按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
that they say is going to marry her。 Well； one afternoon the boom swings
round in a little squall and knocks her overboard。 There was an awful
excitement；you've heard about it； may be？〃
〃No！〃 But I saw it all with a romancer's instinct in a flash of poetry！
This poor fellow； debarred through uncouthness from expressing his
affection for her； had at last found his fitting opportunity。 He had
〃Thar was an awful row；〃 he went on。 〃I ran out on the taffrail； and
there a dozen yards away was that purty creature； that peart gal； andI〃
〃You jumped for her；〃 I said； hastily。
〃No！〃 he said gravely。 〃I let the other man do the jumping。 I sorter
looked on。〃
I stared at him in astonishment。
〃No；〃 he went on； seriously。 〃He was the man who jumpedthat was
just then his 'put'his line of business。 You see； if I had waltzed over the
side of that ship； and cavoorted in； and flummuxed round and finally
flopped to the bottom； that other man would have jumped nateral…like and
saved her； and ez he was going to marry her anyway； I don't exactly see
where I'D hev been represented in the transaction。 But don't you see； ef；
after he'd jumped and hadn't got her； he'd gone down himself； I'd hev had
the next best chance； and the advantage of heving him outer the way。
You see； you don't understand meI don't think you did in Californy。〃
〃Then he did save her？〃
〃Of course。 Don't you see she was all right。 If he'd missed her； I'd
have chipped in。 Thar warn't no sense in my doing his duty onless he
failed。〃
Somehow the story got out。 The Man from Solano as a butt became
more popular than ever； and of course received invitations to burlesque
receptions； and naturally met a great many people whom otherwise he
122
… Page 123…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
would not have seen。 It was observed also that his seven hundred dollars
were steadily growing； and that he seemed to be getting on in his business。
Certain California stocks which I had seen quietly interred in the old days
in the tombs of their fathers were magically revived； and I remember； as
one who has seen a ghost； to have been shocked as I looked over the
quotations one morning to have seen the ghostly face of the 〃Dead Beat
Beach Mining Co。；〃 rouged and plastered； looking out from the columns
of the morning paper。 At last a few people began to respect； or suspect；
the Man from Solano。 At last； suspicion culminated with this incident：
He had long expressed a wish to belong to a certain 〃fash'n'ble〃 club；
and with a view of burlesque he was invited to visit the club； where a
series of ridiculous entertainments were given him； winding up with a card
party。 As I passed the steps of the club… house early next morning； I
overheard two or three members talking excitedly；
〃He cleaned everybody out。〃 〃Why； he must have raked in nigh on
40；000。〃
〃Who？〃 I asked。
〃The Man from Solano。〃
As I turned away； one of the gentlemen； a victim； noted for his
sporting propensities； followed me； and laying his hand on my shoulders；
asked：
〃Tell me fairly now。 What business did your friend follow in
California？〃
〃He was a shepherd。〃
〃A what？〃
〃A shepherd。 Tended his flocks on the honey…scented hills of
Solano。〃
〃Well； all I can say is； dn your California pastorals！〃
123
… Page 124…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
THE OFFICE SEEKER
He asked me if I had ever seen the 〃Remus Sentinel。〃
I replied that I had not； and would have added that I did not even know
where Remus was； when he continued by saying it was strange the hotel
proprietor did not keep the 〃Sentinel〃 on his files； and that he； himself；
should write to the editor about it。 He would not have spoken about it；
but he； himself； had been an humble member of the profession to which I
belonged； and had often written for its columns。 Some friends of his
partial； no doubthad said that his style somewhat resembled Junius's； but
of course； you knowwell； what he could say was that in the last
campaign his articles were widely sought for。 He did not know but he
had a copy of one。 Here his hand dived into the breast…pocket of his coat；
with a certain deftness that indicated long habit； and； after depositing on
his lap a bundle of well…worn documents； every one of which was
glaringly suggestive of certificates and signatures； he concluded he had
left it in his trunk。
I breathed more freely。 We were sitting in the rotunda of a famous
Washington hotel； and only a few moments before had the speaker； an
utter stranger to me； moved his chair beside mine and opened a
conversation。 I noticed that he had that timid； lonely； helpless air which
invests the bucolic traveler who； for the first time； finds himself among
strangers； and his identity lost； in a world so much larger； so much colder；
so much more indifferent to him than he ever imagined。 Indeed； I think
that what we often attribute to the impertinent familiarity of country…men
and rustic travelers on railways or in cities is largely due to their awful
loneliness and nostalgia。 I remember to have once met in a smoking…car
on a Kansas railway one of these lonely ones； who； after plying me with a
thousand useless questions； finally elicited the fact that I knew slightly a
man who had once dwelt in his native town in Illinois。 During the rest of
our journey the conversation turned chiefly upon his fellow…townsman；
whom it afterwards appeared that my Illinois friend knew no better than I
did。 But he had established a link between himself and his far…off home
124
… Page 125…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
through me； and was happy。
While this was passing through my mind I took a fair look at him。 He
was a spare young fellow； not more than thirty； with sandy hair and
eyebrows； and eyelashes so white as to be almost imperceptible。 He was
dressed in black； somewhat to the 〃rearward o' the fashion；〃 and I had an
odd idea that it had been his wedding suit； and it afterwards appeared I
was right。 His manner had the precision and much of the dogmatism of
the country schoolmaster； accustomed to wrestle with the feeblest
intellects。 From his history； which he presently gave me； it appeared I
was right here also。
He was born and bred in a Western State； and； as schoolmaster of
Remus and Clerk of Supervisors； had married one of his scholars； the
daughter of a clergyman； and a man of some little property。 He had
attracted some attention by his powers of declamation； and was one of the
principal members of the Remus Debating Society。 The various
questions then agitating Remus；〃Is the doctrine of immortality consistent
with an agricultural life？〃 and； 〃Are round dances morally wrong？〃
afforded him an opportunity of bringing himself prominently before the
country people。 Perhaps I might have seen an extract copied from the
〃Remus Sentinel〃 in the 〃Christian Recorder〃 of May 7； 1875？ No？ He
would get it for me。 He had taken an active part in the last campaign。 He
did not like to say it； but it had been universally acknowledged that he had
elected Gashwiler。
Who？
Gen。 Pratt C。 Gashwiler； member of Congress from our deestrict。
Oh！
A powerful man； sira very powerful man； a man whose influence will
presently be felt here； sirHERE！ Well； he had come on with Gashwiler；
andwell； he did not know whyGashwiler did not know why he should
not； you know （a feeble； half…apologetic laugh here）； receive that reward；