the vision spendid(美景)-第50节
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！
ruined her life。 You let her suffer。 She might have died for all of you。 She
nursed your child and never whispered the name of its father。 Sam Miller
is charging himself with the keep of your daughter。 Do you think she
hasn't paid a hundred times for her mistake？ Now； by God； keep your
mouth shut！ Be decent enough not to fling mud at her； you of all men。〃
James shrugged his shoulders and turned away in petulant disgust。 〃I
see。 You've heard her side of it and you've made up your mind。 All right。
I've nothing more to say。〃
〃I've never heard her side of it。 Her own mother doesn't know the truth。
Sam didn't know not till to…day。 But I know herand now I know you。〃
〃That's no way to talk； Jeff。 I admit I did wrong。 Can a man say more
than that？ Do you want me to crawl on my hands and knees？〃
〃It's easy for you to forgive yourself。〃
〃Maybe you think I haven't suffered too。 I've lain awake nights
worrying over this。〃
〃Yes。 For fear you might be found out。〃
〃I intended to look out for the girl； but she disappeared without letting
me know where she was going。 What could I do？〃 The lawyer was
studying his face very carefully in the glass。 〃My face is a sight。 It will be
weeks before that eye is fit to be seen。〃
Jeff turned away and left him。 He walked to his rooms and found his
uncle waiting for him。 Robert Farnum had sold out his interests in
193
… Page 194…
THE VISION SPLENDID
Arkansas and returned to Verden with the intention of buying a small mill
in the vicinity。 Meanwhile he had the apartment next to the one used by
his nephew。
〃Seen anything of James lately？〃 he inquired as they started down the
street to dinner。
〃Yes。 I saw him to…day。 He's leaving town for a week or so。〃
〃On business； I suppose。 He didn't mention it when I saw him
Wednesday。〃
〃It's a matter that came up suddenly； I understand。〃
The father agreed proudly。 There were moments when he had doubts
of James； but he always stifled them by remembering what a splendid
success he was。 〃Probably something nobody else could attend to but
him。〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃It's amazing how that boy gets along。 His firm has the cream of the
corporation business of Verden。 I never saw anything like it。〃
The younger man assented； rather wearily。 Somehow to…night he did
not feel like sounding the praises of James。
His uncle's kindly gaze rested on him。 〃Tired； boy？〃
〃I think I am a little。 I'll be all right after we've had something to eat。〃
194
… Page 195…
THE VISION SPLENDID
CHAPTER 22
But when your arms are full of girl and fluff You hide your nerve
behind a yard of grin； You'd spit into a bulldog's face； or bluff A flock of
dragons with a safety pin。 Life's a slow skate； but love's the dopey glim
That puts a brewery horse in racing trim。 Wallace Irwin。
CANARIES SING FOR THE HERO
PART 1
James Farnum had been back in Verden twenty…four hours。 A few little
scars still decorated his handsome visage； but he explained them away
with the story of a motor car accident。 Just now he was walking to the
bank； and he had spoken his piece five times in a distance of three blocks。
From experience he was getting letter perfect as to the details。 Even the
idiotic joke about the clutch seemed now a necessary part of the recital。
It was just as he was crossing Powers that a motor car whirled around
the corner and down upon a man descending from a street car。 The
chauffeur honked wildly and rammed the brakes home。 Simultaneously
James leaped； flinging his weight upon the man standing dazed in the path
of the automobile。 The two went down together； and for a moment Farnum
knew only a crash of the senses。
He was helped to his feet。 Voices； distant and detached； asked whether
he was hurt。 Blood trickled into his eyes from a cut in the head。 It came to
him oddly enough that his story about the motor car accident would now
be true。
A slender figure in gray slipped swiftly past him and knelt beside the
still shape lying on the asphalt。
〃Bring water； Roberts！〃
James knew that clear； sweet voice。 It could belong only to Alice
Frome。
〃Are you much hurt； Mr。 Farnum？〃
〃No； I think nota cut over my eye and a few bruises。〃
〃I'm so glad。 But this poor old manI'm afraid he's badly hurt。〃
195
… Page 196…
THE VISION SPLENDID
〃Was he run over？〃
〃No。 You saved him from that。 You don't know him； do you？〃
The lawyer looked at the unconscious man and could not repress a
start。 It was his father。 For just an eyebeat he hesitated before he said； 〃I've
seen him before somewhere。〃
〃We must take him to the hospital。 Isn't there a doctor here？ Someone
run for a doctor。〃 The young woman's glance swept the crowd in appeal。
〃I'll take care of him。 Better get away before the crowd is too large；
Miss Frome。〃
〃No。 It was our machine did it。 Oh； here's a doctor。〃
A pair of lean； muscular shoulders pushed through the press after the
doctor。 〃Much hurt； James？〃 inquired their owner。
〃No。 For heaven's sake； get Miss Frome away； Jeff；〃 implored his
cousin。
〃Miss Frome！〃 Jeff stepped forward with an exclamation。
The young woman looked up。 She was kneeling in the street and
supporting the head of the wounded man。 Her face was almost as
bloodless as his。
〃We almost ran him down。 Your cousin jumped to save him。 He isn't
dead； doctor； is he？〃
Jeff turned swiftly to his cousin and spoke in a low voice。 〃It's your
father。〃
The lawyer pushed forward with a manner of authority。
〃This won't do； doctor。 The crowd's growing and we're delaying the
traffic。 Let us lift him into the machine and take him to the hospital。〃
〃Very good； Mr。 Farnum。〃
〃Doctor； will you go with him to the hospital？ And Jeff 。 。 。 you； too； if
you please。〃
A minute later the car pushed its way slowly through the crush of
people and disappeared。 James was left standing on the curb with Alice。
He spoke brusquely。 〃Someone call a cab； please。。。。I'll send you home；
Miss Frome。〃
〃No； to the hospital；〃 she corrected。 〃I couldn't go home now without
knowing how he is。〃
196
… Page 197…
THE VISION SPLENDID
〃Very well。 Anything to get away from here。〃
〃And you can have your cut attended to there。〃
〃Oh； that's nothing。 A basin of cold water is all I need。 Here's the cab；
thank heaven。〃
The girl's gaze followed the automobile up the hill as she waited for
the taxicab to stop。 〃I do hope he isn't hurt badly；〃 she murmured
piteously。
〃Probably he isn't。 Just stunned； the doctor seemed to think。 Anyhow it
was an unavoidable accident。〃
The eyes of the young woman kindled。 〃I'll never forget the way you
jumped to save him。 It was splendid。〃
James flushed with pleasure。 〃Nonsense。 I merely pushed him aside。〃
〃You merely risked your life for his。 A bagatelledon't mention it；〃 the
girl mocked。
Farnum nodded； the old warmth for her in his eyes。 〃All right； I'll take
all the praise you want to give me。 It's been a good while since you have
thought I deserved any。〃
Alice looked out of the window in a silence that appeared to accuse
him。
〃Yet once〃She felt in his fine voice the vibration of feeling 〃once
we were friends。 We met on the common ground ofof the spirit；〃 he
risked。
Her eyes came round to meet his。 〃Is it my fault that we are not still
friends？〃
〃I don't know。 Something has come between us。 What is it？〃
〃If you don't know I can't tell you。〃
〃I think I know。〃 He folded his handkerchief again to find a spot
unstained。 〃You wanted me to fit into some ideal of me you had formed。
Am I to blame because I can't do it？ Isn't the fault with your austerity？ I've
got to follow my own
