the red cross girl-第4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！


cover　his　real　thoughts　he　said　hurriedly：

〃Take　type…writing；　for　instance。　That　pays　very　well。　The
hours　are　not　difficult。〃

〃And　manicuring？〃　suggested　Sister　Anne。

Sam　exclaimed　in　horror。

〃You！〃　he　cried　roughly。　〃For　you！　Quite　impossible！〃

〃Why　for　me？〃　said　the　girl。

In　the　distress　at　the　thought　Sam　was　jabbing　his　stick　into
the　gravel　walk　as　though　driving　the　manicuring　idea　into　a
deep　grave。　He　did　not　see　that　the　girl　was　smiling　at　him
mockingly。

〃You？〃　protested　Sam。　〃You　in　a　barber's　shop　washing　men's
fingers　who　are　not　fit　to　wash　the　streets　you　walk　on　I
Good　Lord！〃　His　vehemence　was　quite　honest。　The　girl　ceased
smiling。　Sam　was　still　jabbing　at　the　gravel　walk；　his
profile　toward　herand；　unobserved；　she　could　study　his
face。　It　was　an　attractive　face　strong；　clever；　almost
illegally　good…looking。　It　explained　why；　as　；　he　had
complained　to　the　city　editor；　his　chief　trouble　in　New　York
was　with　the　women。　With　his　eyes　full　of　concern；　Sam　turned
to　her　abruptly。　〃How　much　do　they　give　you　a　month？〃　〃Forty
dollars；〃　answered　Sister　Anne。　〃This　is　what　hurts　me　about
it；〃　said　Sam。

It　is　that　you　should　have　to　work　and　wait　on　other　people
when　there　are　so　many　strong；　hulking　men　who　would　count　it
God's　blessing　to　work　for　you；　to　wait　on　you；　and　give
their　lives　for　you。　However；　probably　you　know　that　better
than　I　do。〃

〃No；　I　don't　know　that；〃　said　Sister　Anne。

Sam　recognized　that　it　was　quite　absurd　that　it　should　be　so；
but　this　statement　gave　him　a　sense　of　great　elation；　a
delightful　thrill　of　relief。　There　was　every　reason　why　the
girl　should　not　confide　in　a　complete　strangereven　to
deceive　him　was　quite　within　her　rights；　but；　though　Sam
appreciated　this；　he　preferred　to　be　deceived。

〃I　think　you　are　working　too　hard；〃　he　said；　smiling　happily。
〃I　think　you　ought　to　have　a　change。　You　ought　to　take　a　day
off！　Do　they　ever　give　you　a　day　off？〃

〃Next　Saturday；〃　said　Sister　Anne。　〃Why？〃

〃Because；〃　explained　Sam；　〃if　you　won't　think　it　too
presumptuous；　I　was　going　to　prescribe　a　day　off　for
youa　day　entirely　away　from　iodoform　and　white　enamelled
cots。　It　is　what　you　need；　a　day　in　the　city　and　a　lunch
where　they　have　music；　and　a　matinee；　where　you　can　laughor
cry；　if　you　like　that　betterand　then；　maybe；　some　fresh　air
in　the　park　in　a　taxi；　and　after　that　dinner　and　more
theatre；　and　then　I'll　see　you　safe　on　the　train　for
Greenwich。　Before　you　answer；〃　he　added　hurriedly；　〃I　want　to
explain　that　I　contemplate　taking　a　day　off　myself　and　doing
all　these　things　with　you；　and　that　if　you　want　to　bring　any
of　the　other　forty　nurses　along　as　a　chaperon；　I　hope　you
will。　Only；　honestly；　I　hope　you　won't！〃

The　proposal　apparently　gave　Sister　Anne　much　pleasure。　She
did　not　say　so；　but　her　eyes　shone　and　when　she　looked　at　Sam
she　was　almost　laughing　with　happiness。

〃I　think　that　would　be　quite　delightful；〃　said　Sister　Anne；〃
quite　delightful！　Only　it　would　be　frightfully　expensive；
even　if　I　don't　bring　another　girl；　which　I　certainly　would
not；　it　would　cost　a　great　deal　of　money。　I　think　we　might
cut　out　the　taxicaband　walk　in　the　park　and　feed　the
squirrels。〃

〃Oh！〃　exclaimed　Sam　in　disappointment；〃then　you　know
Central　Park？〃

Sister　Anne's　eyes　grew　quite　expressionless。

〃I　once　lived　near　there；〃　she　said。

〃In　Harlem？〃

〃Not　exactly　in　Harlem；　but　near　it。　I　was　quite　young；〃　said
Sister　Anne。　〃Since　then　I　have　always　lived　in　the　country
or　inother　places。〃

Sam's　heart　was　singing　with　pleasure。

〃It's　so　kind　of　you　to　consent；〃　he　cried。　〃Indeed；　you　are
the　kindest　person　in　all　the　world。　I　thought　so　when　I　saw
you　bending　over　these　sick　people；　and；　now　I　know。〃

〃It　is　you　who　are　kind；〃　protested　Sister　Anne；　〃to　take
pity　on　me。〃

〃Pity　on　you！〃　laughed　Sam。　〃You　can't　pity　a　person　who　can
do　more　with　a　smile　than　old　man　Flagg　can　do　with　all　his
millions。　Now；〃　he　demanded　in　happy　anticipation；〃　where　are
we　to　meet？〃

〃That's　it；〃　said　Sister　Anne。　〃Where　are　we　to　meet？〃

〃Let　it　be　at　the　Grand　Central　Station。　The　day　can't　begin
too　soon；〃　said　Sam；　〃and　before　then　telephone　me　what
theatre　and　restaurants　you　want　and　I'll　reserve　seats　and
tables。　Oh；〃　exclaimed　Sam　joyfully；　〃it　will　be　a　wonderful
daya　wonderful　day！〃

Sister　Anne　looked　at　him　curiously　and；　so；　it　seemed；　a
little　wistfully。　She　held　out　her　hand。

〃I　must　go　back　to　my　duties；〃　she　said。　〃Good…by。〃

〃Not　good…by；〃　said　Sam　heartily；　〃only　until　Saturdayand
my　name's　Sam　Ward　and　my　address　is　the　city　room　of　the
REPUBLIC。　What's　your　name？〃

〃Sister　Anne；〃　said　the　girl。　〃In　the　nursing　order　to　which
I　belong　we　have　no　last　names。〃

〃So；〃　asked　Sam；　〃I'll　call　you　Sister　Anne？〃

〃No；　just　Sister；〃　said　the　girl。

〃Sister！〃　repeated　Sam；　〃Sister！〃　He　breathed　the　word　rather
than　spoke　it；　and　the　way　he　said　it　and　the　way　he　looked
when　he　said　it　made　it　carry　almost　the　touch　of　a　caress。
It　was　as　if　he　had　said　〃Sweetheart！　or　〃Beloved！〃　〃I'll　not
forget；〃　said　Sam。

Sister　Anne　gave　an　impatient；　annoyed　laugh。

〃Nor　I；〃　she　said。

Sam　returned　to　New　York　in　the　smoking…car；　puffing
feverishly　at　his　cigar　and　glaring　dreamily　at　the　smoke。　He
was　living　the　day　over　again　and；　in　anticipation；　the　day
off；　still　to　come。　He　rehearsed　their　next　meeting　at　the
station；　he　considered　whether　or　not　he　would　meet　her　with
a　huge　bunch　of　violets　or　would　have　it　brought　to　her　when
they　were　at　luncheon　by　the　head　waiter。　He　decided　the
latter　way　would　be　more　of　a　pleasant　surprise。　He　planned
the　luncheon。　It　was　to　be　the　most　marvellous　repast　he
could　evolve；　and；　lest　there　should　be　the　slightest　error；
he　would　have　it　prepared　in　advanceand　it　should　cost　half
his　week's　salary。

The　place　where　they　were　to　dine　he　would　leave　to　her；
because　he　had　observed　that　women　had　strange　ideas　about
clothessome　of　them　thinking　that　certain　clothes　must　go
with　certain　restaurants。　Some　of　them　seemed　to　believe
that；　instead　of　their　conferring　distinction　upon　the
restaurant；　the　restaurant　conferred　distinction　upon　them。
He　was　sure　Sister　Anne　would　not　be　so　foolish；　but　it　might
be　that　she　must　always　wear　her　nurse's　uniform　and　that　she
would　prefer　not　to　be　conspicuous；　so　he　decided　that　the
choice　of　where　they　would　dine　he　would　leave　to　her。　He
calculated　that　the　whole　day　ought　to　cost　about　eighty
dollars；　which；　as　star　reporter；　was　what　he　was　then
earning　each　week。　That　was　little　enough　to　give　for　a　day
that　would　be　the　birthday　of　his　life！　No；　he　contradicted
the　day　he　had　first　met　her　must　always　be　the　birthday　of
his　life；　for　never　had　he　met　one　like　her　and　he　was　sure
there　never　would　be　one　like　her。　She　was　so　entirely
superior　to　all　the　others；　so　fine；　so　difficultin　her
manner　there　was　something　that　rendered　her
unapproachable。　Even　her　simple　nurse's　gown　was　worn　with　a
difference。　She　might　have　been　a　princess　in　fancy　dress。
And　yet；　how　humble　she　had　been　when　he　begged　her　to　let
him　for　one　day　personally　conduct　her　over　the　great　city！
〃You　are　so　kind　to　take　pity　on　me；〃　she　had　said。　He
thought　of　many　clever；　pretty　speeches　he　might　have　made。
He　was　so　annoyed　he　had　not　thought　of　them　at　the　time　that
he　kicked　violently　at　the　seat　in　front　of　him。

He　wondered　what　her　history　might　be；　he　was　sure　it　was
full　of　beautiful　courage　and　self…sacrifice。　It　certainly
was　outrageous　that　one　so　glorious　must　work　for　her　living；
and　for　such　a　paltry　livingforty　dollars　a　month！　It　was
worth　that　merely　to　have　her　sit　in　the　flat　where　one　could
look　at　her；　for　already　he　had　decided　that；　when　they　were
married；　they　would　live　in　a　flatprobably　in　one
overlooking　Central　Park；　on　Central　Park　West。　He　knew　of
several　attractive　suites　there　at　thirty…five　dollars　a
weekor；　if　she　preferred　the　suburbs；　he　would　forsake　his
beloved　New　York　and　return　to　the　country。　In　his　gratitude
to　her　for　being　what　she　was；　he　conceded　even　that
sacrifice。

When　he　reached　New　York；　from　the　speculators　he　bought
front…row　seats　at　five　dollars　for　the　two　most　popular
plays　in　town。　He　put　them　away　carefully　in　his　waistcoat
pocket。　Possession　of　them　made　him　feel　that　already　he　had
obtained　an　option　on　six　hours　of　complete　happiness。

After　she　left　Sam；　Sister　Anne　passed　hurriedly　through　the
hospital　to　the　matron's　room　and；　wrapping　herself　in　a
raccoon　coat；　made　her　way　to　a　waiting　motor　car　and　said；
〃Home！〃　to　the　chauffeur。　He　drove　her　to　the　Flagg　family
vault；　as　Flagg's　envious　millionaire　neighbors　called　the
pile　of　white　marble　that　topped　the　highest　hill　above
Greenwich；　and　which　for　years　had　served　as　a　landfall　to
mariners　on　the　Sound。

There　were　a　number　of　people　at　tea　when　she　arrived　and
they　greeted　her　noisily。

〃I　have　had　a　most　splendid　adventure！〃　said　Sister　Anne。
〃There　were　six　of　us；　you　know；　dressed　up　as　Red　Cross
nurses；　and　we　gave　away　programmes。　Well；　one　of　the　New
York　reporters　thought　I　was　a　real　nurse　and　interviewed　me
about　the　Home。　Of　course　I　knew　enough　about　it　to　keep　it
up；　and　I　kept　it　up　so　well　that　he　was　terribly　sorry　for
me；　and。　。　。　。　〃

One　of　the　tea　drinkers　was　little　Hollis　Holworthy；　who
prided　himself　on　knowing　who's　who　in　New　York。　He　had　met
Sam　Ward　at　first　nights　and　prize　fights。　He　laughed
scornfully。

〃Don't　you　believe　it！〃　he　interrupted。　〃That　man　who　was
talking　to　you　was　Sam　Ward。　He's　the　smartest　newspaper　man
in　New　York；　he　was　just　leading　you　on。　Do　you　suppose
there's　a　reporter　in　America　who　wouldn't　know　you　in　the
dark？　Wait　until　you　see　the　Sunday　paper。〃

Sister　Anne　exclaimed　indignantly。

〃He　did　not　know　me！〃　she　protested。　〃It　quite　upset　him　that
I　should　be　wasting　my　life　measuring　out　medicines　and
making　beds。〃

There　was　a　shriek　of　disbelief　and　laughter。

〃I　told　him；〃　continued　Sister　Anne；　〃that　I　got　forty
dollars　a　month；　and　he　said　I　could　make　more　as　a
typewriter；　and　I　said　I　preferred　to　be　a　manicurist。〃

〃Oh；　Anita！〃　protested　the　admiring　chorus。

〃And　he　was　most　indignant。　He　absolutely　refused　to　allow　me
to　be　a　manicurist。　And　he　asked　me　to　take　a　day　off　with
him　and　let　him　show　me　New　York。　And　he　offered；　as
attractions；　moving…picture　shows　and　a　drive　on　a　Fifth
Avenue　bus；　and　feeding　peanuts　to　the　animals　in　the　park。
And　if　I　insisted　upon　a　chaperon　I　might　bring　one　of　the
nurses。　We're　to　meet　at　the　soda…water　fountain　in　the　Grand
Central　Station。　He　said；　'The　day　cannot　begin　too　soon。'〃

〃Oh；　Anita！〃　shrieked　the　chorus。

Lord　Deptford；　who　as　the　newspapers　had　repeatedly　informed
the　American　public；　had　come　to　the　Flaggs'　country…place　to
try　to　marry　Anita　Flagg；　was　amused。

〃What　an　awfully　jolly　rag！〃　he　cried。　〃And　what　are　you
going　to　do　about　it？〃

〃Nothing；〃　said　Anita　Flagg。　〃The　reporters　have　been　making
me　ridiculous　for　the　last　three　years；　now　I　have　got　back
at　one　of　them！　〃And；〃　she　added；　〃that's　all　there　is　to
that！〃

That　night；　however；　when　the　house　party　was　making