the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第17节
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THE RED CROSS GIRL
the insignia should be actually presented。 This pleasing duty fell to the
Turkish ambassador； who； much to his astonishment； had received
instructions to proceed to Stillwater； Massachusetts； a place of which he
had never heard； and present to a Doctor Gilman； of whom he had never
heard； the Grand Cross of the Crescent。 As soon as the insignia arrived in
the official mail…bag a secretary brought it from Washington to Boston；
and the ambassador travelled down from Bar Harbor to receive it； and
with the secretary took the local train to Stillwater。
The reception extended to him there is still remembered by the
ambassador as one of the happiest incidents of his distinguished career。
Never since he came to represent his imperial Majesty in the Western
republic had its barbarians greeted him in a manner in any way so nearly
approaching his own idea of what was his due。
〃This ambassador；〃 Hines had explained to the mayor of Stillwater；
who was also the proprietor of its largest department store； 〃is the personal
representative of the Sultan。 So we've got to treat him right。〃
〃It's exactly；〃 added Stetson； 〃as though the Sultan himself were
coming。〃
〃And so few crowned heads visit Stillwater；〃 continued Hines； 〃that
we ought to show we appreciate this one； especially as he comes to pay
the highest honor known to Europe to one of our townsmen。〃
The mayor chewed nervously on his cigar。
〃What'd I better do？〃 he asked。
〃Mr。 Stetson here；〃 Hines pointed out； 〃has lived in Turkey； and he
knows what they expect。 Maybe he will help us。〃
〃Will you？〃 begged the mayor。
〃I will；〃 said Stetson。
Then they visited the college authorities。 Chancellor Black and most of
the faculty were on their vacations。 But there were half a dozen professors
still in their homes around the campus； and it was pointed out to them that
the coming honor to one lately of their number reflected glory upon the
college and upon them； and that they should take official action。
It was also suggested that for photographic purposes they should wear
their academic robes； caps； and hoods。 To these suggestions； with alacrity…
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…partly because they all loved Doctor Gilman and partly because they had
never been photographed by a moving…picture machinethey all agreed。
So it came about that when the ambassador； hot and cross and dusty
stepped off the way…train at Stillwater station he found to his delighted
amazement a red carpet stretching to a perfectly new automobile； a
company of the local militia presenting arms； a committee； consisting of
the mayor in a high hat and white gloves and three professors in gowns
and colored hoods； and the Stillwater silver Cornet Band playing what；
after several repetitions； the ambassador was graciously pleased to
recognize as his national anthem。
The ambassador forgot that he was hot and cross。 He forgot that he
was dusty。 His face radiated satisfaction and perspiration。 Here at last were
people who appreciated him and his high office。 And as the mayor helped
him into the automobile； and those students who lived in Stillwater
welcomed him with strange yells； and the moving…picture machine aimed
at him point blank； he beamed with condescension。 But inwardly he was
ill at ease。
inwardly he was chastising himself for having； through his ignorance
of America； failed to appreciate the importance of the man he had come to
honor。 When he remembered he had never even heard of Doctor Gilman
he blushed with confusion。 And when he recollected that he had been
almost on the point of refusing to come to Stillwater； that he had
considered leaving the presentation to his secretary； he shuddered。 What
might not the Sultan have done to him！ What a narrow escape！
Attracted by the band； by the sight of their fellow townsmen in khaki；
by the sight of the stout gentleman in the red fez； by a tremendous liking
and respect for Doctor Gilman； the entire town of Stillwater gathered
outside his cottage。 And inside； the old professor； trembling and
bewildered and yet strangely happy； bowed his shoulders while the
ambassador slipped over them the broad green scarf and upon his only
frock coat pinned the diamond sunburst。 In woeful embarrassment Doctor
Gilman smiled and bowed and smiled； and then； as the delighted mayor of
Stillwater shouted； 〃Speech；〃 in sudden panic he reached out his hand
quickly and covertly； and found the hand of his wife。
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THE RED CROSS GIRL
〃Now； then； three Long ones！〃 yelled the cheer leader。 〃Now； then；
'See the Conquering Hero！'〃 yelled the bandmaster。 〃Attention！ Present
arms！〃 yelled the militia captain； and the townspeople and the professors
applauded and waved their hats and handkerchiefs。 And Doctor Gilman
and his wife； he frightened and confused； she happy and proud； and taking
it all as a matter of course； stood arm in arm in the frame of honeysuckles
and bowed and bowed and bowed。 And the ambassador so far unbent as to
drink champagne； which appeared mysteriously in tubs of ice from the
rear of the ivy…covered cottage； with the mayor； with the wives of the
professors； with the students； with the bandmaster。 Indeed； so often did he
unbend that when the perfectly new automobile conveyed him back to the
Touraine； he was sleeping happily and smiling in his sleep。
Peter had arrived in America at the same time as had the insignia； but
Hines and Stetson would not let him show himself in Stillwater。 They were
afraid if all three conspirators foregathered they might inadvertently drop
some clew that would lead to suspicion and discovery。
So Peter worked from New York； and his first act was anonymously to
supply his father and Chancellor Black with All the newspaper accounts of
the great celebration at Stillwater。 When Doctor black read them he
choked。 Never before had Stillwater College been brought so prominently
before the public； and never before had her president been so utterly and
completely ignored。 And what made it worse was that he recognized that
even had he been present he could not have shown his face。 How could he；
who had； as every one connected with the college now knew； out of spite
and without cause； dismissed an old and faithful servant； join in chanting
his praises。 He only hoped his patron； Hallowell senior； might not hear of
Gilman's triumph。 But Hallowell senior heard little of anything else。 At his
office； at his clubs； on the golf…links； every one he met congratulated him
on the high and peculiar distinction that had come to his pet college。
〃You certainly have the darnedest luck in backing the right horse；〃
exclaimed a rival pork…packer enviously。 〃Now if I pay a hundred
thousand for a Velasquez it turns out to be a bad copy worth thirty dollars；
but you pay a professor three thousand and he brings you in half a million
dollars' worth of free advertising。 Why； this Doctor Gilman's doing as
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much for your college as Doctor Osler did for Johns Hopkins or as Walter
Camp does for Yale。〃
Mr。 Hallowell received these Congratulations as gracefully as he was
able； and in secret raged at Chancellor Black。 Each day his rage increased。
It seemed as though there would never be an end to Doctor Gilman。 The
stone he had rejected had become the corner…stone of Stillwater。 Whenever
he opened a newspaper he felt like exclaiming： 〃Will no one rid me of this
pestilent fellow？〃 For the 〃Rise and Fall；〃 in an edition deluxe limited to
two hundred copies； was being bought up by all his book…collecting
millionaire friends； a popular edition was on view in the windows of every
