按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the road every week…day；one day one way； and the next the other
way；should not know a public…house like Dutton's。
〃If I remember rightly；〃 I said； 〃the stage used to stop there for
the passengers to take supper。〃
〃Well； then； it aint on this side o' the ridge；〃 said the driver；
〃we stop for supper； about a quarter of a mile on the other side；
at Pete Lowry's。 Perhaps Dutton used to keep that place。 Was it
called the 'Ridge House'？〃
I did not remember the name of the house； but I knew very well that
it was not on the other side of the ridge。
〃Then；〃 said the driver； 〃I'm sure I don't know where it is。 But
I've only been on the road about a year； and your man may 'a' moved
away afore I come。 But there aint no tavern this side the ridge；
arter ye leave Delhi； and； that's nowhere's nigh the ridge。〃
There were a couple of farmers who were sitting by the driver； and
who had listened with considerable interest to this conversation。
Presently； one of them turned around to me and said：
〃Is it Dave Dutton ye're askin' about？〃
〃Yes；〃 I replied； 〃that's his name。〃
〃Well； I think he's dead；〃 said he。
At this； I began to feel uneasy； and I could see that my wife
shared my trouble。
Then the other farmer spoke up。
〃I don't believe he's dead； Hiram；〃 said he to his companion 〃I
heered of him this spring。 He's got a sheep…farm on the other side
o' the mountain； and he's a livin' there。 That's what I heered； at
any rate。 But he don't live on this road any more；〃 he continued；
turning to us。 〃He used to keep tavern on this road； and the
stages did used to stop fur supperor else dinner； I don't jist
ree…collect which。 But he don't keep tavern on this road no more。〃
〃Of course not；〃 said his companion； 〃if he's a livin' over the
mountain。 But I b'lieve he's dead。〃
I asked the other farmer if he knew how long it had been since
Dutton had left this part of the country。
〃I don't know fur certain；〃 he said； 〃but I know he was keeping
tavern here two year' ago； this fall； fur I came along here；
myself； and stopped there to git supperor dinner； I don't jist
ree…collect which。〃
It had been three years since our friend had boarded at Dutton's
house。 There was no doubt that the man was not living at his old
place now。 My wife and I now agreed that it was very foolish in us
to come so far without making more particular inquiries。 But we
had had an idea that a man who had a place like Dutton's tavern
would live there always。
〃What are ye goin' to do？〃 asked the driver； very much interested；
for it was not every day that he had passengers who had lost their
destination。 〃Ye might go on to Lowry's。 He takes boarders
sometimes。〃
But Lowry's did not attract us。 An ordinary country…tavern； where
stage…passengers took supper； was not what we came so far to find。
〃Do you know where this house o' Dutton's is？〃 said the driver； to
the man who had once taken either dinner or supper there。
〃Oh yes！ I'd know the house well enough； if I saw it。 It's the
fust house this side o' Lowry's。〃
〃With a big pole in front of it？〃 asked the driver。
〃Yes； there was a sign…pole in front of it。〃
〃An a long porch？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Oh！ well！〃 said the driver； settling himself in his seat。 〃I know
all about that house。 That's a empty house。 I didn't think you
meant that house。 There's nobody lives there。 An' yit； now I come
to remember； I have seen people about； too。 I tell ye what ye
better do。 Since ye're so set on staying on this side the ridge；
ye better let me put ye down at Dan Carson's place。 That's jist
about quarter of a mile from where Dutton used to live。 Dan's wife
can tell ye all about the Duttons； an' about everybody else； too；
in this part o' the country； and if there aint nobody livin' at the
old tavern； ye can stay all night at Carson's； and I'll stop an'
take you back； to…morrow； when I come along。〃
We agreed to this plan； for there was nothing better to be done；
and； late in the afternoon； we were set down with our small trunk
for we were traveling under light weightat Dan Carson's door。
The stage was rather behind time； and the driver whipped up and
left us to settle our own affairs。 He called back； however； that
he would keep a good lookout for us to…morrow。
Mrs。 Carson soon made her appearance； and； very naturally； was
somewhat surprised to see visitors with their baggage standing on
her little porch。 She was a plain； coarsely dressed woman； with an
apron full of chips and kindling wood； and a fine mind for detail；
as we soon discovered。
〃Jist so；〃 said she； putting down the chips； and inviting us to
seats on a bench。 〃Dave Dutton's folks is all moved away。 Dave
has a good farm on the other side o' the mountain； an' it never did
pay him to keep that tavern； 'specially as he didn't sell liquor。
When he went away； his son Al come there to live with his wife； an'
the old man left a good deal o' furniter and things fur him； but
Al's wife aint satisfied here； and； though they've been here； off
an' on； the house is shet up most o' the time。 It's fur sale an'
to rent； both； ef anybody wants it。 I'm sorry about you； too； fur
it was a nice tavern； when Dave kept it。〃
We admitted that we were also very sorry； and the kind…hearted
woman showed a great deal of sympathy。
〃You might stay here； but we haint got no fit room where you two
could sleep。〃
At this； Euphemia and I looked very blank。 〃But you could go up to
the house and stay； jist as well as not；〃 Mrs。 Carson continued。
〃There's plenty o' things there； an' I keep the key。 For the
matter o' that； ye might take the house for as long as ye want to
stay； Dave 'd be glad enough to rent it； and； if the lady knows how
to keep house； it wouldn't be no trouble at all； jist for you two。
We could let ye have all the victuals ye'd want； cheap； and there's
plenty o' wood there； cut； and everything handy。〃
We looked at each other。 We agreed。 Here was a chance for a rare
good time。 It might be better； perhaps； than anything we had
expected。
The bargain was struck。 Mrs。 Carson； who seemed vested with all
the necessary powers of attorney； appeared to be perfectly
satisfied with our trustworthiness； and when I paid on the spot the
small sum she thought proper for two weeks' rent； she evidently
considered she had done a very good thing for Dave Dutton and
herself。
〃I'll jist put some bread； an' eggs； an' coffee； an' pork； an'
things in a basket； an' I'll have 'em took up fur ye； with yer
trunk； an' I'll go with ye an' take some milk。 Here； Danny！〃 she
cried； and directly her husband； a long； thin； sun…burnt； sandy…
headed man； appeared； and to him she told； in a few words； our
story； and ordered him to hitch up the cart and be ready to take
our trunk and the basket up to Dutton's old house。
When all was ready； we walked up the hill； followed by Danny and
the cart。 We found the house a large； low； old…fashioned farm…
house； standing near the road with a long piazza in front； and a
magnificent view of mountain…tops in the rear。 Within； the lower
rooms were large and low； with quite a good deal of furniture in
them。 There was