the portygee-第37节

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notice。　　The　dog　took　a　step　forward；　evidently　with　the　idea　of
always　keeping　the　ankles　within　jumping　distance；　showed　a　double
row　of　healthy　teeth　and　growled　and　barked　with　renewed　violence。

〃Nice　dog；〃　observed　Albert。　　The　nice　dog　made　a　snap　at　the
nearest　ankle　and；　balked　of　his　prey　by　a　frenzied　kick　of　the
foot　attached　to　the　ankle；　shrieked；　snarled　and　gurgled　like　a
canine　lunatic。

〃Go　home；　you　ugly　brute；〃　commanded　the　young　man；　losing
patience；　and　looking　about　for　a　stone　or　stick。　　On　the　top　of
that　knoll　the　largest　stone　was　the　size　of　a　buckshot　and　the
nearest　stick　was；　to　be　Irish；　a　straw。

〃Nice　doggie！　　Nice　old　boy！　　Come　and　be　patted！　。　。　。　　Clear　out
with　you！　　Go　home；　you　beast！〃

Flatteries　and　threats　were　alike　in　their　result。　　The　dog　continued
to　snarl　and　growl；　darting　toward　the　ankles　occasionally。
Evidently　he　was　mustering　courage　for　the　attack。　　Albert　in
desperation　scooped　up　a　handful　of　sand。　　If　worst　came　to　worst
he　might　blind　the　creature　temporarily。　　What　would　happen　after
that　was　not　clear。　　Unless　he　might　by　a　lucky　cast　fill　the　dog's
interior　so　full　of　sand　thatlike　the　famous　〃Jumping　Frog〃it
would　be　too　heavy　to　navigate；　he　saw　no　way　of　escape　from　a
painful　bite；　probably　more　than　one。　　What　Captain　Zelotes　had
formerly　called　his　〃Portygee　temper〃　flared　up。

〃Oh；　damn　you；　clear　out！〃　he　shouted；　springing　to　his　feet。

From　a　little　way　below　him；　in　fact；　from　behind　the　next　dune；
between　himself　and　the　beach；　a　feminine　voice　called　his　name。

〃Oh；　Mr。　Speranza！〃　it　said。　　〃Is　it　you？　　I'm　so　glad！〃

Albert　turned；　but　the　moment　he　did　so　the　dog　made　a　dash　at　his
legs；　so　he　was　obliged　to　turn　back　again　and　kick　violently。

〃Oh；　I　am　so　glad　it　is　you；〃　said　the　voice　again。　　〃I　was　sure　it
was　a　dreadful　tramp。　　Googoo　loathes　tramps。〃

As　an　article　of　diet　that　meant；　probably。　　Googooif　that　was
the　dog's　namewas　passionately　fond　of　poets；　that　was　self…
evident；　and　intended　to　make　a　meal　of　this　one；　forthwith。　　He
flew　at　the　Speranza　ankles。　　Albert　performed　a　most　undignified
war　dance；　and　dashed　his　handful　of　sand　into　Googoo's　open
countenance。　　For　a　minute　or　so　there　was　a　lively　shindy　on　top
of　that　knoll。　　At　the　end　of　the　minute　the　dog；　held　tightly　in　a
pair　of　feminine　arms；　was　emitting　growls　and　coughs　and　sand；
while　Madeline　Fosdick　and　Albert　Speranza　were　kneeling　in　more
sand　and　looking　at　each　other。

〃Oh；　did　he　bite　you？〃　begged　Miss　Fosdick。

〃No　。　。　。　no；　I　guess　not；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃II　scarcely　know
yet。　。　。　。　　Why；　when　did　you　come？　　I　didn't　know　you　were　in
town。〃

〃We　came　yesterday。　　Motored　from　home；　you　know。　　Ibe　still；
Goo；　you　bad　thing！　　It　was　such　a　lovely　day　that　I　couldn't
resist　going　for　a　walk　along　the　beach。　　I　took　Googoo　because　he
does　love　it　so；　andGoo；　be　still；　I　tell　you！　　I　am　sure　he
thinks　you　are　a　tramp；　out　here　all　alone　in　thein　the
wilderness。　　And　what　were　you　doing　here？〃

Albert　drew　a　long　breath。　　〃I　was　half　asleep；　I　guess；〃　he　said；
〃when　he　broke　loose　at　my　heels。　　I　woke　up　quick　enough　then；　as
you　may　imagine。　　And　so　you　are　here　for　the　summer？　　Your　new
house　isn't　finished；　is　it？〃

〃No；　not　quite。　　Mother　and　Goo　and　I　are　at　the　hotel　for　a　month。
But　you　haven't　answered　my　question。　　What　were　you　doing　off　here
all　alone？　　Have　you　been　for　a　walk；　too？〃

〃Not　exactly。　　Iwell；　I　come　here　pretty　often。　　It　is　one　of　my
favorite　hiding　places。　　You　see；　I　。　。　。　don't　laugh　if　I　tell
you；　will　you？〃

〃Of　course　not。　　Go　on；　this　is　very　mysterious　and　interesting。〃

〃Well；　I　come　here　sometimes　on　pleasant　days；　to　be　aloneand
write。〃

〃Write？　　Write　poetry；　do　you　mean？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Oh；　how　wonderful！　　Were　you　writing　when　Iwhen　Goo　interrupted
you？〃

〃No；　I　had　made　two　or　three　attempts；　but　nothing　that　I　did
satisfied　me。　　I　had　just　about　decided　to　tear　them　up　and　to　give
up　trying　for　this　afternoon。〃

〃Oh；　I　hope　you　won't　tear　them　up。　　I'm　sure　they　shouldn't　be。
Perhaps　you　were　not　in　a　proper　mood　to　judge；　yourself。〃

〃Perhaps　not。　　Perhaps　they　might　look　a　little　less　hopeless　to
some　one　else。　　But　that　person　would　have　to　be　really　interested；
and　there　are　few　people　in　South　Harniss　who　know　or　care　anything
about　poetry。〃

〃I　suppose　that　is　true。　　II　don't　suppose　you　would　care　to　show
them　to　me；　would　you？〃

〃Why；〃　eagerly；　〃would　you　really　care　to　see　them？〃

〃Indeed　I　should！　　Not　that　my　judgment　or　advice　is　worth
anything；　of　course。　　But　I　am　very；　very　fond　of　poetry；　and　to
see　how　a　real　poet　wrote　would　be　wonderful。　　And　if　I　could　help
you；　even　the　least　little　bit；　it　would　be　such　an　honor。〃

This　sort　of　thing　was　balm　to　the　Speranza　spirit。　　Albert's
temperamental　ego　expanded　under　it　like　a　rosebud　under　a　summer
sun。　　Yet　there　was　a　faint　shadow　of　doubtshe　might　be　making
fun　of　him。　　He　looked　at　her　intently　and　she　seemed　to　read　his
thoughts；　for　she　said：

〃Oh；　I　mean　it！　　Please　believe　I　do。　　I　haven't　spoken　that　way
when　Jane　was　with　me；　for　she　wouldn't　understand　and　would　laugh；
but　I　mean　it；　Mr。　Speranza。　　It　would　be　an　honora　great　honor。〃

So　the　still　protesting　and　rebellious　Googoo　was　compelled　to　go　a
few　feet　away　and　lie　down；　while　his　mistress　and　the　young　man
whom　he　had　attempted　to　devour　bent　their　heads　together　over　a
scribbling…pad　and　talked　and　exclaimed　during　the　whole　of　that
hour　and　a　full　three…quarters　of　the　next。　　Then　the　distant　town
clock　in　the　steeple　of　the　Congregational　church　boomed　five　times
and　Miss　Fosdick　rose　to　her　feet。

〃Oh；〃　she　said；　〃it　can't　really　be　five　o'clock；　can　it？　　But　it
is！　　What　WILL　mother　fancy　has　become　of　me？　　I　must　go　this
minute。　　Thank　you；　Mr。　Speranza。　　I　have　enjoyed　this　so　much。
It　has　been　a　wonderful　experience。〃

Her　cheeks　were　flushed　and　her　eyes　were　shining。　　She　had　grown
handsomer　than　ever　during　the　winter　months。　　Albert's　eyes　were
shining　also　as　he　impulsively　seized　her　hand。

〃Thank　you；　Miss　Fosdick；〃　he　said。　　〃You　have　helped　me　more　than
I　can　tell　you。　　I　was　about　to　give　up　in　despair　before　you　came；
and　nownow　I　KNOW　I　shall　write　the　best　thing　I　have　ever　done。
And　you　will　be　responsible　for　it。〃

She　caught　her　breath。　　〃Oh；　not　really！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃You
don't　mean　it；　really？〃

〃Indeed　I　do！　　If　I　might　have　your　help　and　sympathy　once　in
awhile；　I　believeI　believe　I　could　do　almost　anything。　　Will　you
help　me　again　some　day？　　I　shall　be　here　almost　every　pleasant
Saturday　and　Sunday　afternoon。　　Will　you　come　again？〃

She　hesitated。　　〃II'll　see；　perhaps；〃　she　answered　hurriedly。
〃But　I　must　go　now。　　Come；　Goo。〃

She　hastened　away；　down　the　knoll　and　along　the　beach　toward　the
hotel。　　Googoo　followed　her；　turning　occasionally　to　cast
diabolical　glances　at　the　Speranza　ankles。　　Albert　gazed　until　the
graceful　figure　in　the　trim　sport　costume　disappeared　behind　the
corner　of　the　point　of　the　beach。　　Just　at　the　point　she　paused　to
wave　to　him。　　He　waved　in　return。　　Then　he　tramped　homeward。　　There
was　deep　sand　beneath　his　feet　and；　later；　pine…needles　and　grass。
They　were　all　alike　to　him；　for　he　was　traveling　on　air。

That　evening　at　supper　his　radiant　appearance　caused　comment。

〃What　makes　you　look　so　happy；　Albert？〃　asked　his　grandmother。
〃Seems　to　me　I　never　saw　you　look　so　sort　ofwell；　glorified；　as
you　might　say。　　What　is　the　reason？〃

The　glorified　one　reddened　and　was　confused。　　He　stammered　that　he
did　not　know；　he　was　not　aware　of　any　particular　reason。

Mrs。　Ellis　beamed　upon　him。　　〃I　presume　likely　his　bookkeepin'　at
the　office　has　been　goin'　pretty　well　lately；〃　she　suggested。

Captain　Zelote's　gray　eyes　twinkled。　　〃Cal'late　he's　been　makin'　up
more　poetry　about　girls；〃　was　his　offering。　　〃Another　one　of　those
pieces　about　teeth　like　pearls　and　hair　all　curls；　or　somethin'
like　that。　　Say；　Al；　why　don't　you　poetry…makin'　fellers　try　a　new
one　once　in　a　while？　　Say；　'Her　hair's　like　rope　and　her　face　has
lost　hope。'　　Eh？　　Why　not；　for　a　change？〃

The　protests　on　the　part　of　Olive　and　the　housekeeper　against　the
captain's　innovation　in　poetry…making　had　the　effect　of　distracting
attention　from　Albert's　〃glorified〃　appearance。　　The　young　man
himself　was　thankful　for　the　respite。

That　night　before　he　retired　he　took　Madeline　Fosdick's　photograph
from　the　back　of　the　drawer　among　the　ties　and　collars　and　looked
at　it　for　five　minutes　at　least。　　She　was　a　handsome　girl；
certainly。　　Not　that　that　made　any　difference　to　him。　　And　she　was
an　intelligent　girl；　she　understood　his　poetry　and　appreciated　it。
Yes；　and　she　understood　him；　too；　almost　as　well　as　Helen。　。　。　。
Helen！　　He　hastily　returned　the　Fosdick　photograph　to　the　drawer；
but　this　time　he　did　not　put　it　quite　so　near　the　back。

On　the　following　Saturday　he　was　early　at　the　knoll；　a　brand…new
scribbling…pad　in　his　pocket　and　in　his　mind　divine　gems　which　were
later；　and　with　Miss　Fosdick's　assistance；　to　be　strung　into　a
glittering　necklace　of　lyric　song　and　draped；　with　the　stringer's
compliments；