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A Mountain Woman
farmers have patience to work there。〃
Annie opened her eyes。 There was evi… dently more than one way of
looking at a question。 The farm…houses seemed very low and mean to her；
as she looked at them from the window。 There were no fences； excepting
now and then the inhospitable barbed wire。 The door…yards were bleak to
her eyes； without the ornamental shrubbery which every farmer in her part
of the country was used to tending。 The cattle stood un… shedded in their
corrals。 The reapers and binders stood rusting in the dull drizzle。
〃How shiftless！〃 cried Annie； indignantly。 〃What do these men mean
by letting their machinery lie out that way？ I should think one winter of
lying out would hurt it more than three summers of using。〃
〃It does。 But sheds are not easily had。 Lumber is dear。〃
〃But I should think it would be economy even then。〃
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃perhaps。 But we all do that way out here。 It takes some
money for a man to be economical with。 Some of us haven't even that
much。〃
There was a six…mile ride from the station。 The horses were waiting；
hitched up to a serviceable light wagon； and driven by the 〃help。〃 He was
a thin young man； with red hair； and he blushed vicariously for Jim and
Annie； who were really too entertained with each other； and at the idea of
the new life opening up before them； to think any… thing about blushing。
At the station； a number of men insisted on shaking hands with Jim； and
being introduced to his wife。 They were all bearded； as if shaving were an
unnecessary labor； and their trousers were tucked in dusty top…boots； none
of which had ever seen blacking。 Annie had a sense of these men seeming
unwashed； or as if they had slept in their clothes。 But they had kind voices；
and their eyes were very friendly。 So she shook hands with them all with
heartiness； and asked them to drive out and bring their womenkind。
〃I am going to make up my mind not to be lonesome；〃 she declared；
〃but； all the same； I shall want to see some women。〃
Annie had got safe on the high seat of the wagon； and was balancing
her little feet on the inclined foot…rest； when a woman came running across
the street； calling aloud；
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A Mountain Woman
〃Mr。 Lancy！ Mr。 Lancy！ You're not going to drive away without
introducing me to your wife！〃
She was a thin little woman； with move… ments as nervous and as
graceless as those of a grasshopper。 Her dun…colored garments seemed to
have all the hue bleached out of them with wind and weather。 Her face
was brown and wrinkled； and her bright eyes flashed restlessly； deep in
their sockets。 Two front teeth were conspicuously missing； and her faded
hair was blown in wisps about her face。 Jim performed the introduction；
and Annie held out her hand。 It was a pretty hand； delicately gloved in
dove color。 The woman took it in her own； and after she had shaken it；
held it for a silent mo… ment； looking at it。 Then she almost threw it from
her。 The eyes which she lifted to scan the bright young face above her had
something like agony in them。 Annie blushed under this fierce scrutiny；
and the woman； suddenly conscious of her demeanor； forced a smile to her
lips。
〃I'll come out an' see yeh；〃 she said； in cordial tones。 〃May be； as a
new house… keeper； you'll like a little advice。 You've a nice place； an' I
wish yeh luck。〃
〃Thank you。 I'm sure I'll need advice；〃 cried Annie； as they drove off。
Then she said to Jim； 〃Who is that old woman？〃
〃Old woman？ Why； she ain't a day over thirty； Mis' Dundy ain't。〃
Annie looked at her husband blankly。 But he was already talking of
something else； and she asked no more about the woman； though all the
way along the road the face seemed to follow her。 It might have been this
that caused the tightening about her heart。 For some way her vivacity had
gone； and the rest of the ride she asked no questions； but sat looking
straight before her at the northward stretching road； with eyes that felt
rather than saw the brown； bare undulations； rising every now and then
clean to the sky； at the side； little famished… looking houses； unacquainted
with paint； disorderly yards； and endless reaches of furrowed ground；
where in summer the corn had waved。
The horses needed no indication of the line to make them turn up a
smooth bit of road that curved away neatly 'mid the ragged grasses。 At the
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A Mountain Woman
end of it； in a clump of puny scrub oaks； stood a square little house； in
uncorniced simplicity； with blank； uncur… tained windows staring out at
Annie； and for a moment her eyes； blurred with the cold； seemed to see in
one of them the despairing face of the woman with the wisps of faded hair
blowing about her face。
〃Well； what do you think of it？〃 Jim cried； heartily； swinging her down
from her high seat； and kissing her as he did so。 〃This is your home； my
girl； and you are as welcome to it as you would be to a palace； if I could
give it to you。〃
Annie put up her hands to hide the trem… bling of her lips； and she let
Jim see there were tears in her eyes as an apology for not replying。 The
young man with the red hair took away the horses； and Jim； with his arm
around his wife's waist； ran toward the house and threw open the door for
her to enter。 The intense heat of two great stoves struck in their faces； and
Annie saw the big burner； erected in all its black hideousness in the middle
of the front room； like a sort of household hoodoo； to be constantly propi…
tiated； like the gods of Greece； and in the kitchen； the new range； with a
distracted tea…kettle leaping on it； as if it would like to loose its fetters and
race away over the prairie after its cousin； the locomotive。
It was a house of four rooms； and a glance revealed the fact that it had
been provided with the necessaries。
〃I think we can be very comfortable here；〃 said Jim； rather doubtfully。
Annie saw she must make some response。 〃I am sure we can be more
than comfort… able； Jim；〃 she replied。 〃We can be happy。 Show me； if you
please； where my room is。 I must hang my cloak up in the right place so
that I shall feel as if I were getting settled。〃
It was enough。 Jim had no longer any doubts。 He felt sure they were
going to be happy ever afterward。
It was Annie who got the first meal； she insisted on it； though both the
men wanted her to rest。 And Jim hadn't the heart to tell her that； as a
general thing； it would not do to put two eggs in the corn…cake； and that
the beefsteak was a great luxury。 When he saw her about to break an egg
for the coffee； however； he interfered。
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A Mountain Woman
〃The shells of the ones you used for the cake will settle the coffee just
as well；〃 he said。 〃You see we have to be very careful of eggs out here at
this season。〃
〃Oh！ Will the shells really settle it？ This is what you must call prairie
lore。 I suppose out here we find out what the real relations of invention
and necessity are eh？〃
Jim laughed disproportionately。 He thought her wonderfully witty。
And he and the help ate so much that Annie opened her eyes。 She had
thought there would be enough left for supper。 But there was nothing left。
For the next two weeks Jim was able to be much with her； and they
amused themselves by decorating the house with the bright curtainings
that Annie had brought； and putting up shelves for a few pieces of china。
She had two or three pictures； also； which had come from her room in her
old home； and some of those useless dainty things with which some
women like to litter the room。
〃Most folks；〃 Jim explained； 〃have to be content with one fire； and sit
in the kitchen； but I thought； as this was our honeymoon； we would put on
some lugs。〃
Annie said nothing then； but a day or two after she ventured；
〃Perhaps it would be as well now； d