the red cross girl-第7部分

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！



〃I　did；〃　returned　Elliott；　〃I　liked　it　so　much　that　I'm
sending　you　to　a　bigger　place；　where　you　can　get　bigger
stories。　We　want　you　to　act　as　our　special　correspondent　in
London。　Mr。　Walsh　will　explain　the　work；　and　if　you'll　go
you'll　sail　next　Wednesday。〃

After　his　talk　with　the　foreign　editor　Sam　again　walked　home
on　air。　He　could　not　believe　it　was　realthat　it　was
actually　to　him　it　had　happened；　for　hereafter　he　was　to
witness　the　march　of　great　events；　to　come　in　contact　with
men　of　international　interests。　Instead　of　reporting　what　was
of　concern　only　from　the　Battery　to　Forty…seventh　Street；　he
would　now　tell　New　York　what　was　of　interest　in　Europe　and
the　British　Empire；　and　so　to　the　whole　world。　There　was　one
drawback　only　to　his　happinessthere　was　no　one　with　whom　he
might　divide　it。　He　wanted　to　celebrate　his　good　fortune；　he
wanted　to　share　it　with　some　one　who　would　understand　how
much　it　meant　to　him；　who　would　really　care。　Had　Sister　Anne
lived；　she　would　have　understood；　and　he　would　have　laid
himself　and　his　new　position　at　her　feet　and　begged　her　to
accept　thembegged　her　to　run　away　with　him　to　this
tremendous　and　terrifying　capital　of　the　world；　and　start　the
new　life　together。

Among　all　the　women　he　knew；　there　was　none　to　take　her
place。　Certainly　Anita　Flagg　could　not　take　her　place。　Not
because　she　was　rich；　not　because　she　had　jeered　at　him　and
made　him　a　laughing…stock；　not　because　his　admirationand　he
blushed　when　he　remembered　how　openly；　how　ingenuously　he　had
shown　it　to　hermeant　nothing；　but　because　the　girl　he
thought　she　was；　the　girl　he　had　made　dreams　about　and　wanted
to　marry　without　a　moment's　notice；　would　have　seen　that　what
he　offered；　ridiculous　as　it　was　when　offered　to　Anita　Flagg；
was　not　ridiculous　when　offered　sincerely　to　a　tired；　nerve…
worn；　overworked　nurse　in　a　hospital。　It　was　because　Anita
Flagg　had　not　seen　that　that　she　could　not　now　make　up　to　him
for　the　girl　he　had　lost；　even　though　she　herself　had
inspired　that　girl　and　for　a　day　given　her　existence。

Had　he　known　it；　the　Anita　Flagg　of　his　imagining　was　just　as
unlike　and　as　unfair　to　the　real　girl　as　it　was　possible　for
two　people　to　be。　His　Anita　Flagg　he　had　created　out　of　the
things　he　had　read　of　her　in　impertinent　Sunday　supplements
and　from　the　impression　he　had　been　given　of　her　by　the
little　ass；　Holworthy。　She　was　not　at　all　like　that。　Ever
since　she　had　come　of　age　she　had　been　beset　by　sycophants
and　flatterers；　both　old　and　young；　both　men　and　girls；　and
by　men　who　wanted　her　money　and　by　men　who　wanted　her。　And　it
was　because　she　got　the　motives　of　the　latter　two　confused
that　she　was　so　often　hurt　and　said　sharp；　bitter　things　that
made　her　appear　hard　and　heartless。

As　a　matter　of　fact；　in　approaching　her　in　the　belief　that　he
was　addressing　an　entirely　different　person；　Sam　had　got
nearer　to　the　real　Anita　Flagg　than　had　any　other　man。　And
sowhen　on　arriving　at　the　office　the　next　morning；　which
was　a　Friday；　he　received　a　telegram　reading；　〃Arriving　to…
morrow　nine…thirty　from　Greenwich；　the　day　cannot　begin　too
soon；　don't　forget　you　promised　to　meet　me。　Anita　Flagg　〃he
was　able　to　reply：　〃　Extremely　sorry；　but　promise　made　to　a
different　person；　who　unfortunately　has　since　died！〃'

When　Anita　Flagg　read　this　telegram　there　leaped　to　her
lovely　eyes　tears　that　sprang　from　self…pity　and　wounded
feelings。　She　turned　miserably；　appealingly　to　Helen　Page。

〃But　why　does　he　do　it　to　me？〃　Her　tone　was　that　of　the
bewildered　child　who　has　struck　her　head　against　the　table；
and　from　the　naughty　table；　without　cause　or　provocation；　has
received　the　devil　of　a　bump。

Before　Miss　Page　could　venture　upon　an　explanation；　Anita
Flagg　had　changed　into　a　very　angry　young　woman。

〃And　what's　more；〃　she　announced；　〃he　can't　do　it　to　me！〃

She　sent　her　telegram　back　again　as　it　was；　word　for　word；
but　this　time　it　was　signed；　Sister　Anne。〃

In　an　hour　the　answer　came：　〃Sister　Anne　is　the　person　to
whom　I　refer。　She　is　dead。〃

Sam　was　not　altogether　at　ease　at　the　outcome　of　his
adventure。　It　was　not　in　his　nature　to　be　rudecertainly　not
to　a　woman；　especially　not　to　the　most　beautiful　woman　he　had
ever　seen。　For；　whether　her　name　was　Anita　or　Anne；　about　her
beauty　there　could　be　no　argument；　but　he　assured　himself
that　he　had　acted　within　his　rights。　A　girl　who　could　see　in
a　well…meant　offer　to　be　kind　only　a　subject　for　ridicule　was
of　no　interest　to　him。　Nor　did　her　telegrams　insisting　upon
continuing　their　acquaintance　flatter　him。　As　he　read　them；
they　showed　only　that　she　looked　upon　him　as　one　entirely　out
of　her　worldas　one　with　whom　she　could　do　an　unconventional
thing　and　make　a　good　story　about　it　later；　knowing　that　it
would　be　accepted　as　one　of　her　amusing　caprices。

He　was　determined　he　would　not　lend　himself　to　any　such
performance。　And；　besides；　he　no　longer　was　a　foot…loose；
happy…go…lucky　reporter。　He　no　longer　need　seek　for
experiences　and　material　to　turn　into　copy。　He　was　now　a　man
with　a　responsible　positionone　who　soon　would　be　conferring
with　cabinet　ministers　and　putting　ambassadors　At　their　ease。
He　wondered　if　a　beautiful　heiress；　whose　hand　was　sought　in
marriage　by　the　nobility　of　England；　would　understand　the
importance　of　a　London　correspondent。　He　hoped　someone　would
tell　her。　He　liked　to　think　of　her　as　being　considerably
impressed　and　a　little　unhappy。

Saturday　night　he　went　to　the　theatre　for　which　he　had
purchased　tickets。　And　he　went　alone；　for　the　place　that
Sister　Anne　was　to　have　occupied　could　not　be　filled　by　any
other　person。　It　would　have　been　sacrilege。　At　least；　so　it
pleased　him　to　pretend。　And　all　through　dinner；　which　he　ate
alone　at　the　same　restaurant　to　which　he　had　intended　taking
her；　he　continued；　to　pretend　she　was　with　him。　And　at　the
theatre；　where　there　was　going　forward　the　most　popular　of
all　musical　comedies；　the　seat　next　to　him；　which　to　the
audience；　appeared　wastefully　empty；　was　to　him　filled　with
her　gracious　presence。　That　Sister　Anne　was　not　therethat
the　pretty　romance　he　had　woven　about　her　had　ended　in
disasterfilled；　him　with　real　regret。　He　was　glad　he　was；；
leaving　New　York。　He　was　glad　he　was　going；　where　nothing
would　remind　him　of　her。　And　then　he　glanced　upand　looked
straight　into　her　eyes！

He　was　seated　in　the　front　row；　directly　on　the　aisle。　The
seat　Sister　Anne　was　supposed　to　be　occupying　was　on　his
right；　and　a　few　seats　farther　to　his　right　rose　the　stage
box　and　in　the　stage　box；　and　in　the　stage　box；　almost　upon
the　stage；　and　with　the　glow　of　the　foot…lights　full　in　her
face；　was　Anita　Flagg；　smiling　delightedly　down　on　him。　There
were　others　with　her。　He　had　a　confused　impression　of　bulging
shirt…fronts；　and　shining　silks；　and　diamonds；　and　drooping
plumes　upon　enormous　hats。　He　thought　he　recognized　Lord
Deptford　and　Holworthy；　but　the　only　person　he　distinguished
clearly　was　Anita　Flagg。　The　girl　was　all　in　black　velvet；
which　was　drawn　to　her　figure　like　a　wet　bathing　suit；　round
her　throat　was　a　single　string　of　pearls；　and　on　her　hair　of
golden…rod　was　a　great　hat　of　black　velvet；　shaped　like　a
bell；　with　the　curving　lips　of　a　lily。　And　from　beneath　its
brim　Anita　Flagg；　sitting　rigidly　erect　with　her　white…gloved
hands　resting　lightly　on　her　knee；　was　gazing　down　at　him；
smiling　with　pleasure；　with　surprise；　with　excitement。

When　she　saw　that；　in　spite　of　her　altered　appearance；　he
recognized　her；　she　bowed　so　violently　and　bent　her　head　so
eagerly　that　above　her　the　ostrich　plumes　dipped　and
courtesied　like　wheat　in　a　storm。　But　Sam　neither　bowed　nor
courtesied。　Instead；　he　turned　his　head　slowly　over　his　left
shoulder；　as　though　he　thought　she　was　speaking　not　to　him
but　some　one　beyond　him；　across　the　aisle。　And　then　his　eyes
returned　to　the　stage　and　did　not　again　look　toward　her。　It
was　not　the　cut　direct；　but　it　was　a　cut　that　hurt；　and　in
their　turn　the　eyes　of　Miss　Flagg　quickly　sought　the　stage。
At　the　moment；　the　people　in　the　audience　happened　to　be
laughing；　and　she　forced　a　smile　and　then　laughed　with　them。

Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　Sam　could　not　help　seeing　her
profile　exposed　pitilessly　in　the　glow　of　the　foot…lights；
saw　her　lips　tremble　like　those　of　a　child　about　to　cry；　and
then　saw　the　forced；　hard　smileand　heard　her　laugh　lightly
and　mechanically。

〃That's　all　she　cares。〃　he　told　himself。

It　seemed　to　him　that　in　all　he　heard　of　her；　in　everything
she　did；　she　kept　robbing　him　still　further　of　all　that　was
dear　to　him　in　Sister　Anne。

For　five　minutes；　conscious　of　the　foot…lights；　Miss　Flagg
maintained　upon　her　lovely　face　a　fixed　and　intent
expression；　and　then　slowly　and　unobtrusively　drew　back　to　a
seat　in　the　rear　of　the　box。　In　the'　darkest　recesses　she
found　Holworthy；　shut　off　from　a　view　of　the　stage　by　a
barrier　of　women's　hats。

〃Your　friend　Mr。　Ward；〃　she　began　abruptly；　in　a　whisper；　〃is
the　rudest；　most　ill…bred　person　I　ever　met。　When　I　talked　to
him　the〃　other　day　I　thought　he　was　nice。　He　was　nice；　But　he
has　behaved　abominablylike　a　boorlike　a　sulky　child。　Has
he　no　sense　of　humor？　Because　I　played　a　joke　on　him；　is
that　any　reason　why　he　should　hurt　me？〃

〃Hurt　you？〃　exclaimed　little　Holworthy　in　amazement。　〃Don't
be　ridiculous！　How　could　he　hurt　you？　Why　should　you　care　how
rude　he　is？　Ward's　a　clever　fellow；　but　he　fancies　himself。
He's　conceited。　He's　too　good…looking；　and　a　lot　of　silly
women　have　made　such　a　fuss　over　him。　So　when　one　of　them
laughs　at　him　he　can't　understand　it。　That's　the　trouble。　I
could　see　that　when　I　was　telling　him。〃

〃Telling　him！〃　repeated　Miss　Flagg〃Telling　him　what？〃

〃About　what　a　funny　story　you　made　of　it；〃　explained
Holworthy。　〃About　his　having　the　nerve　to　ask　you　to　feed　the
monkeys　and　to　lunch　with　him。〃

Miss　Flagg　interrupted　with　a　gasping　intake　of　her　breath。

〃Oh！〃　she　said　softly。　〃So…so　you　told　him　that；　did　you？
Andwhat　else　did　you　tell　him？〃　；

〃Only　what　you　told　usthat　he　said　'the　day　could　not　begin
too　soon'；　that　he　said　he　wouldn't　let　you　be　a　manicure　and
wash　the　hands　of　men　who　weren't　fit　to　wash　the　streets　you
walk