the fortunes of oliver horn-第28章
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These last suggestions being eminently distasteful to the group； were immediately drowned in a series of protests； the noise only ceasing when 〃Fog…horn〃 Cranch mounted a chair and in his best real estate voice commanded silence。
〃Ladies and Gentlemen；〃 thundered the auctioneer； 〃I have the honor to announce that the great barytone； Mr。 Oliver Horn； known to the universe as the 'Musical Cornucopia；' late of the sunny South； and now a resident of this metropolis； will delight this company by singing one of those soul…moving plantation melodies which have made his name famous over two hemispheres。 Mr。 'Pussy Me…ow' Simmons； the distinguished fiddling pianist； late of the Bowery； very late； I may remark； and now on the waiting list at Wallack's Theatreevery other month； I am toldwill accompany him。〃
〃Hear！ Hear！〃 〃Horn！ Horn！〃 〃Don't let him get away； Fred。〃 〃Song！ Song！〃 was heard all over the room。
Oliver again tried to protest； but he was again shouted down by cries of
〃None of that！〃 〃Can't fool us。〃 〃You know a barrel of 'em。〃 〃Song！ Song！〃
Cranch broke in again〃Mr。 Horn's modesty； gentlemen； greatly endears him to his fellow…members； and we love him the better for it； but all the same〃 and he raised his hand with the same gesture he would have used had it held an auctioneer's hammer 〃All in favor of his singing again say 'Aye！' Going！ Going！ Gone！ The ayes have it。〃 In the midst of the cheering Cranch jumped from the chair and taking Oliver by the hand as if he had been a young prima donna at her first appearance； led him to the piano with all the airs and graces common to such an occasion。
Our young hero hesitated a moment； looked about in a pleased but helpless way； and nerving himself tried to collect his thoughts sufficiently to recall some one of the songs that were so familiar to him at home。 Then Sue's black eyes looked into histhere must always be a woman helping Oliverand the strains of the last song he had sung with her the night before he left home floated through his brain。 （These same eyes were gazing into another's at the moment； but our young Oliver was unconscious of that lamentable fact。）
〃Did you ever happen to hear 'The Old Kentucky Home'？〃 Oliver asked Simmons。 〃No？ Well； it goes this way；〃 and he struck the chords。
〃You play it；〃 said Simmons； rising from the stool。
〃Oh； I can only play the chords； and not all of them right〃 and he took Simmons's seat。 〃Perhaps I can get throughI'll try it；〃 he added； simply； and squared himself before the instrument and began the melody。
The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home； 'Tis summer； the darkies are gay。 The corn…top's ripe and the meadow is in bloom； While the birds make music all the day。
Weep no more； my ladyoh； weep no more to…day！ We'll sing one song for the old Kentucky home； For the old Kentucky home far away。
As the words rolled from his lips Oliver seemed to forget the scene before him。 Somehow he could see the light in Sue's eyes； as she listened； and hear her last words。 He could hear the voice of his mother； and feel her hand on his head； and then； as the soft vowels and cadences of the quaint melody breathed themselves out； he could catch again the expression of delight on the face of Malachiwho had taught him the songas he listened； his black cheek in his wrinkled palm。 It was a supreme moment with Oliver。 The thrill of happiness that had quivered through him for days； intensified by this new heaven of Bohemia； vibrated in every note he uttered。
The effect was equally startling on those about him。 Cranch craned his head； and for once lowered his voice to a whisper in speaking to the man next him。 Bowdoin； the painter； and one of the guests； left his seat and tip…toed to the piano； his eyes riveted on Oliver's face； his whole being absorbed in the melody。 Bianchi and Waller so far lost themselves that their pipes went out； while Simmons was so entranced that he forgot to applaud when Oliver finished。
The effect produced was not so much due to the quality in Oliver's voicesweet and sympathetic as it wasnor to his manner of singing； nor to the sentiment of the song itself； but to the fact of its being； with its clear； sweet notes； a positive contrast to all of noise and clamor that had gone before。 This fact； more than any other； made his listeners hold their breath in wonder and delight。 It came like the song of a bird bursting out after a storm and charming everyone with the beauty of its melody； while the thunder of the tempest still reverberated through the air。
In the hush of the death…like stillness that followed； the steady tramp of feet was heard on the staircase； and the next instant the head of a young man； with a rosy face and side…chop coachman whiskers； close…cut black hair and shoe…button eyes； glistening with fun； was craned around the jamb of the door。
It was the property of Mr。 Cornelius McFudd！
He was in full evening dress； and as immaculate as if he had stepped out of a bandbox。
Whatever stimulants had permeated his system and fired his imagination had evidently escaped his legs； for they were as steady as those of a tripod。 His entrance； in a measure； restored the assemblage to its normal condition。 Mr。 McFudd raised his hand impressively； checking the customary outbreak that always greeted his appearance on occasions like this； struck a deprecatory attitude and said； solemnly； in a rich； North…of…Ireland accent：
〃Gentlemen； it is with the greatest surprise that I find ye contint to waste your time over such riotous proceedings as I know have taken place here to…night； when within a block of yez is a perfarmance that would delight yer souls。 Think of a man throwing a hand…spring over〃
At this instant a wet sponge was fired point blank from an open bedroom door； missed McFudd's head by an inch and bounded down the staircase。
〃Thank ye； Admiral Lord Cockburn； for yer civility；〃 cried McFudd； bowing low to the open bedroom door； 〃and for yer good intintions； but ye missed it as yer did yer mither's blessingand as ye do most of the things ye try io hit。〃 This was said without raising his voice or changing a muscle of his face； his eyes fixed on the door inside of which stood Cockburn。
McFudd continued； 〃The perfarmance of this acrobat is one of the〃
Cries of 〃Don't you see you disturb the music？〃 〃Go to bed！〃 〃Somebody sit on McFudd！〃 etc。； filled the room。
〃Go on； gentlemen。 Continue your insults； defame the name of an honest man who is attimpting to convey to yer dull comprehinsions some idea of the wonders of the acrobatic ring。 I'll turn a hand…spring for yez meself that will illustrate what I mane；〃 and Mr。 McFudd carefully removed his coat and began sliding up his shirt…cuffs。
At this juncture 〃My Lord〃 Cockburn； who had come from behind the door； winked significantly at Waller； and creeping on all fours behind McFudd； just as that gentleman was about lifting his legs aloft； swept him off his feet by a twist of his arm； and deposited him on the small of his back next to Oliver； his head resting against the wall。 There Waller stood over him with a chair； which he threatened to turn over him upside down and sit on if the prostrate Irishman moved an inch。
McFudd waved his hand sadly as if in acquiescence to the inscrutable laws of fate； begged the gentlemen present to give no further thought to his existence； and after a moment of silence continued his remarks on the acrobatic ring to Oliver in the same monotonous tone of voice which he had addressed to the room before Cockburn's flank movement had made him bite the dust。
〃It may seem to you； Mr。 Mr。； I haven't your name； sir；〃 and he bent his head toward Oliver。
〃Horn； sir；〃 Oliver suggested。 〃Oliver Horn。〃
〃Thanks； it may seem to you that I'm exaggerating； Mr。 Oliver Horn； the wonder of this perfarmance； but…〃
The rest of the sentence； despite the Hibernian's well…intentioned efforts； was not addressed to Oliver； but to the room at large； or rather to its furniture； or to be still more exact； to the legs of the piano； and such chairs and tables as the Irishman's prostrate body bumped into on the way to his room。 For at that instant Waller； to save Oliver； as he pretended； fro
