initials only-第14部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ed；　and　again　…　and　this　seemed　the　most　contradictory　of　all　…　just　the　ardent　inventor；　living　in　a　tenement；　with　Science　for　his　goddess　and　work　always　under　his　hand？　　As　the　young　detective　weighed　these　possibilities　and　marvelled　over　the　contradictions　they　offered；　he　forgot　the　papers　now　lying　quiet　under　his　hand。　　He　was　too　interested　to　remember　his　own　part　　…　something　which　could　not　often　be　said　of　Sweetwater。

Meantime；　the　coroner　had　collected　his　thoughts。　　With　an　apology　for　the　extremely　personal　nature　of　his　inquiry；　he　asked　Mr。　Brotherson　if　he　would　object　to　giving　him　some　further　details　of　his　acquaintanceship　with　Miss　Challoner；　where　he　first　met　her　and　under　what　circumstances　their　friendship　had　developed。

〃Not　at　all；〃　was　the　ready　reply。　　〃I　have　nothing　to　conceal　in　the　matter。　　I　only　wish　that　her　father　were　present　that　he　might　listen　to　the　recital　of　my　acquaintanceship　with　his　daughter。　　He　might　possibly　understand　her　better　and　regard　with　more　leniency　the　presumption　into　which　I　was　led　by　my　ignorance　of　the　pride　inherent　in　great　families。〃

〃Your　wish　can　very　easily　be　gratified；〃　returned　the　official；　pressing　an　electric　button　on　his　desk；

〃Mr。　Challoner　is　in　the　adjoining　room。〃　　Then；　as　the　door　communicating　with　the　room　he　had　mentioned　swung　ajar　and　stood　so；　Dr。　Heath　added；　without　apparent　consciousness　of　the　dramatic　character　of　this　episode；　〃You　will　not　need　to　raise　your　voice　beyond　its　natural　pitch。　　He　can　hear　perfectly　from　where　he　sits。〃

〃Thank　you。　　I　am　glad　to　speak　in　his　presence；〃　came　in　undisturbed　self…possession　from　this　not　easily　surprised　witness。　　〃　I　shall　relate　the　facts　exactly　as　they　occurred；　adding　nothing　and　concealing　nothing。　　If　I　mistook　my　position；　or　Miss　Challoner's　position；　it　is　not　for　me　to　apologise。　　I　never　hid　my　business　from　her；　nor　the　moderate　extent　of　my　fortune。　　If　she　knew　me　at　all；　she　knew　me　for　what　I　am；　a　man　of　the　people　who　glories　in　work　and　who　has　risen　by　it　to　a　position　somewhat　unique　in　this　city。　　I　feel　no　lack　of　equality　even　with　such　a　woman　as　Miss　Challoner。〃

A　most　unnecessary　preamble；　no　doubt；　and　of　doubtful　efficacy　in　smoothing　his　way　to　a　correct　understanding　with　the　deeply　bereaved　father。　　But　he　looked　so　handsome　as　he　thus　asserted　himself　and　made　so　much　of　his　inches　and　the　noble　poise　of　his　head　…　though　cold　of　eye　and　always　cold　of　manner　…　that　those　who　saw；　as　well　as　heard　him；　forgave　this　display　of　egotism　in　consideration　of　its　honesty　and　the　dignity　it　imparted　to　his　person。

〃I　first　met　Miss　Challoner　in　the　Berkshires；〃　he　began；　after　a　moment　of　quiet　listening　for　any　possible　sound　from　the　other　room。　〃I　had　been　on　the　tramp；　and　had　stopped　at　one　of　the　great　hotels　for　a　seven　days'　rest。　　I　will　acknowledge　that　I　chose　this　spot　at　the　instigation　of　a　relative　who　knew　my　tastes　and　how　perfectly　they　might　be　gratified　there。　　That　I　should　mingle　with　the　guests　may　not　have　been　in　his　thought；　any　more　than　it　was　in　mine　at　the　beginning　of　my　stay。　　The　panorama　of　beauty　spread　out　before　me　on　every　side　was　sufficient　in　itself　for　my　enjoyment；　and　might　have　continued　so　to　the　end　if　my　attention　had　not　been　very　forcibly　drawn　on　one　memorable　morning　to　a　young　lady　…　Miss　Challoner　…　by　the　very　earnest　look　she　gave　me　as　I　was　crossing　the　office　from　one　verandah　to　another。　　I　must　insist　on　this　look；　even　if　it　shock　the　delicacy　of　my　listeners；　for　without　the　interest　it　awakened　in　me；　I　might　not　have　noticed　the　blush　with　which　she　turned　aside　to　join　her　friends　on　the　verandah。　　It　was　an　overwhelming　blush　which　could　not　have　sprung　from　any　slight　embarrassment；　and；　though　I　hate　the　pretensions　of　those　egotists　who　see　in　a　woman's　smile　more　than　it　by　right　conveys；　I　could　not　help　being　moved　by　this　display　of　feeling　in　one　so　gifted　with　every　grace　and　attribute　of　the　perfect　woman。　　With　less　caution　than　I　usually　display；　I　approached　the　desk　where　she　had　been　standing　and；　meeting　the　eyes　of　the　clerk；　asked　the　young　lady's　name。　　He　gave　it；　and　waited　for　me　to　express　the　surprise　he　expected　it　to　evoke。　　But　I　felt　none　and　showed　none。　　Other　feelings　had　seized　me。　　I　had　heard　of　this　gracious　woman　from　many　sources；　in　my　life　among　the　suffering　masses　of　New　York；　and　now　that　I　had　seen　her　and　found　her　to　be　not　only　my　ideal　of　personal　loveliness　but　seemingly　approachable　and　not　uninterested　in　myself；　I　allowed　my　fancy　to　soar　and　my　heart　to　become　touched。　A　fact　which　the　clerk　now　confided　to　me　naturally　deepened　the　impression。　　Miss　Challoner　had　seen　my　name　in　the　guest…book　and　asked　to　have　me　pointed　out　to　her。　　Perhaps　she　had　heard　my　name　spoken　in　the　same　quarter　where　I　had　heard　hers。　　We　have　never　exchanged　confidences　on　the　subject；　and　I　cannot　say。　　I　can　only　give　you　my　reason　for　the　interest　I　felt　in　Miss　Challoner　and　why　I　forgot；　in　the　glamour　of　this　episode；　the　aims　and　purposes　of　a　not　unambitious　life　and　the　distance　which　the　world　and　the　so…called　aristocratic　class　put　between　a　woman　of　her　wealth　and　standing　and　a　simple　worker　like　myself。

〃I　must　be　pardoned。　　She　had　smiled　upon　me　once；　and　she　smiled　again。　　Days　before　we　were　formally　presented；　I　caught　her　softened　look　turned　my　way；　as　we　passed　each　other　in　hall　or　corridor。　　We　were　friends；　or　so　it　appeared　to　me；　before　ever　a　word　passed　between　us；　and　when　fortune　favoured　us　and　we　were　duly　introduced；　our　minds　met　in　a　strange　sympathy　which　made　this　one　interview　a　memorable　one　to　me。　　Unhappily；　as　I　then　considered　it；　this　was　my　last　day　at　the　hotel；　and　our　conversation；　interrupted　frequently　by　passing　acquaintances；　was　never　resumed。　　I　exchanged　a　few　words　with　her　by　way　of　good…bye　but　nothing　more。　　I　came　to　New　York；　and　she　remained　in　Lenox。　A　month　after　and　she　too　came　to　New　York。〃

〃This　good…bye　…　do　you　remember　it？　　The　exact　language；　I　mean？　　〃

〃I　do；　it　made　a　great　impression　on　me。　　'I　shall　hope　for　our　further　acquaintance；'　she　said。　　'We　have　one　very　strong　interest　in　common。　　And　if　ever　a　human　face　spoke　eloquently；　it　was　hers　at　that　moment。　　The　interest；　as　I　understood　it；　was　our　mutual　sympathy　for　our　toiling；　half…starved；　down…trodden　brothers　and　sisters　in　the　lower　streets　of　this　city；　but　the　eloquence　…　that　I　probably　mistook。　　I　thought　it　sprang　from　personal　interest；　and　it　gave　me　courage　to　pursue　the　intention　which　had　taken　the　place　of　every　other　feeling　and　ambition　by　which　I　had　hitherto　been　moved。　　Here　was　a　woman　in　a　thousand；　one　who　could　make　a　man　of　me　indeed。　　If　she　could　ignore　the　social　gulf　between　us；　I　felt　free　to　take　the　leap。　　Cowardice　had　never　been　a　fault　of　mine。　But　I　was　no　fool　even　then。　　I　realised　that　I　must　first　let　her　see　the　manner　of　man　I　was　and　what　life　meant　to　me　and　must　mean　to　her　if　the　union　I　contemplated　should　become　an　actual　fact。　　I　wrote　letters　to　her；　but　I　did　not　give　her　my　address　or　even　request　a　reply。　　I　was　not　ready　for　any　word　from　her。　　I　am　not　like　other　men　and　I　could　wait。　　And　I　did；　for　weeks；　then　I　suddenly　appeared　at　her　hotel。〃

The　change　of　voice　…　the　bitterness　which　he　infused　into　this　final　sentence　made　every　one　look　up。　　Hitherto　he　had　spoken　calmly；　almost　monotonously；　as　if　no　present　heart…beat　responded　to　this　tale　of　vanished　love；　but　with　the　words；　〃Then　I　suddenly　appeared　at　her　hotel；〃　he　showed　himself　human　again；　and　betrayed　a　passion　which　though　curbed　was　of　the　fiery　quality；　befitting　his　extraordinary　attributes　of　mind　and　person。

〃This　was　when？〃　put　in　Dr。　Heath；　anxious　to　bridge　the　pause　which　must　have　been　very　painful　to　the　listening　father。

〃The　week　after　Thanksgiving。　　I　did　not　see　her　the　first　day；　and　only　casually　the　second。　　But　she　knew　I　was　in　the　building；　and　when　I　came　upon　her　one　evening　seated　at　the　very　desk　in　the　mezzanine　which　we　all　have　such　bitter　cause　to　remember；　I　could　not　forbear　expressing　myself　in　a　way　she　could　not　misunderstand。　The　result　was　of　a　kind　to　drive　a　man　like　myself　to　an　extremity　of　self…condemnation　and　rage。　　She　rose　up　as　if　insulted；　and　flung　me　one　sentence　and　one　sentence　only　before　she　hailed　the　elevator　and　left　my　presence。　　A　cur　could　not　have　been　dismissed　with　less　ceremony。〃

〃That　is　not　like　my　daughter。　　What　was　the　sentence　you　allude　to？　Let　me　hear　the　very　words。〃　　Mr。　Challoner　had　come　forward　and　now　stood　awaiting　his　reply；　a　dignified　but　pathetic　figure；　which　all　must　view　with　respect。

〃I　hate　the　memory　of　them；　but　since　you　demand　it；　I　will　repeat　them　just　as　they　fell　from　her　lips；〃　was　Mr。　Brotherson's　bitter　retort。　　〃　She　said；　'You　of　all　men　should　recognise　the　unseemliness　of　these　proposals。　　Had　your　letters　given　me　any　hint　of　the　feelings　you　have　just　expressed；　you　would　never　have　had　this　opportunity　of　approaching　me。'　　That　was　all；　but　her　indignation　was　scathing。　　Ladies　who　have　supped　exclusively　off　silver；　show　a　fine　scorn　for　the　common　ware　of　the　cottager。〃

Mr。　Challoner　bowed。　　〃There　is　some　mistake；〃　said　he。　　〃My　daughter　might　be　averse　to　your　addresses；　but　she　would　never　show　indignation　to　any　aspirant　for　her　hand；　simply　on　account　of　extraneous　conditions。　　She　had　wide　sympathies　…　wider　than　I　often　approved。　　Something　in　your　conduct　or　the　confidence　you　showed　shocked　her　nicer　sense；　not　your　lack　of　the　luxuries　she　often　misprised。　　This　much　I　feel　obliged　to　say；　out　of　justice　to　her　character；　which　was　uniformly　considerate。〃

〃You　have　seen　her　with　men　of　her　own　world　and　yours；〃　was　the　harsh　response。　　〃She　had　another　side　to　her　nature　for　the　man　of　a　different　sphere。　　And　it　killed　my　love　…　that　you　can　see　　…　and　led　to　my　sending　her　the　injudicious　letter　with　which　you　have　confronted　me。　　The　hurt　bull　utters　one　bellow　before　he　dies。　I　bellowed；　and　bellowed　loudly；　but　I　did　not　die。　　I'm　my　own　man　still　and　mean　to　remain　so。〃

The　assertive　boldness　…　some　would　call　it　bravado　…　with　which　he　thus