the argonauts of north liberty-第1节

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The　Argonauts　of　North　Liberty


by　Bret　Harte






PART　I

CHAPTER　I


The　bell　of　the　North　Liberty　Second　Presbyterian　Church　had　just
ceased　ringing。　　North　Liberty；　Connecticut；　never　on　any　day　a
cheerful　town；　was　always　bleaker　and　more　cheerless　on　the
seventh；　when　the　Sabbath　sun；　after　vainly　trying　to　coax　a　smile
of　reciprocal　kindliness　from　the　drawn　curtains　and　half…closed
shutters　of　the　austere　dwellings　and　the　equally　sealed　and　hard…
set　churchgoing　faces　of　the　people；　at　last　settled　down　into　a
blank　stare　of　stony　astonishment。　　On　this　chilly　March　evening　of
the　year　1850；　that　stare　had　kindled　into　an　offended　sunset　and
an　angry　night　that　furiously　spat　sleet　and　hail　in　the　faces　of
the　worshippers；　and　made　them　fight　their　way　to　the　church；　step
by　step；　with　bent　heads　and　fiercely　compressed　lips；　until　they
seemed　to　be　carrying　its　forbidding　portals　at　the　point　of　their
umbrellas。

Within　that　sacred　but　graceless　edifice；　the　rigors　of　the　hour
and　occasion　reached　their　climax。　　The　shivering　gas…jets　lit　up
the　austere　pallor　of　the　bare　walls；　and　the　hollow；　shell…like
sweep　of　colorless　vacuity　behind　the　cold　communion　table。
The　chill　of　despair　and　hopeless　renunciation　was　in　the　air；
untempered　by　any　glow　from　the　sealed　air…tight　stove　that　seemed
only　to　bring　out　a　lukewarm　exhalation　of　wet　clothes　and　cheaply
dyed　umbrellas。　　Nor　did　the　presence　of　the　worshippers　themselves
impart　any　life　to　the　dreary　apartment。　　Scattered　throughout　the
white　pews；　in　dull；　shapeless；　neutral　blotches；　rigidly　separated
from　each　other；　they　seemed　only　to　accent　the　colorless　church
and　the　emptiness　of　all　things。　　A　few　children；　who　had　huddled
together　for　warmth　in　one　of　the　back　benches　and　who　had　became
glutinous　and　adherent　through　moisture；　were　laboriously　drawn　out
and　painfully　picked　apart　by　a　watchful　deacon。

The　dry；　monotonous　disturbance　of　the　bell　had　given　way　to　the
strain　of　a　bass　viol；　that　had　been　apparently　pitched　to　the　key
of　the　east　wind　without；　and　the　crude　complaint　of　a　new
harmonium　that　seemed　to　bewail　its　limited　prospect　of　ever
becoming　seasoned　or　mellowed　in　its　earthly　tabernacle；　and　then
the　singing　began。　　Here　and　there　a　human　voice　soared　and
struggled　above　the　narrow　text　and　the　monotonous　cadence　with　a
cry　of　individual　longing；　but　was　borne　down　by　the　dull；
trampling　precision　of　the　others'　formal　chant。　　This　and　a
certain　muffled　raking　of　the　stove　by　the　sexton　brought　the
temperature　down　still　lower。　　A　sermon；　in　keeping　with　the
previous　performance；　in　which　the　chill　east　wind　of　doctrine　was
not　tempered　to　any　shorn　lamb　within　that　dreary　fold；　followed。
A　spark　of　human　and　vulgar　interest　was　momentarily　kindled　by　the
collection　and　the　simultaneous　movement　of　reluctant　hands　towards
their　owners'　pockets；　but　the　coins　fell　on　the　baize…covered
plates　with　a　dull　thud；　like　clods　on　a　coffin；　and　the　dreariness
returned。　　Then　there　was　another　hymn　and　a　prolonged　moan　from
the　harmonium；　to　which　mysterious　suggestion　the　congregation　rose
and　began　slowly　to　file　into　the　aisle。　　For　a　moment　they
mingled；　there　was　the　silent　grasping　of　damp　woollen　mittens　and
cold　black　gloves；　and　the　whispered　interchange　of　each　other's
names　with　the　prefix　of　〃Brother〃　or　〃Sister；〃　and　an　utter
absence　of　fraternal　geniality；　and　then　the　meeting　slowly
dispersed。

The　few　who　had　waited　until　the　minister　had　resumed　his　hat；
overcoat；　and　overshoes；　and　accompanied　him　to　the　door；　had
already　passed　out；　the　sexton　was　turning　out　the　flickering　gas
jets　one　by　one；　when　the　cold　and　austere　silence　was　broken　by　a
soundthe　unmistakable　echo　of　a　kiss　of　human　passion。

As　the　horror…stricken　official　turned　angrily；　the　figure　of　a　man
glided　from　the　shadow　of　the　stairs　below　the　organ　loft；　and
vanished　through　the　open　door。　　Before　the　sexton　could　follow；
the　figure　of　a　woman　slipped　out　of　the　same　portal　and　with　a
hurried　glance　after　the　first　retreating　figure；　turned　in　the
opposite　direction　and　was　lost　in　the　darkness。　　By　the　time　the
indignant　and　scandalized　custodian　had　reached　the　portal；　they
had　both　melted　in　the　troubled　sea　of　tossing　umbrellas　already　to
the　right　and　left　of　him；　and　pursuit　and　recognition　were
hopeless。


CHAPTER　II


The　male　figure；　however；　after　mingling　with　his　fellow…worshippers
to　the　corner　of　the　block；　stopped　a　moment　under　the　lamp…post
as　if　uncertain　as　to　the　turning；　but　really　to　cast　a　long；
scrutinizing　look　towards　the　scattered　umbrellas　now　almost　lost
in　the　opposite　direction。　　He　was　still　gazing　and　apparently
hesitating　whether　to　retrace　his　steps；　when　a　horse　and　buggy
rapidly　driven　down　the　side　street　passed　him。　　In　a　brief　glance
he　evidently　recognized　the　driver；　and　stepping　over　the　curbstone
called　in　a　brief　authoritative　voice：

〃Ned！〃

The　occupant　of　the　vehicle　pulled　up　suddenly；　leaned　from　the
buggy；　and　said　in　an　astonished　tone：

〃Dick　Demorest！　　Well！　　I　declare！　hold　on；　and　I'll　drive　up　to
the　curb。〃

〃No；　stay　where　you　are。〃

The　speaker　approached　the　buggy；　jumped　in　beside　the　occupant；
refastened　the　apron；　and　coolly　taking　the　reins　from　his
companion's　hand；　started　the　horse　forward。　　The　action　was　that
of　an　habitually　imperious　man；　and　the　only　recognition　he　made
of　the　other's　ownership　was　the　question：

〃Where　were　you　going？〃

〃Hometo　see　Joan；〃　replied　the　other。　　〃Just　drove　over　from
Warensboro　Station。　　But　what　on　earth　are　YOU　doing　here？〃

Without　answering　the　question；　Demorest　turned　to　his　companion
with　the　same　good…natured；　half　humorous　authority。　　〃Let　your
wife　wait；　take　a　drive　with　me。　　I　want　to　talk　to　you。　　She'll　be
just　as　glad　to　see　you　an　hour　later；　and　it's　her　fault　if　I
can't　come　home　with　you　now。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　returned　his　companion；　in　a　tone　of　half…annoyed
apology。　　〃She　still　sticks　to　her　old　compact　when　we　first
married；　that　she　shouldn't　be　obliged　to　receive　my　old　worldly
friends。　　And；　see　here；　Dick；　I　thought　I'd　talked　her　out　of　it
as　regards　YOU　at　least；　but　Parson　Thomas　has　been　raking　up　all
the　old　stories　about　youyou　know　that　affair　of　the　Fall　River
widow；　and　that　breaking　off　of　Garry　Spofferth's　matchand　about
your　horse…racinguntilyou　know；　she's　more　set　than　ever
against　knowing　you。〃

〃That's　not　a　bad　sort　of　horse　you've　got　there；〃　interrupted
Demorest；　who　usually　conducted　conversation　without　reference　to
alien　topics　suggested　by　others。　　〃Where　did　you　get　him？　　He's
good　yet　for　a　spin　down　the　turnpike　and　over　the　bridge。　　We'll
do　it；　and　I'll　bring　you　home　safely　to　Mrs。　Blandford　inside　the
hour。〃

Blandford　knew　little　of　horseflesh；　but　like　all　men　he　was　not
superior　to　this　implied　compliment　to　his　knowledge。　　He　resigned
himself　to　his　companion　as　he　had　been　in　the　habit　of　doing；　and
Demorest　hurried　the　horse　at　a　rapid　gait　down　the　street　until
they　left　the　lamps　behind；　and　were　fully　on　the　dark　turnpike。
The　sleet　rattled　against　the　hood　and　leathern　apron　of　the　buggy；
gusts　of　fierce　wind　filled　the　vehicle　and　seemed　to　hold　it　back；
but　Demorest　did　not　appear　to　mind　it。　　Blandford　thrust　his　hands
deeply　into　his　pockets　for　warmth；　and　contracted　his　shoulders　as
if　in　dogged　patience。　　Yet；　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　he　was
tired；　cold；　and　anxious　to　see　his　wife；　he　was　conscious　of　a
secret　satisfaction　in　submitting　to　the　caprices　of　this　old
friend　of　his　boyhood。　　After　all；　Dick　Demorest　knew　what　he　was
about；　and　had　never　led　him　astray　by　his　autocratic　will。　　It　was
safe　to　let　Dick　have　his　way。　　It　was　true　it　was　generally　Dick's
own　waybut　he　made　others　think　it　was　theirs　tooor　would　have
been　theirs　had　they　had　the　will　and　the　knowledge　to　project　it。
He　looked　up　comfortably　at　the　handsome；　resolute　profile　of　the
man　who　had　taken　selfish　possession　of　him。　　Many　women　had　done
the　same。

〃Suppose　if　you　were　to　tell　your　wife　I　was　going　to　reform；〃　said
Demorest；　〃it　might　be　different；　eh？　　She'd　want　to　take　me　into
the　church'another　sinner　saved；'　and　all　that；　eh？〃

〃No；〃　said　Blandford；　earnestly。　　〃Joan　isn't　as　rigid　as　all　that；
Dick。　　What　she's　got　against　you　is　the　common　report　of　your　free
way　of　living；　and　thatcome　now；　you　know　yourself；　Dick；　that
isn't　exactly　the　thing　a　woman　brought　up　in　her　style　can　stand。
Why；　she　thinks　I'm　unregenerate；　andwell；　a　man　can't　carry　on
business　always　like　a　class　meeting。　　But　are　you　thinking　of
reforming？〃　he　continued；　trying　to　get　a　glimpse　of　his
companion's　eyes。

〃Perhaps。　　It　depends。　　Nowthere's　a　woman　I　know〃

〃What；　another？　and　you　call　this　going　to　reform？〃　interrupted
Blandford；　yet　not　without　a　certain　curiosity　in　his　manner。

〃Yes；　that's　just　why　I　think　of　reforming。　　For　this　one　isn't
exactly　like　any　otherat　least　as　far　as　I　know。〃

〃That　means　you　don't　know　anything　about　her。〃

〃Wait；　and　I'll　tell　you。〃　　He　drew　the　reins　tightly　to　accelerate
the　horse's　speed；　and；