第2章
traordinarypersonsriding。
"Inthecauseofhealth，"Leroyusedtosay，"Ioughttohavethecarriagefumi-
gatedaftereveryrideJudithtakes，forsheisalwaysaccompaniedbysomeonewholooksasifheorsheshouldgointoquarantine。”
Onenight，whenhewaschaffingherinthisway，sheflunghersewingsuddenlyfromherandsprangtoherfeet，asifsheweregoingtogivewaytoaburstofgirlishtemper。Insteadofthat，astreamoftearspouredfromhereyes，andsheheldouthertremblinghandstowardJessica。
"Hedoesnotknow，"shesobbed。"Hecannotunderstand。”
OnememorabledayLeroyhastenedovertouswhilewewerestillatbreakfasttosaythatJudithwasill，——strangelyill。Allnightlongshehadbeenmutteringtoherselfasifinadelirium。Yetsheansweredlucidlyallquestionsthatwereputtoher。
"ShebegsforMissGrant。Shesaysoverandoverthatshe"knows，"whateverthatmaymean。”
WhenJessicacamehomeshetoldmeshedidnotknow。Sheonlyfeltthatatumultofimpatiencewasstirringinherfriend。
"Thereissomethingmajesticabouther，——
somethingepic。Ifeelasifsheweremak-
ingmeliveapartinsomegreatdrama，theendofwhichIcannottell。Sheissuffering，butIcannottellwhyshesuffers。”
Weekswentonwithoutanabatementinthisstrangeillness。Shedidnotkeepherbed。Indeed，sheneglectedfewofherusualoccupations。Butherhandswereburning，andhereyesgrewbrightwiththatwildsortoflustreoneseesintheeyesofthosewhogivethemselvesuptostrangedrugsormanias。Shegrewwhimsical，andformedcapriciousfriendships，onlytodropthem。
Andthenonedaysheclosedherhousetoallacquaintances，andsatalonecontinu-
allyinherroom，withherhandsclaspedinherlap，andhereyesswimmingwiththeemotionsthatneverfoundtheirwaytohertongue。
Brainardcametotheofficetotalkwithmeaboutheroneday。"Iamaverymiser-
ableman，Grant，"hesaid。"IamafraidI
havelostmywife"sregard。Oh，don"ttellmeitispartlymyfault。Iknowitwellenough。
AndIknowyouhaven"thadaverygoodopinionofmelately。ButIamremorsefulenoughnow，Godknows。AndIwouldgivemylifetoseeherasshewaswhenIfoundherfirstamongthemountains。Why，sheusedtoclimbthemlikeastrongman，andshewasforevershoutingandsinging。Andshehadpeopledeveryspotwithstrangemodernmythologicalcreatures。Herfatherisanolddreamer，andshegotthetrickfromhim。Theyhadalittletelescopeonagreatknollinthecentreofthevalley，justwhereitcommandedalongpathofstars，andtheyusedtospendnightsouttherewhenthefrostliterallyfellinflakes。WhenIthinkhowhardyandgayshewas，howfullofcourageandlife，andlookathernow，sofeverishandbroken，IfeelasifIshouldgomad。YouknowInevermeanttodoheranyharm。Tellmethatmuch，Grant。”
"Ithinkyouwereveryegotisticalforawhile，Brainard，andthatisafact。Andyoudidn"tappreciatehowmuchhernaturedemanded。ButIdonotthinkyouarere-
sponsibleforyourwife"spresentcondition。
Ifthereisanycomfortinthatstatement，youarewelcometoit。”
"Butyoudon"tmean——"hegotnofurther。
"Imeanthatyourwifemayhaveherreservations，justasweallhave，andIampayingherhighpraisewhenIsayit。Youarenotsonarrow，Leroy，astosupposeforamomentthattheonlysortofpassionawomaniscapableofisthatwhichsheenter-
tainsforaman。HowdoIknowwhatisgoingoninyourwife"ssoul？Butitisnothingwhichevenanidealistofwomen，suchasIam，oldfellow，needregret。”
HowgladIwasafterwardthatIspokethosewords。Theyexercisedalittlere-
straint，perhaps，onLeroywhenthedayofhisterribletrialcame。Theymadehimwrestlewiththedemonofsuspicionthatstrovetopossesshim。Iwassittinginmyoffice，laggingdispiritedlyovermyworkoneday，whenthedoorburstopenandBrainardstoodbesideme。Brainard，Isay，andyetinnosensethemanIhadknown，——notahintinthispalecreature，whosebreathstruggledthroughchatteringteeth，andwhosehandsworkedinuncontrollablespasms，ofthenonchalantelegantIhadknown。Notaglimpsetobeseeninthoseangryanddeterminedeyesofthegaylyselfishspiritofmyholidayfriend。
"She"sgone!"hegasped。"Sinceyes-
terday。AndI"mheretoaskyouwhatyouthinknow？Andwhatyouknow。”
Apanoramaofallshamefulpossibilitiesforoneblackmomentfloatedbeforeme。
Irememberthisgaveplacetoawave，coldasdeath，thatsweptfromheadtofoot；
thenBrainard"shandsfellheavilyonmyshoulders。
"ThankGodatleastforthismuch，"hesaid，hoarsely；"Ididn"tknowatfirstbutIhadlostbothfriendandwife。ButIseeyouknownothing。AndindeedinmyheartIknewallthetimethatyoudidnot。
YetIhadtocometoyouwithmyanger。
AndIrememberedhowyoudefendedher。
Whatexplanationcanyouoffernow？"
Igothimtositdownafterawhileandtellmewhatlittletherewastotell。Hehadbeenawayforaday"sshooting，andwhenhereturnedhefoundonlytheper-
plexedservantsathome。Anotewasleftforhim。Heshowedittome。
"Therearetimes，"itran，"whenwemustdoaswemust，notaswewould。Iamgo-
ingtodosomethingIhavebeendriventodosinceIleftmyhome。Idonotleaveanymessageofloveforyou，becauseyouwouldnotcareforitfromawomansoweakasI。ButitissoeasyforyoutobehappythatIhopeinalittlewhileyouwillforgetthewifewhoyieldedtoaninfluencepastresisting。Itmaybemadness，butIamnotgreatenoughtogiveitup。Itriedtomakethesacrifice，butIcouldnot。Itriedtobeasgayasyou，andtoliveyoursortoflife；butIcouldnotdoit。Donotmaketheefforttoforgiveme。Youwillbehap-
pierifyousimplyholdmeinthecontemptIdeserve。”
Ireadtheletteroverandover。IdonotknowthatIbelievethatthespiritofinani-
matethingscanpermeatetotheintelligenceofman。IamsureIalwayslaughedatsuchideas。Yetholdingthatnotewithitsshamefulseemingwords，Ifeltaconscious-
nessthatitwaswritteninpurityandlove。
Andthenbeforemyeyestherecameascenesovividthatforamomenttheofficewithitsfamiliarfurniturewasobliterated。WhatI
sawwasalongfirmroad，greenwithmid-
summerluxuriance。Theleisurelythuddingofmyhorse"sfeetsoundedinmyears。Be-
sidemewasatall，black-robedfigure。I
sawherlookbackwiththatexpressionofdeprivationattheskyline。"It"slikeliv-
ingaftertheworldhasbeguntodie，"saidthepensiveminorvoice。"Itseemsasifpartoftheworldhadbeentakendown。”
"Brainard，"Iyelled，"comehere!I
haveit。Here"syourexplanation。Icanshowyouanewmeaningforeverylineofthisletter。Man，shehasgonetothemoun-
tains。Shehasgonetoworshipherowngods!"
TwoweekslaterIgotaletterfromBrain-
ard，datedfromColorado。
"Oldman，"itsaid，"you"reright。Sheishere。Ifoundmymountainwomanherewherethefourvoicesofhercataractshadbeencallingtoher。Isawherthemomentourmulesroundedtheroadthatcommandsthevalley。Wehadbeenridingallnightandweredrenchedwithcolddew，hungrytodesperation，andmyspiritswereoflead。
Suddenlywegotoutfrombehindthegran-
itewall，andthereshewas，standing，whereI
hadseenhersooften，besidethelittlewater-
fallthatshecallsthehappyone。Shewaslookingstraightupatthebillowingmistthatdippeddownthemountain，mammothsaffronrollsofit，plungingsomadlyfromtheimpetusofthewindthatonemarvelledhowitcouldbenoiseless。Ah，youdonotknowJudith!Thatstrange，unsophisti-
cated，sometimesawkwardwomanyousawborenomoreresemblancetomymountainwomanthanItoHercules。Howstrongandbeautifulshelookedstandingtherewrappedinanecstasy!Itwasmyprimitivewomanbackinherprimevalworld。Howthebloodleapedinme!Allmyoldromance，sodif-
ferentfromthecommonlove-historiesofmostmen，wasthereagainwithinmyreach!
Allthemystery，thepoignanthappinessweremineagain。Donotholdmeincon-
temptbecauseIshowyoumyheart。Yousawmymisery。WhyshouldIgrudgeyouaglimpseofmyhappiness？ShesawmewhenItouchedherhand，notbefore，sowrappedwasshe。Butshedidnotseemsurprised。Onlyinhersplendideyestherecamealargecontent。Shepointedtothedancinglittlewhitefall。"Ithoughtsome-
thingwonderfulwasgoingtohappen，"shewhispered，"forithasbeenlaughingso。"
"IshallnotreturntoNewYork。Iamgoingtostayherewithmymountainwo-
man，andIthinkperhapsIshallfindoutwhatlifemeansheresoonerthanIwouldbacktherewithyou。Ishalllearntoseelargethingslargeandsmallthingssmall。
JudithsaystotellyouandMissGrantthatthefourvoicesarecallingforyoueverydayinthevalley。
"Yoursinfullestfriendship，"LEROYBRAINARD。”
JimLancy"sWaterloo"WEmustgetmarriedbeforetimetoputincrops，"hewrote。"Wemustmakeasuccessofthefarmthefirstyear，forluck。
CouldyoumanagetobereadytocomeoutWestbythelastofFebruary？AfterMarchopenstherewillbenolet-up，andIdonotseehowIcouldgetaway。MakeitFebru-
ary，Anniedear。Afewweeksmoreorlesscanmakenodifferencetoyou，buttheymakeagooddealofdifferencetome。”
Thewomantowhomthiswaswrittenreaditwithsomethinglikeanger。"Idon"tbe-
lievehe"ssoimpatientforme!"shesaidtoherself。"Whathewantsistogetthecropsinontime。”Butshechangedthedateoftheirwedding，andmadeitFebruary。
TheirweddingjourneywasonlyfromtheIllinoisvillagewhereshelivedtotheirNebraskafarm。Theyhadneverbeenmuchtogether，andtheyhadmuchtosaytoeachother。
"Farmingwon"tcomehardtoyou，"Jimassuredher。"Alloneneedstofarmwithisbrains。”
"Whatasuccessyou"llmakeofit!"shecriedsaucily。
"IwishIhadmyfarmclear，"Jimwenton；"butthat"smorethananyonehasaroundme。I"mnoworseoffthantherest。
We"vegottopayoffthemortgage，Annie。”
"Ofcoursewemust。We"lljustdowith-
outtillwegetthemortgagelifted。Hardworkwilldoanything，Iguess。AndI"mnotafraidtowork，Jim，thoughI"veneverhadmuchexperience。”
Jimlookedoutofthewindowalongtime，atthegentleundulationsofthebrownIowaprairie。Hiseyesseemedtopiercebeneaththesod，totheswellingbudsoftheyetinvisiblegrass。Henoticedhowdisdain-
fullytherainsofthenewyearbeatdownthegrassesoftheyearthatwasgone。Itopenedtohismindavisionoftheseason"spossibilities。Foramoment，evenamidthesmokeofthecar，heseemedtoscentclover，andhearthestiffswishingofthecornandthedullburringofthebees。
"Iwishsometimes，"hesaid，leaningfor-
wardtolookathisbride，"thatIhadbeenbornsomethingelsethanafarmer。ButI
cannomorehelpfarming，Annie，thanabirdcanhelpsinging，orabeemakinghoney。Ididn"ttaketofarming。Iwassimplybornwithahoeinmyhand。”
"Idon"tknowablessedthingaboutit，"
Annieconfessed。"ButImadeupmymindthatafarmwithyouwasbetterthanatownwithoutyou。That"sallthereistoit，asfarasIamconcerned。”
JimLancyslidhisarmsoftlyaboutherwaist，unseenbytheotherpassengers。
Annielookedupapprehensively，toseeifanyonewasnoticing。Buttheywereeatingtheirlunches。Itwasacommoncoachonwhichtheywereriding。TherewasaPullmanattachedtothetrain，andAnniehadsecretlythoughtthat，asitwastheirweddingjourney，itmightbemorebecomingtotakeit。ButJimhadmadenosuggestionaboutit。Whathesaidlaterexplainedthereason。
"Iwouldhavelikedtohavebroughtyouafinepresent，"hesaid。"Itseemedshabbytocomewithnothingbutthatlittlering。
ButIputeverythingIhadonourhome，youknow。Andyet，I"msureyou"llthinkitpoorenoughafterwhatyou"vebeenusedto。You"llforgivemeforonlybringingthering，mydear？"
"Butyoubroughtmesomethingbetter，"
Anniewhispered。Shewasafoolishlittlegirl。"Youbroughtmelove，youknow。”
Thentheyrodeinsilenceforalongtime。
Bothofthemwerenewtothephraseologyoflove。Theirsimplecomplimentstoeachotherwerealmostludicrous。Butanyonewhomighthavechancedtooverhearthemwouldhavebeencharmed，fortheybetrayedaninnocenceasbeautifulasanuncloudeddawn。
AnnietriedhardnottobedepressedbythetreelessstretchesoftheNebraskaplains。
"ThisisdifferentfromIllinois，"sheventuredonce，gently；"itisevendifferentfromIowa。”
"Yes，yes，"criedJim，enthusiastically，"itisdifferent!Itisthefinestcountryintheworld!Youneverfeelshutin。Youcanalwaysseeoff。IfeelathomeafterIgetinNebraska。I"dchokebackwhereyoulive，withallthoselittlegulliesandthetreeseverywhere。It"samysterytomehowfarmershavepatiencetoworkthere。”
Annieopenedhereyes。Therewasevi-
dentlymorethanonewayoflookingataquestion。Thefarm-housesseemedverylowandmeantoher，asshelookedatthemfromthewindow。Therewerenofences，exceptingnowandthentheinhospitablebarbedwire。Thedoor-yardswerebleaktohereyes，withouttheornamentalshrubberywhicheveryfarmerinherpartofthecountrywasusedtotending。Thecattlestoodun-
sheddedintheircorrals。Thereapersandbindersstoodrustinginthedulldrizzle。
"Howshiftless!"criedAnnie，indignantly。
"Whatdothesemenmeanbylettingtheirmachinerylieoutthatway？Ishouldthinkonewinteroflyingoutwouldhurtitmorethanthreesummersofusing。”
"Itdoes。Butshedsarenoteasilyhad。
Lumberisdear。”
"ButIshouldthinkitwouldbeeconomyeventhen。”
"Yes，"hesaid，"perhaps。Butwealldothatwayouthere。Ittakessomemoneyforamantobeeconomicalwith。Someofushaven"teventhatmuch。”
Therewasasix-mileridefromthestation。
Thehorseswerewaiting，hitcheduptoaserviceablelightwagon，anddrivenbythe"help。”Hewasathinyoungman，withredhair，andheblushedvicariouslyforJimandAnnie，whowerereallytooentertainedwitheachother，andattheideaofthenewlifeopeningupbeforethem，tothinkany-
thingaboutblushing。Atthestation，anumberofmeninsistedonshakinghandswithJim，andbeingintroducedtohiswife。
Theywereallbearded，asifshavingwereanunnecessarylabor，andtheirtrousersweretuckedindustytop-boots，noneofwhichhadeverseenblacking。Anniehadasenseofthesemenseemingunwashed，orasiftheyhadsleptintheirclothes。Buttheyhadkindvoices，andtheireyeswereveryfriendly。Sosheshookhandswiththemallwithheartiness，andaskedthemtodriveoutandbringtheirwomenkind。
"Iamgoingtomakeupmymindnottobelonesome，"shedeclared；"but，allthesame，Ishallwanttoseesomewomen。”
Anniehadgotsafeonthehighseatofthewagon，andwasbalancingherlittlefeetontheinclinedfoot-rest，whenawomancamerunningacrossthestreet，callingaloud，——
"Mr。Lancy!Mr。Lancy!You"renotgoingtodriveawaywithoutintroducingmetoyourwife!"
Shewasathinlittlewoman，withmove-
mentsasnervousandasgracelessasthoseofagrasshopper。Herdun-coloredgarmentsseemedtohaveallthehuebleachedoutofthemwithwindandweather。Herfacewasbrownandwrinkled，andherbrighteyesflashedrestlessly，deepintheirsockets。Twofrontteethwereconspicuouslymissing；andherfadedhairwasblowninwispsaboutherface。Jimperformedtheintroduction，andAnnieheldoutherhand。Itwasaprettyhand，delicatelyglovedindovecolor。
Thewomantookitinherown，andaftershehadshakenit，helditforasilentmo-
ment，lookingatit。Thenshealmostthrewitfromher。Theeyeswhichsheliftedtoscanthebrightyoungfaceaboveherhadsomethinglikeagonyinthem。Annieblushedunderthisfiercescrutiny，andthewoman，suddenlyconsciousofherdemeanor，forcedasmiletoherlips。
"I"llcomeoutan"seeyeh，"shesaid，incordialtones。"Maybe，asanewhouse-
keeper，you"lllikealittleadvice。You"veaniceplace，an"Iwishyehluck。”
"Thankyou。I"msureI"llneedadvice，"
criedAnnie，astheydroveoff。ThenshesaidtoJim，"Whoisthatoldwoman？"
"Oldwoman？Why，sheain"tadayoverthirty，Mis"Dundyain"t。”
Annielookedatherhusbandblankly。
Buthewasalreadytalkingofsomethingelse，andsheaskednomoreaboutthewoman，thoughallthewayalongtheroadthefaceseemedtofollowher。Itmighthavebeenthisthatcausedthetighteningaboutherheart。Forsomewayhervivacityhadgone；andtherestoftheridesheaskednoquestions，butsatlookingstraightbeforeheratthenorthwardstretchingroad，witheyesthatfeltratherthansawthebrown，bareundulations，risingeverynowandthencleantothesky；attheside，littlefamished-
lookinghouses，unacquaintedwithpaint，disorderlyyards，andendlessreachesoffurrowedground，whereinsummerthecornhadwaved。
Thehorsesneedednoindicationofthelinetomakethemturnupasmoothbitofroadthatcurvedawayneatly"midtheraggedgrasses。Attheendofit，inaclumpofpunyscruboaks，stoodasquarelittlehouse，inuncornicedsimplicity，withblank，uncur-
tainedwindowsstaringoutatAnnie，andforamomenthereyes，blurredwiththecold，seemedtoseeinoneofthemthedespairingfaceofthewomanwiththewispsoffadedhairblowingaboutherface。
"Well，whatdoyouthinkofit？"Jimcried，heartily，swingingherdownfromherhighseat，andkissingherashedidso。
"Thisisyourhome，mygirl，andyouareaswelcometoitasyouwouldbetoapalace，ifIcouldgiveittoyou。”
Annieputupherhandstohidethetrem-
blingofherlips；andsheletJimseethereweretearsinhereyesasanapologyfornotreplying。Theyoungmanwiththeredhairtookawaythehorses，andJim，withhisarmaroundhiswife"swaist，rantowardthehouseandthrewopenthedoorforhertoenter。
Theintenseheatoftwogreatstovesstruckintheirfaces；andAnniesawthebigburner，erectedinallitsblackhideousnessinthemiddleofthefrontroom，likeasortofhouseholdhoodoo，tobeconstantlypropi-
tiated，likethegodsofGreece；andinthekitchen，thenewrange，withadistractedtea-kettleleapingonit，asifitwouldliketolooseitsfettersandraceawayovertheprairieafteritscousin，thelocomotive。
Itwasahouseoffourrooms，andaglancerevealedthefactthatithadbeenprovidedwiththenecessaries。
"Ithinkwecanbeverycomfortablehere，"saidJim，ratherdoubtfully。
Anniesawshemustmakesomeresponse。
"Iamsurewecanbemorethancomfort-
able，Jim，"shereplied。"Wecanbehappy。
Showme，ifyouplease，wheremyroomis。ImusthangmycloakupintherightplacesothatIshallfeelasifIweregettingsettled。”
Itwasenough。Jimhadnolongeranydoubts。Hefeltsuretheyweregoingtobehappyeverafterward。
ItwasAnniewhogotthefirstmeal；sheinsistedonit，thoughboththemenwantedhertorest。AndJimhadn"tthehearttotellherthat，asageneralthing，itwouldnotdotoputtwoeggsinthecorn-cake，andthatthebeefsteakwasagreatluxury。
Whenhesawherabouttobreakaneggforthecoffee，however，heinterfered。
"Theshellsoftheonesyouusedforthecakewillsettlethecoffeejustaswell，"hesaid。"Youseewehavetobeverycarefulofeggsouthereatthisseason。”
"Oh!Willtheshellsreallysettleit？
Thisiswhatyoumustcallprairielore。
Isupposeoutherewefindoutwhattherealrelationsofinventionandnecessityare——eh？"
Jimlaugheddisproportionately。Hethoughtherwonderfullywitty。AndheandthehelpatesomuchthatAnnieopenedhereyes。Shehadthoughttherewouldbeenoughleftforsupper。Buttherewasnothingleft。
ForthenexttwoweeksJimwasabletobemuchwithher；andtheyamusedthemselvesbydecoratingthehousewiththebrightcurtainingsthatAnniehadbrought，andputtingupshelvesforafewpiecesofchina。
Shehadtwoorthreepictures，also，whichhadcomefromherroominheroldhome，andsomeofthoseuselessdaintythingswithwhichsomewomenliketolittertheroom。
"Mostfolks，"Jimexplained，"havetobecontentwithonefire，andsitinthekitchen；
butIthought，asthiswasourhoneymoon，wewouldputonsomelugs。”
Anniesaidnothingthen；butadayortwoaftersheventured，——
"Perhapsitwouldbeaswellnow，dear，ifwekeptinthekitchen。I"llkeepitasbrightandpleasantasIcan。And，any-
way，youcanbemoreaboutwithmewhenI"mworkingthen。We"lllayafireinthefront-roomstove，sothatwecanlightitifanybodycomes。Wecanjustaswellsavethatmuch。”
Jimlookedupbrightly。"Allright，"hesaid。"You"reasensiblelittlewoman。
Yousee，everycentmakesadifference。
AndIwanttobeabletopayofffivehundreddollarsofthatmortgagethisyear。”
So，afterthat，theysatinthekitchen；andthefirewaslaidinthefrontroom，againstthecomingofcompany。Butnoonecame，anditremainedunlighted。
Thentheseasonbegantoshowsignsofopening，——bleaksigns，hardlyrecognizabletoAnnie；andafterthatJimwasnotmuchinthehouse。Theweeksworeon，andspringcameatlast，dancingoverthehills。
Theground-birdsbeganbuilding，andatfoureachmorningawokeAnniewiththeirsylvanopera。ThecreekthatranjustatthenorthofthehouseworkeditselfintoafuryandblusteredalongwithmuchnoisetowardthegreatPlattewhich，milesaway，wallowedinitsvastsandybed。Thehillsflushedfrombrowntoyellow，andfrommottledgreentointensestemerald，andinthesuperbairallthewindsofheavenseemedtomeetandfrolicwithlaughterandsong。
Sometimesthemorningsweresobeauti-
fulthat，themenbeingafieldandAnnieallalone，shegaveherselfuptoanecstasyandkneeledbythelittlewoodenbenchoutsidethedoor，tosay，"Father，IthankThee，"
andthenwentaboutherworkwithallthepoemofnaturerhymingitselfoverandoverinherheart。
ItwasonsuchadayasthisthatMrs。
Dundykeptherpromiseandcameovertoseeiftheyounghousekeeperneededanyoftheadviceshehadpromisedher。Shehadwalked，becausenoneofthehorsescouldbespared。Ithadgotsowarmnowthatthefireinthekitchenheatedthewholehousesufficiently，andAnniehadtheroomscleantoexquisiteness。Mrs。Dundylookedaboutwithenviouseyes。
"Howlovely!"shesaid。
"Doyouthinkso？"criedAnnie，insur-
prise。"Ilikeit，ofcourse，becauseitishome，butIdon"tseehowyoucouldcallanythingherelovely。”
"Oh，youdon"tunderstand，"hervisitorwenton。"It"slovelybecauseitlookssohappy。Someofushave——well，kindo"
lostourgrip。”
"It"seasytodothatifyoudon"tfeelwell，"Annieremarkedsympathetically。"I
haven"tfeltaswellasusualmyself，lately。
AndIdogetlonesomeandwonderwhatgooditdoestofixupeverydaywhenthereisnoonetosee。Butthatisallnonsense，andIputitoutofmyhead。”
Shesmoothedoutthecleanlawnapronwithdelicatetouch。Mrs。Dundyfollowedthemovementwithhereyes。
"Oh，mydear，"shecried，"youdon"tknownothin"aboutityet!Butyouwillknow!Youwill!"andthoserestless，hoteyesofhersseemedtogrowmorerestlessandmorehotastheylookedwithinfinitepityattheyoungwomanbeforeher。
Anniethoughtofthesewordsoftenasthesummercameon，andtheheatgrew。Jimwasseldomtobeseennow。Hewasupatfoureachmorning，andthelastchorewasnotcompletedtillnineatnight。Thenhethrewhimselfinbedandlaytherelog-liketilldawn。Hewastoowearytotalkmuch，andAnnie，withherheartachingforhisfatigue，forboretospeaktohim。Shecookedthemoststrengtheningthingsshecould，andtriedalwaystolookfreshandpleasantwhenhecamein。Butsheoftenthoughtherpainswereinvain，forhehardlyrestedhissunburnedeyesonher。Hisskingotsobrownthathisfacewasstrangelychanged，especiallyashenolongerhadtimetoshave，andhadletaroughbeardstraggleoverhischeeksandchin。OnSundaysAnniewouldhavelikedtogotochurch，butthehorsesweretootiredtobetakenout，andshedidnotfeelwellenoughtowalkfar；besides，Jimgotnoparticulargoodoutofwalkingoverthehillsunlesshehadaploughinhishand。
Harvestcameatlength，andthecropwasgood。Therewereanywayfromthreetotwentymenatthehousethen，andAnniecookedforallofthem。Jimhadtriedtogetsomeonetohelpher，buthehadnotsucceeded。Anniestrovetobebrave，re-
memberingthatfarm-womenalloverthecountrywereworkinginsimilarfashion。
Butinspiteofallshecoulddo，thedaysgottoseemlikenightmares，andsleepbe-
tweenwasbutabriefpauseinwhichshewasalwaysdreamingofwater，andthinkingthatshewasstoopingtoputfeveredlipstoarunningbrook。SomeofthesemenwereverydisgustingtoAnnie。Theirmannerswereasbadastheycouldwellbe，andacoarsewordcamenaturallytotheirlips。
"Tobemasterofthesoil，thatisonething，"saidshetoherselfinsicknessofspirit；"buttobetheslaveofitisanother。
Thesemenseemtohavegottheirsoulsallcoveredwithmuck。”Shenoticedthattheyhadnoideaofamusement。Theyhadneverplayedanything。Theydidnotevencareforbase-ball。Theirideaofhappinessappearedtobetodonothing；andtherewasagoodpartoftheyearinwhichtheywerehappy，——forthesewerenotforthemostpartmenowningfarms；theyweremenwhohiredouttohelpthefarmer。Agoodmanyofthemhadbeenfarmersatonetimeandanother，buttheyhadfailed。Theyalltalkedpoliticsagreatdeal，——politicsandrail-
roads。Anniehadnotmuchpatiencewithitall。Shehadgreatconfidenceinthecourseofthings。Shebelievedthatinthiscountryallmenhaveafairchance。Sowhenitcameaboutthatthecornandthewheat，whichhadbeenraisedwithsuchincessanttoil，broughtthemnomoney，butonlyaloss，Anniestoodaghast。
"Isaidtherateswereruinous，"Jimsaidtoheronenight，afteritwasallover，andhehadfoundoutthattheyear"sslavishworkhadbroughthimalossofthreehundreddollars；"it"sbeenaconspiracyfromthefirst。Thepriceofcornisallright。ButbythetimewesetitdowninChicagoweareouteighteencentsabushel。
Itmeansruin。Whatarewegoingtodo？
Herewehadthebestcropwe"vehadforyears——butwhat"stheuseoftalking!
Theyhaveusintheirgrip。”
"Idon"tseehowitis，"Annieprotested。
"Ishouldthinkitwouldbefortheinter-
estoftheroadstohelpthepeopletobeasprosperousaspossible。”
"Oh，wecan"tgetout!Andwe"reboundtostayandraisegrain。Andthey"reboundtocartit。Andthat"sallthereistoit。Theyforceustostandeveryloss，eventotheshortagethatismadeintransportation。
Therailroadcompaniesowntheelevators，andtheyhavethecinchonus。Ourgrainisattheirmercy。GodknowshowI"mgoingtoraisethatinterest。Asforthefivehundredweweregoingtopayonthemort-
gagethisyear，Annie，we"renotinit。”
Autumnwaswellsetinbythistime，andthebrilliantcoldskyhungovertheprairiesasyoungandfreshasiftheworldwerenotoldandtired。Annienolongercouldlookastrimaswhenshefirstcametothelittlehouse。Herprettyweddinggarmentswerebeginningtobewornandtherewasnomoneyformore。Jimwouldnotplaychessnowofevenings。Hewasforeverwritingarticlesfortheweeklypaperintheadjoin-
ingtown。Theytalkedofrunninghimforthestatelegislature，andhewasanxiousforthenomination。
"IthinkImightbeabletostanditifI
couldfight"em!"hedeclared；"buttosithereidle，knowingthatIhavebeencheatedoutofmyyear"swork，justasmuchasifI
hadbeenknockeddownontheroadandthemoneytakenfromme，isenoughtosendmetotheasylumwithastrait-jacketon!"
Lifegrewtotakeontragicaspects。Annieusedtofindherselfwonderingifanywhereintheworldtherewerepeoplewithlighthearts。Forhertherewasnolongerantici-
pationofjoy，orpresentcompanionship，oranydivertissementinthewholeworld。Jimreadbookswhichshedidnotunderstand，andwithafewofhisfriends，whodroppedinnowandtheneveningsorSundays，talkedaboutthesebooksinanexcitedmanner。
Shewouldgotoherroomtorest，andlyingthereinthedarknessonthebed，wouldhearthemspeakingtogether，some-
timesallatonce，inthosesternlyvindictivetonesmenusewhenthereisrevoltintheirsouls。
"Itisthegovernmentwhichishelpingtoimpoverishus，"shewouldhearJimsaying。"Workismoney。Thatistosay，itistheactiveformofmoney。Thewealthofacountryisestimatedbyitspowerofproduction。Anditspowerofproductionmeanswork。Itmeanstherearesomanymenwithsomuchcapacity。
Nowthegovernmentowesittothesementohavemoneyenoughtopaythemfortheirwork；andifthereisnotenoughmoneyincirculationtopaytoeachmanforhishonestandnecessarywork，thenIsaythatgovernmentisinleaguewithcrime。
Itistryingtomakedefaultersofus。Ithasahundredwaysofcheatingus。WhenI
boughtthisfarmandputthemortgageonit，aday"sworkwouldbringtwicetheresultsitwillnow。Thatistosay，thetotalattheendoftheyearshowedmyprofitstobetwicewhattheywouldbenow，eveniftherailwaydidnotstandinthewaytorobusofmorethanweearn。
Sothatitwilltakejusttwiceasmanydays"worknowtopayoffthismortgageasitwouldhavedoneatthetimeitwascontracted。It"saconspiracy，Itellyou!
ThoseEasterncapitalistsmakeascienceofruiningus。”
Hegotmoreeloquentastimewenton，andAnnie，whohadknownhimfirstasratheracarelesstalker，wasastonishedattheboldnessofhislanguage。Butconver-
sationwasalostartwithhim。Henolongertalked。Heharangued。
IntheearlyspringAnnie"sbabywasborn，——alittlegirlwithanervouscry，whoneversleptlongatatime，andwhoseemedtowailmerelyfromdistasteatliving。ItwasMrs。DundywhocameovertolookafterthehousetillAnniegotabletodoso。
Hereyeshadthatfeverinthem，asever。
Shetalkedbutlittle，buthertouchonAnnie"sheadwasmoreeloquentthanwords。
OnedayAnnieaskedfortheglass，andMrs。Dundygaveittoher。Shelookedinitalongtime。Thecolorwasgonefromhercheeks，andabouthermouththerewasanuglytightening。Buthereyesflashedandshonewiththatsame——no，no，itcouldnotbethatinherfacealsowascomingthelookofhalf-madness!ShemotionedMrs。
Dundytocometoher。
"Youknewitwascoming，"shesaid，brokenly，pointingtothereflectionintheglass。"Thatfirstday，youknewhowitwouldbe。”
Mrs。Dundytooktheglassawaywithagentlehand。
"HowcouldIhelpknowing？"shesaidsimply。Shewentintothenextroom，andwhenshereturnedAnnienoticedthatthehandkerchiefstuckinherbeltwaswet，asifithadbeenwepton。
Awomancannotstaylongawayfromherhomeonafarmatplantingtime，evenifitisacaseoflifeanddeath。Mrs。Dundyhadtogohome，andAnniecreptaboutherworkwiththewailingbabyinherarms。
Thehousewasoftendisorderlynow；butitcouldnotbehelped。Thebabyhadtobecaredfor。ItfrettedsomuchthatJimsleptapartinthemowofthebarn，thathissleepmightnotbedisturbed。Itwasapleasant，dimplace，fullofsweetscents，andhelikedtobetherealone。Thoughhehadalwaysbeenanunusualworker，heworkednowmorelikeamanwhowasfightingofffate，thanameretoilerforbread。
Thecorncameupbeautifully，andfarastheeyecouldreacharoundtheirhomeittosseditsbroadgreenleaveswithanocean-
likeswellingofsibilantsound。Jimloveditwithasortofpassion。Annielovedit，too。Sometimes，atnight，whenherfatiguewasunbearable，andherirritationwearingoutbothbodyandsoul，shetookherlittleoneinherarmsandwalkedamongthecorn，lettingitsrustlingsoothethebabytosleep。
Theheatofthesummerwasterrible。