one basket(一个篮子)-第4节
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Blanche Devine glanced up at her sharply。
〃Don't you dare faint！〃 she commanded。
And the fight went on。 Gradually the breathing that had been so
frightful became softer； easier。 Blanche Devine did not relax。 It was
not until the little figure breathed gently in sleep that Blanche Devine sat
back； satisfied。 Then she tucked a cover at the side of the bed； took a last
satisfied look at the face on the pillow； and turned to look at the wan；
disheveled Young Wife。
〃She's all right now。 We can get the doctor when morning comes
though I don't know's you'll need him。〃
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The Young Wife came round to Blanche Devine's side of the bed and
stood looking up at her。
〃My baby died；〃 said Blanche Devine simply。 The Young Wife gave
a little inarticulate cry； put her two hands on Blanche Devine's broad
shoulders； and laid her tired head on her breast。
〃I guess I'd better be going；〃 said Blanche Devine。
The Young Wife raised her head。 Her eyes were round with fright。
〃Going！ Oh； please stay！ I'm so afraid。 Suppose she should take
sick again！ That awfulbreathing〃
〃I'll stay if you want me to。〃
〃Oh； please！ I'll make up your bed and you can rest〃
〃I'm not sleepy。 I'm not much of a hand to sleep anyway。 I'll sit up
here in the hall； where there's a light。 You get to bed。 I'll watch and see
that everything's all right。 Have you got something I can read out here
something kind of livelywith a love story in it？〃
So the night went by。 Snooky slept in her white bed。 The Very
Young Wife half dozed in her bed； so near the little one。 In the hall； her
stout figure looming grotesque in wall shadows； sat Blanche Devine；
pretending to read。 Now and then she rose and tiptoed into the bedroom
with miraculous quiet； and stooped over the little bed and listened and
lookedand tiptoed away again； satisfied。
The Young Husband came home from his business trip next day with
tales of snowdrifts and stalled engines。 Blanche Devine breathed a sigh
of relief when she saw him from her kitchen window。 She watched the
house now with a sort of proprietary eye。 She wondered about Snooky；
but she knew better than to ask。 So she waited。 The Young Wife next
door had told her husband all about that awful nighthad told him with
tears and sobs。 The Very Young Husband had been very； very angry with
her angry； he said； and astonished！ Snooky could not have been so sick！
Look at her now！ As well as ever。 And to have called such a woman！
Well； he did not want to be harsh； but she must understand that she must
never speak to the woman again。 Never！
So the next day the Very Young Wife happened to go by with the
Young Husband。 Blanche Devine spied them from her sitting…room
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window； and she made the excuse of looking in her mailbox in order to go
to the door。 She stood in the doorway and the Very Young Wife went by
on the arm of her husband。 She went byrather white…facedwithout a
look or a word or a sign！
And then this happened！ There came into Blanche Devine's face a
look that made slits of her eyes； and drew her mouth down into an ugly；
narrow line； and that made the muscles of her jaw tense and hard。 It was
the ugliest look you can imagine。 Then she smiledif having one's lips
curl away from one's teeth can be called smiling。
Two days later there was great news of the white cottage on the corner。
The curtains were down； the furniture was packed； the rugs were rolled。
The wagons came and backed up to the house and took those things that
had made a home for Blanche Devine。 And when we heard that she had
bought back her interest in the House with the Closed Shutters； near the
freight depot； we sniffed。
〃I knew she wouldn't last！〃 we said。
〃They never do！〃 said we。
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The Gay Old Dog ＇1917＇
Those of you who have dweltor even lingeredin Chicago； Illinois；
are familiar with the region known as the Loop。 For those others of you
to whom Chicago is a transfer point between New York and California
there is presented this brief explanation：
The Loop is a clamorous； smoke…infested district embraced by the iron
arms of the elevated tracks。 In a city boasting fewer millions； it would be
known familiarly as downtown。 From Congress to Lake Street； from
Wabash almost to the river； those thunderous tracks make a complete
circle； or loop。 Within it lie the retail shops； the commercial hotels； the
theaters； the restaurants。 It is the Fifth Avenue and the Broadway of
Chicago。
And he who frequents it by night in search of amusement and cheer is
known； vulgarly； as a Loop…hound。
Jo Hertz was a Loop…hound。 On the occasion of those sparse first
nights granted the metropolis of the Middle West he was always present；
third row； aisle； left。 When a new Loop cafe' was opened； Jo's table
always commanded an unobstructed view of anything worth viewing。
On entering he was wont to say； 〃Hello； Gus；〃 with careless cordiality to
the headwaiter； the while his eye roved expertly from table to table as he
removed his gloves。 He ordered things under glass； so that his table； at
midnight or thereabouts； resembled a hotbed that favors the bell system。
The waiters fought for him。 He was the kind of man who mixes his own
salad dressing。 He liked to call for a bowl； some cracked ice； lemon； garlic；
paprika； salt； pepper； vinegar； and oil and make a rite of it。 People at
near…by tables would lay down their knives and forks to watch； fascinated。
The secret of it seemed to lie in using all the oil in sight and calling for
more。
That was Joa plump and lonely bachelor of fifty。 A plethoric；
roving… eyed； and kindly man； clutching vainly at the garments of a youth
that had long slipped past him。 Jo Hertz； in one of those pinch…waist
suits and a belted coat and a little green hat； walking up Michigan Avenue
of a bright winter's afternoon； trying to take the curb with a jaunty
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youthfulness against which every one of his fat…encased muscles rebelled；
was a sight for mirth or pity； depending on one's vision。
The gay…dog business was a late phase in the life of Jo Hertz。 He had
been a quite different sort of canine。 The staid and harassed brother of
three unwed and selfish sisters is an underdog。
At twenty…seven Jo had been the dutiful； hard…working son （in the
wholesale harness business） of a widowed and gummidging mother； who
called him Joey。 Now and then a double wrinkle would appear between
Jo's eyesa wrinkle that had no business there at twenty…seven。 Then
Jo's mother died； leaving him handicapped by a deathbed promise； the
three sisters； and a three…story…and…basement house on Calumet Avenue。
Jo's wrinkle became a fixture。
〃Joey；〃 his mother had said； in her high； thin voice； 〃take care of the
girls。〃
〃I will； Ma；〃 Jo had choked。
〃Joey；〃 and the voice was weaker； 〃promise me you won't marry till
the girls are all provided for。〃 Then as Jo had hesitated； appalled： 〃Joey；
it's my dying wish。 Promise！〃
〃I promise； Ma；〃 he had said。
Whereupon his mother had died； comfortably； leaving him with a
completely ruined life。
They were not bad…looking girls； and they had a certain style； too。
That is； Stell and Eva had。 Carrie； the middle one； taught school over on
the West Side。 In those days it took her almost two hours each way。
