the voice of the city(城市之声)-第30节
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to live on the best and be waited on and ring bells for things just like rich
folks do。 Now I've done it； and I've had the happiest time I ever expect to
have in my life。 I'm going back to my work and my little hall bedroom
satisfied for another year。 I wanted to tell you about it； Mr。 Farrington；
because I I thought you kind of liked me； and I I liked you。 But； oh； I
couldn't help deceiving you up till now； for it was all just like a fairy tale
to me。 So I talked about Eu… rope and the things I've read about in other
countries； and made you think I was a great lady。
〃This dress I've got on it's the only one I have that's fit to wear I
bought from O'Dowd & Levin… sky on the instalment plan。〃
〃Seventy…five dollars is the price； and it was made to measure。 I paid
10 down； and they're to collect 1 a week till it's paid for。 That'll be about
all I have to say； Mr。 Farrington； except that my name is Mamie Siviter
instead of Madame Beaumont； and I thank you for your attentions。 This
dollar will pay the instalment due on the dress to…morrow。 I guess I'll go
up to my room now。〃
Harold Farrington listened to the recital of the Lotus's loveliest guest
with an impassive countenance。 When she had concluded he drew a small
book like a checkbook from his coat pocket。 He wrote upon a blank form
in this with a stub of pencil； tore out the leaf； tossed it over to his
companion and took up the paper dollar。
〃I've got to go to work； too； in the morning；〃 he said； 〃and I might as
well begin now。 There's a receipt for the dollar instalment。 I've been a col…
lector for O'Dowd & Levinsky for three years。 Funny； ain't it； that you and
me both had the same idea about spending our vacation？ I've always
wanted to put up at a swell hotel； and I saved up out of my twenty per； and
did it。 Say； Mame； how about a trip to Coney Saturday night on the boat
what？〃
The face of the pseudo Madame Heloise D'Arcy Beaumont beamed。
〃Oh； you bet I'll go； Mr。 Farrington。 The store closes at twelve on
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Saturdays。 I guess Coney'll be all right even if we did spend a week with
the swells。〃
Below the balcony the sweltering city growled and buzzed in the July
night。 Inside the Hotel Lotus the tempered； cool shadows reigned； and the
solicitous waiter single…footed near the low windows； ready at a nod to
serve Madame and her escort。
At the door of the elevator Farrington took his leave； and Madame
Beaumont made her last ascent。 But before they reached the noiseless cage
be said： 〃Just forget that 'Harold Farrington；' will you？ McManus is the
name James McManus。 Some call me Jimmy。〃
〃Good…night； Jimmy；〃 said Madame。
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THE RATHSKELLER AND THE
ROSE
Miss Posie Carrington had earned her suc… cess。 She began life
handicapped by the family name of 〃Boggs；〃 in the small town known as
Cranberry Corners。 At the age of eighteen she had acquired the name of
〃Carrington〃 and a position in the chorus of a metropolitan burlesque
company。 Thence upward she had ascended by the legitimate and
delectable steps of 〃broiler；〃 member of the famous 〃Dickey…bird〃 octette；
in the successful musical comedy； 〃Fudge and Fellows；〃 leader of the
potato… bug dance in 〃Fol…de…Rol；〃 and at length to the part of the maid
〃'Toinette〃 in 〃The King's Bath…Robe；〃 which captured the critics and gave
her her chance。 And when we come to consider Miss Carrington she is in
the heydey of flattery； fame and fizz； and that astute manager； Herr
Timothy Goldstein； has her signature to iron…clad papers that she will star
the coming season in Dyde Rich's new play； 〃Paresis by Gaslight。〃
Promptly there came to Herr Timothy a capable twentieth…century
young character actor by the name of Highsmith； who besought
engagement as 〃Sol Haytosser；〃 the comic and chief male character part in
〃Paresis by Gaslight。〃
〃My boy；〃 said Goldstein； 〃take the part if you can get it。 Miss
Carrington won't listen to any of my suggestions。 She has turned down
half a dozen of the best imitators of the rural dub in the city。 She declares
she won't set a foot on the stage un… less 'Haytosser' is the best that can be
raked up She was raised in a village； you know； and when a Broadway
orchid sticks a straw in his hair and tries to call himself a clover blossom
she's on； all right。 I asked her； in a sarcastic vein； if she thought Den… man
Thompson would make any kind of a show in the part。 'Oh； no；' says she。
'I don't want him or John Drew or Jim Corbett or any of these swell actors
that don't know a turnip from a turnstile。 I want the real article。' So； my
boy； if you want to play I 'Sol Haytosser' you will have to convince Miss
Carrington。 Luck be with you。〃
Highsmith took the train the next day for Cran… berry Corners。 He
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remained in that forsaken and inanimate village three days。 He found the
Boggs family and corkscrewed their history unto the third and fourth
generation。 He amassed the facts and the local color of Cranberry Corners。
The village had not grown as rapidly as had Miss Carrington。 The actor
estimated that it had suffered as few actual changes since the departure of
its solitary follower of Thespis as had a stage upon which 〃four years is
supposed to have elapsed。〃 He absorbed Cran… berry Corners and returned
to the city of chameleon changes。
It was in the rathskeller that Highsmith made the hit of his histrionic
career。 There is no need to name the place； there is but one rathskeller
where you could hope to find Miss Posie Carrington after a performance
of 〃The King's Bath…Robe。〃
There was a jolly small party at one of the tables that drew many eyes。
Miss Carrington； petite； mar… vellous； bubbling； electric； fame…drunken；
shall be named first。 Herr Goldstein follows； sonorous； curly… haired；
heavy； a trifle anxious； as some bear that had caught； somehow； a butterfly
in his claws。 Next； a man condemned to a newspaper； sad； courted； armed；
analyzing for press agent's dross every sen… tence that was poured over
him； eating his a la New… burg in the silence of greatness。 To conclude； a
youth with parted hair； a name that is ochre to red journals and gold on the
back of a supper check。 These sat at a table while the musicians played；
while waiters moved in the mazy performance of their duties with their
backs toward all who desired their service； and all was bizarre and merry
because it was nine feet below the level of the sidewalk。
At 11。45 a being entered the rathskeller。 The first violin perceptibly
flatted a C that should have been natural； the clarionet blew a bubble
instead of a grace note； Miss Carrington giggled and the youth with parted
hair swallowed an olive seed。
Exquisitely and irreproachably rural was the new entry。 A lank；
disconcerted； hesitating young man it was； flaxen…haired； gaping of mouth；
awkward； stricken to misery by the lights and company。 His clothing was
butternut； with bright blue tie； showing four inches of bony wrist and
white…socked ankle。 He upset a chair； sat in another one； curled a foot
around a table leg and cringed at the approach of a waiter。
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〃You may fetch me a glass of lager beer；〃 he said； in response to the
discreet questioning of the servitor。
The eyes of the rathskeller were upon him。 He was as fresh as a collard
and as ingenuous as a hay rake。 He let his eye rove about the place as one
who re… gards； big…eyed； hogs in the potato patch。 His gaze rested at length
upon Miss Carrington。 He rose and went to her table with a lateral； shining
smile and a blush of pleased trepidation。
〃How're ye； Miss Posie？〃 he said in
