the woman-haters-第40节

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was　tremendously　anxious　about　you。　　And　you　weren't　afraid？　　Did
you　sleep？〃

〃Not　much。　　You　see；〃　she　smiled　oddly；　〃I　received　a　letter　before
I　retired；　and　it　was　such　an　importantand　surprising
communication　that　I　couldn't　go　to　sleep　at　once。〃

〃A　letter？　　A　letter　last　night？　　WhoWhat？　　You　don't　mean　my
letter？　　The　one　I　put　under　your　door？　　You　didn't　get　THAT　last
night！〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　did。〃

〃But　how？　　The　bungalow　was　as　dark　as　a　tomb。　　There　wasn't　a　light
anywhere。　　I　made　sure　of　that　before　I　came　over。〃

〃I　know。　　I　put　the　light　out；　but　I　was　sitting　by　the　window　in
the　dark；　looking　out　at　the　storm。　　Then　I　saw　some　one　coming　up
the　hill；　and　it　was　you。〃

〃Then　you　saw　me　push　it　under　the　door？〃

〃Yes。　　What　made　you　stay　on　the　step　so　long　after　you　had　pushed
it　under？〃

〃Me？　。　。　。　　Oh；〃　hastily；　〃I　wanted　to　make　sure　it　waserunder。
And　you　found　it　and　read　itthen？〃

〃Of　course。　　I　couldn't　imagine　what　it　could　be；　and　I　was　curious；
naturally。〃

〃Ruth！〃

〃I　was。〃

〃Nonsense！　　You　knew　what　it　must　be。　　Surely　you　did。　　Now；　truly；
didn't　you？　　Didn't　you；　dear？〃

〃Why　should　I？　。　。　。　　Oh；　your　sleeve　is　wet。　　You're　soaking　wet
from　head　to　foot。〃

〃Well；　I　presume　that　was　to　be　expected。　　This　water　out　here　is
remarkably　damp；　you　know；　and　I　was　in　it　for　some　time。　　I　should
have　been　in　it　yet　if　it　hadn't　been　for　you。〃

〃Don't！〃　with　a　shudder；　〃don't　speak　of　it。　　When　I　saw　you　fall
into　that　tide　I　。　。　。　　But　there！　you　mustn't　stay　here　another
moment。　　Go　home　and　put　on　dry　things。　　Go　at　once！〃

〃Dry　things　be　hanged！　　I'm　going　to　stay　right　hereand　look　at
you。〃

〃You're　not。　　Besides；　I　am　wet；　too。　　And　I　haven't　had　my
breakfast。〃

〃Haven't　you？　　Neither　have　I。〃　　He　forgot　that　he　had　attempted　to
have　one。　　〃But　I　don't　care；〃　he　added　recklessly。　　Then；　with　a
flash　of　inspiration；　〃Why　can't　we　breakfast　together？　　Invite　me；
please。〃

〃No；　I　shall　not。　　At　least；　not　until　you　go　back　and　change　your
clothes。〃

〃To　hear　is　to　obey。　　'I　go；　but　I　return；'　as　the　fellow　in　the
play　observes。　　I'll　be　back　in　just　fifteen　minutes。〃

He　was　back　in　twelve；　and；　as　to　make　the　long　detour　about　the
marshes　would；　he　felt　then；　be　a　wicked　waste　of　time　and　the
marshes　themselves　were　covered　with　puddles　left　by　the　tide；　his
〃dry　things〃　were　far　from　dry　when　he　arrived。　　But　she　did　not
notice；　and　he　was　too　happy　to　care；　so　it　was　all　right。　　They　got
breakfast　together；　and　if　the　coffee　had　boiled　too　long　and　the
eggs　not　long　enough；　that　was　all　right；　also。

They　sat　at　opposite　sides　of　the　little　table；　and　he　needed
frequent　reminding　that　eating　was　supposed　to　be　the　business　on
hand。　　They　talked　of　his　father　and　of　Ann　Davidsonwhom　Ruth
declared　was　to　be　pitiedof　the　wonderful　coincidence　that　that
particular　paper；　the　one　containing　the　〃Personal〃　and　the
〃Engagement　in　High　Life〃　item；　should　have　been　on　top　of　the　pile
in　the　boathouse；　andof　other　things。　　Occasionally　the　talk
lapsed；　and　the　substitute　assistant　merely　looked；　looked　and
smiled　vacuously。　　When　this　happened　Miss　Graham　smiled；　also；　and
blushed。　　Neither　of　them　thought　of　looking　out　of　the　window。

If　they　had　not　been　so　preoccupied；　if　they　had　looked　out　of　that
window；　they　would　have　seen　a　horse　and　buggy　approaching　over　the
dunes。　　Seth　and　Mrs。　Bascom　were　on　the　buggy　seat；　and　the
lightkeeper　was　driving　with　one　hand。　　The　equipage　had　been　hired
at　the　Eastboro　livery　stable。　　Joshua　was　undergoing　repairs　and
enjoying　a　much…needed　rest　at　the　blacksmith　shop　in　the　village。

As　they　drew　near　the　lights；　Seth　sighed　contentedly。

〃Well；　Emeline；〃　he　observed；　〃here　we　be；　safe　and　sound。　　Home
again！　　Yes；　sir；　by　jiminy　crimps；　HOME！　　And　you　ain't　goin'　to
Boston　to…day；　neither。〃

Mrs。　Bascom；　the　practical；　moved　toward　the　edge　of　the　seat。

〃Take　your　arm　away；　Seth；〃　she　cautioned。　　〃They'll　see　you。〃

〃Who'll　see　me？　　What　do　I　care　who　sees　me？　　Ain't　a　man　got　a
right　to　put　his　arm　around　his　own　wife；　I'd　like　to　know？〃

〃Humph！　　Well；　all　right。　　I　can　stand　it　if　you　can。　　Only　I
cal'late　your　young　Brown　man　is　in　for　somethin'　of　a　shock；　that's
all。　　HE　don't　know　that　I'm　your　wife。〃

Seth　removed　his　arm。　　His　expression　changed。

〃That's　so；〃　he　admitted。　　〃He　will　be　set　back　three　or　four　rows；
won't　he？〃

〃I　shouldn't　wonder。　　He'll　think　your　woman…hate　has　had　a　relapse；
I　guess。〃

The　lightkeeper　looked　troubled；　then　he　nodded　grimly。

〃His　ain't　what　you'd　call　a　desp'rate　case；〃　he　declared。　　〃Judgin'
by　what　I've　seen　in　the　cove　for　the　last　month；　he's　gettin'
better　of　it　fast。　　I　ain't　no　worse　than　he　is；　by　time！　。　。　。
Wonder　where　he　is！　　This　place　looks　deader'n　the　doleful　tombs。〃

He　hitched　the　horse　to　the　back　fence　and　assisted　his　wife　to
alight　from　the　buggy。　　They　entered　the　kitchen。　　No　one　was　there；
and　Seth's　hurried　search　of　the　other　rooms　resulted　in　finding
them　untenanted　likewise。

〃Maybe　he's　out　in　one　of　the　lights；〃　he　said。　　〃wait　here；
Emeline；　and　I'll　go　see。〃

But　she　would　not　wait。　　〃I'm　goin'　right　over　to　the　bungalow；〃　she
said。　　〃I'm　worried　about　Miss　Ruth。　　She　was　alone　all　last　night；
and　I　sha'n't　rest　easy　till　I　know　nothin's　happened　to　her。　　You
can　come　when　you　find　your　young　man。　　You　and　me　have　got
somethin'　to　tell　'em；　and　we　might　as　well　get　the　tellin'　done　as
soon　as　possible。　　Nothin's　ever　gained　by　putting　off　a　mean　job。
Unless；　of　course；〃　she　added；　looking　at　him　out　of　the　corners　of
her　eyes；　〃you　want　to　back　out；　Seth。　　It　ain't　too　late　even　now；
you　know。〃

He　stared　at　her。　　〃Back　out！〃　he　repeated；　〃back　out！　　Emeline
Bascom；　what　are　you　talkin'　about？　　You　go　to　that　bungalow　and　go
in　a　hurry。　　Don't　stop　to　talk！　go！　　Who's　runnin'　this　craft？
Who's　the　man　in　this　familyyou　or　me？〃

She　laughed。　　〃You　seem　to　be；　Seth；〃　she　answered；　〃just　now。〃

〃I　am。　　I've　been　a　consider'ble　spell　learnin'　how　to　be；　but　I've
learned。　　You　trot　right　along。〃

Brown　was　in　neither　of　the　light　towers；　and　Seth　began　to　be
worried　about　him。　　He　descended　to　the　yard　and　stood　there；
wondering　what　on　earth　could　have　happened。　　Then；　looking　across
the　cove；　he　became　aware　that　his　wife　was　standing　on　the　edge　of
the　bluff；　making　signals　with　both　hands。

He　opened　his　mouth　to　shout　a　question；　but　she　frantically
signaled　for　silence。　　Then　she　beckoned。　　He　ran　down　the　path　at
full　speed。　　She　met　him　at　the　other　side　of　the　cove。

〃Come　here！〃　she　whispered。　　〃Don't　say　a　word；　but　just　comeand
look。〃

He　followed　her；　crept　close　to　the　bungalow　window　and　peeped　in。
His　helper；　〃John　Brown；〃　and　Miss　Ruth　Graham　were　seated　at　the
table。　　Also　the　substitute　assistant　was　leaning　across　that　table
with　the　young　lady's　hand　in　his；　the　pair　were　entirely　oblivious
of　anything　in　the　world　except　each　other。

A　few　moments　later　a　thunderous　knock　shook　the　bungalow　door。　　The
knock　was　not　answered　immediately；　therefore；　Seth　opened　the　door
himself。　　Miss　Graham　and　the　lightkeeper's　helper　were　standing
some　distance　apart；　they　gazed　speechlessly　at　the　couple　who　now
entered　the　room。

〃Well；〃　observed　Seth；　with　sarcasm；　〃anybody　got　anything　to　say？
You；〃　turning　to　the　young　man；　〃seems　to　me　you　ought　to　say
SOMETHIN'。　　Considerin'　a　little　agreement　you　and　me　had；　I　should
imagine　I　was　entitled　to　some　triflin'　explanation。　　What　are　you
doin'　over　herewith　HER？　　Brown〃

The　young　gentleman　came　to　himself　with　a　start。　　He　walked　across
to　where　Miss　Graham　was　standing；　and　once　more　took　her　hand。

〃My　name　is　not　Brown；〃　he　said　firmly。　　〃It　is　Brooks；　and　this　is
the　young　lady　I　am　to　marry。〃

He　naturally　expected　his　superior　to　be　surprised。　　As　a　matter　of
fact；　he　was　the　surprised　party。　　Seth　reached　out；　drew　the
bungalow　housekeeper　toward　him；　and　put　his　arm　about　her　waist。
Then　he　smiled；　and　the　smile　was　expressive　of　pride；　triumph；　and
satisfaction　absolute。

〃ATKINS！〃　gasped　Brooks。

〃My　name　ain't　Atkins；〃　was　the　astonishing　reply；　〃it's　Bascom。
And　this；〃　indicating　by　a　tightening　of　his　arm　the　blushing　person
at　his　side；　〃is　the　lady　I　married　over　five　year　ago。〃


After　the　stories　had　been　told；　after　both　sides　had　told　theirs
and　explained　and　been　exclaimed　over　and　congratulated；　after　the
very　last　question　had　been　asked　and　answered；　Brownor　Brooks
asked　one　more。

〃But　this　other　fellow；〃　he　queried；　〃this　brother…in…law　　By
George；　it　is　perfectly　marvelous；　this　whole　business！where　is
he？　　What　has　become　of　him？〃

Seth　chuckled。　　〃Bennie　D。？〃　he　said。　　〃Well；　Bennie　D。　is　leavin'
Eastboro　on　the　noon　train。　　I　paid　his　fare　and　give　him　fifty
dollars　to　boot。　　He's　goin'　somewhere；　but　he　ain't　sartin　where。
If　you　asked　me；　I　should　say　that；　in　the　end；　he'd　most　likely
have　to　go　where　he's　never　been　afore；　so　far's　I　ever　heard
that's　to　work。　　Nowseein'　as　the　important　business　has　been
talked　over　and　settledmaybe　you'll　tell　me　about　the　lights；　and
how　you　got　along　last　night。