the american claimant-第14章

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thirty…five　or　forty　people　sat　at　a　long　table。　　They　took　their　places。
The　feast　had　already　begun　and　the　conversation　was　going　on　in　the
liveliest　way　from　one　end　of　the　table　to　the　other。　　The　table　cloth
was　of　very　coarse　material　and　was　liberally　spotted　with　coffee　stains
and　grease。　　The　knives　and　forks　were　iron；　with　bone　handles；　the
spoons　appeared　to　be　iron　or　sheet　iron　or　something　of　the　sort。
The　tea　and　coffee　cups　were　of　the　commonest　and　heaviest　and　most
durable　stone　ware。　　All　the　furniture　of　the　table　was　of　the　commonest
and　cheapest　sort。　　There　was　a　single　large　thick　slice　of　bread　by　each
boarder's　plate；　and　it　was　observable　that　he　economized　it　as　if　he
were　not　expecting　it　to　be　duplicated。　　Dishes　of　butter　were
distributed　along　the　table　within　reach　of　people's　arms；　if　they　had
long　ones；　but　there　were　no　private　butter　plates。　　The　butter　was
perhaps　good　enough；　and　was　quiet　and　well　behaved；　but　it　had　more
bouquet　than　was　necessary；　though　nobody　commented　upon　that　fact　or
seemed　in　any　way　disturbed　by　it。　　The　main　feature　of　the　feast　was　a
piping　hot　Irish　stew　made　of　the　potatoes　and　meat　left　over　from　a
procession　of　previous　meals。　　Everybody　was　liberally　supplied　with　this
dish。　　On　the　table　were　a　couple　of　great　dishes　of　sliced　ham；　and
there　were　some　other　eatables　of　minor　importancepreserves　and　New
Orleans　molasses　and　such　things。　　There　was　also　plenty　of　tea　and
coffee　of　an　infernal　sort；　with　brown　sugar　and　condensed　milk；　but　the
milk　and　sugar　supply　was　not　left　at　the　discretion　of　the　boarders；　but
was　rationed　out　at　headquartersone　spoonful　of　sugar　and　one　of
condensed　milk　to　each　cup　and　no　more。　　The　table　was　waited　upon　by　two
stalwart　negro　women　who　raced　back　and　forth　from　the　bases　of　supplies
with　splendid　dash　and　clatter　and　energy。　　Their　labors　were
supplemented　after　a　fashion　by　the　young　girl　Puss。　　She　carried　coffee
and　tea　back　and　forth　among　the　boarders；　but　she　made　pleasure
excursions　rather　than　business　ones　in　this　way；　to　speak　strictly。
She　made　jokes　with　various　people。　　She　chaffed　the　young　men　pleasantly
and　wittily；　as　she　supposed；　and　as　the　rest　also　supposed；　apparently；
judging　by　the　applause　and　laughter　which　she　got　by　her　efforts。
Manifestly　she　was　a　favorite　with　most　of　the　young　fellows　and
sweetheart　of　the　rest　of　them。　　Where　she　conferred　notice　she　conferred
happiness；　as　was　seen　by　the　face　of　the　recipient；　and；　at　the　same
time　she　conferred　unhappinessone　could　see　it　fall　and　dim　the　faces
of　the　other　young　fellows　like　a　shadow。　　She　never　〃Mistered〃　these
friends　of　hers；　but　called　them　〃Billy；〃　〃Tom；〃　〃John；〃　and　they　called
her　〃Puss〃　or　〃Hattie。〃

Mr。　Marsh　sat　at　the　head　of　the　table；　his　wife　sat　at　the　foot。　　Marsh
was　a　man　of　sixty；　and　was　an　American；　but　if　he　had　been　born　a　month
earlier　he　would　have　been　a　Spaniard。　　He　was　plenty　good　enough
Spaniard　as　it　was；　his　face　was　very　dark；　his　hair　very　black；　and　his
eyes　were　not　only　exceedingly　black　but　were　very　intense；　and　there　was
something　about　them　that　indicated　that　they　could　burn　with　passion
upon　occasion。　　He　was　stoop…shouldered　and　lean…faced；　and　the　general
aspect　of　him　was　disagreeable；　he　was　evidently　not　a　very　companionable
person。　　If　looks　went　for　anything；　he　was　the　very　opposite　of　his
wife；　who　was　all　motherliness　and　charity；　good　will　and　good　nature。
All　the　young　men　and　the　women　called　her　Aunt　Rachael；　which　was
another　sign。　　Tracy's　wandering　and　interested　eye　presently　fell　upon
one　boarder　who　had　been　overlooked　in　the　distribution　of　the　stew。
He　was　very　pale　and　looked　as　if　he　had　but　lately　come　out　of　a　sick
bed；　and　also　as　if　he　ought　to　get　back　into　it　again　as　soon　as
possible。　　His　face　was　very　melancholy。　　The　waves　of　laughter　and
conversation　broke　upon　it　without　affecting　it　any　more　than　if　it　had
been　a　rock　in　the　sea　and　the　words　and　the　laughter　veritable　waters。
He　held　his　head　down　and　looked　ashamed。　　Some　of　the　women　cast　glances
of　pity　toward　him　from　time　to　time　in　a　furtive　and　half　afraid　way；
and　some　of　the　youngest　of　the　men　plainly　had　compassion　on　the　young
fellowa　compassion　exhibited　in　their　faces　but　not　in　any　more　active
or　compromising　way。　　But　the　great　majority　of　the　people　present　showed
entire　indifference　to　the　youth　and　his　sorrows。　　Marsh　sat　with　his
head　down；　but　one　could　catch　the　malicious　gleam　of　his　eyes　through
his　shaggy　brows。　　He　was　watching　that　young　fellow　with　evident　relish。
He　had　not　neglected　him　through　carelessness；　and　apparently　the　table
understood　that　fact。　　The　spectacle　was　making　Mrs。　Marsh　very
uncomfortable。　　She　had　the　look　of　one　who　hopes　against　hope　that　the
impossible　may　happen。　　But　as　the　impossible　did　not　happen；　she　finally
ventured　to　speak　up　and　remind　her　husband　that　Nat　Brady　hadn't　been
helped　to　the　Irish　stew。

Marsh　lifted　his　head　and　gasped　out　with　mock　courtliness；　〃Oh；　he
hasn't；　hasn't　he？　　What　a　pity　that　is。　　I　don't　know　how　I　came　to
overlook　him。　　Ah；　he　must　pardon　me。　　You　must　indeed　MrerBaxter
Barker；　you　must　pardon　me。　　Iermy　attention　was　directed　to　some
other　matter；　I　don't　know　what。　　The　thing　that　grieves　me　mainly　is；
that　it　happens　every　meal　now。　　But　you　must　try　to　overlook　these
little　things；　Mr。　Bunker；　these　little　neglects　on　my　part。　　They're
always　likely　to　happen　with　me　in　any　case；　and　they　are　especially
likely　to　happen　where　a　person　haserwell；　where　a　person　is；　say；
about　three　weeks　in　arrears　for　his　board。　　You　get　my　meaning？you　get
my　idea？　　Here　is　your　Irish　stew；　anderit　gives　me　the　greatest
pleasure　to　send　it　to　you；　and　I　hope　that　you　will　enjoy　the　charity　as
much　as　I　enjoy　conferring　it。〃

A　blush　rose　in　Brady's　white　cheeks　and　flowed　slowly　backward　to　his
ears　and　upward　toward　his　forehead；　but　he　said　nothing　and　began　to　eat
his　food　under　the　embarrassment　of　a　general　silence　and　the　sense　that
all　eyes　were　fastened　upon　him。　　Barrow　whispered　to　Tracy：

〃The　old　man's　been　waiting　for　that。　　He　wouldn't　have　missed　that
chance　for　anything。〃

〃It's　a　brutal　business；〃　said　Tracy。　　Then　he　said　to　himself；　purposing
to　set　the　thought　down　in　his　diary　later：

〃Well；　here　in　this　very　house　is　a　republic　where　all　are　free　and
equal；　if　men　are　free　and　equal　anywhere　in　the　earth；　therefore　I　have
arrived　at　the　place　I　started　to　find；　and　I　am　a　man　among　men；　and　on
the　strictest　equality　possible　to　men；　no　doubt。　　Yet　here　on　the
threshold　I　find　an　inequality。　　There　are　people　at　this　table　who　are
looked　up　to　for　some　reason　or　another；　and　here　is　a　poor　devil　of　a
boy　who　is　looked　down　upon；　treated　with　indifference；　and　shamed　by
humiliations；　when　he　has　committed　no　crime　but　that　common　one　of　being
poor。　　Equality　ought　to　make　men　noble…minded。　　In　fact　I　had　supposed
it　did　do　that。〃

After　supper；　Barrow　proposed　a　walk；　and　they　started。　　Barrow　had　a
purpose。　　He　wanted　Tracy　to　get　rid　of　that　cowboy　hat。　　He　didn't　see
his　way　to　finding　mechanical　or　manual　employment　for　a　person　rigged　in
that　fashion。　　Barrow　presently　said：

〃As　I　understand　it；　you're　not　a　cowboy。〃

〃No；　I'm　not。〃

〃Well；　now　if　you　will　not　think　me　too　curious；　how　did　you　come　to
mount　that　hat？　　Where'd　you　get　it？〃

Tracy　didn't　know　quite　how　to　reply　to　this；　but　presently　said；

〃Well；　without　going　into　particulars；　I　exchanged　clothes　with　a
stranger　under　stress　of　weather；　and　I　would　like　to　find　him　and　re…
exchange。〃

〃Well；　why　don't　you　find　him？　　Where　is　he？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　I　supposed　the　best　way　to　find　him　would　be　to　continue
to　wear　his　clothes；　which　are　conspicuous　enough　to　attract　his
attention　if　I　should　meet　him　on　the　street。〃

〃Oh；　very　well；〃　said　Barrow；　〃the　rest　of　the　outfit；　is　well　enough；
and　while　it's　not　too　conspicuous；　it　isn't　quite　like　the　clothes　that
anybody　else　wears。　　Suppress　the　hat。　　When　you　meet　your　man　he'll
recognize　the　rest　of　his　suit。　　That's　a　mighty　embarrassing　hat；　you
know；　in　a　centre　of　civilization　like　this。　　I　don't　believe　an　angel
could　get　employment　in　Washington　in　a　halo　like　that。〃

Tracy　agreed　to　replace　the　hat　with　something　of　a　modester　form；　and
they　stepped　aboard　a　crowded　car　and　stood　with　others　on　the　rear
platform。　　Presently；　as　the　car　moved　swiftly　along　the　rails；　two　men
crossing　the　street　caught　sight　of　the　backs　of　Barrow　and　Tracy；　and
both　exclaimed　at　once；　〃There　he　is！〃　　It　was　Sellers　and　Hawkins。
Both　were　so　paralyzed　with　joy　that　before　they　could　pull　themselves
together　and　make　an　effort　to　stop　the　car；　it　was　gone　too　far；
and　they　decided　to　wait　for　the　next　one。　　They　waited　a　while；　then　it
occurred　to　Washington　that　there　could　be　no　use　in　chasing　one　horse…
car　with　another；　and　he　wanted　to　hunt　up　a　hack。　　But　the　Colonel　said：

〃When　you　come　to　think　of　it；　there's　no　occasion　for　that　at　all。
Now　that　I've　got　him　materialized；　I　can　command　his　motions。　　I'll　have
him　at　the　house　by　the　time　we　get　there。〃

Then　they　hurried　off　home　in　a　state　of　great　and　joyful　excitement。

The　hat　exchange　accomplished；　the　two　new　friends　started　to　walk　back
leisurely　to　the　boarding　house。　　Barrow's　mind　was　full　of　curiosity
about　this　young　fellow。　　He　said；

〃You've　never　been　to　the　Rocky　Mountains？〃

〃No。〃

〃You've　never　been　out　on　the　plains？〃

〃No。〃

〃How　long　have　you　been　in　this　country？〃

〃Only　a　few　days。〃

〃You've　never　been　in　America　before？〃

Then　Barrow　communed　with　himself。　　〃Now　what　odd　shapes　the　notions　of
romantic　people　take。　　Here's　a　young；　fellow　who's　read　in　England　about
cowboys　and　adventures　on　the　plains。　　He　comes　here　and　buys　a　cowboy's
suit。　　Thinks　he　can　play　himself　on　folks　for　a　cowboy；
all　inexperienced　as　he　is。　　Now　the　minute　he's　caught　in　this　poor
little　game；　he's　ashamed　of　it　and　ready　to　retire　from　it。　　It　is　that
exchange　that　he　has　put　up　as　an　explanation。　　It's　rather　thin；
too　thin　altogether。　　Well；　he's　young；　never　been　anywhere；　knows
nothing　about　the　world；　sentimental；　no　doubt。　　Perhaps　it　was　the
natural　thing　for　him　to　do；　but　it　was　a　most　singular　choice；　curious
freak；　altogether。〃

Both　men　were　busy　with　their　thoughts　for　a　time；　then　Tracy　heaved　a
sigh　and　said；

〃Mr。　Barrow；　the　case　of　that　young　fellow　troubles　me。〃

〃You　mean　Nat　Brady？〃

〃Yes；　Brady；　or　Baxter；　or　whatever　it　was。　　The　old　landlord　called　him
by　several　different　names。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　he　has　been　very　liberal　with　names　for　Brady；　since　Brady　fell
into　arrears　for　his　board。　　Well；　that's　one　of　his　sarcasmsthe　old
man　thinks　he's　great　on　sarcasm。〃

〃Well；　what　is　Brady's　difficulty？　　What　is　Bradywho　is　he？〃

〃Brady　is　a　tinner。　　He's　a　young　journeyman　tinner　who　was　getting　along
all　right　till　he　fell　sick　and　lost　his　job。　　He　was　very　popular　before
he　lost　his　job；　everybody　in　the　house　liked　Brady。　　The　old　man　was
rather　especially　fond　of　him；　but　you　know　that　when　a　man　loses　his　job
and　loses　his　abil