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！
〃Oh；〃he hesitated；〃I wrote home； and Fanny's father raised fifteen
hundred dollars some way； and sent it to me。 I put it down to political
expenses。〃 He laughed a weak； foolish laugh here； and added； 〃As the
old man don't drink nor smoke； he'd lift his eyebrows to know how the
money goes。 But I'll make it all right when the office comesand she's
coming； sure pop。〃
His slang fitted as poorly on him as his clothes； and his familiarity was
worse than his former awkward shyness。 But I could not help asking him
what had been the result of this expenditure。
〃Nothing just yet。 But the Secretary of Tape and the man at the head
of the Inferior Department； both spoke to me； and one of them said he
thought he'd heard my name before。 He might；〃 he added； with a forced
laugh； 〃for I've written him fifteen letters。〃
Three months passed。 A heavy snow…storm stayed my chariot wheels
on a Western railroad； ten miles from a nervous lecture committee and a
waiting audience； there was nothing to do but to make the attempt to reach
them in a sleigh。 But the way was long and the drifts deep； and when at
last four miles out we reached a little village； the driver declared his cattle
could hold out no longer； and we must stop there。 Bribes and threats
were equally of no avail。 I had to accept the fact。
〃What place is this？〃
〃Remus。〃
〃Remus； Remus；〃 where had I heard that name before？ But while I
was reflecting he drove up before the door of the tavern。 It was a dismal；
sleep…forbidding place； and only nine o'clock； and here was the long
130
… Page 131…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
winter's night before me。 Failing to get the landlord to give me a team to
go further； I resigned myself to my fate and a cigar； behind the red…hot
stove。 In a few moments one of the loungers approached me； calling me
by name； and in a rough but hearty fashion condoled with me for my
mishap； advised me to stay at Remus all night； and added： 〃The quarters
ain't the best in the world yer at this hotel。 But thar's an old man yerthe
preacher that wasthat for twenty years hez taken in such fellers as you
and lodged 'em free gratis for nothing； and hez been proud to do it。 The
old man used to be rich； he ain't so now； sold his big house on the cross
roads； and lives in a little cottage with his darter right over yan。 But ye
couldn't do him a better turn than to go over thar and stay； and if he
thought I'd let ye go out o' Remus without axing ye； he'd give me h…ll。
Stop； I'll go with ye。〃
I might at least call on the old man； and I accompanied my guide
through the still falling snow until we reached a little cottage。 The door
opened to my guide's knock； and with the brief and discomposing
introduction； 〃Yer； ole man； I've brought you one o' them snow…bound
lecturers；〃 he left me on the threshold； as my host； a kindly…faced； white…
haired man of seventy； came forward to greet me。
His frankness and simple courtesy overcame the embarrassment left by
my guide's introduction； and I followed him passively as he entered the
neat； but plainly…furnished sitting…room。 At the same moment a pretty；
but faded young woman arose from the sofa and was introduced to me as
his daughter。 〃Fanny and I live here quite alone； and if you knew how
good it was to see somebody from the great outside world now and then；
you would not apologize for what you call your intrusion。〃
During this speech I was vaguely trying to recall where and when and
under what circumstances I had ever before seen the village； the house； the
old man or his daughter。 Was it in a dream； or in one of those dim
reveries of some previous existence to which the spirit of mankind is
subject？ I looked at them again。 In the careworn lines around the once
pretty girlish mouth of the young woman； in the furrowed seams over the
forehead of the old man； in the ticking of the old…fashioned clock on the
shelf； in the faint whisper of the falling snow outside； I read the legend；
131
… Page 132…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
〃Patience； patience； Wait and Hope。〃
The old man filled a pipe； and offering me one； continued； 〃Although I
seldom drink myself； it was my custom to always keep some nourishing
liquor in my house for passing guests； but to…night I find myself without
any。〃 I hastened to offer him my flask； which； after a moment's coyness；
he accepted； and presently under its benign influence at least ten years
dropped from his shoulders； and he sat up in his chair erect and
loquacious。
〃And how are affairs at the National Capital； sir？〃 he began。
Now； if there was any subject of which I was profoundly ignorant； it
was this。 But the old man was evidently bent on having a good political
talk。 So I said vaguely； yet with a certain sense of security； that I guessed
there wasn't much being done。
〃I see；〃 said the old man； 〃in the matters of resumption； of the
sovereign rights of States and federal interference； you would imply that a
certain conservative tentative policy is to be promulgated until after the
electoral committee have given their verdict。〃 I looked for help towards
the lady； and observed feebly that he had very clearly expressed my views。
The old man； observing my look； said： 〃Although my daughter's
husband holds a federal position in Washington； the pressure of his
business is so great that he has little time to give us mere gossipI beg
your pardon； did you speak？〃
I had unconsciously uttered an exclamation。 This； then； was Remus
the home of Expectant Dobbsand these his wife and father； and the
Washington banquet…table； ah me！ had sparkled with the yearning heart's
blood of this poor wife； and had been upheld by this tottering Caryatid of a
father。
〃Do you know what position he has？〃
The old man did not know positively； but thought it was some general
supervising position。 He had been assured by Mr。 Gashwiler that it was a
first…class clerkship； yes； a FIRST class。
I did not tell him that in this； as in many other official regulations in
Washington； they reckoned backward； but said：〃I suppose that your M。
C。； Mr。Mr。 Gashwiler〃
132
… Page 133…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
〃Don't mention his name；〃 said the little woman； rising to her feet
hastily； 〃he never brought Expectant anything but disappointment and
sorrow。 I hate； I despise the man。〃
〃Dear Fanny；〃 expostulated the old man； gently； 〃this is unchristian
and unjust。 Mr。 Gashwiler is a powerful； a very powerful man！ His
work is a great one； his time is preoccupied with weightier matters。〃
〃His time was not so preoccupied but he could make use of poor
Expectant；〃 said this wounded dove； a littl