58. Jim And Nancy
On the evening preceding this conversation in the barroom, and the report of the return of Mark, Roxy had had a visitor. She had agreed to give Nancy Kirtley enough money to carry her to some distant country, and to " set her up " when she got there. For Nancy was resolved to have nothing more to do with Rocky Fork. She had come by appointment now to conclude the matter with Roxy. She had a dim, half-human sense of the immense goodness of Roxy such a sense as prompts a dog to caress the bountiful hand of his master.
" Jim and me was married today," said Nancy, with a little exultation. "Jim's a good feller to come back to me after all, now, haint he ? "
" Yes, he is. You must be good to Jim."
" Lawzy ! It haint in me. I can't help bein' a leetle bad, ve know."
Roxy settled her account with Nancy, giving her what was a large amount of money for that time.
"It'll buy Jim a farm, out in Missouri, and a hoss, and two cows, and may be more," said Nance, as she prepared to go.
On the steps she stopped, looked down, and hesitated a minute.
" They's one thing more," she said.
"What's that?"
" The leetle feller. If you'd jest as lieve, I'd kinder hVo to take one last look at him afore I go. He's youru now, but somehow I'm his own nat'ral mother. Ef you'd jest as lieve."
" YkV,'' said Roxy, reluctantly, and with a feeling of jealousy.
When .Kancy saw the child, she said:
" WelL, bow ! you have fixed him up, haint you ! An' he'p bo purty. I*\:t then he'll never know nothin' about his own flesh and blood mother. I sha'n't trouble him. It's better he's yourn. Eut," here she wiped her eyes, " but when he gits to be a gentleman and all, he'll never know 'at he's got another mother." She stooped and kissed the baby. Then she went out to the door, and when she parted with Ruxy, she seized her hand saying : " You're awful good. You're awful good. I 'low they haint no more sich as you."
That night, she and Jim McGowan took boat for the Missouri River. They were absorbed into the community of Pikei, ai d Rocky Fork knew them no more.