CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The next morning when Powell entered the living room before breakfast,he found Katherine and Donnie already there. The child, though pale,smiled shyly at the Doctor.
"Hello! How's the arm this morning, Donnie?"
"It doesn't hurt at all," replied the child, while his mother held outher hand to her host and spoke, "He slept splendidly all night, so Iknow he did not suffer."
The doctor's answer was interrupted by Chappo at the door leading intothe dining-room. The Mexican smiled mysteriously and beckoned Donnie,who glanced at his mother, then at her nod of acquiescence, the boyfollowed in Chappo's wake. The noise of sharp barks and childishejaculation mingled with a stream of chatter in Spanish between thechild and Mexican in the kitchen. The door closed, and Katherine andPowell were left alone.
Her eyes wandered to the sketches on the walls, and the doctor rose,saying, "My pictures and books have travelled with me to many strangelands, but this is the first time they have really seemed to be athome."
She followed him as he pointed out special pictures, and told someintimate detail of the artist's life, for the pictures had been giftsfrom their creators, his personal friends. Most of the signatures wereworld-known. Katherine turned to the rows of books, and recognizing manyold friends whom she had not seen for years, she dropped impulsively onthe floor and touched them with caressing fingers, her face alight witha radiant smile. Powell read the book-hunger, and begged her to selectas many as she pleased.
"I love my books as few men love their friends," he said earnestly,standing above her and taking a rare first edition from its place. "Theywill be enhanced in value if you will only share them with me, so I cantalk about them with you sometime."
Together they selected, while Katherine crouched on the floor read thetitles, commenting and questioning, as they agreed or disagreed.
"It's like a child with a big box of candy," she laughed as she rose,assisted by Powell, who carried a number of chosen books and placed themupon the table. "I don't know what to start with."
She settled again in the chair before the fireplace, and theconversation slipped by degrees into the doctor's work in the east, andhis plan to transform the Hot Springs ranch into a sanitarium for poor,tubercular children.
"My work in hospitals taught me the need of such a place. There arethousands of children who die each year because they lack the thingsNature provides, pure air, nourishing food and an outdoor playground inthis wonderful climate with its magical healing powers. I believe thatenvironment can conquer heredity, in physical as well as moralconditions. You cannot realize what child-life means in the slums of ourcrowded cities of the east, Mrs. Glendon," he turned a face full ofenthusiasm and her own glowed in response. "The first step was my goodfortune in getting this place. It will take time, money and labour, butI know it is worth the effort."
"It will be wonderful to watch you develope your plans! Thank you fortelling me about it all!"
Chappo appeared and announced breakfast, and Powell with Mrs. Glendonfound Donnie already waiting them. The collie, Tatters, was beside thechild, and it was evident a friendship had been cemented between thetwo.
The little Mexican cook beamed with pleasure as he installed Mrs.Glendon at the end of the table and placed the coffee-pot before her.Chappo and Juan were old friends, so Katherine and Donnie knew himwell. His reputation as a cook was demonstrated in the meal he served,and he watched jealously that nothing was neglected. Donnie's attentionwas divided between his mother, the doctor and Tatters. The dog satbeside the boy's chair, occasionally poking his nose against Donnie'sknee to remind him that he, too, liked butter muffins and tidbits ofbacon.
Donnie patted him, but hesitated to respond to the dog's appeals, thenas the child looked down and broke into a sudden burst of heartylaughter, Katherine was startled into the realization that it was thefirst time she had ever heard her boy laugh like other children.
"Look, Marmee!"
The dog, believing his wheedling ineffectual, was sitting on hishaunches uncertainly, waving his paws frantically in efforts to keepbalanced. It was hard work for a puppy, and his wildly rolling eyes madehim more ridiculous. Even Chappo joined in the laughter with the doctorand Katherine. Tatters, understanding approval, barked and danced aboutthem, until Powell tossed a piece of muffin which the dog caught andgulped down.
"I'm afraid I am not bringing him up properly," apologized the doctor,"but we are alone so much and he is such an intelligent, affectionatedog, that I spoil him. He thinks your breakfast must be better thanmine, Donnie," he ended as the dog rejected a bit of muffin proffered byPowell and swallowed what Donnie held out.
At last breakfast was over, and the little party stood on the porch,prepared to start for the Circle Cross. Tatters yelped and begged to beincluded, but his special efforts were directed at Donnie.
"He seems to have adopted you, Donnie," the doctor laughed. "If yourmother does not object, I think Tatters would be a fine friend for you."
"If he were a less valuable dog--" began Katherine, but Powell cut shorther protests by his answer.
"It is natural for a boy to have a dog. A pup will desert a man anytimeto respond to a boy's smile. If the dog will not cause you anyannoyance, I'd be happy to know he was with Donnie. Tatters is unusuallyintelligent and affectionate, almost uncannily so at times. He would bea loyal friend."
Donnie watched with appealing eyes, and when his mother accepted the dogfor him, the child's right arm went around Tatters' shaggy neck, and thedog, as though understanding, pledged his fealty with a quick touch ofhis pink tongue against the lad's cheek. Then Chappo drove the buggyfrom the stable and stood at the head of the team until Powell, Donnieand Katherine were seated and the reins in the doctor's hands.
The Mexican mounted a pony and loped ahead of the handsome span of fasttrotters, while Tatters yelped before them, dashing away from the roadinto the brush to chase imaginary foes. They reached the Circle Crossand after an inspection of the broken wall, Chappo asserted he could fixit unassisted in a couple of days, since the adobe bricks were in goodcondition in the shed where Juan had stored them the previous summer. Nodamage had been done to the room inside, or the furniture.
"I think you and Donnie had better remain at the Springs until the placeis fixed," suggested Powell. "The wall will be damp for a week, youknow."
"If my bed is moved into the corner of the dining-room, Donnie and I cansleep there and get along splendidly;" was Katherine's answer. "The restof the house is in good condition. The bedroom was the only room when wecame here, and we built on the other three rooms. The old wall at theside of the house cracked last spring, and the rains weakened it, as theroof leaked badly. I noticed the crack widening several weeks ago, butyou know, an adobe wall holds together when any other material wouldbreak away. We did not dream there was any immediate danger of itsfalling."
"I'll help Chappo," asserted Powell, despite her protest that therepairs could wait until Juan and her husband returned, and Powell andChappo began their task.
Donnie and Tatters trotted to and fro, as Chappo wheeled the adobebricks to Powell, who whistled cheerfully as he laid them accurately ontop of each other between the soft layers of mud which he skillfullyapplied with a large trowel. The whistle was interrupted by snatches ofconversation between Chappo the doctor and Donnie, partly in English andpartly Spanish.
"Lunch is ready," called Katherine through the kitchen window.
"Fine!" answered Powell, "we're all good and hungry," then followed thesounds of splashing water, and in a few minutes Powell, with Donnie athis side, bustled into the dining room announcing they were ready to eatthe dishes.
It was a merry meal, and afterwards while Chappo was eating his lunch,the doctor and Katherine sat on the porch talking. Donnie perched on thelower step, his eyes betraying his admiration for the man who was unlikeany other man the child had ever known in his short life.
Work was resumed, and as it neared sunset, Powell said that h
e musttighten the bandages on Donnie's arm and the adjustment was completedwith Katherine's aid. The splints had held in place, and the doctorannounced everything satisfactory.
"I will be back early in the morning," said the man, claspingKatherine's extended hand. "Oh, by the way, we killed a calf a few daysago, so I will bring down a loin. Chappo and I are cultivating heartyappetites, you see!"
He was in the buggy before she could thank him, and the team whirledaway in a cloud of dust.
Katherine watched the buggy until it disappeared, then Chappo and Donnieemerged from the stable and came toward her, talking volubly inMexican-Spanish--which the boy had acquired from old Juan. Katherine hadalso fallen into the habit of using the same tongue when she and Donniewere alone with Juan, whose one symptom of allegiance to Mexico was hispersistence in his native tongue, though he spoke English fluently.
"I will feed the chickens and bring wood and water, Senora," saidChappo; "then you can tell me what you want me to do. The cow ismilked."
"There is nothing more, thank you, Chappo;" she replied. "You can gohome now, for Donnie and I will manage nicely."
"I stay here teel Senor Glendon and Juan come home. El Doctor say'stay.'"
"But, Chappo," she protested, "they may be away a week or more. You mustgo home and look out for the doctor."
"El Padrone say 'stay.' I must stay. He say, 'you come home too queek, Ifire you;'" the Mexican smiled expansively, "Eet is all right, Senora. Istay!"
She realized that her objections were of no consequence to either theMexican or the doctor, and a sudden wave of gratitude overwhelmed her.It was so new to have others think of her comfort or safety, to have theheavy burden lifted even for a few hours. What a difference it wouldhave made in her life and Donnie's if Glendon were only a man like thedoctor. Then there would have been no loneliness in the canyon, for thehigh walls could not have held her happiness. Her heart would have sentits message to every tree, bush, rock, bird and cloud, so that the veryuniverse might share her joy.
Early the next morning Donnie was on the watch for his new friend, andhis delight made him speechless when Powell told the boy that the ponytied to the back of the buggy was for him.
"He is too small to carry a man's weight," explained Powell, "but he isperfectly gentle, so you need have no fear."
"I can't let you do so much," faltered Katherine, "the dog was more thanenough. You are heaping a debt of obligations that I cannot pay. Lastnight I tried to make Chappo go home, but he refused. He said you hadordered him to remain, and that you would discharge him if he disobeyedyou. I know how many things need attention on a ranch and it worries meto cause you any further inconvenience. Donnie and I are used to beingalone, you see, so there was no need of Chappo staying here all night."
"You must think I am a regular tenderfoot," retorted Powell, smiling. "Ihave roughed it under the most primitive conditions in South America,and am glad to do a bit of hustling to wear off the rust. Civilizationmakes many men helpless, you know."
"Then, let us compromise," she persisted. "Suppose you come down foryour dinner each night while Chappo is here? I cannot consent to hisremaining otherwise."
"Do you know," confessed Powell gaily, "that was what I was hoping youwould say!"
So, each afternoon following, when the shadows lengthened in the canyon,Donnie, watching down the road would shout welcome, and Katherine comingon the porch, watched Doctor Powell pause at the bend of the road,waiting for the child, just as old Doctor King had formerly done, thenDonnie, perched on the saddle before the doctor, rode in state to thefront porch and his smiling mother.
On one of these rides, Donnie looked with serious eyes at the man, andsaid, "When I grow up, I'm going to be a doctor like you, and then,maybe, you'll let me come and help you. Marmee says that helping othersis just the same as fighting in tour'ments or hunting the Sangreal!"
"Your mother is right, Donnie," was the grave reply. "Someday I want youto be my partner, and we'll work together. Now, remember, this is acontract between us, and I won't forget my promise."
After dinner had been eaten each evening, a romp with Donnie andTatters, or teaching the dog a new trick, occupied Powell and the child,and later, Katherine and the doctor sat on the little porch and talkedof the doctor's plans, while Donnie leaned against his mother's kneeslistening intently, for someday, he, too, would help in the doctor'swork. The shadows in Katherine's eyes turned to laughter, her facebecame girlish in relief from constant worry, and Donnie watched herwith adoring, wondering eyes.
"Marmee's lots prettier when she laughs, isn't she, Doctor?" asked thechild suddenly one evening.
Katherine's eyes and Powell's met, and for the first time a feeling ofawkwardness tinged their comradeship, but Powell relieved the situationwith a laugh, as he said, "Little boys are lucky, because they can sayjust what they think, but grown-up people are not allowed to do it. Howis Pet today?"
Donnie launched upon a report of the most wonderful pony in Arizona andthe man kept plying him with questions until the strain of the situationhad passed. But, Katherine was unusually silent for the rest of theevening, and the doctor rose early to say "Good night." He drove homeslowly, thoughtful, troubled and yet glad. No matter what Fate mightdeny him in life, these wonderful days could never be filched from thetreasure-house of Memory.
After Donnie had been tucked in bed, Katherine Glendon sat in silentself-examination. She realized the happiness of the last five days couldnot continue, but even though she could not have the kindly friendshipof the doctor, it warmed her heart to know that for these few days theyhad walked side by side as comrades. It had imbued her with new hopes.Yet, she knew there was not the least tinge of disloyalty to her husbandin any word, deed or thought. The pleasure she had experienced was asinnocent as that which she felt when she and Donnie, walking in thecanyon, found a new flower.
So, with untroubled eyes she knelt beside the bed where her boy laysleeping, and prayed for the child, then her lips moved in a plea forthe father of that child.
The following day Glendon returned home in a repentant mood, as wasusual after a protracted carousal. He thanked Chappo effusively, and toshow his gratitude, held out a whiskey bottle. But the little Mexicandeclined, "I promise El Doctor I would not drink again. Eef I do, maybeI die pretty queek, he say."
"Oh, a little whiskey once in a while won't hurt you," urged Glendon,who always liked company when he was drinking.
But Chappo was firm, though the battle was not won without a hardstruggle when the pungent odour from the glass in Glendon's extendedhand reached the dwarf's nostrils. Appreciating his own weakness, Chappohastened to the barn and saddled his pony without loss of time.
Then he rode to the door where Katherine stood. "Adios, Senora. Yo mevoy," (Good bye, Senora. I am going,) and he galloped away fromtemptation as fast as his pony could carry him.
Katherine told her husband of the kindness shown her and Donnie, and inresponse to her entreaties, he rode up to the Springs the following day.
Powell received him courteously and tried to evade the effusive thanks,but Glendon had reached a point of intoxication where he was garrulous.
"I want you to come down any time and make yourself entirely at home,"he urged. "A man gets tired having no one but a woman to talk to, andKatherine's head is always in the clouds. The boy is getting just likeher. When he's a little older though, I'm going to take him in handmyself. If Katherine hadn't been so high-headed with my folks thingswould be mighty different with me today. But here I am, stuck down in aGod-forsaken canyon in Arizona and no prospects of ever getting out. Ifshe had catered to my family we wouldn't be here, you bet. So, it'snothing more than she brought on herself, and I've got to take themedicine with her. The old man has plenty money, but it's doubtful if Ismell a penny of it when he dies. If she'd come off her high-horse theold man might leave a wad to Donnie. Of course, I take a few drinks whenI feel like it. Any man does. Once in a while it gets the upper hand ofme, but I can stop when I want
to, and I won't make any promises to anyone to quit till I get good and ready."
Once started he rambled on. Powell gave up any attempt to check thehalf-drunken confidences, and sat silently smoking, trying to concealhis aversion. It was with a feeling of keen relief he saw Glendon riseand take leave. The heavy-set figure swayed uncertainly in the saddle.Then the memory of that man's wife, of the days they two had shared,swept over the doctor. The knowledge that Katherine was subject tocontact of such a man as Glendon made his own loss more poignant. If hehad found the woman of his dreams married to a man worthy of her, heknew he would have rejoiced at her happiness, though he went his own wayalone through life.
"Poor little Lady of the Pool," he whispered, "I have found you only tolose you!"
He recalled a beautiful rose, frozen in a block of ice, which had beensent him by a grateful patient. He had longed to warm the cold petalsand inhale their fragrance, but he knew that removing the icy barrierwould mean destroying the flower. He left it undisturbed.
And the rose, in its loveliness passed its life; shut away from thecaress of the summer breeze, from the kiss of the butterfly, from thequivering touch of the humming-bird's wings, and all the wonderfulmysteries of life that throbbed around it.
The Long Dim Trail Page 18
