the titan-第76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！
rom whom he occasionally extracted loans。 The Colonel was an interesting figure in Kentucky society； and； taking a great liking to Cowperwood； he found pleasure； during the brief periods in which they were together； in piloting him about。 On one occasion in Louisville he observed： 〃To…night； Frank； with your permission； I am going to introduce you to one of the most interesting women I know。 She isn't good； but she's entertaining。 She has had a troubled history。 She is the ex…wife of two of my best friends； both dead； and the ex…mistress of another。 I like her because I knew her father and mother； and because she was a clever little girl and still is a nice woman； even if she is getting along。 She keeps a sort of house of convenience here in Louisville for a few of her old friends。 You haven't anything particular to do to…night； have you？ Suppose we go around there？〃
Cowperwood； who was always genially sportive when among strong mena sort of bounding collieand who liked to humor those who could be of use to him； agreed。
〃It sounds interesting to me。 Certainly I'll go。 Tell me more about her。 Is she good…looking？〃
〃Rather。 But better yet； she is connected with a number of women who are。〃 The Colonel； who had a small； gray goatee and sportive dark eyes； winked the latter solemnly。
Cowperwood arose。
〃Take me there；〃 he said。
It was a rainy night。 The business on which he was seeing the Colonel required another day to complete。 There was little or nothing to do。 On the way the Colonel retailed more of the life history of Nannie Hedden； as he familiarly called her； and explained that； although this was her maiden name； she had subsequently become first Mrs。 John Alexander Fleming； then； after a divorce； Mrs。 Ira George Carter； and now； alas！ was known among the exclusive set of fast livers； to which he belonged； as plain Hattie Starr； the keeper of a more or less secret house of ill repute。 Cowperwood did not take so much interest in all this until he saw her； and then only because of two children the Colonel told him about； one a girl by her first marriage； Berenice Fleming； who was away in a New York boarding…school； the other a boy； Rolfe Carter； who was in a military school for boys somewhere in the West。
〃That daughter of hers；〃 observed the Colonel； 〃is a chip of the old block； unless I miss my guess。 I only saw her two or three times a few years ago when I was down East at her mother's summer home； but she struck me as having great charm even for a girl of ten。 She's a lady born； if ever there was one。 How her mother is to keep her straight； living as she does； is more than I know。 How she keeps her in that school is a mystery。 There's apt to be a scandal here at any time。 I'm very sure the girl doesn't know anything about her mother's business。 She never lets her come out here。〃
〃Berenice Fleming；〃 Cowperwood thought to himself。 〃What a pleasing name； and what a peculiar handicap in life。〃
〃How old is the daughter now？〃 he inquired。
〃Oh； she must be about fifteennot more than that。〃
When they reached the house； which was located in a rather somber； treeless street； Cowperwood was surprised to find the interior spacious and tastefully furnished。 Presently Mrs。 Carter； as she was generally known in society； or Hattie Starr； as she was known to a less satisfying world； appeared。 Cowperwood realized at once that he was in the presence of a woman who； whatever her present occupation； was not without marked evidences of refinement。 She was exceedingly intelligent； if not highly intellectual； trig； vivacious； anything but commonplace。 A certain spirited undulation in her walk； a seeming gay； frank indifference to her position in life； an obvious accustomedness to polite surroundings took his fancy。 Her hair was built up in a loose Frenchy way； after the fashion of the empire； and her cheeks were slightly mottled with red veins。 Her color was too high； and yet it was not utterly unbecoming。 She had friendly gray…blue eyes； which went well with her light…brown hair； along with a pink flowered house…gown； which became her fulling figure； she wore pearls。
〃The widow of two husbands；〃 thought Cowperwood； 〃the mother of two children！〃 With the Colonel's easy introduction began a light conversation。 Mrs。 Carter gracefully persisted that she had known of Cowperwood for some time。 His strenuous street…railway operations were more or less familiar to her。
〃It would be nice；〃 she suggested； 〃since Mr。 Cowperwood is here； if we invited Grace Deming to call。〃
The latter was a favorite of the Colonel's。
〃I would be very glad if I could talk to Mrs。 Carter；〃 gallantly volunteered Cowperwoodhe scarcely knew why。 He was curious to learn more of her history。 On subsequent occasions； and in more extended conversation with the Colonel； it was retailed to him in full。
Nannie Hedden； or Mrs。 John Alexander Fleming； or Mrs。 Ira George Carter； or Hattie Starr； was by birth a descendant of a long line of Virginia and Kentucky Heddens and Colters； related in a definite or vague way to half the aristocracy of four or five of the surrounding states。 Now； although still a woman of brilliant parts； she was the keeper of a select house of assignation in this meager city of perhaps two hundred thousand population。 How had it happened？ How could it possibly have come about？ She had been in her day a reigning beauty。 She had been born to money and had married money。 Her first husband； John Alexander Fleming； who had inherited wealth； tastes； privileges； and vices from a long line of slave…holding； tobacco…growing Flemings； was a charming man of the Kentucky…Virginia society type。 He had been trained in the law with a view to entering the diplomatic service； but； being an idler by nature； had never done so。 Instead； horse…raising； horse…racing； philandering； dancing； hunting； and the like； had taken up his time。 When their wedding took place the Kentucky…Virginia society world considered it a great match。 There was wealth on both sides。 Then came much more of that idle social whirl which had produced the marriage。 Even philanderings of a very vital character were not barred； though deception； in some degree at least； would be necessary。 As a natural result there followed the appearance in the mountains of North Carolina during a charming autumn outing of a gay young spark by the name of Tucker Tanner； and the bestowal on him by the beautiful Nannie Flemingas she was then calledof her temporary affections。 Kind friends were quick to report what Fleming himself did not see； and Fleming； roue that he was； encountering young Mr。 Tanner on a high mountain road one evening； said to him； 〃You get out of this party by night； or I will let daylight through you in the morning。〃 Tucker Tanner； realizing that however senseless and unfair the exaggerated chivalry of the South might be； the end would be bullets just the same； departed。 Mrs。 Fleming； disturbed but unrepentant； considered herself greatly abused。 There was much scandal。 Then came quarrels； drinking on both sides； finally a divorce。 Mr。 Tucker Tanner did not appear to claim his damaged love； but the aforementioned Ira George Carter； a penniless never…do…well of the same generation and social standing； offered himself and was accepted。 By the first marriage there had been one child； a girl。 By the second there was another child； a boy。 Ira George Carter； before the children were old enough to impress Mrs。 Carter with the importance of their needs or her own affection for them； had squandered； in one ridiculous venture after another； the bulk of the property willed to her by her father； Major Wickham Hedden。 Ultimately； after drunkenness and dissipation on the husband's side； and finally his death； came the approach of poverty。 Mrs。 Carter was not practical； and still passionate and inclined to dissipation。 However； the aimless； fatuous going to pieces of Ira George Carter； the looming pathos of the future of the children； and a growing sense of affection and responsibility had finally sobered her。 The lure of love and life had not entirely disappeared； but her chance of sipping at those crystal founts had grown sadly slender。 A woman of thirty…eight and still possessing some beauty； she was not content to eat the husks provided for the unworthy。 Her gorge rose at the thought of that neglected state into which the pariahs of society fall and on which the inexperienced so cheerfully comment。 Neglected by her own set； shunned by the respectable； her fortune quite gone； she was nevertheless determined that she would not be a back…street seamstress or a pensioner upon the bounty of quondam friends。 By insensible degrees came first unhallowed relationships through friendship and passing passion； then a curious intermediate state between the high world of fashion and the half world of harlotry； until； finally； in Louisville； she had become； not openly； but actually； the mistress of a house of ill repute。 Men who knew how these things were done； and who were consulting their own convenience far more than her welfare； suggested the advisability of it。 Three or four friends like Colonel Gillis wished roomsconvenient place in which to
