options-第17章

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last　of　allhow　strange　that　it　　should　have　come　at　last！the　pale…blue　vision　of　the　beautifulest　of　　the　Trenholme　sisters　illuminated　his　mind's　eye　and　left　him　without　　a　waver。

〃It　is　too　late；〃　he　said；　in　deep　tones；　pressing　the　baking…powder　　can　against　his　heart。

Once　she　turned　after　she　had　gone　slowly　twenty　yards　down　the　path。　　　The　hermit　had　begun　to　twist　the　lid　off　his　can；　but　he　hid　it　again　　under　his　sacking　robe。　　He　could　see　her　great　eyes　shining　sadly　　through　the　twilight；　but　he　stood　inflexible　in　the　doorway　of　his　　shack　and　made　no　sign。


Just　as　the　moon　rose　on　Thursday　evening　the　hermit　was　seized　by　the　　world…madness。

Up　from　the　inn；　fainter　than　the　horns　of　elf…land；　came　now　and　then　　a　few　bars　of　music　played　by　the　casino　band。　　The　Hudson　was　　broadened　by　the　night　into　an　illimitable　seathose　lights；　dimly　　seen　on　its　opposite　shore；　were　not　beacons　for　prosaic　trolley…　lines；　but　low…set　stars　millions　of　miles　away。　　The　waters　in　front　　of　the　inn　were　gay　with　firefliesor　were　they　motor…boats；　smelling　　of　gasoline　and　oil？　　Once　the　hermit　had　known　these　things　and　had　　sported　with　Amaryllis　in　the　shade　of　the　red…and…white…striped　　awnings。　　But　for　ten　years　he　had　turned　a　heedless　ear　to　these　far…　off　echoes　of　a　frivolous　world。　　But　to…night　there　was　something　　wrong。

The　casino　band　was　playing　a　waltza　waltz。　　What　a　fool　he　had　been　　to　tear　deliberately　ten　years　of　his　life　from　the　calendar　of　　existence　for　one　who　had　given　him　up　for　the　false　joys　that　wealth…　…〃tum　ti　tum　ti　tum　ti〃how　did　that　waltz　go？　　But　those　years　had　　not　been　sacrificedhad　they　not　brought　him　the　star　and　pearl　of　　all　the　world；　the　youngest　and　beautifulest　of　〃But　do　not　come　on　Thursday　evening；〃　she　had　insisted。　　Perhaps　by　　now　she　would　be　moving　slowly　and　gracefully　to　the　strains　of　that　　waltz；　held　closely　by　West…Pointers　or　city　commuters；　while　he；　who　　had　read　in　her　eyes　things　that　had　recompensed　him　for　ten　lost　　years　of　life；　moped　like　some　wild　animal　in　its　mountain　den。　　Why　　should〃

〃Damn　it；〃　said　the　hermit；　suddenly；　〃I'll　do　it！〃

He　threw　down　his　Marcus　Aurelius　and　threw　off　his　gunny…sack　toga。　　　he　dragged　a　dust…covered　trunk　from　a　corner　of　the　cave；　and　with　　difficulty　wrenched　open　its　lid。

Candles　he　had　in　plenty；　and　the　cave　was　soon　aglow。　　Clothesten　　years　old　in　cutscissors；　razors；　hats；　shoes；　all　his　discarded　　attire　and　belongings；　were　dragged　ruthlessly　from　their　renunciatory　　rest　and　strewn　about　in　painful　disorder。

A　pair　of　scissors　soon　reduced　his　beard　sufficiently　for　the　dulled　　razors　to　perform　approximately　their　office。　　Cutting　his　own　hair　　was　beyond　the　hermit's　skill。　　So　he　only　combed　and　brushed　it　　backward　as　smoothly　as　he　could。　　Charity　forbids　us　to　consider　the　　heartburnings　and　exertions　of　one　so　long　removed　from　haberdashery　　and　society。

At　the　last　the　hermit　went　to　an　inner　corner　of　his　cave　and　began　　to　dig　in　the　soft　earth　with　a　long　iron　spoon。　　Out　of　the　cavity　he　　thus　made　he　drew　a　tin　can；　and　out　of　the　can　three　thousand　dollars　　in　bills；　tightly　rolled　and　wrapped　in　oiled　silk。　　He　was　a　real　　hermit；　as　this　may　assure　you。

You　may　take　a　brief　look　at　him　as　he　hastens　down　the　little　　mountain…side。　　A　long；　wrinkled　black　frock…coat　reached　to　his　　calves。　　White　duck　trousers；　unacquainted　with　the　tailor's　goose；　a　　pink　shirt；　white　standing　collar　with　brilliant　blue　butterfly　tie；　　and　buttoned　congress　gaiters。　　But　think；　sir　and　madamten　years！　　　》From　beneath　a　narrow…brimmed　straw　hat　with　a　striped　band　flowed　his　　hair。　　Seeing　him；　with　all　your　shrewdness　you　could　not　have　guessed　　him。　　You　would　have　said　that　he　played　Hamletor　the　tubaor　　pinochleyou　would　never　have　laid　your　hand　on　your　heart　and　said：　　〃He　is　a　hermit　who　lived　ten　years　in　a　cave　for　love　of　one　ladyto　　win　another。〃

The　dancing　pavilion　extended　above　the　waters　of　the　river。　　Gay　　lanterns　and　frosted　electric　globes　shed　a　soft　glamour　within　it。　　A　　hundred　ladies　and　gentlemen　from　the　inn　and　summer　cottages　flitted　　in　and　about　it。　　To　the　left　of　the　dusty　roadway　down　which　the　　hermit　had　tramped　were　the　inn　and　grill…room。　　Something　seemed　to　　be　on　there；　too。　　The　windows　were　brilliantly　lighted；　and　music　was　　playingmusic　different　from　the　two…steps　and　waltzes　of　the　casino　　band。

A　negro　man　wearing　a　white　jacket　came　through　the　iron　gate；　with　　its　immense　granite　posts　and　wrought…iron　lamp…holders。

〃What　is　going　on　here　to…night？〃　asked　the　hermit。

〃Well；　sah；〃　said　the　servitor；　〃dey　is　having　de　reg'lar　Thursday…　evenin'　dance　in　de　casino。　　And　in　de　grill…room　dere's　a　beefsteak　　dinner；　sah。〃

The　hermit　glanced　up　at　the　inn　on　the　hillside　whence　burst　suddenly　　a　triumphant　strain　of　splendid　harmony。

〃And　up　there；〃　said　he；　〃they　are　playing　Mendelssohnwhat　is　going　　on　up　there？〃

〃Up　in　de　inn；〃　said　the　dusky　one；　〃dey　is　a　weddin'　goin'　on。　　Mr。　　　Binkley；　a　mighty　rich　man；　am　marryin'　Miss　Trenholme；　sahde　young　　lady　who　am　quite　de　belle　of　de　place；　sah。〃




HE　ALSO　SERVES



If　I　could　have　a　thousand　yearsjust　one　little　thousand　yearsmore　　of　life；　I　might；　in　that　time；　draw　near　enough　to　true　Romance　to　　touch　the　hem　of　her　robe。

Up　from　ships　men　come；　and　from　waste　places　and　forest　and　road　and　　garret　and　cellar　to　maunder　to　me　in　strangely　distributed　words　of　　the　things　they　have　seen　and　considered。　　The　recording　of　their　　tales　is　no　more　than　a　matter　of　ears　and　fingers。　　There　are　only　　two　fates　I　dreaddeafness　and　writer's　cramp。　　The　hand　is　yet　　steady；　let　the　ear　bear　the　blame　if　these　printed　words　be　not　in　　the　order　they　were　delivered　to　me　by　Hunky　Magee；　true　camp…follower　　of　fortune。

Biography　shall　claim　you　but　an　instantI　first　knew　Hunky　when　he　　was　head…waiter　at　Chubb's　little　beefsteak　restaurant　and　cafe　on　　Third　Avenue。　　There　was　only　one　waiter　besides。

Then；　successively；　I　caromed　against　him　in　the　little　streets　of　the　　Big　City　after　his　trip　to　Alaska；　his　voyage　as　cook　with　a　treasure…　seeking　expedition　to　the　Caribbean；　and　his　failure　as　a　pearl…fisher　　in　the　Arkansas　River。　　Between　these　dashes　into　the　land　of　　adventure　he　usually　came　back　to　Chubb's　for　a　while。　　Chubb's　was　a　　port　for　him　when　gales　blew　too　high；　but　when　you　dined　there　and　　Hunky　went　for　your　steak　you　never　knew　whether　he　would　come　to　　anchor　in　the　kitchen　or　in　the　Malayan　Archipelago。　　You　wouldn't　　care　for　his　descriptionhe　was　soft　of　voice　and　hard　of　face；　and　　rarely　had　to　use　more　than　one　eye　to　quell　any　approach　to　a　　disturbance　among　Chubb's　customers。

One　night　I　found　Hunky　standing　at　a　corner　of　Twenty…third　Street　　and　Third　Avenue　after　an　absence　of　several　months。　　In　ten　minutes　　we　had　a　little　round　table　between　us　in　a　quiet　corner；　and　my　ears　　began　to　get　busy。　　I　leave　out　my　sly　ruses　and　feints　to　draw　　Hunky's　word…of…mouth　blowsit　all　came　to　something　like　this：

〃Speaking　of　the　next　election；〃　said　Hunky；　〃did　you　ever　know　much　　about　Indians？　No？　I　don't　mean　the　Cooper；　Beadle；　cigar…store；　or　　Laughing　Water　kind…I　mean　the　modern　Indianthe　kind　that　takes　　Greek　prizes　in　colleges　and　scalps　the　half…back　on　the　other　side　in　　football　games。　　The　kind　that　eats　macaroons　and　tea　in　the　　afternoons　with　the　daughter　of　the　professor　of　biology；　and　fills　up　　on　grasshoppers　and　fried　rattlesnake　when　they　get　back　to　the　　ancestral　wickiup。

〃Well；　they　ain't　so　bad。　　I　like　'em　better　than　most　foreigners　that　　have　come　over　in　the　last　few　hundred　years。　　One　thing　about　the　　Indian　is　this：　when　he　mixes　with　the　white　race　he　swaps　all　his　own　　vices　for　them　of　the　pale…facesand　he　retains　all　his　own　virtues。　　　Well；　his　virtues　are　enough　to　call　out　the　reserves　whenever　he　lets　　'em　loose。　　But　the　imported　foreigners　adopt　our　virtues　and　keep　　their　own　vicesand　it's　going　to　take　our　whole　standing　army　some　　day　to　police　that　gang。

〃But　let　me　tell　you　about　the　trip　I　took　to　Mexico　with　High　jack　　Snakefeeder；　a　Cherokee　twice　removed；　a　graduate　of　a　Pennsylvania　　college　and　the　latest　thing　in　pointed…toed；　rubber…heeled；　patent　　kid　moccasins　and　Madras　hunting…shirt　with　turned…back　cuffs。　　He　was　　a　friend　of　mine。　　I　met　him　in　Tahlequah　when　I　was　out　there　during　　the　land　boom；　and　we　got　thick。　　He　had　got　all　there　was　out　of　　colleges　and　had　come　back　to　lead　his　people　out　of　Egypt。　　He　was　a　　man　of　first…class　style　and　wrote　essays；　and　had　been　invited　to　　visit　rich　guys'　houses　in　Boston　and　such　places。

〃There　was　a　Cherokee　girl　in　Muscogee　that　High　Jack　was　foolish　　about。　　He　took　me　to　see　her　a　few　times。　　Her　name　was　Florence　Blue　　Featherbut　you　want　to　clear　your　mind　of　all　ideas　of　squaws　with　　nose…rings　and　army　blankets。　　This　young　lady　was　whiter　than　you　　are；　and　better　educated　than　I　ever　was。　　You　couldn't　have　told　her　　from　any　of　the　girls　shopping　in　the　swell　Third　Avenue　stores。　　I　　liked　her　so　well　that；　I　got　to　calling　on　her　now　and　then　when　High　　Jack　wasn't　along；　which　is　the　way　of　friends　in　such　matters。　　She　　was　educated　at　the　Muscogee　College；　and　was　making　a　specialty　of　let's　seeethyes；　ethnology。　　That's　the　art　that　goes　back　and　　traces　the　descent　of　different　races　of　people；　leading　up　from　　jelly…fish　through　monkeys　and　to　the　O'Briens。　　High　Jack　had　took　up　　that　line　too；　and　had　read　papers　about　it　before　all　kinds　of　　riotous　assembliesChautauquas　and　Choctaws　and　chowder…parties；　and　　such。　　Having　a　mutual　taste　for　musty　information　like　that　was　what　　made　'em　like　each　other；　I　suppose。　　But　I　don't　know！　　What　they　　call　congeniality　of　tastes　ain't　always　it。　　Now；　when　Miss　Blue　　Feather　and　me　was　talking　together；　I　listened　to　her　affidavits　　about　the　first　families　of　the　Land　of　Nod　being　cousins　german　　（well；　if　the　Germans　don't　nod；　who　does？）　to　the　mound…builders　of　　Ohio　with　incomprehension　and　respect。　　And　when　I'd　tell　her　about　　the　Bowery　and　Coney　Island；　and　sing　her　a　few　songs　that　I'd　heard　　the　Jamaica　niggers　sing　at　their　church　lawn…parties；　she　didn't　look　　much　less　interested　than　she　did　when　High　Jack　would　tell　her　that　　he　had　a　pipe　that　the　first　inhabitants　of　America　originally　arrived　　here　on　stilts　after　a　freshet　at　Tenafly；　New　Jersey。

〃But　I　was　going　to　tell　you　more　about　High　Jack。

〃About　six　months　ago　I　get　a　letter　from　him；　saying　he'd　been　　commissioned　by　the　Minority　Report　Bureau　of　Ethnology　at　Washington　　to　go　down　to　Mexico　and　translate　some　excavations　or　dig　up　the　　meaning　of　some　shorthand　notes　on　some　ruinsor　something　of　that　　sort。　　And　if　I'd　go　along　he　could　squeeze　the　price　into　the　expense　　account。

〃Well；　I'd　been　holding　a　napkin　over　my　arm　at　Chubb's　about　long　　enough　then；　so　I　wired　High　Jack　'Yes'；　and　he　sent　me　a　ticket；　and　　I　met　him　in　Washington；　and　he　had　a　lot　of　news　to　tell　me。　　First　　of　all；　was　that　Florence　Blue　Feather　had　suddenly　disappeared　from　　her　home　and　environments。

〃'Run　away？'　I　asked。

〃'Vanished；'　says　High　Jack。　　'Disappeared　like　you