第 9 节
作者:连过十一人      更新:2021-02-27 02:16      字数:9322
  neat dress and his features distinguished by nothing
  particular in the way of expression。
  〃You may sit down; if you like;〃 she said; in a
  full; deliberate contralto。  〃Really; I would like to
  have you do so。  The light is too bad for reading。
  I would prefer to talk。〃
  The vassal of Luck slid upon the seat by her side
  with complaisance。
  〃Do you know;〃 be said; speaking the formula
  with which park chairmen open their meetings; 〃that
  you are quite the stunningest girl I have seen in a
  long time?  I had my eye on you yesterday。
  Didn't know somebody was bowled over by those
  pretty lamps of yours; did you; honeysuckle?〃
  〃Whoever you are;〃 said the girl; in icy tones;
  〃you must remember that I am a lady。  I will excuse
  the remark you have just made because the mistake
  was; doubtless; not an unnatural one  in your circle。
  I asked you to sit down; if the invitation must con…
  stitute me your honeysuckle; consider it with…
  drawn。〃
  〃I earnestly beg your pardon;〃 pleaded the young
  ran。  His expression of satisfaction had changed to
  one of penitence and humility。 It was my fault;
  you know …I mean; there are girls in parks; you
  know … that is; of course; you don't know; but  〃
  〃Abandon the subject; if you please。  Of course
  I know。 Now; tell me about these people passing
  and crowding; each way; along these paths。  Where
  are they going?  Why do they hurry so? Are they
  happy?〃
  The young man had promptly abandoned his air
  of coquetry。  His cue was now for a waiting part;
  he could not guess the role be would be expected to
  play。
  〃It is interesting to watch them;〃 he replied; pos…
  tulating her mood。  〃It is the wonderful drama of
  life。  Some are going to supper and some to  er
  other places。  One wonders what their histories are。〃
  〃I do not;〃 said the girl; 〃I am not so inquisi…
  tive。  I come here to sit because here; only; can I be
  tear the great; common; throbbing heart of hu…
  manity。  My part in life is cast where its beats are
  never felt。  Can you surmise why I spoke to you;
  Mr。  ?〃
  〃Parkenstacker;〃 supplied the young man。  Then
  be looked eager and hopeful。
  〃No;〃 said the girl; holding up a slender finger;
  and smiling slightly。 〃You would recognize it im…
  mediately。  It is impossible to keep one's name out of
  print。  Or even one's portrait。  This veil and this
  hat of my maid furnish me with an incog。  You
  should have seen the chauffeur stare at it when he
  thought I did not see。  Candidly; there are five or six
  names that belong in the holy of holies; and mine; by
  the accident of birth; is one of them。  I spoke to you;
  Mr。 Stackenpot  〃
  〃Parkenstacker;〃 corrected the young man; mod…
  estly。
  〃  Mr。 Parkenstacker; because I wanted to talk;
  for once; with a natural man  one unspoiled by the
  despicable gloss of wealth and supposed social su…
  periority。  Oh! you do not know how weary I am of
  it  money; money; money!  And of the men who
  surround me; dancing like little marionettes all cut by
  the same pattern。  I am sick of pleasure; of jewels;
  of travel; of society; of luxuries of all kinds。〃
  〃I always had an idea;〃 ventured the young man;
  hesitatingly; 〃that money must be a pretty good
  thing。〃
  〃A competence is to be desired。 But when you
  leave so many millions that  !〃 She concluded
  the sentence with a gesture of despair。  〃It is the mo…
  otony of it〃 she continued; 〃that palls。  Drives;
  dinners; theatres; balls; suppers; with the gilding of
  superfluous wealth over it all。  Sometimes the very
  tinkle of the ice in my champagne glass nearly drives
  me mad。〃
  Mr。 Parkenstacker looked ingenuously interested。
  〃I have always liked;〃 he said; 〃to read and hear
  about the ways of wealthy and fashionable folks。  I
  suppose I am a bit of a snob。  But I like to have my
  information accurate。  Now; I had formed the opin…
  ion that champagne is cooled in the bottle and not by
  placing ice in the glass。〃
  The girl gave a musical laugh of genuine amuse…
  ment。
  〃You should know;〃 she explained; in an indul…
  gent tone; 〃that we of the non…useful class depend
  for our amusement upon departure from precedent。
  Just now it is a fad to put ice in champagne。  The
  idea was originated by a visiting Prince of Tartary
  while dining at the Waldorf。  It will soon give way
  to some other whim。  Just as at a dinner party this
  week on Madison Avenue a green kid glove was laid
  by the plate of each guest to be put on and used while
  eating olives。〃
  〃I see;〃 admitted the young man; humbly。
  〃These special diversions of the inner circle do not
  become familiar to the common public。〃
  〃Sometimes;〃 continued the girl; acknowledging
  his confession of error by a slight bow; 〃I have
  thought that if I ever should love a man it would be
  one of lowly station。  One who is a worker and not a
  drone。  But; doubtless; the claims of caste and wealth
  will prove stronger than my inclination。  Just now
  I am besieged by two。  One is a Grand Duke of a
  German principality。  I think he has; or has bad; a
  wife; somewhere; driven mad by his intemperance and
  cruelty。  The other is an English Marquis; so cold
  and mercenary that I even prefer the diabolism of the
  Duke。  What is it that impels me to tell you these
  things; Mr。 Packenstacker?
  〃Parkenstacker;〃 breathed the young man。  〃In…
  deed; you cannot know how much I appreciate your
  confidences。〃
  The girl contemplated him with the calm; imper…
  sonal regard that befitted the difference in their sta…
  tions。
  〃What is your line of business; Mr。 Parken…
  stacker?〃 she asked。
  〃A very humble one。  But I hope to rise in the
  world。  Were you really in earnest when you said
  that you could love a man of lowly position?〃
  〃Indeed I was。  But I said 'might。' There is the
  Grand Duke and the Marquis; you know。  Yes; no
  calling could be too humble were the man what I
  would wish him to be。〃
  〃I work;〃 declared Mr。 Parkenstacker; 〃in a res…
  taurant。〃
  The girl shrank slightly。
  〃Not as a waiter?〃 she said; a little imploringly。
  〃Labor is noble; but personal attendance; you
  know  valets and  〃
  〃I am not a waiter。 I am cashier in〃  on the
  street they faced that bounded the opposite side of
  the park was the brilliant electric sign 〃RESTAU…
  RANT〃  〃I am cashier in that restaurant you am
  there。〃
  The girl consulted a tiny watch set in a bracelet of
  rich design upon her left wrist; and rose; hurriedly。
  She thrust her book into a glittering reticule sus…
  pended from her waist; for which; however; the book
  was too large。
  〃Why are you not at work?〃 she asked。
  〃I am on the night turn;〃 said the young man;
  it is yet an hour before my period begins。  May I
  not hope to see you again?〃
  〃I do not know。  Perhaps … but the whim may
  not seize me again。  I must go quickly now。  There
  is a dinner; and a box at the play  and; oh! the
  same old round。  Perhaps you noticed an automobile
  at the upper corner of the park as you came。  One
  with a white body
  〃And red running gear?〃 asked the young man;
  knitting his brows reflectively。
  〃Yes。  I always come in that。  Pierre waits for
  me there。  He supposes me to be shopping in the de…
  partment store across the square。  Conceive of the
  bondage of the life wherein we must deceive even our
  chauffeurs。  Good…night。〃
  〃But it is dark now;〃 said Mr。 Parkenstacker;
  〃and the park is full of rude men。  May I not
  walk  〃
  〃If you have the slightest regard for my wishes;〃
  said the girl; firmly; 〃you will remain at this bench
  for ten minutes after I have left。  I do not mean to
  accuse you; but you are probably aware that autos
  generally bear the monogram of their owner。  Again;
  good…night〃
  Swift and stately she moved away through the
  dusk。  The young man watched her graceful form
  as she reached the pavement at the park's edge; and
  turned up along it toward the corner where stood the
  automobile。  Then he treacherously and unhesitat…
  ingly began to dodge and skim among the park trees
  and shrubbery in a course parallel to her route; keep…
  ing her well in sight
  When she reached the corner she turned her head
  to glance at the motor car; and then passed it; con
  tinuing on across the street。  Sheltered behind a con…
  venient standing cab; the young man followed her
  movements closely with his eyes。  Passing down the
  sidewalk of the street opposite the park; she entered
  the restaurant with the blazing sign。  The place was
  one of those frankly glaring establishments; all white;
  paint and glass; where one may dine cheaply and
  conspicuously。  The girl penetrated the restaurant to
  some retreat at its rear; whence she quickly emerged
  without her bat and veil。
  The cashier's desk was well to the front。  A red…
  head girl an the stool climbed down; glancing
  pointedly at the clock as she did so