the vision spendid(美景)-第39节
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sheathed perfection； the soft sensuous allure of the young widow seemed
to Jeff a product largely of her father's wealth。 But the charm of her cousin；
with its sweet and mocking smile； its note of youthful austerity； was born
of the fine and gallant spirit in her。
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Beauchamp sat beside Miss Frome and the editor observed that they
were having a delightful time。 He wondered what they could be talking
about。 What did a man say to bring such a glow and sparkle of life into a
girl's face？ It came to him with a wistful regret for his stolen youth that
never yet had he sat beside a young woman at dinner and entertained her
in the gay adequate manner of Lieutenant Beauchamp。 James could do it；
had done it a hundred times。 But he had been sold too long to an urgent
world of battle ever to know such delights。
PART 3
After dinner Jeff lost no time in waiting upon Miss Frome to thank her
for her assistance。 It was already dark。 When he found her it was not in
one of the saloons； but on deck。 She was leaning against the deck railing in
animated talk with Beauchamp； the while Mrs。 Van Tyle listened lazily
from a deck chair。
〃I like the way that red head of his came bobbing through the water；〃
Beauchamp was saying。 〃Looks to me as if he would take a lot of beating。
He's no quitter。 Since I haven't the pleasure of knowing Mr。 Powers or
Senator Frome； I think I'll back Farnum to win。〃
〃It's very plain you don't know Joe Powers。 He always wins；〃
contributed his daughter blandly。
〃But Mr。 Farnum is a remarkable man just the same；〃 Alice added。
Then； with a little cry to cover her flushed embarrassment： 〃Here he is。 We
do hope you're a little deaf； Mr。 Farnum。 We've been talking about you。〃
〃You may say anything you like about me； Miss Frome； except that
I'm not grateful for the lift aboard you gave me this afternoon；〃 Jeff
answered。
He found himself presently giving the story of his adventure。 He did
not look at Alice； but he told the tale to her alone and was aware of the
eagerness with which she listened。
〃But why should they want to kidnap you？ I don't see any reason for
it；〃 Alice protested。
A shadowy smile lay in the eyes of Mrs。 Van Tyle。 〃Mr。 Farnum is in
politics； my dear。〃
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A fat pork packer from Chicago joined the group。 〃I've been thinking
about the sharks； Mr。 Farnum。 You played in great luck to escape them。〃
〃Sharks！〃 Jeff heard the young woman beside him give a gasp。 In the
moonlight her face showed white。
〃These waters are fairly infested with them；〃 the Chicagoan explained。
〃We saw two this morning in the harbor。 It was when the stewards threw
out the scraps。 They turned over on their〃
〃Don't！〃 cried Alice Frome sharply。
The petrified horror on the vivid mobile face remained long as a sweet
memory to Jeff。 It had been for him that she had known the swift heart
clutch of terror。
PART 4
Farnum； pacing the deck as he munched at an apple； heard himself
hailed from the bridge above。 He looked up； to see Alice Frome； caught
gloriously in the wind like a winged Victory。 Her hair was parted in the
middle with a touch of Greek simplicity and fell in wavy ripples over her
temples beneath the jaunty cap。 She put her arms on the railing and leaned
forward； her chin tilted to an oddly taking boyish piquancy。
〃I say； give a fellow a bite。〃
By no catalogue of summarized details could this young woman have
laid claim to beauty； but in the flashing play of her expression； the
exquisite golden coloring； one could not evade the charm of a certain
warm witchery； of the passionate beat of innocent life。 The wonder of her
lay in the sparkle of her inner self。 Every gleam of the deep true eyes；
every impulsive motion of the slight supple body； expressed some phase of
her infinite variety。 Her flying moods swept her from demure to daring；
from warm to cool。 And for all her sweet derision her friends knew a heart
full of pure； brave enthusiasms that would endure。
〃I don't believe in indiscriminate charity；〃 Jeff explained； and he took
another bite。
〃Have you no sympathy for the deserving poor？〃 she pleaded。
〃Besides； since you're a socialist； it isn't your apple any more than it is
mine。 Bring my half up to me； sir。〃
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〃Your half is the half I've already eaten。 And if you knew as much as
you pretend to about socialism you'd know it isn't yours until you've
earned it。〃
Her eyes danced。 He noticed that beneath each of them was a sprinkle
of tiny powdered freckles。 〃But haven't I earned it？ Didn't I blister my
hands pulling you aboard？〃
He promptly shifted ground。 〃We're living under the capitalistic
system。 You earn it and I eat it；〃 he argued。 〃The rest of this apple is my
reward for having appropriated what didn't belong to me。〃
〃But that's not fair。 It's no better than stealing。〃
〃Shh！ It's high finance。 Don't use that other word；〃 he whispered。
〃And what's fair hasn't a thing to do with it。 It's my apple because I've got
it。〃
〃But〃
He waved her protest aside blandly。 〃Now try to be content with the lot
a wise Providence has awarded you。 I eat the apple。 You see me eat it。
That's the usual division of profits。 Don't be an agitator； or an
anarchist。〃
〃Don't I get even the core？〃 she begged。
〃I'd like to give it to you； but it wouldn't be best。 You see I don't want
to make you discontented with your position in life。〃 He flung what was
left of the apple into the sea and came up the steps to join her。
Laughter was in the eyes of both； but it died out of hers first。
〃Mr。 Farnum； is it really as bad as that？〃 Before he could find an
answer she spoke again。 〃I've wanted for a long time to talk with some one
who didn't look at things as we do。 I mean as my father does and my uncle
does and most of my friends。 Tell me what you think of ityou and your
friends。〃
〃That's a large order； Miss Frome。 I hardly know where to begin。〃
〃Wait！ Here comes Lieutenant Beauchamp to take me away。 I
promised to play ring toss with him； but I don't want to go now。〃 She led a
swift retreat to a spot on the upper deck shielded from the wind and
warmed by the two huge smokestacks。 Dropping breathless into a chair；
she invited him with a gesture to take another。 Little imps of mischief
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flashed out at him from her eyes。 In the adventure of the escape she had
made him partner。 A rush of warm blood danced through his veins。
〃Now； sir； we're safe。 Begin the propaganda。 Isn't that the word you
use？ Tell me all about everything。 You're the first real live socialist I ever
caught； and I mean to make the most of you。〃
〃But I'm unfortunately not exactly a socialist。〃
〃An anarchist will do just as well。〃
〃Nor an anarchist。 Sorry。〃
〃Oh； well； you're something that's dreadful。 You haven't the proper
bump of respect for father and for Uncle Joe。 Now why haven't you？〃
And before he knew it this young woman had drawn from him
glimpses of what life meant to him。 He talked to her of the pressure of the
struggle for existence； of the poverty that lies like a blight over whole
sections of cities； spreading disease and cruelty and disorder； crushing the
souls of its victims； poisoning their hearts and bodies。 He showed her a
world at odds and ends； in which it was accepted as the natural thing that
some should starve while others were waited upon by servants。
He made her see how the tendency of environment is to reduce all
