the portygee-第59节

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but　less　boyish　young　man；　thinner；　a　scar　upon　his　right　cheek；
and　the　look　in　his　eyes　more　serious；　and　infinitely　older；　the
look　of　one　who　had　borne　much　and　seen　more。　　The　reporters　found
it　difficult　to　get　a　story　from　the　returned　hero。　　He　seemed　to
shun　the　limelight　and　to　be　almost　unduly　modest　and　retiring；
which　was　of　itself；　had　they　but　known　it；　a　transformation
sufficiently　marvelous　to　have　warranted　a　special　〃Sunday
special。〃

〃Will　not　talk　about　himself；〃　so　one　writer　headed　his　article。
Gertie　Kendrick；　with　a　brand…new　ring　upon　her　engagement　finger；
sniffed　as　she　read　that　headline　to　Sam　Thatcher；　who　had
purchased　the　ring。　　〃Al　Speranza　won't　talk　about　himself！〃
exclaimed　Gertie。　　〃Well；　it's　the　FIRST　time；　then。　　No　wonder
they　put　it　in　the　paper。〃

But　Albert　would　not　talk；　claiming　that　he　had　done　nothing　worth
talking　about；　except　to　get　himself　taken　prisoner　in　almost　his
first　engagement。　　〃Go　and　ask　some　of　the　other　fellows　aboard
here；〃　he　urged。　　〃They　have　been　all　through　it。〃　　As　he　would　not
talk　the　newspaper　men　were　obliged　to　talk　for　him；　which　they　did
by　describing　his　appearance　and　his　manner；　and　by　rehashing　the
story　of　the　fight　in　the　French　village。　　Also；　of　course；　they
republished　some　of　his　verses。　　The　Lances　of　Dawn　appeared　in　a
special　edition　in　honor　of　its　author's　reappearance　on　this
earth。

〃Yes　sir；〃　continued　Captain　Zelotes；　〃the　reception　committee　was
consider'ble　disappointed。　　They'd　have　met　you　with　the　Orham　band
if　they'd　had　their　way。　　I　told　'em　you'd　heard　all　the　band　music
you　wanted　in　camp；　I　guessed　likely；　and　you'd　rather　come　home
quiet。　　There　was　goin'　to　be　some　speeches；　too；　but　I　had　them
put　off。〃

〃Thanks；　Grandfather。〃

〃Um…hm。　　I　had　a　notion　you　wouldn't　hanker　for　speeches。　　If　you
do　Issy'll　make　one　for　you　'most　any　time。　　Ever　since　you　got
into　the　papers　Issy's　been　swellin'　up　like　a　hot　pop…over　with
pride　because　you　and　he　was　what　he　calls　chummies。　　All　last
summer　Issachar　spent　his　evenin's　hangin'　around　the　hotel　waitin'
for　the　next　boarder　to　mention　your　name。　　Sure　as　one　did　Is　was
ready　for　him。　　'Know　him？'　he'd　sing　out。　　'Did　I　know　Al
Speranza？　　ME？　　Well；　now　say！'　　And　so　on；　long　as　the　feller
would　listen。　　I　asked　him　once　if　he　ever　told　any　of　'em　how　you
ducked　him　with　the　bucket　of　water。　　He　didn't　think　I　knew　about
that　and　it　kind　of　surprised　him；　I　judged。〃

Albert　smiled。　　〃Laban　told　you　about　it；　I　suppose；〃　he　said。
〃What　a　kid　trick　that　was；　wasn't　it？〃

The　captain　turned　his　head　and　regarded　him　for　an　instant。　　The
old　twinkle　was　in　his　eye　when　he　spoke。

〃Wouldn't　do　a　thing　like　that　now；　Al；　I　presume　likely？〃　he　said。
〃Feel　a　good　deal　older　now；　eh？〃

Albert's　answer　was　seriously　given。

〃Sometimes　I　feel　at　least　a　hundred　and　fifty；〃　he　replied。

〃Humph！　。　。　。　　Well；　I　wouldn't　feel　like　that。　　If　you're　a
hundred　and　fifty　I　must　be　a　little　older　than　Methuselah　was　in
his　last　years。　　I'm　feelin'　younger　to…day；　younger　than　I　have
for　quite　a　spell。　　Yes；　for　quite　a　spell。〃

His　grandson　put　a　hand　on　his　knee。　　〃Good　for　you；　Grandfather；〃
he　said。　　〃Now　tell　me　more　about　Labe。　　Do　you　know　I　think　the
old　chap's　sticking　by　his　pledge　is　the　bulliest　thing　I've　heard
since　I've　been　home。〃

So　they　talked　of　Laban　and　of　Rachel　and　of　South　Harniss
happenings　until　the　train　drew　up　at　the　platform　of　that　station。
And　upon　that　platform　stepped　Albert　to　feel　his　grandmother's
arms　about　him　and　her　voice；　tremulous　with　happiness；　at　his　ear。
And　behind　her　loomed　Mrs。　Ellis；　her　ample　face　a　combination　of
smiles　and　tears；　〃all　sunshine　and　fair　weather　down　below　but
rainin'　steady　up　aloft；〃　as　Captain　Lote　described　it　afterwards。
And　behind　her；　like　a　foothill　in　the　shadow　of　a　mountain；　was
Laban。　　And　behind　Laban　　No；　that　is　a　mistakein　front　of
Laban　and　beside　Laban　and　in　front　of　and　beside　everyone　else
when　opportunity　presented　was　Issachar。　　And　Issachar's　expression
and　bearings　were　wonderful　to　see。　　A　stranger；　and　there　were
several　strangers　amid　the　group　at　the　station；　might　have　gained
the　impression　that　Mr。　Price；　with　of　course　a　very　little　help
from　the　Almighty；　was　responsible　for　everything。

〃Why；　Issy！〃　exclaimed　Albert；　when　they　shook　hands。　　〃You're
here；　too；　eh？〃

Mr。　Price's　already　protuberant　chest　swelled　still　further。　　His
reply　had　the　calmness　of　finality。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Issy；　〃I'm　here。　　'Who's　goin'　to　look　out　for　Z。
Snow　and　Co。　if　all　hands　walks　out　and　leaves　'em？'　Labe　says。　　'I
don't　know；'　says　I；　'and　I　don't　care。　　I'm　goin'　to　that　depot　to
meet　Al　Speranzy　and　if　Z。　Snow　and　Co。　goes　to　pot　while　I'm　gone
I　can't　help　it。　　I　have　sacrificed；'　I　says；　'and　I　stand　ready　to
sacrifice　pretty　nigh　everything　for　my　business；　but　there's
limits　and　this　is　one　of　'em。　　I'm　goin'　acrost　to　that　depot　to
meet　him；'　says　I；　'and　don't　you　try　to　stop　me；　Labe　Keeler。'〃

〃Great　stuff；　Is！〃　said　Albert；　with　a　laugh。　　〃What　did　Labe　say
to　that？〃

〃What　was　there　for　him　to　say？　　He　could　see　I　meant　it。　　Course
he　hove　out　some　of　his　cheap　talk；　but　it　didn't　amount　to
nothin'。　　Asked　if　I　wan't　goin'　to　put　up　a　sign　sayin'　when　I'd
be　back；　so's　to　ease　the　customers'　minds。　　'I　don't　know　when
I'll　be　back；'　I　says。　　'All　right；'　says　he；　'put　that　on　the
sign。　　That'll　ease　'em　still　more。'　　Just　cheap　talk　'twas。　　He
thinks　he's　funny；　but　I　don't　pay　no　attention　to　him。〃

Others　came　to　shake　hands　and　voice　a　welcome。　　The　formal
reception；　that　with　the　band；　had　been　called　off　at　Captain
Zelotes's　request；　but　the　informal　one　was；　in　spite　of　the　rain；
which　was　now　much　less　heavy；　quite　a　sizable　gathering。

The　Reverend　Mr。　Kendall　held　his　hand　for　a　long　time　and　talked
much；　it　seemed　to　Albert　that　he　had　aged　greatly　since　they　last
met。　　He　wandered　a　bit　in　his　remarks　and　repeated　himself　several
times。

〃The　poor　old　gentleman's　failin'　a　good　deal；　Albert；〃　said　Mrs。
Snow；　as　they　drove　home　together；　he　and　his　grandparents；　three
on　the　seat　of　the　buggy　behind　Jessamine。　　〃His　sermons　are　pretty
tiresome　nowadays；　but　we　put　up　with　'em　because　he's　been　with　us
so　long。　。　。　。　　Ain't　you　squeezed　'most　to　death；　Albert？　　You　two
big　men　and　me　all　mashed　together　on　this　narrow　seat。　　It's　lucky
I'm　small。　　Zelotes　ought　to　get　a　two…seated　carriage；　but　he
won't。〃

〃Next　thing　I　get；　Mother；〃　observed　the　captain；　〃will　be　an
automobile。　　I'll　stick　to　the　old　mare　here　as　long　as　she's　able
to　navigate；　but　when　she　has　to　be　hauled　out　of　commission　I'm
goin'　to　buy　a　car。　　I　believe　I'm　pretty　nigh　the　last　man　in　this
county　to　drive　a　horse；　as　'tis。　　Makes　me　feel　like　what　Sol
Dadgett　calls　a　cracked　teapota　'genuine　antique。'　　One　of　these
city　women　will　be　collectin'　me　some　of　these　days。　　Better　look
out；　mother。〃

Olive　sighed　happily。　　〃It　does　me　good　to　hear　you　joke　again；
Zelotes；〃　she　said。　　〃He　didn't　joke　much；　Albert；　whilewhen　we
thought　youyou〃

Albert　interrupted　in　time　to　prevent　the　threatened　shower。

〃So　Mr。　Kendall　is　not　well；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　very　sorry　to　hear
it。〃

〃Of　course　you　would　be。　　You　and　he　used　to　be　so　friendly　when
Helen　was　home。　　Oh；　speakin'　of　Helen；　she　IS　comin'　home　in　a
fortni't　or　three　weeks；　so　I　hear。　　She's　goin'　to　give　up　her
teachin'　and　come　back　to　be　company　for　her　father。　　I　suppose　she
realizes　he　needs　her；　but　it　must　be　a　big　sacrifice　for　her；
givin'　up　the　good　position　she's　got　now。　　She's　such　a　smart　girl
and　such　a　nice　one。　　Why；　she　came　to　see　us　after　the　news　came
the　bad　newsand　she　was　so　kind　and　so　good。　　I　don't　know　what
we　should　have　done　without　her。　　Zelotes　says　so　too；　don't　you；
Zelotes？〃

Her　husband　did　not　answer。　　Instead　he　said：　　〃Well；　there's　home；
Al。　　Rachel's　there　ahead　of　us　and　dinner's　on　the　way；　judgin'　by
the　smoke　from　the　kitchen　chimney。　　How　does　the　old　place　look　to
you；　boy？〃

Albert　merely　shook　his　head　and　drew　a　long　breath；　but　his
grandparents　seemed　to　be　quite　satisfied。

There　were　letters　and　telegrams　awaiting　him　on　the　table　in　the
sitting…room。　　Two　of　the　letters　were　postmarked　from　a　town　on
the　Florida　coast。　　The　telegram　also　was　from　that　same　town。

〃_I_　had　one　of　those　things；〃　observed　Captain　Zelotes；　alluding
to　the　telegram。　　〃Fosdick　sent　me　one　of　those　long　ones；　night…
letters　I　believe　they　call　'em。　　He　wants　me　to　tell　you　that　Mrs。
Fosdick　is　better　and　that　they　cal'late　to　be　in　New　York　before
very　long　and　shall　expect　you　there。　　Of　course　you　knew　that；　Al；
but　I　presume　likely　the　main　idea　of　the　telegram　was　to　help　say；
'Welcome　home'　to　you；　that's　all。〃

Albert　nodded。　　Madeline　and　her　mother　had　been　in　Florida　all
winter。　　Mrs。　Fosdick's　health　was　not　good。　　She　declared　that　her
nerves　had　given　way　under　her　frightful　responsibilities　during
the　war。　　There　was；　although　it　seems　almost　sacrilege　to　make
such　a　statement；　a　certain　similarity　between　Mrs。　Fletcher
Fosdick　and　Issachar　Price。　　The　tel