the woman-haters-第2节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


wouldn't　be　responsible　for　'em。　　There　ain't　so　many　moskeeters　in
winter。　　But　just　LOOK　at　this　hole。　　Just　put　on　your　specs　and
LOOK　at　it！　　Not　a　manbut　younot　a　woman；　not　a　child；　not　a
girl〃

〃Ah　ha！　ah　ha！　　NOW　we're　gettin'　at　it！　　Not　a　girl！　　That's　what's
the　matter　with　you。　　You　want　to　be　up　in　the　village；　where　you
can　go　courtin'。　　You're　too　fur　from　Elsie　Peters；　that's　where　the
shoe　pinches。　　I've　heard　how　you　used　to　set　out　in　her　dad's
backyard；　with　your　arm　round　her　waist；　lookin'　at　each　other；
mushy　as　a　couple　of　sassers　of　hasty…puddin'。　　Bah！　　I'll　take　care
my　next　assistant　ain't　girl…struck。〃

〃Girl…struck！　　I'd　enough　sight　ruther　be　girl…struck　than　always
ravin'　and　rippin'　against　females。　　And　all　because　some　woman　way
back　in　Methusalem's　time　had　sense　enough　to　heave　you　over。　　At
least；　that's　what　everybody　cal'lates　must　be　the　reason。　　You
pretend　to　be　a　woman…hater。　　All　round　this　part　of　the　Cape　you've
took　pains　to　get　up　that　kind　of　reputation；　but〃

〃There　ain't　no　pretendin'　about　it。　　I've　got　brains　enough　to　keep
clear　of　petticoats。　　And　when　you　get　to　be　as　old　as　I　be　and　know
as　much　as　I　dothough　that　ain't　no　ways　likely；　even　if　you　live
to　be　nine　hundred　and　odd；　like　Noah　in　Scriptureyou'll　feel　the
same　way。〃

〃Aw；　come　off！　　Woman…hater！　　You　hate　women　same　as　the　boy　at　the
poorhouse　hated　ice　cream'cause　there　ain't　none　around。　　Why；　I
wouldn't　trust　you　as　fur　as　I　could　see　you！〃

This　was　the　end　of　the　dialogue；　because　Mr。　Payne　was　obliged　to
break　off　his　harangue　and　dodge　the　stove…lifter　flung　at　him　by
the　outraged　lightkeeper。　　As　the　lifter　was　about　to　be　followed　by
the　teakettle；　Ezra　took　to　his　heels；　bolted　from　the　house　and
began　his　long　tramp　to　the　village。　　When　he　reached　the　first
clumps　of　bayberry　bushes　bordering　the　deeply　rutted　road；　a　joyful
cloud　of　mosquitoes　rose　and　settled　about　him　like　a　fog。

So　Seth　Atkins　was　left　alone　to　do　double　duty　at　Eastboro　Twin…
Lights；　pending　the　appointment　of　another　assistant。　　The　two　days
and　nights　following　Ezra's　departure　had　been　strenuous　and
provoking。　　Doing　all　the　housework；　preparation　of　meals　included；
tending　both　lights；　rubbing　brass　work；　sweeping　and　scouring；
sleeping　when　he　could　and　keeping　awake　when　he　must；　nobody　to
talk　to；　nobody　to　helpthe　forty…eight　hours　of　solitude　had
already　convinced　Mr。　Atkins　that　the　sooner　a　helper　was　provided
the　better。　　At　times　he　even　wished　the　disrespectful　Payne　back
again；　wished　that　he　had　soothed　instead　of　irritated　the　departed
one。　　Then　he　remembered　certain　fragments　of　their　last　conversation
and　wished　the　stove…lifter　had　been　flung　with　better　aim。

Now；　standing　on　the　gallery　of　the　south　tower；　he　was　conscious　of
a　desire　for　breakfast。　　Preparing　that　meal　had　been　a　part　of　his
assistant's　duties。　　Now　he　must　prepare　it　himself；　and　he　was
hungry　and　sleepy。　　He　mentally　vowed　that　he　would　no　longer　delay
notifying　the　authorities　of　the　desertion；　and　would　urge　them　to
hurry　in　sending　some　one　to　fill　the　vacant　place。

Grumbling　aloud　to　himself；　he　moved　around　the　circle　of　the
gallery　toward　the　door。　　His　hand　was　on　the　latch；　when；　turning；
he　cast　another　glance　over　the　rail；　this　time　directly　downward
toward　the　beach　below。　　And　there　he　saw　something　which　caused　him
to　forget　hunger　and　grievances　of　all　kinds；　something　which；　after
one　horrified　look　to　make　sure；　led　him　to　dart　into　the　light
chamber；　spring　at　a　reckless　gait　down　the　winding　stair；　out　of
the　tower；　rush　to　the　edge　of　the　bluff；　and　plunge　headlong　down
the　zigzag　path　worn　in　the　clay。

On　the　sand；　at　the　foot　of　the　bluff　below　the　lights；　just　beyond
reach　of　the　wash　of　the　surf；　lay　a　man；　or　the　dead　body　of　a　man；
stretched　at　full　length。


CHAPTER　II

MR。　JOHN　BROWN


Once　before；　during　his　years　of　service　as　keeper　of　Eastboro　Twin…
Lights；　had　Seth　seen　such　a　sight　as　that　which　now　caused　him　to
make　his　dash　for　the　shore。　　Once　before；　after　the　terrible　storm
of　1905；　when　the　great　steamer　Bay　Queen　went　down　with　all　on
board；　the　exact　spot　of　her　sinking　unknown　even　to　this　day。　　Then
the　whole　ocean　side　of　the　Cape；　from　Race　Point　to　Orham；　was
strewn　with　ghastly　relics。　　But　the　Bay　Queen　met　her　fate　in　the
winter　season；　amid　a　gale　such　as　even　the　oldest　residents　could
not　remember。　　Now　it　was　early　summer；　the　night　before　had　been　a
flat　calm。　　There　had　been　no　wreck；　or　the　lifesavers　would　have
told　him　of　it。　　There　would　be　no　excuse　for　a　wreck；　anyway。

All　this；　in　disjointed　fragments；　passed　through　the　lightkeeper's
mind　as　he　descended　the　path　in　frantic　bounds　and　plowed　through
the　ankle…deep　white　sand　of　the　beach。　　As　he　approached　the
recumbent　figure　he　yelled　a　panted　〃Hi；　there！〃　　He　did　not　expect
the　hail　to　be　answered　or　even　noticed。　　Therefore；　he　was
pleasantly　disappointed　when　the　figure　rolled　over；　raised　itself
on　one　elbow；　looked　at　him　in　a　dazed　sort　of　way　and　replied
cheerfully　but　faintly；　〃Hello！〃

Seth　stopped　short；　put　a　hand　to　the　breast　of　his　blue　flannel
shirt；　and　breathed　a　mighty　sigh　of　relief。

〃Gosh！〃　he　exclaimed　with　fervor。　　Then；　changing　his　labored　gallop
for　a　walk；　he　continued　his　progress　toward　the　man；　who；　as　if　his
momentary　curiosity　was　satisfied；　lay　down　again。　　He　did　not　rise
when　the　lightkeeper　reached　his　side；　but　remained　quiet；　looking
up　from　a　pair　of　gray　eyes　and　smiling　slightly　with　lips　that　were
blue。　　He　was　a　stranger　to　Atkins；　a　young　fellow；　rather　good
looking；　dressed　in　blue　serge　trousers；　negligee　shirt；　blue　socks；
and　without　shoes　or　hat。　　His　garments　were　soaked；　and　the　salt
water　dripped　from　his　shoulders　to　the　sand。　　The　lightkeeper
stared　at　him；　and　he　returned　the　stare。

〃Gosh！〃　repeated　Seth；　after　an　instant　of　silence。　　〃Jiminy　crimps！
I　feel　better。〃

The　stranger's　smile　broadened。　　〃Glad　to　hear　it；　I'm　sure；〃　he
said；　slowly。　　〃So　do　I；　though　there's　still　room　for　improvement。
What　was　your　particular　ailment？　　Mine　seems　to　have　been　water　on
the　brain。〃

He　sat　up　and　shakily　ran　a　hand　through　his　wet　hair　as　he　spoke。
Atkins；　his　surprise　doubled　by　this　extraordinary　behavior；　could
think　of　nothing　to　say。

〃Good　morning；〃　continued　the　young　man；　as　if　the　meeting　had　been
the　most　casual　and　ordinary　possible；　〃I　think　you　said　a　moment
ago　that　you　were　feeling　better。　　No　relapse；　I　trust。〃

〃Relapse？　　What　in　the　world？　　Are　you　crazy？　　I　ain't　sick。〃

〃That's　good。　　I　must　have　misunderstood　you。　　Pleasant　morning；
isn't　it？

〃Pleasant　morn　　Why；　say！　　IIwhat　in　time　are　you　doin'；
layin'　there　all　soaked　through？　　You　scared　me　pretty　nigh　to
death。　　I　thought　you　was　drowned；　sure　and　sartin。〃

〃Did　you？　　Well；　to　be　honest；　so　did　I；　for　a　while。　　In　fact；　I'm
not　absolutely　sure　that　I'm　not；　even　yet。　　You'll　excuse　me　if　I
lie　down　again；　won't　you？　　I　never　tried　a　seaweed　pillow　before；
but　it　isn't　so　bad。〃

He　again　stretched　himself　on　the　sand。　　Seth　shook　his　head。

〃Well；　if　this　don't　beat　me！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃You're　the　coolest
critter　that　ever　II〃

〃I　am　cool；〃　admitted　the　young　man；　with　a　slight　shiver。　　〃This
stretch　of　ocean　here　isn't　exactly　a　Turkish　bath。　　I've　been
swimming　sincewell；　an　hour　or　two　ago；　and　I　am　just　a　little
chilled。〃

He　shivered　again。

〃Swimmin'！　　An　hour　or　two？　　Where　on　earth　did　you　come　from？〃

〃Oh；　I　fell　overboard　from　a　steamer　off　here　somewhere。　　I〃

Another　and　emphatic　shiver　caused　him　to　pause。　　The　lightkeeper
awoke　to　the　realities　of　the　situation。

〃Good　land　of　love！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃What　am　I　thinkin'　of？　　Seein'
you　this　way；　and　you　talkin'　so　kind　of　every…day　and　funny　drove
my　senses　clean　out；　I　guess。　　Get　right　up　off　that　wet　place　this
minute。　　Come　up　to　the　house；　quick！　　Can　you　walk？〃

〃Don't　know。　　I　am　willing　to　try。　　Would　you　mind　giving　me　a
lift？〃

Seth　didn't　mind；　which　was　fortunate；　as　his　new　acquaintance
couldn't　have　risen　unaided。　　His　knees　shook　under　him　when　he
stood　erect；　and　he　leaned　heavily　on　the　lightkeeper's　arm。

〃Steady　now；〃　counselled　Atkins；　〃no　hurry。　　Take　it　easy。　　If
you've　navigated　water　all　alone　for　hours；　I　cal'late　between　us　we
can　manage　to　make　a　five…minute　cruise　on　dry　land。　。　。　。　　Even　if
the　course　we　steer　would　make　an　eel　lame　tryin'　to　follow　it；〃　he
added；　as　the　castaway　staggered　and　reeled　up　the　beach。　　〃Now
don't　try　to　talk。　　Let　your　tongue　rest　and　give　your　feet　a
chance。〃

The　climbing　of　the　steep　bluff　was　a　struggle；　but　they　accomplished
it；　and　at　length　the　stranger　was　seated　in　a　chair　in　the　kitchen。

〃Now；　the　fust　thing；〃　observed　Seth；　〃is　to　get　them　wet　clothes
off　you。　　Usually　I'd　have　a　good　fire　here；　but　that　miserable　Ezry
hasthat　is；　my　assistant's　left　me；　and　I　have　to　go　it　alone；　as
you　might　say。　　So　we'll　get　you　to　bed　and　。　。　。　　No；　you　can't
undress　yourself；　neither。　　Set　still；　and　I'll　have　you　peeled　in　a
jiffy。〃

His　guest　was　making　feeble　efforts　to　remove　his　socks。