第8章

Martha，shehadbeenfussingaroundsomeflowerbusheswithapairofshearsandgloveson。ShelooksupwhenIsaysthat，andshesizesusallupstandingbythegate，andhereyespopsopen，andsodoeshermouth，andsheissosurprisedtoseemeshedropshershears。

Andshelooksscared，too。

“IsMissBucknerathome？”astsColonelTom，liftinghishatverypolite。

“MissB-B-Buckner？”Marthastutters，veryscared-like，andnottakinghereyesoffofmetoanswerhim。

“MissHampton，Martha，“Isays。

“Y-y-y-es，s-sh-sheis，“saysMartha。Iwonderedwhatwasthematterwithher。

Itisalwaysmylucktogetleftallalonewithmytroubles。Thedoctorandthecolonel，theywalkedrightpastuswhenshesaidyes，anduptowardthehouse，andleftherandmestandingthere。I

couldofwentalongandbuttedin，mebby。ButI

saystomyselfIwillhavethedernedthingouthereandnow，andknowtheworst。AndIwassointerestedinmytroubleandMarthathatIdidn"tevennoticeifMissLucymet"ematthedoor，andifso，howsheacted。WhenInextlookeduptheywasallinthehouse。

“Martha——“Ibegins。Butshebreaksin。

“Danny，“shesays，lookinglikesheisgoingtocry，“don"tl-l-lookatmel-l-likethat。IfyouknewALLyouwouldn"tblameme。You——“

“Wouldn"tblameyoufurwhat？”Iastsher。

“Iknowit"swrongofme，“shesays，begging-like。

“Mebbyitisandmebbyitain"t，“Isays。“Butwhatisit？”

“Butyouneverwrotetome，“shesays。

“Youneverwrotetome，“Isays，notwantinghertogetthebestofme，whateveritwasshemightbetalkingabout。

“AndthenHEcametotown！——“

“Who？”Iastsher。

“Don"tyouknow？”shesays。“ThemanIamgoingtomarry。“

WhenshesaidthatIfelt，allofasudden，likewhenyouarebrokeandhungryandrunacrostahalfdollaryouhadforgotaboutinyourotherpants。

IwassogladIjumped。

“Greatguns！”Isays。

Ihadneverreallyknowedwhatbeinggladwasbefore。

“Oh，Danny，Danny，“shesays，puttingherhandsinfrontofherface，“andhereyouhavecometoclaimmeforyourbride！”

Whichshowedmewhyshehadlookedsoscared。

Thattheregirlhadwentandgotengagedtoanotherfeller。AndhadbeenlayingawakenightssufferingfurfearIwouldturnupagin。AndnowIhad。

Looey，healwayssaidnevertotrustawoman！

“Martha，“Isays，“youain"tactedrightwithme。“

“Oh，Danny，Danny，“shesays，“Iknowit！I

knowit！”

“Somefellersinmyplace，“Isays，“wouldraiseadickensofarow。“

“IDIDloveyouonce，“shesays，lookingatmefrombetweenherfingers。

“Yes，“saysI，actingrealmelancholy，“youdid。

Andnowyou"vequitit，theydon"tseemtometobenothinglefttolivefur。“Martha，shewasanawfulromancefulgirl。Igotthenotionthatmebbyshewasenjoyingherownremorsefulnessalittlebit。

IfetchedadeepsighandIsays：

“Somefellerswouldkilltheirselvesonthespot！”

“Oh！——Oh！——Oh！——“saysMartha。

“But，Martha，“saysI，“Iain"tthatmean。I

ain"tgoingtodothat。“

Thatderngirlackshellaygivemeadisappointedlook！Ifanything，shewasjestabitTOOromanceful，Marthawas。

“No，“saysI，cheeringupalittle，“Iamgoingtodosomethingtheyain"tmanyfellerswoulddo，Martha。I"mgoingtoforgiveyou。Freeandfairandopen。Andgiveyoubackmyhalfofthatring，and——“

Dernit！IhadforgotIhadlostthathalfofthattherering！Irememberedsoquickitstoppedme。

“Youalwayskeptit，Danny？”sheastsme，verysoft-spoken，soasnottogivepaintoonesofaithfulandsonobleaswhatIwas。“Letmeseeit，Danny。“

ImadelikeIwasfeelingthroughallmypocketsfurit。Butthatcouldn"tlastforever。Irunoutofpocketspurtysoon。Andherfacebeguntoshowshewassmellingarat。FinallyIsays：

“Theseain"tmyotherclothes——itmustbeinthem。“

“Danny，“shesays，“IbelieveyouLOSTit。“

“Martha，“Isays，takingachancet，“youknowyoulostYOURhalf！”

Sheownsupshehaslostitalongwhileago。

Andwhenshelostit，shesays，sheknowedthatwasfateandthatourlovewasomenedinunderanevilstar。Andwhowasshe，shesays，tostruggleaginfate？

“Martha，“Isays，“I"llbehonestwithyou。

FategotawaywithmyhalftooonedaywhenI

didn"tknowtheywascrookslikeherstickingaround。“

Well，Iseenthatgirlseenthroughmethen。

Marthawasawfulsmartsometimes。Andeachonewassodernedtickledtheotheronewasn"tgo-

ingtodoanypiningawayweliketooffellintolovealloveragin。Butnotquite。Furneitheronewouldevertrusttheotheroneagin。Sowefeltmorecomfortablewitheachother。Youain"tnevercomfortablewithapersonyouknowismorehonestthanyoube。

“But，“saysMartha，afteraminute，“ifyoudidn"tcomebacktomakememarryyou，whatdoesDoctorKirbywanttoseeMissHamptonabout？

Andwhowasthatwithhim？”

Ihadbeennightoforgettingthemainthingwehadallcomeherefur，inmygladnessatgettingridofanydangerofmarryingMartha。ButitcometomealltooncetIhadbeenmissingalotthatmustbetakingplaceinsidethathouse。Ihadevenmissedthewaytheyfirstlookedwhenshemet"ematthedoor，andIwouldn"tofmissedthatfuralot。AndIseenalltooncetwhatabigpieceofnewsitwillbetoMartha。

“Martha，“Isays，“theyain"tnoDr。HartleyL。

Kirby。ThemanknownassuchisDavidArm-

strong！”

IneverseenanyonesopeetrifiedasMarthawasfuraminute。

“Yes，“saysI，“andtheotheroneisMissLucy"sbrother。Andtheyareallthreeintherestraighten-

ingthemselvesoutandfindingwhereeverybodygetsoffat，andwhy。Oneofthesehereserioustimesyoureadabout。Andyouandmearemissingitall，likeacoupleofgumps。Howcanwehear？”

Marthasaysshedon"tknow。

“YouTHINK，“Itoldher。“We"vewastedfivegoodminutesalready。I"veGOTtoheartherestofit。Wherewouldtheybe？”

Marthaguessestheywillallbeinthesittingroom，whichhasgotthebestchairsinit。

“Whatisnexttoit？Abackparlour，orabed-

room，orwhat？”IwasthinkingofhowIhappenedtooverhearPerfessorBoothandhisfamblythat-a-way。

Marthasaystheyisnothinglikethattobetried。

“Martha，“Isays，“thisisserious。Thisherestorytheyarethrashingoutinthereistheonlydernedsure-enoughromancefulstoryeitheryouormeiseverlibletorunupagainstpersonalinallourlives。Itwouldofbeenagooddealniceriftheyhadastusintoseethewind-upofit。Fur，ifithadn"tofbeenfurme，theyneverwouldofbeenreunitedandrejuvenatedthewaytheybe。Butsomepeoplegetstingystreakswiththeirconcerns。

Youthink！”

Martha，shesays：“Danny，itwouldn"tbehonourabletolisten。“

“Martha，“Itellsher，“afterthewayyouandmewentandjiltedeachother，whatkindofsensesofhonourhaveWEgottobragabout？”

Sheremembersthatthesparebedroomisrightoverthesittingroom。Thehouseisheatedwithstovesinthewintertime。Thereisaregisterrightthroughthefloorofthesparebedroomandtheceilingofthesittingroom。Notthekindofaregisterthatcomesfromatwisted-aroundshaftinahousethatusesfurnaceheat。Butjestreallyaholeinthefloor，withacast-irongrating，tolettheheatfromtheroombelowintotheoneabove。

Shesayssheguessestwopeoplethatwasn"tsoveryhonourablemightsneakintothehousethebackway，andupthebackstairs，andintothesparebedroom，andlaydownontheirstummicksonthefloor，beingcarefultomakenonoise，andbothseeandhearthroughthatregister。Whichwedoneit。

CHAPTERXXIV

Icouldhearwellenough，butatfirstIcouldn"tseeanyofthem。ButIgatheredthatMissLucywasstandingupwhilstshewastalking，andmovingaroundabitnowandthen。Iseenoneofhersleeves，andthenawispofherhair。Whichwasaggervating，furIwantedtoknowwhatshewaslike。Buthervoicewassosoftandquietthatyoukindofknowedbeforeyouseenherhowsheorterlook。

“PrentissMcMakincametomethatday，“shewassaying，“withanappeal——Ihardlyknowhowtotellyou。“Shebrokeoff。

“Goahead，Lucy，“saysColonelTom"svoice。

“Hewasinsulting，“shesaid。“Hehadbeendrink-

ing。Hewantedmeto——to——heappealedtometorunoffwithhim。

“Iwasfurious——NATURALLY。“HervoicechangedasshesaiditenoughsoyoucouldfeelhowfuriousMissLucycouldget。ShewaslikeherbrotherTominsomeways。

“Iorderedhimoutofthehouse。Hisanswertothatwasanoffertomarryme。YoucanimaginethatIwassurprisedaswellasangry——Iwasperplexed。

“"ButIAMmarried！"Icried。Theideathatanyofmyownpeople，oranyonewhomIhadknownathome，wouldthinkIwasn"tmarriedwastoomuchformetotakeinallatonce。

“"YouTHINKyouare，"saidPrentissMcMakin，withasmile。

“Inspiteofmyselfmybreathstopped。Itwasasifachillyhandhadtakenholdofmyheart。

Imean，physically，Ifeltlikethat。

“"IAMmarried，"Irepeated，simply。

“IsupposethatMcMakinhadgotthestoryofourweddingfromYOU。“Shestoppedaminute。

Thedoctor"svoiceanswered：

“Isupposeso，“likehewasaverytiredman。

“Anyhow，“shewenton，“heknewthatwewentfirsttoClarksville。Hesaid：

“"Youthinkyouaremarried，Lucy，butyouarenot。"

“IwishyoutounderstandthatPrentissMcMakindiditallvery，verywell。Thatismyexcuse。Heactedwell。Therewassomethingabouthim——I

scarcelyknowhowtoputit。Itsoundsodd，butthetruthisthatPrentissMcMakinwasalwaysamoreconvincingsortofapersonwhenhehadbeendrinkingalittlethanwhenhewassober。Helackedwarmth——helackedtemperament。Isupposejusttherightamountputitintohim。Itputthedevilintohim，too，Ireckon。

“Hetoldmethatyouandhe，Tom，hadbeentoClarksville，andhadmadeinvestigations，andthattheweddingwasafraud。Andhetolditwithawealthofconvincingdetail。Inthemidstofithebrokeofftoasktoseemyweddingcertificate。Ashetalked，helaughedatit，andtoreitup，sayingthatthethingwasnotworththepaperitwason，andhethrewthepiecesofpaperintothegrate。I

listened，andIlethimdoit——notthatthepaperitselfmatteredparticularly。ButtheveryfactthatIlethimtearitshowedme，myself，thatIwasbelievinghim。

“Heendedwithanimpassionedappealtometogowithhim。

“Ishowedhimthedoor。IpretendedtothelastthatIthoughthewaslyingtome。ButIdidnotthinkso。Ibelievedhim。Hehaddoneitallverycleverly。YoucanunderstandhowImight——

inviewofwhathadhappened？”

IwantedtoseeMissLucy——howshelookedwhenshesaiddifferentthings，soIcouldmakeupmymindwhethershewasforgivingthedoctorornot。NotthatIhadmuchdoubtbutwhattheywouldgettheirpersonaltroublesfixedupintheend。Theirongratinginthefloorwashelddownbyfourgood-sizedscrews，oneateachcorner。Theywasn"tnofillingatallbetwixtitandtheirongratingthatwasintheceilingoftheroombelow。Thespacewashollow。Igotanideaandtookoutmyjack-knife。

“Whatareyougoingtodo？”whispersMartha。

“S-sh-sh，“Isays，“shutup，andyou"llsee。“

Oneofthescrewswasloose，andIpickedherouteasyenough。ThesecondoneIbrokethepointoffofmyknifebladeon。Likeyounearlyalwaysdoonascrew。WhenitsnappedColonelTomhesays：

“What"sthat？”Hewaspowerfulquickofhear-

ing，ColonelTomwas。Ilaidlowtilltheywentontalkingagin。ThenMarthaslidesoutontiptoeandcomesbackinthreesecondswithoneoftheseherelittlescrew-driverstheyusearoundsewing-machinesandthelittleoilcanthatgoeswithit。Ioilsthemscrewsandhasthemoutinaholyminute，andliftsthegratingfromthefloorcarefulandlaysitcarefulontherug。

BydoingallofwhichIcouldgetmyheadandshouldersdownintothattherehole。Andbytwist-

ingmyneckagooddeal，seealittlewaystoeachsideintotheroom，insteadofjestunderneaththegrating。ThedoctorIcouldn"tseeyet，andonlyalittleofColonelTom，butMissLucyquiteplain。

“Youmeanthing，“Marthawhispers，“youareblockingitupsoIcan"thear。“

“Keepstill，“Iwhispers，pullingmyheadoutoftheholesothesoundwouldn"tfloatdownwardintotheroombelow。“Youarejestlikeallotherwomen——yougottoomuchcuriosity。“

“Howaboutyourself？”saysshe。

“Whowasitthoughtoftakingthegratingoff？”

Iwhispersbacktoher。Whichsettleshertem-

porary，butshesaysifIdon"tgiveherachancetatitpurtysoonshewillticklemyribs。

WhenIlistensagintheyareburyingthattherePrentMcMakin。Butwithoutanyflowers。

MissLucy，shewashalfsettingon，halfleaningagainst，thearmofachair。WhichherheadwasjestabitboweddownsothatIcouldn"tseehereyes。Buttheywasthebeginningsofasmileontoherface。Itwasbothsoftandsad。

“Well，“saysColonelTom，“youtwohavewastedalmosttwentyyearsoflife。“

“Thereisonegoodthing，“saysthedoctor。“Itisagoodthingthattherewasnochildtosufferbyourmistakes。“

Sheraisedherfacewhenhesaidthat，MissLucydid，andlookedinhisdirection。

“Youcallthatagoodthing？”shesays，inakindofwonder。Andafteraminuteshesighs。“Per-

haps，“shesays，“youareright。Heavenonlyknows。PerhapsitWASbetterthathedied。“

“DIED！”singsoutthedoctor。

AndIhearnhischairscrapeback，likehehadriztohisfeetsudden。Inearlybustedmynecktryingfurtoseehim，butIcouldn"t。Iwasalltwistedup，headdown，andthebloodgettingintomyheadfromitsoIhadtopullitouteverylittlewhile。

“Yes，“shesays，withhereyeswide，“didn"tyouknowhedied？”AndthensheturnsquicktowardColonelTom。“Didn"tyoutellhim——“shebegins。Butthedoctorcutsin。

“Lucy，“hesays，hisvoiceshakingandcroakinginhisthroat，“Ineverknewtherewasachild！”

IhearsColonelTomhawkinHISthroatlikeamanwhoiseithergoingtospitorelsesaysomething。

Buthedon"tdoeitherone。Noonesaysanythingfuraminute。AndthenMissLucysaysagin：

“Yes——hedied。“

Andthenshefellintoakindofamuse。Ihavebeenmyselfinthefixshelookedtobeinthen——soyouforgetfurawhilewhereyouare，orwhoisthere，whilstyouthinkaboutsomethingthathasbeeninthebackpartofyourmindfuralong，longtime。

Whatshewasmusingaboutwasthatchildthathadn"tlived。Icouldtellthatbyherface。I

couldtellhowshemusthavethoughtofit，oftenandoften，furyearsandyears，andlongedfurit，sothatitseemedtoherattimesshecouldalmosttouchit。Andhowgoodamothershewouldofbeentoit。SomewomenhasjestnatcherallyGOTtomothersomethingorother。MissLucywasoneofthatkind。Iknowedallinaflash，whilstI

lookedatherthere，whyshehadadoptedMarthafurherchild。

Itwasawonderfullookthatwasontoherface。

Anditwasawonderfulfacethatlookwasonto。I

feltlikeIhadknowedherforeverwhenIseenherthere。Likethethoughtsofherthedoctorhadbeencarryingaroundwithhimfuryearsandyears，andthatIhadcaughthimthinkingoncetortwicet，hadbeenmythoughtstoo，allmylife。

MissLucy，shewasoneofthekindthere"snousetryingtodescribe。Thefellerthatcouldseeherthat-a-wayandnotfeelmadegoodbyitorterhaveawhaling。Notthekindofsticky，goodfeelingthatmakesyouuncomfortable，likebeingpesteredbyyourconsciencetojineachurchorquitcussing。

Butthekindofgoodthatmakesyouforgettheyisanythingonearthbutjestbravenessofheartandbeingwillingtobearthingsyoucan"thelp。Youknowedtheworldhadhurtheralotwhenyouseenherstandingthere；butyoudidn"thavethenervetopityhernone，either。Furyoucouldseeshehadgotoverpityingherself。Evenwhenshewasinthatmuse，longingwithallhersoulfurthatchildshehadneverknowed，youdidn"thavethenervetopityhernone。

“Hedied，“shesaysagin，purtysoon，withthatgentlekindofsmile。

ColonelTom，heclearshisthroatagin。Likewhenyouareawfuldry。

“Thetruthis——“hebegins。

Andthenhebreaksoffagin。MissLucyturnstowardhimwhenhespeaks。Bythestrangelookthatcomeontoherfacetheremustofbeensome-

thingrightcuriousinHISmannertoo。Iwasjestsimplylayingontomyforeheadmashingoneofmyderneyeballsthroughalittleholeinthegrating。

ButIcouldn"t，eventhatway，seefurenoughtoonesidetoseehowHElooked。

“Thetruthis，“saysColonelTom，tryingitagin，“thatI——well，Lucy，thechildmaybedead，buthedidn"tdiewhenyouthoughthedid。“

TherewasaflashofhopeflaredintoherfacethatIhatedtoseecomethere。Becausewhenitdiedoutinaminute，asIexpecteditwouldhaveto，itlookedtomelikeitmighttakeallherlifeoutwithit。Herlipspartedlikeshewasgoingtosaysomethingwiththem。Butshedidn"t。Shejestlookedit。

“Whydidyounevertellmethis——thattherewasachild？”saysthedoctor，veryeager。

“Wait，“saysColonelTom，“letmetellthestoryinmyownway。“

Whichhedoneit。ItseemswhenhehadwenttoGalesburgthisherechildhadonlybeenbornafewdays。AndMissLucywasstillsick。Andthekiditselfwassick，andliabletodieanyminute，bythelooksofthings。

WhichColonelTomwishesthatitwoulddie，inhisheart。Hethinksthatitisanillegitimatechild，andhehatestheideaofitandhehatesthesightofit。Thesecondnightheisthereheissettinginhissister"sroom，andthewomanthathasbeennursingthekidandMissLucytooisinthenextroomwiththekid。

Shecomestothedoorandbeckonstohim，thenursedoes。Hetiptoestowardher，andshesaystohim，verylow-voiced，that“itisallover。“

Meaningthekidhasquitstrugglingfurtolive，andjestnatcherallyfloatedaway。ThenursehadthoughtMissLucyasleep，butasbothherandColonelTomturnquicktowardherbedtheyseethatshehasheardandseen，andsheturnsherfacetowardthewall。Whichhetriesfurtocomforther，ColonelTomdoes，tellingherashowitisanillegitimatechild，andfuritsownsakeitwasbetteritwasdeadbeforeiteverlivedany。Whichshedon"tanswerofhimback，butonlystaresinawild-

eyedwayathim，andlaysthereandlooksdesperate，andsaysnothing。

InhisheartColonelTomisawfulgladthatitisdead。Hecan"thelpfeelingthatway。Andhequitstryingtotalktohissister，furhesuspicionsthatshewillketchontothefactthatheisgladthatitisdead。Hegoesonintothenextroom。

Hefindsthenurselookingawfulfunny，andbendingoverthedeadkid。Sheisputtingalook-

ing-glasstoitslips。Heastsherwhy。

Shesaysshethoughtshemightbemistakenafterall。Shecouldn"tsayjestWHENitdied。Itwasaliveandfeeble，andthenpurtysoonitshowednosignsoflife。Itwaslikeithadn"thadenoughstrengthtostayandhadjestwent。Ididn"tshowanypulse，anditdidn"tappeartobebreathing。

Andshehadwatcheditanddoneeverythingbe-

foreshebeckonedtoColonelTomandtoldhimthatitwasdead。Butasshecomebackintotheroomwhereitwasshethoughtshenoticedsomethingthatwastoolighttobecalledarealfluttermoveitseyelids，whichshehadcloseddownoveritseyes。

Itwastheghostofamove，likeithadtriedtoraisethelids，ortheyhadtriedtoraisetheirselves，andhadbeentooweak。Soshehasgotbusyandwrappedahotclotharoundit，andgotadropofbrandyortwobetweenitslips，andwasfightingtobringitbacktolife。Andthoughtshewasdoingit。Thoughtshehadfeltalittleflutterinitschest，andwastryingifithadbreathatall。

ColonelTomthinksofwhatbigfolkstheBucknerfamblyhasalwaysbeenathome。Andhowhightheyhadalwaysheldtheirheads。Andhownoneofthewomenhaseverbeenlikethisbefore。Nornodisgraceofanykind。Andthattherekid，ifitisalive，isasignofdisgrace。AndhehopedtoGod，hesaid，itwasn"talive。

Buthedon"tsayso。Hestandsthereandwatchesthatnursefightfurtoholdontothelittlemistoflifeshethinksnowisstillintoit。Sheun-

buttonsherdressandlaysthekidagainsttheheatofherownbreast。Andwillsfurittolive，andfightsfuritto，anddeterminesthatitmust，andjestnatcherallytriesfurtobullyragdeathintogoingaway。AndColonelTomwatching，andwishingthatitwouldn"t。Buthegetsinterestedinthattherefight，andsopurtysoonheishopingbothwaysbyspells。Andthefightallgoingonwithoutawordspoken。

Butfinallythenursebeginsfurtocry。Notbe-

causesheissureitisdead。Butbecausesheissureitiscomingback。Whichitdoes，slow。

“"ButIhavetoldHERthatitisdead，"“saysColonelTom，jerkinghisheadtowardtheotherroomwhereMissLucyislying。Hespeaksinalowvoiceandclosesthedoorwhenhespeaks。Furitlooksnowlikeitwasgettingstrongenoughsoitmightevensquallalittle。

“Idon"tknowwhatkindofalooktherewasonmyface，“saysColonelTom，tellingofthestorytohissisterandthedoctor，“butshemusthaveseenthatIwas——andheavenhelpme，butIWAS！——sorrythatthebabywasalive。Itwouldhavebeensuchaneasywayoutofithaditbeenreallydead！

“"Shemustn"tknowthatitisliving，"Isaidtothenurse，finally，“saysColonelTom，goingonwithhisstory。IhadbeenwatchingMissLucy"sfaceasColonelTomtalkedandshewassoworkedupbythatfightfurthekid"slifeshewasbreath-

less。Buthereyeswascastdown，Iguesssoherbrothercouldn"tseethem。ColonelTomgoesonwithhisstory：

“"Youdon"tmean——"saidthenurse，startled。

“"No！No！"Isaid，"ofcourse——notthat！But——

whyshouldsheeverknowthatitdidn"tdie？"“

“"Itisillegitimate？"askedthenurse。

“"Yes，"Isaid。“Thelongandshortofitwas，ColonelTomwentontotell，thatthenursewentoutandgothermother。Whichthetwoofthemlivedalone，onlyaroundthecorner。Andgivethechildintothekeepingofhermother，whotookitawaythenandthere。

ColonelTomhadmadeuphismindtherewasn"tgoingtobenobastardsintheBucknerfambly。

AndnowthatMissLucythoughtitwasdeadhewouldletherkeeponthinkingso。Andthatwouldbesettledforgoodandall。Hefiggeredthatitwouldn"teverhurthernoneifsheneverknowedit。

Thenurse"smotherkeptitallthatweek，anditthrove。ColonelTomwascoaxingofhissistertogobacktoTennessee。Butshewouldn"tgo。SohehadmadeuphismindtogobackandgethisAuntLucyDavistocomeandhelphimcoax。Hewasonlywaitingfurhissistertogetwellenoughsohecouldleaveher。Shegotbetter，andsheneverastfurthekid，norsaidnothingaboutit。Whichwasprobablebecausesheseenhehateditso。Hehadmadeuphismind，beforehewentbackaftertheirAuntLucyDavis，totakethebabyhimselfandputitintosomekindofaninstitution。

“Ithought，“hesaystoMissLucy，tellingofthestory，“thatyouyourselfwerealmostreconciledtothethoughtthatithadn"tlived。“

MissLucyinterruptedhimwithalittlesound。

Shewasbreathinghard，andshakingfromheadtofoot。Noonewouldhavethoughttolookatherthenshewasreconciledtotheideathatithadn"tlived。Itwascruelhardonhertotearhertopieceswiththenewsthatitreallyhadlived，buthadlivedawayfromheralltheseyearsshehadbeenlongingfurit。Andnochancetfurherevertomotherit。

Andnowaytotellwhathadeverbecomeofit。I

feltawfulsorryfurMissLucythen。

“ButwhenIgotreadytoleaveGalesburg，“

ColonelTomgoeson，“itsuddenlyoccurredtomethattherewouldbedifficultiesinthewayofputtingitinahomeofanysort。Ididn"tknowwhattodowithit——“

“WhatDIDyou？WhatDIDyou？WHATDIDYOU？”

criesoutMissLucy，pressingherhandtoherchest，likeshewassmothering。

“ThefirstthingIdid，“saysColonelTom，“wastogetyoutoanotherhouse——youremember，Lucy？”

“Yes，yes！”shesays，excited，“andwhatthen？”

“PerhapsIdidaveryfoolishthing，“saysColonelTom。

“AfterIhadseenyouinstalledinthenewplaceandhadbiddenyougood-bye，Igotacarriageanddrovebytheplacewherethenurseandhermotherlived。ItoldthewomanthatIhadchangedmymind——thatyouweregoingtoraisethebaby——

thatIwasgoingtopermitit。Idon"tthinkshequitebelievedme，butshegavemethebaby。Whatelsecouldshedo？Besides，Ihadpaidherwell，whenIdischargedher，tosaynothingtoyou，andtokeepthebabyuntilIshouldcomeforit。Theyneededmoney；theywerepoor。

“Iwasdeterminedthatitshouldneverbeheardofagain。ItwasaboutnoonwhenIleftGalesburg。

Idroveallthatafternoon，withthebabyinabasketontheseatofthecarriagebesideme。Everybodyhasreadinbooks，sincebookswerefirstwritten——

andseeninnewspapers，too——aboutchildrenbeingleftondoorsteps。Givenaninfanttodisposeof，thatisperhapsthefirstthingthatoccurstoaper-

son。Therewasathickplaidshawlwrappedaboutthechild。Inthebasket，besidethebaby，wasanursingbottle。AboutduskIhaditrefilledwithwarmmilkatafarmhousenear——“

Myheadwasbeginningfurtoswim。Ipulledmyheadoutofthattherehole，andrammedmyfootintoit。Itbangedagainstthatgratingandloosenedit。Itbustedloosesomeplaster，whichshowereddownintotheroomunderneath。MissLucy，shescreamed。AndthedoctorandColonelTombothyelledouttooncet：

“Who"sthat？”

“It"sme，“Iyells，bangingthatgratingagin。

“Watchoutbelowthere！”AndthethirdlickI

givehershebrokelooseandclattereddownrightontoacentretableandspilledoversomepho-

tographsandavasefullofflowers，andbouncedoffontothefloor。

“Lookoutbelow，“Iyells，“I"mcomingdown！”

Iletmylegsthroughfirst，andswungthemsoI

wouldlandtoonesideofthetable，andheldbymyhands，anddropped。Butstruckthetableaside-

waysswipeandturneditover，andfellontothefloor。Thedoctor，hegrabbedmebythecollarandstraightenedmeup，andgivemeashakeandstoodmeontomyfeet。

“Whatdoyoumean——“hebegins。ButI

breaksin。

“Nowthen，“IsaystoColonelTom，“didyouleavethattherechildsuckingthattherebottleonthedoorstepofablacksmith"shousenexttohisshopattheedgeofalittlecountrytownabouttwentymilesnortheastofGalesburgwrappedupinthatthereplaidshawl？”

“Idid，“saysColonelTom。

“Then，“saysI，turningtoMissLucy，“IcanunderstandwhyIhavebeenfeelingdrawedtoYOU

furquiteaspell。I"mhim。“

End