winesburg,ohio-第15部分

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With　runners　of　the　Winesburg　team　on　bases；　Joe　Welling　became　as　one　inspired。　　Before　they　knew　what　had　come　over　them；　the　base　runners　were　watching　the　man；　edging　off　the　bases；　advancing；　retreating；　held　as　by　an　invisible　cord。　　The　players　of　the　opposing　team　also　watched　Joe。　　They　were　fascinated。　　For　a　moment　they　watched　and　then；　as　though　to　break　a　spell　that　hung　over　them；　they　began　hurling　the　ball　wildly　about；　and　amid　a　se…　ries　of　fierce　animal…like　cries　from　the　coach；　the　runners　of　the　Winesburg　team　scampered　home。

Joe　Welling's　love　affair　set　the　town　of　Winesburg　on　edge。　　When　it　began　everyone　whispered　and　shook　his　head。　　When　people　tried　to　laugh；　the　laughter　was　forced　and　unnatural。　　Joe　fell　in　love　with　Sarah　King；　a　lean；　sad…looking　woman　who　lived　with　her　father　and　brother　in　a　brick　house　that　stood　opposite　the　gate　leading　to　the　Wines…　burg　Cemetery。

The　two　Kings；　Edward　the　father；　and　Tom　the　son；　were　not　popular　in　Winesburg。　　They　were　called　proud　and　dangerous。　　They　had　come　to　Winesburg　from　some　place　in　the　South　and　ran　a　cider　mill　on　the　Trunion　Pike。　　Tom　King　was　re…　ported　to　have　killed　a　man　before　he　came　to　Winesburg。　　He　was　twenty…seven　years　old　and　rode　about　town　on　a　grey　pony。　　Also　he　had　a　long　yellow　mustache　that　dropped　down　over　his　teeth；　and　always　carried　a　heavy；　wicked…looking　walking　stick　in　his　hand。　　Once　he　killed　a　dog　with　the　stick。　　The　dog　belonged　to　Win　Pawsey；　the　shoe　merchant；　and　stood　on　the　sidewalk　wagging　its　tail。　　Tom　King　killed　it　with　one　blow。　　He　was　ar…　rested　and　paid　a　fine　of　ten　dollars。

Old　Edward　King　was　small　of　stature　and　when　he　passed　people　in　the　street　laughed　a　queer　un…　mirthful　laugh。　　When　he　laughed　he　scratched　his　left　elbow　with　his　right　hand。　　The　sleeve　of　his　coat　was　almost　worn　through　from　the　habit。　　As　he　walked　along　the　street；　looking　nervously　about　and　laughing；　he　seemed　more　dangerous　than　his　silent；　fierce…looking　son。

When　Sarah　King　began　walking　out　in　the　eve…　ning　with　Joe　Welling；　people　shook　their　heads　in　alarm。　　She　was　tall　and　pale　and　had　dark　rings　under　her　eyes。　　The　couple　looked　ridiculous　to…　gether。　　Under　the　trees　they　walked　and　Joe　talked。　His　passionate　eager　protestations　of　love；　heard　coming　out　of　the　darkness　by　the　cemetery　wall；　or　from　the　deep　shadows　of　the　trees　on　the　hill　that　ran　up　to　the　Fair　Grounds　from　Waterworks　Pond；　were　repeated　in　the　stores。　　Men　stood　by　the　bar　in　the　New　Willard　House　laughing　and　talking　of　Joe's　courtship。　　After　the　laughter　came　the　silence。　The　Winesburg　baseball　team；　under　his　manage…　ment；　was　winning　game　after　game；　and　the　town　had　begun　to　respect　him。　　Sensing　a　tragedy；　they　waited；　laughing　nervously。

Late　on　a　Saturday　afternoon　the　meeting　between　Joe　Welling　and　the　two　Kings；　the　anticipation　of　which　had　set　the　town　on　edge；　took　place　in　Joe　Welling's　room　in　the　New　Willard　House。　　George　Willard　was　a　witness　to　the　meeting。　　It　came　about　in　this　way：

When　the　young　reporter　went　to　his　room　after　the　evening　meal　he　saw　Tom　King　and　his　father　sitting　in　the　half　darkness　in　Joe's　room。　　The　son　had　the　heavy　walking　stick　in　his　hand　and　sat　near　the　door。　　Old　Edward　King　walked　nervously　about；　scratching　his　left　elbow　with　his　right　hand。　　The　hallways　were　empty　and　silent。

George　Willard　went　to　his　own　room　and　sat　down　at　his　desk。　　He　tried　to　write　but　his　hand　trembled　so　that　he　could　not　hold　the　pen。　　He　also　walked　nervously　up　and　down。　　Like　the　rest　of　the　town　of　Winesburg　he　was　perplexed　and　knew　not　what　to　do。

It　was　seven…thirty　and　fast　growing　dark　when　Joe　Welling　came　along　the　station　platform　toward　the　New　Willard　House。　　In　his　arms　he　held　a　bun…　dle　of　weeds　and　grasses。　　In　spite　of　the　terror　that　made　his　body　shake；　George　Willard　was　amused　at　the　sight　of　the　small　spry　figure　holding　the　grasses　and　half　running　along　the　platform。

Shaking　with　fright　and　anxiety；　the　young　re…　porter　lurked　in　the　hallway　outside　the　door　of　the　room　in　which　Joe　Welling　talked　to　the　two　Kings。　There　had　been　an　oath；　the　nervous　giggle　of　old　Edward　King；　and　then　silence。　　Now　the　voice　of　Joe　Welling；　sharp　and　clear；　broke　forth。　　George　Willard　began　to　laugh。　　He　understood。　　As　he　had　swept　all　men　before　him；　so　now　Joe　Welling　was　carrying　the　two　men　in　the　room　off　their　feet　with　a　tidal　wave　of　words。　　The　listener　in　the　hall　walked　up　and　down；　lost　in　amazement。

Inside　the　room　Joe　Welling　had　paid　no　attention　to　the　grumbled　threat　of　Tom　King。　　Absorbed　in　an　idea　he　closed　the　door　and；　lighting　a　lamp；　spread　the　handful　of　weeds　and　grasses　upon　the　floor。　　〃I've　got　something　here；〃　he　announced　sol…　emnly。　　〃I　was　going　to　tell　George　Willard　about　it；　let　him　make　a　piece　out　of　it　for　the　paper。　　I'm　glad　you're　here。　　I　wish　Sarah　were　here　also。　　I've　been　going　to　come　to　your　house　and　tell　you　of　some　of　my　ideas。　　They're　interesting。　　Sarah　wouldn't　let　me。　She　said　we'd　quarrel。　　That's　foolish。〃

Running　up　and　down　before　the　two　perplexed　men；　Joe　Welling　began　to　explain。　　〃Don't　you　make　a　mistake　now；〃　he　cried。　　〃This　is　something　big。〃　His　voice　was　shrill　with　excitement。　　〃You　just　fol…　low　me；　you'll　be　interested。　　I　know　you　will。　　Sup…　pose　thissuppose　all　of　the　wheat；　the　corn；　the　oats；　the　peas；　the　potatoes；　were　all　by　some　mira…　cle　swept　away。　　Now　here　we　are；　you　see；　in　this　county。　　There　is　a　high　fence　built　all　around　us。　We'll　suppose　that。　　No　one　can　get　over　the　fence　and　all　the　fruits　of　the　earth　are　destroyed；　nothing　left　but　these　wild　things；　these　grasses。　　Would　we　be　done　for？　I　ask　you　that。　　Would　we　be　done　for？〃　Again　Tom　King　growled　and　for　a　moment　there　was　silence　in　the　room。　　Then　again　Joe　plunged　into　the　exposition　of　his　idea。　　〃Things　would　go　hard　for　a　time。　　I　admit　that。　　I've　got　to　admit　that。　No　getting　around　it。　　We'd　be　hard　put　to　it。　　More　than　one　fat　stomach　would　cave　in。　　But　they　couldn't　down　us。　　I　should　say　not。〃

Tom　King　laughed　good　naturedly　and　the　shiv…　ery；　nervous　laugh　of　Edward　King　rang　through　the　house。　　Joe　Welling　hurried　on。　　〃We'd　begin；　you　see；　to　breed　up　new　vegetables　and　fruits。　　Soon　we'd　regain　all　we　had　lost。　　Mind；　I　don't　say　the　new　things　would　be　the　same　as　the　old。　　They　wouldn't。　　Maybe　they'd　be　better；　maybe　not　so　good。　　That's　interesting；　eh？　You　can　think　about　that。　　It　starts　your　mind　working；　now　don't　it？〃

In　the　room　there　was　silence　and　then　again　old　Edward　King　laughed　nervously。　　〃Say；　I　wish　Sarah　was　here；〃　cried　Joe　Welling。　　〃Let's　go　up　to　your　house。　　I　want　to　tell　her　of　this。〃

There　was　a　scraping　of　chairs　in　the　room。　　It　was　then　that　George　Willard　retreated　to　his　own　room。　Leaning　out　at　the　window　he　saw　Joe　Welling　going　along　the　street　with　the　two　Kings。　　Tom　King　was　forced　to　take　extraordinary　long　strides　to　keep　pace　with　the　little　man。　　As　he　strode　along；　he　leaned　over；　listeningabsorbed；　fascinated。　　Joe　Welling　again　talked　excitedly。　　〃Take　milkweed　now；〃　he　cried。　　〃A　lot　might　be　done　with　milk…　weed；　eh？　It's　almost　unbelievable。　　I　want　you　to　think　about　it。　　I　want　you　two　to　think　about　it。　There　would　be　a　new　vegetable　kingdom　you　see。　It's　interesting；　eh？　It's　an　idea。　　Wait　till　you　see　Sarah；　she'll　get　the　idea。　　She'll　be　interested。　　Sarah　is　always　interested　in　ideas。　　You　can't　be　too　smart　for　Sarah；　now　can　you？　Of　course　you　can't。　　You　know　that。〃




ADVENTURE

ALICE　HINDMAN；　a　woman　of　twenty…seven　when　George　Willard　was　a　mere　boy；　had　lived　in　Wines…　burg　all　her　life。　　She　clerked　in　Winney's　Dry　Goods　Store　and　lived　with　her　mother；　who　had　married　a　second　husband。

Alice's　step…father　was　a　carriage　painter；　and　given　to　drink。　　His　story　is　an　odd　one。　　It　will　be　worth　telling　some　day。

At　twenty…seven　Alice　was　tall　and　somewhat　slight。　　Her　head　was　large　and　overshadowed　her　body。　　Her　shoulders　were　a　little　stooped　and　her　hair　and　eyes　brown。　　She　was　very　quiet　but　beneath　a　placid　exterior　a　continual　ferment　went　on。

When　she　was　a　girl　of　sixteen　and　before　she　began　to　work　in　the　store；　Alice　had　an　affair　with　a　young　man。　　The　young　man；　named　Ned　Currie；　was　older　than　Alice。　　He；　like　George　Willard；　was　employed　on　the　Winesburg　Eagle　and　for　a　long　time　he　went　to　see　Alice　almost　every　evening。　　Together　the　two　walked　under　the　trees　through　the　streets　of　the　town　and　talked　of　what　they　would　do　with　their　lives。　　Alice　was　then　a　very　pretty　girl　and　Ned　Currie　took　her　into　his　arms　and　kissed　her。　　He　became　excited　and　said　things　he　did　not　intend　to　say　and　Alice；　betrayed　by　her　desire　to　have　some…　thing　beautiful　come　into　her　rather　narrow　life；　also　grew　excited。　　She　also　talked。　　The　outer　crust　of　her　life；　all　of　her　natural　diffidence　and　reserve；　was　tom　away　and　she　gave　herself　over　to　the　emotions　of　love。　　When；　late　in　the　fall　of　her　sixteenth　year；　Ned　Currie　went　away　to　Cleveland　where　he　hoped　to　get　a　place　on　a　city　newspaper　and　rise　in　the　world；　she　wanted　to　go　with　him。　　With　a　trembling　voice　she　told　him　what　was　in　her　mind。　　〃I　will　work　and　you　can　work；〃　she　said。　　〃I　do　not　want　to　harness　you　to　a　needless　expense　that　will　pre…　vent　your　making　progress。　　Don't　marry　me　now。　We　will　get　along　without　that　and　we　can　be　to…　gether。　　Even　though　we　live　in　the　same　house　no　one　will　say　anything。　　In　the　city　we　will　be　un…　known　and　people　will　pay　no　attention　to　us。〃

Ned　Currie　was　puzzled　by　the　determination　and　abandon　of　his　sweetheart　and　was　also　deeply　touched。　　He　had　wanted　the　girl　to　become　his　mis…　tress　but　changed　his　mind。　　He　wanted　to　protect　and　care　for　her。　　〃You　don't　know　what　you're　talk…　ing　about；〃　he　said　sharply；　〃you　may　be　sure　I'll　let　you　do　no　such　thing。　　As　soon　as　I　get　a　good　job　I'll　come　back。　　For　the　present　you'll　have　to　stay　here。　　It's　the　only　thing　we　can　do。〃

On　the　evening　before　he　left　Winesburg　to　take　up　his　new　life　in　the　city；　Ned　Currie　went　to　call　on　Alice。　　They　walked　about　through　the　streets　for　an　hour　and　then　got　a　rig　from　Wesley　Moyer'