stories of a western town-第11章

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！


　never　will　forget　that　lady！'　〃I　saw　a　dramatic　opportunity：　　would　Tommy　be　willing　to　tell　that　story　in　his　speech？　　He　looked　at　me　with　an　odd　look　or　so　I　imagined　it！　　'Why　not？'　says　he；　'I'd　as　soon　as　not　tell　it　to　anyone　of　them；　and　why　not　to　them　all　together？'　　Well；　why　not；　when　you　come　to　think　of　it？　　So　we　have　got　it　into　the　speech；　and　I；　I　myself；　Sarah；　am　drilling　young　Demos…thenes；　and　he　is　so　apt　a　scholar　that　I　find　myself　rather　pleasantly　employed。〃　Having　read　her　letter；　Mrs。　Carriswood　hesitated　a　second　and　then　added　Derry's　information　at　the　bottom　of　the　page。　〃I　suppose　the　lordly　ancestor　was　one　of　King　James's　creation　see　Macaulay；　somewhere　in　the　second　volume。　　I　dare　say　there　is　a　drop　or　two　of　good　blood　in　the　boy。　　He　has　the　manners　of　a　gentlemanbut　I　don't　know　that　I　ever　saw　an　Irishman；　no　matter　how　low　in　the　social　scale；　who　hadn't。〃　Thus　it　happened　that　Tommy's　valedictory　scored　a　success　that　is　a　tradition　of　the　High　School；　and　came　to　be　printed　in　both　the　city　papers；　copies　of　which　journals　Tommy's　mother　has　preserved　sacredly　to　this　day；　and　I　have　no　doubt；　could　one　find　them；　they　would　be　found　wrapped　around　a　yellow　photograph　of　the　〃A　Class〃　of　1870：　　eight　pretty　girls　in　white；　smiling　among　five　solemn　boys　in　black；　and　Tommy　himself；　as　the　valedictorian；　occupying　the　centre　of　the　picture　in　his　new　suit　of　broadcloth；　with　a　rose　in　his　buttonhole　and　his　hair　cut　by　a　professional　barber　for　the　occasion。　It　was　the　story　of　the　famine　that　really　captured　the　audience；　and　Tommy　told　it　well；　with　the　true　Irish　fire；　in　a　beautiful　voice。　In　the　front　seat　of　the　parquette　a　little　old　man　in　a　wrinkled　black　broadcloth；　with　a　bald　head　and　a　fringe　of　whisker　under　his　long　chin；　and　a　meek　little　woman；　in　a　red　Paisley　shawl；　wept　and　laughed　by　turns。　　They　had　taken　the　deepest　interest　in　every　essay　and　every　speech。　　The　old　man　clapped　his　large　hands　（which　were　encased　in　loose；　black　kid　gloves）　with　unflagging　vigor。　He　wore　a　pair　of　heavy　boots；　the　soles　of　which　made　a　noble　thud　on　the　floor。　〃Ain't　it　wonderful　the　like　of　them　young　craters　can　talk　like　that！〃　he　cried；　〃shure；　Molly；　that　young　lady　who'd　the　essay　where　is　it？〃a　huge　black　forefinger　travelled　down　the　page　〃'_Music；　The　Turkish　Patrol_；'　Nothough　that's　grand；　that　piece；　I'll　be　spakin'　wid　Professor　Von　Keinmitz　to　bring　it　when　we've　the　opening。　　Here　'tis；　Molly：　　'_Tin；　Essay。　The　Darkest　Night　Brings　Out　the　Stars；　Miss　Mamie　Odenheimer_。'　Thrue　for　you；　mavourneen！　　And　the　sintiments；　wasn't　they　illigant？　and　the　lan…gwidge　was　as　foine　as　Pat　Ronan's　speeches　or　Father　whist！　will　ye　look　at　the　flowers　that　shlip　of　a　gyirl's　gitting！　Count　'em；　will　ye？〃　〃Fourteen　bouquets　and　wan　basket；〃　says　the　little　woman；　〃and　Mamie　Odenheimer；　she　got　seventeen　bouquets　and　two　baskets　and　a　sign。　　Well；〃　she　looked　anxious；　but　smiled；　〃I　know　of　siven　bouquets　Tommy　will　git　for　sure。　And　that's　not　countin'　what　Harry　Lossing　will　do　for　him。　Hiven　bless　the　good　heart　of　him！〃　〃Well；　I　kin　count　four　for　him　on　wan　seat；〃　says　the　man；　with　a　nod　of　his　head　toward　the　gay　heap　in　the　woman's　lap；　〃barrin'　I　ain't　on…vaygled　into　flinging　some　of　thim　to　the　young　ladies！〃　Harry　Lossing；　in　the　seat　behind　with　his　mother　and　Mrs。　Carriswood；　giggled　at　this　and　whispered　in　the　latter　lady's　ear；　〃That's　Tommy's　father　and　mother。　　My；　aren't　they　excited；　though！　　And　Tommy's　white's　a　sheetfor　fear　he'll　disappoint　them；　you　know。　　He　has　said　his　piece　over　twice　to　me；　to…day；　he's　so　scared　lest　he'll　forget。　I've　got　it　in　my　pocket；　and　I'm　going　behind　when　it's　his　turn；　to　prompt　him。　　Did　you　see　me　winking　at　him？　it　sort　of　cheers　him　up。〃　He　was　almost　as　keen　over　the　floral　procession　as　the　Fitzmaurices　themselves。　　The　Lossing　garden　had　been　stripped　to　the　last　bud；　and　levies　made　on　the　asparagus…bed；　into　the　bargain；　and　Mrs。　Lossing　and　Alma　and　Mrs。　Carriswood　and　Derry　and　Susy　Lossing　had　made　bouquets　and　baskets　and　wreaths；　and　Harry　had　distributed　them　among　friends　in　different　parts　of　the　house。　I　say　Harry；　but；　complimented　by　Mrs。　Carriswood；　he　admitted　ingenuously　that　it　was　Tommy's　idea。　〃Tommy　thought　they　would　make　more　show　that　way；〃　says　Harry；　〃and　they　are　all　on　the　middle　aisle；　so　his　father　and　mother　can　see　them；　Tim　O'Halloran　has　got　one　for　him；　too；　and　Mrs。　Macillarney；　and　she's　got　some　splendid　pinies。　　Picked　every　last　one。　They'll　make　a　show！〃　But　Harry　knew　nothing　of　the　most　magnificent　of　his　friend's　trophies　until　it　undulated　gloriously　down　the　aisle；　above　the　heads　of　two　men；　white　satin　ribbons　flying；　tinfoil　shiningan　enormous　horseshoe　of　roses　and　mignonette！　The　parents　were　both　on　their　feet　to　crane　their　necks　after　it；　as　it　passed　them　amid　the　plaudits。　〃Oh；　it　was　YOU；　Cousin　Margaret；　I　know　it　was　you；〃　cried　Harry。　He　took　the　ladies　over　to　the　Fitzmaurices　the　minute　that　the　diplomas　were　given；　and；　directly；　Tommy　joined　them；　attended　by　two　admiring　followers　laden　with　the　trophies。　Mrs。　O'Halloran　and　Mrs。　Macillarney　and　divers　of　the　friends；　both　male　and　female；　joined　the　circle。　　Tommy　held　quite　a　little　court。　He　shook　hands　with　all　the　ladies；　beginning　with　Mrs。　Carriswood　（who　certainly　never　had　found　herself　before　in　such　a　company；　jammed　between　Alderman　McGinnis's　resplendent　new　tweeds　and　Mrs。　Macillarney's　calico）；　he　affectionately　embraced　his　mother；　and　he　allowed　himself　to　be　embraced　by　Mrs。　Macillarney　and　Mrs。　O'Halloran；　while　Patrick　Fitzmaurice　shook　hands　with　the　alderman。　〃Here's　the　lady　that　helped　me　on　me　piece；　father；　she's　the　lady　that　sent　me　the　horseshoe；　mother。　Like　to　make　you　acquainted　with　me　father　and　me　mother。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Fitzmaurice；　Mrs。　Carriswood。〃　In　these　words；　Tommy；　blushing　and　happy；　presented　his　happy　parents。　〃Sure；　I'm　proud　to　meet　you；　ma'am；〃　said　Fitzmaurice；　bowing；　while　his　wife　courtesied　and　wiped　her　eyes。　They　were　very　grateful；　but　they　were　more　grateful　for　the　flowers　than　for　the　oratorical　drilling。　　No　doubt　they　thought　that　their　Tommy　could　have　done　as　well　in　any　case；　but　the　splendid　horseshoe　was　another　matter！　Ten　years　passed　before　Mrs。　Carriswood　saw　her　pupil　again。　During　those　years　the　town　had　increased　and　prospered；　so　had　the　Lossing　Art　Furniture　Works。　　It　was　after　Harry　Lossing　had　disappointed　his　father。　　This　is　not　saying　that　he　had　done　anything　out　of　the　way；　he　had　simply　declined　to　be　the　fourth　Harry　Lossing　on　the　rolls　of　Harvard　College。　Instead；　he　proposed　to　enter　the　business　and　to　begin　by　learning　his　own　trade。　　He　was　so　industrious；　he　kept　at　it　with　such　energy　that　his　first　convert　was　his　father　no；　I　am　wrong；　Mrs。　Carriswood　was　the　first；　Mrs。　Lossing　was　not　a　convert；　SHE　had　believed　in　Harry　from　the　beginning。　But　all　this　was　years　before　Mrs。　Carriswood's　visit。　Another　of　Master　Harry's　notions　was　his　belief　in　the　necessity　of　his　〃meddling〃so　his　father　put　itin　the　affairs　of　the　town；　the　state；　and　the　nation；　as　well　as　those　of　the　Lossing　furniture　company。　　But；　though　he　was　pleased　to　make　rather　cynical　fun　of　his　son's　political　enthusiasm；　esteeming　it　in　a　sense　a　diverting　and　therefore　reprehensible　pursuit　for　a　business　man；　the　elder　Lossing　had　a　sneaking　pride　in　it；　all　the　same。　He　liked　to　bring　out　Harry's　political　shrewdness。　〃Fancy；　Margaret；〃　says　he；　〃whom　do　you　think　Harry　has　brought　over　to　our　side　now？　　The　shrewdest　ward　politician　in　the　town　why；　you　saw　him　when　he　was　a　boyTommy　Fitzmaurice。〃　Then　Mrs。　Carriswood　remembered；　she　asked；　amused；　how　was　Tommy　and　where　was　he？　〃Tommy？　　Oh；　he　went　to　the　State　university；　the　old　man　was　bound　to　send　him；　and　he　was　more　dutiful　than　some　sons。　He　was　graduated　with　honors；　and　came　back　to　a　large；　ready…made　justice　court's　practice。　　Of　course　he　drifted　into　criminal　practice；　but　he　has　made　a　fine　income　out　of　that；　and　is　the　shrewdest；　some　folks　say　the　least　scrupulous；　political　manager　in　the　county。　　And　so；　Harry；　you　have　persuaded　him　to　cast　in　his　lot　with　the　party　of　principle；　have　you？　and　he　is　packing　the　primaries？〃　〃I　see　nothing　dishonest　in　our　trying　to　get　our　friends　out　to　vote　at　the　primaries；　sir。〃　〃Of　course　not；　but　he　may　not　stop　there。　　However；　I　want　Bailey　elected；　and　I　am　glad　he　will　work　for　us；　what's　his　price？〃　Harry　blushed　a　little。　　〃I　believe　he　would　like　to　be　city　attorney；　sir；〃　said　he；　and　Mr。　Lossing　laughed。　〃Would　he　make　a　bad　one？〃　asked　Mrs。　Carriswood。　〃He　would　make　the　best　kind　of　a　one；〃　replied　Harry；　with　youthful　fervor；　〃he's　a　ward　politician　and　all　that；　I　know；　but　he　has　it　in　him　to　be　an　uncommon　deal　more！　And　I　say；　sir；　do　you　know　that　he　and　the　old　man　will　take　twenty…five　thousand　of　the　stock　at　par　if　we　turn　ourselves　into　a　corporation？〃　〃How　about　this　new　license　measure？　won't　that　bear　a　little　bit　hard　on　the　old　man？〃　　This　from　Mr。　Lossing；　who　was　biting　his　cigar　in　deep　thought。　〃That　will　not　prevent　his　doing　his　duty；　why；　the　old　man　for　very　pride　will　be　the　first　to　obey　the　la