the portygee-第39节

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said。　　〃She　is　merely　a　friend　of　mine〃oh；　how　short　is　memory！
〃but　we　have　been　friends　for　a　long　time　and　I　wouldn't　want　to
hurt　her　feelings。〃　　〃No；　instead　you　prefer　to　hurt　mine。〃　　〃Now；
dearest；　be　reasonable。〃　　It　was　their　nearest　approach　to　a
quarrel　and　was　a　very；　very　sad　affair。　　The　making…up　was　sweet；
of　course；　but　the　question　of　further　correspondence　with　Helen
Kendall　remained　just　where　it　was　at　the　beginning。　　And；
meanwhile；　the　correspondence　lapsed。

September　came　far；　far　too　sooncame　and　ended。　　And　with　it
ended　also　the　stay　of　the　Fosdicks　in　South　Harniss。　　Albert　and
Madeline　said　good…by　at　their　rendezvous　by　the　beach。　　It　was　a
sad；　a　tearful；　but　a　very　precious　farewell。　　They　would　write
each　other　every　day；　they　would　think　of　each　other　every　minute
of　every　day；　they　would　live　through　the　winter　somehow　and　look
forward　to　the　next　spring　and　their　next　meeting。

〃You　will　writeoh；　ever　and　ever　so　many　poems；　won't　you；　dear？〃
begged　Madeline。　　〃You　know　how　I　love　them。　　And　whenever　I　see
one　of　your　poems　in　print　I　shall　be　so　proud　of　youof　MY　poet。〃

Albert　promised　to　write　ever　and　ever　so　many。　　He　felt　that　there
would　be　no　difficulty　in　writing　reams　of　poemsinspired；
glorious　poems。　　The　difficulty　would　be　in　restraining　himself
from　writing　too　many　of　them。　　With　Madeline　Fosdick　as　an
inspiration；　poetizing　became　as　natural　as　breathing。

Then；　which　was　unusual　for　them；　they　spoke　of　the　future；　the
dim；　vague；　but　so　happy　future；　when　Albert　was　to　be　the　nation's
poet　laureate　and　Madeline；　as　Mrs。　Laureate；　would　share　his　glory
and　wear；　so　to　speak；　his　second…best　laurels。　　The　disagreeable
problems　connected　with　the　future　they　ignored；　or　casually
dismissed　with；　〃Never　mind；　dear；　it　will　be　all　right　by　and　by。〃
Oh；　it　was　a　wonderful　afternoon；　a　rosy；　cloudy；　happy；　sorrowful；
bitter…sweet　afternoon。

And　the　next　morning　Albert；　peeping　beneath　Z。　Snow　and　Co。's
office　window　shade；　saw　his　heart's　desire　step　aboard　the　train；
saw　that　train　puff　out　of　the　station；　saw　for　just　an　instant　a
small　hand　waved　behind　the　dingy　glass　of　the　car　window。　　His　own
hand　waved　in　reply。　　Then　the　raucous　voice　of　Mr。　Price　broke　the
silence。

〃Who　was　you　flappin'　your　flipper　at？〃　inquired　Issachar。　　〃Girl；
I'll　bet　you！　　Never　saw　such　a　critter　as　you　be　to　chase　after
the　girls。　　Which　one　is　it　this　time？〃

Albert　made　no　reply。　　Between　embarrassment　and　sorrow　he　was
incapable　of　speech。　　Issachar；　however；　was　not　in　that　condition；
at　all　times　when　awake；　and　sometimes　when　asleep；　Mr。　Price
could；　and　usually　did；　speak。

〃Which　one　is　it　this　time；　Al？〃　demanded　Issy。　　〃Eh？　　Crimus；　see
him　get　red！　　Haw；　haw！　　Labe；〃　to　Mr。　Keeler；　who　came　into　the
office　from　the　inner　room；　〃which　girl　do　you　cal'late　Al　here　is
wavin'　by…bye　to　this　mornin'？　　Who's　goin'　away　on　the　cars　this
mornin'；　Labe？〃

Laban；　his　hands　full　of　the　morning　mail；　absently　replied　that　he
didn't　know。

〃Yes；　you　do；　too；〃　persisted　Issy。　　〃You　ain't　listenin'；　that's
all。　　Who's　leavin'　town　on　the　train　just　now？〃

〃Eh？　　Oh；　I　don't　know。　　The　Small　folks　are　goin'　to　Boston；　I
believe。　　And　George　Bartlett's　goin'　to　Ostable　on　court　business；
he　told　me。　　Oh；　yes；　I　believe　Cap'n　Lote　said　that　Fosdick　woman
and　her　daughter　were　goin'　back　to　New　York。　　Back　to　New　York
yesyesyes。〃

Mr。　Price　crowed　triumphantly。　　〃Ah；　ha！〃　he　crowed。　　〃Ah；　ha！
That's　the　answer。　　That's　the　one　he's　shakin'　day…days　to；　that
Fosdick　girl。　　I've　seen　you　'round　with　her　at　the　post　office　and
the　ice　cream　s'loon。　　I'm　onto　you；　Al。　　Haw；　haw！　　What's　her
name？　　Adeline？　　Dandelion？　　Madeline？that's　it！　　Say；　how　do　you
think　Helen　Kendall's　goin'　to　like　your　throwin'　kisses　to　the
Madeline　one；　eh？〃

The　assistant　bookkeeper　was　still　silent。　　The　crimson；　however；
was　leaving　his　face　and　the　said　face　was　paling　rapidly。　　This
was　an　ominous　sign　had　Mr。　Price　but　known　it。　　He　did　not　know　it
and　cackled　merrily　on；

〃Guess　I'll　have　to　tell　Helen　when　she　comes　back　home；〃　he
announced。　　〃Cal'late　I'll　put　a　flea　in　her　ear。　　'Helen；'　I'll
say；　'don't　feel　too　bad　now；　don't　cry　and　get　your　handkerchief
all　soakin'；　or　nothin'　like　that。　　I　just　feel　it's　my　duty　to
tell　ye　that　your　little　Albert　is　sparkin'　up　to　somebody　else。
He's　waitin'　on　a　party　by　the　name　of　Padelineno；　Madeline
Woodtickno；　Fosdickand　。　。　。'　　Here！　let　go　of　me！　　What　are　you
doin'？〃

That　last　question　was　in　the　nature　of　a　gurgle。　　Albert；　his　face
now　very　white　indeed；　had　strode　across　the　office；　seized　the
speaker　by　the　front　of　his　flannel　shirt　and　backed　him　against
the　wall。

〃Stop；〃　commanded　Albert；　between　his　teeth。　　〃That's　enough　of
that。　　Don't　you　say　any　more！〃

〃Eh？　　Ugh！　　Ur…gg！　　Leggo　of　my　shirt。〃

Albert　let　go；　but　he　did　not　step　back。　　He　remained　where　he　was；
exactly　in　front　of　Mr。　Price。

〃Don't　you　say　any　more　aboutabout　what　you　were　saying；〃　he
repeated。

〃Eh？　　Not　say　any　more？　　Why　not？　　Who's　goin'　to　stop　me；　I'd　like
to　know？〃

〃I　am。〃

〃I　want　to　know！　　What'll　you　do？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　If　you　weren't　so　old；　I　wouldbut　I'll　stop　you；
anyhow。〃

Albert　felt　a　hand　on　his　arm　and　heard　Mr。　Keeler's　voice　at　his
ear。

〃Careful；　Al；　careful；〃　it　said。　　〃Don't　hit　him。〃

〃Of　course　I　shan't　hit　him；〃　indignantly。　　〃What　do　you　think　I
am？　　But　he　must　promise　not　to　mentionerMiss　Fosdick's　name
again。〃

〃Better　promise；　Is；〃　suggested　Laban。　　Issachar's　mouth　opened；
but　no　promise　came　forth。

〃Promise　be　darned！〃　he　yelled　furiously。　　〃Mention　her　name！　　I'll
mention　any　name　I　set　out　to；　and　no　Italyun　Portygee　is　goin'　to
stop　me；　neither。〃

Albert　glanced　about　the　office。　　By　the　wall　stood　two　brimming
pails　of　water；　brought　in　by　Mr。　Price　for　floor…washing　purposes。
He　lifted　one　of　the　pails。

〃If　you　don't　promise　I'll　duck　you；〃　he　declared。　　〃Let　go　of　me；
Keeler；　I　mean　it。〃

〃Careful；　Al；　careful；〃　said　Mr。　Keeler。　　〃Better　promise；　Is。〃

〃Promise　nawthin'！　　Fosdick！　　What　in　time　do　I　care　for　Fosdicks；
Madelines　or　Padelines　or　Dandelions　or〃

His　sentence　stopped　just　there。　　The　remainder　of　it　was　washed
back　and　down　his　throat　by　the　deluge　from　the　bucket。　　Overcome
by　shock　and　surprise；　Mr。　Price　leaned　back　against　the　wall　and
slid　slowly　down　that　wall　until　he　reclined　in　a　sitting　posture；
upon　the　floor。

〃Crimustee；〃　he　gasped；　as　soon　as　he　could　articulate；　〃I'mawk
I'm　drownded。〃

Albert　put　down　the　empty　bucket　and　picked　up　the　full　one。

〃Promise；〃　he　said　again。

Laban　Keeler　rubbed　his　chin。

〃I'd　promise　if　I　was　you；　Is；〃　he　said。　　〃You're　some　subject　to
rheumatism；　you　know。〃

Issachar；　sitting　in　a　spreading　puddle；　looked　damply　upward　at
the　remaining　bucket。　　〃By　crimustee〃　he　began。　　Albert　drew　the
bucket　backward；　the　water　dripped　from　its　lower　brim。

〃IIdarn　ye；　I　promise！〃　shouted　Issachar。　　Albert　put　down　the
bucket　and　walked　back　to　his　desk。　　Laban　watched　him　curiously；
smiling　just　a　little。　　Then　he　turned　to　Mr。　Price；　who　was
scrambling　to　his　feet。

〃Better　get　your　mop　and　swab　up　here；　Is；〃　he　said。　　〃Cap'n
Lote'll　be　in　'most　any　minute。〃

When　Captain　Zelotes　did　return　to　the　office；　Issachar　was
industriously　sweeping　out；　Albert　was　hard　at　work　at　the　books；
and　Laban　was　still　rubbing　his　chin　and　smiling　at　nothing　in
particular。

The　next　day　Albert　and　Issachar　made　it　up。　　Albert　apologized。

〃I'm　sorry；　Issy；〃　he　said。　　〃I　shouldn't　have　done　it；　but　you
made　me　mad。　　I　have　arather　mean　temper；　I'm　afraid。　　Forgive
me；　will　you？〃

He　held　out　his　hand；　and　Issachar；　after　a　momentary　hesitation；
took　it。

〃I　forgive　you　this　time；　Al；〃　he　said　solemnly；　〃but　don't　never
do　nothin'　like　it　again；　will　ye？　　When　I　went　home　for　dinner
yesterday　noon　I　give　you　my　word　my　clothes　was　kind　of　dampish
even　then。　　If　it　hadn't　been　nice　warm　sunshine　and　I　was　out
doors　and　dried　off　considerable　I'd　a　had　to　change　everything；
underclothes　and　all；　and　'tain't　but　the　middle　of　the　week　yet。〃

His　ducking　had　an　effect　which　Albert　noticed　with　considerable
satisfactionhe　was　never　quite　as　flippantly　personal　in　his
comments　concerning　the　assistant　bookkeeper。　　He　treated　the
latter；　if　not　with　respect；　at　least　with　something　distantly　akin
to　it。

After　Madeline's　departure　the　world　was　very　lonely　indeed。
Albert　wrote　long；　long　letters　and　received　replies　which　varied
in　length　but　never　in　devotion。　　Miss　Fosdick　was　obliged　to　be
cautious　in　her　correspondence　with　her　lover。　　〃You　will　forgive
me　if　this　is　not　much　more　than　a　note；　won't　you；　dear？〃　she
wrote。　　〃Mother　seems　to　be　very　curious　of　late　about　my　letters
and　to　whom　I　write　and　I　had　to　just　steal　the　opportunity　this
morning。〃　　An　older　and　more　apprehensive　person　might　have　found
Mrs。　Fosdick's　sudden　interest　in　her　daughter's　correspondence
suspicious　and　a　trifle　alarming；　but　Albert　never　dreamed　of　being
alarmed。

He　wrote　many　poems；　all　dealing　with　love　and　lovers；　and　sold
some　of　them