the portygee- 第31部分

〃Oh；　Helen！〃　he　cried。　　〃You're　wonderful！　　You're　splendid！　　I'm
crazy　about　you！　　I　really　am！　　I〃

She　pushed　him　gently　away。　　〃Don't！　　Please　don't！〃　she　said。
〃Oh；　don't！〃

〃But　I　must。　　Don't　you　see　I。　。　。　。　　Why；　you're　crying！〃

Her　face　had；　for　a　moment；　been　upturned。　　The　moon　at　that　moment
had　slipped　behind　a　cloud；　but　the　lamplight　from　the　window　had
shown　him　the　tears　in　her　eyes。　　He　was　amazed。　　He　could　have
shouted；　have　laughed　aloud　from　joy　or　triumphant　exultation　just
then；　but　to　weep！　　What　occasion　was　there　for　tears；　except　on　Ed
Raymond's　part？

〃You're　crying！〃　he　repeated。　　〃Why；　Helen！〃

〃Don't！〃　she　said；　again。　　〃Oh；　don't！　　Please　don't　talk　that
way。〃

〃But　don't　you　want　me　to；　Helen？　　II　want　you　to　know　how　I
feel。　　You　don't　understand。　　I〃

〃Hush！　。　。　。　　Don't；　Al；　don't；　please。　　Don't　talk　in　that　way。　　I
don't　want　you　to。〃

〃But　why　not？〃

〃Oh；　because　I　don't。　　It'sit　is　foolish。　　You're　only　a　boy；　you
know。〃

〃A　boy！　　I'm　more　than　a　year　older　than　you　are。〃

〃Are　you？　　Why　yes；　I　suppose　you　are；　really。　　But　that　doesn't
make　any　difference。　　I　guess　girls　are　older　than　boys　when　they
are　our　age；　lots　older。〃

〃Oh；　bother　all　that！　　We　aren't　kids；　either　of　us。　　I　want　you　to
listen。　　You　don't　understand　what　I'm　trying　to　say。〃

〃Yes；　I　do。　　But　I'm　sure　you　don't。　　You　are　glad　because　you　have
found　you　have　no　reason　to　be　jealous　of　Ed　Raymond　and　that　makes
you　sayfoolish　things。　　But　I'm　not　going　to　have　our　friendship
spoiled　in　that　way。　　I　want　us　to　be　real　friends；　always。　　So　you
mustn't　be　silly。〃

〃I'm　not　silly。　　Helen；　if　you　won't　listen　to　anything　else；　will
you　listen　to　this？　　Will　you　promise　me　that　while　you　are　away
you　won't　have　other　fellows　calling　on　you　oror　anything　like
that？　　And　I'll　promise　you　that　I'll　have　nothing　to　say　to
another　girlin　any　way　that　counts；　I　mean。　　Shall　we　promise
each　other　that；　Helen？　　Come！〃

She　paused　for　some　moment　before　answering；　but　her　reply；　when　it
came；　was　firm。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃I　don't　think　we　should　promise　anything；　except
to　remain　friends。　　You　might　promise　and　then　be　sorry；　later。〃

〃_I_　might？　　How　about　you？〃

〃Perhaps　we　both　might。　　So　we　won't　take　the　risk。　　You　may　come
and　see　me　to…morrow　evening　and　say　good…by；　if　you　like。　　But　you
mustn't　stay　long。　　It　is　my　last　night　with　father　for　some　time
and　I　mustn't　cheat　him　out　of　it。　　Good　night；　Albert。　　I'm　so
glad　our　misunderstanding　is　over；　aren't　you？〃

〃Of　course　I　am。　　But；　Helen〃

〃I　must　go　in　now。　　Good　night。〃

The　reflections　of　Alberto　Speranza　during　his　walk　back　to　the
Snow　place　were　varied　but　wonderful。　　He　thought　of　Raymond's
humiliation　and　gloried　in　it。　　He　thought　of　Helen　and　rhapsodized。
And　if；　occasionally；　he　thought　also　of　the　dance　and　of　Madeline
Fosdick；　forgive　him。　　He　was　barely　twenty…one　and　the　moon　was
shining。



CHAPTER　IX


The　good…by　call　the　following　evening　was；　to　him　at　least；　not
very　satisfactory。　　Helen　was　tired；　having　been　busy　all　day　with
the　final　preparations　for　leaving；　and　old　Mr。　Kendall　insisted
on　being　present　during　the　entire　visit　and　in　telling　long　and
involved　stories　of　the　trip　abroad　he　had　made　when　a　young　man
and　the　unfavorable　opinion　which　he　had　then　formed　of　Prussians
as　traveling　companions。　　Albert's　opinion　of　Prussians　was　at
least　as　unfavorable　as　his　own；　but　his　complete　and　even　eager
agreement　with　each　of　the　old　gentleman's　statements　did　not　have
the　effect　of　choking　the　latter　off；　but　rather　seemed　to　act　as
encouragement　for　more。　　When　ten　o'clock　came　and　it　was　time　to
go　Albert　felt　as　if　he　had　been　listening　to　a　lecture　on　the
Hohenzollerns。　　〃Great　Scott；　Helen；〃　he　whispered；　as　she　came　to
the　door　with　him；　〃I　don't　feel　as　if　I　had　talked　with　you　a
minute。　　Why；　I　scarcely〃

But　just　here　Mr。　Kendall　came　hurrying　from　the　sitting…room　to
tell　of　one　incident　which　he　had　hitherto　forgotten；　and　so　even
this　brief　interval　of　privacy　was　denied。　　But　Albert　made　one
more　attempt。

〃I'm　going　to　run　over　to　the　station　to…morrow　morning　to　see　you
off；〃　he　called　from　the　gate。　　〃Good　night。〃

The　morning　train　left　at　nine　o'clock；　and　at　a　quarter　to　nine
Albert；　who　had　kept　his　eye　on　the　clock　ever　since　eight；　his
hour　of　arriving　at　the　office；　called　to　Mr。　Price。

〃I　say；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　tone　and　one　as　casual　as　he　could
assume；　〃I　am　going　to　run　out　for　a　few　minutes。　　I'll　be　right
back。〃

Issachar's　response　was　as　usual　anything　but　low。

〃Eh？〃　he　shouted。　　〃Goin'　out？　　Where　you　goin'？〃

〃Oh；　I'm　just　going　outeron　an　errand。〃

〃What　kind　of　an　errand？　　I　was　cal'latin'　to　run　out　myself　for　a
little　spell。　　Can't　I　do　your　errand　for　you？〃

〃No；　no。　。　。　　There；　there；　don't　bother　me　any　more。　　I'm　in　a
hurry。〃

〃Hurry！　　So'm　I　in　a　hurry。　　I　was　cal'latin'　to　run　acrost　to　the
deepo　and　see　Helen　Kendall　start　for　Boston。　　She's　goin'　this
morning；　did　you　know　it？〃

Before　the　somewhat　flustered　assistant　bookkeeper　could　reply
Captain　Zelotes　called　from　the　inner　office：

〃Wouldn't　wonder　if　that　was　where　Al　was　bound；　too；〃　he　observed。
〃And　I　was　thinkin'　of　the　same　thing。　　Suppose　we　all　go　together。
Labe'll　keep　shop；　won't　you；　Labe？〃

Mr。　Keeler　looked　over　his　spectacles。　　〃Eh？〃　he　observed。　　〃Oh；
yes；　yes　。　。　。　　yes；　yes；　yes。　　And　say　good…by　to　Helen　for　me；
some　of　you；　if　you　happen　to　think　of　it。　　Not　that　'twill　make
much　difference　to　her；〃　he　added；　〃whether　she　gets　my　good…bys　or
not；　but　it　might　make　some　to　me。　。　。　。　　Um；　yes；　yes。〃

Mr。　Price　was　eager　to　oblige。

〃I'll　tell　her　you　sent　'em；　Labe；〃　he　said；　patronizingly。　　〃Set
your　mind　to　rest；　I'll　tell　her。〃

Laban's　lip　twitched。　　〃Much　obliged；　Is；〃　he　chirruped。　　〃That's　a
great　relief！　　My　mind's　rested　some　already。〃

So；　instead　of　going　alone　to　the　railway　station；　Albert　made　one
of　a　delegation　of　three。　　And　at　the　station　was　Mr。　Kendall；　and
two　of　the　school　committee；　and　one　or　two　members　of　the　church
sewing　circle；　and　the　president　and　secretary　of　the　Society　for
the　Relief　of　the　French　Wounded。　　So　far　from　being　an　intimate
confidential　farewell；　Helen's　departure　was　in　the　nature　of　a
public　ceremony　with　speech…making。　　Mr。　Price　made　most　of　the
speeches；　in　fact　the　lower　portion　of　his　countenance　was　in
violent　motion　most　of　the　ten　minutes。

〃Take　care　of　yourself；　Helen；〃　he　urged　loudly。　　〃Don't　you　worry
about　your　pa；　we'll　look　out　for　him。　　And　don't　let　none　of　them
Boston　fellers　carry　you　off。　　We'll　watch　and　see　that　Eddie
Raymond　and　Al　here　don't　get　into　mischief　while　you're　gone。
I　。　。　。　Crimustee！　　Jim　Young；　what　in　time's　the　matter　with　you？
Can't　ye　see　nothin'？〃

This　last　outburst　was　directed　at　the　driver　of　the　depot…wagon；
who；　wheeling　a　trunk　on　a　baggage　truck；　had　bumped　violently　into
the　rear　of　Mr。　Price's　legs；　just　at　the　knee　joint；　causing　their
owner　to　bend　backward　unexpectedly；　and　with　enthusiasm。

〃Can't　you　see　nothin'　when　it's　right　in　front　of　ye？〃　demanded
Issachar；　righteously　indignant。

Jim　Young　winked　over　his　shoulder　at　Albert。　　〃Sorry；　Is；〃　he
said；　as　he　continued　toward　the　baggage　car。　　〃I　didn't　notice　you
WAS　in　front　of　me。〃

〃Well；　then；　you'd　better。　。　。　。　　Eh？　　See　here；　what　do　you　mean
by　that？〃

Even　after　Mr。　Price　had　thus　been　pushed　out　of　the　foreground；　so
to　speak；　Albert　was　denied　the　opportunity　of　taking　his　place　by
Helen's　side。　　Her　father　had　a　few　last　messages　to　deliver；　then
Captain　Zelotes　shook　her　hand　and　talked　for　a　moment；　and；　after
that；　the　ladies　of　the　sewing　circle　and　the　war　work　society　felt
it　their　duty　to；　severally　and　jointly；　kiss　her　good…by。　　This
last　was　a　trying　operation　to　watch。

Then　the　engine　bell　rang　and　the　train　began　to　move。　　Albert；
running　beside　the　platform　of　the　last　car；　held　up　his　hand　for　a
farewell　clasp。

〃Good…by；〃　he　said；　and　added　in　a　whisper；　〃You'll　write；　won't
you？〃

〃Of　course。　　And　so　must　you。　　Good…by。〃

The　last　car　and　the　handkerchief　waving　figure　on　its　platform
disappeared　around　the　curve。　　The　little　group　by　the　station
broke　up。　　Albert　and　his　grandfather　walked　over　to　the　office
together。

〃There　goes　a　good　girl；　Al；〃　was　Captain　Lote's　only　comment。　　〃A
mighty　good　capable　girl。〃

Albert　nodded。　　A　moment　later　he　lifted　his　hat　to　a　group　in　a
passing　automobile。

〃Who　were　those　folks？〃　asked　the　Captain。

〃The　Fosdicks；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃The　people　who　are　going　to　build
down　by　the　Inlet。〃

It　was　Madeline　and　her　mother。　　The　latter　had　been　serenely
indifferent；　but　the　young　lady　had　smiled　and　bowed　behind　the
maternal　shoulders。

〃Oh；　that　so？〃　observed　Captain　Zelotes；　looking　after　the　flying
car　with　interest。　　〃That's　who　'tis；　eh？　　Nice　lookin'；　the　young
one；　ain't　she？〃

Albert　did　not　answer。　　With　the　noise　of　the　train　which　was
carrying　Helen　out　of　his　life　still　ringing　in　his　ears　it　seemed
wicked　even　to　mention　another　girl's　name；　to　say　nothing　of
commenting　upon　her　good　looks。　　For　the　rest　of　that　day　he　was　a
gloomy　spirit；　a　dark　shadow　in　the　office　of　Z。　Snow　and　Co。

Before　the　end　of　another　fortnight　the　season　at　South　Harniss　was
definitely　over。　　The　hotel　closed　on　the　Saturday　following　the
dance；　and　by　October　first　the　last　of　the　cottages　was　locked　and
shuttered。　　The　Kelseys　went　on　the　twentieth　and　the　Fosdicks　went
with　them。　　Albert　met　Madeline　and　Jane　at　the　post…office　in　the
evening　of　the　nineteenth　and　there　more　farewells　were　said。

〃Don't　forget　us　down　here　in　the　sand；　will　you？〃　he　suggested　to
Miss　Fosdick。　　It　was　Jane　Kelsey　who　answered。

〃Oh；　she　won't　forget；〃　returned　that　young　lady。　　〃Why　she　has
your　photograph　to　remember　you　by。〃

Madeline　colored　becomingly　and　was；　as　Jane　described　it；　〃awfully
fussed。〃

〃Nonsense！〃　she　exclaimed；　with　much　indignation；　〃I　haven't　any
such　thing。　　You　know　I　haven't；　Jane。〃

〃Yes；　you　have；　my　dear。　　You　have　a　photograph　of　him　standing
in　front　of　the　drug　s