winesburg,ohio-第26章

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ightly　he　whispered　the　words　into　the　still　night。　　〃Lust；〃　he　whispered；　〃lust　and　night　and　women。〃

George　Willard　did　not　understand　what　hap…　pened　to　him　that　night　on　the　hillside。　　Later；　when　he　got　to　his　own　room；　he　wanted　to　weep　and　then　grew　half　insane　with　anger　and　hate。　　He　hated　Belle　Carpenter　and　was　sure　that　all　his　life　he　would　continue　to　hate　her。　　On　the　hillside　he　had　led　the　woman　to　one　of　the　little　open　spaces　among　the　bushes　and　had　dropped　to　his　knees　beside　her。　　As　in　the　vacant　lot；　by　the　laborers'　houses；　he　had　put　up　his　hands　in　gratitude　for　the　new　power　in　himself　and　was　waiting　for　the　woman　to　speak　when　Ed　Handby　appeared。

The　bartender　did　not　want　to　beat　the　boy；　who　he　thought　had　tried　to　take　his　woman　away。　　He　knew　that　beating　was　unnecessary；　that　he　had　power　within　himself　to　accomplish　his　purpose　without　using　his　fists。　　Gripping　George　by　the　shoulder　and　pulling　him　to　his　feet；　he　held　him　with　one　hand　while　he　looked　at　Belle　Carpenter　seated　on　the　grass。　　Then　with　a　quick　wide　move…　ment　of　his　arm　he　sent　the　younger　man　sprawling　away　into　the　bushes　and　began　to　bully　the　woman；　who　had　risen　to　her　feet。　　〃You're　no　good；〃　he　said　roughly。　　〃I've　half　a　mind　not　to　bother　with　you。　　I'd　let　you　alone　if　I　didn't　want　you　so　much。〃

On　his　hands　and　knees　in　the　bushes　George　Willard　stared　at　the　scene　before　him　and　tried　hard　to　think。　　He　prepared　to　spring　at　the　man　who　had　humiliated　him。　　To　be　beaten　seemed　to　be　infinitely　better　than　to　be　thus　hurled　ignominiously　aside。

Three　times　the　young　reporter　sprang　at　Ed　Handby　and　each　time　the　bartender；　catching　him　by　the　shoulder；　hurled　him　back　into　the　bushes。　The　older　man　seemed　prepared　to　keep　the　exercise　going　indefinitely　but　George　Willard's　head　struck　the　root　of　a　tree　and　he　lay　still。　　Then　Ed　Handby　took　Belle　Carpenter　by　the　arm　and　marched　her　away。

George　heard　the　man　and　woman　making　their　way　through　the　bushes。　　As　he　crept　down　the　hill…　side　his　heart　was　sick　within　him。　　He　hated　himself　and　he　hated　the　fate　that　had　brought　about　his　humiliation。　　When　his　mind　went　back　to　the　hour　alone　in　the　alleyway　he　was　puzzled　and　stopping　in　the　darkness　listened；　hoping　to　hear　again　the　voice　outside　himself　that　had　so　short　a　time　before　put　new　courage　into　his　heart。　　When　his　way　homeward　led　him　again　into　the　street　of　frame　houses　he　could　not　bear　the　sight　and　began　to　run；　wanting　to　get　quickly　out　of　the　neighborhood　that　now　seemed　to　him　utterly　squalid　and　commonplace。




〃QUEER〃

FROM　HIS　SEAT　on　a　box　in　the　rough　board　shed　that　stuck　like　a　burr　on　the　rear　of　Cowley　&　Son's　store　in　Winesburg；　Elmer　Cowley；　the　junior　member　of　the　firm；　could　see　through　a　dirty　window　into　the　printshop　of　the　Winesburg　Eagle。　　Elmer　was　putting　new　shoelaces　in　his　shoes。　　They　did　not　go　in　readily　and　he　had　to　take　the　shoes　off。　　With　the　shoes　in　his　hand　he　sat　looking　at　a　large　hole　in　the　heel　of　one　of　his　stockings。　　Then　looking　quickly　up　he　saw　George　Willard；　the　only　newspa…　per　reporter　in　Winesburg；　standing　at　the　back　door　of　the　Eagle　printshop　and　staring　absentmindedly　about。　　〃Well；　well；　what　next！〃　exclaimed　the　young　man　with　the　shoes　in　his　hand；　jumping　to　his　feet　and　creeping　away　from　the　window。

A　flush　crept　into　Elmer　Cowley's　face　and　his　hands　began　to　tremble。　　In　Cowley　&　Son's　store　a　Jewish　traveling　salesman　stood　by　the　counter　talk…　ing　to　his　father。　　He　imagined　the　reporter　could　hear　what　was　being　said　and　the　thought　made　him　furious。　　With　one　of　the　shoes　still　held　in　his　hand　he　stood　in　a　corner　of　the　shed　and　stamped　with　a　stockinged　foot　upon　the　board　floor。

Cowley　&　Son's　store　did　not　face　the　main　street　of　Winesburg。　　The　front　was　on　Maumee　Street　and　beyond　it　was　Voight's　wagon　shop　and　a　shed　for　the　sheltering　of　farmers'　horses。　　Beside　the　store　an　alleyway　ran　behind　the　main　street　stores　and　all　day　drays　and　delivery　wagons；　intent　on　bringing　in　and　taking　out　goods；　passed　up　and　down。　　The　store　itself　was　indescribable。　　Will　Henderson　once　said　of　it　that　it　sold　everything　and　nothing。　　In　the　window　facing　Maumee　Street　stood　a　chunk　of　coal　as　large　as　an　apple　barrel；　to　indicate　that　orders　for　coal　were　taken；　and　beside　the　black　mass　of　the　coal　stood　three　combs　of　honey　grown　brown　and　dirty　in　their　wooden　frames。

The　honey　had　stood　in　the　store　window　for　six　months。　　It　was　for　sale　as　were　also　the　coat　hang…　ers；　patent　suspender　buttons；　cans　of　roof　paint；　bottles　of　rheumatism　cure；　and　a　substitute　for　cof…　fee　that　companioned　the　honey　in　its　patient　will…　ingness　to　serve　the　public。

Ebenezer　Cowley；　the　man　who　stood　in　the　store　listening　to　the　eager　patter　of　words　that　fell　from　the　lips　of　the　traveling　man；　was　tall　and　lean　and　looked　unwashed。　　On　his　scrawny　neck　was　a　large　wen　partially　covered　by　a　grey　beard。　　He　wore　a　long　Prince　Albert　coat。　　The　coat　had　been　pur…　chased　to　serve　as　a　wedding　garment。　　Before　he　became　a　merchant　Ebenezer　was　a　farmer　and　after　his　marriage　he　wore　the　Prince　Albert　coat　to　church　on　Sundays　and　on　Saturday　afternoons　when　he　came　into　town　to　trade。　　When　he　sold　the　farm　to　become　a　merchant　he　wore　the　coat　constantly。　　It　had　become　brown　with　age　and　was　covered　with　grease　spots；　but　in　it　Ebenezer　always　felt　dressed　up　and　ready　for　the　day　in　town。

As　a　merchant　Ebenezer　was　not　happily　placed　in　life　and　he　had　not　been　happily　placed　as　a　farmer。　　Still　he　existed。　　His　family；　consisting　of　a　daughter　named　Mabel　and　the　son；　lived　with　him　in　rooms　above　the　store　and　it　did　not　cost　them　much　to　live。　　His　troubles　were　not　financial。　　His　unhappiness　as　a　merchant　lay　in　the　fact　that　when　a　traveling　man　with　wares　to　be　sold　came　in　at　the　front　door　he　was　afraid。　　Behind　the　counter　he　stood　shaking　his　head。　　He　was　afraid；　first　that　he　would　stubbornly　refuse　to　buy　and　thus　lose　the　opportunity　to　sell　again；　second　that　he　would　not　be　stubborn　enough　and　would　in　a　moment　of　weakness　buy　what　could　not　be　sold。

In　the　store　on　the　morning　when　Elmer　Cowley　saw　George　Willard　standing　and　apparently　lis…　tening　at　the　back　door　of　the　Eagle　printshop；　a　situation　had　arisen　that　always　stirred　the　son's　wrath。　　The　traveling　man　talked　and　Ebenezer　lis…　tened；　his　whole　figure　expressing　uncertainty。　　〃You　see　how　quickly　it　is　done；〃　said　the　traveling　man；　who　had　for　sale　a　small　flat　metal　substitute　for　collar　buttons。　　With　one　hand　he　quickly　unfastened　a　collar　from　his　shirt　and　then　fastened　it　on　again。　He　assumed　a　flattering　wheedling　tone。　　〃I　tell　you　what；　men　have　come　to　the　end　of　all　this　fooling　with　collar　buttons　and　you　are　the　man　to　make　money　out　of　the　change　that　is　coming。　　I　am　offer…　ing　you　the　exclusive　agency　for　this　town。　　Take　twenty　dozen　of　these　fasteners　and　I'll　not　visit　any　other　store。　　I'll　leave　the　field　to　you。〃

The　traveling　man　leaned　over　the　counter　and　tapped　with　his　finger　on　Ebenezer's　breast。　　〃It's　an　opportunity　and　I　want　you　to　take　it；〃　he　urged。　〃A　friend　of　mine　told　me　about　you。　　'See　that　man　Cowley；'　he　said。　　'He's　a　live　one。'〃

The　traveling　man　paused　and　waited。　　Taking　a　book　from　his　pocket　he　began　writing　out　the　order。　　Still　holding　the　shoe　in　his　hand　Elmer　Cow…　ley　went　through　the　store；　past　the　two　absorbed　men；　to　a　glass　showcase　near　the　front　door。　　He　took　a　cheap　revolver　from　the　case　and　began　to　wave　it　about。　　〃You　get　out　of　here！〃　he　shrieked。　〃We　don't　want　any　collar　fasteners　here。〃　An　idea　came　to　him。　　〃Mind；　I'm　not　making　any　threat；〃　he　added。　　〃I　don't　say　I'll　shoot。　　Maybe　I　just　took　this　gun　out　of　the　case　to　look　at　it。　　But　you　better　get　out。　　Yes　sir；　I'll　say　that。　　You　better　grab　up　your　things　and　get　out。〃

The　young　storekeeper's　voice　rose　to　a　scream　and　going　behind　the　counter　he　began　to　advance　upon　the　two　men。　　〃We're　through　being　fools　here！〃　he　cried。　　〃We　ain't　going　to　buy　any　more　stuff　until　we　begin　to　sell。　　We　ain't　going　to　keep　on　being　queer　and　have　folks　staring　and　listening。　You　get　out　of　here！〃

The　traveling　man　left。　　Raking　the　samples　of　col…　lar　fasteners　off　the　counter　into　a　black　leather　bag；　he　ran。　　He　was　a　small　man　and　very　bow…legged　and　he　ran　awkwardly。　　The　black　bag　caught　against　the　door　and　he　stumbled　and　fell。　　〃Crazy；　that's　what　he　iscrazy！〃　he　sputtered　as　he　arose　from　the　sidewalk　and　hurried　away。

In　the　store　Elmer　Cowley　and　his　father　stared　at　each　other。　　Now　that　the　immediate　object　of　his　wrath　had　fled；　the　younger　man　was　embarrassed。　〃Well；　I　meant　it。　　I　think　we've　been　queer　long　enough；〃　he　declared；　going　to　the　showcase　and　replacing　the　revolver。　　Sitting　on　a　barrel　he　pulled　on　and　fastened　the　shoe　he　had　been　holding　in　his　hand。　　He　was　waiting　for　some　word　of　under…　standing　from　his　father　but　when　Ebenezer　spoke　his　words　only　served　to　reawaken　the　wrath　in　the　son　and　the　young　man　ran　out　of　the　store　without　replying。　　Scratching　his　grey　beard　with　his　long　dirty　fingers；　the　merchant　looked　at　his　son　with　the　same　wavering　uncertain　stare　with　which　he　had　confronted　the　traveling　man。　　〃I'll　be　starched；〃　he　said　softly。　　〃Well；　well；　I'll　be　washed　and　ironed　and　starched！〃

Elmer　Cowley　went　out　of　Winesburg　and　along　a　country　road　that　paralleled　the　railroad　track。　　He　did　not　know　where　he　was　going　or　what　he　was　going　to　do。　　In　the　shelter　of　a　deep　cut　where　the　road；　after　turning　sharply　to　the　right；　dipped　under　the　tracks　he　stopped　and　the　passion　that　had　been　the　cause　of　his　outburst　in　the　store　began　to　again　find　expression。　　〃I　will　not　be　queerone　to　be　looked　at　and　listened　to；〃　he　declared　aloud。　〃I'll　be　like　other　people。　　I'll　show　that　George　Wil…　lard。　　He'll　find　out。　　I'll　show　him！〃

The　distraught　young　man　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　road　and　glared　back　at　the　town。　　He　did　not　know　the　reporter　George　Willard　and　had　no　spe…　cial　feeling　concerning　the　tall　boy　who　ran　about　town　gathering　the　town　news。　　The　reporter　had　merely　come；　by　his　presence　in　the　office　and　in　the　printshop　of　the　Winesburg　Eagle；　to　stand　for　something　in　the　young　merchant's　mind。　　He　thought　the　boy　who　passed　and　repassed　Cowley　&　Son's　store　and　who　stopped　to　talk　to　people　in　the　street　must　be　thinking　of　him　and　perhaps　laughing　at　him。　　George　Willard；　he　felt；　belonged　to　the　town；　typified　the　town；　represented　in　his　person　the　spirit　of　the　town。　　Elmer　Cowley　could　not　have　believed　that　George　Willard　had　also　his　days　of　unhappiness；　that　vague　hungers　and　secret　unnam…　able　desires　visited　also　his　mind。　　Did　he　not　repre…　sent　public　opinion　and　had　not　the　public　opinion　of　Winesburg　condemned　the　Cowleys　to　queerness？　Did　he　not　walk　whistling　and　laughing　through　Main　Street？　Might　not　one　by　striking　his　person　strike　also　the　greater　enemythe　thing　that　smiled　and　went　its　own　waythe　judgment　of　Winesburg？

Elmer　Cowley　was　extraordinarily　tall　and　his　arms　were　long　and　powerful。　　His　hair；　his　eye…　brows；　and　the　downy　beard　that　had　begun　to　grow　upon　his　chin；　were　pale　almost　to　whiteness