drift from two shores(漂流)-第39节
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certain conservative tentative policy is to be promulgated until after the
electoral committee have given their verdict。〃 I looked for help towards
the lady； and observed feebly that he had very clearly expressed my views。
The old man； observing my look； said： 〃Although my daughter's
husband holds a federal position in Washington； the pressure of his
business is so great that he has little time to give us mere gossipI beg
your pardon； did you speak？〃
I had unconsciously uttered an exclamation。 This； then； was Remus
the home of Expectant Dobbsand these his wife and father； and the
Washington banquet…table； ah me！ had sparkled with the yearning heart's
blood of this poor wife； and had been upheld by this tottering Caryatid of a
father。
〃Do you know what position he has？〃
The old man did not know positively； but thought it was some general
supervising position。 He had been assured by Mr。 Gashwiler that it was a
first…class clerkship； yes； a FIRST class。
I did not tell him that in this； as in many other official regulations in
Washington； they reckoned backward； but said：〃I suppose that your M。
C。； Mr。Mr。 Gashwiler〃
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〃Don't mention his name；〃 said the little woman； rising to her feet
hastily； 〃he never brought Expectant anything but disappointment and
sorrow。 I hate； I despise the man。〃
〃Dear Fanny；〃 expostulated the old man； gently； 〃this is unchristian
and unjust。 Mr。 Gashwiler is a powerful； a very powerful man！ His
work is a great one； his time is preoccupied with weightier matters。〃
〃His time was not so preoccupied but he could make use of poor
Expectant；〃 said this wounded dove； a little spitefully。
Nevertheless it was some satisfaction to know that Dobbs had at last
got a place； no matter how unimportant； or who had given it to him； and
when I went to bed that night in the room that had been evidently prepared
for their conjugal chamber； I felt that Dobbs's worst trials were over。 The
walls were hung with souvenirs of their ante…nuptial days。 There was a
portrait of Dobbs； aetat。 25； there was a faded bouquet in a glass case；
presented by Dobbs to Fanny on examination…day； there was a framed
resolution of thanks to Dobbs from the Remus Debating Society； there
was a certificate of Dobbs's election as President of the Remus
Philomathean Society； there was his commission as Captain in the Remus
Independent Contingent of Home Guards； there was a Freemason's chart；
in which Dobbs was addressed in epithets more fulsome and extravagant
than any living monarch。 And yet all these cheap glories of a narrow life
and narrower brain were upheld and made sacred by the love of the
devoted priestess who worshiped at this lonely shrine； and kept the light
burning through gloom and doubt and despair。 The storm tore round the
house； and shook its white fists in the windows。 A dried wreath of laurel
that Fanny had placed on Dobbs's head after his celebrated centennial
address at the school…house； July 4； 1876； swayed in the gusts； and sent a
few of its dead leaves down on the floor； and I lay in Dobbs's bed and
wondered what a first… class clerkship was。
I found out early the next summer。 I was strolling through the long
corridors of a certain great department； when I came upon a man
accurately yoked across the shoulders； and supporting two huge pails of
ice on either side； from which he was replenishing the pitchers in the
various offices。 As I passed I turned to look at him again。 It was
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Dobbs！
He did not set down his burden； it was against the rules； he said。 But
he gossiped cheerily； said he was beginning at the foot of the ladder； but
expected soon to climb up。 That it was Civil Service Reform； and of
course he would be promoted soon。
〃Had Gashwiler procured the appointment？〃
No。 He believed it was ME。 I had told his story to Assistant…
secretary Blank； who had； in turn related it to Bureau…director Dashboth
good fellowsbut this was all they could do。 Yes； it was a foothold。
But he must go now。
Nevertheless； I followed him up and down； and； cheered up with a
rose…colored picture of his wife and family； and my visit there； and
promising to come and see him the next time I came to Washington； I left
him with his self…imposed yoke。
With a new administration； Civil Service Reform came in； crude and
ill…digested； as all sudden and sweeping reforms must be； cruel to the
individual； as all crude reforms will ever be； and among the list of helpless
men and women； incapacitated for other work by long service in the dull
routine of federal office； who were decapitated； the weak； foolish；
emaciated head of Expectant Dobbs went to the block。 It afterward
appeared that the gifted Gashwiler was responsible for the appointment of
twenty clerks； and that the letter of poor Dobbs； in which he dared to refer
to the now powerless Gashwiler； had sealed his fate。 The country made
an example of Gashwiler andDobbs。
From that moment he disappeared。 I looked for him in vain in
anterooms； lobbies； and hotel corridors； and finally came to the conclusion
that he had gone home。
How beautiful was that July Sabbath； when the morning train from
Baltimore rolled into the Washington depot。 How tenderly and chastely
the morning sunlight lay on the east front of the Capitol until the whole
building was hushed in a grand and awful repose。 How difficult it was to
think of a Gashwiler creeping in and out of those enfiling columns； or
crawling beneath that portico； without wondering that yon majestic figure
came not down with flat of sword to smite the fat rotundity of the intruder。
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How difficult to think that parricidal hands have ever been lifted against
the Great Mother； typified here in the graceful white chastity of her
garments； in the noble tranquillity of her face； in the gathering up her
white…robed children within her shadow。
This led me to think of Dobbs； when； suddenly a face flashed by my
carriage window。 I called to the driver to stop； and； looking again； saw
that it was a woman standing bewildered and irresolute on the street corner。
As she turned her anxious face toward me I saw that it was Mrs。 Dobbs。
What was she doing here； and where was Expectant？
She began an incoherent apology； and then burst into explanatory tears。
When I had got her in the carriage she said； between her sobs； that
Expectant had not returned； that she had received a letter from a friend
here saying he was sick；oh very； very sick； and father could not come
with her； so she came alone。 She was so frightened； so lonely； so
miserable。
Had she his address？
Yes； just here！ It was on the outskirts of Washington； near
Georgetown。 Then I would take her there； if I could； for she knew
nobody。
On our way I tried to cheer her up by pointing out some of the children
of the Great Mother before alluded to； but she only shut her eyes as we
rolled down the long avenues； and murmured； 〃Oh； these cruel； cruel
distances！〃
At last we reached the locality； a negro quarter； yet clean and neat in
appearance。 I saw the poor girl shudder slightly as we stopped at the
door of a low； two…story frame house； from which the unwonted spectacle
of a carriage brought a crowd of half…naked children and a comely； cleanly；
kind…
