an episode of fiddletown-第5章

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good　deed　that　certain　expansiveness　of　the　chest；　and　swelling　of

the　bosom；　that　was　really　due　to　the　hidden　presence　of　the　scarf

and　tablecloth　under　his　blouse。　　For　Mrs。　Tretherick　was　still

poetically　sensitive。　　As　the　gray　fog　deepened　into　night；　she

drew　Carry　closer　toward　her；　and；　above　the　prattle　of　the　child；

pursued　a　vein　of　sentimental　and　egotistic　recollection　at　once

bitter　and　dangerous。　　The　sudden　apparition　of　Ah　Fe　linked　her

again　with　her　past　life　at　Fiddletown。　　Over　the　dreary　interval

between；　she　was　now　wanderinga　journey　so　piteous；　willful；

thorny；　and　useless　that　it　was　no　wonder　that　at　last　Carry

stopped　suddenly　in　the　midst　of　her　voluble　confidences　to　throw

her　small　arms　around　the　woman's　neck；　and　bid　her　not　to　cry。



Heaven　forefend　that　I　should　use　a　pen　that　should　be　ever

dedicated　to　an　exposition　of　unalterable　moral　principle　to

transcribe　Mrs。　Tretherick's　own　theory　of　this　interval　and

episode；　with　its　feeble　palliations；　its　illogical　deductions；　its

fond　excuses；　and　weak　apologies。　　It　would　seem；　however；　that　her

experience　had　been　hard。　　Her　slender　stock　of　money　was　soon

exhausted。　　At　Sacramento　she　found　that　the　composition　of　verse；

although　appealing　to　the　highest　emotions　of　the　human　heart；　and

compelling　the　editorial　breast　to　the　noblest　commendation　in　the

editorial　pages；　was　singularly　inadequate　to　defray　the　expenses

of　herself　and　Carry。　　Then　she　tried　the　stage；　but　failed

signally。　　Possibly　her　conception　of　the　passions　was　different

from　that　which　obtained　with　a　Sacramento　audience；　but　it　was

certain　that　her　charming　presence；　so　effective　at　short　range；

was　not　sufficiently　pronounced　for　the　footlights。　　She　had

admirers　enough　in　the　greenroom；　but　awakened　no　abiding　affection

among　the　audience。　　In　this　strait；　it　occurred　to　her　that　she

had　a　voicea　contralto　of　no　very　great　compass　or　cultivation；

but　singularly　sweet　and　touching；　and　she　finally　obtained

position　in　a　church　choir。　　She　held　it　for　three　months；　greatly

to　her　pecuniary　advantage；　and；　it　is　said；　much　to　the

satisfaction　of　the　gentlemen　in　the　back　pews；　who　faced　toward

her　during　the　singing　of　the　last　hymn。



I　remember　her　quite　distinctly　at　this　time。　　The　light　that

slanted　through　the　oriel　of　St。　Dives's　choir　was　wont　to　fall

very　tenderly　on　her　beautiful　head　with　its　stacked　masses　of

deerskin…colored　hair；　on　the　low　black　arches　of　her　brows；　and　to

deepen　the　pretty　fringes　that　shaded　her　eyes　of　Genoa　velvet。

Very　pleasant　it　was　to　watch　the　opening　and　shutting　of　that

small　straight　mouth；　with　its　quick　revelation　of　little　white

teeth；　and　to　see　the　foolish　blood　faintly　deepen　her　satin　cheek

as　you　watched。　　For　Mrs。　Tretherick　was　very　sweetly　conscious　of

admiration　and；　like　most　pretty　women；　gathered　herself　under　your

eye　like　a　racer　under　the　spur。



And　then；　of　course；　there　came　trouble。　　I　have　it　from　the

sopranoa　little　lady　who　possessed　even　more　than　the　usual

unprejudiced　judgment　of　her　sexthat　Mrs。　Tretherick's　conduct

was　simply　shameful；　that　her　conceit　was　unbearable；　that；　if　she

considered　the　rest　of　the　choir　as　slaves；　she　（the　soprano）　would

like　to　know　it；　that　her　conduct　on　Easter　Sunday　with　the　basso

had　attracted　the　attention　of　the　whole　congregation；　and　that　she

herself　had　noticed　Dr。　Cope　twice　look　up　during　the　service；　that

her　（the　soprano's）　friends　had　objected　to　her　singing　in　the

choir　with　a　person　who　had　been　on　the　stage；　but　she　had　waived

this。　　Yet　she　had　it　from　the　best　authority　that　Mrs。　Tretherick

had　run　away　from　her　husband；　and　that　this　red…haired　child　who

sometimes　came　in　the　choir　was　not　her　own。　　The　tenor　confided　to

me　behind　the　organ　that　Mrs。　Tretherick　had　a　way　of　sustaining　a

note　at　the　end　of　a　line　in　order　that　her　voice　might　linger

longer　with　the　congregationan　act　that　could　be　attributed　only

to　a　defective　moral　nature；　that　as　a　man　（he　was　a　very　popular

dry　goods　clerk　on　weekdays；　and　sang　a　good　deal　from　apparently

behind　his　eyebrows　on　the　Sabbath）that　as　a　man；　sir；　he　would

put　up　with　it　no　longer。　　The　basso　alonea　short　German　with　a

heavy　voice；　for　which　he　seemed　reluctantly　responsible；　and

rather　grieved　at　its　possessionstood　up　for　Mrs。　Tretherick；　and

averred　that　they　were　jealous　of　her　because　she　was　〃bretty。〃

The　climax　was　at　last　reached　in　an　open　quarrel；　wherein　Mrs。

Tretherick　used　her　tongue　with　such　precision　of　statement　and

epithet　that　the　soprano　burst　into　hysterical　tears；　and　had　to　be

supported　from　the　choir　by　her　husband　and　the　tenor。　　This　act

was　marked　intentionally　to　the　congregation　by　the　omission　of　the

usual　soprano　solo。　　Mrs。　Tretherick　went　home　flushed　with

triumph；　but　on　reaching　her　room　frantically　told　Carry　that　they

were　beggars　henceforward；　that　sheher　motherhad　just　taken　the

very　bread　out　of　her　darling's　mouth；　and　ended　by　bursting　into　a

flood　of　penitent　tears。　　They　did　not　come　so　quickly　as　in　her

old　poetical　days；　but　when　they　came　they　stung　deeply。　　She　was

roused　by　a　formal　visit　from　a　vestrymanone　of　the　music

committee。　　Mrs。　Tretherick　dried　her　long　lashes；　put　on　a　new

neck　ribbon；　and　went　down　to　the　parlor。　　She　staid　there　two

hoursa　fact　that　might　have　occasioned　some　remark　but　that　the

vestryman　was　married；　and　had　a　family　of　grownup　daughters。　　When

Mrs。　Tretherick　returned　to　her　room；　she　sang　to　herself　in　the

glass　and　scolded　Carrybut　she　retained　her　place　in　the　choir。



It　was　not　long；　however。　　In　due　course　of　time；　her　enemies

received　a　powerful　addition　to　their　forces　in　the　committeeman's

wife。　　That　lady　called　upon　several　of　the　church　members　and　on

Dr。　Cope's　family。　　The　result　was　that；　at　a　later　meeting　of　the

music　committee；　Mrs。　Tretherick's　voice　was　declared　inadequate　to

the　size　of　the　building　and　she　was　invited　to　resign。　　She　did

so。　　She　had　been　out　of　a　situation　for　two　months；　and　her　scant

means　were　almost　exhausted；　when　Ah　Fe's　unexpected　treasure　was

tossed　into　her　lap。



The　gray　fog　deepened　into　night；　and　the　street　lamps　started　into

shivering　life　as；　absorbed　in　these　unprofitable　memories；　Mrs。

Tretherick　still　sat　drearily　at　her　window。　　Even　Carry　had

slipped　away　unnoticed；　and　her　abrupt　entrance　with　the　damp

evening　paper　in　her　hand　roused　Mrs。　Tretherick；　and　brought　her

back　to　an　active　realization　of　the　present。　　For　Mrs。　Tretherick

was　wont　to　scan　the　advertisements　in　the　faint　hope　of　finding

some　avenue　of　employmentshe　knew　not　whatopen　to　her　needs；

and　Carry　had　noted　this　habit。



Mrs。　Tretherick　mechanically　closed　the　shutters；　lit　the　lights；

and　opened　the　paper。　　Her　eye　fell　instinctively　on　the　following

paragraph　in　the　telegraphic　column：





FIDDLETOWN；　7th。Mr。　James　Tretherick；　an　old　resident　of　this

place；　died　last　night　of　delirium　tremens。　　Mr。　Tretherick　was

addicted　to　intemperate　habits；　said　to　have　been　induced　by

domestic　trouble。





Mrs。　Tretherick　did　not　start。　　She　quietly　turned　over　another

page　of　the　paper；　and　glanced　at　Carry。　　The　child　was　absorbed　in

a　book。　　Mrs。　Tretherick　uttered　no　word；　but　during　the　remainder

of　the　evening　was　unusually　silent　and　cold。　　When　Carry　was

undressed　and　in　bed；　Mrs。　Tretherick　suddenly　dropped　on　her　knees

beside　the　bed；　and；　taking　Carry's　flaming　head　between　her　hands；

said：



〃Should　you　like　to　have　another　papa；　Carry；　darling？〃



〃No；〃　said　Carry；　after　a　moment's　thought。



〃But　a　papa　to　help　Mamma　take　care　of　you；　to　love　you；　to　give

you　nice　clothes；　to　make　a　lady　of　you　when　you　grow　up？〃



Carry　turned　her　sleepy　eyes　toward　the　questioner。　　〃Should　YOU；

Mamma？〃



Mrs。　Tretherick　suddenly　flushed　to　the　roots　of　her　hair。　　〃Go　to

sleep；〃　she　said　sharply；　and　turned　away。



But　at　midnight　the　child　felt　two　white　arms　close　tightly　around

her；　and　was　drawn　down　into　a　bosom　that　heaved；　fluttered；　and　at

last　was　broken　up　by　sobs。



〃Don't　ky；　Mamma；〃　whispered　Carry；　with　a　vague　retrospect　of

their　recent　conversation。　　〃Don't　ky。　　I　fink　I　SHOULD　like　a　new

papa；　if　he　loved　you　very　muchvery；　very　much！〃



A　month　afterward；　to　everybody's　astonishment；　Mrs。　Tretherick　was

married。　　The　happy　bridegroom　was　one　Colonel　Starbottle；　recently

elected　to　represent　Calaveras　County　in　the　legislative　councils

of　the　State。　　As　I　cannot　record　the　event　in　finer　language　than

that　used　by　the　correspondent　of　THE　SACRAMENTO　GLOBE；　I　venture

to　quote　some　of　his　graceful　periods。　　〃The　relentless　shafts　of

the　sly　god　have　been　lately　busy　among　our　gallant　Solons。　　We

quote　'one　more　unfortunate。'　　The　latest　victim　is　the　Hon。　C。

Starbottle　of　Calaveras。　　The　fair　enchantress　in　the　case　is　a

beautiful　widow；　a　former　votary　of　Thespis；　and　lately　a

fascinating　St。　Cecilia　of　one　of　the　most　fashionable　churches　of

San　Francisco；　where　she　commanded　a　high　salary。〃



THE　DUTCH　FLAT　INTELLIGENCER　saw　fit；　however；　to　comment　upon　the

fact　with　that　humorous　freedom　characteristic　of　an　unfettered

press。　　〃The　new　Democratic　war　horse　from　Calaveras　has　lately

advented　in　the　legislature　with　a　little　bill　to　change　the　name

of　Tretherick　to　Starbottle。　　They　call　it　a　marriage　certificate

down　there。　　Mr。　Tretherick　has　been　dead　just　one　month；　but　we

presume　the　gallant　colonel　is　not　afraid　of　ghosts。〃　　It　is　but

just　to　Mrs。　Tretherick　to　state　that　the　colonel's　victory　was　by

no　means　an　easy　one。　　To　a　natural　degree　of　coyness　on　the　part

of　the　lady　was　added　the　impediment　of　a　rivala　prosperous

undertaker　from　Sacramento；　who　had　first　seen　and　loved　Mrs。

Tretherick　at　the　theater　and　church；　his　professional　habits

debarring　him　from　ordinary　social　intercourse；　and　indeed　any

other　than　the　most　formal　public　contact　with　the　sex。　　As　this

gentleman　had　made　a　snug　fortune　during　the　felicitous　prevalence

of　a　severe　epidemic；　the　colonel　regarded　him　as　a　dangerous

rival。　　Fortunately；　however；　the　undertaker　was　called　in

professionally　to　lay　out　a　brother　senator；　who　had　unhappily

fallen　by　the　colonel's　pistol　in　an　affair　of　honor；　and　either

deterred　by　physical　consideration　from　rivalry；　or　wisely

concluding　that　the　colonel　was　professionally　valuable；　he

withdrew　from　the　field。



The　honeymoon　was　brief；　and　brought　to　a　close　by　an　untoward

incident。　　During　their　bridal　trip；　Carry　had　been　placed　in　the

charge　of　Colonel　Starbottle's　sister。　　On　their　return　to　the

city；　immediately　on　reaching　their　lodgings；　Mrs。　Starbottle

announced　her　intention　of　at　once　proceeding　to　Mrs。　Culpepper's

to　bring　the　child　home。　　Colonel　Starbottle；　who　had　been

exhibiting　for　some　time　a　certain　uneasiness　which　he　h