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North turned a little wearily away。 〃Good night；〃 she said suddenly；
extending her hand； with a gentler smile of lip and eye than he had ever
before noticed； 〃good nighttake good care of Dad。〃
The doctor and North rode together some moments in silence。 North
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had another fact presented to him； i。 e。 that he was going a… visiting； and
that he had virtually abandoned his former life； also that it would be
profanation to think of his sacred woe in the house of a stranger。
〃I dare say；〃 said the doctor； suddenly； 〃you are not familiar with the
type of woman Miss Bessy presents so perfectly。 Your life has been
spent among the conventional class。〃
North froze instantly at what seemed to be a probing of his secret。
Disregarding the last suggestion； he made answer simply and truthfully
that he had never met any Western girl like Bessy。
〃That's your bad luck；〃 said the doctor。 〃You think her coarse and
illiterate？〃
Mr。 North had been so much struck with her kindness that really he
had not thought of it。
〃That's not so；〃 said the doctor； curtly； 〃although even if you told her
so she would not think any the less of younor of herself。 If she spoke
rustic Greek instead of bad English； and wore a cestus in place of an ill…
fitting corset； you'd swear she was a goddess。 There's your trail。 Good
night。〃
III
James North did not sleep well that night。 He had taken Miss
Bessy's bedroom； at her suggestion； there being but two； and 〃Dad never
using sheets and not bein' keerful in his habits。〃 It was neat； but that was
all。 The scant ornamentation was atrocious； two or three highly colored
prints； a shell work…box； a ghastly winter bouquet of skeleton leaves and
mosses； a star…fish； and two china vases hideous enough to have been
worshiped as Buddhist idols； exhibited the gentle recreation of the fair
occupant； and the possible future education of the child。 In the morning
he was met by Joe； who received the message of his daughter with his
usual dejection； and suggested that North stay with him until the child was
better。 That event was still remote； North found； on his return to his
cabin； that the child had been worse； but he did not know； until Miss Bessy
dropped a casual remark； that she had not closed her own eyes that night。
It was a week before he regained his own quarters； but an active week
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indeed； on the whole； a rather pleasant week。 For there was a delicate
flattery in being domineered by a wholesome and handsome woman； and
Mr。 James North had by this time made up his mind that she was both。
Once or twice he found himself contemplating her splendid figure with a
recollection of the doctor's compliment； and later； emulating her own
frankness； told her of it。
〃And what did YOU say？〃 she asked。
〃Oh； I laughed and saidnothing。〃
And so did she。
A month after this interchange of frankness； she asked him if he could
spend the next evening at her house。 〃You see；〃 she said； 〃there's to be a
dance down at the hall at Eureka； and I haven't kicked a fut since last
spring。 Hank Fisher's comin' up to take me over； and I'm goin' to let the
shanty slide for the night。〃
〃But what's to become of the baby？〃 asked North； a little testily。
〃Well；〃 said Miss Robinson； facing him somewhat aggressively； 〃I
reckon it won't hurt ye to take care of it for a night。 Dad can't and if he
could； he don't know how。 Liked to have pizened me after mar died。
No； young man； I don't propose to ask Hank Fisher to tote thet child over
to Eureka and back； and spile his fun。〃
〃Then I suppose I must make way for Mr。 HankHankFisher？〃 said
North； with the least tinge of sarcasm in his speech。
〃Of course。 You've got nothing else to do； you know。〃
North would have given worlds to have pleaded a previous
engagement on business of importance； but he knew that Bessy spoke
truly。 He had nothing to do。 〃And Fisher has； I suppose？〃 he asked。
〃Of courseto look after ME！〃
A more unpleasant evening James North had not spent since the first
day of his solitude。 He almost began to hate the unconscious cause of his
absurd position； as he paced up and down the floor with it。 〃Was there ever
such egregious folly？〃 he began； but remembering he was quoting Maria
North's favorite resume of his own conduct； he stopped。 The child cried；
missing； no doubt； the full rounded curves and plump arm of its nurse。
North danced it violently； with an inward accompaniment that was not
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musical； and thought of the other dancers。 〃Doubtless；〃 he mused； 〃she
has told this beau of hers that she has left the baby with the 'looney' Man
on the Beach。 Perhaps I may be offered a permanent engagement as a
harmless simpleton accustomed to the care of children。 Mothers may cry
for me。 The doctor is at Eureka。 Of course； he will be there to see his
untranslated goddess； and condole with her over the imbecility of the Man
on the Beach。〃 Once he carelessly asked Joe who the company were。
〃Well；〃 said Joe； mournfully； 〃thar's Widder Higsby and darter； the
four Stubbs gals； in course Polly Doble will be on hand with that feller
that's clerking over at the Head for Jones； and Jones's wife。 Then thar's
French Pete； and Whisky Ben； and that chap that shot Archer；I
disremember his name；and the barberwhat's that little mulatto's name
that 'ar Kanaka？ I swow！〃 continued Joe； drearily； 〃I'll be forgettin' my
own nextand〃
〃That will do；〃 interrupted North； only half concealing his disgust as
he rose and carried the baby to the other room； beyond the reach of names
that might shock its ladylike ears。