the portygee-第73节

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and　before　mentioning　it　even　to　his　grandparents　he　wished　to
think　it　over　very　carefully。

About　ten　o'clock　his　grandfather　called　to　him　from　the　foot　of
the　stairs　and　asked　him　to　come　down。

〃Mr。　Kendall's　on　the　phone；〃　said　Captain　Zelotes。　　〃He's　worried
about　Helen。　　She's　up　to　West　Harniss　sittin'　up　along　of　Lurany
Howes；　who's　been　sick　so　long。　　She　ain't　come　home；　and　the　old
gentleman's　frettin'　about　her　walkin'　down　from　there　alone　so
late。　　I　told　him　I　cal'lated　you'd　just　as　soon　harness　Jess　and
drive　up　and　get　her。　　You　talk　with　him　yourself；　Al。〃

Albert　did　and；　after　assuring　the　nervous　clergyman　that　he　would
see　that　his　daughter　reached　home　safely；　put　on　his　hat　and　went
out　to　the　barn。　　Jessamine　was　asleep　in　her　stall。　　As　he　was
about　to　lead　her　out　he　suddenly　remembered　that　one　of　the　traces
had　broken　that　morning　and　Captain　Zelotes　had　left　it　at　the
harness…maker's　to　be　mended。　　It　was　there　yet。　　The　captain　had
forgotten　the　fact；　and　so　had　he。　　That　settled　the　idea　of　using
Jessamine　and　the　buggy。　　Never　mind；　it　was　a　beautiful　night　and
the　walk　was　but　little　over　a　mile。

When　he　reached　the　tiny　story…and…a…half　Howes　cottage；　sitting
back　from　the　road　upon　the　knoll　amid　the　tangle　of　silverleaf
sprouts；　it　was　Helen　herself　who　opened　the　door。　　She　was
surprised　to　see　him；　and　when　he　explained　his　errand　she　was　a
little　vexed。

〃The　idea　of　Father's　worrying；〃　she　said。　　〃Such　a　wonderful　night
as　this；　bright　moonlight；　and　in　South　Harniss；　too。　　Nothing　ever
happens　to　people　in　South　Harniss。　　I　will　be　ready　in　a　minute　or
two。　　Mrs。　Howes'　niece　is　here　now　and　will　stay　with　her　until
to…morrow。　　Then　her　sister　is　coming　to　stay　a　month。　　As　soon　as
I　get　her　medicine　ready　we　can　go。〃

The　door　of　the　tiny　bedroom　adjoining　the　sitting　room　was　open；
and　Albert；　sitting　upon　the　lounge　with　the　faded　likeness　of　a
pink　dog　printed　on　the　plush　cover；　could　hear　the　querulous　voice
of　the　invalid　within。　　The　widow　Howes　was　deaf　and；　as　Laban
Keeler　described　it；　〃always　hollered　loud　enough　to　make　herself
hear〃　when　she　spoke。　　Helen　was　moving　quietly　about　the　sick　room
and　speaking　in　a　low　tone。　　Albert　could　not　hear　what　she　said；
but　he　could　hear　Lurania。

〃You're　a　wonder；　that's　what　you　be；〃　declared　the　latter；　〃and　I
told　your　pa　so　last　time　he　was　here。　　'She's　a　saint；'　says　I；
'if　ever　there　was　one　on　this　earth。　　She's　the　nicest；　smartest；
best…lookin'　girl　in　THIS　town　and　。　。　。'　eh？〃

There　had　been　a　murmur；　presumably　of　remonstrance；　from　Helen。

〃Eh？〃

Another　murmur。

〃EH？　　WHO'D　you　say　was　there？〃

A　third　murmur。

〃WHO？　。　。　。　　Oh；　that　Speranzy　one？　　Lote　Snow's　grandson？　　The　one
they　used　to　call　the　Portygee？　。　。　。　　Eh？　　Well；　all　right；　I
don't　care　if　he　did　hear　me。　　If　he　don't　know　you're　nice　and
smart　and　good…lookin'；　it's　high　time　he　did。〃

Helen；　a　trifle　embarrassed　but　laughing；　emerged　a　moment　later；
and　when　she　had　put　on　her　hat　she　and　Albert　left　the　Howes
cottage　and　began　their　walk　home。　　It　was　one　of　those　nights　such
as　Cape　Codders；　year…rounders　or　visitors；　experience　three　or
four　times　during　a　summer　and　boast　of　the　remainder　of　the　year。
A　sky　clear；　deep；　stretched　cloudless　from　horizon　to　horizon。
Every　light　at　sea　or　on　shore；　in　cottage　window　or　at　masthead　or
in　lighthouse　or　on　lightship　a　twinkling　diamond　point。　　A　moon；
apparently　as　big　as　a　barrel…head；　hung　up　in　the　east　and　below
it　a　carpet　of　cold　fire；　of　dancing；　spangled　silver　spread　upon
the　ocean。　　The　sound　of　the　surf；　distant；　soothing；　and　for　the
rest　quiet　and　the　fragrance　of　the　summer　woods　and　fields。

They　walked　rather　fast　at　first　and　the　conversation　was　brisk；
but　as　the　night　began　to　work　its　spell　upon　them　their　progress
was　slower　and　there　were　intervals　of　silence　of　which　neither　was
aware。　　They　came　to　the　little　hill　where　the　narrow　road　from
West　Harniss　comes　to　join　the　broader　highway　leading　to　the
Center。　　There　were　trees　here；　a　pine　grove；　on　the　landward　side；
and　toward　the　sea　nothing　to　break　the　glorious　view。

Helen　caught　her　breath。　　〃Oh；　it　is　beautiful；　beautiful！〃　she
said。

Albert　did　not　answer。　　〃Why　don't　you　talk？〃　she　asked。　　〃What　are
you　thinking　about？〃

He　did　not　tell　her　what　he　was　thinking　about。　　Instead；　having
caught　himself　just　in　time；　he　began　telling　her　of　what　he　had
been　thinking　when　his　grandfather　called　him　to　the　telephone。

〃Helen；〃　he　said；　〃I　want　to　ask　your　advice。　　I　had　an　astonishing
proposal　made　to　me　this　afternoon。　　I　must　make　a　decision；　I　must
say　yes　or　no；　and　I'm　not　sure　which　to　say。〃

She　looked　up　at　him　inquiringly。

〃This　afternoon；〃　he　went　on；　〃Doctor　Parker　called　me　into　his
office。　　There　was　a　group　of　men　there；　prominent　men　in　politics
from　about　the　country；　Judge　Baxter　from　Ostable　was　there；　and
Captain　Warren　from　South　Denboro；　and　others　like　them。　　What　do
you　suppose　they　want　me　to　do？〃

〃I　can't　imagine。〃

〃They　offer　me　the　party　nomination　for　Congress　from　this　section。
That　is；　of　course；　they　want　me　to　permit　my　name　to　stand　and
they　seem　sure　my　nomination　will　be　confirmed　by　the　voters。　　The
nomination；　they　say；　is　equivalent　to　election。　　They　seem　certain
of　it。　。　。　。　　And　they　were　insistent　that　I　accept。〃

〃Ohoh；　Albert！〃

〃Yes。　　They　said　a　good　many　flattering　things；　things　I　should
like　to　believe。　　They　said　my　war　record　and　my　writing　and　all
that　had　made　me　a　prominent　man　in　the　county　　Please　don't
think　I　take　any　stock　in　that〃

〃But　_I_　do。　　Go　on。〃

〃Well；　that　is　all。　　They　seemed　confident　that　I　would　make　a　good
congressman。　　I　am　not　so　sure。　　Of　course　the　thing　。　。　。　well；　it
does　tempt　me；　I　confess。　　I　could　keep　on　with　my　writing；　of
course。　　I　should　have　to　leave　the　home　people　for　a　part　of　the
year；　but　I　could　be　with　them　or　near　them　the　rest。　　And　。　。　。
well；　Helen；　II　think　I　should　like　the　job。　　Just　now；　when
America　needs　Americans　and　the　thing　that　isn't　American　must　be
fought；　I　should　likeif　I　were　sure　I　was　capable　of　it〃

〃Oh；　but　you　areyou　ARE。〃

〃Do　you　really　think　so？　　Would　you　like　to　have　me　try？〃

He　felt　her　arm　tremble　upon　his。　　She　drew　a　long　breath。

〃Oh；　I　should　be　so　PROUD！〃　she　breathed。

There　was　a　quiver　in　her　voice；　almost　a　sob。　　He　bent　toward　her。
She　was　looking　off　toward　the　sea；　the　moonlight　upon　her　face　was
like　a　glory；　her　eyes　were　shiningand　there　were　tears　in　them。
His　heart　throbbed　wildly。

〃Helen！〃　he　cried。　　〃Helen！〃

She　turned　and　looked　up　into　his　face。　　The　next　moment　her　own
face　was　hidden　against　his　breast；　his　arms　were　about　her；
and　。　。　。　and　the　risk；　the　risk　he　had　feared　to　take；　was　taken。

They　walked　home　after　a　time；　but　it　was　a　slow；　a　very　slow　walk
with　many　interruptions。

〃Oh；　Helen；〃　he　kept　saying；　〃I　don't　see　how　you　can。　　How　can
you？　　In　spite　of　it　all。　　II　treated　you　so　badly。　　I　was　SUCH
an　idiot。　　And　you　really　care？　　You　really　do？〃

She　laughed　happily。　　〃I　really　do　。　。　。　and　。　。　。　and　I　really
have；　all　the　time。〃

〃Always？〃

〃Always。〃

〃Wellwell；　by　George！　　And　。　。　。　Helen；　do　you　know　I　think
I　think　I　did　tooalwaysonly　I　was　such　a　young　fool　I　didn't
realize　it。　　WHAT　a　young　fool　I　was！〃

〃Don't　say　that；　dear；　don't。　。　。　。　　You　are　going　to　be　a　great
man。　　You　are　a　famous　one　already；　you　are　going　to　be　great。
Don't　you　know　that？〃

He　stooped　and　kissed　her。

〃I　think　I　shall　have　to　be；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　am　going　to　be　worthy
of　you。〃



CHAPTER　XX


Albert；　sitting　in　the　private　office　of　Z。　Snow　and　Co。；　dropped
his　newspaper　and　looked　up　with　a　smile　as　his　grandfather　came
in。　　Captain　Zelotes'　florid　face　was　redder　even　than　usual；　for
it　was　a　cloudy　day　in　October　and　blowing　a　gale。

〃Whew！〃　puffed　the　captain；　pulling　off　his　overcoat　and　striding
over　to　warm　his　hands　at　the　stove；　〃it's　raw　as　January　comin'
over　the　tops　of　those　Trumet　hills；　and　blowin'　hard　enough　to
part　your　back　hair；　besides。　　One　time　there　I　didn't　know　but
I'd　have　to　reef；　cal'late　I　would　if　I'd　known　how　to　reef　an
automobile。〃

〃Is　the　car　running　as　well　as　ever？〃　asked　Albert。

〃You　bet　you！　　Took　all　but　two　of　those　hills　on　full　steam　and
never　slowed　down　a　mite。　　Think　of　goin'　to　Trumet　and　back　in　a
forenoon；　and　havin'　time　enough　to　do　the　talkin'　I　went　to　do
besides。　　Why；　Jess　would　have　needed　the　whole　day　to　make　the
down　cruise；　to　say　nothin'　of　the　return　trip。　　Well；　the　old
gal's　havin'　a　good　rest　now；　nothin'　much　to　do　but　eat　and　sleep。
She　deserves　it；　she's　been　a　good　horse　for　your　grandma　and　me。〃

He　rubbed　his　hands　before　the　stove　and　chuckled。

〃Olive's　still　scared　to　death　for　fear　I'll　get　run　into；　or　run
over　somebody　or　somethin'；〃　he　observed。　　〃I　tell　her　I　can
navigate　that　car　now　the　way　I　used　to　navigate　the　old　President
Hayes；　and　I　could　do　that　walkin'　in　my　sleep。　　There's　a　little
exaggeration　there；〃　he　added；　with　a　grin。　　〃It　takes　about　all　my
gumption　when　I'm　wide　awake　to