第4章

ence。Whentherewasnowhereelsetogo，sheusedtositforhoursinMrs。Smiley’smillineryandnotionstore，lis—

teningtothetalkofthewomenwhocamein，watchingthemwhiletheytriedonhats，blinkingatthemfromhercornerwithhersharp，restlesslittleeyes。Shenevertalkedmuchherself，butsheknewallthegossipofthetownandshehadasharpearforracyanecdotes——"travelingmen’sstories，"theyusedtobecalledinMoonstone。Herclickinglaughsoundedlikeatypewritingmachineinaction，and，forverypointedstories，shehadalittlescreech。

Mrs。ArchiehadbeenMrs。Archieforonlysixyears，andwhenshewasBelleWhiteshewasoneofthe"pretty"

girlsinLansing，Michigan。Shehadthenatrainofsuitors。

ShecouldtrulyremindArchiethat"theboyshungaroundher。"Theydid。Theythoughtherveryspiritedandwerealwayssaying，"Oh，thatBelleWhite，she’sacase！"Sheusedtoplayheavypracticaljokeswhichtheyoungmen

thoughtveryclever。Archiewasconsideredthemostpromisingyoungmanin"theyoungcrowd，"soBelleselectedhim。Shelethimsee，madehimfullyaware，thatshehadselectedhim，andArchiewasthesortofboywhocouldnotwithstandsuchenlightenment。Belle’sfamilyweresorryforhim。Onhisweddingdayhersisterslookedatthebig，handsomeboy——hewastwenty—four——ashewalkeddowntheaislewithhisbride，andthentheylookedateachother。Hisbesottedconfidence，hissober，radiantface，hisgentle，protectingarm，madethemuncomfort—

able。Well，theyweregladthathewasgoingWestatonce，tofulfillhisdoomwheretheywouldnotbeonlookers。Any—

how，theyconsoledthemselves，theyhadgotBelleofftheirhands。

Morethanthat，Belleseemedtohavegotherselfoffherhands。Herreputedprettinessmusthavebeenentirelytheresultofdetermination，ofafiercelittleambition。Onceshehadmarried，fastenedherselfonsomeone，cometoport，——itvanishedliketheornamentalplumagewhichdropsawayfromsomebirdsafterthematingseason。Theoneaggressiveactionofherlifewasover。Shebegantoshrinkinfaceandstature。Ofherharum—scarumspirittherewasnothingleftbutthelittlescreech。Withinafewyearsshelookedassmallandmeanasshewas。

Thor’schariotcreptalong。Theaapproachedthehouseunwillingly。Shedidn’tcareaboutthestrawberries，any—

how。ShehadcomeonlybecauseshedidnotwanttohurtDr。Archie’sfeelings。ShenotonlydislikedMrs。Archie，shewasalittleafraidofher。WhileTheawasgettingtheheavybaby—buggythroughtheirongatesheheardsomeonecall，"Waitaminute！"andMrs。Archiecamerunningaroundthehousefromthebackdoor，herapronoverherhead。Shecametohelpwiththebuggy，becauseshewasafraidthewheelsmightscratchthepaintoffthegate—

posts。Shewasaskinnylittlewomanwithagreatpileoffrizzylighthaironasmallhead。

"Dr。Archietoldmetocomeupandpicksomestraw—

berries，"Theamuttered，wishingshehadstayedathome。

Mrs。Archieledthewaytothebackdoor，squintingandshadinghereyeswithherhand。"Waitaminute，"shesaidagain，whenTheaexplainedwhyshehadcome。

ShewentintoherkitchenandTheasatdownontheporchstep。WhenMrs。Archiereappearedshecarriedinherhandalittlewoodenbutter—baskettrimmedwithfringedtissuepaper，whichshemusthavebroughthomefromsomechurchsupper。"You’llhavetohavesomethingtoputthemin，"shesaid，ignoringtheyawningwillowbasketwhichstoodemptyonThor’sfeet。"Youcanhavethis，andyouneedn’tmindaboutreturningit。Youknowaboutnottramplingthevines，don’tyou？"

Mrs。ArchiewentbackintothehouseandThealeanedoverinthesandandpickedafewstrawberries。Assoonasshewassurethatshewasnotgoingtocry，shetossedthelittlebasketintothebigoneandranThor’sbuggyalongthegravelwalkandoutofthegateasfastasshecouldpushit。Shewasangry，andshewasashamedforDr。Archie。Shecouldnothelpthinkinghowuncomfortablehewouldbeifheeverfoundoutaboutit。Littlethingslikethatweretheonesthatcuthimmost。Sheslunkhomebythebackway，andagainalmostcriedwhenshetoldhermotheraboutit。

Mrs。Kronborgwasfryingdoughnutsforherhusband’ssupper。Shelaughedasshedroppedanewlotintothehotgrease。"It’swonderful，thewaysomepeoplearemade，"

shedeclared。"ButIwouldn’tletthatupsetmeifIwasyou。Thinkwhatitwouldbetolivewithitallthetime。

Youlookintheblackpocketbookinsidemyhandbagandtakeadimeandgodowntownandgetanice—creamsoda。

That’llmakeyoufeelbetter。Thorcanhavealittleoftheice—creamifyoufeedittohimwithaspoon。Helikesit，don’tyou，son？"Shestoopedtowipehischin。Thorwasonlysixmonthsoldandinarticulate，butitwasquitetruethathelikedice—cream。

VI

Seenfromaballoon，MoonstonewouldhavelookedlikeaNoah’sarktownsetoutinthesandandlightlyshadedbygray—greentamarisksandcottonwoods。Afewpeopleweretryingtomakesoftmaplesgrowintheirturfedlawns，butthefashionofplantingincongruoustreesfromtheNorthAtlanticStateshadnotbecomegen—

eralthen，andthefrail，brightlypainteddeserttownwasshadedbythelight—reflecting，wind—lovingtreesofthedesert，whoserootsarealwaysseekingwaterandwhoseleavesarealwaystalkingaboutit，makingthesoundofrain。Thelongporousrootsofthecottonwoodareirre—

pressible。Theybreakintothewellsasratsdointograna—

ries，andthievethewater。

ThelongstreetwhichconnectedMoonstonewiththedepotsettlementtraversedinitscourseaconsiderablestretchofroughopencountry，stakedoutinlotsbutnotbuiltupatall，aweedyhiatusbetweenthetownandtherailroad。Whenyousetoutalongthisstreettogotothestation，younoticedthatthehousesbecamesmallerandfartherapart，untiltheyceasedaltogether，andtheboardsidewalkcontinueditsunevencoursethroughsunflowerpatches，untilyoureachedthesolitary，newbrickCatholicChurch。Thechurchstoodtherebecausethelandwasgiventotheparishbythemanwhoownedtheadjoiningwastelots，inthehopeofmakingthemmoresalable——

"Farrier’sAddition，"thispatchofprairiewascalledintheclerk’soffice。Aneighthofamilebeyondthechurchwasawashout，adeepsand—gully，wheretheboardsidewalkbecameabridgeforperhapsfiftyfeet。JustbeyondthegullywasoldUncleBillyBeemer’sgrove，——twelvetownlotssetoutinfine，well—growncottonwoodtrees，delightful

tolookupon，ortolistento，astheyswayedandrippledinthewind。UncleBillyhadbeenoneofthemostworthlessolddrunkardswhoeversatonastoreboxandtoldfilthystories。Onenightheplayedhide—and—seekwithaswitchengineandgothissoddenbrainsknockedout。Buthisgrove，theonecreditablethinghehadeverdoneinhislife，rustledon。Beyondthisgrovethehousesofthedepotsettlementbegan，andthenakedboardwalk，thathadruninoutofthesunflowers，againbecamealinkbetweenhumandwellings。

Oneafternoon，lateinthesummer，Dr。HowardArchiewasfightinghiswaybacktotownalongthiswalkthroughablindingsandstorm，asilkhandkerchieftiedoverhismouth。Hehadbeentoseeasickwomandowninthedepotsettlement，andhewaswalkingbecausehisponieshadbeenoutforaharddrivethatmorning。

AshepassedtheCatholicChurchhecameuponTheaandThor。Theawassittinginachild’sexpresswagon，herfeetoutbehind，kickingthewagonalongandsteeringbythetongue。Thorwasonherlapandsheheldhimwithonearm。Hehadgrowntobeabigcubofababy，withacon—

stitutionalgrievance，andhehadtobecontinuallyamused。

Theatookhimphilosophically，andtuggedandpulledhimabout，gettingasmuchfunasshecouldunderherencumbrance。Herhairwasblowingaboutherface，andhereyesweresquintingsointentlyattheunevenboardsidewalkinfrontofherthatshedidnotseethedoctoruntilhespoketoher。

"Lookout，Thea。You’llsteerthatyoungsterintotheditch。"

Thewagonstopped。Theareleasedthetongue，wipedherhot，sandyface，andpushedbackherhair。"Oh，no，Iwon’t！Ineverranoffbutonce，andthenhedidn’tgetanythingbutabump。Helikesthisbetterthanababy—

buggy，andsodoI。"

"Areyougoingtokickthatcartallthewayhome？"

"Ofcourse。Wetakelongtrips；whereverthereisaside—

walk。It’snogoodontheroad。"

"Lookstomelikeworkingprettyhardforyourfun。

Areyougoingtobebusyto—night？Wanttomakeacallwithme？SpanishJohnny’scomehomeagain，allusedup。

Hiswifesentmewordthismorning，andIsaidI’dgoovertoseehimto—night。He’sanoldchumofyours，isn’the？"

"Oh，I’mglad。She’sbeencryinghereyesout。Whendidhecome？"

"Lastnight，onNumberSix。Paidhisfare，theytellme。

Toosicktobeatit。There’llcomeatimewhenthatboywon’tgetback，I’mafraid。Comearoundtomyofficeabouteighto’clock，——andyouneedn’tbringthat！"

Thorseemedtounderstandthathehadbeeninsulted，forhescowledandbegantokickthesideofthewagon，shouting，"Go—go，go—go！"Thealeanedforwardandgrabbedthewagontongue。Dr。Archiesteppedinfrontofherandblockedtheway。"Whydon’tyoumakehimwait？

Whatdoyoulethimbossyoulikethatfor？"

"Ifhegetsmadhethrowshimself，andthenIcan’tdoanythingwithhim。Whenhe’smadhe’slotsstrongerthanme，aren’tyou，Thor？"Theaspokewithpride，andtheidolwasappeased。Hegruntedapprovinglyashissisterbegantokickrapidlybehindher，andthewagonrattledoffandsoondisappearedintheflyingcurrentsofsand。

ThateveningDr。Archiewasseatedinhisoffice，hisdeskchairtiltedback，readingbythelightofahotcoal—oillamp。

Allthewindowswereopen，butthenightwasbreathlessafterthesandstorm，andhishairwasmoistwhereithungoverhisforehead。Hewasdeeplyengrossedinhisbookandsometimessmiledthoughtfullyasheread。WhenTheaKronborgenteredquietlyandslippedintoaseat，henodded，finishedhisparagraph，insertedabookmark，androsetoputthebookbackintothecase。Itwasoneoutofthelongrowofuniformvolumesonthetopshelf。

"NearlyeverytimeIcomein，whenyou’realone，you’rereadingoneofthosebooks，"Thearemarkedthoughtfully。

"Theymustbeverynice。"

Thedoctordroppedbackintohisswivelchair，themot—

tledvolumestillinhishand。"Theyaren’texactlybooks，Thea，"hesaidseriously。"They’reacity。"

"Ahistory，youmean？"

"Yes，andno。They’reahistoryofalivecity，notadeadone。AFrenchmanundertooktowriteaboutawholecityfulofpeople，allthekindsheknew。Andhegotthemnearlyallin，Iguess。Yes，it’sveryinteresting。You’llliketoreaditsomeday，whenyou’regrownup。"

Thealeanedforwardandmadeoutthetitleontheback，"ADistinguishedProvincialinParis。"

"Itdoesn’tsoundveryinteresting。"

"Perhapsnot，butitis。"Thedoctorscrutinizedherbroadface，lowenoughtobeinthedirectlightfromunderthegreenlampshade。"Yes，"hewentonwithsomesat—

isfaction，"Ithinkyou’lllikethemsomeday。You’realwayscuriousaboutpeople，andIexpectthismanknewmoreaboutpeoplethananybodythateverlived。"

"Citypeopleorcountrypeople？"

"Both。Peopleareprettymuchthesameeverywhere。"

"Oh，no，they’renot。Thepeoplewhogothroughinthedining—cararen’tlikeus。"

"Whatmakesyouthinktheyaren’t，mygirl？Theirclothes？"

Theashookherhead。"No，it’ssomethingelse。Idon’tknow。"Hereyesshiftedunderthedoctor’ssearchinggazeandsheglancedupattherowofbooks。"HowsoonwillIbeoldenoughtoreadthem？"

"Soonenough，soonenough，littlegirl。"Thedoctorpattedherhandandlookedatherindexfinger。"Thenail’scomingallright，isn’tit？ButIthinkthatmanmakesyoupracticetoomuch。Youhaveitonyourmindallthetime。"Hehadnoticedthatwhenshetalkedtohim

shewasalwaysopeningandshuttingherhands。"Itmakesyounervous。"

"No，hedon’t，"Thearepliedstubbornly，watchingDr。

Archiereturnthebooktoitsniche。

Hetookupablackleathercase，putonhishat，andtheywentdownthedarkstairsintothestreet。Thesummermoonhungfullinthesky。Forthetimebeing，itwasthegreatfactintheworld。Beyondtheedgeofthetowntheplainwassowhitethateveryclumpofsagestoodoutdis—

tinctfromthesand，andtheduneslookedlikeashininglake。ThedoctortookoffhisstrawhatandcarrieditinhishandastheywalkedtowardMexicanTown，acrossthesand。

NorthofPueblo，MexicansettlementswererareinColoradothen。Thisonehadcomeaboutaccidentally。

SpanishJohnnywasthefirstMexicanwhocametoMoon—

stone。Hewasapainteranddecorator，andhadbeenworkinginTrinidad，whenRayKennedytoldhimtherewasa"boom"oninMoonstone，andagoodmanynewbuildingsweregoingup。AyearafterJohnnysettledinMoonstone，hiscousin，FamosSerrenos，cametoworkinthebrickyard；thenSerrenos’cousinscametohelphim。

Duringthestrike，themastermechanicputagangofMexicanstoworkintheroundhouse。TheMexicanshadarrivedsoquietly，withtheirblanketsandmusicalinstru—

ments，thatbeforeMoonstonewasawaketothefact，therewasaMexicanquarter；adozenfamiliesormore。

AsTheaandthedoctorapproachedthe’dobehouses，theyheardaguitar，andarichbarytonevoice——thatofFamosSerrenos——singing"LaGolandrina。"AlltheMexicanhouseshadneatlittleyards，withtamariskhedgesandflowers，andwalksborderedwithshellsorwhite—

washedstones。Johnny’shousewasdark。Hiswife，Mrs。

Tellamantez，wassittingonthedoorstep，combingherlong，blue—blackhair。（MexicanwomenareliketheSpar—

tans；whentheyareintrouble，inlove，understressofany

kind，theycombandcombtheirhair。）Sherosewithoutembarrassmentorapology，combinhand，andgreetedthedoctor。

"Good—evening；willyougoin？"sheaskedinalow，musicalvoice。"Heisinthebackroom。Iwillmakealight。"Shefollowedthemindoors，litacandleandhandedittothedoctor，pointingtowardthebedroom。Thenshewentbackandsatdownonherdoorstep。

Dr。ArchieandTheawentintothebedroom，whichwasdarkandquiet。Therewasabedinthecorner，andamanwaslyingonthecleansheets。Onthetablebesidehimwasaglasspitcher，half—fullofwater。SpanishJohnnylookedyoungerthanhiswife，andwhenhewasinhealthhewasveryhandsome：slender，gold—colored，withwavyblackhair，around，smooththroat，whiteteeth，andburningblackeyes。Hisprofilewasstrongandsevere，likeanIndian’s。Whatwastermedhis"wildness"showeditselfonlyinhisfeverisheyesandinthecolorthatburnedonhistawnycheeks。Thatnighthewasacopperygreen，andhiseyeswerelikeblackholes。Heopenedthemwhenthedoc—

torheldthecandlebeforehisface。

"MITESTA！"hemuttered，"MITESTA，doctor。"LA

FIEBRE！"Seeingthedoctor’scompanionatthefootofthebed，heattemptedasmile。"MUCHACHA！"heexclaimeddeprecat—

ingly。

Dr。Archiestuckathermometerintohismouth。"Now，Thea，youcanrunoutsideandwaitforme。"

TheaslippednoiselesslythroughthedarkhouseandjoinedMrs。Tellamantez。ThesomberMexicanwomandidnotseeminclinedtotalk，buthernodwasfriendly。

Theasatdownonthewarmsand，herbacktothemoon，facingMrs。Tellamantezonherdoorstep，andbegantocountthemoonflowersonthevinethatranoverthehouse。

Mrs。Tellamantezwasalwaysconsideredaveryhomelywoman。Herfacewasofastronglymarkedtypenotsym—

pathetictoAmericans。Suchlong，ovalfaces，withafull

chin，alarge，mobilemouth，ahighnose，arenotuncom—

moninSpain。Mrs。Tellamantezcouldnotwritehername，andcouldreadbutlittle。Herstrongnatureliveduponitself。ShewaschieflyknowninMoonstoneforherforbear—

ancewithherincorrigiblehusband。

NobodyknewexactlywhatwasthematterwithJohnny，andeverybodylikedhim。Hispopularitywouldhavebeenunusualforawhiteman，foraMexicanitwasunprece—

dented。Histalentswerehisundoing。Hehadahigh，uncertaintenorvoice，andheplayedthemandolinwithexceptionalskill。Periodicallyhewentcrazy。Therewasnootherwaytoexplainhisbehavior。Hewasacleverworkman，and，whenheworked，asregularandfaithfulasaburro。Thensomenighthewouldfallinwithacrowdatthesaloonandbegintosing。Hewouldgoonuntilhehadnovoiceleft，untilhewheezedandrasped。Thenhewouldplayhismandolinfuriously，anddrinkuntilhiseyessankbackintohishead。Atlast，whenhewasputoutofthesaloonatclosingtime，andcouldgetnobodytolistentohim，hewouldrunaway——alongtherailroadtrack，straightacrossthedesert。Healwaysmanagedtogetaboardafreightsomewhere。OncebeyondDenver，heplayedhiswaysouthwardfromsaloontosaloonuntilhegotacrosstheborder。Heneverwrotetohiswife；butshewouldsoonbegintogetnewspapersfromLaJunta，Albuquerque，Chihuahua，withmarkedparagraphsan—

nouncingthatJuanTellamantezandhiswonderfulman—

dolincouldbeheardattheJackRabbitGrill，orthePearlofCadizSaloon。Mrs。Tellamantezwaitedandweptandcombedherhair。Whenhewascompletelywrungoutandburnedup，——allbutdestroyed，——herJuanalwayscamebacktohertobetakencareof，——oncewithanuglyknifewoundintheneck，oncewithafingermissingfromhisrighthand，——butheplayedjustaswellwiththreefingersashehadwithfour。

PublicsentimentwaslenienttowardJohnny，butevery—

bodywasdisgustedwithMrs。Tellamantezforputtingupwithhim。Sheoughttodisciplinehim，peoplesaid；sheoughttoleavehim；shehadnoself—respect。Inshort，Mrs。

Tellamantezgotalltheblame。EvenTheathoughtshewasmuchtoohumble。To—night，asshesatwithherbacktothemoon，lookingatthemoonflowersandMrs。Tella—

mantez’ssomberface，shewasthinkingthatthereisnoth—

ingsosadintheworldasthatkindofpatienceandresigna—

tion。ItwasmuchworsethanJohnny’scraziness。SheevenwonderedwhetheritdidnothelptomakeJohnnycrazy。

Peoplehadnorighttobesopassiveandresigned。ShewouldliketorolloverandoverinthesandandscreechatMrs。Tellamantez。Shewasgladwhenthedoctorcameout。

TheMexicanwomanroseandstoodrespectfulandex—

pectant。Thedoctorheldhishatinhishandandlookedkindlyather。

"Sameoldthing，Mrs。Tellamantez。He’snoworsethanhe’sbeenbefore。I’veleftsomemedicine。Don’tgivehimanythingbuttoastwateruntilIseehimagain。You’reagoodnurse；you’llgethimout。"Dr。Archiesmileden—

couragingly。Heglancedaboutthelittlegardenandwrinkledhisbrows。"Ican’tseewhatmakeshimbehaveso。He’skillinghimself，andhe’snotarowdysortoffel—

low。Can’tyoutiehimupsomeway？Can’tyoutellwhenthesefitsarecomingon？"

Mrs。Tellamantezputherhandtoherforehead。"Thesaloon，doctor，theexcitement；thatiswhatmakeshim。

Peoplelistentohim，anditexciteshim。"

Thedoctorshookhishead。"Maybe。He’stoomuchformycalculations。Idon’tseewhathegetsoutofit。"

"Heisalwaysfooled，"——theMexicanwomanspokerapidlyandtremulously，herlongunderlipquivering。

"Heisgoodatheart，buthehasnohead。Hefoolshimself。

Youdonotunderstandinthiscountry，youareprogressive。

Buthehasnojudgment，andheisfooled。"Shestoopedquickly，tookuponeofthewhiteconch—shellsthatbordered

thewalk，and，withanapologeticinclinationofherhead，heldittoDr。Archie’sear。"Listen，doctor。Youhearsomethinginthere？Youhearthesea；andyettheseaisveryfarfromhere。Youhavejudgment，andyouknowthat。Butheisfooled。Tohim，itistheseaitself。A

littlethingisbigtohim。"Shebentandplacedtheshellinthewhiterow，withitsfellows。Theatookitupsoftlyandpressedittoherownear。Thesoundinitstartledher；itwaslikesomethingcallingone。SothatwaswhyJohnnyranaway。Therewassomethingawe—inspiringaboutMrs。Tellamantezandhershell。

TheacaughtDr。Archie’shandandsqueezedithardassheskippedalongbesidehimbacktowardMoonstone。

Shewenthome，andthedoctorwentbacktohislampandhisbook。Heneverlefthisofficeuntilaftermidnight。

Ifhedidnotplaywhistorpoolintheevening，heread。

Ithadbecomeahabitwithhimtolosehimself。

VII

Thea’stwelfthbirthdayhadpassedafewweeksbeforehermemorablecalluponMrs。Tellamantez。

TherewasaworthymaninMoonstonewhowasalreadyplanningtomarryTheaassoonassheshouldbeoldenough。

HisnamewasRayKennedy，hisagewasthirty，andhewasconductoronafreighttrain，hisrunbeingfromMoonstonetoDenver。Raywasabigfellow，withasquare，openAmericanface，arockchin，andfeaturesthatonewouldneverhappentoremember。Hewasanaggressiveidealist，afreethinker，and，likemostrailroadmen，deeplysenti—

mental。ThealikedhimforreasonsthathadtodowiththeadventurouslifehehadledinMexicoandtheSouth—

west，ratherthanforanythingverypersonal。Shelikedhim，too，becausehewastheonlyoneofherfriendswhoevertookhertothesandhills。Thesandhillswereacon—

stanttantalization；shelovedthembetterthananythingnearMoonstone，andyetshecouldsoseldomgettothem。

Thefirstduneswereaccessibleenough；theywereonlyafewmilesbeyondtheKohlers’，andshecouldrunoutthereanydaywhenshecoulddoherpracticinginthemorningandgetThoroffherhandsforanafternoon。Buttherealhills——theTurquoiseHills，theMexicanscalledthem——

weretengoodmilesaway，andonereachedthembyaheavy，sandyroad。Dr。ArchiesometimestookTheaonhislongdrives，butasnobodylivedinthesandhills，heneverhadcallstomakeinthatdirection。RayKennedywasheronlyhopeofgettingthere。

ThissummerTheahadnotbeentothehillsonce，thoughRayhadplannedseveralSundayexpeditions。OnceThorwassick，andoncetheorganistinherfather’schurchwasawayandTheahadtoplaytheorganforthethreeSunday

services。ButonthefirstSundayinSeptember，RaydroveuptotheKronborgs’frontgateatnineo’clockinthemorn—