the american claimant-第30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！


populations　of　all　the　States　had　knocked　off　work　to　play　with　it；
and　that　the　business　of　the　country　had　now　come　to　a　standstill　by
consequence；　that　judges；　lawyers；　burglars；　parsons；　thieves；　merchants；
mechanics；　murderers；　women；　children；　babieseverybody；　indeed；　could
be　seen　from　morning　till　midnight；　absorbed　in　one　deep　project　and
purpose；　and　only　oneto　pen　those　pigs；　work　out　that　puzzle
successfully；　that　all　gayety；　all　cheerfulness　had　departed　from　the
nation；　and　in　its　place　care；　preoccupation　and　anxiety　sat　upon　every
countenance；　and　all　faces　were　drawn；　distressed；　and　furrowed　with　the
signs　of　age　and　trouble；　and　marked　with　the　still　sadder　signs　of
mental　decay　and　incipient　madness；　that　factories　were　at　work　night　and
day　in　eight　cities；　and　yet　to　supply　the　demand　for　the　puzzle　was　thus
far　impossible。　　Hawkins　was　wild　with　joy；　but　Sellers　was　calm。　　Small
matters　could　not　disturb　his　serenity。　　He　said

〃That's　just　the　way　things　go。　　A　man　invents　a　thing　which　could
revolutionize　the　arts；　produce　mountains　of　money；　and　bless　the　earth；
and　who　will　bother　with　it　or　show　any　interest　in　it？　and　so　you　are
just　as　poor　as　you　were　before。　　But　you　invent　some　worthless　thing　to
amuse　yourself　with；　and　would　throw　it　away　if　let　alone；　and　all　of　a
sudden　the　whole　world　makes　a　snatch　for　it　and　out　crops　a　fortune。
Hunt　up　that　Yankee　and　collect；　Hawkins　half　is　yours；　you　know。
Leave　me　to　potter　at　my　lecture。〃

This　was　a　temperance　lecture。　　Sellers　was　head　chief　in　the　Temperance
camp；　and　had　lectured；　now　and　then　in　that　interest；　but　had　been
dissatisfied　with　his　efforts；　wherefore　he　was　now　about　to　try　a　new
plan。　　After　much　thought　he　had　concluded　that　a　main　reason　why　his
lectures　lacked　fire　or　something；　was；　that　they　were　too　transparently
amateurish；　that　is　to　say；　it　was　probably　too　plainly　perceptible　that
the　lecturer　was　trying　to　tell　people　about　the　horrid　effects　of　liquor
when　he　didn't　really　know　anything　about　those　effects　except　from
hearsay；　since　he　had　hardly　ever　tasted　an　intoxicant　in　his　life。
His　scheme；　now；　was　to　prepare　himself　to　speak　from　bitter　experience。
Hawkins　was　to　stand　by　with　the　bottle；　calculate　the　doses；　watch　the
effects；　make　notes　of　results；　and　otherwise　assist　in　the　preparation。
Time　was　short；　for　the　ladies　would　be　along　about　noonthat　is　to　say；
the　temperance　organization　called　the　Daughters　of　Siloamand　Sellers
must　be　ready　to　head　the　procession。

The　time　kept　slipping　along…Hawkins　did　not　returnSellers　could　not
venture　to　wait　longer；　so　he　attacked　the　bottle　himself；　and　proceeded
to　note　the　effects。　　Hawkins　got　back　at　last；　took　one　comprehensive
glance　at　the　lecturer；　and　went　down　and　headed　off　the　procession。
The　ladies　were　grieved　to　hear　that　the　champion　had　been　taken　suddenly
ill　and　violently　so；　but　glad　to　hear　that　it　was　hoped　he　would　be　out
again　in　a　few　days。

As　it　turned　out；　the　old　gentleman　didn't　turn　over　or　show　any　signs　of
life　worth　speaking　of　for　twenty…four　hours。　　Then　he　asked　after　the
procession；　and　learned　what　had　happened　about　it。　　He　was　sorry；　said
he　had　been　〃fixed〃　for　it。　　He　remained　abed　several　days；　and　his　wife
and　daughter　took　turns　in　sitting　with　him　and　ministering　to　his　wants。
Often　he　patted　Sally's　head　and　tried　to　comfort　her。

〃Don't　cry；　my　child；　don't　cry　so；　you　know　your　old　father　did　it　by
mistake　and　didn't　mean　a　bit　of　harm；　you　know　he　wouldn't　intentionally
do　anything　to　make　you　ashamed　for　the　world；　you　know　he　was　trying　to
do　good　and　only　made　the　mistake　through　ignorance；　not　knowing　the
right　doses　and　Washington　not　there　to　help。　　Don't　cry　so；　dear；　it
breaks　my　old　heart　to　see　you；　and　think　I've　brought　this　humiliation
on　you　and　you　so　dear　to　me　and　so　good。　　I　won't　ever　do　it　again；
indeed　I　won't；　now　be　comforted；　honey；　that's　a　good　child。〃

But　when　she　wasn't　on　duty　at　the　bedside　the　crying　went　on　just　the
same；　then　the　mother　would　try　to　comfort　her；　and　say：

〃Don't　cry；　dear；　he　never　meant　any　harm；　it　was　all　one　of　those
happens　that　you　can't　guard　against　when　you　are　trying　experiments；
that　way。　　You　see　I　don't　cry。　　It's　because　I　know　him　so　well。
I　could　never　look　anybody　in　the　face　again　if　he　had　got　into　such　an
amazing　condition　as　that　a…purpose；　but　bless　you　his　intention　was；
pure　and　high；　and　that　makes　the　act　pure；　though　it　was　higher　than　was
necessary。　　We're　not　humiliated；　dear；　he　did　it　under　a　noble　impulse
and　we　don't　need　to　be　ashamed。　　There；　don't　cry　any　more；　honey。〃

Thus；　the　old　gentleman　was　useful　to　Sally；　during　several　days；　as　an
explanation　of　her　tearfulness。　　She　felt　thankful　to　him　for　the　shelter
he　was　affording　her；　but　often　said　to　herself；　〃It's　a　shame　to　let　him
see　in　my　cryings　a　reproachas　if　he　could　ever　do　anything　that　could
make　me　reproach　him！　　But　I　can't　confess；　I've　got　to　go　on　using　him
for　a　pretext；　he's　the　only　one　I've　got　in　the　world；　and　I　do　need　one
so　much。〃

As　soon　as　Sellers　was　out　again；　and　found　that　stacks　of　money　had　been
placed　in　bank　for　him　and　Hawkins　by　the　Yankee；　he　said；　〃Now　we'll
soon　see　who's　the　Claimant　and　who's　the　Authentic。　　I'll　just　go　over
there　and　warm　up　that　House　of　Lords。〃　　During　the　next　few　days　he　and
his　wife　were　so　busy　with　preparations　for　the　voyage　that　Sally　had　all
the　privacy　she　needed；　and　all　the　chance　to　cry　that　was　good　for　her。
Then　the　old　pair　left　for　New　Yorkand　England。

Sally　had　also　had　a　chance　to　do　another　thing。　　That　was；　to　make　up
her　mind　that　life　was　not　worth　living　upon　the　present　terms。　　If　she
must　give　up　her　impostor　and　die；　doubtless　she　must　submit；　but　might
she　not　lay　her　whole　case　before　some　disinterested　person；　first；　and
see　if　there　wasn't　perhaps　some　saving　way　out　of　the　matter？　　She
turned　this　idea　over　in　her　mind　a　good　deal。　　In　her　first　visit　with
Hawkins　after　her　parents　were　gone；　the　talk　fell　upon　Tracy；　and　she
was　impelled　to　set　her　case　before　the　statesman　and　take　his　counsel。
So　she　poured　out　her　heart；　and　he　listened　with　painful　solicitude。
She　concluded；　pleadingly；　with

〃Don't　tell　me　he　is　an　impostor。　　I　suppose　he　is；　but　doesn't　it　look
to　you　as　if　he　isn't？　　You　are　cool；　you　know；　and　outside；　and　so；
maybe　it　can　look　to　you　as　if　he　isn't　one；　when　it　can't　to　me。
Doesn't　it　look　to　you　as　if　he　isn't？　　Couldn't　youcan't　it　look　to
you　that　wayforfor　my　sake？〃

The　poor　man　was　troubled；　but　he　felt　obliged　to　keep　in　the
neighborhood　of　the　truth。　　He　fought　around　the　present　detail　a　little
while；　then　gave　it　up　and　said　he　couldn't　really　see　his　way　to
clearing　Tracy。

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃the　truth　is；　he's　an　impostor。〃

〃That　is；　youyou　feel　a　little　certain；　but　not　entirelyoh；　not
entirely；　Mr。　Hawkins！〃

〃It's　a　pity　to　have　to　say　itI　do　hate　to　say　it；　but　I　don't　think
anything　about　it；　I　know　he's　an　impostor。〃

〃Oh；　now；　Mr。　　Hawkins；　you　can't　go　that　far。　　A　body　can't　really　know
it；　you　know。　　It　isn't　proved　that　he's　not　what　he　says　he　is。〃

Should　he　come　out　and　make　a　clean　breast　of　the　whole　wretched
business？　　Yesat　least　the　most　of　itit　ought　to　be　done。　　So　he　set
his　teeth　and　went　at　the　matter　with　determination；　but　purposing　to
spare　the　girl　one　pain…that　of　knowing　that　Tracy　was　a　criminal。

〃Now　I　am　going　to　tell　you　a　plain　tale；　one　not　pleasant　for　me　to　tell
or　for　you　to　hear；　but　we've　got　to　stand　it。　　I　know　all　about　that
fellow；　and　I　know　he　is　no　earl's　son。〃

The　girl's　eyes　flashed；　and　she　said：

〃I　don't　care　a　snap　for　that…go　on！〃

This　was　so　wholly　unexpected　that　it　at　once　obstructed　the　narrative；
Hawkins　was　not　even　sure　that　he　had　heard　aright。　　He　said：

〃I　don't　know　that　I　quite　understand。　　Do　you　mean　to　say　that　if　he　was
all　right　and　proper　otherwise　you'd　be　indifferent　about　the　earl　part
of　the　business？〃

〃Absolutely。〃

〃You'd　be　entirely　satisfied　with　him　and　wouldn't　care　for　his　not　being
an　earl's　son；that　being　an　earl's　son　wouldn't　add　any　value　to　him？〃

〃Not　the　least　value　that　I　would　care　for。　　Why；　Mr。　　Hawkins；　I've
gotten　over　all　that　day…dreaming　about　earldoms　and　aristocracies　and
all　such　nonsense　and　am　become　just　a　plain　ordinary　nobody　and　content
with　it；　and　it　is　to　him　I　owe　my　cure。　　And　as　to　anything　being　able
to　add　a　value　to　him；　nothing　can　do　that。　　He　is　the　whole　world　to　me；
just　as　he　is；　he　comprehends　all　the　values　there　arethen　how　can　you
add　one？〃

〃She's　pretty　far　gone。〃　　He　said　that　to　himself。　　He　continued；　still
to　himself；　〃I　must　change　my　plan　again；　I　can't　seem　to　strike　one　that
will　stand　the　requirements　of　this　most　variegated　emergency　five
minutes　on　a　stretch。　　Without　making　this　fellow　a　criminal；　I　believe
I　will　invent　a　name　and　a　character　for　him　calculated　to　disenchant
her。　　If　it　fails　to　do　it；　then　I'll　know　that　the　next　rightest　thing
to　do　will　be　to　help　her　to　her　fate；　poor　thing；　not　hinder　her。〃
Then　he　said　aloud：

〃Well；　Gwendolen〃

〃I　want　to　be　called　Sally。〃

〃I'm　glad　of　it；　I　like　it　better；　myself。　　Well；　then；　I'll　tell　you
about　this　man　Snodgrass。〃

〃Snodgrass！　　Is　that　his　name？〃

〃YesSnodgrass。　　The　other's　his　nom　de　plume。〃

〃It's　hideous！〃

〃I　know　it　is；　but　we　can't　help　our　names。〃

〃And　that　is　truly　his　real　nameand　not　Howard　Tracy？〃

Hawkins　answered；　regretfully：

〃Yes；　it　seems　a　pity。〃

The　girl　sampled　the　name　musingly；　once　or　twice

〃Snodgrass。　　Snodgrass。　　No；　I　could　not　endure　that。　　I　could　not　get
used　to　it。　　No；　I　should　call　him　by　his　first　name。　　What　is　his　first
name？〃

〃Hiserhis　initials　are　S。　M。〃

〃His　initials？　　I　don't　care　anything　about　his　initials。　　I　can't　call
him　by　his　initials。　　What　do　they　stand　for？〃

〃Well；　you　see；　his　father　was　a　physician；　and　hehewell　he　was　an
idolater　of　his　profession；　and　hewell；　he　was　a　very　eccentric　man；
and〃

〃What　do　they　stand　for！　　What　are　you　shuffling　about？〃

〃They…well　they　stand　for　Spinal　Meningitis。　　His　father　being　a　phy〃

〃I　never　heard　such　an　infamous　name！　　Nobody　can　ever　call　a　person
thata　person　they　love。　　I　wouldn't　call　an　enemy　by　such　a　name。
It　sounds　like　an　epithet。〃　　After　a　moment；　she　added　with　a　kind　of
consternation；　〃Why；　it　would　be　my　name！　　Letters　would　come　with　it
on。〃

〃YesMrs。　Spinal　Meningitis　Snodgrass。〃

〃Don't　repeat　itdon't；　I　can't　bear　it。　　Was　the　father　a　lunatic？〃

〃No；　that　is　not　charged。〃

〃I　am　glad　of　that；　because　that　is　transmissible。　　What　do　you　think　was
the　matter　with　him；　then？〃

〃Well；　I　don't　really　know。　　The　family　used　to　run　a　good　deal　to
idiots；　and　so；　maybe〃

〃Oh；　there　isn't　any　maybe　about　it。　　This　one　was　an　idiot。〃

〃Well；　yeshe　could　have　been。　　He　was　suspected。〃

〃Suspected！〃　said　Sally；　with　irritation。　　〃Would　one　suspect　there　was
going　to　be　a　dark　time　if　he　saw　the　constellations　fall　out　of　the　sky？
But　that　is　enough　about　the　idiot；　I　don't　take　any　interest　in　idiots；
tell　me　about　the　son。〃