the kentons-第12章

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Still　Kenton　did　not　answer；　shutting　his　lips　tight；　and　remembering　his
promise　to　his　wife。

Bittridge　laughed；　as　if　in　amusement　at　what　he　had　done。　　〃Judge；　let
me　say　two　words　to　you　in　private！　　If　you　can't　now；　tell　me　when　you
can。　　We're　going　back　this　evening；　mother　and　I　are；　she　isn't　well；
and　I'm　not　going　to　take　her　to　Washington。　　I　don't　want　to　go　leaving
you　with　the　idea　that　I　wanted　to　insult　Miss　Ellen。　　I　care　too　much
for　her。　　I　want　to　see　you　and　Mrs。　Kenton　about　it。　　I　do；　indeed。　　And
won't　you　let　me　see　you；　somewhere？〃

Kenton　looked　away；　first　to　one　side　and　then　to　another；　and　seemed
stifling。

〃Won't　you　speak　to　me！　　Won't　you　answer　me？　　See　here！　　I'd　get　down　on
my　knees　to　you　if　it　would　do　you　any　good。　　Where　will　you　talk　with
me？〃

〃Nowhere！〃　　shouted　Kenton。　　〃Will　you　go　away；　or　shall　I　strike　you
with　my　stick？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　think；〃　said　Bittridge；　and　suddenly；　in　the　wantonness　of
his　baffled　effrontery；　he　raised　his　hand　and　rubbed　the　back　of　it　in
the　old　man's　face。

Boyne　Kenton　struck　wildly　at　him；　and　Bittridge　caught　the　boy　by　the
arm　and　flung　him　to　his　knees　on　the　marble　floor。　　The　men　reading　in
the　arm…chairs　about　started　to　their　feet；　a　porter　came　running；　and
took　hold　of　Bittridge。　　〃Do　you　want　an　officer；　Judge　Kenton？〃　he
panted。

〃No；　no！〃　　Kenton　answered；　choking　and　trembling。　　〃Don't　arrest　him。
I　wish　to　go　to　my　rooms；　that's　all。　　Let　him　go。　　Don't　do　anything
about　it。〃

〃I'll　help　you；　judge；〃　said　the　porter。　　〃Take　hold　of　this　fellow；〃　he
said　to　two　other　porters　who　came　up。　　〃Take　him　to　the　desk；　and　tell
the　clerk　he　struck　Judge　Kenton；　but　the　judge　don't　want　him　arrested。〃

Before　Kenton　reached　the　elevator　with　Boyne；　who　was　rubbing　his　knees
and　fighting　back　the　tears；　he　heard　the　clerk's　voice　saying；　formally；
to　the　porters；　〃Baggage　out　of　35　and　37〃　and　adding；　as　mechanically；
to　Bittridge：　〃Your　rooms　are　wanted。　　Get　out　of　them　at　once！〃

It　seemed　the　gathering　of　neighborhood　about　Kenton；　where　he　had　felt
himself　so　unfriended；　against　the　outrage　done　him；　and　he　felt　the
sweetness　of　being　personally　championed　in　a　place　where　he　had　thought
himself　valued　merely　for　the　profit　that　was　in　him；　his　eyes　filled；
and　his　voice　failed　him　in　thanking　the　elevator…boy　for　running　before
him　to　ring　the　bell　of　his　apartment。




VIII。

The　next　day；　in　Tuskingum；　Richard；　Kenton　found　among　the　letters　of
his　last　mail　one　which　he　easily　knew　to　be　from　his　sister　Lottie；　by
the　tightly　curled…up　handwriting；　and　by　the　unliterary　look　of　the
slanted　and　huddled　address　of　the　envelope：　The　only　doubt　he　could　have
felt　in　opening　it　was　from　the　unwonted　length　at　which　she　had　written
him；　Lottie　usually　practised　a　laconic　brevity　in　her　notes；　which　were
suited　to　the　poverty　of　her　written　vocabulary　rather　than　the　affluence
of　her　spoken　word。

　　　　　〃Dear　Dick〃　＇her　letter　ran；　tripping　and　stumbling　in　its　course＇；
　　　　　〃I　have　got　to　tell　you　about　something　that　has　just　happened　here；
　　　　　and　you　needent　laugh　at　the　speling；　or　the　way　I　tell　it；　but　just
　　　　　pay　attention　to　the　thing　itself；　if　you　please。　　That　disgusting
　　　　　Bittridge　has　been　here　with　his　horrid　wiggy　old　mother；　and　momma
　　　　　let　him　take　Ellen　to　the　theatre。　　On　the　way　home　he　tried　to　make
　　　　　her　promise　she　would　marry　him　and　at　the　door　he　kissed　her。　　They
　　　　　had　an　awful　night　with　her　hiseterics；　and　I　heard　momma　going　in
　　　　　and　out；　and　trying　to　comfort　her　till　daylight；　nearly。　　In　the
　　　　　morning　I　went　down　with　poppy　and　Boyne　to　breakfast；　and　after　I
　　　　　came　up；　father　went　to　the　reading…room　to　get　a　paper；　and　that
　　　　　Bittridge　was　there　waiting　for　him；　and　wanted　to　speak　with　him
　　　　　about　Ellen。　　Poppa　wouldent　say　a　word　to　him；　and　he　kept
　　　　　following　poppa　up；　to　make　him。　　Boyne　says　be　wouldent　take　no　for
　　　　　an　ansir；　and　hung　on　and　hungon；　till　poppa　threatened　to　hitt　him
　　　　　with　his　cane。　　Then　he　saw　it　was　no　use；　and　he　took　his　hand　and
　　　　　rubbed　it　in　poppa's　face；　and　Boyne　believes　he　was　trying　to　pull
　　　　　poppa's　nose。　　Boyne　acted　like　I　would　have　done；　he　pounded
　　　　　Bittridge　in　the　back；　but　of　course　Bittridge　was　too　strong　for
　　　　　him；　and　threw　him　on　the　floor；　and　Boyne　scraped　his　knee　so　that
　　　　　it　bledd。　　Then　the　porters　came　up；　and　caught　Bittridge；　and
　　　　　wanted　to　send　for　a　policeman；　but　father　wouldent　let　them；　and
　　　　　the　porters　took　Bittridge　to　the　desk　and　the　clerk　told　him　to　get
　　　　　out　instantly　and　they　left　as　soon　as　old　Wiggy　could　get　her
　　　　　things　on。　　I　don't　know　where　they　went；　but　he　told　poppa　they
　　　　　were　going　home　to…day　any　way。　　Now；　Dick；　I　don't　know　what　you
　　　　　will　want　to　do；　and　I　am　not　going　to　put　you　up　to　anything；　but　I
　　　　　know　what　I　would　do；　pretty　well；　the　first　time　Bittridge　showed
　　　　　himself　in　Tuskingum。　　You　can　do　just　as　you　please；　and　I　don't
　　　　　ask　you　to　believe　me　if　you're　think　I'm　so　exciteable　that　I　cant
　　　　　tell　the　truth。　　I　guess　Boyne　will　say　the　same。　　Much　love　to
　　　　　Mary。　　Your　affectionate　sister；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Lottie。

　　　　　〃P。　S。Every　word　Lottie　says　is　true；　but　I　am　not　sure　he　meant
　　　　　to　pull　his　nose。　　The　reason　why　he　threw　me　down　so　easily　is；　I
　　　　　have　grown　about　a　foot；　and　I　have　not　got　up　my　strength。　　BOYNE。

　　　　　〃This　is　strictly　confidential。　　They　don't　know　we
　　　　　are　writing。　　LATTIE。〃


After　reading　this　letter；　Richard　Kenton　tore　it　into　small　pieces；　so
that　there　should　not　be　even　so　much　witness　as　it　bore　to　facts　that
seemed　to　fill　him　with　fury　to　the　throat。　　His　fury　was；　in　agreement
with　his　temperament；　the　white　kind　and　cold　kind。　　He　was　able　to　keep
it　to　himself　for　that　reason；　at　supper　his　wife　knew　merely　that　he　had
something　on　his　mind　that　he　did　not　wish　to　talk　of；　and　experience　had
taught　her　that　it　would　be　useless　to　try　making　him　speak。

He　slept　upon　his　wrath；　and　in　the　morning　early；　at　an　hour　when　he
knew　there　would　be　no　loafers　in　the　place；　he　went　to　an　out…dated
saddler's　shop；　and　asked　the　owner；　a　veteran　of　his　father's　regiment；
〃Welks；　do　you　happen　to　have　a　cowhide　among　your　antiquities？〃

〃Regular　old　style？〃　　Welks　returned。　　〃Kind　they　make　out　of　a　cow's
hide　and　use　on　a　man's？〃

〃Something　of　that　sort；〃　said　Richard；　with　a　slight　smile。

The　saddler　said　nothing　more；　but　rummaged　among　the　riff…raff　on　an
upper　shelf。　　He　got　down　with　the　tapering；　translucent；　wicked…looking
thing　in　his　hand。　　〃I　reckon　that's　what　you're　after；　squire。〃

〃Reckon　it　is；　Welks；〃　said　Richard；　drawing　it　through　his　tubed　left
hand。　　Then　he　buttoned　it　under　his　coat；　and　paid　the　quarter　which
Welks　said　had　always　been　the　price　of　a　cowhide　even　since　he　could
remember；　and　walked　away　towards　the　station。

〃How's　the　old　colonel〃　　Welks　called　after　him；　having　forgotten　to　ask
before。

〃The　colonel's　all　right；〃　Richard　called　back；　without　looking　round。

He　walked　up　and　down　in　front　of　the　station。　　A　local　train　came　in
from　Ballardsville　at　8。15；　and　waited　for　the　New　York　special；　and　then
returned　to　Ballardsville。　　Richard　had　bought　a　ticket　for　that　station；
and　was　going　to　take　the　train　back；　but　among　the　passengers　who
descended　from　it　when　it　drew　in　was　one　who　saved　him　the　trouble　of
going。

Bittridge；　with　his　overcoat　hanging　on　his　arm；　advanced　towards　him
with　the　rest；　and　continued　to　advance；　in　a　sort　of　fascination；　after
his　neighbors；　with　the　instinct　that　something　was　about　to　happen；
parted　on　either　side　of　Richard；　and　left　the　two　men　confronted。　
Richard　did　not　speak；　but　deliberately　reached　out　his　left　hand；　which
he　caught　securely　into　Bittridge's　collar；　then　he　began　to　beat　him
with　the　cowhide　wherever　he　could　strike　his　writhing　and　twisting
shape。　　Neither　uttered　a　word；　and　except　for　the　whir　of　the　cowhide　in
the　air；　and　the　rasping　sound　of　its　arrest　upon　the　body　of　Bittridge；
the　thing　was　done　in　perfect　silence。　　The　witnesses　stood　well　back　in
a　daze；　from　which　they　recovered　when　Richard　released　Bittridge　with　a
twist　of　the　hand　that　tore　his　collar　loose　and　left　his　cravat
dangling；　and　tossed　the　frayed　cowhide　away；　and　turned　and　walked
homeward。　　Then　one　of　them　picked　up　Bittridge's　hat　and　set　it　aslant
on　his　head；　and　others　helped　pull　his　collar　together　and　tie　his
cravat。

For　the　few　moments　that　Richard　Kenton　remained　in　sight　they　scarcely
found　words　coherent　enough　for　question；　and　when　they　did；　Bittridge
had　nothing　but　confused　answers　to　give　to　the　effect　that　he　did　not
know　what　it　meant；　but　he　would　find　out。　　He　got　into　a　hack　and　had
himself　driven　to　his　hotel；　but　he　never　made　the　inquiry　which　he
threatened。

In　his　own　house　Richard　Kenton　lay　down　awhile；　deadly　sick；　and　his
wife　had　to　bring　him　brandy　before　he　could　control　his　nerves
sufficiently　to　speak。　　Then　he　told　her　what　he　had　done；　and　why；　and
Mary　pulled　off　his　shoes　and　put　a　hot…water　bottle　to　his　cold　feet。　
It　was　not　exactly　the　treatment　for　a　champion；　but　Mary　Kenton　was　not
thinking　of　that；　and　when　Richard　said　he　still　felt　a　little　sick　at
the　stomach　she　wanted　him　to　try　a　drop　of　camphor　in　addition　to　the
brandy。　　She　said　he　must　not　talk；　but　she　wished　him　so　much　to　talk
that　she　was　glad　when　he　began。

〃It　seemed　to　be　something　I　had　to　do；　Mary；　but　I　would　give　anything
if　I　had　not　been　obliged　to　do　it：

〃Yes；　I　know　just　how　you　feel；　Dick；　and　I　think　it's　pretty　hard　this
has　come　on　you。　　I　do　think　Ellen　might〃

〃It　wasn't　her　fault；　Mary。　　You　mustn't　blame　her。　　She's　had　more　to
bear　than　all　the　rest　of　us。〃　　Mary　looked　stubbornly　unconvinced；　and
she　was　not　moved；　apparently；　by　what　he　went　on　to　say。　　〃The　thing　now
is　to　keep　what　I've　done　from　making　more　mischief　for　her。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　Dick？　　You　don't　believe　he'll　do　anything　about　it；
do　you？〃

〃No；　I'm　not　afraid　of　that。　　His　mouth　is　shut。　　But　you　can't　tell　how
Ellen　will　take　it。　　She　may　side　with　him　now。〃

〃Dick！　　If　I　thought　Ellen　Kenton　could　be　such　a　fool　as　that！〃

〃If　she's　in　love　with　him　she'll　take　his　part。〃

〃But　she　can't　be　in　love　with　him　when　she　knows　how　he　acted　to　your
father！〃

〃We　can't　be　sure　of　that。　　I　know　how　he　acted　to　father；　but　at　this
minute　I　pity　him　so　that　I　could　take　his　part　against　father。　　And　I
can　understand　how　Ellen　　Anyway；　I　must　make　a　clean　breast　of　it。　
What　day　is　this　Thursday？　　And　they　sail　Saturday！　　I　must　write〃

He　lifted　himself　on　his　elbow；　and　made　as　if　to　throw　off　the　shawl　she
had　spread　upon　him。

〃No；　no！　　I　will　write；　Dick！　　I　will　write　to　your　mother。　　What　shall　I
say？〃　　She　whirled　about；　and　got　the　paper　and　ink　out　of　her　writing…
desk；　and　sat　down　near　him　to　keep　him　from　getting　up；　and　wrote　the
date；　and　the　address；　〃Dear　Mother　Kenton；〃　which　was　the　way　she　always
began　her　letters　to　Mrs。　Kenton；　in　order　to　distinguish　her　fr