stories of a western town-第17章

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e　voice。　　And　she's　higher　church　than　I　am；　so　she　has　always　wanted　me　to　INTONE。　I　told　her　I'd　look　like　a　fool　intoning；　and　there's　no　mistake　about　it；　I　DO！　　But　she　couldn't　see　it　that　way。　It　was　'most　the　only　point　wherein　we　differed；　and　last　spring；　when　she　was　so　sick；　and　I　didn't　know　but　I'd　lose　her；　it　was　dreadful　to　me　to　think　how　I'd　crossed　her。　　So；　Mr。　Lossing；　when　she　got　well　I　promised　her；　for　a　thank…offering；　I'd　intone。　And　I　have　ever　since。　　My　people　know　me　so　well；　and　we've　been　through　so　much　together；　that　they　didn't　make　any　fuss　though　they　are　not　highfact　is；　I'm　not　high　myself。　But　they　were　kind　and　considerate；　and　I　got　on　pretty　well　at　home；　but　when　I　came　to　rise　up　in　that　great　edifice；　before　that　cultured　and　intellectual　audience；　so　finely　dressed；　it　did　seem　to　me　I　could　NOT　do　it！　　I　was　sorely　tempted　to　break　my　promise。　　I　was；　for　a　fact。〃　　He　drew　a　long　breath。　〃I　just　had　to　pray　for　grace；　or　I　never　would　have　pulled　through。　I　had　the　sermon　my　wife　likes　best　with　me；　but　I　know　it　lacks　it　lacksit　isn't　what　you　need！　　I　was　dreadfully　scared　and　I　felt　miserable　when　I　got　up　to　preach　itand　then　to　think　that　you　werebut　it　is　the　Lord's　doing　and　marvellous　in　our　eyes！　I　don't　know　what　Maggie　will　say　when　I　tell　her　we　can　get　the　window。　The　best　she　hoped　was　I'd　bring　back　enough　so　the　church　could　pay　me　eighteen　dollars　they　owe　on　my　salary。　　And　now　it's　wonderful！　　Why；　Mr。　Lossing；　I've　been　thinking　so　much　and　wanting　so　to　get　that　window　for　her；　that；　hearing　the　dean　wanted　some　car…pentering　done；　I　thought　maybe；　as　I'm　a　fair　carpenter　that　was　my　trade　once；　sirI'd　ask　him　to　let　ME　do　the　job。　I　was　aware　there　is　nothing　in　our　rulesI　mean　our　canons　to　prevent　me；　and　nobody　need　know　I　was　the　rector　of　Matin's　Junction；　because　I　would　come　just　in　my　overalls。　　There　is　a　cheap　place　where　I　could　lodge；　and　I　could　feed　myself　for　almost　nothing；　living　is　so　cheap。　　I　was　praying　about　that；　too。　　Now；　your　noble　generosity　will　enable　me　to　donate　what　they　owe　on　my　salary；　and　get　the　window　too！〃　〃Take　my　advice；〃　said　Harry；　〃donate　nothing。　Say　nothing　about　this　gift；　I　will　take　care　of　the　warden；　and　I　can　answer　for　the　dean。〃　〃Yes；〃　said　the　dean；　〃on　the　whole；　Gilling；　you　would　better　say　nothing；　I　think；　Mr。　Lossing　is　more　afraid　of　a　reputation　for　generosity　than　of　the　small…pox。〃　The　older　man　looked　at　Harry　with　glistening　eyes　of　admiration；　with　what　Christian　virtues　of　humility　he　was　endowing　that　embarrassed　young　man；　it　is　painful　to　imagine。　The　dean's　eyes　twinkled　above　his　handkerchief；　which　hid　his　mouth；　as　he　rose　to　make　his　farewells。　　He　shook　hands；　warmly。　〃God　bless　you；　Harry；〃　said　he。　　Gilling；　too；　wrung　Harry's　hands；　he　was　seeking　some　parting　word　of　gratitude；　but　he　could　only　choke　out；　〃I　hope　you　will　get　MARRIED　some　time；　Mr。　Lossing；　then　you'll　understand。〃　〃Well；〃　said　Harry；　as　the　door　closed；　and　he　flung　out　his　arms　and　his　chest　in　a　huge　sigh；　〃I　do　believe　it　was　better　than　the　puppies！〃

HARRY　LOSSING　THE　note…book　of　Mr。　Horatio　Armorer；　president　of　our　street　railways；　contained　a　page　of　interest　to　some　people　in　our　town；　on　the　occasion　of　his　last　visit。　He　wrote　it　while　the　train　creaked　over　the　river；　and　the　porter　of　his　Pullman　car　was　brushing　all　the　dust　that　had　been　distributed　on　the　passengers'　clothing；　into　the　main　aisle。　If　you　had　seen　him　writing　it　（with　a　stubby　little　pencil　that　he　occasionally　brightened　with　the　tip　of　his　tongue）；　you　would　not　have　dreamed　him　to　be　more　profoundly　disturbed　than　he　had　been　in　years。　Nor　would　the　page　itself　have　much　enlightened　you。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃_See　abt　road　M　D　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　See　L　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　See　E　&　M　tea…set　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　See　abt　L_。〃

Translated　into　long…hand；　this　reads：　　〃See　about　the　street…car　road；　Marston　（the　superintendent）　and　Dane　（the　lawyer）。　See　Lossing；　see　Esther　and　Maggie；　and　remember　about　tea…set。　See　about　Lossing。〃　His　memoranda　written；　he　slipped　the　book　in　his　pocket；　reflecting　cynically；　〃There's　habit！　　I've　no　need　of　writing　that。　It's　not　pleasant　enough　to　forget！〃　Thirty　odd　years　ago；　Horatio　Armorerthey　called　him　'Raish；　then　had　left　the　town　to　seek　his　fortune　in　Chicago。　　It　was　his　daydream　to　wrestle　a　hundred　thousand　dollars　out　of　the　world's　tight　fists；　and　return　to　live　in　pomp　on　Brady　Street　hill！　He　should　drive　a　buggy　with　two　horses；　and　his　wife　should　keep　two　girls。　　Long　ago；　the　hundred　thousand　limit　had　been　reached　and　passed；　next　the　million；　and　still　he　did　not　return。　His　father；　the　Presbyterian　minister；　left　his　parish；　or；　to　be　exact；　was　gently　propelled　out　of　his　parish　by　the　disaffected；　the　family　had　a　new　home；　and　the　son；　struggling　to　help　them　out　of　his　scanty　resources；　went　to　the　new　parish　and　not　to　the　old。　He　grew　rich；　he　established　his　brothers　and　sisters　in　prosperity；　he　erected　costly　monuments　and　a　memorial　church　to　his　parents　（they　were　beyond　any　other　gifts　from　him）；　he　married；　and　lavished　his　money　on　three　daughters；　but　the　home　of　his　youth　neither　saw　him　nor　his　money　until　Margaret　Ellis　bought　a　house　on　Brady　Street；　far　up　town；　where　she　could　have　all　the　grass　that　she　wanted。　Mrs。　Ellis　was　a　widow　and　rich。　　Not　a　millionaire　like　her　brother；　but　the　possessor　of　a　handsome　property。　She　was　the　best…natured　woman　in　the　world；　and　never　guessed　how　hard　her　neighbors　found　it　to　forgive　her　for　always　calling　their　town　of　thirty　thousand　souls；　〃the　country。〃　She　said　that　she　had　pined　for　years　to　live　in　the　country；　and　have　horses；　and　a　Jersey　cow　and　chickens；　and　〃a　neat　pig。〃　All　of　which　modest　cravings　she　gratified　on　her　little　estate；　and　the　gardener　was　often　seen　with　a　scowl　and　the　garden　hose；　keeping　the　pig　neat。　It　was　later　that　Mr。　Armorer　had　bought　the　street　railways；　they　having　had　a　troublous　history　and　being　for　sale　cheap。　Nobody　that　knows　Armorer　as　a　business　man　would　back　his　sentiment　by　so　much　as　an　old　shoe；　yet　it　was　sentiment；　and　not　a　good　bargain；　that　had　enticed　the　financier。　Once　engaged；　the　instincts　of　a　shrewd　trader　prompted　him　to　turn　it　into　a　good　bargain；　anyhow。　　His　fancy　was　pleased　by　a　vision　of　a　return　to　the　home　of　his　childhood　and　his　struggling　youth；　as　a　greater　personage　than　his　hopes　had　ever　dared　promise。　But；　in　the　event；　there　was　little　enough　gratification　for　his　vanity。　Not　since　his　wife's　death　had　he　been　so　harassed　and　anxious；　for　he　came　not　in　order　to　view　his　new　property；　but　because　his　sister　had　written　him　her　suspicions　that　Harry　Lossing　wanted　to　marry　his　youngest　daughter。　Armorer　arrived　in　the　early　dawn。　　Early　as　it　was；　a　handsome　victoria；　with　horses　sleeker　of　skin　and　harness　heavier　and　brighter　than　one　is　used　to　meet　outside　the　great　cities；　had　been　in　waiting　for　twenty　minutes；　while　for　that　space　of　time　a　pretty　girl　had　paced　up　and　down　the　platform。　The　keenest　observer　among　the　crowd；　airing　its　meek　impatience　on　the　platform；　did　not　detect　any　sign　of　anxiety　in　her　behavior。　She　walked　erect；　with　a　step　that　left　a　clean…cut　footprint　in　the　dust；　as　girls　are　trained　to　walk　nowadays。　Her　tailor…made　gown　of　fine　blue　serge　had　not　a　wrinkle。　It　was　so　simple　that　only　a　fashionable　woman　could　guess　anywhere　near　the　awful　sum　total　which　that　plain　skirt；　that　short　jacket；　and　that　severe　waistcoat　had　once　made　on　a　ruled　sheet　of　paper。　When　she　turned　her　face　toward　the　low；　red　station…house　and　the　people；　it　looked　gentle；　and　the　least　in　the　world　sad。　She　had　one　of　those　clear　olive　skins　that　easily　grow　pale；　it　was　pale　to…day。　Her　black　hair　was　fine　as　spun　silk；　the　coil　under　her　hat…brim　shone　as　she　moved。　　The　fine　hair；　the　soft；　transparent　skin；　and　the　beautiful　marking　of　her　brows　were　responsible　for　an　air　of　fragile　daintiness　in　her　person；　just　as　her　almond…shaped；　liquid　dark　eyes　and　unsmiling　mouth　made　her　look　sad。　　It　was　a　most　attractive　face；　in　all　its　moods；　sometimes　it　was　a　beautiful　face；　yet　it　did　not　have　a　single　perfect　feature　except　the　mouth；　whichat　least　so　Harry　Lossing　told　his　mothermight　have　been　stolen　from　the　Venus　of　Milo。　Even　the　mouth；　some　critics　called　too　small　for　her　nose；　but　it　is　as　easy　to　call　her　nose　too　large　for　her　mouth。　The　instant　she　turned　her　back　on　the　bustle　of　the　station；　all　the　lines　in　her　face　seemed　to　waver　and　the　eyes　to　brighten。　Finally；　when　the　train　rolled　up　to　the　platform　and　a　young…looking　elderly　man　swung　himself　nimbly　off　the　steps；　the　color　flared　up　in　her　cheeks；　only　to　sink　as　suddenly；　like　a　candle　flame　in　a　gust　of　wind。　Mr。　Armorer　put　his　two　arms　and　his　umbrella　and　travelling…bag　about　the　charming　shape　in　blue；　at　the　same　time　exclaiming；　〃You're　a　good　girl　to　come　out　so　early；　Essie！　　How's　Aunt　Meg？〃　〃Oh；　very　well。　　She　would　have　come　too；　but　she　hasn't　come　back　from　training。〃　〃Training？〃　〃Yes；　dear；　she　has　a　regular　trainer；　like　John　L。　Sullivan；　you　know。　She　drives　out　to　the　park　with　Eliza　and　me；　and　walks　and　runs　races；　and　does　gymnastics。　　She　has　lost　ten　pounds。〃　Armorer　wagged　his　head　with　a　grin：　　〃I　dare　say。　　I　thought　so　when　you　began。　　Meg　is　always　moaning　and　groaning　because　she　isn't　a　sylph！　She　will　make　her　cook's　life　a　burden　for　about　two　months　and　lose　ten　pounds；　and　then　she　will　revel　in　ice…cream！　　Last　time；　she　was　raving　about　Dr。　Salisbury　and　living　on　beefsteak　sausages；　spending　a　fortune　starving　herself。〃　〃She　had　Dr。　Salisbury's　pamphlet；　but　Cardigan　told　her　it　was　a　long　way　out；　so　she　said　she　hated　to　have　it　do　no　one　any　good；　and　she　gave　it　to　Maria；　one　of　the　maids；　who　is　always　fretting　because　she　is　so　thin。〃　〃But　the　thing　was　to　cure　fat　people！〃　〃Precisely。〃　Esther　laughed　a　little　low　laugh；　at　which　her　father's　eyes　shone；　〃but　you　see　she　told　Maria　to　exactly　reverse　the　advice　and　eat　everything　that　was　injurious　to　stout　people；　and　it　would　be　just　right　for　her。〃　〃I　perceive；〃　said　Armorer；　dryly；　〃very　ingenious　and　feminine　scheme。　But　who　is　Cardigan？〃　〃Shuey　Cardigan？　　He　is　the　trainer。　　He　is　a　fireman　in　a　furniture　shop；　now；　but　he　used　to　be　the　boxing　teacher　for　some　Harvard　men；　and　he　was　a　distinguished　pugilist；　once。　He　said　to　me；　modestly；　'I　don't　suppose　you　will　have　seen　my　name　in　the　_Police　Gazette_；　miss？'　　But　he　really　is　a　very　sober；　decent　man；　notwithstanding。〃　〃Your　Aunt　Meg　always　was　picking　up　queer　birds！　　Pray；　who　introduced　this　decent　pugilist？〃　Esther　was　getting　into　the　carriage；　her　face　was　turned　from　him；　but　he　could　see　the　pink　deepen　in　her　ear　and　the　oval　of　her　cheek。　She　answered　that　it　was　a　friend　of　theirs；　Mr。　Lossing。　　As　if　the　name　had　struck　them　both　dumb；　neither　spoke　for　a　few　moments。　Armorer　bit　a　sigh　in　two。　　〃Essie；〃　said　he；　〃I　guess　it　is　no　use　to　side…track　the　subject。　　You　know　why　I　came　here；　don't　you？〃　〃Aunt　Meg　told　me　what　she　wrote　to　you。〃　〃I　knew　she　would。　　She　had　compunctions　of　conscience　letting　him　hang　round　you；　until　she　told　me；　and　then　she　had　awful　gripes　because　she　had　told；　and　ha