ÓÑÇéÌáʾ£ºÈç¹û±¾ÍøÒ³´ò¿ªÌ«Âý»òÏÔʾ²»ÍêÕû£¬Çë³¢ÊÔÊó±êÓÒ¼ü¡°Ë¢Ð¡±±¾ÍøÒ³£¡ÔĶÁ¹ý³Ì·¢ÏÖÈκδíÎóÇë¸æËßÎÒÃÇ£¬Ð»Ð»£¡£¡ ±¨¸æ´íÎó
¾ÅÉ«Êé¼® ·µ»Ø±¾ÊéĿ¼ ÎÒµÄÊé¼Ü ÎÒµÄÊéÇ© TXTÈ«±¾ÏÂÔØ ½øÈëÊé°É ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©

a mountain woman(ɽ¸¾)-µÚ9ÕÂ

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




She¡¡laid¡¡the¡¡piteous¡¡tiny¡¡shape¡¡straight¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bed£»¡¡threw¡¡a¡¡sheet¡¡over¡¡it£»¡¡

and¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡weltering¡¡kitchen¡¡to¡¡cook¡¡for¡¡those¡¡men£»¡¡who¡¡came¡¡

at¡¡noon¡¡and¡¡who¡¡must¡¡be¡¡fed¡¡¡¡who¡¡must¡¡be¡¡fed¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡they¡¡were¡¡all¡¡seated¡¡at¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡Jim¡¡among¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡

served¡¡them£»¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡standing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡with¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡

her¡¡hips£º¡¡¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡suppose¡¡any¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡have¡¡time¡¡to¡¡do¡¡anything¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡

thought¡¡you¡¡might¡¡like¡¡to¡¡know¡¡that¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡is¡¡dead¡£¡¡I¡¡wouldn't¡¡think¡¡of¡¡

asking¡¡you¡¡to¡¡spare¡¡the¡¡horses£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡know¡¡they¡¡have¡¡to¡¡rest¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡thought£»¡¡

if¡¡you¡¡could¡¡make¡¡out¡¡on¡¡a¡¡cold¡¡supper£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡would¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡town¡¡for¡¡a¡¡

coffin¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡satire¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡voice¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡stung¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡dull¡¡

perceptions¡¡of¡¡these¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡Jim¡¡arose¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡and¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡room¡¡

where¡¡his¡¡dead¡¡baby¡¡lay¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡About¡¡two¡¡months¡¡after¡¡this¡¡Annie¡¡in¡­¡¡sisted¡¡that¡¡she¡¡must¡¡go¡¡home¡¡to¡¡

Illinois¡£¡¡Jim¡¡protested¡¡in¡¡a¡¡way¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡know£»¡¡I'd¡¡like¡¡to¡¡send¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡see¡¡where¡¡the¡¡

money¡¡is¡¡to¡¡come¡¡from¡£¡¡And¡¡since¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡this¡¡nomination£»¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡run¡¡

as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡I¡¡can¡£¡¡My¡¡friends¡¡expect¡¡me¡¡to¡¡do¡¡my¡¡best¡¡for¡¡them¡£¡¡It's¡¡a¡¡duty£»¡¡

you¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡know£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡nothing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡less£»¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡few¡¡¡¡¡¡men£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡get¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡

legislature¡£¡¡We're¡¡going¡¡to¡¡get¡¡a¡¡railroad¡¡bill¡¡through¡¡this¡¡session¡¡that¡¡will¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡30¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡31¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡Mountain¡¡Woman¡¡



straighten¡¡out¡¡a¡¡good¡¡many¡¡things¡£¡¡Be¡¡patient¡¡a¡¡little¡¡longer£»¡¡Annie¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡want¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡home£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡reply¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡got¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡get¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

money£»¡¡some¡¡way£»¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡go¡¡home¡¡with¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡haven't¡¡paid¡¡a¡¡cent¡¡of¡¡interest¡¡yet£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried¡¡angrily¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡see¡¡what¡¡

you¡¡mean¡¡by¡¡being¡¡so¡¡unreasonable£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡must¡¡get¡¡the¡¡money£»¡¡some¡¡way£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡reiterated¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡speak¡¡to¡¡her¡¡for¡¡a¡¡week£»¡¡ex¡­¡¡cept¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡obliged¡¡to¡£¡¡

But¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡mind£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡the¡¡money¡£¡¡He¡¡took¡¡her¡¡to¡¡

the¡¡train¡¡in¡¡the¡¡little¡¡wagon¡¡that¡¡had¡¡met¡¡her¡¡when¡¡she¡¡first¡¡came¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡

station£»¡¡some¡¡women¡¡were¡¡gossiping¡¡excitedly£»¡¡and¡¡Annie¡¡asked¡¡what¡¡they¡¡

were¡¡saying¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡Mis'¡¡Dundy£»¡¨¡¡they¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨She's¡¡been¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡th'¡¡insane¡¡asylum¡¡at¡¡

Lincoln¡£¡¡She's¡¡gone¡¡stark¡¡mad¡£¡¡All¡¡she¡¡said¡¡on¡¡the¡¡way¡¡out¡¡was£»¡¡'Th'¡¡butter¡¡

won't¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡come£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Th'¡¡¡¡¡¡butter¡¡¡¡¡¡won't¡¡¡¡¡¡come£¡'¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡laughed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

strange¡¡laugh£»¡¡and¡¡Annie¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡a¡¡drinking¡­song¡¡she¡¡had¡¡once¡¡heard£»¡¡

¡¨Here's¡¡to¡¡the¡¡next¡¡who¡¡dies¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Ten¡¡days¡¡after¡¡this¡¡Jim¡¡got¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡from¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡never¡¡coming¡¡back£»¡¡

Jim£»¡¨¡¡it¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡hopeless¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡I¡¡would¡¡mind¡¡standing¡¡still¡¡to¡¡

be¡¡shot¡¡down¡¡if¡¡there¡¡was¡¡any¡¡good¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡But¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡going¡¡back¡¡there¡¡to¡¡

work¡¡harder¡¡than¡¡any¡¡slave¡¡for¡¡those¡¡money¡­loaners¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rail¡­¡¡roads¡£¡¡I¡¡

guess¡¡they¡¡can¡¡all¡¡get¡¡along¡¡with¡­¡¡out¡¡me¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡I¡¡can¡¡get¡¡along¡¡

without¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡think¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡make¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡feel¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡bad¡£¡¡You¡¡

haven't¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡notice¡¡me¡¡very¡¡much¡¡lately¡¡when¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡around£»¡¡and¡¡

I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡think¡¡you¡¡will¡¡notice¡¡very¡¡much¡¡when¡¡I¡¡am¡¡gone¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡what¡¡

this¡¡¡¡¡¡means¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡am¡¡¡¡¡¡breaking¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡word¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡leave¡¡¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡

remember£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡you¡¡I¡¡leave£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡soil£»¡¡Jim£¡¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡its¡¡slave¡¡any¡¡

longer¡£¡¡If¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡care¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡come¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡here£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡live¡¡¡¡another¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡no£»¡¡

there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡no¡¡use¡£¡¡Our¡¡love£»¡¡like¡¡our¡¡toil£»¡¡has¡¡been¡¡eaten¡¡up¡¡by¡¡those¡¡

rapacious¡¡acres¡£¡¡Let¡¡us¡¡say¡¡good¡­¡¡by¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Jim¡¡¡¡¡¡sat¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡night¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡letter¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Sometimes¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡dozed¡¡

heavily¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡chair¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡bed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡next¡¡¡¡¡¡morning¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡

hitched¡¡up¡¡his¡¡horses¡¡and¡¡rode¡¡to¡¡town¡£¡¡He¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡which¡¡held¡¡

his¡¡notes¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡31¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡32¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡Mountain¡¡Woman¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡confess¡¡judgment¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡you¡¡like£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡all¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡

me¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡done¡¡as¡¡quickly¡¡as¡¡the¡¡law¡¡would¡¡allow¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡things¡¡in¡¡the¡¡

house¡¡were¡¡sold¡¡by¡¡auction¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡farmers¡¡were¡¡there¡¡with¡¡their¡¡wives¡£¡¡It¡¡

made¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡quite¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡outing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Jim¡¡¡¡¡¡moved¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡around¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡impassively£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

chatted£»¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡with¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡about¡¡what¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡ought¡¡

to¡¡bring¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡auctioneer¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡clever¡¡¡¡¡¡fellow¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Be¡­¡¡¡¡¡¡tween¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡putting¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

articles£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡sang¡¡¡¡¡¡comic¡¡¡¡¡¡songs£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡funnier¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡song£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡livelier¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

bidding¡¡that¡¡followed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡horses¡¡brought¡¡a¡¡decent¡¡price£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ma¡­¡¡

chinery¡¡a¡¡disappointing¡¡one£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡delicious¡¡snatch¡¡about¡¡Nell¡¡

who¡¡¡¡¡¡rode¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sway¡­backed¡¡¡¡¡¡mare¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡county¡¡¡¡¡¡fair£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡got¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

furniture£»¡¡¡¡the¡¡furniture¡¡which¡¡Jim¡¡had¡¡bought¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡expect¡­¡¡ing¡¡

Annie¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Jim¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡walking¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡around¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡hands¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡pockets£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡looking¡¡

unconcerned£»¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡furniture¡¡began¡¡to¡¡go¡¡off£»¡¡he¡¡came¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡

in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡Every¡¡one¡¡noticed¡¡his¡¡indifference¡£¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡said¡¡

that¡¡after¡¡all¡¡he¡¡couldn't¡¡have¡¡been¡¡very¡¡ambitious¡£¡¡He¡¡didn't¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡take¡¡

his¡¡¡¡¡¡failure¡¡¡¡¡¡much¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡heart¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Every¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡concentrating¡¡¡¡¡¡attention¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

cooking¡­¡¡¡¡¡¡stove£»¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡Jim¡¡¡¡¡¡leaned¡¡¡¡¡¡forward£»¡¡¡¡¡¡quickly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡wicker¡¡

work¡­stand¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡unfinished¡¡sewing¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡fell¡¡out¡¡as¡¡he¡¡lifted¡¡

the¡¡cover¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡baby's¡¡linen¡¡shirt¡£¡¡Jim¡¡let¡¡it¡¡lie£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡lifted¡¡from¡¡its¡¡

receptacle¡¡a¡¡silver¡¡thimble¡£¡¡He¡¡put¡¡it¡¡in¡¡his¡¡vest¡­pocket¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡campaign¡¡came¡¡on¡¡shortly¡¡after¡¡this£»¡¡and¡¡Jim¡¡Lancy¡¡was¡¡defeated¡£¡¡

¡¨I'm¡¡¡¡¡¡going¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Omaha£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡station¡­master£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨and¡¡¡¡¡¡I've¡¡¡¡¡¡got¡¡¡¡¡¡just¡¡

enough¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡a¡¡ticket¡¡with¡£¡¡There's¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡satisfaction¡¡in¡¡giv¡­¡¡ing¡¡the¡¡

last¡¡cent¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡the¡¡railroads¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Two¡¡¡¡¡¡months¡¡¡¡¡¡later£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨plain¡¡¡¡¡¡drunk¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡registered¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡station¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡

Nebraska's¡¡me¡­¡¡¡¡¡¡tropolis¡£¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡searched¡¡him¡¡¡¡they¡¡found¡¡nothing¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡

his¡¡pockets¡¡but¡¡a¡¡silver¡¡thimble£»¡¡and¡¡Joe¡¡Benson£»¡¡the¡¡policeman¡¡who¡¡had¡¡

brought¡¡in¡¡the¡¡¡¨drunk£»¡¨¡¡gave¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡matron£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡compliments¡£¡¡But¡¡

she£»¡¡when¡¡no¡¡one¡¡noticed£»¡¡went¡¡softly¡¡to¡¡where¡¡the¡¡man¡¡was¡¡sleeping£»¡¡and¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡32¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡33¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡Mountain¡¡Woman¡¡



slipped¡¡it¡¡back¡¡into¡¡his¡¡pocket£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sigh¡£¡¡For¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡somehow¡¡¡¡as¡¡

women¡¡do¡¡know¡¡things¡¡¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡stolen¡¡that¡¡thimble¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡equinoctial¡¡line¡¡itself¡¡is¡¡not¡¡more¡¡imaginary¡¡than¡¡the¡¡line¡¡which¡¡

divided¡¡the¡¡estates¡¡of¡¡the¡¡three¡¡Johns¡£¡¡The¡¡herds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡three¡¡Johns¡¡roamed¡¡

at¡¡will£»¡¡and¡¡nibbled¡¡the¡¡short¡¡grass¡¡far¡¡and¡¡near¡¡without¡¡let¡¡or¡¡hindrance£»¡¡

and¡¡the¡¡three¡¡Johns¡¡them¡­¡¡selves¡¡were¡¡utterly¡¡indifferent¡¡as¡¡to¡¡boun¡­¡¡dary¡¡

lines¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Each¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡filed¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡application¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡office¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

government¡¡land¡­agent£»¡¡each¡¡was¡¡engaged¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tedious¡¡task¡¡of¡¡¡¨proving¡¡

up£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡each¡¡owned¡¡one¡­third¡¡of¡¡the¡¡L¡­shaped¡¡cabin¡¡which¡¡stood¡¡at¡¡the¡¡

point¡¡where¡¡the¡¡three¡¡ranches¡¡touched¡£¡¡The¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡sixty¡¡acres¡¡which¡¡

would¡¡have¡¡completed¡¡this¡¡quadrangle¡¡had¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡been¡¡¡¨taken¡¡up¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡three¡¡Johns¡¡were¡¡not¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡neighbor¡£¡¡Indeed£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡

made¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡minds¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡appeared¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡adjoining¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨hun'erd¡¡¡¡¡¡an'¡¡

sixty£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡hard¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡deal¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡justice¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡

much¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡three¡¡¡¡¡¡Johns¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡considered¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡effete¡£¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡belonged¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

East¡¡along¡¡with¡¡other¡¡outgrown¡¡supersti¡­¡¡tions¡£¡¡And¡¡they¡¡had¡¡given¡¡it¡¡out¡¡

widely¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡healthier¡¡for¡¡land¡¡applicants¡¡to¡¡give¡¡them¡¡elbow¡­¡¡

room¡£¡¡It¡¡took¡¡a¡¡good¡¡many¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡sunburnt¡¡prairie¡¡to¡¡afford¡¡elbow¡­room¡¡

for¡¡the¡¡three¡¡Johns¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡met¡¡by¡¡accident¡¡in¡¡Hamilton¡¡at¡¡the¡¡land¡­office¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡John¡¡Henderson£»¡¡

fresh¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡Cincinnati£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡manifestly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡unused¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡ways¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡country£»¡¡

looked¡¡at¡¡John¡¡Gillispie¡¡with¡¡a¡¡lurking¡¡smile¡£¡¡Gillispie¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡sombrero£»¡¡

fresh£»¡¡white£»¡¡and¡¡expansive¡£¡¡His¡¡boots¡¡had¡¡high¡¡heels£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡of¡¡elegant¡¡

leather¡¡and¡¡finely¡¡arched¡¡at¡¡the¡¡instep¡£¡¡His¡¡corduroys¡¡disappeared¡¡in¡¡them¡¡

half¡­way¡¡up¡¡the¡¡thigh¡£¡¡About¡¡his¡¡waist¡¡a¡¡sash¡¡of¡¡blue¡¡held¡¡a¡¡laced¡¡shirt¡¡of¡¡

the¡¡same¡¡color¡¡in¡¡place¡£¡¡Hender¡­¡¡son¡¡puffed¡¡at¡¡his¡¡cigarette£»¡¡and¡¡continued¡¡

to¡¡look¡¡a¡¡trifle¡¡quizzical¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Suddenly¡¡Gillispie¡¡walked¡¡up¡¡to¡¡him¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡complete¡¡

suavity£»¡¡¡¨Damn¡¡yeh£»¡¡smoke¡¡a¡¡pipe£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Eh£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Henderson£»¡¡stupidly¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Smoke¡¡a¡¡pipe£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¨That¡¡thing¡¡you¡¡have¡¡is¡¡bad¡¡for¡¡your¡¡

complexion¡£¡¨¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡33¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡34¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡Mountain¡¡Woman¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡can¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡my¡¡complexion£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Henderson£»¡¡firm
·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©
δÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
ÎÂÜ°Ìáʾ£º ο´Ð¡ËµµÄͬʱ·¢±íÆÀÂÛ£¬Ëµ³ö×Ô¼ºµÄ¿´·¨ºÍÆäËüС»ï°éÃÇ·ÖÏíÒ²²»´íŶ£¡·¢±íÊéÆÀ»¹¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±Àø£¬ÈÏÕæдԭ´´ÊéÆÀ ±»²ÉÄÉΪ¾«ÆÀ¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ´óÁ¿½ð±Ò¡¢»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±ÀøŶ£¡