the woman-haters-第13节

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〃Why　not？〃　he　asked。

〃'Causewell；　'cause　Hannah's　hobby　is　sick　folks；　as　you　might
say。　　If　there's　a　cat　in　the　neighborhood　that's　ailin'　she's
always　dosin'　of　it　up　and　fixin'　medicine　for　it；　and　the　like　of
that。　　And　Sophi's　one　of　them　'New　Thoughters'　and　don't　believe
anybody's　got　any　right　to　be　sick。　　The　two　of　'em　ain't　done
nothin'　but　argue　and　row　over　diseases　and　imagination　and
medicines　ever　since　Sophi　got　here。　　If　they　knew　Seth　was　laid　up；
I　honestly　believe　they'd　drop　picnic　and　everythin'　and　start
fightin'　over　whether　he　was　really　sick　or　just　thought　he　was。
And　I　sort　of　figgered　on　havin'　a　quiet　day　off。〃

Brown　found　the　lightkeeper　stretched　on　the　bed　in　his　room。　　He
was　dressed；　with　the　exception　of　coat　and　boots；　and　when　the
young　man　entered　he　groaned　feebly。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　demanded　the　alarmed　helper。

〃Oh；　my！〃　groaned　Seth。　　〃Oh；　my！〃

〃Are　you　in　pain？　　What　is　it？　　Shall　I　'phone　for　the　doctor？〃

〃No；　no。　　No　use　gettin'　the　doctor。　　I'll　be　all　right　by　and　by。
It's　one　of　my　attacks。　　I　have　'em　every　once　in　a　while。　　Just　let
me　alone；　and　let　me　lay　here　without　bein'　disturbed；　then　I'll　get
better；　I　guess。〃

〃But　it's　so　sudden！〃

〃I　know。　　They　always　come　on　that　way。　　Now　run　along；　like　a　good
feller；　and　leave　me　to　my　suff'rin's。　　O…oh；　dear！〃

Much　troubled；　Brown　turned　to　the　door。　　As　he　was　going　out　he
happened　to　look　back。　　The　dresser　stood　against　the　wall　beyond
the　bed；　and　in　its　mirror　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　face　of　the
sick　man。　　On　that　face；　which　should　have　been　distorted　with
agony；　was　a　broad　grin。

Brown　found　the　little　Stover　man　waiting　for　him　in　the　kitchen。

〃Be　you　ready？〃　he　asked。

〃Ready？〃　repeated　Brown；　absently。　　〃Ready　for　what？〃

〃Why；　to　show　us　round　the　lights。　　Sophi；　she　ain't　never　seen　one
afore。　　Atkins　said　that；　bein'　as　he　wasn't　able　to　leave　his　bed；
you'd　show　us　around。〃

〃He　did；　hey？〃

〃Yes。　　He　said　you'd　be　glad　to。〃

〃Hum！〃　　Mr。　Brown's　tone　was　that　of　one　upon　whom；　out　of　darkness；
a　light　has　suddenly　burst。　　〃I　see；〃　he　mused；　thoughtfully。　　〃Yes；
yes。　　I　see。〃

For　a　minute　he　stood　still；　evidently　pondering。　　Then；　with　a
twinkle　in　his　eye；　he　strode　out　of　the　house　and　walked　briskly
across　to　the　buggy。

〃Good　morning；　ladies；〃　he　said；　removing　the　new　cap　which　Seth　had
recently　purchased　for　him　in　Eastboro。　　〃Mr。　Stover　tells　me　you
wish　to　be　shown　the　lights。〃

The　plump　woman　answered。　　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　briskly；　〃we　do。　　Are
you　a　new　keeper？　　Where's　Mr。　Atkins？〃

〃Mr。　Atkins；　I　regret　to　say；〃　began　Brown；　〃is　ill。　　He〃

Stover；　standing　at　his　elbow；　interrupted　nervously。

〃Mr。　Brown　here'll　show　us　around；〃　he　said　quickly。　　〃Seth　said　he
would。〃

〃I　shall　be　happy；〃　concurred　that　young　gentleman。　　〃You　must
excuse　me　if　I　seem　rather　worried。　　Mr。　Atkins；　my　chiefI　believe
you　know　him；　Mrs。　Stoverhas　been　taken　suddenly　ill；　and　is；
apparently；　suffering　much　pain。　　The　attack　was　very　sudden；　and　I〃

〃Sick？〃　　The　plump　woman　seemed　actually　to　prick　up　her　ears；　like
a　sleepy　cat　at　the　sound　of　the　dinner　bell。　　〃Is　Seth　sick？　　And
you　all　alone　with　him　here？　　Can't　I　do　anything　to　help？〃

〃All　he　wants　is　to　be　left　alone；〃　put　in　her　husband　anxiously。
〃He　said　so　himself。〃

〃Do　you　know　what's　the　matter？　　Have　you　got　any　medicine　for　him？〃
Mrs。　Stover　was　already　climbing　out　of　the　buggy。

〃No；〃　replied　Brown。　　〃I　haven't。　　That　is；　I　haven't　given　him　any
yet。〃

The　slim　woman；　Mrs。　Hains　of　Boston；　now　broke　into　the　conversation。

〃Good　thing！〃　she　snapped。　　〃Most　medicine's　nothing　but　opium　and
alcohol。　　Fill　the　poor　creature　full　of　drugs　and〃

〃I　s'pose　you'd　set　and　preach　New　Thought　at　him！〃　snapped　Mrs。
Stover。　　〃As　if　a　body　could　be　cured　by　hot　air！　　I　believe　I'll　go
right　in　and　see　him。　　Don't　you　s'pose　I　could　help；　Mr。　Brown？〃

Mr。　Brown　seemed　pleased；　but　reluctant。　　〃It's　awfully　good　of
you；〃　he　said。　　〃I　couldn't　think　of　troubling　you　when　you've　come
so　far　on　a　pleasure　excursion。　　But　I　am　at　my　wit　s　end。〃

〃Don't　say　another　word！〃　　Mrs。　Stover's　bulky　figure　was　already　on
the　way　to　the　door　of　the　house。　　〃I'm　only　too　glad　to　do　what　I
can。　　And；　if　I　do　say　it；　that　shouldn't；　I'm　always　real　handy　in
a　sick　room。　　'Bijah；　be　quiet；　I　don't　care　if　we　ARE　on　a　picnic；
no　human　bein'　shall　suffer　while　I　set　around　and　do　nothin'。〃

Mrs。　Hains　was　at　her　cousin's　heels。

〃You'll　worry　him　to　death；〃　she　declared。　　〃You'll　tell　him　how
sick　he　is；　and　that　he's　goin'　to　die；　and　such　stuff。　　What　he
needs　is　cheerful　conversation　and　mental　uplift。　　It's　too　bad！
Well；　you　sha'n't　have　your　own　way　with　him；　anyhow。　　Mr。　Brown；
where　is　he？〃

〃You　two　goin'　to　march　right　into　his　BEDROOM？〃　screamed　the　irate
Abijah。　　The　women　answered　not。　　They　were　already　in　the　kitchen。
Brown　hastened　after　them。

〃It's　all　right；　ladies；〃　he　said。　　〃Right　this　way；　please。〃

He　led　the　way　to　the　chamber　of　the　sick　man。　　Mr。　Atkins　turned　on
his　bed　of　pain；　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　visitors；　and　sat　up。

〃What　in　time？〃　he　roared。

〃Seth；〃　said　Brown；　benignly；　〃this　is　Mrs。　Stover　of　Eastboro。　　I
think　you　know　her。　　And　Mrs。　Hains　of　Boston。　　These　ladies　have
heard　of　your　sickness；　and；　having　had　experience　in　such　cases；
have　kindly　offered　to　stay　with　you　and　help　in　any　way　they　can。
Mrs。　Stover；　I　will　leave　him　in　your　hands。　　Please　call　me　if　I
can　be　of　any　assistance。〃

Without　waiting　for　further　comment　from　the　patient；　whose　face　was
a　picture；　he　hastened　to　the　kitchen；　choking　as　he　went。　　Mr。
Stover　met　him　at　the　outer　door。

〃Now　you've　done　it！〃　wailed　the　little　man。　　〃NOW　you've　done　it！
Didn't　I　tell　you？　　Oh；　this'll　be　a　hell　of　a　picnic！〃

He　stalked　away；　righteous　indignation　overcoming　him。　　Brown　sat
down　in　a　rocking　chair　and　shook　with　emotion。　　From　the　direction
of　the　sick　room　came　the　sounds　of　three　voices；　each　trying　to
outscream　the　other。　　The　substitute　assistant　listened　to　this　for
a　while；　and；　as　he　did　so；　a　new　thought　struck　him。　　He　remembered
a　story　he　had　read　in　a　magazine　years　before。　　He　crossed　to　the
pantry；　found　an　empty　bottle；　rinsed　it　at　the　sink；　stepped　again
to　the　pantry；　and；　entering　it；　closed　the　door　behind　him。　　There
he　busied　himself　with　the　molasses　jug；　the　soft…soap　bucket；　the
oil　can；　the　pepper　shaker；　and　a　few　other　utensils　and　their
contents。　　Footsteps　in　the　kitchen　caused　him　to　hurriedly　reenter
that　apartment。　　Mrs。　Stover　was　standing　by　the　range；　her　face　red。

〃Oh；　there　you　are；　Mr。　Brown！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃I　wondered　where
you'd　gone　to。〃

〃How　is　he？〃　inquired　Brown；　the　keenest　anxiety　in　his　utterance。

〃H'm！　he'd　do　well　enough　if　he　had　the　right　treatment。　　I　cal'late
he's　better　now；　even　as　'tis；　but；　when　a　person　has　to　lay　and
hear　over　and　over　again　that　what　ails　'em　is　nothin'　but
imagination；　it　ain't　to　be　wondered　at　that　they　get　mad。　　What　he
needs　is　some　sort　of　soothin'　medicine；　and　I　only　wish　'twan't　so
fur　over　to　home。　　I've　got　just　what　he　needs　there。〃

〃I　was　thinking〃　began　Brown。

〃What　was　you　thinkin'？〃

〃I　was　wondering　if　some　of　my　'Stomach　Balm'　wouldn't　help　him。
It's　an　old　family　receipt；　handed　down　from　the　Indians；　I　believe。
I　always　have　a　bottle　with　me　and　。　。　。　　Still；　I　wouldn't
prescribe；　not　knowing　the　disease。〃

Mrs。　Stover's　eyes　sparkled。　　Patent　medicines　were　her　hobby。

〃Hum！〃　she　said。　　〃'Stomach　Balm'　sounds　good。　　And　he　says　his
trouble　is　principally　stomach。　　Some　of　them　Indian　medicines　are
mighty　powerful。　　Have　youdid　you　say　you　had　a　bottle　with　you；
Mr。　Brown？〃

The　young　man　went　again　to　the　pantry　and　returned　with　the　bottle
he　had　so　recently　found　there。　　Now；　however；　it　was　two　thirds
full　of　a　black　sticky　mixture。　　Mrs。　Stover　removed　the　cork　and
took　an　investigating　sniff。

〃It　smells　powerful；〃　she　said；　hopefully。

〃It　is。　　Would　you　like　to　taste　it？〃　handing　her　a　tablespoon。　　He
watched　as　she　swallowed　a　spoonful。

〃Ugh！　oh！〃　she　gasped；　even　her　long　suffering　palate　rebelled　at
THAT　taste。　　〃ItI　should　think　that　OUGHT　to　help　him。〃

〃I　should　think　so。　　It　may　be　the　very　thing　he　needs。　　At　any
rate；　it　can't　hurt　him。　　It's　quite　harmless。〃

Mrs。　Stover's　face　was　still　twisted；　under　the　influence　of　the
〃Balm〃；　but　her　mind　was　made　up。

〃I'm　goin'　to　try　it；〃　she　declared。　　〃I　don't　care　if　every　New
Thoughter　in　creation　says　no。　　He　needs　medicine　and　needs　it　right
away。〃

〃The　dose；〃　said　Mr。　Brown；　gravely；　〃is　two　tablespoonfuls　every
fifteen　minutes。　　I　do　hope　it　will　help　him。　　Give　him　my　sympathy
my　deepest　sympathy；　Mrs。　Stover；　please。〃

The　plump　lady　disappeared　in　the　direction　of　the　sick　room。　　The
substitute　assistant　lingered　and　listened。　　He　heard　a　shrill　pow…
wow　of　feminine　voices。　　Evidently　〃New　Thought〃　and　the　practice　of
medicine　had　once　more　clashed。　　The　argument　waxed　and　waned。
Followed　the　click　of　a　spoon　against　glass。　　And　then　came　a　gasp；
a　gurgle；　a　choking　yell；　and　high　upon　th