第36章 Up the Gulch(6)

"What were you saying?"she said,dreamily."I beg your pardon.""I was sayin'how I used t'dream of sittin'on the steps of a hotel like this,and not havin'a thing t'do.When I used t'come down here out of the gulch,and see men who had had good dinners,an'good baths,sittin'around smokin',with money t'go over there t'th'bookstan'an'get any-thin'they'd want,it used t'seem t'me about all a single man could wish fur.""Well,you've got it all now.""But I didn't any of th'time suppose that would satisfy a man long.Only I was so darned tired I couldn't help wantin't'rest.But I'm not so selfish ur s'narrow as to be satisfied with THAT.No,I'm not goin't'spend m'pile that way --quite!"He laughed out loud,and then sat in silence watching Kate as she lay back wearily in her chair.

"I've got t'have that there garden,"he said,laughingly."Got t'get them roses.

An'I'll have a big bath-house,--plenty of springs in this country.You ken have a bath here that won't freeze summer NORwinter.An'a baby!I've got t'have a baby.He'll go with th'roses an'thbath."He laughed again heartily.

"It's a queer joke,isn't it?"Roeder asked."Talkin'about my baby,an'Ihaven't even a wife."His face flushed and he turned his eyes away.

"Have I shown you the pictures of my babies?"Kate inquired."You'd like my boy,I know.And my girl is just like me,--in miniature."There was a silence.She looked up after a moment.Roeder appeared to be examining the monogram on his ring as if he had never seen it before.

"I didn't understand that you were married,"he said gently.

"Didn't you?I don't think you ever called me by any name at all,or I should have noticed your mistake and set you right.

Yes,I'm married.I came out here to get strong for the babies.""Got a boy an'a girl,eh?""Yes.""How old's th'boy?""Five.""An'th'girl?""She'll soon be four.""An'yer husband --he's livin'?""I should say so!I'm a very happy woman,Mr.Roeder.If only I were stronger!""Yer lookin'much better,"he said,gravely,"than when you come.You'll be all right."The moon began to come up scarlet beyond the eastern hills.The two watched it in silence.Kate had a feeling of guilt,as if she had been hurting some helpless thing.

"I was in hopes,"he said,suddenly,in a voice that seemed abrupt and shrill,"thet you'd see fit t'stay here.""Here in Helena?Oh,no!""I was thinkin'I'd offer you that two hundred thousand dollars,if you'd stay.""Mr.Roeder!You don't mean --surely --""Why,yes.Why not?"He spoke rather doggedly."I'll never see no other woman like you.You're different from others.How good you've been t'me!""Good!I'm afraid I've been very bad --at least,very stupid.""I say,now --your husband's good you,ain't he?"

"He is the kindest man that ever lived."

"Oh,well,I didn't know."

A rather awkward pause followed which was broken by Roeder.

"I don't see jest what I'm goin't'do with that thar two hundred thousand dol-lars,"he said,mournfully.

"Do with it?Why,live with it!Send some to your mother.""Oh,I've done that.Five thousand dollars.It don't seem much here;but it'll seem a lot t'her.I'd send her more,only it would've bothered her.""Then there is your house,--the house with the bath-room.But I suppose you'll have other rooms?"Peter laughed a little in spite of himself.

"I guess I won't have a house,"he said.

"An'I couldn't make a garden alone."

"Hire a man to help you."Kate was trembling,but she kept talking gayly.She was praying that nothing very serious would happen.There was an undercurrent of som-breness in the man's manner that frightened her.

"I guess I'll jest have t'keep on dreamin'of that boy playin'with th'roses.""No,no,"cried Kate;"he will come true some day!I know he'll come true."Peter got up and stood by her chair.

"You don't know nothin'about it,"he said."You don't know,an'you can't know what it's bin t'me t'talk with you.Here I come out of a place where there ain't no sound but the water and the pines.Years come an'go.Still no sound.Only thinkin',thinkin',thinkin'!Missin'all th'things men care fur!Dreamin'of a time when I sh'd strike th'pile.Then Iseed home,wife,a boy,flowers,everythin'.

You're so beautiful,an'you're so good.