whirligigs-第43节
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are not in sympathy with my argument。 But I will
answer you so。 If I could reach my particular star； to
drag it down； I would not do it； but if it were fallen； I
would pick it up； and thank Heaven for the privilege。〃
They were silent for some minutes。 Norah shivered；
and thrust her hands deep into the pockets of her jacket。
Lorison uttered a remorseful exclamation。
〃I'm not cold；〃 she said。 〃I was just thinking。 I
ought to tell you something。 You have selected a strange
confidante。 But you cannot expect a chance acquain…
ance； picked up in a doubtful restaurant； to be an angel。〃
〃Norah！〃 cried Lorison。
〃Let me go on。 You have told me about yourself。
We have been such good friends。 I must tell you now
what I never wanted you to know。 I am worse than
you are。 I was on the stage 。 。 。 I sang in the
chorus 。 。 。 I was pretty bad； I guess 。 。 。 I
stole diamonds from the prima donna 。 。 。 they
arrested me 。 。 。 I gave most of them up； and they
let me go 。 。 。 I drank wine every night 。 。 。 a
great deal 。 。 。 I was very wicked； but 〃
Lorison knelt quickly by her side and took her
hands。
〃Dear Norah！〃 he said； exultantly。 〃It is you； it is
you I love！ You never guessed it； did you？ 'Tis you
I meant all the time。 Now I can speak。 Let me make
you forget the past。 We have both suffered； let us shut
out the world； and live for each other。 Norah； do you
hear me say I love you？〃
〃In spite of 〃
〃Rather say because of it。 You have come out of
your past noble and good。 Your heart is an angel's；
Give it to me。〃
〃A little while ago you feared the future too much to
even speak。〃
〃But for you； not for myself。 Can you love me？〃
She cast herself； wildly sobbing； upon his breast。
〃Better than life than truth itself than every…
thing。〃
〃And my own past；〃 said Lorison； with a note of
solicitude 〃can you forgive and 〃
〃I answered you that；〃 she whispered； 〃when I told
you I loved you。〃 She leaned away； and looked thought…
fully at him。 〃If I had not told you about myself； would
you have would you 〃
〃No；〃 he interrupted； 〃I would never have let you
know I loved you。 I would never have asked you this
Norah； will you be my wife？〃
She wept again。
〃Oh； believe me； I am good now I am no longer
wicked！ I will be the best wife in the world。 Don't
think I am bad any more。 If you do I shall die； I
shall die！〃
While he was consoling； her； she brightened up； eager
and impetuous。 〃Will vou marry me to…night？〃 she
said。 〃Will you prove it that way。 I have a reason for
wishing it to be to…night。 Will you？〃
Of one of two things was this exceeding frankness the
outcome： either of importunate brazenness or of utter
innocence。 The lover's perspective contained only the
one。
〃The sooner；〃 said Lorison； 〃the happier I shall be。〃
〃What is there to do？〃 she asked。 〃What do you
have to get？ Come！ You should know。〃
Her energy stirred the dreamer to action。
〃A city directory first；〃 he cried； gayly； 〃to find where
the man lives who gives licenses to happiness。 We will
go together and rout him out。 Cabs； cars； policemen；
telephones and ministers shall aid us。〃
〃Father Rogan shall marry us；〃 said the girl； with
ardour。 〃I will take you to him。〃
An hour later the two stood at the open doorway of an
immense； gloomy brick building in a narrow and lonely
street。 The license was tight in Norah's hand。
〃Wait here a moment；〃 she said； 〃till I find Father
Rogan。〃
She plunged into the black hallway； and the lover was
left standing； as it were； on one leg； outside。 His impa…
tience was not greatly taxed。 Gazing curiously into
what seemed the hallway to Erebus； he was presently
reassured by a stream of light that bisected the darkness；
far down the passage。 Then he heard her call； and
fluttered lampward； like the moth。 She beckoned him
through a doorway into the room whence emanated the
light。 The room was bare of nearly everything except
books； which had subjugated all its space。 Here and
there little spots of territory had been reconquered。 An
elderly； bald man； with a superlatively calm； remote eye；
stood by a table with a book in his hand； his finger still
marking a page。 His dress was sombre and appertained
to a religious order。 His eye denoted an acquaintance
with the perspective。
〃Father Rogan；〃 said Norah； 〃this is he。〃
〃The two of ye；〃 said Father Rogan； 〃want to get
married？〃
They did not deny it。 He married them。 The cere…
mony was quickly done。 One who could have witnessed
it； and felt its scope； might have trembled at the terrible
inadequacy of it to rise to the dignity of its endless chain
of results。
Afterward the priest spake briefly； as if by rote； of
certain other civil and legal addenda that either might or
should； at a later time； cap the ceremony。 Lorison
tendered a fee； which was declined； and before the door
closed after the departing couple Father Rogan's book
popped open again where his finger marked it。
In the dark hall Norah whirled and clung to her com…
panion； tearful。
〃Will you never； never be sorry？〃
At last she was reassured。
At the first light they reached upon the street； she asked
the time； just as she had each night。 Lorison looked at
his watch。 Half…past eight。
Lorison thought it was from habit that she guided their
steps toward the corner where they always parted。 But；
arrived there； she hesitated； and then released his arm。
A drug store stood on the corner； its bright； soft light
shone upon them。
〃Please leave me here as usual to…night；〃 said Norah；
sweetly。 〃I must I would rather you would。 You
will not object？ At six to…morrow evening I will meet
you at Antonio's。 I want to sit with vou there once more。
And then I will go where you say。〃 She gave him a
bewildering； bright smile； and walked swiftly away。
Surely it needed all the strength of her charm to carry
off this astounding behaviour。 It was no discredit to
Lorison's strength of mind that his head began to whirl。
Pocketing his hands； he rambled vacuously over to the
druggist's windows； and began assiduously to spell over
the names of the patent medicines therein displayed。
As soon as be had recovered his wits； he proceeded
along the street in an aimless fashion。 After drifting for
two or three squares； he flowed into a somewhat more
pretentious thoroughfare； a way much frequented by him
in his solitary ramblings。 For here was a row of slops
devoted to traffic in goods of the widest range of choice
handiworks of art； skill and fancy； products of nature
and labour from every zone。
Here； for a time； he loitered among the conspicuous
windows； where was set； emphasized bv congested floods
of light； the cunningest spoil of the interiors。 There
were few passers； and of this Lorison was glad。 He was
not of the world。 For a long time he had touched his
fellow man only at the gear of a levelled cog…wheel at
right angles； and upon a different axis。 He had dropped
into a distinctly new orbit。 The stroke of ill fortune had
acted upon him； in effect； as a blow delivered upon the
apex of a certain ingenious toy； the musical top； which…
when thus buffeted while spinning； gives forth； with
scarcely retarded motion； a complete change of key and
chord。
Strolling along the pacific avenue； he experienced
singular； supernatural calm； accompanied by an unusual a
activity of brain。 Reflecting upon recent affairs； be
assured himself of his happiness in having won for a bride
the one he had so greatly desired； yet he wondered mildly
at his dearth of active emotion。 Her strange behaviour
in abandoning him without valid excuse on his bridal eve
aroused in him only a vague and curious speculation。
Again； he found himself contemplating； with complaisant
serenity； the incidents of her somewhat lively career。 His
perspective seemed to have been queerly shifted。
As he stood before a window near a corner； his ears
were assailed by a waxing clamour and commotion。 He
stood close to the window to allow passage to the cause
of the hubbub a procession of human beings； which
rounded the corner aid headed in his direction。 He
perceived a salient hue of blue and a glitter of brass about
a central figure of dazzling white and silver； and a ragged
wake of black； bobbing figures。
Two ponderous policemen Were conducting between
them a woman dressed as if for the stage； in a short； white；
satiny skirt reaching to the knees； pink stockings； and a
sort of sleeveless bodice bright with relucent； armour…like
scales。 Upon her curly； light hair was perched； at a
rollicking angle； a shining tin helmet。 The costume was
to be instantly recognized as one of those ama
