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And the babies they're not going to blow away。〃
But Kate continued to look with intense eyes at her little world； and to
draw into it with loving and generous hands all who were willing to come。
〃Kate is just like a kite；〃 Jack explained to his father； the major； 〃she
can't keep afloat without just so many bobs。〃
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Kate's 〃bobs〃 were the unfortunates she collected around her。 These
absorbed her strength。 She felt their misery with sym… pathies that were
abnormal。 The very laborer in the streets felt his toil less keenly than she；
as she watched the drops gather on his brow。
〃Is life worth keeping at the cost of a lot like that？〃 she would ask。
She felt ashamed of her own ease。 She apologized for her own serene and
perfect happiness。 She even felt sorry for those mothers who had not
children as radiantly beautiful as her own。
〃Kate must have a change；〃 the major had given out。 He was going
West on business and insisted on taking her with him。 Jack looked
doubtful。 He wasn't sure how he would get along without Kate to look
after everything。 Secretly； he had an idea that servants were a kind of wild
animal that had to be fed by an experienced keeper。 But when the time
came； he kissed her good…by in as jocular a manner as he could summon；
and refused to see the tears that gathered in her eyes。
Until Chicago was reached； there was nothing very different from that
which Kate had been in the habit of seeing。 After that； she set herself to
watch for Western characteristics。 She felt that she would know them as
soon as she saw them。
〃I expected to be stirred up and shocked；〃 she explained to the major。
But somehow； the Western type did not appear。 Common… place women
with worn faces browned and seamed； though not aged were at the
stations； waiting for something or some one。 Men with a hurried；
nervous air were everywhere。 Kate looked in vain for the gayety and
heartiness which she had always associated with the West。
After they got beyond the timber country and rode hour after hour on a
tract smooth as a becalmed ocean； she gave herself up to the feeling of
immeasurable vastness which took possession of her。 The sun rolled out of
the sky into oblivion with a frantic； head… long haste。 Nothing softened the
aspect of its wrath。 Near； red； familiar； it seemed to visibly bowl along the
heavens。 In the morning it rose as baldly as it had set。 And back and forth
over the awful plain blew the winds； blew from east to west and back
again； strong as if fresh from the chambers of their birth； full of elemental
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scents and of mighty murmurings。
〃This is the West！〃 Kate cried； again and again。
The major listened to her unsmilingly。 It always seemed to him a waste
of muscu… lar energy to smile。 He did not talk much。 Conversation had
never appealed to him in the light of an art。 He spoke when there was a
direction or a command to be given； or an inquiry to be made。 The major；
if the truth must be known； was material。 Things that he could taste； touch；
see； appealed to him。 He had been a volunteer in the civil war； a
volunteer with a good record； which he never mentioned； and； having
acquitted himself decently； let the matter go without asking reprisal or
pay… ment for what he had freely given。 He went into business and sold
cereal foods。
〃I believe in useful things；〃 the major expressed himself。 〃Oatmeal；
wheat； men have to have them。 God intended they should。 There's
Jack my son Jack Shelly lawyer。 What's the use of litigation？ God
didn't design litigation。 It doesn't do anybody any good。 It isn't justice you
get。 It's something entirely different； a verdict according to law。 They
say Jack's clever。 But I'm mighty glad I sell wheat。〃
He didn't sell it as a speculator； how… ever。 That wasn't his way。
〃I earn what I make；〃 he often said； and he had grown rich in the
selling of his wholesome foods。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
Helena lies among round； brown hills。 Above it is a sky of deep and
illimitable blue。 In the streets are crumbs of gold； but it no longer pays to
mine for these； because； as real estate； the property is more valuable。 It is a
place of fictitious values。 There is excitement in the air。 Men have the
faces of speculators。 Every laborer is patient at his task because he
cherishes a hope that some day he will be a million… naire。 There is
hospitality； and cordiality and good fellowship； and an undeniable
democracy。 There is wealth and luxurious living。 There is even culture；
but it is obtruded as a sort of novelty； it is not accepted as a matter of
course。
Kate and the major were driven over two or three miles of dusty； hard
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road to a dis… tant hotel； which stands in the midst of greenness； in an
oasis。 Immediately above the green sward that surrounds it the brown
hills rise； the grass scorched by the sun。
Kate yielded herself to the almost absurd luxury of the place with ease
and compla… cency。 She took kindly to the great veran… das。 She adapted
herself to the elaborate and ill…assorted meals。 She bathed in the
marvellous pool； warm with the heat of eternal fires in mid…earth。 This
pool was covered with a picturesque Moorish struct… ure； and at one end a
cascade tumbled； over which the sun； coming through colored win… dows；
made a mimic prism in the white spray。 The life was not unendurable。 The
major was seldom with her； being obliged to go about his business； and
Kate amused herself by driving over the hills； by watch… ing the
inhabitants； by wondering about the lives in the great； pretentious；
unhomelike houses with their treeless yards and their closed shutters。
The sunlight； white as the glare on Arabian sands； penetrated everywhere。
It seemed to fairly scorch the eye…balls。