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A Mountain Woman
A Mountain Woman
By Elia Wilkinson Peattie
To My best Friend； and kindest Critic； My Husband。
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A Mountain Woman
IF Leroy Brainard had not had such a respect for literature； he would
have written a book。
As it was； he played at being an architect and succeeded in being a
charming fellow。 My sister Jessica never lost an opportunity of laughing at
his endeavors as an architect。
〃You can build an enchanting villa； but what would you do with a
cathedral？〃
〃I shall never have a chance at a cathe… dral；〃 he would reply。 〃And；
besides； it always seems to me so material and so im… pertinent to build a
little structure of stone and wood in which to worship God！〃
You see what he was like？ He was frivo… lous； yet one could never tell
when he would become eloquently earnest。
Brainard went off suddenly Westward one day。 I suspected that Jessica
was at the bottom of it； but I asked no questions； and I did not hear from
him for months。 Then I got a letter from Colorado。
〃I have married a mountain woman；〃 he wrote。 〃None of your puny
breed of modern femininity； but a remnant left over from the heroic ages； …
… a primitive woman； grand and vast of spirit； capable of true and steadfast
wifehood。 No sophistry about her； no knowledge even that there is
sophistry。 Heavens！ man； do you remember the ron… deaux and triolets I
used to write to those pretty creatures back East？ It would take a Saga man
of the old Norseland to write for my mountain woman。 If I were an artist；
I would paint her with the north star in her locks and her feet on purple
cloud。 I suppose you are at the Pier。 I know you usually are at this season。
At any rate； I shall direct this letter thither； and will follow close after it。 I
want my wife to see some… thing of life。 And I want her to meet your
sister。〃
〃Dear me！〃 cried Jessica； when I read the letter to her； 〃I don't know
that I care to meet anything quite so gigantic as that mountain woman。 I'm
one of the puny breed of modern femininity； you know。 I don't think my
nerves can stand the encounter。〃
〃Why； Jessica！〃 I protested。 She blushed a little。
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A Mountain Woman
〃Don't think bad of me； Victor。 But； you see； I've a little scrap…book of
those triolets upstairs。〃 Then she burst into a peal of irresistible laughter。
〃I'm not laughing because I am piqued；〃 she said frankly。 〃Though any
one will admit that it is rather irritating to have a man who left you in a
blasted condition recover with such extraordinary promptness。 As a phi…
lanthropist； one of course rejoices； but as a woman； Victor； it must be
admitted that one has a right to feel annoyed。 But； honestly； I am not
ungenerous； and I am going to do him a favor。 I shall write； and urge him
not to bring his wife here。 A primitive woman； with the north star in her
hair； would look well down there in the Casino eating a pineapple ice；
wouldn't she？ It's all very well to have a soul； you know； but it won't keep
you from looking like a guy among women who have good dressmakers。 I
shudder at the thought of what the poor thing will suffer if he brings her
here。〃
Jessica wrote； as she said she would； but； for all that； a fortnight later
she was walking down the wharf with the 〃mountain woman；〃 and I was
sauntering beside Leroy。 At dinner Jessica gave me no chance to talk with
our friend's wife； and I only caught the quiet contralto tones of her voice
now and then contrasting with Jessica's vivacious soprano。 A drizzling rain
came up from the east with nightfall。 Little groups of shivering men and
women sat about in the parlors at the card…tables； and one blond woman
sang love songs。 The Brainards were tired with their journey； and left us
early。 When they were gone； Jessica burst into eulogy。
〃That is the first woman；〃 she declared； 〃I ever met who would make a
fit heroine for a book。〃
〃Then you will not feel under obligations to educate her； as you
insinuated the other day？〃
〃Educate her！ I only hope she will help me to unlearn some of the
things I know。 I never saw such simplicity。 It is antique！〃
〃You're sure it's not mere vacuity？〃 〃Victor！ How can you？ But you
haven't talked with her。 You must to…morrow。 Good…night。〃 She gathered
up her trail… ing skirts and started down the corridor。 Suddenly she turned
back。 〃For Heaven's sake！〃 she whispered； in an awed tone； 〃I never even
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A Mountain Woman
noticed what she had on！〃
The next morning early we made up a riding party； and I rode with
Mrs。 Brainard。 She was as tall as I； and sat in her saddle as if quite
unconscious of her animal。 The road stretched hard and inviting under our
horses' feet。 The wind smelled salt。 The sky was ragged with gray masses
of cloud scudding across the blue。 I was beginning to glow with
exhilaration； when suddenly my companion drew in her horse。
〃If you do not mind； we will go back；〃 she said。
Her tone was dejected。 I thought she was tired。
〃Oh； no！〃 she protested； when I apolo… gized for my thoughtlessness in
bringing her so far。 〃I'm not tired。 I can ride all day。 Where I come from；
we have to ride if we want to go anywhere； but here there seems to be no
particular place to to reach。〃
〃Are you so utilitarian？〃 I asked； laugh… ingly。 〃Must you always have
some reason for everything you do？ I do so many things just for the mere
pleasure of doing them； I'm afraid you will have a very poor opinion of
me。〃
〃That is not what I mean；〃 she said； flushing； and turning her large
gray eyes on me。 〃You must not think I have a reason for everything I do。〃
She was very earnest； and it was evident that she was unacquainted with
the art of making conversation。 〃But what I mean；〃 she went on； 〃is that
there is no place no end to reach。〃 She looked back over her shoulder
toward the west； where the trees marked the sky line； and an expression of
loss and dissatisfaction came over her face。 〃You see；〃 she said； apolo…
getically； 〃I'm used to different things to the mountains。 I have never
been where I could not see them before in my life。〃
〃Ah； I see！ I suppose it is odd to look up and find them not there。〃
〃It's like being lost； this not having any… thing around you。 At least； I
mean；〃 she continued slowly； as if her thought could not easily put itself in
words； 〃I mean it seems as if a part of the world had been taken down。 It
makes you feel lonesome； as if you were living after the world had begun
to die。〃
〃You'll get used to it in a few days。 It seems very beautiful to me here。
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A Mountain Woman
And then you will have so much life to divert you。〃
〃Life？ But there is always that every… where。〃
〃I mean men and women。〃
〃Oh！ Still； I am not used to them。 I think I might be not not very
happy with them。 They might think me queer。 I think I would like to
show your sister the mountains。〃
〃She has seen them often。〃
〃Oh； she told me。 But I don't mean those pretty green hills such as we
saw com… ing here。 They are not like my mountains。 I like mountains that
go beyond the clouds； with terrible shadows in the hollows； and belts of
snow lying in the gorges where the sun cannot reach； and the snow is blue
in the sunshine； or shining till you think it is silver； and the mist so
wonderful all about it； changing each moment and drifting up and down；
that you cannot tell what name to give the colors。 These mountains of
yours here in the East are so quiet； mine are shouting all the time； with the
pines and the rivers。 The echoes are so loud in the valley that sometimes；
when the wind is rising； we can hardly hear a man talk unless he raises his
voice。 There are four cataracts near where I live； and they all have
different voices； just