a girl of the limberlost-第50章

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〃Perfectly　sure！〃



〃Do　you　think　you　are　in　any　condition　to　decide　to…night？〃



〃Death　cannot　return　to　life；　father。　　My　love　for

Edith　Carr　is　dead。　　I　hope　never　to　see　her　again。〃



〃If　I　thought　you　could　be　certain　so　soon！　　But；　come

to　think　of　it；　you　are　very　like　me　in　many　ways。　　I　am

with　you　in　this。　　Public　scenes　and　disgraces　I　would

not　endure。　　It　would　be　over　with　me；　were　I　in　your

position；　that　I　know。〃



〃It　is　done　for　all　time；〃　said　Philip　Ammon。　　〃Let　us

not　speak　of　it　further。〃



〃Then；　Phil；〃　the　father　leaned　closer　and　looked　at　the

son　tenderly；　〃Phil；　why　don't　you　go　to　the　Limberlost？〃



〃Father！〃



〃Why　not？　　No　one　can　comfort　a　hurt　heart　like　a

tender　woman；　and；　Phil；　have　you　ever　stopped　to　think

that　you　may　have　a　duty　in　the　Limberlost；　if　you

are　free？　　I　don't　know！　　I　only　suggest　it。　　But；　for　a

country　schoolgirl；　unaccustomed　to　men；　two　months

with　a　man　like　you　might　well　awaken　feelings　of　which

you　do　not　think。　　Because　you　were　safe…guarded　is　no

sign　the　girl　was。　　She　might　care　to　see　you。　　You　can

soon　tell。　　With　you；　she　comes　next　to　Edith；　and　you

have　made　it　clear　to　me　that　you　appreciate　her　in　many

ways　above。　　So　I　repeat　it；　why　not　go　to　the　Limberlost？〃



A　long　time　Philip　Ammon　sat　in　deep　thought。　　At　last

he　raised　his　head。



〃Well；　why　not！〃　he　said。　　〃Years　could　make　me

no　surer　than　I　am　now；　and　life　is　short。　　Please　ask

Banks　to　get　me　some　coffee　and　toast；　and　I　will　bathe

and　dress　so　I　can　take　the　early　train。〃



〃Go　to　your　bath。　　I　will　attend　to　your　packing

and　everything。　　And　Phil；　if　I　were　you；　I　would

leave　no　addresses。〃



〃Not　an　address！〃　said　Philip。　　〃Not　even　Polly。〃



When　the　train　pulled　out；　the　elder　Ammon　went　home

to　find　Hart　Henderson　waiting。



〃Where　is　Phil？〃　he　demanded。



〃He　did　not　feel　like　facing　his　friends　at　present；　and

I　am　just　back　from　driving　him　to　the　station。　　He　said

he　might　go　to　Siam；　or　Patagonia。　　He　would　leave　no　address。〃



Henderson　almost　staggered。　　〃He's　not　gone？　　And　left

no　address？　　You　don't　mean　it！　　He'll　never　forgive　her！〃



〃Never　is　a　long　time；　Hart；〃　said　Mr。　Ammon。　　〃And　it

seems　even　longer　to　those　of　us　who　are　well　acquainted

with　Phil。　　Last　night　was　not　the　last　straw。　　It　was

the　whole　straw…stack。　　It　crushed　Phil　so　far　as　she

is　concerned。　　He　will　not　see　her　again　voluntarily；　and

he　will　not　forget　if　he　does。　　You　can　take　it　from　him；

and　from　me；　we　have　accepted　the　lady's　decision。　　Will　you

have　a　cup　of　coffee？〃



Twice　Henderson　opened　his　lips　to　speak　of　Edith

Carr's　despair。　　Twice　he　looked　into　the　stern；　inflexible

face　of　Mr。　Ammon　and　could　not　betray　her。　　He　held

out　the　ring。



〃I　have　no　instructions　as　to　that；〃　said　the　elder

Ammon；　drawing　back。　　〃Possibly　Miss　Carr　would　have

it　as　a　keepsake。〃



〃I　am　sure　not；〃　said　Henderson　curtly。



〃Then　suppose　you　return　it　to　Peacock。　　I　will　phone　him。　

He　will　give　you　the　price　of　it；　and　you　might　add

it　to　the　children's　Fresh　Air　Fund。　　We　would　be　obliged

if　you　would　do　that。　　No　one　here　cares　to　handle　the　object。〃



〃As　you　choose；〃　said　Henderson。　　〃Good　morning！〃



Then　he　went　to　his　home；　but　he　could　not　think　of　sleep。　

He　ordered　breakfast；　but　he　could　not　eat。　　He　paced　the

library　for　a　time；　but　it　was　too　small。　　Going　on　the

streets　he　walked　until　exhausted；　then　he　called

a　hansom　and　was　driven　to　his　club。　　He　had　thought

himself　familiar　with　every　depth　of　suffering；　that　night

had　taught　him　that　what　he　felt　for　himself　was　not　to　be

compared　with　the　anguish　which　wrung　his　heart　over

the　agony　of　Edith　Carr。　　He　tried　to　blame　Philip　Ammon；

but　being　an　honest　man；　Henderson　knew　that　was　unjust。　

The　fault　lay　wholly　with　her；　but　that　only　made　it

harder　for　him；　as　he　realized　it　would　in　time　for　her。



As　he　sauntered　into　the　room　an　attendant　hurried　to　him。



〃You　are　wanted　most　urgently　at　the　'phone；　Mr。

Henderson；〃　he　said。　　〃You　have　had　three　calls　from

Main　5770。〃



Henderson　shivered　as　he　picked　down　the　receiver　and

gave　the　call。



〃Is　that　you；　Hart？〃　came　Edith's　voice。



〃Yes。〃



〃Did　you　find　Phil？〃



〃No。〃



〃Did　you　try？〃



〃Yes。　　As　soon　as　I　left　you　I　went　straight　there。〃



〃Wasn't　he　home　yet？〃



〃He　has　been　home　and　gone　again。〃



〃Gone！〃



The　cry　tore　Henderson's　heart。



〃Shall　I　come　and　tell　you；　Edith？〃



〃No！　Tell　me　now。〃



〃When　I　reached　the　house　Banks　said　Mr。　Ammon

and　Phil　were　out　in　the　motor；　so　I　waited。　　Mr。　Ammon

came　back　soon。　　Edith；　are　you　alone？〃



〃Yes。　　Go　on！〃



〃Call　your　maid。　　I　can't　tell　you　until　some　one　is

with　you。〃



〃Tell　me　instantly！〃



〃Edith；　he　said　he　had　been　to　the　station。　　He　said

Phil　had　started　to　Siam　or　Patagonia；　he　didn't　know

which；　and　left　no　address。　　He　said〃



Distinctly　Henderson　heard　her　fall。　　He　set　the　buzzer

ringing；　and　in　a　few　seconds　heard　voices；　so　he　knew　she

had　been　found。　　Then　he　crept　into　a　private　den　and

shook　with　a　hard；　nervous　chill。



The　next　day　Edith　Carr　started　on　her　trip　to　Europe。　

Henderson　felt　certain　she　hoped　to　meet　Philip　there。　

He　was　sure　she　would　be　disappointed；　though　he　had　no

idea　where　Ammon　could　have　gone。　　But　after　much

thought　he　decided　he　would　see　Edith　soonest　by

remaining　at　home；　so　he　spent　the　summer　in　Chicago。









CHAPTER　　XXI





WHEREIN　PHILIP　AMMON　RETURNS　TO　THE　LIMBERLOST；

AND　ELNORA　STUDIES　THE　SITUATION





We　must　be　thinking　about　supper；　mother；〃　said　Elnora；

while　she　set　the　wings　of　a　Cecropia　with　much　care。　

〃It　seems　as　if　I　can't　get　enough　to　eat；　or　enough

of　being　at　home。　　I　enjoyed　that　city　house。　　I　don't

believe　I　could　have　done　my　work　if　I　had　been

compelled　to　walk　back　and　forth。　　I　thought　at　first

I　never　wanted　to　come　here　again。　　Now；　I　feel　as　if

I　could　not　live　anywhere　else。〃



〃Elnora；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock；　〃there's　some　one

coming　down　the　road。〃



〃Coming　here；　do　you　think？〃



〃Yes；　coming　here；　I　suspect。〃



Elnora　glanced　quickly　at　her　mother　and　then　turned

to　the　road　as　Philip　Ammon　reached　the　gate。



〃Careful；　mother！〃　the　girl　instantly　warned。　　〃If　you

change　your　treatment　of　him　a　hair's　breadth；　he

will　suspect。　　Come　with　me　to　meet　him。〃



She　dropped　her　work　and　sprang　up。



〃Well；　of　all　the　delightful　surprises！〃　she　cried。



She　was　a　trifle　thinner　than　during　the　previous　summer。　

On　her　face　there　was　a　more　mature；　patient　look；　but

the　sun　struck　her　bare　head　with　the　same　ray　of　red　gold。　

She　wore　one　of　the　old　blue　gingham　dresses；　open

at　the　throat　and　rolled　to　the　elbows。　　Mrs。　Comstock

did　not　appear　at　all　the　same　woman；　but　Philip　saw　only

Elnora；　heard　only　her　greeting。　　He　caught　both　hands

where　she　offered　but　one。



〃Elnora；〃　he　cried；　〃if　you　were　engaged　to　me；　and　we

were　at　a　ball；　among　hundreds；　where　I　offended　you　very

much；　and　didn't　even　know　I　had　done　anything；　and　if　I

asked　you　before　all　of　them　to　allow　me　to　explain；

to　forgive　me；　to　wait；　would　your　face　grow　distorted

and　unfamiliar　with　anger？　　Would　you　drop　my　ring　on　the

floor　and　insult　me　repeatedly？　　Oh　Elnora；　would　you？〃



Elnora's　big　eyes　seemed　to　leap；　while　her　face　grew

very　white。　　She　drew　away　her　hands。



〃Hush；　Phil！　　Hush！〃　she　protested。　　〃That　fever　has

you　again！　　You　are　dreadfully　ill。　　You　don't　know

what　you　are　saying。〃



〃I　am　sleepless　and　exhausted；　I'm　heartsick；　but　I　am

well　as　I　ever　was。　　Answer　me；　Elnora；　would　you？〃



〃Answer　nothing！〃　cried　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃Answer　nothing！　

Hang　your　coat　there　on　your　nail；　Phil；　and　come　split

some　kindling。　　Elnora；　clean　away　that　stuff；　and　set

the　table。　　Can't　you　see　the　boy　is　starved　and　tired？　

He's　come　home　to　rest　and　eat　a　decent　meal。　　Come　on；　Phil！〃



Mrs。　Comstock　marched　away；　and　Philip　hung　his　coat

in　its　old　place　and　followed。　　Out　of　sight　and　hearing

she　turned　on　him。



〃Do　you　call　yourself　a　man　or　a　hound？〃　she　flared。　



〃I　beg　your　pardon〃　stammered　Philip　Ammon。



〃I　should　think　you　would！〃　she　ejaculated。　　〃I'll　admit

you　did　the　square　thing　and　was　a　man　last　summer；

though　I'd　liked　it　better　if　you'd　faced　up　and　told

me　you　were　promised；　but　to　come　back　here　babying；

and　take　hold　of　Elnora　like　that；　and　talk　that　way

because　you　have　had　a　fuss　with　your　girl；　I　don't　tolerate。　

Split　that　kindling　and　I'll　get　your　supper；　and　then　you

better　go。　　I　won't　have　you　working　on　Elnora's　big

heart；　because　you　have　quarrelled　with　some　one　else。　

You'll　have　it　patched　up　in　a　week　and　be　gone　again；　so

you　can　go　right　away。〃



〃Mrs。　Comstock；　I　came　to　ask　Elnora　to　marry　me。〃



〃The　more　fool　you；　then！〃　cried　Mrs。　Comstock。　

〃This　time　yesterday　you　were　engaged　to　another　woman；

no　doubt。　　Now；　for　some　little　flare…up　you　come　racing

here　to　use　Elnora　as　a　tool　to　spite　the　other　girl。　

A　week　of　sane　living；　and　you　will　be　sorry　and　ready　to

go　back　to　Chicago；　or；　if　you　really　are　man　enough　to　be

sure　of　yourself；　she　will　come　to　claim　you。　　She　has

her　rights。　　An　engagement　of　years　is　a　serious　matter；　and

not　broken　for　a　whim。　　If　you　don't　go；　she'll　come。　

Then；　when　you　patch　up　your　affairs　and　go　sailing　away

together；　where　does　my　girl　come　in？〃



〃I　am　a　lawyer；　Mrs。　Comstock；〃　said　Philip。　　〃It　appeals

to　me　as　beneath　your　ordinary　sense　of　justice　to　decide

a　case　without　hearing　the　evidence。　　It　is　due　me　that

you　hear　me　first。〃



〃Hear　your　side！〃　flashed　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃I'd　a

heap　sight　rather　hear　the　girl！〃



〃I　wish　to　my　soul　that　you　had　heard　and　seen　her　last

night；　Mrs。　Comstock；〃　said　Ammon。　　〃Then；　my　way

would　be　clear。　　I　never　even　thought　of　coming

here　to…day。　　I'll　admit　I　would　have　come　in　time；

but　not　for　many　months。　　My　father　sent　me。〃



〃Your　father　sent　you！　　Why？〃



〃Father；　mother；　and　Polly　were　present　last　night。　

They；　and　all　my　friends；　saw　me　insulted　and　disgraced

in　the　worst　exhibition　of　uncontrolled　temper　any　of　us

ever　witnessed。　　All　of　them　knew　it　was　the　end。　

Father　liked　what　I　had　told　him　of　Elnora；　and　he

advised　me　to　come　here；　so　I　came。　　If　she　does　not

want　me；　I　can　leave　instantly；　but；　oh　I　hoped　she

would　understand！〃



〃You　people　are　not　splitting　wood；〃　called　Elnora。



〃Oh　yes　we　are！〃　answered　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃You　set

out　the　things　for　biscuit；　and　lay　the　table。〃　　She　turned

again　to　Philip。　　〃I　know　considerable　about　your　father；〃

she　said。　　〃I　have　met　your　Uncle's　family　frequently

this　winter。　　I've　heard　your　Aunt　Anna　say　that　she

d