frances waldeaux-第17章

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〃Too　much　whiskey　for　this　time　o'　day！〃　a　policeman　said；　hauling　him　to　his　feet。

〃Move　along；　young　man！〃

Whiskey？　　That　was　what　he　wanted。　　He　turned　into　a　shop　and　bought　a　dram　with　his　last　pennies。　　It　made　him　comfortable　for　a　few　hours；　then　he　began　to　cry　and　swear。　　George　Waldeaux　had　never　been　drunk　in　his　life。　　The　ascetic；　stainless　priest　in　him　stood　off　and　looked　at　this　dog　of　the　gutter　with　his　obscene　talk；　and　then　came　defeat　of　soul　and　body。

〃I　give　up！〃　he　said　quietly。　　〃I'll　never　try　again。〃

He　wandered　unconsciously　to　the　ferry　and；　having　his　yearly　book　of　tickets　in　his　pocket；　took　the　train　for　home　from　force　of　habit。　　He　left　the　cars　at　a　station　several　miles　from　Weir；　and　wandered　across　the　country。　　Just　at　sundown；　covered　with　mud　and　weak　from　hunger　and　drunkenness；　he　crossed　the　lawn　before　Lucy's　house　and；　looking　up；　saw　her。

He　had　stumbled　into　a　world　of　peace　and　purity！　　A　soft　splendor　filled　the　sky　and　the　bay　and　the　green　slopes；　with　their　clumps　of　mighty　forest　trees。　　The　air　was　full　of　the　scents　of　flowers　and　the　good…night　song　of　happy　birds。　　And　in　the　midst　of　it　all；　lady　of　the　great　domain；　under　her　climbing　rose　vines；　sat　the　young；　fair　woman；　clad　in　some　fleecy　white　garments；　her　head　bent；　her　blue　eyes　fixed　on　the　distancewaiting。

George　stopped；　sobered　by　a　sudden　wrench　of　his　heart。　　There　was　the　world　to　which　he　belongedthere！　　His　keen　eye　noted　every　delicate　detail　of　her　beauty　and　of　her　dress。　　He　was　of　her　sort；　her　kindhe；　kicked　into　the　gutter　from　that　foul　shop　as　a　tramp！

This　is　what　I　have　lost！　his　soul　cried　to　him。

He　had　not　as　yet　recognized　Lucy。　　But　now　she　saw　him；　and　with　a　little　inarticulate　cry　like　that　of　a　bird；　she　flew　down　the　steps。　　〃Ah！　　It　is　you！〃　she　said。　　〃I　thought　you　would　come　to　welcome　me　some　time！〃

Her　voice　was　like　a　soft　breath；　her　airy　draperies　blew　against　him。　　It　was　as　if　a　wonderful；　beautiful　dream　were　folding　him　inand　in。

He　drew　back。　　〃I　am　not　fit；　Miss　Dunbar。　　I　did　not　know　you　were　here。　　Whylook　at　me！〃

〃Oh！　　You　are　ill！　　You　have　had　an　accident！〃　she　cried。　　She　had　laid　her　little　white　fingers　on　his　hand　and　now；　feeling　it　burn　and　tremble　at　her　touch；　she　caught　it　in　both　of　her　own　and　drew　him　into　the　house。

〃Mr。　　Waldeaux；〃　she　said　to　a　servant　who　appeared；　〃has　had　a　fall。　　Bring　him　water　and　towels。　　Take　care　of　him；　Stephen。〃　　She　spoke　quietly；　but　her　voice　trembled　with　fright。

The　man　led　George　to　an　inner　room。

〃Were　you　thrown；　sir？〃　he　asked　sympathetically。

George　hesitated。　　〃Yes；　I　was　thrown；〃　he　said　grimly。

He　made　himself　clean　in　angry　haste；　taking　the　whisk　from　the　man　and　brushing　off　the　dry　mud　with　a　vicious　fury。

Lucy　came　to　meet　him；　with　a　pale；　anxious　smile。　　〃You　must　not　go　without　a　cup　of　hot　coffee；〃　she　said；　leading　him　to　a　lounge　in　the　hall。　　It　was　very　sweet　to　be　treated　like　a　sick　man！

〃And　God　knows　I　am　sick；　body　and　soul！〃　he　thought；　sinking　down。

Beside　the　lounge　was　a　little　table　with　one　cover。　　He　noted　with　keen　pleasure　the　delicate　napery；　the　silver　candlesticks；　the　bowl　of　roses；　with　which　the　substantial　meal　was　set　out。　　Lucy　waited　on　him　with　the　quick　intelligence　of　a　trained　nurse。　　She　scarcely　spoke；　yet　her　every　motion；　as　she　served　him；　seemed　a　caress。　　When　he　had　finished　he　began　to　stammer　out　his　thanks。

〃No；〃　she　said；　rising　decisively。　　〃You　are　too　weak　to　talk　to　me　to…night；　Mr。　Waldeaux。　　The　coupe　is　at　the　door。　　John　will　drive　you　home。　　You　need　sleep　now。〃

As　he　sank　down　into　the　luxurious　cushions　and　drove　away　through　the　twilight；　he　saw　the　little　white　figure　in　the　door；　and　the　grave　wistful　face　looking　after　him。

〃Did　she　suspect！〃　he　suddenly　cried；　starting　up。

But　George　Waldeaux　never　knew　how　much　Lucy　suspected　that　night。


Meanwhile　Mrs。　Waldeaux's　mare　had　jogged　on　leisurely；　dragging　her　mistress　and　Miss　Vance　home　through　the　shady　country　lanes。

〃Phebe　is　old；〃　apologized　Frances。　　〃She　really　is　a　retired　car　horse。〃

〃You　used　to　take　pride　in　your　horses；　Frances？〃

〃Yes。〃　　Mrs。　Waldeaux　added　after　a　pause。　　〃My　income　is　small。　　Of　course　George　soon　will　be　coining　money；　but　just　now　　The　peach　crop　failed　this　year　too。　　And　I　save　every　dollar　for　Jack's　education。〃

〃But　what　of　the　jokes　for　the　New　York　paper？　　They　were　profitable。〃

〃Oh；　I　gave　them　up　long　ago。〃　She　glanced　around　cautiously。　　〃Never　speak　of　that；　Clara。　　I　would　not　have　George　know　for　the　world；　I　never　would　hold　up　my　head　if　he　knew　that　I　was　‘Quigg。'〃

Miss　Vance　gave　a　contemptuous　sniff；　but　Mrs。　Waldeaux　went　on　eagerly；　〃I　have　a　plan！　　You　know　that　swampy　tract　of　ours　near　Lewes？　　When　I　have　enough　money　I'll　drain　it　and　lay　out　a　summer　resorthotelscottages。　　I'll　develop　it　as　I　sell　the　lots。　　Oh；　Jack　shall　have　his　millions　yet　to　do　great　work　in　the　world！〃　her　eyes　sparkling。　　〃Though　perhaps　he　may　choose　to　strip　himself　of　everything　to　give　to　the　poor；　like　Francis　d'Assisi！　　That　would　be　best　of　all。　　It's　not　unlikely。　　He　is　the　most　generous　boy！〃

〃Stuff！〃　said　Miss　Vance。　　〃St。　Francis；　indeed！　　I　observe；　by　the　way；　that　he　crosses　himself　after　his　meals。　　Are　you　making　a　Romanist　of　the　child？　　And　you　speak　French　to　him；　too？〃

Mrs。　Waldeaux's　color　rose。　　〃His　mother　was　French　and　Catholic；〃　she　said。　　〃I　will　not　have　Lisa　forgotten。〃

They　went　on　in　silence。　　Miss　Vance　was　lost　in　thought。　　Was　George　Waldeaux　equally　eager　to　keep　his　wife's　memory　alive？　　Now　that　the　conceit　had　been　beaten　out　of　him；　he　would　not　make　a　bad　husband。　　And　her　child　Lucy　had　alwaysesteemed　him　highly。



CHAPTER　XVIII

The　next　day　was　Sunday。　　George　jumped　out　of　bed　with　the　dawn。　　He　whistled　and　sang　scraps　of　songs　as　he　took　his　bath。　　The　sun　shone。　　What　a　full；　happy　world　it　was；　anyhow！　　And　he　had　given　up　the　game　last　night？　　Why；　life　was　just　beginning　for　him！　　He　was　nothing　but　a　boynot　yet　thirty。　　He　would　make　a　big　success　soon；　and　then　try　to　winto　win　　He　stopped；　breathless；　looking　into　the　distance；　and　his　eyes　slowly　grew　wet　with　passion　and　longing。

He　left　the　house　and　struck　across　the　country　through　the　woodland　and　farms。　　He　did　not　know　why　he　wenthe　had　to　go。　　When　he　reached　the　Dunbar　woods；　he　stood　in　the　thicket　for　hours；　watching　the　house。　　She　came　out　at　last　and　sat　down　on　the　steps　to　play　with　the　dog。　　Last　night　in　her　white；　delicate　beauty　she　had　not　seemed　realshe　was　far　off；　like　an　angel　coming　down　into　his　depths　of　misery。

But　to…day　she　sat　on　the　steps　in　her　pretty　blue　gown；　and　laughed　and　rolled　Tramp　over；　and　sung　snatches　of　songs；　and　was　nothing　but　a　foolish　girl。　　For　so　many　years　he　had　been　thinking　of　work　and　money…making　and　bosses。　　All　of　that　mean　drudgery　fell　out　of　sight　now。　　He　was　a　man；　young；　alone；　on　fire　with　hope　and　passion。　　His　share　of　life　had　been　mean　and　pinched；　yonder　was　youth　and　gladness　and　tranquillity。　　The　world　was　empty；　save　for　themselves。　　He　was　here；　and　there　was　the　one　woman　in　itthe　one　woman。

He　looked　at　his　tanned；　rough　fingers。　　Last　night　she　had　folded　them　in　her　two　soft　little　hands；　and　drawn　him　onon　into　home！

He　would　go　up　to　her　now　and　tell　her

George　pushed　aside　the　bushes；　but　at　that　moment　Lucy　rose　and　went　into　the　house。　　After　a　moment　he　crossed　the　lawn　and　sat　down　on　the　piazza；　calling　the　dog　to　him。　　She　would　come　back　soon。　　Tramp's　head　rested　on　his　knee　as　he　stroked　it。　　It　was　here　her　hand　had　touched　itand　here

The　scent　of　roses　was　heavy　in　the　sunshine；　the　bees　hummed；　he　sat　there　in　a　hazy　dream；　waiting　for　the　door　to　open　and　the　joy　of　his　life　to　begin。

He　was　dragged　roughly　enough　out　of　his　dream。

Miss　Dunbar's　landau　drove　to　the　door　to　take　her　to　church。　　George　looked　up；　carelessly　noting　how　quiet　and　perfectly　appointed　it　was；　from　the　brown　liveries　of　the　negro　coachman　and　footman　to　the　trappings　on　the　black　ponies。　　There　were　no　horses　of　such　high　breed　in　Delaware。　　He　stood　up　suddenly；　his　jaws　pale　as　if　he　had　been　struck。　　What　money　there　was　in　it！　　He　had　forgotten。　　She　was　a　great　heiress。

She　came　out　at　the　moment。　　He　scanned　her　fiercely；　the　plain；　costly　gown；　the　ruby　blazing　on　her　ungloved　hand。　　Then　he　glanced　down　at　his　own　shabby　Sunday　suit。　　She　was　the　richest　woman　in　Delaware；　and　he　had　not　a　dollar　in　his　pocket；　and　no　way　to　earn　one。

He　went　up　to　her；　courteously　took　her　hand　when　she　held　it　out；　blushing　and　dimpling；　bowed　to　her　aunt；　saying　that　he　had　merely　walked　over　to　put　her　into　her　carriage；　and；　having　shut　the　door；　looked　after　them；　hat　in　hand；　smiling　when　she　glanced　shyly　back　at　him。

Then　he　laughed　loudly。　　If　he　had　the　salary　that　she　paid　her　negro　driver　he　would　be　lucky！　　And　he　had　meant　to　marry　her。　　He　laughed　again　and　took　his　way　homeward。


CHAPTER　XIX

His　mother　was　waiting　to　give　George　his　breakfast。　　Whether　he　chose　to　lie　in　bed　until　noon　or　to　walk　twenty　miles　at　dawn；　she　smiled　a　joyful　approval。　　But　neither　the　crisp　toast；　nor　the　fried　chicken；　nor　any　of　her　funny　stories；　would　penetrate　the　blackness　of　his　gloom。

〃Oh；　by　the　way！〃　she　said；　〃here　is　a　letter　that　came　by　last　night's　mail。　　I　forgot　to　give　it　to　you。〃

He　glanced　at　the　envelope。　　〃Great　Heavens！　　It　is　life　and　death　to　me；　and　you　forget　it　to　tell　Jack's　pert　sayings！〃　　He　read　the　letter　and　threw　it　down。

〃What　is　it；　George？〃　she　asked　humbly。

〃Burnett　&　Hoyle　offer　me　a　place　in　their　house。〃

〃Mr。　Hoyle　is　an　old　friend　of　mine。　　I　wrote　to　him。　　What　is　the　salary；　George？〃

〃Forty　dollars　a　week。　　I　could　earn　more　as　a　coachmanfor　some　rich　heiress。〃

〃But　George　dear　　It　would　be　a　beginning。　　They　are　brokers；　and　there　are　so　many　short　cuts　to　fortune　in　that　business！　　Do　try　it；　my　son。〃

〃Of　course　I'll　try　it。　　Do　you　think　I'm　a　fool？　　It　will　keep　me　from　starving。　　But　I　want　something　else　in　life　than　to　be　kept　from　starving；　mother。〃

He　stretched　out　his　arms　with　a　groan；　and　walked　to　the　window。　　She　followed　him　with　wretched；　comprehending　eyes。　　Why　did　not　Lucy　give　him　her　fortune？　　Any　woman　would　be　honored　who　could　give　George　her　fortune。

〃I　always　have　heard　that　brokers　know　the　short　cuts　to　wealth；〃　she　said　calmly。　　〃You　go　on　the　Street　some　day；　and　come　back　a　millionaire。〃

〃That　is　a　woman's　idea　of　business。　　Instead；　I　will　sit　on　a　high　stool　and　drudge　all　day；　and　on　Saturday　get　my　wages；　and　after　three　or　four　years　I'll　make　a　fight　for　ten　dollars　more　a　week；　and　thank　God　if　I　get　it。　　‘A　short　cut　to　fortune！'〃

Mrs。　Waldeaux　carefully　averted　her　eyes　from　him。　〃You　may　marry；〃　she　said；　〃and　it　may　happen　that　your　wife　also　will　have　some　little　income〃

〃Mother！　　Look　at　me！〃　he　interrupted　her　sternly。　　〃I　will　never　be　dependent　on　my　wife；　so　help　me　God！　〃

〃No；　George；　no！　　Of　course　not。　　Don't　speak　so　loud。　　Only；　I　thought　if　she　had　a　small　sum　of　her　own；　she　would　feel　more　comfortable；　that's　all。〃


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