the woman-haters-第39节

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turned　under　him；　he　staggered；　tried　wildly　to　regain　his　balance；
and　fell。　　As　he　fell　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　blue…clad　figure　at
the　top　of　the　bluff　before　the　bungalow。　　Then　he　went　under　with　a
splash；　and　the　eager　tide　had　him　in　its　grasp。

When　he　came　to　the　surface　and　shook　the　water　from　his　eyes；　he
was　already　some　distance　from　the　wharf。　　This；　an　indication　of
the　force　of　the　tide；　should　have　caused　him　to　realize　his　danger
instantly。　　But　it　did　not。　　His　mind　was　intent　upon　the
accomplishment　of　one　thing；　namely；　the　proving　to　Ruth　Graham；　by
means　of　the　item　in　the　paper；　that　he　was　no　longer　under　any
possible　obligation　to　the　Davidson　girl。　　Therefore；　his　sole
feeling；　as　he　came　sputtering　to　the　top　of　the　water；　was　disgust
at　his　own　clumsiness。　　It　was　when　he　tried　to　turn　and　swim　back
to　the　wharf　that　he　grasped　the　situation　as　it　was。　　He　could　not
swim　against　that　tide。

There　was　no　time　to　consider　what　was　best　to　do。　　The　breakers
were　only　five　hundred　yards　off；　and　if　he　wished　to　live　he　must
keep　out　of　their　clutches。　　He　began　to　swim　diagonally　across　the
current；　putting　all　his　strength　into　each　stroke。　　But　for　every
foot　of　progress　toward　the　calmer　water　he　was　borne　a　yard　toward
the　breakers。

The　tide　bubbled　and　gurgled　about　him。　　Miniature　whirlpools　tugged
at　his　legs；　pulling　him　under。　　He　fought　nobly；　setting　his　teeth
and　swearing　inwardly　that　he　would　make　it；　he　would　not　give　up；
he　would　not　drown。　　But　the　edge　of　the　tide　rip　was　a　long　way
off；　and　he　was　growing　tired　already。　　Another　whirlpool　sucked　him
down；　and　when　he　rose　he　shouted　for　help。　　It　was　an　instinctive；
unreasoning　appeal；　almost　sure　to　be　useless；　for　who　could　hear
him？but　he　shouted；　nevertheless。

And　the　shout　was　answered。　　From　somewhere　behind　hima　long；　long
distance；　so　it　seemed　to　himcame　the　clear　call　in　a　woman's
voice。

〃All　right！　　I'm　coming。　　Keep　on；　just　as　you　are。〃

He　kept　on；　or　tried　to。　　He　swamand　swamand　swam。　　He　went
under；　rose；　went　under　again；　fought　his　way　up；　and　kept　on
swimming。　　Through　the　gurgle　and　hiss　of　the　water；　sounding　dully
above　the　humming　in　his　ears　and　the　roar　of　the　blood　in　his　tired
brain；　came　the　clear　voice　again：

〃Steady　now！　　Just　as　you　are！　one　more　stroke！　　Now　one　more！
Quick！　　Quick！　　Now！　　Can　you　get　aboard？〃

The　wet；　red　side　of　a　dory's　bow　pushed　past　his　laboring　shoulder。
A　hand　clutched　his　shirt　collar。　　He　reached　up　and　grasped　the
boat's　gunwale；　hung　on　with　all　his　weight；　threw　one　leg　over　the
edge；　and　tumbled　into　the　dory's　bottom。

〃Thanks；〃　he　panted；　his　eyes　shut。　　〃Thatwasabout　the　closest
call　Iever　had。　　Hey？　　Why！　RUTH！〃

She　was　panting；　also；　but　she　was　not　looking　at　him。　　She　was
rowing　with　all　her　might；　and　gazing　fearfully　over　her　shoulder。
〃Are　you　strong　enough　to　help　me　row？〃　she　asked　breathlessly。　　〃We
must　head　her　away　from　here；　out　of　this　tide。　　And　I'm　afraid　that
I　can't　do　it　alone。〃

He　raised　his　head　and　looked　over　the　rail。　　The　breakers　were
alarmingly　close。　　He　scrambled　to　the　thwart；　pushed　her　aside　and
seized　the　oars。　　She　resisted。

〃Only　one；〃　she　gasped。　　〃I　can　manage　the　other。〃

So；　each　with　an　oar；　they　fought　the　tide；　and　wonbut　by　the
narrowest　of　margins。　　The　dory　edged　into　stiller　and　shoaler
water；　crept　out　of　the　eddying　channel　over　the　flat　where　the
depth　was　but　a　scant　four　feet；　turned　almost　by　inches；　and；　at
last；　slid　up　on　the　sandy　beach　below　the　bungalow。　　The　girl　sat
bowed　over　the　handle　of　her　oar；　her　breast　heaving。　　She　said
nothing。　　Her　companion　likewise　said　nothing。　　Staggering；　he
stepped　over　the　side；　walked　a　few　feet　up　the　beach；　and　then
tumbled　in　an　unconscious　heap　on　the　sand。

He　was　not　unconscious　long；　being　a　healthy　and　robust　young
fellow。　　His　first　thought；　upon　opening　his　eyes；　was　that　he　must
close　them　again　as　quickly　as　possible　because　he　wanted　the　dream
to　continue。　　To　lie　with　one's　head　in　the　lap　of　an　angel；　while
that　angel　strokes　your　forehead　and　cries　over　you　and　begs　you　for
her　sake　not　to　die；　is　too　precious　a　delusion　to　lose。　　But　the
opening　of　one's　eyes　is　a　mistake　under　such　circumstances；　and　he
had　made　it。　　The　angel's　next　remark　was　entirely　unromantic　and
practical。

〃Are　you　better？〃　she　asked。　　〃You're　all　right　now；　aren't　you？〃

Her　patient's　reply　was　also　a　question；　and　irrelevant。

〃DO　you　care？〃　he　asked　faintly。

〃Are　you　better？〃　she　asked　in　return。

〃Did　you　get　my　note？　　The　note　I　put　under　the　door？〃

〃Answer　me。　　Are　you　all　right　again？〃

〃You　answer　ME。　　Did　you　get　my　note？〃

〃Yes。　。　。　。　　Don't　try　to　get　up。　　You're　not　strong　enough　yet。
You　must　wait　here　while　I　go　and　get　you　some〃

〃Don't　go！〃　He　almost　shouted　it。　　〃Ifif　you　do　I'llI'llI
think　I'm　going　to　faint　again。〃

〃Oh；　no；　you're　not。　　And　I　must　go　and　get　you　some　brandy　or
something。　　Stay　just　where　you　are。〃

〃Ruth　Graham；　if　you　go　away　now；　I'll　go　with　you；　if　I　have　to
crawl。　　Maybe　I　can't　walk；　but　I　swear　I'll　crawl　after　you　on　my
hands　and　knees　unless　you　answer　my　question。　　DO　you　care　enough
for　me　to　wait？〃

She　looked　out　at　the　little　bay；　at　the　narrow；　wicked　tide　race；
at　the　breakers　beyond。　　Then　she　looked　down　again　at　him。

〃Yes；〃　she　said。　。　。　。　　〃OH；　are　you　going　to　faint　again？　　Don't！
Please　don't！〃

Russell　Agnew　Brooks；　the　late　〃John　Brown；〃　opened　his　eyes。　　〃I　am
not　going　to　faint；〃　he　observed。　　〃I　was　merely　trying　to　realize
that　I　was　fully　conscious。〃


Some　time　after　thishours　and　minutes　do　not　count　in　paradisehe
remembered　the　item　in　the　paper。

〃By　George！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I　had　something　to　show　you。　　I'm　afraid
I've　lost　it。　　Oh；　no　I　here　it　is。〃

He　extracted　from　his　trousers　pocket　the　water　soaked　lump　that　had
been　the　New　York　newspaper。　　The　page　containing　the　sensational
announcement　of　the　engagement　in　high　life　was　quite　undecipherable。
Being　on　the　outside　of　the　folded　paper；　it　had　rubbed　to　a　pulpy
blur。　　However；　he　told　her　about　it；　and　she　agreed　that　his
judgment　of　the　character　of　the　future　Baroness　Hardacre　had
been　absolutely　correct。

〃You　were　very　wise；〃　she　said　sagely。

〃Not　so　wise　as　I've　become　since；〃　he　asserted　with　decision。　　Then
he　added；　with　a　rather　rueful　smile；　〃I'm　afraid；　dear；　people
won't　say　as　much　for　you；　when　they　know。〃

〃I'm　satisfied。〃

〃You　may　have　to　wait　all　those　yearsand　yearsyou　spoke　of。〃

〃I　will。〃

But　she　did　not　have　to。　　For；　at　that　moment；　the　miracle　of　wisdom
beside　her　sat　up　and　pointed　to　the　wet　newspaper　lying　on　the　sand
at　her　feet。

〃Has　my　happiness　affected　my　wits？〃　he　demanded。　　〃Or　does　salt
water　bring　on　delusions？　　Aren't　those　my　initials？〃

He　was　pointing　to　a　paragraph　in　the　〃Personals〃　column　of　the　New
York　paper。　　This；　being　on　one　of　the　inner　pages；　had　remained
comparatively　dry　and　could　be　read。　　The　particular　〃Personal〃　to
which　he　pointed　was　this：


〃R。　A。　B。〃　　Wherever　you　are。　　This　is　to　certify　that　I　hereby
acknowledge　that　you　have　been　absolutely　correct　in　the　A。　D。
matter；　witness　news　elsewhere。　　I　was　a　fool；　and　I　apologize
publicly。　　Incidentally　I　need　a　head　like　yours　in　my　business。
Come　back。　　Partnership　awaiting　you。　　Come　back；　and　marry　anybody
or　nobody　as　you　see　fit。

〃FATHER。〃



CHAPTER　XVII

WOMAN…HATERS


〃But　what；〃　asked　Ruth；　as　they　entered　the　bungalow　together；　〃has
happened　to　Mr。　Atkins；　do　you　think？　　You　say　he　went　away
yesterday　noon　and　you　haven't　seen　him　or　even　heard　from　him
since。　　I　should　think　he　would　be　afraid　to　leave　the　lights　for　so
long　a　time。　　Has　he　ever　done　it　before？〃

〃No。　　And　I'm　certain　he　would　not　have　done　it　this　time　of　his　own
accord。　　If　he　could　have　gotten　back　last　night　he　would；　storm　or
no　storm。〃

〃But　last　night　was　pretty　bad。　　And；〃　quite　seriously；　〃of　course
he　knew　that　you　were　here；　and　so　everything　would　be　all　right。〃

〃Oh；　certainly；〃　with　sarcasm；　〃he　would　know　that；　of　course。　　So
long　as　I　am　on　deck；　why　come　back　at　all？　　I'm　afraid　Atkins
doesn't　share　your　faith　in　my　transcendent　ability；　dear。〃

〃Well；〃　Miss　Graham　tossed　her　head；　〃I　imagine　he　knew　he　could
trust　you　to　attend　to　his　old　lighthouses。〃

〃Perhaps。　　If　so；　his　faith　has　developed　wonderfully。　　He　never　has
trusted　me　even　to　light　the　lanterns。　　No；　I'm　afraid　something　has
happenedsome　accident。　　If　the　telephone　was　in　working　order　I
could　soon　find　out。　　As　it　is；　I　can　only　wait　and　try　not　to
worry。　　By　the　way；　is　your　housekeeperMrs。　What's…her…nameall
serene　after　her　wet　afternoon？　　When　did　she　return？〃

〃She　hasn't　returned。　　I　expected　her　last　eveningshe　said　she
would　be　back　before　darkbut　she　didn't　come。　　That　didn't　trouble
me；　the　storm　was　so　severe　that　I　suppose　she　stayed　in　the　village
overnight。〃

〃So　you　were　alone　all　through　the　gale。　　I　wondered　if　you　were；　I
was　tremendously　anxious　about　you。　　And　you　weren't　afraid？　　Did
you　sleep？〃

〃Not　much。　　You　see；〃　she　smiled　oddly；　〃I　received　a