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A Mountain Woman
The girl blushes a little。 〃By all means！〃 she cries； her eyes twinkling；
〃and and come to church。 Our morning sermons are really very much
better than those in the evening。〃 And she plays a waltz； and what with the
music and the warmth of the room and the perfume of the roses； a
something nameless and mystical steals over the poor clerk； and swathes
him about like the fumes of opium。 They are alone。 The silence is made
deeper by that rhythmic unswelling of sound。 As the painter flushes the
bare wall into splendor； these emotions illumi… nated his soul； and gave to
it that high cour… age that comes when men or women suddenly realize
that each life has its significance； their own lives no less than the lives
of others。
The man sitting there in the shadow in that noisy train saw in his
vision how the lad arose and moved； like one under a spell； toward the
piano。 He felt again the en… chantment of the music…ridden quiet； of the
perfume； and the presence of the woman。
〃Knowing you and speaking with you have not made much difference
with me；〃 he whispers； drunk on the new wine of passion； 〃for I have
loved you since I saw you first。 And though it is so sweet to hear you
speak； your voice is no more beautiful than I thought it would be。 I have
loved you a long time； and I want to know 〃
The broken man in the shadow remem… bered how the lad stopped；
astonished at his boldness and his fluency； overcome suddenly at the
thought of what he was saying。 The music stopped with a discord。 The girl
arose； trembling and scarlet。
〃I would not have believed it of you；〃 she cries； 〃to take advantage of
me like this； when I am alone and everything。 You know very well
that nothing but trouble could come to either of us from your telling me a
thing like that。〃
He puts his hands up to his face to keep off her anger。 He is
trembling with confusion。
Then she broke in penitently； trying to pull his hands away from his
hot face： 〃Never mind！ I know you didn't mean anything。 Be good； do； and
don't spoil the lovely times we have together。 You know very well father
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A Mountain Woman
and mother wouldn't let us see each other at all if they if they thought
you were saying anything such as you said just now。〃
〃Oh； but I can't help it！〃 cries the boy； despairingly。 〃I have never
loved anybody at all till now。 I don't mean not another girl； you know。 But
you are the first being I ever cared for。 I sometimes think mother cares for
me because I pay the rent。 And the office you can't imagine what that is
like。 The men in it are moving corpses。 They're proud to be that way； and
so was I till I knew you and learned what life was like。 All the happy
moments I have had have been here。 Now； if you tell me that we are not to
care for each other 〃
There was some one coming down the hall。 The curtain lifted。 A
middle…aged man stood there looking at him。
〃Culross；〃 said he； 〃I'm disappointed in you。 I didn't mean to listen； but
I couldn't help hearing what you said just now。 I don't blame you
particularly。 Young men will be fools。 And I do not in any way mean to
insult you when I tell you to stop your coming here。 I don't want to see
you inside this door again； and after a while you will thank me for it。 You
have taken a very unfair advantage of my invitation。 I make allowances
for your youth。〃
He held back the curtain for the lad to pass out。 David threw a
miserable glance at the girl。 She was standing looking at her father with an
expression that David could not fathom。 He went into the hall； picked up
his hat； and walked out in silence。
David wondered that night； walking the chilly streets after he quitted
the house； and often； often afterward； if that comfortable and prosperous
gentleman； safe beyond the perturbations of youth； had any idea of what
he had done。 How COULD he know anything of the black monotony of
the life of the man he turned from his door？ The 〃desk's dead wood〃 and
all its hateful slavery； the dull darkened rooms where his mother prosed
through endless evenings； the bookless； joyless； hopeless existence that
had cramped him all his days rose up before him； as a stretch of unbroken
plain may rise before a lost man till it maddens him。
The bowed man in the car…seat remem… bered with a flush of
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A Mountain Woman
reminiscent misery how the lad turned suddenly in his walk and entered
the door of a drinking…room that stood open。 It was very comfortable
within。 The screens kept out the chill of the autumn night； the sawdust…
sprinkled floor was clean； the tables placed near together； the bar glittering；
the attendants white…aproned and brisk。
David liked the place； and he liked better still the laughter that came
from a room within。 It had a note in it a little different from anything he
had ever heard before in his life； and one that echoed his mood。 He
ventured to ask if he might go into the farther room。
It does not mean much when most young men go to a place like this。
They take their bit of unwholesome dissipation quietly enough； and are a
little coarser and more careless each time they indulge in it； perhaps。 But
certainly their acts； whatever gradual deterioration they may indicate；
bespeak no sudden moral revolution。 With this young clerk it was different。
He was a worse man from the moment he entered the door； for he did
violence to his principles； he killed his self…respect。
He had been paid at the office that night； and he had the money a
week's miserable pittance in his pocket。 His every action revealed the
fact that he was a novice in recklessness。 His innocent face piqued the men
within。 They gave him a welcome that amazed him。 Of course the rest of
the evening was a chaos to him。 The throat down which he poured the
liquor was as tender as a child's。 The men turned his head with their
ironical compliments。 Their boisterous good…fellowship was as intoxicat…
ing to this poor young recluse as the liquor。
It was the revulsion from this feeling； when he came to a
consciousness that the men were laughing at him and not with him； that
wrecked his life。 He had gone from beer to whiskey； and from whiskey to
brandy； by this time； at the suggestion of the men； and was making
awkward lunges with a billiard cue； spurred on by the mock… ing applause
of the others。 One young fellow was particularly hilarious at his expense。
His jokes became insults； or so they seemed to David。
A quarrel followed； half a jest on the part of the other； all serious as far
as David was concerned。 And then Well； who could tell how it happened？
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A Mountain Woman
The billiard cue was in David's hand； and the skull of the jester was split； a
horrible gaping thing； revolt… ingly animal。
David never saw his home again。 His mother gave it out in church that
her heart was broken； and she wrote a letter to David begging him to
reform。 She said she would never cease to pray for him； that he might
return to grace。 He had an attorney； an impecunious and very aged
gentleman； whose life was a venerable failure； and who talked so much
about his personal inconveniences from indigestion that he forgot to take a
very keen interest in the concerns of his client。 David's trial made no
sensation。 He did not even have the cheap sympathy of the morbid。 The
court…room was almost empty the dull spring day when the east wind beat
against the window； jangling the loose panes all through the reading of the
verdict。
Twenty years！
Twenty years in the penitentiary！
David looked up at the judge and smiled。 Men have been known to