the portygee-第43章
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was busy at his office in New York and came to South Harniss only
for infrequent week…ends。
The walks and talks and poetizings were innocent enough。 Neither
of the partners in poesy had the least idea of anything more than
being just that。 They liked each other； they had come to call each
other by their Christian names； and on Albert's bureau Madeline's
photograph now stood openly and without apology。 Albert had
convinced himself there was nothing to apologize for。 She was his
friend； that was all。 He liked to write and she liked to help him
erwell； just as Helen used to when she was at home。 He did not
think of Helen quite as often as formerly； nor were his letters to
her as frequent or as long。
So the summer passed and late August came； the last Saturday
afternoon of that month。 Albert and Madeline were together；
walking together along the beach from the knoll where they had met
so often。 It was six o'clock and the beach was deserted。 There
was little wind； the tiny waves were lapping and plashing along the
shore； and the rosy light of the sinking sun lay warm upon the
water and the sand。 They were thinking and speaking of the summer
which was so near its end。
〃It has been a wonderful summer； hasn't it？〃 said Albert。
〃Yes； wonderful；〃 agreed Madeline。
〃Yes； IIby George； I never believed a summer could be so
wonderful。〃
〃Nor I。〃
Silence。 Then Albert； looking at her； saw her eyes looking into
his and saw in them
He kissed her。
That morning Albert Speranza had arisen as usual； a casual；
careless； perfectly human young fellow。 He went to bed that night
a superman； an archangel； a demi…god； with his head in the clouds
and the earth a cloth of gold beneath his feet。 Life was a pathway
through Paradise arched with rainbows。
He and Madeline Fosdick loved each other madly； devotedly。 They
were engaged to be married。 They had plighted troth。 They were to
be each other's； and no one else's； for everand everand ever。
CHAPTER X
The remainder of that summer was a paradisical meandering over the
cloth of gold beneath the rainbows。 Albert and his Madeline met
often； very often。 Few poems were written at these meetings。 Why
trouble to put penciled lines on paper when the entire universe was
a poem especially composed for your benefit？ The lovers sat upon
the knoll amid the sand dunes and gazed at the bay and talked of
themselves separately； individually； and； more especially；
collectively。 They strolled through the same woody lanes and
discussed the same satisfactory subjects。 They met at the post
office or at the drug store and gazed into each other's eyes。 And；
what was the most astonishing thing about it all； their secret
remained undiscovered。 Undiscovered； that is to say； by those by
whom discovery would have meant calamity。 The gossips among the
townspeople winked and chuckled and cal'lated Fletcher Fosdick had
better look out or his girl would be took into the firm of Z。 Snow
and Co。 Issachar Price uttered sarcastic and sly innuendoes。 Jane
Kelsey and her set ragged the pair occasionally。 But even these
never really suspected that the affair was serious。 And neither
Mrs。 Fletcher Fosdick nor Captain and Mrs。 Zelotes Snow gave it a
minute's attention。
It was serious enough with the principals； however。 To them it was
the only serious matter in the world。 Not that they faced or
discussed the future with earnest and complete attention。 Some day
or otherthat was of course the mutually accepted ideasome day
or other they were to marry。 In the meantime here was the blissful
present with its roses and rainbows and here； for each； was the
other。 What would be likely to happen when the Fosdick parents
learned of the engagement of their only child to the assistant
bookkeeper of the South Harniss lumber and hardware company was
unpleasant to contemplate； so why contemplate it？ Upon one point
they were agreednever； never； NEVER would they give each other
up。 No power on earthwhich included parents and grandparents
should or could separate them。
Albert's conscience troubled him slightly at first when he thought
of Helen Kendall。 It had been in reality such a short time
although of course it seemed ages and agessince he had fancied
himself in love with her。 Only the previous fallyes； even
that very spring； he had asked her to pledge herself to him。
Fortunatelyoh； how very fortunately！she had refused； and he had
been left free。 Now he knew that his fancied love for her had been
merely a passing whim； a delusion of the moment。 ThisTHIS which
he was now experiencing was the grand passion of his life。 He
wrote a poem with the title； 〃The Greater Love〃and sold it； too；
to a sensational periodical which circulated largely among
sentimental shopgirls。 It is but truthful to state that the editor
of the magazine to which he first submitted it sent it back with
the brief note〃This is a trifle too syrupy for our use。 Fear the
pages might stick。 Why not send us another war verse？〃 Albert
treated the note and the editor with the contempt they deserved。
He pitied the latter； poor soul； doubtless HE had never known the
greater love。
He and Madeline had agreed that they would tell no oneno one at
allof their betrothal。 It should be their own precious secret
for the present。 So； under the circumstances； he could not write
Helen the news。 But ought he to write her at all？ That question
bothered him not a little。 He no longer loved herin fact； he was
now certain that he never had loved herbut he liked her； and he
wanted her to keep on liking him。 And she wrote to him with
regularity。 What ought he to do about writing her？
He debated the question with himself and； at last； and with some
trepidation； asked Madeline's opinion of his duty in the matter。
Her opinion was decisive and promptly given。 Of course he must not
write Helen again。 〃How would you like it if I corresponded with
another fellow？〃 she asked。 Candor forced him to admit that he
should not like it at all。 〃But I want to behave decently；〃 he
said。 〃She is merely a friend of mine〃oh； how short is memory！
〃but we have been friends for a long time and I wouldn't want to
hurt her feelings。〃 〃No； instead you prefer to hurt mine。〃 〃Now；
dearest； be reasonable。〃 It was their nearest approach to a
quarrel and was a very； very sad affair。 The making…up was sweet；
of course； but the question of further correspondence with Helen
Kendall remained just where it was at the beginning。 And；
meanwhile； the correspondence lapsed。
September came far； far too sooncame and ended。 And with it
ended also the stay of the Fosdicks in South Harniss。 Albert and
Madeline said good…by at their rendezvous by the beach。 It was a
sad； a tearful； but a very precious farewell。 They would write
each other every day； they would think of each other every minute
of every day； they would live through the winter somehow and look
forward to the next spring and their next meeting。
〃You will writeoh； ever and ever so many poems； won't you； dear？〃
begged Madeline。 〃You know how I love them。 And whenever I see
one of your poems in print I shall be so proud of youof MY poet。〃
Albert promised to write ever and ever so many。 He felt that there
would be no difficulty in writing reams of poemsinspired；
glorious poems。 The difficulty would be in restraining himself
from writing too many of them。 With Madeline Fosdick as an
inspiration； poetizing became as natural as breathing。
Then； which was unusual for them； they spoke of the future； the
dim； vague； but so happy future； when Albert was to be the nation's
poet laureate and Madeline； as Mrs。 Laureate； would share his glory
and wear； so to speak； his second…best laurels。 The disagreeable
problems connected with the future they ignored； or casually
dismissed with； 〃Never mind； dear； it will be all right by and by。〃
Oh； it was a wonderful afternoon； a rosy； cloudy； happy； sorrowful；
bitter…sweet afternoon。
And the next morning Albert； peeping beneath Z。 Snow and Co。's
office window shade； saw his heart's desire step aboard the train；
saw that train puff out of the st
