stories of a western town-第6部分

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hed　home。　Nelson　choked　over　the　pathos　when　he　read　the　letter　to　Tim；　but　Tim　only　grunted　a　wish　that　HE　had　the　handling　of　that　feller。　　And　the　lawyer　was　as　little　moved　as　Tim。　　Miss　Brown　needed　the　money；　he　said。　The　banks　were　not　disposed　to　lend　just　at　present；　money；　it　appeared；　was　〃tight；〃　so；　in　the　end；　Nelson　drove　home　with　the　face　of　Failure　staring　at　him　between　his　horses'　ears。　There　was　only　one　way。　　Should　he　make　Richards　suffer　or　suffer　himself？　　Did　a　man　have　to　grind　other　people　or　be　ground　himself？　　Meanwhile　they　had　reached　the　town。　The　stir　of　a　festival　was　in　the　air。　　On　every　side　bunting　streamed　in　the　breeze　or　was　draped　across　brick　or　wood。　Arches　spanned　some　of　the　streets；　with　inscriptions　of　welcome　on　them；　and　swarms　of　colored　lanterns　glittered　against　the　sunlight　almost　as　gayly　as　they　would　show　when　they　should　be　lighted　at　night。　　Little　children　ran　about　waving　flags。　Grocery　wagons　and　butchers'　wagons　trotted　by　with　a　flash　of　flags　dangling　from　the　horses'　harness。　　The　streets　were　filled　with　people　in　their　holiday　clothes。　　Everybody　smiled。　The　shopkeepers　answered　questions　and　went　out　on　the　sidewalks　to　direct　strangers。　　From　one　window　hung　a　banner　inviting　visitors　to　enter　and　get　a　list　of　hotels　and　boarding…houses。　The　crowd　was　entirely　good…humored　and　waited　outside　restaurants；　bandying　jokes　with　true　Western　philosophy。　　At　times　the　wagons　made　a　temporary　blockade　in　the　street；　but　no　one　grumbled。　Bands　of　music　paraded　past　them；　the　escort　for　visitors　of　especial　consideration。　　In　a　window　belonging；　the　sign　above　declared；　to　the　Business　Men's　Association；　stood　a　huge　doll　clad　in　blue　satin；　on　which　was　painted　a　device　of　Neptune　sailing　down　the　Mississippi　amid　a　storm　of　fireworks。　The　doll　stood　in　a　boat　arched　about　with　lantern…decked　hoops；　and　while　Nelson　halted；　unable　to　proceed；　he　could　hear　the　voluble　explanation　of　the　proud　citizen　who　was　interpreting　to　strangers。　This；　Nelson　thought；　was　success。　　Here　were　the　successful　men。　The　man　who　had　failed　looked　at　them。　　Eve　roused　him　by　a　shrill　cry；　〃There　they　are。　　There's　May　and　the　girls。　Let　me　out　quick；　Uncle！〃　He　stopped　the　horse　and　jumped　out　himself　to　help　her。　It　was　the　first　time　since　she　came　under　his　roof　that　she　had　been　away　from　it　all　night。　　He　cleared　his　throat　for　some　advice　on　behavior。　　〃Mind　and　be　respectful　to　Mrs。　Arlington。　Say　yes；　ma'am；　and　no；　ma'am　〃　He　got　no　further；　for　Eve　gave　him　a　hasty　kiss　and　the　crowd　brushed　her　away。　〃All　she　thinks　of　is　wearing　fine　clothes　and　going　with　the　fellers！〃　said　her　brother；　disdainfully。　　〃If　I　had　to　be　born　a　girl；　I　wouldn't　be　born　at　all！〃　〃Maybe　if　you　despise　girls　so；　you'll　be　born　a　girl　the　next　time；〃　said　Nelson。　　〃Some　folks　thinks　that's　how　it　happens　with　us。〃　〃Do　YOU；　Uncle？〃　asked　Tim；　running　his　mind　forebodingly　over　the　possible　business　results　of　such　a　belief。　〃S'posing　he　shouldn't　be　willing　to　sell　the　pigs　to　be　killed；　'cause　they　might　be　some　friends　of　his！〃　he　reflected；　with　a　rising　tide　of　consternation。　　Nelson　smiled　rather　sadly。　He　said；　in　another　tone：　　〃Tim；　I've　thought　so　many　things；　that　now　I've　about　given　up　thinking。　　All　I　can　do　is　to　live　along　the　best　way　I　know　how　and　help　the　world　move　the　best　I'm　able。〃　〃You　bet　_I_　ain't　going　to　help　the　world　move；〃　said　the　boy；　〃I'm　going　to　look　out　for　myself！〃　〃Then　my　training　of　you　has　turned　out　pretty　badly；　if　that's　the　way　you　feel。〃　A　little　shiver　passed　over　the　lad's　sullen　face；　he　flushed　until　he　lost　his　freckles　in　the　red　veil　and　burst　out　passionately：　〃Well；　I　got　eyes；　ain't　I？　　I　ain't　going　to　be　bad；　or　drink；　or　steal；　or　do　things　to　git　put　in　the　penitentiary；　but　I　ain't　going　to　let　folks　walk　all　over　me　like　you　do；　no；　sir！〃　Nelson　did　not　answer；　in　his　heart　he　thought　that　he　had　failed　with　the　children；　too；　and　he　relapsed　into　that　dismal　study　of　the　face　of　Failure。　He　had　come　to　the　city　to　show　Tim　the　sights；　and；　therefore；　though　like　a　man　in　a　dream；　he　drove　conscientiously　about　the　gay　streets；　pointing　out　whatever　he　thought　might　interest　the　boy；　and　generally　discovering　that　Tim　had　the　new　information　by　heart　already。　All　the　while　a　question　pounded　itself；　like　the　beat　of　the　heart　of　an　engine；　through　the　noise　and　the　talk：　　〃Shall　I　give　up　Richards　or　be　turned　out　myself？〃　When　the　afternoon　sunlight　waned　he　put　up　the　horse　at　a　modest　little　stable　where　farmers　were　allowed　to　bring　their　own　provender。　The　charges　were　of　the　smallest　and　the　place　neat　and　weather…tight；　but　it　had　been　a　long　time　before　Nelson　could　be　induced　to　use　it；　because　there　was　a　higher…priced　stable　kept　by　an　ex…farmer　and　member　of　the　Farmers'　Alliance。　　Only　the　fact　that　the　keeper　of　the　low…priced　stable　was　a　poor　orphan　girl；　struggling　to　earn　an　honest　livelihood；　had　moved　him。　They　had　supper　at　a　restaurant　of　Tim's　discovery；　small；　specklessly　tidy；　and　as　unexacting　of　the　pocket　as　the　stable。　It　was　an　excellent　supper。　　But　Nelson　had　no　appetite；　in　spite　of　an　almost　childish　capacity　for　being　diverted；　he　could　attend　to　nothing　but　the　question　always　in　his　ears：　〃Richards　or　mewhich？〃　Until　it　should　be　time　for　the　spectacle　they　walked　down　the　hill；　and　watched　the　crowds　gradually　blacken　every　inch　of　the　river…banks。　Already　the　swarms　of　lanterns　were　beginning　to　bloom　out　in　the　dusk。　Strains　of　music　throbbed　through　the　air；　adding　a　poignant　touch　to　the　excitement　vibrating　in　all　the　faces　and　voices　about　them。　Even　the　stolid　Tim　felt　the　contagion。　　He　walked　with　a　jaunty　step　and　assaulted　a　tune　himself。　　〃I　tell　you；　Uncle；〃　says　Tim；　〃it's　nice　of　these　folks　to　be　getting　up　all　this　show；　and　giving　it　for　nothing！〃　〃Do　you　think　so？〃　says　Nelson。　　〃You　don't　love　your　book　as　I　wish　you　did；　but　I　guess　you　remember　about　the　ancient　Romans；　and　how　the　great；　rich　Romans　used　to　spend　enormous　sums　in　games　and　shows　that　they　let　the　people　in　free　towell；　what　for？　Was　it　to　learn　them　anything　or　to　make　them　happy？　Oh；　no；　it　was　to　keep　down　the　spirit　of　liberty；　Son；　it　was　to　make　them　content　to　be　slaves！　　And　so　it　is　here。　These　merchants　and　capitalists　are　only　looking　out　for　themselves；　trying　to　keep　labor　down　and　not　let　it　know　how　oppressed　it　is；　trying　to　get　people　here　from　everywhere　to　show　what　a　fine　city　they　have　and　get　their　money。〃　〃Well；　'TIS　a　fine　town；〃　Tim　burst　in；　〃a　boss　town！　And　they　ain't　gouging　folks　a　little　bit。　　None　of　the　hotels　or　the　restaurants　have　put　up　their　prices　one　cent。　Look　what　a　dandy　supper　we　got　for　twenty…five　cents！　And　ain't　the　boy　at　Lumley's　grocery　given　me　two　tickets　to　set　on　the　steamboat？　　There's　nothing　mean　about　this　town！〃　Nelson　made　no　remark；　but　he　thought；　for　the　fiftieth　time；　that　his　farm　was　too　near　the　city。　　Tim　was　picking　up　all　the　city　boys'　false　pride　as　well　as　their　slang。　　Unconscious　Tim　resumed　his　tune。　He　knew　that　it　was　〃Annie　Rooney〃　if　no　one　else　did；　and　he　mangled　the　notes　with　appropriate　exhilaration。　Now；　the　river　was　as　busy　as　the　land；　lights　swimming　hither　and　thither；　steamboats　with　ropes　of　tiny　stars　bespangling　their　dark　bulk　and　a　white　electric　glare　in　the　bow；　low　boats　with　lights　that　sent　wavering　spear…heads　into　the　shadow　beneath。　The　bridge　was　a　blazing　barbed　fence　of　fire；　and　beyond　the　bridge；　at　the　point　of　the　island；　lay　a　glittering　multitude　of　lights；　a　fairy　fleet　with　miniature　sails　outlined　in　flame　as　if　by　jewels。　Nelson　followed　Tim。　　The　crowds；　the　ceaseless　clatter　of　tongues　and　jar　of　wheels；　depressed　the　man；　who　hardly　knew　which　way　to　dodge　the　multitudinous　perils　of　the　thoroughfare；　but　Tim　used　his　elbows　to　such　good　purpose　that　they　were　out　of　the　levee；　on　the　steamboat；　and　settling　themselves　in　two　comfortable　chairs　in　a　coign　of　vantage　on　deck；　that　commanded　the　best　obtainable　view　of　the　pageant；　before　Nelson　had　gathered　his　wits　together　enough　to　plan　a　path　out　of　the　crush。　〃I　sized　up　this　place　from　the　shore；〃　Tim　sighed　complacently；　drawing　a　long　breath　of　relief；　〃only　jest　two　chairs；　so　we　won't　be　crowded。〃　Obediently；　Nelson　took　his　chair。　　His　head　sank　on　his　thin　chest。　Richards　or　himself；　which　should　he　sacrifice？　　So　the　weary　old　question　droned　through　his　brain。　　He　felt　a　tap　on　his　shoulder。　The　man　who　roused　him　was　an　acquaintance；　and　he　stood　smiling　in　the　attitude　of　a　man　about　to　ask　a　favor；　while　the　expectant　half…smile　of　the　lady　on　his　arm　hinted　at　the　nature　of　the　favor。　Would　Mr。　Forrest　be　so　kind？there　seemed　to　be　no　more　seats。　Before　Mr。　Forrest　could　be　kind　Tim　had　yielded　his　own　chair　and　was　off；　wriggling　among　the　crowd　in　search　of　another　place。　〃Smart　boy；　that　youngster　of　yours；〃　said　the　man；　〃he'll　make　his　way　in　the　world；　he　can　push。　　Well；　Miss　Alma；　let　me　make　you　acquainted　with　Mr。　Forrest。　　I　know　you　will　be　well　entertained　by　him。　　So；　if　you'll　excuse　me；　I'll　get　back　and　help　my　wife　wrestle　with　the　kids。　They　have　been　trying　to　see　which　will　fall　overboard　first　ever　since　we　came　on　deck！〃　Under　the　leeway　of　this　pleasantry　he　bowed　and　retired。　Nelson　turned　with　determined　politeness　to　the　lady。　He　was　sorry　that　she　had　come；　she　looking　to　him　a　very　fine　lady　indeed；　with　her　black　silk　gown；　her　shining　black　ornaments；　and　her　bright　black　eyes。　　She　was　not　young；　but　handsome　in　Nelson's　judgment；　although　of　a　haughty　bearing。　〃Maybe　she　is　the　principal　of　the　High　School；〃　thought　he。　〃Martin　has　her　for　a　boarder；　and　he　said　she　was　very　particular　about　her　melons　being　cold！〃　But　however　formidable　a　personage；　the　lady　must　be　entertained。　〃I　expect　you　are　a　resident　of　the　city；　ma'am？〃　said　Nelson。　〃Yes；　I　was　born　here。〃　　She　smiled；　a　smile　that　revealed　a　little　break　in　the　curve　of　her　cheek；　not　exactly　a　dimple；　but　like　one。　〃I　don't　know　when　I　have　seen　such　a　fine　appearing　lady；〃　thought　Nelson。　　He　responded：　　〃Well；　I　wasn't　born　here；　but　I　come　when　I　was　a　little　shaver　of　ten　and　stayed　till　I　was　eighteen；　when　I　went　to　Kansas　to　help　fight　t