the vision spendid(美景)-第14部分
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explain that he was not angry or disappointed at her。 But somehow he
found her in his arms instead； supple and warm； vital youth flowing in the
soft cheeks' rich coloring and in the eyes quick and passionate with the
tender abandon of her sex。
He set his teeth against the rush of desire that flooded him as her soft
body clung to his。 The emotional climax he had vaguely feared had leaped
upon them like an uncaged tiger。 He fought to stamp down the fires that
blazed up in him。 Time to thinkhe must have time to think。
〃You don't despise me then；〃 she cried softly； a little catch in her
breath。
〃No；〃 he protested； and again 〃No。〃
〃But you think I've done wrong。〃
〃No。 I've been to blame。 You're a dear girland I've abused your
kindness。 I must go awaynow。〃
〃Then youyou do hate me；〃 she accused with a quivering lip。
〃No 。 。 。 no。 I'm very fond of you。〃
〃But you're going to leave me。 It's because I've done wrong。〃
〃Don't blame yourself； dear。 It has been all my fault。 I ought to have
known。〃
Her hands fell from him。 The life seemed to die out of her whole
figure。 〃You do despise me。〃
Desire of her throbbed through him； but he spoke very quietly。 〃Listen；
dear。 There is nobody I respect more 。 。 。 and none I like so much。 I can't
tell you how。 。 。 fond of you I am。 But I must go now。 You don't
understand。〃
She bit her lip to repress the sobs that would come and turned away to
hide her shame。 Jeff caught her in his arms； kissed her passionately on the
lips； the eyes； the soft round throat。
〃You do 。 。 。 like me；〃 she purred happily。
Abruptly he pushed her from him。 Where were they drifting？ He must
get his anchors down before it was too late。
Somehow he broke away； leaving her there hurt and bewildered at his
apparent fickleness； at the stiffness with which he had beaten back the
sweet delight inviting them。
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Jeff went to his rooms； his mind in a blind chaotic surge。 He sat before
the table for hours； fighting grimly to persuade himself he need not put
away this joy that had come to him。 Surely friendship was a good thing 。 。 。
and love。 A man ought not to turn his back on them。
It was long past midnight when he rose； took his father's sword from
the wall where it hung； and unsheathed it。 A vision of an open fireplace in
a log house rose before him； his father in the foreground looking like a
picture of Stonewall Jackson。 The kind brave eyes that were the soul of
honor gazed at him。
〃You damned scoundrel！ You damned scoundrel！〃 Jeff accused himself
in a low voice。
He knew his little friend was good and innocent； but he knew too she
had inherited a temperament that made her very innocence a anger to her。
Every instinct of chivalry called upon him to protect her from the
weakness she did not even guess。 She had given him her kindness and her
friendship； the dear child！ It was up to him to be worthy of them。 If he
failed her he would be a creature forever lost to decency。
There was a sob in his throat as Jeff pushed the blade back into the
worn scabbard and rehung the sword upon the wall。 But the eyes in his
lifted face were very bright。 He too would keep his sword unstained and
the flag of honor flying。
All through the next day and the next his resolution held。 He took
pains not to see her alone； though there was not an hour of the day when
he could get away from the thought of her。 The uneasy consciousness was
with him that the issue was after all only postponed； that decisions of this
kind must be made again and again so long as opportunity and desire go
together。 And there were moments of reaction when his will was like a
rope of sand； when the longing for her swept over him like a great wave。
As Jeff slipped quietly into the hall the door of her room opened。 Their
eyes met； and presently hers fell。 She was troubled and ashamed at what
she had done； but plainly eager in her innocence to be forgiven。
Jeff spoke gently。 〃Nellie。〃
Her eyes suddenly filled with tears。 〃Aren't we ever going to be friends
again？〃
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Through the open door he could see the fire glowing in the grate and
the chocolate set on the little table。 He knew she had prepared for his
coming and how greatly she would be hurt if he rejected her advances。
〃Of course we're friends。〃
〃Then you'll come in； just for a few minutes。〃
He hesitated。
〃Please；〃 she whispered。 〃Or I'll know you don't like me any more。〃
Jeff followed her into the room and closed the door behind him。
PART 2
Two days before the election Big Tim's detective wired from Shelby；
Tennessee； the outline of a story that got two front page columns in both
the _Advocate_ and the _Herald。_ Jefferson Davis Farnum was the son of
a thief； of a rebel soldier who had spent seven years in the penitentiary for
looting the bank of which he was cashier。 In addition to featuring the news
story both papers handled the subject at length in their editorial columns。
They wanted to know whether the people of this beautiful state were
willing to hand over the Commonwealth to be plundered by the reckless
gang of which this son of a criminal was the head。
The paper reached Jeff at his rooms in the morning。 He had lately
taken the apartments formerly occupied by his cousin； James moving to
Mrs。 Anderson's until after the election。 The exchange had been made at
the suggestion of the editor； who gave as a reason that he wanted to be
close to his work until the winter was past。 It happened that James was just
now very glad to get a cheaper place。 He was very short of funds and until
after the election had no time for social functions。 All he needed with a
room was to sleep in it。
Jeff was still reading the story from Shelby when his cousin came in
hurriedly。 James was excited and very white。
〃My God； Jeff！ It's come at last。 I knew it would ruin me some day；〃
the lawyer cried； after he had carefully closed the door of the bedroom。
〃It won't ruin you； James。 Your name isn't mentioned yet。 Perhaps it
may not be。 It can't hurt you； even if it is。〃
〃I tell you it will ruin me both socially and politically。 Once it gets out
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nobody will trust me。 I'll be the son of a thief；〃 James insisted wildly。
〃You're the son of a man who made a slip and has paid for it；〃
answered Jeff steadily。 〃Don't let your ideas get warped。 This town is full
of men who have done wrong and haven't paid for it。〃
〃That's one of your fool socialist theories。〃 James spoke sharply and
irritably。 〃No man's guilty till the law says so。 They haven't been in the
penitentiary。 He has。 That's what damns me if it gets out。〃
Jeff laid a hand affectionately on his cousin's shoulder。 〃Don't you
believe it for a moment。 There's no moral distinction between the man
who has paid and the man who hasn't paid for his sins toward society。
There is good and there is bad in all of us； closely intertwined； knit
together into the very warp and woof of our lives。 We're all good and we're
all bad。〃
It was with James a purely personal equation。 He could not forget its
relation to himself。
〃My name is to be voted on at the University Club next month。 I'll be
blackballed to a dead certainty；〃 he said miserably。
〃Probably； if the story gets out。 It's tough； I know。〃 Jeff's eyes gleamed
angrily。 〃And why should they？ You're just as good a man to…day as you
were yesterday。 But there's nothing so fettering； so despicable as good
form。 It blights。 Let a man bow down to the dead hand of custom and he
can never again be true to what he thinks and knows。 His judgment gets
warped。 Soon Madame Grundy does his thinking for him； along well…
grooved lines。〃
〃Oh； well！ That's just talk。 What am I to do？〃 James broke out
nervously。
〃I know what I would do in your case。〃
〃What？〃
〃Come out with a short statement telling the exact facts。 I'd make no
apologies or long explanation。 Just the plain story as simply as you can。〃
〃Well； I'll not；〃 the lawyer broke out。 〃Easy enough for you to say
what I ought to do。 Look at who my friends arethe Fromes and the
Merrills and the Gilmans。 Best set in town。 I strained a point when I broke
loose from them to take up this progressive fight。 They'd cut me dead if a
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story like this came out。〃
〃I daresay。 Communities
