roads of destiny-第34部分

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lost　by　failing　to　cull　the　simple　but　wholesome　pleasures　by　the　way。　His　heart　warmed　now　to　Elmville　and　the　friends　who　had　refused　to　set　him　upon　a　pedestal。　It　was　better；　he　began　to　think；　to　be　〃Billy〃　and　his　father's　son；　and　to　be　hailed　familiarly　by　cheery　neighbours　and　grown…up　playmates；　than　to　be　〃Your　Honour；〃　and　sit　among　strangers；　hearing；　maybe；　through　the　arguments　of　learned　counsel；　that　old　man's　feeble　voice　crying：　〃What　would　I　do　without　you；　my　son？〃

Billy　began　to　surprise　his　acquaintances　by　whistling　as　he　walked　up　the　street；　others　he　astounded　by　slapping　them　disrespectfully　upon　their　backs　and　raking　up　old　anecdotes　he　had　not　had　the　time　to　recollect　for　years。　Though　he　hammered　away　at　his　law　cases　as　thoroughly　as　ever；　he　found　more　time　for　relaxation　and　the　company　of　his　friends。　Some　of　the　younger　set　were　actually　after　him　to　join　the　golf　club。　A　striking　proof　of　his　abandonment　to　obscurity　was　his　adoption　of　a　most　undignified；　rakish；　little　soft　hat；　reserving　the　〃plug〃　for　Sundays　and　state　occasions。　Billy　was　beginning　to　enjoy　Elmville；　though　that　irreverent　burgh　had　neglected　to　crown　him　with　bay　and　myrtle。

All　the　while　uneventful　peace　pervaded　Elmville。　The　Governor　continued　to　make　his　triumphal　parades　to　the　post…office　with　the　General　as　chief　marshal；　for　the　slight　squall　that　had　rippled　their　friendship　had；　to　all　indications；　been　forgotten　by　both。

But　one　day　Elmville　woke　to　sudden　excitement。　The　news　had　come　that　a　touring　presidential　party　would　honour　Elmville　by　a　twenty…minute　stop。　The　Executive　had　promised　a　five…minute　address　from　the　balcony　of　the　Palace　Hotel。

Elmville　rose　as　one　manthat　man　being；　of　course；　General　Deffenbaughto　receive　becomingly　the　chieftain　of　all　the　clans。　The　train　with　the　tiny　Stars　and　Stripes　fluttering　from　the　engine　pilot　arrived。　Elmville　had　done　her　best。　There　were　bands；　flowers；　carriages；　uniforms；　banners；　and　committees　without　end。　High…school　girls　in　white　frocks　impeded　the　steps　of　the　party　with　roses　strewn　nervously　in　bunches。　The　chieftain　had　seen　it　all　beforescores　of　times。　He　could　have　pictured　it　exactly　in　advance；　from　the　Blue…　and…Gray　speech　down　to　the　smallest　rosebud。　Yet　his　kindly　smile　of　interest　greeted　Elmville's　display　as　if　it　had　been　the　only　and　original。

In　the　upper　rotunda　of　the　Palace　Hotel　the　town's　most　illustrious　were　assembled　for　the　honour　of　being　presented　to　the　distinguished　guests　previous　to　the　expected　address。　Outside；　Elmville's　inglorious　but　patriotic　masses　filled　the　streets。

Here；　in　the　hotel　General　Deffenbaugh　was　holding　in　reserve　Elmville's　trump　card。　Elmville　knew；　for　the　trump　was　a　fixed　one；　and　its　lead　consecrated　by　archaic　custom。

At　the　proper　moment　Governor　Pemberton；　beautifully　venerable；　magnificently　antique；　tall；　paramount；　stepped　forward　upon　the　arm　of　the　General。

Elmville　watched　and　harked　with　bated　breath。　Never　until　nowwhen　a　Northern　President　of　the　United　States　should　clasp　hands　with　ex…　war…Governor　Pemberton　would　the　breach　be　entirely　closedwould　the　country　be　made　one　and　indivisibleno　North；　not　much　South；　very　little　East；　and　no　West　to　speak　of。　So　Elmville　excitedly　scraped　kalsomine　from　the　walls　of　the　Palace　Hotel　with　its　Sunday　best；　and　waited　for　the　Voice　to　speak。

And　Billy！　We　had　nearly　forgotten　Billy。　He　was　cast　for　Son；　and　he　waited　patiently　for　his　cue。　He　carried　his　〃plug〃　in　his　hand；　and　felt　serene。　He　admired　his　father's　striking　air　and　pose。　After　all；　it　was　a　great　deal　to　be　a　son　of　a　man　who　could　so　gallantly　hold　the　position　of　a　cynosure　for　three　generations。

General　Deffenbaugh　cleared　his　throat。　Elmville　opened　its　mouth；　and　squirmed。　The　chieftain　with　the　kindly；　fateful　face　was　holding　out　his　hand；　smiling。　Ex…war…Governor　Pemberton　extended　his　own　across　the　chasm。　But　what　was　this　the　General　was　saying？

〃Mr。　President；　allow　me　to　present　to　you　one　who　has　the　honour　to　be　the　father　of　our　foremost；　distinguished　citizen；　learned　and　honoured　jurist；　beloved　townsman；　and　model　Southern　gentlemanthe　Honourable　William　B。　Pemberton。〃



XV

THE　ENCHANTED　KISS

But　a　clerk　in　the　Cut…rate　Drug　Store　was　Samuel　Tansey；　yet　his　slender　frame　was　a　pad　that　enfolded　the　passion　of　Romeo；　the　gloom　of　Laura；　the　romance　of　D'Artagnan；　and　the　desperate　inspiration　of　Melnotte。　Pity；　then；　that　he　had　been　denied　expression；　that　he　was　doomed　to　the　burden　of　utter　timidity　and　diffidence；　that　Fate　had　set　him　tongue…tied　and　scarlet　before　the　muslin…clad　angels　whom　he　adored　and　vainly　longed　to　rescue；　clasp；　comfort；　and　subdue。

The　clock's　hands　were　pointing　close　upon　the　hour　of　ten　while　Tansey　was　playing　billiards　with　a　number　of　his　friends。　On　alternate　evenings　he　was　released　from　duty　at　the　store　after　seven　o'clock。　Even　among　his　fellow…men　Tansey　was　timorous　and　constrained。　In　his　imagination　he　had　done　valiant　deeds　and　performed　acts　of　distinguished　gallantry；　but　in　fact　he　was　a　sallow　youth　of　twenty…three；　with　an　over…modest　demeanour　and　scant　vocabulary。

When　the　clock　struck　ten；　Tansey　hastily　laid　down　his　cue　and　struck　sharply　upon　the　show…case　with　a　coin　for　the　attendant　to　come　and　receive　the　pay　for　his　score。

〃What's　your　hurry；　Tansey？〃　called　one。　〃Got　another　engagement？〃

〃Tansey　got　an　engagement！〃　echoed　another。　〃Not　on　your　life。　Tansey's　got　to　get　home　at　Motten　by　her　Peek's　orders。〃

〃It's　no　such　thing；〃　chimed　in　a　pale　youth；　taking　a　large　cigar　from　his　mouth；　〃Tansey's　afraid　to　be　late　because　Miss　Katie　might　come　down　stairs　to　unlock　the　door；　and　kiss　him　in　the　hall。〃

This　last　delicate　piece　of　raillery　sent　a　fiery　tingle　into　Tansey's　blood；　for　the　indictment　was　truebarring　the　kiss。　That　was　a　thing　to　dream　of；　to　wildly　hope　for；　but　too　remote　and　sacred　a　thing　to　think　of　lightly。

Casting　a　cold　and　contemptuous　look　at　the　speakera　punishment　commensurate　with　his　own　diffident　spiritTansey　left　the　room；　descending　the　stairs　into　the　street。

For　two　years　he　had　silently　adored　Miss　Peek；　worshipping　her　from　a　spiritual　distance　through　which　her　attractions　took　on　stellar　brightness　and　mystery。　Mrs。　Peek　kept　a　few　choice　boarders；　among　whom　was　Tansey。　The　other　young　men　romped　with　Katie；　chased　her　with　crickets　in　their　fingers；　and　〃jollied〃　her　with　an　irreverent　freedom　that　turned　Tansey's　heart　into　cold　lead　in　his　bosom。　The　signs　of　his　adoration　were　fewa　tremulous　〃Good　morning；〃　stealthy　glances　at　her　during　meals；　and　occasionally　（Oh；　rapture！）　a　blushing；　delirious　game　of　cribbage　with　her　in　the　parlour　on　some　rare　evening　when　a　miraculous　lack　of　engagement　kept　her　at　home。　Kiss　him　in　the　hall！　Aye；　he　feared　it；　but　it　was　an　ecstatic　fear　such　as　Elijah　must　have　felt　when　the　chariot　lifted　him　into　the　unknown。

But　to…night　the　gibes　of　his　associates　had　stung　him　to　a　feeling　of　forward；　lawless　mutiny；　a　defiant；　challenging；　atavistic　recklessness。　Spirit　of　corsair；　adventurer；　lover；　poet；　bohemian；　possessed　him。　The　stars　he　saw　above　him　seemed　no　more　unattainable；　no　less　high；　than　the　favour　of　Miss　Peek　or　the　fearsome　sweetness　of　her　delectable　lips。　His　fate　seemed　to　him　strangely　dramatic　and　pathetic；　and　to　call　for　a　solace　consonant　with　its　extremity。　A　saloon　was　near　by；　and　to　this　he　flitted；　calling　for　absinthe　beyond　doubt　the　drink　most　adequate　to　his　moodthe　tipple　of　the　roue；　the　abandoned；　the　vainly　sighing　lover。

Once　he　drank　of　it；　and　again；　and　then　again　until　he　felt　a　strange；　exalted　sense　of　non…participation　in　worldly　affairs　pervade　him。　Tansey　was　no　drinker；　his　consumption　of　three　absinthe　anisettes　within　almost　as　few　minutes　proclaimed　his　unproficiency　in　the　art；　Tansey　was　merely　flooding　with　unproven　liquor　his　sorrows；　which　record　and　tradition　alleged　to　be　drownable。

Coming　out　upon　the　sidewalk；　he　snapped　his　fingers　defiantly　in　the　direction　of　the　Peek　homestead；　turned　the　other　way；　and　voyaged；　Columbus…like　into　the　wilds　of　an　enchanted　street。　Nor　is　the　figure　exorbitant；　for；　beyond　his　store　the　foot　of　Tansey　had　scarcely　been　set　for　yearsstore　and　boarding…house；　between　these　ports　he　was　charted　to　run；　and　contrary　currents　had　rarely　deflected　his　prow。

Tansey　aimlessly　protracted　his　walk；　and；　whether　it　was　his　unfamiliarity　with　the　district；　his　recent　accession　of　audacious　errantry；　or　the　sophistical　whisper　of　a　certain　green…eyed　fairy；　he　came　at　last　to　tread　a　shuttered；　blank；　and　echoing　thoroughfare；　dark　and　unpeopled。　And；　suddenly；　this　way　came　to　an　end　（as　many　streets　do　in　the　Spanish…built；　archaic　town　of　San　Antone）；　butting　its　head　against　an　imminent；　high；　brick　wall。　Nothe　street　still　lived！　To　the　right　and　to　the　left　it　breathed　through　slender　tubes　of　exitnarrow；　somnolent　ravines；　cobble　paved　and　unlighted。　Accommodating　a　rise　in　the　street　to　the　right　was　reared　a　phantom　flight　of　five　luminous　steps　of　limestone；　flanked　by　a　wall　of　the　same　height　and　of　the　same　material。

Upon　one　of　these　steps　Tansey　seated　himself　and　bethought　him　of　his　love；　and　how　she　might　never　know　she　was　his　love。　And　of　Mother　Peek；　fat；　vigilant　and　kind；　not　unpleased；　Tansey　thought；　that　he　and　Katie　should　play　cribbage　in　the　parlour　together。　For　the　Cut…　rate　had　not　cut　his　salary；　which；　sordidly　speaking；　ranked　him　star　boarder　at　the　Peek's。　And　he　thought　of　Captain　Peek；　Katie's　father；　a　man　he　dreaded　and　abhorred；　a　genteel　loafer　and　spendthrift；　battening　upon　the　labour　of　his　women…folk；　a　very　queer　fish；　and；　according　to　repute；　not　of　the　freshest。

The　night　had　turned　chill　and　foggy。　The　heart　of　the　town；　with　its　noises；　was　left　behind。　Reflected　from　the　high　vapours；　its　distant　lights　were　manifest　in　quivering；　cone…shaped　streamers；　in　questionable　blushes　of　unnamed　colours；　in　unstable；　ghostly　waves　of　far；　electric　flashes。　Now　that　the　darkness　was　become　more　friendly；　the　wall　against　which　the　street　splintered　developed　a　stone　coping　topped　with　an　armature　of　spikes。