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！
had a copy of one。 Here his hand dived into the breast…pocket of his coat；
with a certain deftness that indicated long habit； and； after depositing on
his lap a bundle of well…worn documents； every one of which was
glaringly suggestive of certificates and signatures； he concluded he had
left it in his trunk。
I breathed more freely。 We were sitting in the rotunda of a famous
Washington hotel； and only a few moments before had the speaker； an
utter stranger to me； moved his chair beside mine and opened a
conversation。 I noticed that he had that timid； lonely； helpless air which
invests the bucolic traveler who； for the first time； finds himself among
strangers； and his identity lost； in a world so much larger； so much colder；
so much more indifferent to him than he ever imagined。 Indeed； I think
that what we often attribute to the impertinent familiarity of country…men
and rustic travelers on railways or in cities is largely due to their awful
loneliness and nostalgia。 I remember to have once met in a smoking…car
on a Kansas railway one of these lonely ones； who； after plying me with a
thousand useless questions； finally elicited the fact that I knew slightly a
man who had once dwelt in his native town in Illinois。 During the rest of
our journey the conversation turned chiefly upon his fellow…townsman；
whom it afterwards appeared that my Illinois friend knew no better than I
did。 But he had established a link between himself and his far…off home
124
… Page 125…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
through me； and was happy。
While this was passing through my mind I took a fair look at him。 He
was a spare young fellow； not more than thirty； with sandy hair and
eyebrows； and eyelashes so white as to be almost imperceptible。 He was
dressed in black； somewhat to the 〃rearward o' the fashion；〃 and I had an
odd idea that it had been his wedding suit； and it afterwards appeared I
was right。 His manner had the precision and much of the dogmatism of
the country schoolmaster； accustomed to wrestle with the feeblest
intellects。 From his history； which he presently gave me； it appeared I
was right here also。
He was born and bred in a Western State； and； as schoolmaster of
Remus and Clerk of Supervisors； had married one of his scholars； the
daughter of a clergyman； and a man of some little property。 He had
attracted some attention by his powers of declamation； and was one of the
principal members of the Remus Debating Society。 The various
questions then agitating Remus；〃Is the doctrine of immortality consistent
with an agricultural life？〃 and； 〃Are round dances morally wrong？〃
afforded him an opportunity of bringing himself prominently before the
country people。 Perhaps I might have seen an extract copied from the
〃Remus Sentinel〃 in the 〃Christian Recorder〃 of May 7； 1875？ No？ He
would get it for me。 He had taken an active part in the last campaign。 He
did not like to say it； but it had been universally acknowledged that he had
elected Gashwiler。
Who？
Gen。 Pratt C。 Gashwiler； member of Congress from our deestrict。
Oh！
A powerful man； sira very powerful man； a man whose influence will
presently be felt here； sirHERE！ Well； he had come on with Gashwiler；
andwell； he did not know whyGashwiler did not know why he should
not； you know （a feeble； half…apologetic laugh here）； receive that reward；
you know； for these services which； etc。； etc。
I asked him if he had any particular or definite office in view。
Well； no。 He had left that to Gashwiler。 Gashwiler had saidhe
remembered his very words： 〃Leave it all to me； I'll look through the
125
… Page 126…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
different departments； and see what can be done for a man of your
talents。〃
And
He's looking。 I'm expecting him back here every minute。 He's gone
over to the Department of Tape； to see what can be done there。 Ah！ here
he comes。
A large man approached us。 He was very heavy； very unwieldy； very
unctuous and oppressive。 He affected the 〃honest farmer；〃 but so badly
that the poorest husbandman would have resented it。 There was a
suggestion of a cheap lawyer about him that would have justified any self…
respecting judge in throwing him over the bar at once。 There was a
military suspicion about him that would have entitled him to a court…
martial on the spot。 There was an introduction； from which I learned that
my office…seeking friend's name was Expectant Dobbs。 And then
Gashwiler addressed me：
〃Our young friend here is waiting； waiting。 Waiting； I may say； on
the affairs of State。 Youth；〃 continued the Hon。 Mr。 Gashwiler；
addressing an imaginary constituency； 〃is nothing but a season of waiting…
…of preparationha； ha！〃
As he laid his hand in a fatherly mannera fatherly manner that was as
much of a sham as anything else about himI don't know whether I was
more incensed at him or his victim； who received it with evident pride and
satisfaction。 Nevertheless he ventured to falter out：
〃Has anything been done yet？〃
〃Well； no； I can't say that anythingthat is； that anything has been
COMPLETED； but I may say we are in excellent position for an advance
ha； ha！ But we must wait； my young friend； wait。 What is it the Latin
philosopher says？ 'Let us by all means hasten slowly'ha； ha！〃 and he
turned to me as if saying confidentially； 〃Observe the impatience of these
boys！〃 〃I met； a moment ago； my old friend and boyhood's companion；
Jim McGlasher； chief of the Bureau for the Dissemination of Useless
Information； and；〃 lowering his voice to a mysterious but audible whisper；
〃I shall see him again to…morrow。〃
The 〃All aboard！〃 of the railway omnibus at this moment tore me from
126
… Page 127…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
the presence of this gifted legislator and his protege； but as we drove away
I saw through the open window the powerful mind of Gashwiler operating；
so to speak； upon the susceptibilities of Mr。 Dobbs。
I did not meet him again for a week。 The morning of my return I saw
the two conversing together in the hall； but with the palpable distinction
between this and their former interviews； that the gifted Gashwiler seemed
to be anxious to get away from his friend。 I heard him say something
about 〃committees〃 and 〃to…morrow；〃 and when Dobbs turned his freckled
face toward me I saw that he had got at last some expression into it
disappointment。
I asked him pleasantly how he was getting on。
He had not lost his pride yet。 He was doing well； although such was
the value set upon his friend Gashwiler's abilities by his brother members
that he was almost always occupied with committee busines