the portygee-第43节

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rejecting　undesirable　suitors　and　ordering　their　daughters　to　do
this　and　that；　breaking　their　hearts；　and　so　on。　　But　that　sort　of
thing　doesn't　go　nowadays。　　Young　people　have　their　own　ideas。〃

〃Um…hm；　Al；　so　I've　noticed。〃

〃Yes；　indeed　they　have。　　Now；　if　Madeline　wants　to　marry　me　and　I
want　to　marry　her；　who　will　stop　us？〃

The　captain　pulled　at　his　beard。

〃Why；　nobody；　Al；　as　I　know　of；〃　he　said；　〃provided　you　both　keep
on　wantin'　to　marry　each　other　long　enough。〃

〃Keep　on　wanting　long　enough？　　What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃

〃Why；　nothin'　much；　perhaps；　only　gettin'　married　isn't　all　just
goin'　to　the　parson。　　After　the　ceremony　the　rent　begins　and　the
grocers'　bills　and　the　butchers'　and　the　bakers'　and　a　thousand　or
so　more。　　Somebody's　got　to　pay　'em；　and　the　money's　got　to　come
from　somewhere。　　Your　wages　here；　Al；　poetry　counted　in；　ain't　so
very　big　yet。　　Better　wait　a　spell　before　you　settle　down　to
married　life；　hadn't　you？〃

〃Wellwell；　II　didn't　say　we　were　to　be　married　right　away；
Grandfather。　　She　and　I　aren't　unreasonable。　　I'm　doing　better　and
better　with　my　writings。　　Some　day　I'll　make　enough；　and　more。　　Why
not？〃

There　was　enough　of　the　Speranza　egotism　in　this　confident
assurance　to　bring　the　twinkle　to　the　captain's　eye。　　He　twisted
his　beard　between　his　finger　and　thumb　and　regarded　his　grandson
mildly。

〃Have　you　any　idea　how　much　'enough'　is　liable　to　be；　Al？〃　he
inquired。　　〃I　don't　know　the　facts　about　'em；　of　course；　but　from
what　I　have　heard　I　judge　the　Fosdicks　have　got　plenty　of　cash。
I've　heard　it　estimated　around　town　from　one　million　to　fifty
millions。　　Allowin'　it's　only　one　million；　it　seems　likely　that
yourerwhat's…her…nameMadeline　has　been　used　to　havin'　as　much
as　fifty　cents　to　spend　whenever　she　wanted　it。　　Do　you　cal'late　to
be　able　to　earn　enough　makin'　up　poetry　to　keep　her　the　way　her
folks　have　been　doin'？〃

〃No；　of　course　notnot　at　first。〃

〃Oh；　but　later　onwhen　the　market　price　of　poetry　has　gone　upyou
can；　eh？〃

〃Look　here；　Grandfather；　if　you're　making　fun　of　me　I　tell　you　I
won't　stand　it。　　This　is　serious；　I　mean　it。　　Madeline　and　I　are
going　to　be　married　some　time　and　no　one　can　stop　us。〃

〃All　right；　son；　all　right。　　But　it　did　seem　to　me　that　in　the
light　of　this　letter　fromeryour　mother…in…law　that's　goin'　to
be；　we　ought　to　face　the　situation　moderately　square；　anyhow。
First　comes　marriage。　　Well；　that's　easy；　any　fool　can　get　married；
lots　of　'em　do。　　But　then；　as　I　said；　comes　supportin'　yourself　and
wifebills；　bills；　and　more　bills。　　You'll　say　that　you　and　she
will　economize　and　fight　it　out　together。　　Fine；　first…rate；　but
later　on　there　may　be　more　of　you；　a　child；　children　perhaps〃

〃Grandfather！〃

〃It's　possible；　son。　　Such　things　do　happen；　and　they　cost　money。
More　mouths　to　feed。　　Now　I　take　it　for　granted　that　you　aren't
marryin'　the　Fosdick　girl　for　her　money〃

The　interruption　was　prompt　and　made　with　fiery　indignation。

〃I　never　thought　of　her　money；〃　declared　Albert。　　〃I　don't　even
know　that　she　has　any。　　If　she　has；　I　don't　want　it。　　I　wouldn't
take　it。　　She　is　all　I　want。〃

Captain　Zelotes'　lip　twitched。

〃Judgin'　from　the　tone　of　her　ma's　last　letter　to　me；〃　he　observed；
〃she　is　all　you　would　be　liable　to　get。　　It　don't　read　as　if　many
erweddin'　presents　from　the　bride's　folks　would　come　along　with
her。　　But；　there；　there；　Al　don't　get　mad。　　I　know　this　is　a　long
ways　from　bein'　a　joke　to　you　and；　in　a　way；　it's　no　joke　for　me。
Course　I　had　realized　that　some　day　you'd　be　figgerin'；　maybe；　on
gettin'　married；　but　I　did　hope　the　figgerin'　wouldn't　begin　for
some　years　yet。　　And　when　you　did；　I　rather　hopedwell；　II
hoped。　。　。　。　　However；　we　won't　stop　to　bother　with　that　now。
Let's　stick　to　this　letter　of　Mrs。　Fosdick's　here。　　I　must　answer
that；　I　suppose；　whether　I　want　to　or　not；　to…day。　　Well；　Al；　you
tell　me；　I　understand　that　there　has　been　nothin'　underhand　in　your
acquaintance　with　her　daughter。　　Other　than　keepin'　the　engagement
a　secret；　that　is？〃

〃Yes；　I　do。〃

〃And　you　mean　to　stick　by　your　guns　and。　。　。　。　　Well；　what　is　it？
Come　in！〃

There　had　been　a　knock　upon　the　office　door。　　In　answer　to　his
employer's　summons；　Mr。　Keeler　appeared。　　He　held　a　card　in　his
hand。

〃Sorry　to　disturb　you；　Cap'n　Lote；〃　he　said。　　〃Yes；　I　be；　yes；　sir。
But　I　judged　maybe　'twas　somethin'　important　about　the　lumber　for
his　house　and　he　seemed　anxious　to　see　you；　so　I　took　the　risk　and
knocked。　　Um…hmyes；　yes；　yes。〃

Captain　Zelotes　looked　at　the　card。　　Then　he　adjusted　his　spectacles
and　looked　again。

〃Humph！〃　he　grunted。　　〃Humph！　。　。　。　　We…ell；　Labe；　I　guess　likely
you　might　show　him　in　here。　　Wait　just　a　minute　before　you　do　it；
though。　　I'll　open　the　door　when　I　want　him　to　come。〃

〃All　right；　Cap'n　Lote。　　Yes；　yes；〃　observed　Mr。　Keeler　and
departed。　　The　captain　looked　thoughtfully　at　the　card。

〃Al；〃　he　said；　after　a　moment's　reflection；　〃we'll　have　to　cut　this
talk　of　ours　short　for　a　little　spell。　　You　go　back　to　your　desk
and　wait　there　until　I　call　you。　　Hold　on；〃　as　his　grandson　moved
toward　the　door　of　the　outer　office。　　〃Don't　go　that　way。　　Go　out
through　the　side　door　into　the　yard　and　come　in　the　front　way。
There'serthere's　a　man　waitin'　to　see　me；　anderperhaps　he'd
better　not　see　you　first。〃

Albert　stared　at　him　uncomprehendingly。

〃Better　not　see　ME？〃　he　repeated。　　〃Why　shouldn't　he　see　me？〃

Captain　Zelotes　handed　the　card　to　Albert。

〃Better　let　me　talk　with　him　first；　Al；〃　he　said。　　〃You　can　have
your　chance　later　on。〃

The　card　bore　the　name　of　Mr。　Fletcher　Story　Fosdick。



CHAPTER　XI


Albert　read　the　name　on　the　card。　　He　was　too　astonished　to　speak。
Her　father！　　He　was　here！　　He

His　grandfather　spoke　again；　and　his　tone　was　brisk　and　businesslike。

〃Go　on；　Al；〃　he　ordered。　　〃Out　through　this　side　door　and　around　to
the　front。　　Lively；　son；　lively！〃

But　the　young　man's　wits　were　returning。　　He　scowled　at　the　card。

〃No；〃　he　said　stoutly；　〃I'm　not　going　to　run　away。　　I'm　not　afraid
of　him。　　I　haven't　done　anything　to　be　ashamed　of。〃

The　captain　nodded。　　〃If　you　had；　I　should　ASK　you　to　run　away；〃　he
said。　　〃As　it　is；　I　just　ask　you　to　step　out　and　wait　a　little
while；　that's　all。〃

〃But；　Grandfather；　I　WANT　to　see　him。〃

〃All　right；　I　want　you　tobut　not　until　he　and　I　have　talked
first。　　Come；　boy；　come！　　I've　lived　a　little　longer　than　you　have；
and　maybe　I　know　about　half　as　much　about　some　things。　　This　is　one
of　'em。　　You　clear　out　and　stand　by。　　I'll　call　you　when　I　want
you。〃

Albert　went；　but　reluctantly。　　After　he　had　gone　his　grandfather
walked　to　the　door　of　the　outer　office　and　opened　it。

〃Step　aboard；　Mr。　Fosdick；〃　he　said。　　〃Come　in；　sir。〃

Mr。　Fletcher　Fosdick　was　a　large　man；　portly；　and　with　a　head　which
was　rapidly　losing　its　thatch。　　His　smoot…shaven　face　was　ruddy　and
his　blue　eye　mild。　　He　entered　the　private　office　of　Z。　Snow　and
Co。　and　shook　the　hand　which　Captain　Zelotes　proffered。

〃How　do　you　do；　Captain　Snow？〃　he　asked　pleasantly。　　〃You　and　I
have　had　some　business　dealings；　but　we　have　never　met　before；　I
believe。〃

The　captain　waved　toward　a　chair。　　〃That's　a　fact；　Mr。　Fosdick；〃　he
said。　　〃I　don't　believe　we　ever　have；　but　it's　better　late　than　by
and　by；　as　the　feller　said。　　Sit　down；　sit　down；　Mr。　Fosdick。
Throw　off　your　coat；　won't　you？　　It's　sort　of　warm　in　here　compared
to　out　door。〃

The　visitor　admitted　the　difference　in　temperature　between　the
interior　and　exterior　of　the　building；　and　removed　his　overcoat。
Also　he　sat　down。　　Captain　Zelotes　opened　a　drawer　of　his　desk　and
produced　a　box　of　cigars。

〃Have　a　smoke；　won't　you？〃　he　inquired。

Mr。　Fosdick　glanced　at　the　label　on　the　box。

〃Whywhy；　I　was　rather　hoping　you　would　smoke　one　of　mine；〃　he
said。　　〃I　have　a　pocket　full。〃

〃When　I　come　callin'　on　you　at　your　place　in　New　York　I　will　smoke
yours。　　Now　it　kind　of　looks　to　me　as　if　you'd　ought　to　smoke　mine。
Seems　reasonable　when　you　think　it　over；　don't　it？〃

Fosdick　smiled。　　〃Perhaps　you're　right；〃　he　said。　　He　took　one　of
the　gaudily　banded　perfectos　from　his　host's　box　and　accepted　a
light　from　the　match　the　captain　held。　　Both　men　blew　a　cloud　of
smoke　and　through　those　clouds　each　looked　at　the　other。　　The
preliminaries　were　over；　but　neither　seemed　particularly　anxious
to　begin　the　real　conversation。　　It　was　the　visitor　who；　at　last；
began　it。

〃Captain　Snow；〃　he　said；　〃I　presume　your　clerk　told　you　I　wished　to
see　you　on　a　matter　of　business。〃

〃Who？　　Oh；　Labe；　you　mean？　　Yes；　he　told　me。〃

〃I　told　him　to　tell　you　that。　　It　may　surprise　you；　however；　to
learn　that　the　business　I　wished　to　see　you　aboutthat　I　came　on
from　New　York　to　see　you　abouthas　nothing　whatever　to　do　with　the
house　I'm　building　down　here。〃

Captain　Zelotes　removed　his　cigar　from　his　lips　and　looked
meditatively　at　its　burning　end。　　〃No…o；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃that
don't　surprise　me　very　much。　　I　cal'lated　'twasn't　about　the　house
you　wished　to　see　me。〃

〃Oh；　I　see！　。　。　。　　Humph！〃　　The　Fosdick　mild　blue　eye　lost；　for　the
moment；　just　a　trifle　of　its　mildness　and　became　almost　keen；　as
its　owner　flashed　a　gla