samantha at saratoga-第16部分

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ot　any　hosses　much　faster　than　the　old　mair。〃　〃'Wing's！'　　Shaw！　　I　don't　believe　no　such　thing　…　a　livery　on　wings。　　I　don't　believe　a　word　on't。　　And　you　wouldn't　ketch　me　on　one　on　'em；　if　they　had！〃　〃'Yet　Sing！〃'　sez　he；　a　lookin'　accost　the　street　into　a　laundry　house。　　〃What　do　I　care　if　you　do　sing？　　'Taint　of　much　account　if　you　do　any　way。　　I　sing　sometimes；　I　yet　sing；〃　says　he。　〃Sing；〃　sez　I　in　neerly　witherin'　tone。　　〃I'd　love　to　hear　you　sing；　I　haint　yet　and　I've　lived　with　you　agoin'　on　30　years。〃　〃Wall；　if　you　haint　heerd　me；　it　is　because　you　are　deef；〃　sez　he。　But　that　is　jest　the　way　he　kep'　on；　a　hurryin'　me　along；　and　a　talkin'　fast　to　try　to　get　the　price　of　that　picture　out　of　my　head。　　Anon；　and　sometimes　oftener；　we　would　come　to　the　word　in　big　letters　on　signs；　or　on　the　fence；　or　the　sides　of　barns；　〃Pray。〃　　And　sometimes　it　would　read；　〃Pray　for　my　wife！〃　　And　Josiah　every　time　he　came　to　the　words　would　stop　and　reflect　on　'em。　〃‘Pray！'　　What　business　is　it　of　yourn；　whether　I　pray　or　not？　‘Pray　for　my　wife！'　　That　haint　none　of　your　business。〃　Sez　he；　a　shakin'　his　fist　at　the　fence；　〃'Taint　likely　I　should　have　a　wife　without　prayin'　for　her。　　She　needs　it　bad　enough；〃　sez　he　once；　as　he　stood　lookin'　at　it。　I　gin　him　a　strange　look；　and　he　sez；　〃You　wouldn't　like　it；　would　you；　if　I　didn't　pray　for　you？〃　〃No；〃　sez　I；　〃and　truly　as　you　say；　the　woman　who　is　your　wife　needs　prayer；　she　needs　help；　morn　half　the　time　she　duz。〃　He　looked　kinder　dissatisfied　at　the　way　I　turned　it；　but　he　sez；　〃'Plumbin'　done　here！'〃　〃I'd　love　to　know　where　they　are　goin'　to　plum。　　I　don't　see　no　sign　of　plum　trees；　nor　no　stick　to　knock　'em　off　with。〃　　And　agin　he　sez；　〃You　would　make　a　great　'fuss；　Samantha；　if　I　should　say　what　is　painted　up　right　there　on　that　cross　piece。　　You　would　say　I　wuz　a　swearin'。〃　Sez　I　coldly；　（or　as　cold　as　I　could　with　my　blood　heated　by　the　voyalence　and　rapidity　of　the　walk　he　had　been　a　leadin'　me；）　〃There　is　a　Van　in　front　of　it。　　Van　Dam　haint　swearin'。〃　〃You　would　say　it　wuz　if　I　used　it；〃　sez　he　reproachfully。　　〃If　I　should　fall　down　on　the　ice；　or　stub　my　toe；　and　trip　up　on　the　meetin'　house　steps；　and　I　should　happen　to　mention　the　name　of　that　street　about　the　same　time；　you　would　say　I　wuz　a　swearin'。〃　I　did　not　reply　to　him；　I　wouldn't。　　And　ag'in　he　hurried　me　on'ards　by　some　good　lookin'　bildin's；　and　trees；　and　tavrens；　and　cottages；　and　etc。；　etc。；　and　we　come　to　Caroline　street；　and　Jane；　and　Matilda；　and　lots　of　wimmen's　names。　And　Josiah　sez；　〃I'll　bet　the　man　that　named　them　streets　wuz　love　sick！〃　But　he　wuzn't　no　such　thing。　　It　was　a　father　that　owned　the　land；　and　laid　out　the　streets；　and　named　'em　for　his　daughters。　　Good　old　creeter！　　I　wuzn't　goin'　to　have　him　run　at　this　late　day；　and　run　down　his　own　streets　too。　But　ag'in　Josiah　hurried　me　on'ards。　　And　bimeby　we　found　ourselves　a　standin'　in　front　of　a　kind　of　a　lonesome　lookin'　house；　big　and　square；　with　tall　pillows　in　front。　　It　wuz　a　standin'　back　as　if　it　wuz　a　kinder　a　drawin'　back　from　company；　in　a　square　yard　all　dark　and　shady　with　tall　trees。　　And　it　all　looked　kinder　dusky；　and　solemn　like。　　And　a　bystander　a　standin'　by　told　us　that　it　wuz　〃ha'nted。〃　Josiah　pawed　at　it；　and　shawed　at　the　idee　of　a　gost。　But　I　sez；　〃There！　that　is　the　only　thing　Saratoga　lacked　to　make　her　perfectly　interestin'；　and　that　is　a　gost！〃　But　agin　Josiah　pawed　at　the　idee；　and　sez；　〃There　never　wuz　such　a　thing　as　a　gost！　and　never　will　be。〃　　And　sez　he；　〃what　an　extraordenary　idiot　anybody　must　be　to　believe　in　any　sech　thing。〃　And　ag'in　he　looked　very　skernful　and　high…headed；　and　once　ag'in　he　shawed。　And　I　kep'　pretty　middlin'　calm　and　serene　and　asked　the　bystander；　when　the　gost　ha'nted；　and　where？　And　he　said；　it　opened　doors　and　blowed　out　lights　mostly；　and　trampled　up　stairs。　〃Openin'；　and　blowin'；　and　tramplin'；〃　sez　I　dreamily。　〃Yes；〃　sez　the　man；　〃that's　what　it　duz。〃　And　agin　Josiah　shawed　loud。　　And　agin　I　kep'　calm；　and　sez　I；　〃I'd　give　a　cent　to　see　it。〃　　And　sez　I；　〃Do　you　suppose　it　would　blow　out　and　trample　if　we　should　go　in？〃　But　Josiah　grasped　holt　of　my　arm　and　sez；　〃'Taint　safe！　my　dear　Samantha！　don't　le's　go　near　the　house。〃　〃Why？　〃　sez　I　coldly；　〃you　say　there　haint　no　sech　thing　as　a　gost；　what　are　you　afraid　on？〃　His　teeth　wuz　fairly　chatterin'。　　〃Oh！　there　might　be　spiders　there；　or　mice；　it　haint　best　to　go。〃　I　turned　silently　round　and　started　on；　for　my　companion's　looks　was　pitiful　in　the　extreme。　　But　I　merely　observed　this；　as　we　wended　onwards；　〃I　have　always　noticed　this；　Josiah　Allen；　that　them　that　shaw　the　most　at　sech　things；　are　the　ones　whose　teeth　chatter　when　they　come　a　nigh　'em；　showin'　plain　that　the　shawers　are　really　the　ones　that　believe　in　'em。〃　〃My　teeth　chattered；〃　sez　he；　〃because　my　gooms　ache。〃　〃Well；〃　sez　I；　〃the　leest　said　the　soonest　mended。〃　　And　we　went　on　fast　ag'in　by　big　houses　and　little；　and　boardin'　houses；　and　boardin'　houses；　and　boardin'　houses；　and　tavrens；　and　tavrens；　and　he　kept　me　a　walkin'　till　my　feet　wuz　most　blistered。　I　see　what　his　aim　wuz；　I　had　recognized　it　all　the　hull　time。　But　as　we　went　up　the　stairway　into　our　room；　perfectly　tuckered　out；　both　on　us；　I　sez　to　him；　in　weary　axents；　〃That　picture　wuz　cheap　enough；　for　the　money；　wuzn't　it？〃　He　groaned　aloud。　　And　sech　is　my　love　for　that　man；　that　the　minute　I　heard　that　groan　I　immegetly　added；　〃Though　I　hadn't　no　idee　of　buyin'　it；　Josiah。〃　Immegetly　he　smiled　warmly；　and　wuz　very　affectionate　in　his　demeener　to　me　for　as　much　as　two　hours　and　a　half。　　Sech　is　the　might　of　human　love。　His　hurryin'　me　over　them　swelterin'　and　blisterin'　streets；　and　showin'　me　all　the　beauty　and　glory　of　the　world；　and　his　conversation　had　no　effect；　skercely　on　my　mind。　　But　what　them　hours　of　frenzied　effert　could　not　accomplish；　that　one　still；　small　groan　did。　　I　love　that　man。　　I　almost　worship　him；　and　he　me；　vise　versey；　and　the　same。　We　found　that　Ardelia　Tutt　had　been　to　see　us　in　our　absence。　　She　had　been　into　our　room　I　see；　for　she　had　dropped　one　of　her　mits　there。　　And　the　chambermaid　said　she　had　been　in　and　waited　for　us　quite　a　spell　…　the　young　man　a　waitin'　below　on　the　piazza；　so　I　s'posed。　I　expect　Ardelia　wanted　to　show　him　off　to　us　and　I　myself　wuz　quite　anxus　to　see　him；　feelin'　worried　and　oncomfertable　about　Abram　Gee　and　wantin'　to　see　if　this　young　chap　wuz　anywhere　nigh　as　good　as　Abram。　Well　about　a　hour　after　we　came　back；　Josiah　missed　his　glasses　he　reads　with。　　And　we　looked　all　over　the　house　for　'em；　and　under　the　bed；　and　on　the　ceilin'；　and　through　our　trunks　and　bandboxes；　and　all　our　pockets；　and　in　the　Bible；　and　Josiah's　boots；　and　everywhere。　　And　finely；　after　givin'　'em　up　as　lost；　the　idee　come　to　us　that　they　might　possibly　have　ketched　on　the　fringe　of　Ardelia's　shawl；　and　so　rode　home　with　her　on　it。　So　we　sent　one　of　the　office…boys　home　with　her　mit　and　asked　her　if　she　had　seen　Josiah's　glasses。　　And　word　come　back　by　the　boy　that　she　hadn't　seen　'em；　and　she　sent　word　to　me　to　look　on　my　pardner's　head　for　'em；　and　sure　enough　there　we　found　'em；　right　on　his　foretop；　to　both　of　our　surprises。　She　sent　also　by　the　boy　a　poem　she　had　wrote　that　afternoon；　and　sent　word　how　sorry　she　wuz　I　wuzn't　to　home　to　see　Mr。　Flamburg。　But　I　see　him　only　a　day　or　two　after　that；　and　I　didn't　like　his　looks　a　mite。　But　he　said；　and　stuck　to　it；　that　his　father　owned　a　large　bank；　that　he　wuz　a　banker；　and　a　doin'　a　heavy　business。　Wall；　that　raised　him　dretfully　in　Ardelia's　eyes；　she　owned　up　to　me　that　it　did。　　She　owned　to　me　that　she　lead　always　thought　she　would　love　to　be　a　Banker's　Bride。　　She　thought　it　sounded　rich。　She　said；　〃banker　sounded　so　different　from　baker。〃　I　sez　to　her　coolly；　that　〃it　wuz　only　a　difference　of　one　letter；　and　I　never　wuz　much　of　a　one　to　put　the　letter　N　above　any　of　the　others；　or　to　be　haughty　on　havin'　it　added　to；　or　diminished　from　my　name。〃　But　she　kep'　on　a　goin'　with　him。　　She　told　me　it　wuz　real　romanticle　the　way　he　got　aquanted　with　her。　　He　see　her　onbeknown　to　her　one　day；　when　she　wuz　a　writin'　a　poem　on　one　of　the　benches　in　the　park。　〃A　Poem　on　a　Bench！〃　She　wuz　a　settin'　on　the　bench；　and　a　writin'　about　it；　she　was　a　writin'　on　the　bench　in　two　different　ways。　　Curius；　haint　it？　But　to　resoom。　　He　immegetly　fell　in　love　with　her。　　And　he　got　a　feller　who　wuz　a　boardin'　to　his　boardin'　place　to　interduce　him　to　Ardelia's　relative；　Mr。　Pixley；　and　Mr。　Pixley　interduced　him　to　Ardelia。　　He　told　Ardelia's　relatives　the　same　story　…　　That　his　father　wuz　a　banker；　that　he　owned　a　bank　and　wuz　doin'　a　heavy　business。　Wall；　I　watched　that　young　chap；　and　watched　him　close；　and　I　see　there　wuz　one　thing　about　him　that　could　be　depended　on；　he　wuz　truthful。　He　seemed　almost　morbid　on　the　subject；　and　would　dispute　himself　half　a　hour；　to　get　a　thing　or　a　story　he　wuz　tellin'　jest　exactly　right。　　But　he　drinked；　that　I　know　for　I　know　the　symptoms。　Coffee　can't　blind　the　eyes　of　her　that　waz　once　Smith；　nor　peppermint　cast　a　mist　before　'em。　　My　nose　could　have　took　its　oath；　if　noses　wuz　ever　put　onto　a　bar　of　Justice　…　my　nose　would　have　gin　its　firm　testimony　that　Bial　Flamburg　drinked。　And　there　wuz　that　sort　of　a　air　about　him；　that　I　can't　describe　exactly　…　a　sort　of　a　half　offish；　half　familier　and　wholly　disagreeable　mean；　that　can　be　onderstood　but　not　described。　　No；　you　can't　picture　that　liniment；　but　you　can　be　affected　by　it。　Wall；　Bial　had　it。　And　I　kep'　on　a　not　likin'　him；　and　kep'　stiddy　onwards　a　likin'　Abram　Gee。　　I　couldn't　help　it；　nor　did'nt　want　to。　　And　I　looked　out　constant　to　ketch　him　in　some　big　story　that　would　break　him　right　down　in　Ardelia's　eyes；　for　I　knew　if　she　had　been　brought　up　on　any　one　commandment　more'n　another；　it　wuz　the　one　ag'inst　lyin'。　　She　hated　lyin'。　She　had　been　brought　up　on　the　hull　of　the　commandments　but　on　that　one　in　particeler；　she　wuz　brung　up　sharp　but　good。　　But　not　one　lie　could　I　ketch　him　in。　　And　he　stuck　to　it；　that　his　father　wuz　a　banker　and　doin'　a　heavy　business。　Wall；　it　kep'　on；　she　a　goin'　with　him　through　ambition；　for　I　see　plain；　by　signs　I　knoo；　that　she　didn't　love　him　half　as　well　as　she　did　Abram。　　And　I　felt　bad；　dretful　bad；　to　set　sti