roads of destiny-第32部分

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t　and　tan　shoes。

〃'Yes；'　says　I　to　myself；　'I　see　it　now。　You're　the　Chief　de　Policeos　and　High　Lord　Chamberlain　of　the　Calaboosum；　and　you　want　Billy　Casparis　for　excess　of　patriotism　and　assault　with　intent。　All　right。　Might　as　well　be　in　jail；　anyhow。'

〃But　it　seems　that　General　Mary　is　smiling；　and　the　bay　man　shakes　my　hand；　and　speaks　in　the　American　dialect。

〃'General　Dingo　has　informed　me；　Senor　Casparis；　of　your　gallant　service　in　our　cause。　I　desire　to　thank　you　with　my　person。　The　bravery　of　you　and　the　other　senores　Americanos　turned　the　struggle　for　liberty　in　our　favour。　Our　party　triumphed。　The　terrible　battle　will　live　forever　in　history。

〃'Battle？'　says　I；　'what　battle？'　and　I　ran　my　mind　back　along　history；　trying　to　think。

〃'Senor　Casparis　is　modest；'　says　General　Dingo。　'He　led　his　brave　compadres　into　the　thickest　of　the　fearful　conflict。　Yes。　Without　their　aid　the　revolution　would　have　failed。'

〃'Why；　now；'　says　I；　'don't　tell　me　there　was　a　revolution　yesterday。　That　was　only　a　Fourth　of'

〃But　right　there　I　abbreviated。　It　seemed　to　me　it　might　be　best。

〃'After　the　terrible　struggle；'　says　the　bay　man；　'President　Bolano　was　forced　to　fly。　To…day　Caballo　is　President　by　proclamation。　Ah；　yes。　Beneath　the　new　administration　I　am　the　head　of　the　Department　of　Mercantile　Concessions。　On　my　file　I　find　one　report；　Senor　Casparis；　that　you　have　not　made　ice　in　accord　with　your　contract。'　And　here　the　bay　man　smiles　at　me；　'cute。

〃'Oh；　well；'　says　I；　'I　guess　the　report's　straight。　I　know　they　caught　me。　That's　all　there　is　to　it。'

〃'Do　not　say　so；'　says　the　bay　man。　He　pulls　off　a　glove　and　goes　over　and　lays　his　hand　on　that　chunk　of　glass。

〃'Ice；'　says　he；　nodding　his　head；　solemn。

〃General　Dingo　also　steps　over　and　feels　of　it。

〃'Ice；'　says　the　General；　'I'll　swear　to　it。'

〃'If　Senor　Casparis；'　says　the　bay　man；　'will　present　himself　to　the　treasury　on　the　sixth　day　of　this　month　he　will　receive　back　the　thousand　dollars　he　did　deposit　as　a　forfeit。　Adios；　senor。'

〃The　General　and　the　bay　man　bowed　themselves　out；　and　I　bowed　as　often　as　they　did。

〃And　when　the　carriage　rolls　away　through　the　sand　I　bows　once　more；　deeper　than　ever；　till　my　hat　touches　the　ground。　But　this　time　'twas　not　intended　for　them。　For；　over　their　heads；　I　saw　the　old　flag　fluttering　in　the　breeze　above　the　consul's　roof；　and　'twas　to　it　I　made　my　profoundest　salute。〃



XIV

THE　EMANCIPATION　OF　BILLY

In　the　old；　old；　square…porticoed　mansion；　with　the　wry　window…　shutters　and　the　paint　peeling　off　in　discoloured　flakes；　lived　one　of　the　last　war　governors。

The　South　has　forgotten　the　enmity　of　the　great　conflict；　but　it　refuses　to　abandon　its　old　traditions　and　idols。　In　〃Governor〃　Pemberton；　as　he　was　still　fondly　called；　the　inhabitants　of　Elmville　saw　the　relic　of　their　state's　ancient　greatness　and　glory。　In　his　day　he　had　been　a　man　large　in　the　eye　of　his　country。　His　state　had　pressed　upon　him　every　honour　within　its　gift。　And　now　when　he　was　old；　and　enjoying　a　richly　merited　repose　outside　the　swift　current　of　public　affairs；　his　townsmen　loved　to　do　him　reverence　for　the　sake　of　the　past。

The　Governor's　decaying　〃mansion〃　stood　upon　the　main　street　of　Elmville　within　a　few　feet　of　its　rickety　paling…fence。　Every　morning　the　Governor　would　descend　the　steps　with　extreme　care　and　deliberationon　account　of　his　rheumatismand　then　the　click　of　his　gold…headed　cane　would　be　heard　as　he　slowly　proceeded　up　the　rugged　brick　sidewalk。　He　was　now　nearly　seventy…eight；　but　he　had　grown　old　gracefully　and　beautifully。　His　rather　long；　smooth　hair　and　flowing；　parted　whiskers　were　snow…white。　His　full…skirted　frock…croak　was　always　buttoned　snugly　about　his　tall；　spare　figure。　He　wore　a　high；　well…kept　silk　hatknown　as　a　〃plug〃　in　Elmvilleand　nearly　always　gloves。　His　manners　were　punctilious；　and　somewhat　overcharged　with　courtesy。

The　Governor's　walks　up　Lee　Avenue；　the　principal　street；　developed　in　their　course　into　a　sort　of　memorial；　triumphant　procession。　Everyone　he　met　saluted　him　with　profound　respect。　Many　would　remove　their　hats。　Those　who　were　honoured　with　his　personal　friendship　would　pause　to　shake　hands；　and　then　you　would　see　exemplified　the　genuine　/beau　ideal/　Southern　courtesy。

Upon　reaching　the　corner　of　the　second　square　from　the　mansion；　the　Governor　would　pause。　Another　street　crossed　the　venue　there；　and　traffic；　to　the　extent　of　several　farmers'　wagons　and　a　peddler's　cart　or　two；　would　rage　about　the　junction。　Then　the　falcon　eye　of　General　Deffenbaugh　would　perceive　the　situation；　and　the　General　would　hasten；　with　ponderous　solicitude；　from　his　office　in　the　First　National　Bank　building　to　the　assistance　of　his　old　friend。

When　the　two　exchanged　greetings　the　decay　of　modern　manners　would　become　accusingly　apparent。　The　General's　bulky　and　commanding　figure　would　bend　lissomely　at　a　point　where　you　would　have　regarded　its　ability　to　do　so　with　incredulity。　The　Governor　would　take　the　General's　arm　and　be　piloted　safely　between　the　hay…wagons　and　the　sprinkling…cart　to　the　other　side　of　the　street。　Proceeding　to　the　post…office　in　the　care　of　his　friend；　the　esteemed　statesmen　would　there　hold　an　informal　levee　among　the　citizens　who　were　come　for　their　morning　mail。　Here；　gathering　two　or　three　prominent　in　law；　politics；　or　family；　the　pageant　would　make　a　stately　progress　along　the　Avenue；　stopping　at　the　Palace　Hotel；　where；　perhaps；　would　be　found　upon　the　register　the　name　of　some　guest　deemed　worthy　of　an　introduction　to　the　state's　venerable　and　illustrious　son。　If　any　such　were　found；　an　hour　or　two　would　be　spent　in　recalling　the　faded　glories　of　the　Governor's　long…vanished　administration。

On　the　return　march　the　General　would　invariably　suggest　that；　His　Excellency　being　no　doubt　fatigued；　it　would　be　wise　to　recuperate　for　a　few　minutes　at　the　Drug　Emporium　of　Mr。　Appleby　R。　Fentress　（an　elegant　gentleman；　sirone　of　the　Chatham　County　Fentressesso　many　of　our　best…blooded　families　have　had　to　go　into　trade；　sir；　since　the　war）。

Mr。　Appleby　R。　Fentress　was　a　/connoisseur/　in　fatigue。　Indeed；　if　he　had　not　been；　his　memory　alone　should　have　enabled　him　to　prescribe；　for　the　majestic　invasion　of　his　pharmacy　was　a　casual　happening　that　had　surprised　him　almost　daily　for　years。　Mr。　Fentress　knew　the　formula　of；　and　possessed　the　skill　to　compound；　a　certain　potion　antagonistic　to　fatigue；　the　salient　ingredient　of　which　he　described　（no　doubt　in　pharmaceutical　terms）　as　〃genuine　old　hand…made　Clover　Leaf　'59；　Private　Stock。〃

Nor　did　the　ceremony　of　administering　the　potion　ever　vary。　Mr。　Fentress　would　first　compound　two　of　the　celebrated　mixturesone　for　the　Governor；　and　the　other　for　the　General　to　〃sample。〃　Then　the　Governor　would　make　this　little　speech　in　his　high；　piping；　quavering　voice：

〃No；　sirnot　one　drop　until　you　have　prepared　one　for　yourself　and　join　us；　Mr。　Fentress。　Your　father；　sir；　was　one　of　my　most　valued　supporters　and　friends　during　My　Administration；　and　any　mark　of　esteem　I　can　confer　upon　his　son　is　not　only　a　pleasure　but　a　duty；　sir。〃

Blushing　with　delight　at　the　royal　condescension；　the　druggist　would　obey；　and　all　would　drink　to　the　General's　toast：　〃The　prosperity　of　our　grand　old　state；　gentlementhe　memory　of　her　glorious　pastthe　health　of　her　Favourite　Son。〃

Some　one　of　the　Old　Guard　was　always　at　hand　to　escort　the　Governor　home。　Sometimes　the　General's　business　duties　denied　him　the　privilege；　and　then　Judge　Broomfield　or　Colonel　Titus；　or　one　of　the　Ashford　County　Slaughters　would　be　on　hand　to　perform　the　rite。

Such　were　the　observances　attendant　upon　the　Governor's　morning　stroll　to　the　post…office。　How　much　more　magnificent；　impressive；　and　spectacular；　then；　was　the　scene　at　public　functions　when　the　General　would　lead　forth　the　silver…haired　relic　of　former　greatness；　like　some　rare　and　fragile　waxwork　figure；　and　trumpet　his　pristine　eminence　to　his　fellow　citizens！

General　Deffenbaugh　was　the　Voice　of　Elmville。　Some　said　he　was　Elmville。　At　any　rate；　he　had　no　competitor　as　the　Mouthpiece。　He　owned　enough　stock　in　the　/Daily　Banner/　to　dictate　its　utterance；　enough　shares　in　the　First　National　Bank　to　be　the　referee　of　its　loans；　and　a　war　record　that　left　him　without　a　rival　for　first　place　at　barbecues；　school　commencements；　and　Decoration　Days。　Besides　these　acquirements　he　was　possessed　with　endowments。　His　personality　was　inspiring　and　triumphant。　Undisputed　sway　had　moulded　him　to　the　likeness　of　a　fatted　Roman　emperor。　The　tones　of　his　voice　were　not　otherwise　than　clarion。　To　say　that　the　General　was　public…spirited　would　fall　short　of　doing　him　justice。　He　had　spirit　enough　for　a　dozen　publics。　And　as　a　sure　foundation　for　it　all；　he　had　a　heart　that　was　big　and　stanch。　Yes；　General　Deffenbaugh　was　Elmville。

One　little　incident　that　usually　occurred　during　the　Governor's　morning　walk　has　had　its　chronicling　delayed　by　more　important　matters。　The　procession　was　accustomed　to　halt　before　a　small　brick　office　on　the　Avenue；　fronted　by　a　short　flight　of　steep　wooden　steps。　A　modest　tin　sign　over　the　door　bore　the　words：　〃Wm。　B。　Pemberton：　Attorney…at…Law。〃

Looking　inside；　the　General　would　roar：　〃Hello；　Billy；　my　boy。〃　The　less　distinguished　members　of　the　escort　would　call：　〃Morning；　Billy。〃　The　Governor　would　pipe：　〃Good　morning；　William。〃

Then　a　patient…looking　little　man　with　hair　turning　gray　along　the　temples　would　come　down　the　steps　and　shake　hands　with　each　one　of　the　party。　All　Elmville　shook　hands　when　it　met。

The　formalities　concluded；　the　little　man　would　go　back　to　his　table；　heaped　with　law　books　and　papers；　while　the　procession　would　proceed。

Billy　Pemberton　was；　as　his　sign　declared；　a　lawyer　by　profession。　By　occupation　and　common　consent　he　was　the　Son　of　his　Father。　This　was　the　shadow　in　which　Billy　lived；　the　pit　out　of　which　he　had　unsuccessfully　striven　for　years　to　climb　and；　he　had　come　to　believe；　the　grave　in　which　his　ambitions　were　destined　to　be　buried。　Filial　respect　and　duty　he　paid　beyond　the　habit　of　most　sons；　but　he　aspired　to　be　known　and　appraised　by　his　own　deeds　and　worth。

After　many　years　of　tireless　labour　he　had