第 39 节
作者:
寻找山吹 更新:2022-11-28 19:12 字数:3468
came through each one simply because of his great will power and
fighting spirit。 After each attack he would grip my hand and say; 〃Well;
we made it that time; didn't we; nurse?〃 Toward morning he asked me if
he was going to die。 I could not tell him the truth。 He needed all his
strength。 I told him he had one chance in a thousand。 He seemed to
become very strong then; and sitting bolt upright in bed; he said: 〃Then
I'll fight for it!〃 We kept him alive for three days; and actually thought
we had won when on the third day 。 。 。 But even in your sorrow you
must be very proud to have been the mother of such a son。 。 。 。 I am a
Wisconsin girlMadison。 When this is over and I come home; will you
let me see you so that I may tell you more than I can possibly write?
MARIAN KING
It was in March; six months later; that Marian King came。 They had
hoped for it; but never expected it。 And she came。 Four people were
waiting in the living room of the big Baldwin house overlooking the river。
Flora and her husband; Adele and Aunt Sophy。 They sat; waiting。 Now
and then Adele would rise; nervously; and go to the window that faced the
street。 Flora was weeping with audible sniffs。 Baldwin sat in his chair;
frowning a little; a dead cigar in one corner of his mouth。 Only Aunt
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Sophy sat quietly; waiting。
There was little conversation。 None in the last five minutes。 Flora
broke the silence; dabbing at her face with her handkerchief as she spoke。
〃Sophy; how can you sit there like that? Not that I don't envy you。 I
do。 I remember I used to feel sorry for you。 I used to say ‘Poor Sophy。'
But you unmarried ones are the happiest; after all。 It's the married
woman who drinks the cup to the last; bitter drop。 There you sit; Sophy;
fifty years old; and life hasn't even touched you。 You don't know how
cruel life can be to a mother。〃
Suddenly; 〃There!〃 said Adele。 The other three in the room stood up
and faced the door。 The sound of a motor stopping outside。 Daniel
Oakley's hearty voice: 〃Well; it only took us five minutes from the
station。 Pretty good。〃
Footsteps down the hall。 Marian King stood in the doorway。 They
faced her; the fourBaldwin and Adele and Flora and Sophy。 Marian
King stood a moment; uncertainly; her eyes upon them。 She looked at
the two older women with swift; appraising glances。 Then she came into
the room; quickly; and put her two hands on Aunt Soph's shoulders and
looked into her eyes straight and sure。
〃You must be a very proud woman;〃 she said。 〃You ought to be a
very proud woman;〃
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