the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第15节
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people were only ghosts。
There was a quick parting in the crowd。 A man he had once known
shoved two of the policemen to one side； and he heard a girl's voice
speaking his name； like a sob； and She came running out across the open
space and fell on her knees beside the stretcher； and bent down over him；
and he was clasped in two young； firm arms。
〃Of course it is not real； of course it is not She；〃 he assured himself。
〃Because She would not do such a thing。 Before all these people She
would not do it。〃
But he trembled and his heart throbbed so cruelly that he could not
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bear the pain。
She was pretending to cry。
〃They wired us you had started for Tampa on the hospital ship；〃 She
was saying； 〃and Aunt and I went all the way there before we heard you
had been sent North。 We have been on the cars a week。 That is why I
missed you。 Do you understand？ It was not my fault。 I tried to come。
Indeed； I tried to come。〃
She turned her head and looked up fearfully at the young Doctor。
〃Tell me； why does he look at me like that？〃 she asked。 〃He doesn't
know me。 Is he very ill？ Tell me the truth。〃 She drew in her breath
quickly。 〃Of course you will tell me the truth。〃
When she asked the question he felt her arms draw tight about his
shoulders。 It was as though she was holding him to herself； and from
some one who had reached out for him。 In his trouble he turned to his
old friend and keeper。 His voice was hoarse and very low。
〃Is this the same young lady who was on the transportthe one you
used to drive away？〃
In his embarrassment； the hospital steward blushed under his tan； and
stammered。
〃Of course it's the same young lady；〃 the Doctor answered briskly。
〃And I won't let them drive her away。〃 He turned to her； smiling gravely。
〃I think his condition has ceased to be dangerous； madam；〃 he said。
People who in a former existence had been his friends； and Her brother；
gathered about his stretcher and bore him through the crowd and lifted him
into a carriage filled with cushions； among which he sank lower and lower。
Then She sat beside him； and he heard Her brother say to the coachman；
〃Home； and drive slowly and keep on the asphalt。〃
The carriage moved forward； and She put her arm about him and his
head fell on her shoulder； and neither of them spoke。 The vision had
lasted so long now that he was torn with the joy that after all it might be
real。 But he could not bear the awakening if it were not； so he raised his
head fearfully and looked up into the beautiful eyes above him。 His
brows were knit； and he struggled with a great doubt and an awful joy。
〃Dearest；〃 he said； 〃is it real？〃
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〃Is it real？〃 she repeated。
Even as a dream； it was so wonderfully beautiful that he was satisfied
if it could only continue so； if but for a little while。
〃Do you think；〃 he begged again； trembling； 〃that it is going to last
much longer？〃
She smiled； and； bending her head slowly； kissed him。
〃It is going to lastalways；〃 she said。
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THE MAN WITH ONE TALENT
The mass…meeting in the Madison Square Garden which was to help
set Cuba free was finished； and the people were pushing their way out of
the overheated building into the snow and sleet of the streets。 They had
been greatly stirred and the spell of the last speaker still hung so heavily
upon them that as they pressed down the long corridor they were still
speaking loudly in his praise。
A young man moved eagerly amongst them； and pushed his way to
wherever a voice was raised above the rest。 He strained forward；
listening openly； as though he tried to judge the effect of the meeting by
the verdict of those about him。
But the words he overheard seemed to clash with what he wished them
to be； and the eager look on his face changed to one of doubt and of grave
disappointment。 When he had reached the sidewalk he stopped and stood
looking back alternately into the lighted hall and at the hurrying crowds
which were dispersing rapidly。 He made a movement as though he
would recall them； as though he felt they were still unconvinced； as though
there was much still left unsaid。
A fat stranger halted at his elbow to light his cigar； and glancing up
nodded his head approvingly。
〃Fine speaker； Senator Stanton； ain't he？〃 he said。
The young man answered eagerly。 〃Yes；〃 he assented； 〃he is a great
orator； but how could he help but speak well with such a subject？〃
〃Oh； you ought to have heard him last November at Tammany Hall；〃
the fat stranger answered。 〃He wasn't quite up to himself to… night。 He
wasn't so interested。 Those Cubans are foreigners； you see； but you
ought to heard him last St。 Patrick's day on Home Rule for Ireland。 Then
he was talking！ That speech made him a United States senator； I guess。
I don't just see how he expects to win out on this Cuba game。 The
Cubans haven't got no votes。〃
The young man opened his eyes in some bewilderment。
〃He speaks for the good of Cuba； for the sake of humanity；〃 he
ventured。
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〃What？〃 inquired the fat stranger。 〃Oh； yes； of course。 Well； I must
be getting on。 Good…night； sir。〃
The stranger moved on his way； but the young man still lingered
uncertainly in the snow…swept corridor shivering violently with the cold
and stamping his feet for greater comfort。 His face was burned to a deep
red； which seemed to have come from some long exposure to a tropical
sun； but which held no sign of health。 His cheeks were hollow and his
eyes were lighted with the fire of fever and from time to time he was
shaken by violent bursts of coughing which caused him to reach toward
one of the pillars for support。
As the last of the lights went out in the Garden； the speaker of the
evening and three of his friends came laughing and talking down the long
corridor。 Senator Stanton was a conspicuous figure at any time； and even
in those places where his portraits had not penetrated he was at once
recognized as a personage。 Something in his erect carriage and an
unusual grace of movement； and the power and success in his face； made
men turn to look at him。 He had been told that he resembled the early
portraits of Henry Clay； and he had never quite forgotten the coincidence。
The senator was wrapping the collar of his fur coat around his throat
and puffing contentedly at a fresh cigar； and as he passed； the night
watchman and the ushers bowed to the great man and stood looking after
him with the half…humorous； half…envious deference that the American
voter pays to the successful politician。 At the sidewalk； the policemen
hurried to open the door of his carriage and in their eagerness made a
double line； through which he passed nodding to them gravely。 The
young man who had stood so long in waiting pushed his way through the
line to his side。
〃Senator Stanton；〃 he began timidly； 〃might I speak to you a moment？
My name is Arkwright； I am just back from Cuba； and I want to thank you
for your speech。 I am an American； and I thank God that I am since you
are too； sir。 No one has said anything since the war began that compares
with what you said to… night。 You put it nobly； and I know； for I've been
there for three years； only I can't make other people understand it； and I
am thankful that some one can。 You'll forgive my stopping you； sir；
