〃　he　cried；　〃give　me　your　hand。　　I'll　help　you　up。〃

〃I　don't　want　any　help。　　Let　me　alone。　　Let　me　ALONE；　I　tell　you。〃

His　answer　was　to　seize　her　about　the　waist　and　swing　her　bodily　to
her　feet。　　She　was　flushed　and　embarrassed。　　Then　she　laughed
shortly　and　shook　her　head。

〃What　are　you　laughin'　at？〃　he　demanded；　peering　over　the　knoll　to
make　sure　that　neither　John　Brown　nor　Miss　Graham　was　in　sight。

〃Oh；　not　much；〃　she　answered。　　〃You　kind　of　surprise　me；　Seth。〃

〃Why？〃

〃'Cause　you've　changed　so。〃

〃Changed？　　How？〃

〃Oh；　changed；　that's　all。　　You　seem　to　have　more　spunk　than　you　used
to　have。〃

〃Humph！　　Think　so；　do　you？〃

〃Yes；　I　do。　　I　think　bein'　a　lightkeeper　must　be　good　for　some
folkssome　kind　of　folks。〃

〃I　want　to　know！〃

〃Yes；　you　better　be　careful；　or　you'll　be　a　real　man　some　day。〃

His　answer　was　an　angry　stare　and　a　snort。　　Then　he　turned　on　his
heel　and　was　striding　off。

〃Wait！〃　she　called。　　〃Hold　on！　　Don't　you　want　your　shirt？　　Stay
here；　and　I'll　go　into　the　house　and　fetch　it。〃

He　waited；　sullen　and　reluctant；　until　she　returned　with　the　article
of　apparel　in　one　hand　and　the　other　concealed　beneath　her　apron。

〃Here　it　is；〃　she　said；　presenting　the　shirt　to　him。

〃Thank　you；〃　he　grumbled；　taking　it。　　〃Much　obliged　for　sewin'　on
the　button。〃

〃You're　welcome。　　It　squares　us　for　your　pilotin'　me　over　the　marsh；
that's　all。　　'Twa'n't　any　favor；　I　owed　it　to　you。〃

He　was　turning　the　shirt　over　in　his　hands。

〃Well；〃　he　began；　then　stopped　and　looked　fixedly　at　the　garment。

〃I　see　you've　mended　that　hole　in　the　sleeve；〃　he　said。　　〃You　didn't
owe　me　that；　did　you？〃

She　changed　color　slightly。

〃Oh；〃　she　said；　with　a　toss　of　her　head；　〃that's　nothin'。　　Just　for
good　measure。　　I　never　could　abide　rags　on　anybody　thatthat　I　had
to　look　at　whether　I　wanted　to　or　not。〃

〃'Twas　real　good　of　you　to　mend　it；　Emeline。　　Say；〃　he　stirred　the
sand　with　his　boot；　〃you　mentioned　that　you　cal'lated　I'd　changed
some；　was　more　of　a　man　than　I　used　to　be。　　Do　you　know　why？〃

〃No。　　Unless；〃　with　sarcasm；　〃it　was　because　I　wa'n't　around。〃

〃It　ain't　that。　　It's　because；　Emeline；　it's　because　down　here　I'm
nigher　bein'　where　I　belong　than　anywheres　else　but　one　place。　　That
place　is　at　sea。　　When　I'm　on　salt　water　I'm　a　manyou　don't
believe　it；　but　I　am。　　On　land　II　don't　seem　to　fit　in　right。
Keepin'　a　light　like　this　is　next　door　to　bein'　at　sea。〃

〃Seth；　I　want　to　ask　you　a　question。　　Why　didn't　you　go　to　sea　when
you　ranwhen　you　left　me？　　I　s'posed　of　course　you　had。　　Why　didn't
you？〃

He　looked　at　her　in　surprise。

〃Go　to　sea？〃　he　repeated。　　〃Go　to　SEA？　　How　could　I？　　Didn't　I
promise　you　I'd　never　go　to　sea　again？〃

〃Was　that　the　reason？〃

〃Sartin。　　What　else？〃

She　did　not　answer。　　There　was　an　odd　expression　on　her　face。　　He
turned　to　go。

〃Well；　good…by；〃　he　said。

〃Good…by。　　ErSeth。〃

〃Yes；　what　is　it？〃

〃II　want　to　tell　you；〃　she　stammered；　〃that　I　appreciated　your
leavin'　that　money　and　stocks　at　the　bank　in　my　name。　　I　couldn't
take　'em；　of　course；　but　'twas　good　of　you。　　I　appreciated　it。〃

〃That's　all　right。〃

〃Wait。　　Here！　　Maybe　you'd　like　these。〃　　She　took　the　hand　from
beneath　her　apron　and　extended　it　toward　him。　　It　held　a　pan　heaped
with　objects　flat；　brown；　and　deliciously　fragrant。　　He　looked　at
the　pan　and　its　contents　uncomprehendingly。

〃What's　them？〃　he　demanded。

〃They're　molasses　cookies。　　I've　been　bakin'；　and　these　are　some
extry　ones　I　had　left　over。　　You　can　have　'em　if　you　want　'em。〃

〃Whywhy；　Emeline！　this　is　mighty　kind　of　you。〃

〃Not　a　mite；〃　sharply。　　〃I　baked　a　good　many　more'n　Miss　Ruth　and　I
can　dispose　of；　and　that　poor　helper　man　of　yours　ought　to　be　glad
to　get　'em　after　the　cast…iron　pound…weights　that　you　and　he　have
been　tryin'　to　live　on。　　Mercy　on　us！　the　thoughts　of　the　cookies　he
showed　me　this　mornin'　have　stayed　in　my　head　ever　since。　　Made　me
feel　as　if　I　was　partly　responsible　for　murder。〃

〃But　it's　kind　of　you；　just　the　same。〃

〃Rubbish！　　I'd　do　as　much　for　a　pig　any　day。　　There！　you've　got　your
shirt；　now　you'd　better　go　home。〃

She　forced　the　pan　of　cookies　into　his　hand　and　moved　off。　　The
lightkeeper　hesitated。

〃II'll　fetch　the　pan　back　to…morrer；〃　he　called　after　her　in　a
loud　whisper。


CHAPTER　XII

THE　LETTER　AND　THE　'PHONE


The　cookies　appeared　on　the　table　that　evening。　　Brown　noticed　them
at　once。

〃When　did　you　bake　these？〃　he　asked。

Atkins　made　no　reply；　so　the　question　was　repeated　with　a　variation。

〃Did　you　bake　these　this　afternoon？〃　inquired　the　substitute
assistant。

〃Humph？　　Hey？　　Oh；　yes；　I　guess　so。　　Why？　　Anything　the　matter　with
'em？〃

〃Matter　with　them？　　No。　　They're　the　finest　things　I've　tasted　since
I　came　here。　　New　receipt；　isn't　it？〃

〃Cal'late　so。〃

〃I　thought　it　must　be。　　I'll　take　another。〃

He　took　another；　and　many　others　thereafter。　　He　and　his　superior
cleared　the　plate　between　them。

Brown　was　prepared　for　questions　concerning　his　occupation　of　the
afternoon　and　was　ready　with　some　defiant　queries　of　his　own。　　But
no　occasion　arose　for　either　defiance　or　cross…examination。　　Seth
never　hinted　at　a　suspicion　nor　mentioned　the　young　lady　at　the
bungalow。　　Brown　therefore　remained　silent　concerning　what　he　had
seen　from　the　attic　window。　　He　would　hold　that　in　reserve；　and　if
Atkins　ever　did　accuse　him　of　bad　faith　or　breach　of　contract　he
could　retort　in　kind。　　His　conscience　was　clear　nowhe　was　no　more
of　a　traitor　than　Seth　himselfand；　this　being　so；　he　felt
delightfully　independent。　　If　trouble　came　he　was　ready　for　it；　and
in　the　meantime　he　should　do　as　he　pleased。

But　no　trouble　came。　　That　day；　and　for　many　days　thereafter；　the
lightkeeper　was　sweetness　itself。　　He　and　his　helper　had　never　been
more　anxious　to　please　each　other；　and　the　house　at　Twin…Lights　was
to　all　appearancesan　abode　of　perfect　trust　and　peace。　　Every
day；　when　Seth　was　asleep　or　out　of　the　way；　〃working　on　the　Daisy
M。；〃　the　assistant　swam　to　the　c