the woman-haters-第31节

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He　hesitated。　　Before　he　could　go　on　or　she　continue；　the　rain　came
in　a　deluge。　　They　reached　the　porch　just　in　time。

〃Well；　I'm　safe　and　reasonably　dry；〃　she　panted。　　〃I'm　afraid　you
will　be　drenched　before　you　get　to　the　lights。　　Don't　you　want　an
umbrella？〃

〃No。　　No；　indeed；　thank　you。〃

〃Well；　you　must　hurry　then。　　Good…by。〃

〃But；　Miss　Graham；〃　anxiously；　〃I　shall　see　you　again　before　you　go。
To…morrow；　at　bathing　time；　perhaps？〃

〃Judging　by　the　outlook　just　at　present；　bathing　will　be　out　of　the
question　to…morrow。〃

〃But　I　want　to　see　you。　　I　must。〃

She　shook　her　head　doubtfully。　　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said。　　〃I　shall
be　very　busy　getting　ready　to　leave；　but　perhaps　we　may　meet　again。〃

〃We　must。　　IMiss　Graham；　I〃

She　had　closed　the　door。　　He　ran　homeward　through　the　rain；　the
storm　which　soaked　him　to　the　skin　being　but　a　trifle　compared　to
the　tornado　in　his　breast。

He　spent　the　balance　of　the　day　somehow；　he　could　not　have　told　how。
The　rain　and　wind　continued；　six　o'clock　came；　and　Seth　should　have
returned　an　hour　before；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　him。　　He　wondered
if　Mrs。　Bascom　had　returned。　　He　had　not　seen　the　carriage；　but　she
might　have　come　while　he　was　inside　the　house。　　The　lightkeeper's
nonappearance　began　to　worry　him　a　trifle。

At　seven；　as　it　was　dark；　he　took　upon　himself　the　responsibility　of
climbing　the　winding　stairs　in　each　tower　and　lighting　the　great
lanterns。　　It　was　the　first　time　he　had　done　it；　but　he　knew　how；
and　the　duty　was　successfully　accomplished。　　Then；　as　Atkins　was
still　absent　and　there　was　nothing　to　do　but　wait；　he　sat　in　the
chair　in　the　kitchen　and　thought。　　Occasionally；　and　it　showed　the
trend　of　his　thoughts；　he　rose　and　peered　from　the　window　across　the
dark　to　the　bungalow。　　In　the　living　room　of　the　latter　structure　a
light　burned。　　At　ten　it　was　extinguished。

At　half　past　ten　he　went　to　Seth's　bedroom；　found　a　meager
assortment　of　pens；　ink　and　note　paper；　returned　to　the　kitchen；
sat　down　by　the　table　and　began　to　write。

For　an　hour　he　thought；　wrote；　tore　up　what　he　had　written；　and
began　again。　　At　last　the　result　of　his　labor　read　something　like
this：


〃DEAR　MISS　GRAHAM：

〃I　could　not　say　it　this　afternoon；　although　if　you　had　stayed　I
think　I　should。　　But　I　must　say　it　now　or　it　may　be　too　late。　　I
can't　let　you　go　without　saying　it。　　I　love　you。　　Will　you　wait　for
me？　　It　may　be　a　very　long　wait；　although　God　knows　I　mean　to　try
harder　than　I　have　ever　tried　for　anything　in　my　life。　　If　I　live　I
will　make　something　of　myself　yet；　with　you　as　my　inspiration。　　You
know　you　said　if　a　girl　really　cared　for　a　man　she　would　willingly
wait　years　for　him。　　Do　you　care　for　me　as　much　as　that？　　With　you；
or　for　you；　I　believe　I　can　accomplish　anything。　　DO　you　care？

〃RUSSELL　BROOKS。〃


He　put　this　in　an　envelope；　sealed　and　addressed　it；　and　without
stopping　to　put　on　either　cap　or　raincoat　went　out　in　the　night。

The　rain　was　still　falling；　although　not　as　heavily；　but　the　wind
was　coming　in　fierce　squalls。　　He　descended　the　path　to　the　cove；
floundering　through　the　wet　bushes。　　At　the　foot　of　the　hill　he　was
surprised　to　find　the　salt　marsh　a　sea　of　water　not　a　vestige　of
ground　above　the　surface。　　This　was　indeed　a　record…breaking　tide；
such　as　he　had　never　known　before。　　He　did　not　pause　to　reflect　upon
tides　or　such　trivialities；　but；　with　a　growl　at　being　obliged　to
make　the　long　detour；　he　rounded　the　end　of　the　cove　and　climbed　up
to　the　door　of　the　bungalow。　　Under　the　edge　of　that　door　he　tucked
the　note　he　had　written。　　As　soon　as　this　was　accomplished　he　became
aware　that　he　had　expressed　himself　very　clumsily。　　He　had　not
written　as　he　might。　　A　dozen　brilliant　thoughts　came　to　him。　　He
must　rewrite　that　note　at　all　hazards。

So　he　spent　five　frantic　minutes　trying　to　coax　that　envelope　from
under　the　door。　　But；　in　his　care　to　push　it　far　enough；　it　had
dropped　beyond　the　sill；　and　he　could　not　reach　it。　　The　thing　was
done　for　better　or　for　worse。　　Perfectly　certain　that　it　was　for
worse；　he　splashed　mournfully　back　to　the　lights。　　In　the　lantern
room　of　the　right…hand　tower　he　spent　the　remainder　of　the　night；
occasionally　wandering　out　on　the　gallery　to　note　the　weather。

The　storm　was　dying　out。　　The　squalls　were　less　and　less　frequent；
and　the　rain　had　been　succeeded　by　a　thick　fog。　　The　breakers
pounded　in　the　dark　below　him；　and　from　afar　the　foghorns　moaned　and
wailed。　　It　was　a　bad　night；　a　night　during　which　no　lightkeeper
should　be　absent　from　his　post。　　And　where　was　Seth？


CHAPTER　XIV

〃BENNIE　D。〃


Seth's　drive　to　Eastboro　was　a　dismal　journey。　　Joshua　pounded　along
over　the　wet　sand　or　through　ruts　filled　with　water；　and　not　once
during　the　trip　was　he　ordered　to　〃Giddap〃　or　〃Show　some　signs　of
life。〃　　Not　until　the　first　scattered　houses　of　the　village　were
reached　did　the　lightkeeper　awaken　from　his　trance　sufficiently　to
notice　that　the　old　horse　was　limping　slightly　with　the　right
forefoot。

〃Hello！〃　exclaimed　Seth。　　〃What's　the　matter　with　you；　Josh？〃

Joshua　slopped　on；　but　this　was　a　sort　of　three…legged　progress。
The　driver　leaned　forward　and　then　pulled　on　the　reins。

〃Whoa！〃　he　ordered。　　〃Stand　still！〃

Joshua　stood　still；　almost　with　enthusiasm。　　Seth　tucked　the　end　of
the　reins　between　the　whip　socket　and　the　dashboard；　and　swung　out
of　the　wagon　to　make　an　examination。　　Lifting　the　lame　foot；　he
found　the　trouble　at　once。　　The　shoe　was　loose。

〃Humph！〃　he　soliloquized。　　〃Cal'late　you　and　me'll　have　to　give
Benijah　a　job。　　Well；〃　climbing　back　into　the　vehicle；　〃I　said　I'd
never　give　him　another　after　the　row　we　had　about　the　last；　but　I
ain't　got　ambition　enough　to　go　clear　over　to　the　Denboro
blacksmith's。　　I　don't　care。　　I　don't　care　about　nothin'　any　more。
Giddap。〃

Benijah　Ellis's　little；　tumble…down　blacksmith　shop　was　located　in
the　main　street　of　Eastboro；　if　that　hit…or…miss　town　can　be　said　to
possess　a　main　street。　　Atkins　drove　up　to　its　door；　before　which　he
found　Benijah　and　a　group　of　loungers　inspecting　an　automobile；　the
body　of　which　had　been　removed　in　order　that　the　engine　and　running
gear　might　be　the　easier　reached。　　The　blacksmith　was　bending　over
the　car；　his　head　and　shoulders　down　amidst　the　machinery；　a　big
wrench　was　in　his　hand；　and　other　wrenches；　hammers；　and　tools　of
various　sizes　were　scattered　on　the　ground　beside　him。

〃Hello；　Benije；〃　grunted　Seth。

Ellis　removed　his　nose　from　its　close　proximity　to　the　gear　shaft
and　straightened　up。　　He　was　a　near…sighted；　elderly　man；　and　wore
spectacles。　　Just　now　his　hands；　arms；　and　apron　were　covered　with
grease　and　oil；　and；　as　he　wiped　his　forehead　with　the　hand　not
holding　the　wrench；　he　left　a　wide　mourning　band　across　it。

〃Well？〃　he　panted。　　〃Who　is　it？　　Who　wants　me？〃

One　of　the　loafers；　who　had　been　assisting　the　blacksmith　by　holding
his　pipe　while　he　dove　into　the　machinery；　languidly　motioned　toward
the　new　arrival。　　Benijah　adjusted　his　spectacles　and　walked　over　to
the　wagon。

〃Who　is　it？〃　he　asked　crossly。　　Then；　as　he　recognized　his　visitor；
he　grunted：　〃Ugh！　it's　you；　hey。　　Well；　what　do　YOU　want？〃

〃Want　you　to　put　a　new　shoe　on　this　horse　of　mine；〃　replied　Seth；
not　too　graciously。

〃Is　that　so！　　Well；　I'm　busy。〃

〃I　don't　care　if　you　be。　　I　guess　you　ain't　so　busy　you　can't　do　a
job　of　work。　　If　you　are；　you're　richer'n　I　ever　heard　you　was。〃

〃I　want　to　know！　　Maybe　I'm　particular　who　I　work　for；　Seth　Atkins。〃

〃Maybe　you　are。　　I　ain't　so　particular；　if　I　was；　I　wouldn't　come
here；　I　tell　you　that。　　This　horse　of　mine's　got　a　loose　shoe；　and　I
want　him　attended　to　quick。〃

〃Thought　you　said　you'd　never　trust　me　with　another　job。〃

〃I　ain't　trustin'　you　now。　　I'll　be　here　while　it's　done。　　And　I
ain't　askin'　you　to　trust　me；　neither。　　I'll　pay　cashcash；　d'ye
understand？〃

The　bystanders　grinned。　　Mr。　Ellis's　frown　deepened。　　〃I'm　busy；〃　he
declared；　with　importance。　　〃I've　got　Mr。　Delancey　Barry's
automobile　to　fix；　and　I　can't　stop　to　bother　with　horsesspecially
certain　kind　of　horses。〃

This　sneer　at　Joshua　roused　his　owner's　ire。　　He　dropped　the　reins
and　sprang　to　the　ground。

〃See　here；　Benije　Ellis；〃　he　growled；　advancing　upon　the　repairer　of
automobiles；　who　retreated　a　step　or　two　with　promptness。　　〃I　don't
care　what　you're　fixin'；　nor　whose　it　is；　neither。　　I　guess　'twill
be　'fixed'　all　right　when　you　get　through　with　it；　but　that　ain't
neither　here　nor　there。　　And　it　don't　make　no　difference　if　it　does
belong　to　Mr。　Barry。　　If　'twas　Elijah's　chariot　of　fire　'twould　be
just　the　same。　　That　auto　won't　be　done　this　afternoon；　and　nobody
expects　it　to　be。　　Here's　my　horse　sufferin'　to　be　shod；　I　want　him
shod　and　I've　got　the　money　to　pay　for　it。　　When　it's　winter　time
you're　around　cryin'　that　you　can't　earn　money　to　pay　your　bills。
Now；　just　because　it's　summer　and　there's　city　big…bugs　in　the
neighborhood　innocent　enough　to　let　you　tinker　with　their　autos
though　they'll　never　do　it　but　onceI　don't　propose　to　be　put　off。
If　you　won't　shoe　this　horse　of　mine　I'll　know　it's　because　you've
got　so　much　money　you　don't　need　more。　　And　i