the woman-haters-第37节

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so。　　I　know　more　than　you　think　I　do；　maybe。　　If　you　was　drivin'
home　why　did　you　take　the　Denboro　road？〃

〃The　Denboro　road？　　Why；　we　only　went　on　that　a　ways。　　Then　we
turned　off　on　what　we　thought　was　the　road　to　the　Lights。　　But　it
wa'n't；　it　must　have　been　the　other；　the　one　that　goes　along　by　the
edge　of　the　Back　Harbor　and　the　Slough；　the　one　that's　hardly　ever
used。　　Seth；〃　indignantly；　〃what　do　you　mean　by　sayin'　that　I　told
you　what　wa'n't　so？　　Do　you　think　I　lie？〃

〃No。　　No　more　than　you　thought　I　lied　about　that　Christy　critter。〃

〃Seth；　I　was　always　sorry　for　that。　　I　knew　you　didn't　lie。　　At
least　I　ought　to　have　known　you　didn't。　　I〃

〃Wait。　　What　did　you　take　the　Denboro　road　at　all　for？〃

〃Whywhy　　Well；　Seth；　I'll　tell　you。　　Bennie　wanted　to　talk　to
me。　　He　had　come　on　purpose　to　see　me；　and　he　wanted　me　to　do
somethin'　thatthat　。　。　。　　Anyhow；　he'd　come　to　see　me。　　I　didn't
know　he　was　comin'。　　I　hadn't　heard　from　him　for　two　years。　　That
letter　I　got　thisyesterday　mornin'　was　from　him；　and　it　most
knocked　me　over。〃

〃You　hadn't　HEARD　from　him？　　Ain't　he　been　writin'　you　right　along？〃

〃No。　　The　fact　is　he　left　me　two　years　ago　without　even　sayin'　good…
by；　andand　I　thought　he　had　gone　for　good。　　But　he　hadn't；〃　with　a
sigh；　〃he　hadn't。　　And　he　wanted　to　talk　with　me。　　That's　why　he
took　the　other　roadso's　he'd　have　more　time　to　talk；　I　s'pose。〃

〃Humph！　　Emeline；　answer　me　true：　Wa'n't　you　goin'　to　Denboro　to
getto　get　a　divorce　from　me？〃

〃A　divorce？　　A　divorce　from　YOU？　　Seth　Bascom；　I　never　heard　such〃

She　rose　from　her　seat　against　the　rail。

〃Set　down；〃　ordered　her　husband　sharply。　　〃You　set　down　and　keep
down。〃

She　stared；　gasped；　and　resumed　her　seat。　　Seth　gazed　straight　ahead
into　the　blackness。　　He　swallowed　once　or　twice；　and　his　hands
tightened　on　the　spokes　of　the　wheel。

〃Thatthat　feller　there；〃　nodding　grimly　toward　the　groaning　figure
at　the　pumps；　〃told　me　himself　that　him　and　you　had　agreed　to　get　a
divorce　from　meto　get　it　right　off。　　He　give　me　to　understand　that
you　expected　him；　'twas　all　settled　and　that　was　why　he'd　come　to
Eastboro。　　That's　what　he　told　me　this　afternoon　on　the　depot
platform。〃

Mrs。　Bascom　again　sprang　up。

〃Set　down！〃　commanded　Seth。

〃I　won't。〃

〃Yes；　you　will。　　Set　down。〃　　And　she　did。

〃Seth；〃　she　cried；　〃did　hedid　Bennie　tell　you　that？　　Did　he？　　Why；
I　never　heard　such　aI　never！　　Seth；　it　ain't　true；　not　a　word　of
it。　　Did　you　think　I'd　get　a　divorce？　　Me？　　A　self…respectin'　woman？
And　from　you？〃

〃You　turned　me　adrift。〃

〃I　didn't。　　You　turned　yourself　adrift。　　I　was　in　trouble；　bound　by
a　promise　I　give　my　dyin'　husband；　to　give　his　brother　a　home　while
I　had　one。　　I　didn't　want　to　do　it；　I　didn't　want　him　with　us
there；　where　we'd　been　so　happy。　　But　I　couldn't　say　anything。　　I
couldn't　turn　him　out。　　And　you　wouldn't；　you〃

She　was　interrupted。　　From　beneath　the　Daisy　M。's　keel　came　a　long；
scraping　noise。　　The　little　schooner　shook；　and　then　lay　still。　　The
waves；　no　longer　large；　slapped　her　sides。

Mrs。　Bascom；　startled；　uttered　a　little　scream。　　Bennie　D。；　knocked
to　his　knees；　roared　in　fright。　　Seth　alone　was　calm。　　Nothing；　at
that　moment；　could　alarm　or　even　surprise　him。

〃Humph！〃　he　observed；　〃we're　aground　somewheres。　　And　in　the　Harbor。
We're　safe　and　sound　now；　I　cal'late。　　Emeline；　go　below　where　it's
dry　and　stay　there。　　Don't　talkgo。　　As　for　you；〃　leaving　the　wheel
and　striding　toward　the　weary　inventor；　〃you　can　stop　pumpin'
unless；〃　with　a　grim　smile；　〃you　like　it　too　well　to　quitand　set
down　right　where　you　be。　　Right　where　you　be；　I　said！　　Don't　you
move　till　I　say　the　word。　　WHEN　I　say　it；　jump！〃

He　went　forward；　lowered　the　jib；　and　coiled　the　halliards。　　Then；
lantern　in　hand；　he　seated　himself　in　the　bows。　　After　a　time　he
filled　his　pipe；　lit　it　by　the　aid　of　the　lantern；　and　smoked。
There　was　silence　aboard　the　Daisy　M。

The　wind　died　away　altogether。　　The　fog　gradually　disappeared。　　From
somewhere　not　far　away　a　church　clock　struck　the　hour。　　Seth　heard
it　and　smiled。　　Turning　his　head　he　saw　in　the　distance　the　Twin…
Lights　burning　steadily。　　He　smiled　again。

Gradually；　slowly；　the　morning　came。　　The　last　remnant　of　low…
hanging　mist　drifted　away。　　Before　the　bows　of　the　stranded　schooner
appeared　a　flat　shore　with　a　road；　still　partially　covered　by　the
receding　tide；　along　its　border。　　Fish　houses　and　anchored　dories
became　visible。　　Behind　them　were　hills；　and　over　them　roofs　and
trees　and　steeples。

A　step　sounded　behind　the　watcher　in　the　bows。　　Mrs。　Bascom　was　at
his　elbow。

〃Why；　Seth！〃　she　cried；　〃why；　Seth！　it's　Eastboro；　ain't　it？　　We're
close　to　Eastboro。〃

Seth　nodded。　　〃It's　Eastboro；〃　he　said。　　〃I　cal'lated　we　must　be
there　or　thereabouts。　　With　that　no'theast　breeze　to　help　us　we
couldn't　do　much　else　but　fetch　up　at　the　inner　end　of　the　Back
Harbor。〃

She　laid　her　hand　timidly　on　his　arm。

〃Seth；〃　she　whispered；　〃what　should　we　have　done　without　you？　　You
saved　our　lives。〃

He　swung　about　and　faced　her。　　〃Emeline；〃　he　said；　〃we've　both　been
awful　fools。　　I've　been　the　biggest　one；　I　guess。　　But　I've　learned
my　lessonI've　swore　offI　told　you　I'd　prove　I　was　a　man。　　Do　you
think　I've　been　one　tonight？〃

〃Seth！〃

〃Well；　do　you？　　Or；〃　with　a　gesture　toward　the　〃genius〃　who　was
beginning　to　take　an　interest　in　his　surroundings；　〃do　you　like　that
kind　better？〃

〃Seth；〃　reproachfully；　〃I　never　liked　him　better。　　If　you　had〃

She　was　interrupted　by　her　brother…in…law；　who　came　swaggering
toward　them。　　With　the　sight　of　land　and　safety；　Bennie　D。's　courage
returned；　also；　his　old　assurance。

〃Humph！〃　he　observed。　　〃Well；　sister；　we　are　safe；　I　really　believe。
In　spite　of；〃　with　a　glare　at　the　lightkeeper；　〃this　person's　insane
recklessness　and　brutality。　　Now　I　will　take　you　ashore　and　out　of
his　presence。〃

Seth　rose　to　his　feet。

〃Didn't　I　tell　you；〃　he　demanded；　〃not　to　move　till　I　said　the　word？
Emeline；　stay　right　here。〃

Bennie　D。　stared　at　the　speaker；　then　at　his　sister…in…law。

〃Sister；〃　he　cried；　in　growing　alarm；　〃sister；　come！　come！　we're
going　ashore；　I　tell　you。　　What　are　you　waiting　for？〃

Seth　put　his　arm　about　the　lady。

〃She　is　goin'　ashore；〃　he　said。　　〃But　she's　goin'　with　me；　and　she's
goin'　to　stay　with　me。　　Ain't　you；　Emeline？〃

The　lady　looked　up　into　his　face　and　then　down　again。　　〃If　you　want
me；　Seth；〃　she　said。

Bennie　D。　sprang　forward。　　〃Emeline；〃　he　shrieked；　〃what　do　you
mean？　　Are　you　going　to　leave　me？　　Have　you　forgotten〃

〃She　ain't　forgot　nothin'；〃　broke　in　Seth。　　〃But　YOU'RE　forgettin'
what　I　told　you。　　Will　you　go　aft　there　and　set　down；　or　shall　I
make　you？〃

〃Butbut；　Emelinesisterhave　you　forgotten　your　promise　to　your
dying　husband？　　To　my　brother？　　You　promised　to　give　me　a　home　as
long　as　you　owned　one。〃

Then　Seth　played　his　trump。

〃She　don't　own　any　home；〃　he　declared　triumphantly。　　〃She　sold　her
house；　and　she　ain't　got　any　homeexcept　the　one　I'm　goin'　to　give
her。　　And　if　you　ever　dare　to　show　your　head　inside　of　THAT；　I'll
I'll　heave　you　over　both　lights。　　If　you　think　I'm　foolin'；　just　try
and　see。　　Now　then；　Emeline。〃

And；　with　his　wife　in　his　arms；　Seth　AtkinsSeth　Atkins　Bascom
CAPTAIN　Seth　Atkins　Bascomswung　over　the　rail　and　waded　to　land。


CHAPTER　XVI

THE　EBB　TIDE


〃John　Brown；〃　his　long　night's　vigil　over；　extinguished　the　lights
in　the　two　towers；　descended　the　iron　stairs；　and　walked　across　the
yard　into　the　kitchen。　　His　first　move；　after　entering　the　house；
was　to　ring　the　telephone　bell　and　endeavor　to　call　Eastboro。　　He
was　anxious　concerning　Atkins。　　Seth　had　not　returned；　and　the
substitute　assistant　was　certain　that　some　accident　must　have
befallen　him。　　The　storm　had　been　severe；　but　it　would　take　more
than　weather　to　keep　the　lightkeeper　from　his　post；　if　he　was　all
right　he　would　have　managed　to　return　somehow。

Brown　rang　the　bell　time　and　time　again；　but　got　no　response。　　The
storm　had　wrecked　the　wires；　that　was　certain；　and　that　means　of
communication　was　cut　off。　　He　kindled　the　fire　in　the　range　and
tried　to　forget　his　anxiety　by　preparing　breakfast。　　When　it　was
prepared　he　waited　a　while　and　then　sat　down　to　a　lonely　meal。　　But
he　had　no　appetite；　and；　after　dallying　with　the　food　on　his　plate；
gave　it　up　and　went　outside　to　look　about　him。

The　first　thing　he　looked　at　was　the　road　from　the　village。　　No　sign
of　life　in　that　direction　as　far　as　he　could　see。　　Then　he　looked　at
the　bungalow。　　Early　as　it　was；　a　thread　of　blue　smoke　was　ascending
from　the　chimney。　　Did　that　mean　that　the　housekeeper　had　returned？
Or　had　Ruth　Graham　been　alone　all　through　the　miserable　night？
Under　ordinary　circumstances　he　would　have　gone　over　and　asked　if
all　was　well。　　He　would　have　done　that；　even　if　Seth　were　at　home
he　was　past　the　point　where　the　lightkeeper　or　their　compact　could
have　prevented　himbut　he　could　not　muster　courage　to　go　now。　　She
must　have　found　the　note　he　had　tucked　under　the　door；　and　he　was
afraid　to　hear　her　answer。　　If　it　should　be　no；　thenwell；　then　he
did　not　care　what　became　of　him。

He　watched　the　bungalow　for　a　time；　hoping