a far country-第46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！
have made for yourself； and that I intend to make for myself is all
dross。 But now I can't do without it。〃
〃And yet you are going to marry Hambleton Durrett！〃 I said。
She understood me； although I regretted my words at once。
〃Yes； I am going to marry him。〃 There was a shade of bitterness； of
defiance in her voice。 〃Surely you are not offering me thethe other
thing； now。 Oh； Hugh！〃
〃I am willing to abandon it all； Nancy。〃
〃No；〃 she said； 〃you're not； and I'm not。 What you can't see and won't
see is that it has become part of you。 Oh； you are successful； you will
be more and more successful。 And you think I should be somebody； as your
wife； Hugh； more perhaps； eventually； than I shall be as Hambleton's。
But I should be nobody； too。 I couldn't stand it now； my dear。 You must
realize that as soon as you have time to think it over。 We shall be
friends。〃
The sudden gentleness in her voice pierced me through and through。 She
held out her hand。 Something in her grasp spoke of a resolution which
could not be shaken。
〃And besides；〃 she added sadly； 〃I don't love you any more； Hugh。 I'm
mourning for something that's gone。 I wanted to have just this one talk
with you。 But we shan't mention it again；we'll close the book。〃。。。
At that I fled out of the house； and at first the thought of her as
another man's wife； as Hambleton Durrett's wife； was seemingly not to be
borne。 It was incredible！ 〃We'll close the book。〃 I found myself
repeating the phrase； and it seemed then as though something within me I
had believed deadsomething that formerly had been all of mehad
revived again to throb with pain。
It is not surprising that the acuteness of my suffering was of short
duration； though I remember certain sharp twinges when the announcement
of the engagement burst on the city。 There was much controversy over the
question as to whether or not Ham Durrett's reform would be permanent；
but most people were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt； it was
time he settled down and took the position in the community that was to
be expected of one of his name； and as for Nancy； it was generally agreed
that she had done well for herself。 She was not made for povertyand
who so well as she was fitted for the social leadership of our community？
They were married in Trinity Church in the month of May； and I was one of
Ham's attendants。 Ralph was 〃best man。〃 For the last time the old
Willett mansion in Powell Street wore the gala air of former days；
carpets were spread over the sidewalk； and red and white awnings； rooms
were filled with flowers and flung open to hundreds of guests。 I found
the wedding something of an ordeal。 I do not like to dwell upon it
especially upon that moment when I came to congratulate Nancy as she
stood beside Ham at the end of the long parlour。 She seemed to have no
regrets。 I don't know what I expected of hercertainly not tears and
tragedy。 She seemed taller than ever； and very beautiful in her veil and
white satin gown and the diamonds Ham had given her； very much mistress
of herself； quite a contrast to Ham； who made no secret of his elation。
She smiled when I wished her happiness。
〃We'll be home in the autumn； Hugh； and expect to see a great deal of
you；〃 she said。
As I paused in a corner of the room my eye fell upon Nancy's father。
McAlery Willett's elation seemed even greater than Ham's。 With a
gardenia in his frock…coat and a glass of champagne in his hand he went
from group to group； and his familiar laughter； which once had seemed so
full of merriment and fun； gave me to…day a somewhat scandalized feeling。
I heard Ralph's voice； and turned to discover him standing beside me； his
long legs thrust slightly apart； his hands in his pockets； overlooking
the scene with typical； semi…contemptuous amusement。
〃This lets old McAlery out； anyway；〃 he said。
〃What do you mean？〃 I demanded。
〃One or two little notes of his will be cancelled； sooner or later
that's all。〃
For a moment I was unable to speak。
〃And do you think that shethat Nancy found out？〃 I stammered。
〃Well； I'd be willing to take that end of the bet；〃 he replied。 〃Why the
deuce should she marry Ham？ You ought to know her well enough to
understand how she'd feel if she discovered some of McAlery's financial
coups？ Of course it's not a thing I talk about； you understand。 Are you
going to the Club？〃
〃No； I'm going home；〃 I said。 I was aware of his somewhat compassionate
smile as I left him。。。。
XII。
One November day nearly two years after my admission as junior member of
the firm of Watling； Fowndes and Ripon seven gentlemen met at luncheon in
the Boyne Club； Mr。 Barbour； President of the Railroad； Mr。 Scherer； of
the Boyne Iron Works and other corporations； Mr。 Leonard Dickinson； of
the Corn National Bank； Mr。 Halsey； a prominent banker from the other
great city of the state； Mr。 Grunewald； Chairman of the Republican State
Committee； and Mr。 Frederick Grierson； who had become a very important
man in our community。 At four o'clock they emerged from the club：
citizens in Boyne Street who saw them chatting amicably on the steps
little suspected that in the last three hours these gentlemen had chosen
and practically elected the man who was to succeed Mr。 Wade as United
States Senator in Washington。 Those were the days in which great affairs
were simply and efficiently handled。 No democratic nonsense about
leaving the choice to an electorate that did not know what it wanted。
The man chosen to fill this high position was Theodore Watling。 He said
he would think about the matter。
In the nation at large； through the defection of certain Northern states
neither so conservative nor fortunate as ours； the Democratic party was
in power； which naturally implies financial depression。 There was no
question about our ability to send a Republican Senator； the choice in
the Boyne Club was final； but before the legislature should ratify it；
a year or so hence； it were just as well that the people of the state
should be convinced that they desired Mr。 Watling more than any other
man； and surely enough； in a little while such a conviction sprang up
spontaneously。 In offices and restaurants and hotels； men began to
suggest to each other what a fine thing it would be if Theodore Watling
might be persuaded to accept the toga； at the banks； when customers
called to renew their notes and tight money was discussed and Democrats
excoriated； it was generally agreed that the obvious thing to do was
to get a safe man in the Senate。 From the very first； Watling sentiment
stirred like spring sap after a hard winter。
The country newspapers； watered by providential rains； began to put forth
tender little editorial shoots； which Mr。 Judah B。 Tallant presently
collected and presented in a charming bouquet in the Morning Era。 〃The
Voice of the State Press；〃 thus was the column headed； and the remarks of
the Hon。 Fitch Truesdale； of the St。 Helen's Messenger； were given a
special prominence。 Mr。 Truesdale was the first； in his section； to be
inspired by the happy thought that the one man preeminently fitted to
represent the state in the present crisis； when her great industries had
been crippled by Democratic folly； was Mr。 Theodore Watling。 The
Rossiter Banner； the Elkington Star； the Belfast Recorder； and I know not
how many others simultaneously began to sing Mr。 Watling's praises。
〃Not since the troublous times of the Civil War；〃 declared the Morning
Era； 〃had the demand for any man been so unanimous。〃 As a proof of it；
there were the country newspapers； 〃which reflected the sober opinion of
the firesides of the common people。〃
There are certain industrious gentlemen to whom little credit is given；
and who； unlike the average citizen who reserves his enthusiasm for
election time； are patriotic enough to labour for their country's good
all the year round。 When in town； it was their habit to pay a friendly
call on the Counsel for the Railroad； Mr。 Miller Gorse； in the Corn Bank
Building。 He was never too busy to converse with them； or； it might
better be said； to listen to them converse。 Let
