Mrs. Wilson Woodrow

“ She was one of those restless, variable beings to whom “the long, brown path” with its thousand possibilities and surprises makes an irresistible appeal.
When this desire of the hills came upon her, she stayed not upon the order of her going, but joyously rose up to follow her vagrant impulses. ”

“ Nitschkan cheerily, “you an' Josh had best strap that cook-stove on the off-side of Jerry to balance the tent; an' you, Celia, kin fetch Mommie her fishin' rods an' gun. I guess I'll load them onto Jemmy.”
Gathered about the front gate, maintained upon its rusted hinges by some frayed bits of rope, were a group of Mrs. Nitschkan's most intimate companions and allies; but, if attitude and expression be taken as indications of inner emotion, these ladies were strongly evidencing a disapproval of their friend's activities. ”

“ Otherwise, she can spend the rest of her life gipsyin' if she's a mind to.”
“If this dratted weather wouldn't jus' hold out!” fretted Mrs. Thomas. “Any other year, the snow would be flyin' before this time; but there ain't no justice in the world, even the weather's got to turn in an' accommodate Mis' Nitschkan. An' when she does come,” with growing petulance, “she'll santer in sayin' she's had the time of her life, an' it's a pity us girls ain't her taste fer country life, then we wouldn't be gruntin' an' groanin' all the time—an' us wore to frazzles with her Injun kids! ”

“ She's snapped her fingers good an' strong in your face, Jack Nitschkan, an' you bet, she'll probable go off fer six months next year.”
“Well, what kin I do?” growled Nitschkan, in shamefaced irritation.
“You can be a man, that's what,” said Mrs. Evans, with ringing significance, “an' you can let Sadie Nitschkan know that you're master in your own house. You can make it so hot fer her that she'll give up any thought of gipsyin' for some years to come.” ”

“ He was holdin' forth las' night like a fool man loves to, an' like any other fool woman, I was hangin' on his words like they was law an' gospel.
“'A woman's place,' he says, loud an' argumentative, 'is stayin' at home an' mindin' the house an' kids.'
“'What about Mis' Nitschkan?' I asked real mild an' innocent.
“'Oh, she's different,' he answers, 'An' she's all right, too, you bet.' My Lord! Sometimes, I think there ain't no justice in the world.” ”

“ Evans who had been unwontedly silent. “There's always a way out of everything, an' I've thought of a way out of this; but it's got to be worked cautious.”
“How vould it do to send vord to her dat Jack's kind o' took mit some odder girl?” advanced Mrs. Landvetter. “Hein?”
“What'd she care?” Mrs. Thomas's tone was infinitely scornful. “She ain't like the rest of us self-sacrificing, submissive women that wins a man's heart through our weakness and dependence an' then gets ignored an' neglected or worse; that is, if we don't look sharp an' ain't ready to hand 'em out as good as they give. ”

“ Evans. “The other night I says: 'Course, Mis' Nitschkan's one of my best friends; but she certainly is a figure of fun in them man's clothes.'
“'Oh, they suit her,' Sile answers. 'An' I guess they suit Jack, too,' he says, real spiteful. 'After he's married, a man ain't hankerin' to see so much ribbon an' lace fixin's when he knows he's got to pay fer 'em no matter how the ore's runnin'.'”
“Ain't they the low dogs now!” murmured Mrs. Thomas. “How'd ever us poor women get even with 'em if we didn't have a skillet or a pan handy now an' then?” ”

“ Thomas was gravely questioning. “Maybe a home-keepin' body like me's all wrong; but how Sadie Nitschkan kin go off a gipsyin' leavin' you here all alone with those dev—wild kids to look after is more'n I kin understand. The house is goin' to wrack an' ruin; nothin' to eat 'cept'n what two half-grown girls cooks fer you, an' your poor hands all bust open to the bone on the backs of 'em. ”

“ The three women at the gate exchanged meaning glances.
“Sadie Nitschkan”—Mrs. Evans's tone was magisterial—“we want to know something, an' we want to know the truth: Are you goin' gipsyin' again?”
“I sure am.” The answer was decisive, if indifferent.
“An' leave your husband an' kids to shift for theirselves, an' in the care of the entire camp—which really means us—while you go traipsin' over the hills like a wild woman?” Mrs. Evans's shrill tones ran a crescendo scale of incredulous, indignant remonstrance. ”

“ Evans elevated her eyebrows and shook her head two or three times. “Well, course we think the world an' all of Sadie, Jack; but jus' between ourselves, this ain't no way to act. This camp ain't what it was ten years ago. Folks is got to act more formal every day, an' when a wife leaves her man for months at a time an' goes traipsin' over the mountains, they will talk.”
Nitschkan was conscious of a dull perplexity, a growing distrust of his own customary and hitherto unquestioned standards. “Oh, that's all right,” he answered with a bluff assumption of ease. “Sadie, she's kind o' different. ”

“ Thomas. “But, if they get sick, Mis' Nitschkan,” she pleaded desperately, “an' you know that all flesh is grass enough to do that now and then, why, where air we, an' where air you?”
“How kin I tell?” answered the Amazon happily, leading Jerry carefully through the gate, while her lad followed with Jemmy. “But,” emphatically, “they ain't goin' to get sick. Those kids is tough as whipcord.” ”

“ Nitschkan paused moment in her packing to stand with arms akimbo, measuring in humorous, faintly sardonic contemplation the group at the gate.
“Gosh A'mighty! What you gettin' so hot fer, Evans? Jack's up at his prospect, doin' assessment work fer a while; an', if a lot of half-grown kids can't look after theirselves, an' keep the roof over their heads, I don't now when they're goin' to learn. You girls kind o' keep an eye on 'em, an' they'll be all right. ”