options-第9章

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　of　the　besieged　town。　　The　Avenue　was　as　　quiet　as　a　street　in　Pompeii。　　Cabs　now　and　then　skimmed　past　like　　white…winged　gulls　over　a　moonlit　ocean；　and　less　frequent　motor…cars…　…sustaining　the　comparisonhissed　through　the　foaming　waves　like　　submarine　boats　on　their　jocund；　perilous　journeys。

Nevada　plunged　like　a　wind…driven　storm…petrel　on　her　way。　　She　looked　　up　at　the　ragged　sierras　of　cloud…capped　buildings　that　rose　above　the　　streets；　shaded　by　the　night　lights　and　the　congealed　vapors　to　gray；　　drab；　ashen；　lavender；　dun；　and　cerulean　tints。　　They　were　so　like　the　　wintry　mountains　of　her　Western　home　that　she　felt　a　satisfaction　such　　as　the　hundred…thousand…dollar　house　had　seldom　brought　her。

A　policeman　caused　her　to　waver　on　a　corner；　just　by　his　eye　and　　weight。

〃Hello；　Mabel！〃　said　he。　　〃Kind　of　late　for　you　to　be　out；　ain't　it？〃

〃II　am　just　going　to　the　drug　store；〃　said　Nevada；　hurrying　past　　him。

The　excuse　serves　as　a　passport　for　the　most　sophisticated。　　Does　it　　prove　that　woman　never　progresses；　or　that　she　sprang　from　Adam's　rib；　　full…fledged　in　intellect　and　wiles？

Turning　eastward；　the　direct　blast　cut　down　Nevada's　speed　one…half。　　　She　made　zigzag　tracks　in　the　snow；　but　she　was　as　tough　as　a　pinon　　sapling；　and　bowed　to　it　as　gracefully。　　Suddenly　the　studio…building　　loomed　before　her；　a　familiar　landmark；　like　a　cliff　above　some　well…　remembered　canon。　　The　haunt　of　business　and　its　hostile　neighbor；　　art；　was　darkened　and　silent。　　The　elevator　stopped　at　ten。

Up　eight　flights　of　Stygian　stairs　Nevada　climbed；　and　rapped　firmly　　at　the　door　numbered　〃89。〃　　She　had　been　there　many　times　before；　with　　Barbara　and　Uncle　Jerome。

Gilbert　opened　the　door。　　He　had　a　crayon　pencil　in　one　hand；　a　green　　shade　over　his　eyes；　and　a　pipe　in　his　mouth。　　The　pipe　dropped　to　the　　floor。

〃Am　I　late？〃　asked　Nevada。　　〃I　came　as　quick　as　I　could。　　Uncle　and　me　　were　at　the　theatre　this　evening。　　Here　I　am；　Gilbert！〃

Gilbert　did　a　Pygmalion…and…Galatea　act。　　He　changed　from　a　statue　of　　stupefaction　to　a　young　man　with　a　problem　to　tackle。　　He　admitted　　Nevada；　got　a　whiskbroom；　and　began　to　brush　the　snow　from　her　　clothes。　　A　great　lamp；　with　a　green　shade；　hung　over　an　easel；　where　　the　artist　had　been　sketching　in　crayon。

〃You　wanted　me；〃　said　Nevada　simply；　〃　and　I　came。　　You　said　so　in　　your　letter。　　What　did　you　send　for　me　for？〃

〃You　read　my　letter？〃　inquired　Gilbert；　sparring　for　wind。

〃Barbara　read　it　to　me。　　I　saw　it　afterward。　　It　said：　'Come　to　my　　studio　at　twelve　to…night；　and　do　not　fail。'　　I　thought　you　were　sick；　　of　course；　but　you　don't　seem　to　be。〃

〃Aha！〃　said　Gilbert　irrelevantly。　　〃I'll　tell　you　why　I　asked　you　to　　come；　Nevada。　　I　want　you　to　marry　me　immediately　　to…night。　　What's　　a　little　snow…storm？　　Will　you　do　it？〃

〃You　might　have　noticed　that　I　would；　long　ago；〃　said　Nevada。　　〃And　　I'm　rather　stuck　on　the　snow…storm　idea；　myself。　　I　surely　would　hate　　one　of　these　flowery　church　noon…weddings。　　Gilbert；　I　didn't　know　you　　had　grit　enough　to　propose　it　this　way。　　Let's　shock　'emit's　our　　funeral；　ain't　it？〃

〃You　bet！〃　said　Gilbert。　　〃Where　did　I　hear　that　expression？〃　he　added　　to　himself。　　〃Wait　a　minute；　Nevada；　I　want　to　do　a　little　'phoning。〃

He　shut　himself　in　a　little　dressing…room；　and　called　upon　the　　lightnings　of　tile　heavenscondensed　into　unromantic　numbers　and　　districts。

〃That　you；　Jack？　　You　confounded　sleepyhead！　　Yes；　wake　up；　this　is　　meor　Ioh；　bother　the　difference　in　grammar！　　I'm　going　to　be　　married　right　away。　　Yes！　　Wake　up　your　sisterdon't　answer　me　back；　　bring　her　along；　tooyou　must！。　　Remind　Agnes　of　the　time　I　saved　her　　from　drowning　in　Lake　RonkonkomaI　know　it's　caddish　to　refer　to　it；　　but　she　must　come　with　you。　　Yes。　　Nevada　is　here；　waiting。　　We've　　been　engaged　quite　a　while。　　Some　opposition　among　the　relatives；　you　　know；　and　we　have　to　pull　it　off　this　way。　　We're　waiting　here　for　　you。　　Don't　let　Agnes　out…talk　youbring　her！　　You　will？　　Good　old　　boy！　　I'll　order　a　carriage　to　call　for　you；　double…quick　time。　　　Confound　you；　Jack；　you're　all　right！〃

Gilbert　returned　to　the　room　where　Nevada　waited。

〃My　old　friend；　Jack　Peyton；　and　his　sister　were　to　have　been　here　at　　a　quarter　to　twelve；〃　he　explained；　〃but　Jack　is　so　confoundedly　slow。　　　I've　just　'phoned　them　to　hurry。　　They'll　be　here　in　a　few　minutes。　　　I'm　the　happiest　man　in　the　world；　Nevada！　　What　did　you　do　with　the　　letter　I　sent　you　to…day　？〃

〃I've　got　it　cinched　here；〃　said　Nevada；　pulling　it　out　from　beneath　　her　opera…cloak。

Gilbert　drew　the　letter　from　the　envelope　and　looked　it　over　　carefully。　　Then　he　looked　at　Nevada　thoughtfully。

〃Didn't　you　think　it　rather　queer　that　I　should　ask　you　to　come　to　my　　studio　at　midnight？〃　he　asked。　〃Why；　no；〃　said　Nevada；　rounding　her　eyes。　　〃Not　if　you　needed　me。　　　Out　West；　when　a　pal　sends　you　a　hurry　callain't　that　what　you　say　　here　？we　get　there　first　and　talk　about　it　after　the　row　is　over。　　　And　it's　usually　snowing　there；　too；　when　things　happen。　　So　I　didn't　　mind。〃

Gilbert　rushed　into　another　room；　and　came　back　burdened　with　　overcoats　warranted　to　turn　wind；　rain；　or　snow。

〃Put　this　raincoat　on；〃　he　said；　holding　it　for　her。　　〃We　have　a　　quarter　of　a　mile　to　go。　　Old　Jack　and　his　sister　will　be　here　in　a　　few　minutes。〃　　He　began　to　struggle　into　a　heavy　coat。　　〃Oh；　Nevada；〃　　he　said；　〃just　look　at　the　head…lines　on　the　front　page　of　that　　evening　paper　on　the　table；　will　you？　　It's　about　your　section　of　the　　West；　and　I　know　it　will　interest　you。〃

He　waited　a　full　minute；　pretending　to　find　trouble　in　the　getting　on　　of　his　overcoat；　and　then　turned。　　Nevada　had　not　moved。　　She　was　　looking　at　him　with　strange　and　pensive　directness。　　Her　cheeks　had　a　　flush　on　them　beyond　the　color　that　had　been　contributed　by　the　wind　　and　snow；　but　her　eyes　were　steady。

〃I　was　going　to　tell　you；〃　she　said；　〃anyhow；　before　youbefore　we　before…well；　before　anything。　　Dad　never　gave　me　a　day　of　schooling。　　　I　never　learned　to　read　or　write　a　darned　word。　　Now　if〃　Pounding　their　uncertain　way　up…stairs；　the　feet　of　Jack；　the　　somnolent；　and　Agnes；　the　grateful；　were　heard。


V


When　Mr。　　and　Mrs。　　Gilbert　Warren　were　spinning　softly　homeward　in　a　　closed　carriage；　after　the　ceremony；　Gilbert　s　said：

〃Nevada；　would　you　really　like　to　know　what　I　wrote　you　in　the　letter　　that　you　received　to…night？〃

〃Fire　away！〃　said　his　bride。

〃Word　for　word；〃　said　Gilbert；　〃it　was　this：　'My　dear　Miss　Warren…You　　were　right　about　the　flower。　　It　was　a　hydrangea；　and　not　a　lilac。'

〃All　right；〃　said　Nevada。　　〃But　let's　forget　it。　　The　joke's　on　　Barbara；　anyway！〃




THIMBLE；　THIMBLE



These　are　the　directions　for　finding　the　I　office　of　Carteret　&　　Carteret；　Mill　Supplies　and　Leather　Belting：　You　follow　the　Broadway　trail　down　until　you　pass　the　Crosstown　Line；　　the　Bread　Line；　and　the　Dead　Line；　and　come　to　the　Big　Canons　of　the　　Moneygrubber　Tribe。　　Then　you　turn　to　the　left；　to　the　right；　dodge　a　　push…cart　and　the　tongue　of　a　two…ton；　four…horse　dray　and　hop；　skip；　　and　jump　to　a　granite　ledge　on　the　side　of　a　twenty…one…story　　synthetic　mountain　of　stone　and　iron。　　In　the　twelfth　story　is　the　　office　of　Carteret　&　Carteret。　　The　factory　where　they　make　the　mill　　supplies　and　leather　belting　is　in　Brooklyn。　　Those　commoditiesto　　say　nothing　of　Brooklynnot　being　of　interest　to　you；　let　us　hold　the　　incidents　within　the　confines　of　a　one…act；　one…scene　play；　thereby　　lessening　the　toil　of　the　reader　and　the　expenditure　of　the　publisher。　　　So；　if　you　have　the　courage　to　face　four　pages　of　type　and　Carteret　&　　Carteret's　office　boy；　Percival；　you　shall　sit　on　a　varnished　chair　in　　the　inner　office　and　peep　at　the　little　comedy　of　the　Old　Nigger　Man；　　the　Hunting…Case　Watch；　and　the　Open…Faced　Questionmostly　borrowed　　from　the　late　Mr。　　Frank　Stockton；　as　you　will　conclude。

First；　biography　（but　pared　to　the　quick）　must　intervene。　　I　am　for　　the　inverted　sugar…coated　quinine　pillthe　bitter　on　the　outside。

The　Carterets　were；　or　was　（Columbia　College　professors　please　rule）；　　an　old　Virginia　family。　　Long　time　ago　the　gentlemen　of　the　family　had　　worn　lace　ruffles　and　carried　tinless　foils　and　owned　plantations　and　　had　slaves　to　burn。　　But　the　war　had　greatly　reduced　their　holdings。　　　（Of　course　you　can　perceive　at　once　that　this　flavor　has　been　　shoplifted　from　Mr。　　F。　　Hopkinson　Smith；　in　spite　of　the　〃et〃　after　　〃Carter。〃）　　Well；　anyhow：

In　digging　up　the　Carteret　history　I　shall　not　take　you　farther　back　　than　the　year　1620。　　The　two　original　American　Carterets　came　over　in　　that　year；　but　by　different　means　of　transportation。　　One　brother；　　named　John；　came　in　the　Mayflower　and　became　a　Pilgrim　Father。　　You've　　seen　his　picture　on　the　covers　of　the　Thanksgiving　magazines；　hunting　　turkeys　in　the　deep　snow　with　a　blunderbuss。　　Blandford　Carteret；　the　　other　brother；　crossed　the　pond　in　his　own　brigantine；　landed　on　the　　Virginia　coast；　and　became　an　F。F。V。　　John　became　distinguished　for　　piety　and　shrewdness　in　business；　Blandford　for　his　pride；　juleps；　　marksmanship；　and　vast　slave…cultivated　plantations。

Then　came　the　Civil　War。　　（I　must　condense　this　historical　　interpolation。）　　Stonewall　Jackson　was　shot；　Lee　surrendered；　Grant　

toured　the　world；　cotton　went　to　nine　cents；　Old　Crow　whiskey　and　Jim　　Crow　cars　were　invented；　the　Seventy…ninth　Massachusetts　Volunteers　　returned　to　the　Ninety…seventh　Alabama　Zouaves　the　battle　flag　of　　Lundy's　Lane　which　they　bought　at　a　second…hand　store　in　Chelsea　kept　　by　a　man　named　Skzchnzski；　Georgia　sent　the　President　a　sixty…pound　　watermelonand　that　brings　us　up　to　the　time　when　the　story　begins。　　　My！　but　that　was　sparring　for　an　opening！　　I　really　must　brush　op　on　　my　Aristotle。

The　Yankee　Carterets　went　into　business　in　New　York　long　before　the　　war。　　Their　house；　as　far　as　Leather　Belting　and　Mill　Supplies　was　　concerned；　was　as　musty　and　arrogant　and　solid　as　one　of　those　old　　East　India　tea…importing　concerns　that　you　read　about　in　Dickens。　　　There　were　some　rumors　of　a　war　behind　its　counters；　but　not　enough　to　　affect　the　business。

During　and　after　the　war；　Blandford　Carteret；　F。F。V。；　lost　his　　plantations；　juleps；　marksmanship；　and　life。　　He　bequeathed　little　　more　than　his　pride　to　his　surviving　family。　　So　it　came　to　pass　that　　Blandford　Carteret；　the　Fifth；　aged　fifteen；　was　invited　by　the　　leather…and…millsupplies　branch　of　that　name　to　come　North　and　learn　　business　instead　of　hunting　foxes　and　boasting　of　the　glory　of　his　　fathers　on　the　reduced　acres　of　his　impoverished　family。　　The　boy　　jumped　at　the　chance；　and；　at　the　age　of　twenty…five；　sat　in　the　　office　of　the　firm　equal　partner　with　John；　the　Fifth；　of　the　　blunderbuss…and…turkey　branch。　　Here　the　story　begins　again。

The　young　men　were　about　the　same　age；　smooth　of　face；　alert；　easy　of　　manner；　and　with　an　air　that　promised　mental　and　physical　quickness。　　　They　were　razored；　blue…serged；　straw…hatted；　and　pearl　stick…pinned　　like　other　young　New　Yorkers　who　might　be　millionaires　or　bill　clerks。

One　afternoon　at　four　o'clock；　in　the　private　office　of　the　firm；　　Blandford　Carteret　opened　a　letter　that　a　clerk　had　just　brought　to　　his