the voice of the city(城市之声)-第10节
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tongue…parched； awaiting D'Artagnan and his dollar。
〃I wish I had choked her at first；〃 said Mr。 Peters to himself。
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WHILE THE AUTO WAITS
Promptly at the beginning of twilight； came again to that quiet corner
of that quiet； small park the girl in gray。 She sat upon a bench and read a
book； for there was yet to come a half hour in which print could be
accomplished。
To repeat： Her dress was gray； and plain enough to mask its
impeccancy of style and fit。 A large… meshed veil imprisoned her turban
hat and a face that shone through it with a calm and unconscious beauty。
She had come there at the same hour on the day previous； and on the day
before that； and there was one who knew it。
The young man who knew it hovered near； relying upon burnt
sacrifices to the great joss； Luck。 His piety was rewarded； for； in turning a
page； her book slipped from her fingers and bounded from the bench a full
yard away。
The young man pounced upon it with instant avid… ity； returning it to
its owner with that air that seems to flourish in parks and public places … a
compound of gallantry and hope； tempered with respect for the policeman
on the beat。 In a pleasant voice； be risked an inconsequent remark upon
the weather that in… troductory topic responsible for so much of the world's
unhappiness…and stood poised for a mo… ment； awaiting his fate。
The girl looked him over leisurely； at his ordinary； neat dress and his
features distinguished by nothing particular in the way of expression。
〃You may sit down； if you like；〃 she said； in a full； deliberate contralto。
〃Really； I would like to have you do so。 The light is too bad for reading。 I
would prefer to talk。〃
The vassal of Luck slid upon the seat by her side with complaisance。
〃Do you know；〃 be said； speaking the formula with which park
chairmen open their meetings； 〃that you are quite the stunningest girl I
have seen in a long time？ I had my eye on you yesterday。 Didn't know
somebody was bowled over by those pretty lamps of yours； did you；
honeysuckle？〃
〃Whoever you are；〃 said the girl； in icy tones； 〃you must remember
that I am a lady。 I will excuse the remark you have just made because the
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mistake was； doubtless； not an unnatural one in your circle。 I asked you
to sit down； if the invitation must con… stitute me your honeysuckle；
consider it with… drawn。〃
〃I earnestly beg your pardon；〃 pleaded the young ran。 His expression
of satisfaction had changed to one of penitence and humility。 It was my
fault； you know …I mean； there are girls in parks； you know … that is； of
course； you don't know； but 〃
〃Abandon the subject； if you please。 Of course I know。 Now； tell me
about these people passing and crowding； each way； along these paths。
Where are they going？ Why do they hurry so？ Are they happy？〃
The young man had promptly abandoned his air of coquetry。 His cue
was now for a waiting part； he could not guess the role be would be
expected to play。
〃It is interesting to watch them；〃 he replied； pos… tulating her mood。 〃It
is the wonderful drama of life。 Some are going to supper and some to er
other places。 One wonders what their histories are。〃
〃I do not；〃 said the girl； 〃I am not so inquisi… tive。 I come here to sit
because here； only； can I be tear the great； common； throbbing heart of hu…
manity。 My part in life is cast where its beats are never felt。 Can you
surmise why I spoke to you； Mr。 ？〃
〃Parkenstacker；〃 supplied the young man。 Then be looked eager and
hopeful。
〃No；〃 said the girl； holding up a slender finger； and smiling slightly。
〃You would recognize it im… mediately。 It is impossible to keep one's name
out of print。 Or even one's portrait。 This veil and this hat of my maid
furnish me with an incog。 You should have seen the chauffeur stare at it
when he thought I did not see。 Candidly； there are five or six names that
belong in the holy of holies； and mine； by the accident of birth； is one of
them。 I spoke to you； Mr。 Stackenpot 〃
〃Parkenstacker；〃 corrected the young man； mod… estly。
〃 Mr。 Parkenstacker； because I wanted to talk； for once； with a
natural man one unspoiled by the despicable gloss of wealth and
supposed social su… periority。 Oh！ you do not know how weary I am of it
money； money； money！ And of the men who surround me； dancing like
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little marionettes all cut by the same pattern。 I am sick of pleasure； of
jewels； of travel； of society； of luxuries of all kinds。〃
〃I always had an idea；〃 ventured the young man； hesitatingly； 〃that
money must be a pretty good thing。〃
〃A competence is to be desired。 But when you leave so many millions
that ！〃 She concluded the sentence with a gesture of despair。 〃It is the
mo… otony of it〃 she continued； 〃that palls。 Drives； dinners； theatres； balls；
suppers； with the gilding of superfluous wealth over it all。 Sometimes the
very tinkle of the ice in my champagne glass nearly drives me mad。〃
Mr。 Parkenstacker looked ingenuously interested。
〃I have always liked；〃 he said； 〃to read and hear about the ways of
wealthy and fashionable folks。 I suppose I am a bit of a snob。 But I like to
have my information accurate。 Now； I had formed the opin… ion that
champagne is cooled in the bottle and not by placing ice in the glass。〃
The girl gave a musical laugh of genuine amuse… ment。
〃You should know；〃 she explained； in an indul… gent tone； 〃that we of
the non…useful class depend for our amusement upon departure from
precedent。 Just now it is a fad to put ice in champagne。 The idea was
originated by a visiting Prince of Tartary while dining at the Waldorf。 It
will soon give way to some other whim。 Just as at a dinner party this week
on Madison Avenue a green kid glove was laid by the plate of each guest
to be put on and used while eating olives。〃
〃I see；〃 admitted the young man； humbly。
〃These special diversions of the inner circle do not become familiar to
the common public。〃
〃Sometimes；〃 continued the girl； acknowledging his confession of
error by a slight bow； 〃I have thought that if I ever should love a man it
would be one of lowly station。 One who is a worker and not a drone。 But；
doubtless； the claims of caste and wealth will prove stronger than my
inclination。 Just now I am besieged by two。 One is a Grand Duke of a
German principality。 I think he has； or has bad； a wife； somewhere； driven
mad by his intemperance and cruelty。 The other is an English Marquis； so
cold and mercenary that I even prefer the diabolism of the Duke。 What is
it that impels me to tell you these things； Mr。 Packenstacker？
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〃Parkenstacker；〃 breathed the young man。 〃In… deed； you cannot know
how much I appreciate your confidences。〃
The girl contemplated him with the calm； imper… sonal regard that
befitted the difference in their sta… tions。
〃What is your line of business； Mr。 Parken… stacker？〃 she asked。
〃A very humble one。 But I hope to rise in the world。 Were you really in
earnest when you said that you could love a man of lowly position？〃
〃Indeed I was。 But I said 'might。' There is the Grand Duke and the
Marquis； you know。 Yes； no calling could be too humble were the man
what I would wish him to be。〃
〃I work；〃 declared Mr。 Parkenstacker； 〃in a res… taurant。〃
The girl shrank slightly。
〃Not as a waiter？〃 she said； a little imploringly。 〃Labor is noble； but
personal attendance； you know valets and 〃
〃I am not a waiter。 I am cashier in〃 on
