the voice of the city-第14章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



ture　had　been　combined　into　a　love　story　that　took

you　by　the　throat　like　the　quinsy。　　I　broke　into

Pettit's　room　and　beat　him　on　the　back　and　called

him　name　　names　high　up　in　the　galaxy　of　the　im…

mortals　that　we　admired。　　And　Pettit　yawned　and

begged　to　be　allowed　to　sleep。



On　the　morrow；　I　dragged　him　to　an　editor。　　The

great　man　read；　and；　rising；　gave　Pettit　his　hand。

That　was　a　decoration；　a　wreath　of　bay；　and　a　guar…

antee　of　rent。



And　then　old　Pettit　smiled　slowly。　　I　call　him　Gen…

tleman　Pettit　now　to　myself。　　It's　a　miserable　name

to　give　a　man；　but　it　sounds　better　than　it　looks　in

print。



〃I　see；〃　said　old　Pettit；　as　he　took　up　his　story

and　began　tearing　it　into　small　strips。　　〃I　see　the

game　now。　　You　can't　write　with　ink；　and　you　can't

write　with　your　own　heart's　blood；　but　you　can　write

with　the　heart's　blood　of　some　one　else。　　You　have

to　be　a　cad　before　you　can　be　an　artist。　　Well；　I　am

for　old　Alabam　and　the　Major's　store。　　Have　you

got　a　light；　Old　Hoss？〃



I　went　with　Pettit　to　the　depot　and　died　hard。



〃Shakespeare's　sonnets？〃　I　blurted；　making　a　last

stand。　　〃How　about　him？〃



〃A　cad；〃　said　Pettit。　〃They　give　it　to　you；　and

you　sell　it　　love；　you　know。　　I'd　rather　sell　ploughs

for　father。〃



〃But；〃　I　protested；　〃　you　are　reversing　the　de…

cision　of　the　world's　greatest　　〃



〃Good…by；　Old　Hoss；〃　said　Pettit。



〃Critics；〃　I　continued。　　〃　But　　say　　if　the

Major　can　use　a　fairly　good　salesman　and　book…

keeper　down　there　in　the　store；　let　me　know；　will

you？〃









NEMESIS　AND　THE　CANDY　MAN





〃We　sail　at　eight　in　the　morning　on　the　Celtic；〃　said

Honoria；　plucking　a　loose　thread　from　her　lace

sleeve。



〃I　heard　so；〃　said　young　Ives；　dropping　his　hat；

and　muffing　it　as　he　tried　to　catch　it；　〃and　I　came

around　to　wish　you　a　pleasant　voyage。〃



〃Of　course　you　heard　it；〃　said　Honoria；　coldly

sweet；　〃since　we　have　had　no　opportunity　of　inform…

ing　you　ourselves。〃



Ives　looked　at　her　pleadingly；　but　with　little　hope。



Outside　in　the　street　a　high…pitched　voice

chanted；　not　unmusically；　a　commercial　gamut　of

〃Cand…de…ee…ee…s！　　Nice；　fresh　cand…ee…ee…ee…ees！d



〃It's　our　old　candy　man；〃　said　Honoria；　leaning

out　the　window　and　beckoning。　　〃I　want　some　of　his

motto　kisses。　　There's　nothing　in　the　Broadway

shops　half　so　good。〃



The　candy　man　stopped　his　pushcart　in　front　of

the　old　Madison　Avenue　home。　　He　had　a　holiday

and　festival　air　unusual　to　street　peddlers。　　His　tie

was　new　and　bright　red；　and　a　horseshoe　pin；　almost

life…size；　glittered　speciously　from　its　folds。　　His

brown；　thin　face　was　crinkled　into　a　semi…foolish

smile。　　Striped　cuffs　with　dog…head　buttons　covered

the　tan　on　his　wrists。



〃I　do　believe　he's　going　to　get　married；〃　said

Honoria；　pityingly。　　〃I　never　saw　him　taken　that

way　before。　　And　to…day　is　the　first　time　in　months

that　he　has　cried　his　wares；　I　am　sure。〃



Ives　threw　a　coin　to　the　sidewalk。　　The　candy　man

knows　his　customers。　　He　filled　a　paper　bag；　climbed

the　old…fashioned　stoop　and　banded　it　in。

〃I　remember　　〃　said　Ives。



〃Wait；〃　said　Honoria。



She　took　a　small　portfolio　from　the　drawer　of　a

writing　desk　and　from　the　portfolio　a　slip　of　flimsy

paper　one…quarter　of　an　inch　by　two　inches　in　size。



〃This；〃　said　Honoria；　inflexibly；　〃was　wrapped

about　the　first　one　we　opened。〃



〃It　was　a　year　ago；〃　apologized　Ives；　as　he　held

out　his　hand　for　it；





　　　　　　〃As　long　as　skies　above　are　blue



　　　　　　　To　you；　my　love；　I　will　be　true。〃





This　he　read　from　the　slip　of　flimsy　paper。



〃We　were　to　have　sailed　a　fortnight　ago；〃　said

Honoria；　gossipingly。　〃It　　has　been　such　a　warm

summer。　The　town　is　quite　deserted。　There　is　no…

where　to　go。　　Yet　I　am　told　that　one　or　two　of　the

roof　gardens　are　amusing。　　The；　singing　　and　the

dancing　　on　one　or　two　seem　to　have　met　with　ap…

proval。〃



Ives　did　not　wince。　　When　you　are　in　the　ring　you

are　not　surprised　when　your　adversary　taps　you　on

the　ribs。



〃I　followed　the　candy　man　that　time；〃　said　Ives；

irrelevantly；　〃and　gave　him　five　dollars　at　the　corner

of　Broadway。〃



He　reached　for　the　paper　bag　in　Honoria's　lap；

took　out　one　of　the　square；　wrapped　confections　and

slowly　unrolled　it。



Sara　Chillingworth's　father；〃　said　Honoria；

〃has　given　her　an　automobile。〃



〃Read　that；〃　said　Ives；　handing　over　the　slip　that

had　been　wrapped　around　the　square　of　candy。





　　　〃Life　teaches　us　　how　to　live；



　　　　Love　teaches　us　　to　forgive。〃





Honoria's　checks　turned　pink。

〃Honoria！〃　cried　Ives；　starting　up　from　his　chair。



〃Miss　Clinton；〃　corrected　Honoria；　rising　like

Venus　from　the　head　on　the　surf。　　〃I　warned　you

not　to　speak　that　name　again。〃'



〃Honoria；〃　repeated　Ives；　〃you　must　bear　me。　　I

know　I　do　not　deserve　your　forgiveness；　but　I　must

have　it。　　There　is　a　madness　that　possesses　one　some…

times　for　which　his　better　nature　is　not　responsible。

I　throw　everything　else　but　you　to　the　winds。　　I

strike　off　the　chains　that　have　bound　me。　　I　re…

nounce　the　siren　that　lured　me　from　you。　　Let　the

bought　verse　of　that　street　peddler　plead　for　me。　　It

is　you　only　whom　I　can　love。　　Let　your　love　forgive；

and　I　swear　to　you　that　mine　will　be　true　'as　long

as　skies　above　are　blue。'



On　the　west　side；　between　Sixth　and　Seventh　Ave…

nues；　an　alley　cuts　the　block　in　the　middle。　It　per…

ishes　in　a　little　court　in　the　centre　of　the　block。　The

district　is　theatrical；　the　inhabitants；　the　bubbling

froth　of　half　a　dozen　nations。　　The　atmosphere　is

Bohemian；　the　language　polyglot；　the　locality　pre…

carious。



In　the　court　at　the　rear　of　the　alley　lived　the　candy

man。　　At　seven　o'clock　be　pushed　his　cart　into　the

narrow　entrance；　rested　it　upon　the　irregular　stone

slats　and　sat　upon　one　of　the　handles　to　cool　himself。

There　was　a　great　draught　of　cool　wind　through　the

alley。



There　was　a　window　above　the　spot　where　be　al…

ways　stopped　his　pushcart。　　In　the　cool　of　the　after…

noon；　Mlle。　　Adele；　drawing　card　of　the　Aerial　Roof

Garden；　sat　at　the　window　and　took　the　air。　　Gen…

erally　her　ponderous　mass　of　dark　auburn　hair　was

down；　that　the　breeze　might　have　the　felicity　of　aid…

ing　Sidonie；　the　maid；　in　drying　and　airing　it。

About　her　shoulders　　the　point　of　her　that　the　pho…

tographers　always　made　the　most　of　　was　loosely

draped　a　heliotrope　scarf。　　Her　arms　to　the　elbow

were　bare　　there　were　no　sculptors　there　to　rave

over　them　　but　even　the　stolid　bricks　in　the　walls

of　the　alley　should　not　have　been　so　insensate　as　to

disapprove。　　While　she　sat　thus　Fe1ice；　another　maid；

anointed　and　bathed　the　small　feet　that　twinkled　and

so　charmed　the　nightly　Aerial　audiences。



Gradually　Mademoiselle　began　to　notice　the　candy

man　stopping　to　mop　his　brow　and　cool　himself　be…

neath　her　window。　　In　the　hands　of　her　maids　she

was　deprived　for　the　time　of　her　vocation　　the

charming　and　binding　to　her　chariot　of　man。　　To

lose　time　was　displeasing　to　Mademoiselle。　　Here

was　the　candy　man　…　no　fit　game　for　her　darts；　truly

　but　of　the　sex　upon　which　she　had　been　born　to

make　war。



After　casting　upon　him　looks　of　unseeing　coldness

for　a　dozen　times；　one　afternoon　she　suddenly　thawed

and　poured　down　upon　him　a　smile　that　put　to　shame

the　sweets　upon　his　cart。



〃Candy　man；〃　she　said；　cooingly；　while　Sidonie

followed　her　impulsive　dive；　brushing　the　heavy

auburn　hair；　〃don't　you　think　I　am　beautiful？



The　candy　man　laughed　harshly；　and　looked　up；

with　his　thin　jaw　set；　while　he　wiped　his　forehead

with　a　red…and…blue　handkerchief



〃Yer'd　make　a　dandy　magazine　cover；〃　he　said；

grudgingly。　　〃Beautiful　or　not　is　for　them　that

cares。　　It's　not　my　line。　　If　yer　lookin'　for　bou…

quets　apply　elsewhere　between　nine　and　twelve。　　I

think　we'll　have　rain。〃



Truly；　fascinating　a　candy　man　is　like　killing　rab…

bits　in　a　deep　snow；　but　the　hunter's　blood　is　widely

diffused。　　Mademoiselle　tugged　a　great　coil　of

hair　from　Sidonie's　bands　and　let　it　fall　out　the

window。



〃Candy　man；　have　you　a　sweetheart　anywhere

with　hair　as　long　and　soft　as　that？　　And　with　an　arm

so　round？　〃　She　flexed　an　arm　like　Galatea's　after

the　miracle　across　the　window…sill。



The　candy　man　cackled　shrilly　as　he　arranged　a

stock　of　butter…scotch　that　had　tumbled　down。



〃Smoke　up！〃　said　he；　vulgarly。　　〃Nothin'　doin'

in　the　complimentary　line。　I'm　too　wise　to　be　bam…

boozled　by　a　switch　of　hair　and　a　newly　massaged

arm。　　Oh；　I　guess　you'll　make　good　in　the　calcium；

all　right；　with　plenty　of　powder　and　paint　on　and　the

orchestra　playing　〃Under　the　Old　Apple　Tree。〃

But　don't　put　on　your　hat　and　chase　downstairs　to

fly　to　the　Little　Church　Around　the　Corner　with　me。

I've　been　up　against　peroxide　and　make…up　boxes　be…

fore。　　Say；　all　joking　aside　　don't　you　think　we'll

have　rain？〃



〃Candy　man；〃　said　Mademoiselle　softly；　with　her

lips　curving　and　her　chin　dimpling；　〃don't　you　think

I'm　pretty？〃



The　candy　man　grinned。

〃Savin'　money；　ain't　yer？　〃　said　be；　〃by　bein'　yer

own　press　agent。　　I　smoke；　but　I　haven't　seen　yer

mug　on　any　of　the　five…cent　cigar　boxes。　　It'd　take

a　new　brand　of　woman　to　get　me　goin'；　anyway。　　I

know　'em　from　sidecombs　to　shoelaces。　　Gimme　a

good　day's　sales　and　steak…and…onions　at　seven　and

a　pipe　and　an　evenin'　paper　back　there　in　the　court；

and　I'll　not　trouble　Lillian　Russell　herself　to　wink　at

me；　if　you　please。〃



Mademoiselle　pouted。



〃Candy　man；〃　she　said；　softly　and　deeply；　〃yet

you　shall　say　that　I　am　beautiful。　　All　men　say　so

and　so　shall　you。〃



The　candy　man　laughed　and　pulled　out　his　pipe。



〃Well；〃　said　be；　〃I　must　be　goin'　in。　There　is　a

story　in　the　evenin'　paper　that　I　am　readin'。　　Men

are　divin'　in　the　seas　for　a　treasure；　and　pirates　are

watchin'　them　from　behind　a　reef。　　And　there　ain't

a　woman　on　land　or　water　or　in　the　air。　　Good…

evenin'。〃　And　he　trundled　his　pushcart　down　the

alley　and　back　to　the　musty　court　where　he　lived。



Incredibly　to　him　who　has　not　learned　woman；

Mademoiselle　sat　at　the　window　each　day　and　spread

her　nets　for　the　ignominious　game。　　Once　she　kept　a

grand　cavalier　waiting　in　her　reception　chamber　for

half　an　hour　while　she　battered　in　vain　the　candy

man's　tough　philosophy。　　His　rough　laugh　chafed　her

vanity　to　its　core。　　Daily　he　sat　on　his　cart　in　the

breeze　of　the　alley　while　her　hair　was　being　ministered

to；　and　daily　the　shafts　of　her　beauty　rebounded

from　his　dull　bosom　pointless　and　ineffectual。　　Un…

worthy　pique　brightened　her　eyes。　　Pride…hurt　she

glowed　upon　him　in　a　way　that　would　have　sent　her

higher　adorers　into　an　egoistic　paradise。　　The　candy

man's　hard　eyes　looked　upon　her　with　a　half…con…

cealed　derision　that　urged　her　to　the　use　of　the　shar