the american claimant-第29章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


been　so　torturedyou　will　forgive　me；　you　must；　I　have　suffered　so　much；
and　I　am　so　sorry　and　so　humble；　you　do　forgive　me；　don't　you？　don't
turn　away；　don't　refuse　me；　it　is　only　my　love　that　is　at　fault；　and　you
know　I　love　you；　love　you　with　all　my　heart；　I　couldn't　bear　tooh；
dear；　dear；　I　am　so　miserable；　and　I　sever　meant　any　harm；　and　I　didn't
see　where　this　insanity　was　carrying　me；　and　how　it　was　wronging　and
abusing　the　dearest　heart　in　all　the　world　to　meandandoh；　take　me
in　your　arms　again；　I　have　no　other　refuge；　no　other　home　and　hope！〃

There　was　reconciliation　again…immediate；　perfect；　all…embracingand
with　it　utter　happiness。　　This　would　have　been　a　good　time　to　adjourn。
But　no；　now　that　the　cloud…breeder　was　revealed　at　last；　now　that　it　was
manifest　that　all　the　sour　weather　had　come　from　this　girl's　dread　that
Tracy　was　lured　by　her　rank　and　not　herself；　he　resolved　to　lay　that
ghost　immediately　and　permanently　by　furnishing　the　best　possible　proof
that　he　couldn't　have　had　back　of　him　at　any　time　the　suspected　motive。
So　he　said：

〃Let　me　whisper　a　little　secret　in　your　eara　secret　which　I　have　kept
shut　up　in　my　breast　all　this　time。　　Your　rank　couldn't　ever　have　been　an
enticement。　　I　am　son　and　heir　to　an　English　earl！〃

The　girl　stared　at　him…one；　two；　three　moments；　maybe　a　dozenthen　her
lips　parted：

〃You？〃　she　said；　and　moved　away　from　him；　still　gazing　at　him　in　a　kind
of　blank　amazement。

〃Whywhy；　certainly　I　am。　　Why　do　you　act　like　this？　　What　have　I　done
now？〃

〃What　have　you　done？。　　You　have　certainly　made　a　most　strange　statement。
You　must　see　that　yourself。〃

〃Well；〃　with　a　timid　little　laugh；　〃it　may　be　a　strange　enough　statement；
but　of　what　consequence　is　that；　if　it　is　true？〃

〃If　it　is　true。　　You　are　already　retiring　from　it。〃

〃Oh；　not　for　a　moment！　　You　should　not　say　that。　　I　have　not　deserved　it。
I　have　spoken　the　truth；　why　do　you　doubt　it？〃

Her　reply　was　prompt。

〃Simply　because　you　didn't　speak　it　earlier！〃

〃Oh！〃　It　wasn't　a　groan；　exactly；　but　it　was　an　intelligible　enough
expression　of　the　fact　that　he　saw　the　point　and　recognized　that　there
was　reason　in　it。

〃You　have　seemed　to　conceal　nothing　from　me　that　I　ought　to　know
concerning　yourself；　and　you　were　not　privileged　to　keep　back　such　a
thing　as　this　from　me　a　moment　afterafterwell；　after　you　had
determined　to　pay　your　court　to　me。〃

〃Its　true；　it's　true；　I　know　it！　　But　there　were　circumstancesin
in　the　waycircumstances　which〃

She　waved　the　circumstances　aside。

〃Well；　you　see；〃　he　said；　pleadingly；　〃you　seemed　so　bent　on　our
traveling　the　proud　path　of　honest　labor　and　honorable　poverty；　that　I
was　terrifiedthat　is；　I　was　afraidofofwell；　you　know　how　you
talked。〃

〃Yes；　I　know　how　I　talked。　　And　I　also　know　that　before　the　talk　was
finished　you　inquired　how　I　stood　as　regards　aristocracies；　and　my　answer
was　calculated　to　relieve　your　fears。〃

He　was　silent　a　while。　　Then　he　said；　in　a　discouraged　way：

〃I　don't　see　any　way　out　of　it。　　It　was　a　mistake。　　That　is　in　truth　all
it　was；　just　a　mistake。　　No　harm　was　meant；　no　harm　in　the　world。
I　didn't　see　how　it　might　some　time　look。　　It　is　my　way。　　I　don't　seem　to
see　far。〃

The　girl　was　almost　disarmed；　for　a　moment。　　Then　she　flared　up　again。

〃An　Earl's　son！　　Do　earls'　sons　go　about　working　in　lowly　callings　for
their　bread　and　butter？〃

〃God　knows　they　don't！　　I　have　wished　they　did。〃

〃Do　earls'　sons　sink　their　degree　in　a　country　like　this；　and　come　sober
and　decent　to　sue　for　the　hand　of　a　born　child　of　poverty　when　they　can
go　drunk；　profane；　and　steeped　in　dishonorable　debt　and　buy　the　pick　and
choice　of　the　millionaires'　daughters　of　America？　　You　an　earl's　son！
Show　me　the　signs。〃

〃I　thank　God　I　am　not　ableif　those　are　the　signs。　　But　yet　I　am　an
earl's　son　and　heir。　　It　is　all　I　can　say。　　I　wish　you　would　believe　me；
but　you　will　not。　　I　know　no　way　to　persuade　you。〃

She　was　about　to　soften　again；　but　his　closing　remark　made　her　bring　her
foot　down　with　smart　vexation；　and　she　cried　out：

〃Oh；　you　drive　all　patience　out　of　me！　　Would　you　have　one　believe　that
you　haven't　your　proofs　at　hand；　and　yet　are　what　you　say　you　are？
You　do　not　put　your　hand　in　your　pocket　nowfor　you　have　nothing　there。
You　make　a　claim　like　this；　and　then　venture　to　travel　without
credentials。　　These　are　simply　incredibilities。　　Don't　you　see　that；
yourself？〃

He　cast　about　in　his　mind　for　a　defence　of　some　kind　or　otherhesitated
a　little；　and　then　said；　with　difficulty　and　diffidence：

〃I　will　tell　you　just　the　truth；　foolish　as　it　will　seem　to　you
to　anybody；　I　supposebut　it　is　the　truth。　　I　had　an　idealcall　it
a　dream；　a　folly；　if　you　willbut　I　wanted　to　renounce　the　privileges
and　unfair　advantages　enjoyed　by　the　nobility　and　wrung　from　the　nation
by　force　and　fraud；　and　purge　myself　of　my　share　of　those　crimes　against
right　and　reason；　by　thenceforth　comrading　with　the　poor　and　humble　on
equal　terms；　earning　with　my　own　hands　the　bread　I　ate；　and　rising　by　my
own　merit　if　I　rose　at　all。〃

The　young　girl　scanned　his　face　narrowly　while　he　spoke；　and　there　was
something　about　his　simplicity　of　manner　and　statement　which　touched　her
touched　her　almost　to　the　danger　point；　but　she　set　her　grip　on　the
yielding　spirit　and　choked　it　to　quiescence；　it　could　not　be　wise　to
surrender　to　compassion　or　any　kind　of　sentiment；　yet；　she　must　ask　one
or　two　more　questions。　　Tracy　was　reading　her　face；　and　what　he　read
there　lifted　his　drooping　hopes　a　little。

〃An　earl's　son　to　do　that！　　Why；　he　were　a　man！　　A　man　to　love！oh；
more；　a　man　to　worship！〃

〃Why？〃

〃But　he　never　lived！　　He　is　not　born；　he　will　not　be　born。　　The　self…
abnegation　that　could　do　thateven　in　utter　folly；　and　hopeless　of
conveying　benefit　to　any；　beyond　the　mere　examplecould　be　mistaken　for
greatness；　why；　it　would　be　greatness　in　this　cold　age　of　sordid　ideals！
A　momentwaitlet　me　finish；　I　have　one　question　more。　　Your　father　is
earl　of　what？〃

〃Rossmoreand　I　am　Viscount　Berkeley！〃

The　fat　was　in　the　fire　again。　　The　girl　felt　so　outraged　that　it　was
difficult　for　her　to　speak。

〃How　can　you　venture　such　a　brazen　thing！　　You　know　that　he　is　dead；
and　you　know　that　I　know　it。　　Oh；　to　rob　the　living　of　name　and　honors
for　a　selfish　and　temporary　advantage　is　crime　enough；　but　to　rob　the
defenceless　deadwhy　it　is　more　than　crime；　it　degrades　crime！〃

〃Oh；　listen　to　mejust　a　worddon't　turn　away　like　that。　　Don't　go
don't　leave　me；　sostay　one　moment。　　On　my　honor〃

〃Oh；　on　your　honor！〃

〃On　my　honor　I　am　what　I　say！　　And　I　will　prove　it；　and　you　will　believe；
I　know　you　will。　　I　will　bring　you　a　messagea　cablegram〃

〃When？〃

〃To…morrow…next　day〃

〃Signed　'Rossmore'？〃

〃Yessigned　Rossmore。〃

〃What　will　that　prove？〃

〃What　will　it　prove？　　What　should　it　prove？〃

〃If　you　force　me　to　say　itpossibly　the　presence　of　a　confederate
somewhere。〃

This　was　a　hard　blow；　and　staggered　him。　　He　said；　dejectedly：

〃It　is　true。　　I　did　not　think　of　it。　　Oh；　my　God；　I　do　not　know　any　way
to　do；　I　do　everything　wrong。　　You　are　going？and　you　won't　say　even
good…nightor　good…bye？　　Ah；　we　have　not　parted　like　this　before。〃

〃Oh；　I　want　to　run　andno；　go；　now。〃　　A　pausethen　she　said；　〃You　may
bring　the　message　when　it　comes。〃

〃Oh；　may　I？　　God　bless　you。〃

He　was　gone；　and　none　too　soon；　her　lips　were　already　quivering；　and　now
she　broke　down。　　Through　her　sobbings　her　words　broke　from　time　to　time。

〃Oh；　he　is　gone。　　I　have　lost　him；　I　shall　never　see　him　any　more。　　And
he　didn't　kiss　me　good…bye；　never　even　offered　to　force　a　kiss　from　me；
and　he　knowing　it　was　the　very；　very　last；　and　I　expecting　he　would；　and
never　dreaming　he　would　treat　me　so　after　all　we　have　been　to　each　other。
Oh；　oh；　oh；　oh；　what　shall　I　do；　what　shall　I　do！　　He　is　a　dear；　poor；
miserable；　good…hearted；　transparent　liar　and　humbug；　but　oh；　I　do　love
him　so！〃　　After　a　little　she　broke　into　speech　again。　　〃How　dear　he　is！
and　I　shall　miss　him　so；　I　shall　miss　him　so！　　Why　won't　he　ever　think　to
forge　a　message　and　fetch　it？but　no；　he　never　will；　he　never　thinks　of
anything；　he's　so　honest　and　simple　it　wouldn't　ever　occur　to　him。
Oh；　what　did　possess　him　to　think　he　could　succeed　as　a　fraudand　he
hasn't　the　first　requisite　except　duplicity　that　I　can　see。　　Oh；　dear；
I'll　go　to　bed　and　give　it　all　up。　　Oh；　I　wish　I　had　told　him　to　come　and
tell　me　whenever　he　didn't　get　any　telegramand　now　it's　all　my　own
fault　if　I　never　see　him　again。　　How　my　eyes　must　look！〃




CHAPTER　XXIV。

Next　day；　sure　enough；　the　cablegram　didn't　come。　　This　was　an　immense
disaster；　for　Tracy　couldn't　go　into　the　presence　without　that　ticket；
although　it　wasn't　going　to　possess　any　value　as　evidence。　　But　if　the
failure　of　the　cablegram　on　that　first　day　may　be　called　an　immense
disaster；　where　is　the　dictionary　that　can　turn　out　a　phrase　sizeable
enough　to　describe　the　tenth　day's　failure？　　Of　course　every　day　that　the
cablegram　didn't　come　made　Tracy　all　of　twenty…four　hours'　more　ashamed
of　himself　than　he　was　the　day　before；　and　made　Sally　fully　twenty…four
hours　more　certain　than　ever　that　he　not　only　hadn't　any　father　anywhere；
but　hadn't　even　a　confederateand　so　it　followed　that　he　was　a　double…
dyed　humbug　and　couldn't　be　otherwise。

These　were　hard　days　for　Barrow　and　the　art　firm。　　All　these　had　their
hands　full；　trying　to　comfort　Tracy。　　Barrow's　task　was　particularly
hard；　because　he　was　made　a　confidant　in　full；　and　therefore　had　to　humor
Tracy's　delusion　that　he　had　a　father；　and　that　the　father　was　an　earl；
and　that　he　was　going　to　send　a　cablegram。　　Barrow　early　gave　up　the　idea
of　trying　to　convince　Tracy　that　he　hadn't　any　father；　because　this　had
such　a　bad　effect　on　the　patient；　and　worked　up　his　temper　to　such　an
alarming　degree。　　He　had　tried；　as　an　experiment；　letting　Tracy　think　he
had　a　father；　the　result　was　so　good　that　he　went　further；　with　proper
caution；　and　tried　letting　him　think　his　father　was　an　earl；　this　wrought
so　well；　that　he　grew　bold；　and　tried　letting　him　think　he　had　two
fathers；　if　he　wanted　to；　but　he　didn't　want　to；　so　Barrow　withdrew　one
of　them　and　substituted　letting　him　think　he　was　going　to　get　a
cablegramwhich　Barrow　judged　he　wouldn't；　and　was　right；　but　Barrow
worked　the　cablegram　daily　for　all　it　was　worth；　and　it　was　the　one　thing
that　kept　Tracy　alive；　that　was　Barrow's　opinion。

And　these　were　bitter　hard　days　for　poor　Sally；　and　mainly　delivered　up
to　private　crying。　　She　kept　her　furniture　pretty　damp；　and　so　caught
cold；　and　the　dampness　and　the　cold　and　the　sorrow　together　undermined
her　appetite；　and　she　was　a　pitiful　enough　object；　poor　thing。　　Her　state
was　bad　enough；　as　per　statement　of　it　above　quoted；　but　all　the　forces
of　nature　and　circumstance　seemed　conspiring　to　make　it　worseand
succeeding。　　For　instance；　the　morning　after　her　dismissal　of　Tracy；
Hawkins　and　Sellers　read　in　the　associated　press　dispatches　that　a　toy
puzzle　called　Pigs　in　the　Clover；　had　come　into　sudden　favor　within　the
past　few　weeks；　and　that　from　the　Atlantic　to　the　Pacific　all　the
populations　of　all　the　States　had　knocked　off　work　to　p