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opened to his mind a vision of the season's possibilities。 For a moment；
even amid the smoke of the car； he seemed to scent clover； and hear the
stiff swishing of the corn and the dull burring of the bees。
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A Mountain Woman
〃I wish sometimes；〃 he said； leaning for… ward to look at his bride；
〃that I had been born something else than a farmer。 But I can no more help
farming； Annie； than a bird can help singing； or a bee making honey。 I
didn't take to farming。 I was simply born with a hoe in my hand。〃
〃I don't know a blessed thing about it；〃 Annie confessed。 〃But I
made up my mind that a farm with you was better than a town without you。
That's all there is to it； as far as I am concerned。〃
Jim Lancy slid his arm softly about her waist； unseen by the other
passengers。 Annie looked up apprehensively； to see if any one was
noticing。 But they were eating their lunches。 It was a common coach
on which they were riding。 There was a Pullman attached to the train； and
Annie had secretly thought that； as it was their wedding journey； it might
be more becoming to take it。 But Jim had made no suggestion about it。
What he said later explained the reason。
〃I would have liked to have brought you a fine present；〃 he said。 〃It
seemed shabby to come with nothing but that little ring。 But I put
everything I had on our home； you know。 And yet； I'm sure you'll think it
poor enough after what you've been used to。 You'll forgive me for only
bringing the ring； my dear？〃
〃But you brought me something better；〃 Annie whispered。 She was a
foolish little girl。 〃You brought me love； you know。〃 Then they rode in
silence for a long time。 Both of them were new to the phraseology of love。
Their simple compliments to each other were almost ludicrous。 But any
one who might have chanced to overhear them would have been charmed；
for they betrayed an innocence as beautiful as an unclouded dawn。
Annie tried hard not to be depressed by the treeless stretches of the
Nebraska plains。
〃This is different from Illinois；〃 she ventured once； gently； 〃it is even
different from Iowa。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 cried Jim； enthusiastically； 〃it is different！ It is the finest
country in the world！ You never feel shut in。 You can always see off。 I feel
at home after I get in Nebraska。 I'd choke back where you live； with all
those little gullies and the trees everywhere。 It's a mystery to me how
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A Mountain Woman
farmers have patience to work there。〃
Annie opened her eyes。 There was evi… dently more than one way of
looking at a question。 The farm…houses seemed very low and mean to her；
as she looked at them from the window。 There were no fences； excepting
now and then the inhospitable barbed wire。 The door…yards were bleak to
her eyes； without the ornamental shrubbery which every farmer in her part
of the country was used to tending。 The cattle stood un… shedded in their
corrals。 The reapers and binders stood rusting in the dull drizzle。
〃How shiftless！〃 cried Annie； indignantly。 〃What do these men mean
by letting their machinery lie out that way？ I should think one winter of
lying out would hurt it more than three summers of using。〃
〃It does。 But sheds are not easily had。 Lumber is dear。〃
〃But I should think it would be economy even then。〃
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃perhaps。 But we all do that way out here。 It takes some
money for a man to be economical with。 Some of us haven't even that
much。〃
There was a six…mile ride from the station。 The horses were waiting；
hitched up to a serviceable light wagon； and driven by the 〃help。〃 He was
a thin young man； with red hair； and he blushed vicariously for Jim and
Annie； who were really too entertained with each other； and at the idea of
the new life opening up before them； to think any… thing about blushing。
At the station； a number of men insisted on shaking hands with Jim； and
being introduced to his wife。 They were all bearded； as if shaving were an
unnecessary labor； and their trousers were tucked in dusty top…boots； none
of which had ever seen blacking。 Annie had a sense of these men seeming
unwashed； or as if they had slept in their clothes。 But they had kind voices；
and their eyes were very friendly。 So she shook hands with them all with
heartiness； and asked them to drive out and bring their womenkind。
〃I am going to make up my mind not to be lonesome；〃 she declared；
〃but； all the same； I shall want to see some women。〃
Annie had got safe on the high seat of the wagon； and was balancing
her little feet on the inclined foot…rest； when a woman came running across
the street； calling aloud；
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A Mountain Woman
〃Mr。 Lancy！ Mr。 Lancy！ You're not going to drive away without
introducing me to your wife！〃
She was a thin little woman； with move… ments as nervous and as
graceless as those of a grasshopper。 Her dun…colored garments seemed to
have all the hue bleached out of them with wind and weather。 Her face
was brown and wrinkled； and her bright eyes flashed restlessly； deep in
their sockets。 Two front teeth were conspicuously missing； and her faded
hair was blown in wisps about her face。 Jim performed the introduction；
and Annie held out her hand。 It was a pretty hand； delicately gloved in
dove color。 The woman took it in her own； and after she had shaken it；
held it for a silent mo… ment； looking at it。 Then she almost threw it from
her。 The eyes which she lifted to scan the bright young face above her had
something like agony in them。 Annie blushed under this fierce scrutiny；
and the woman； suddenly conscious of her demeanor； forced a smile to her
lips。
〃I'll come out an' see yeh；〃 she said； in cordial tones。 〃May be； as a
new house… keeper； you'll like a little advice。 You've a nice place； an' I
wish yeh luck。〃
〃Thank you。 I'm sure I'll need advice；〃 cried Annie； as they drove off。
Then she said to Jim； 〃Who is that old woman？〃
〃Old woman？ Why； she ain't a day over thirty； Mis' Dundy ain't。〃