roads of destiny-第37节

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〃Dar　now！〃　said　the　old　man：　〃I　knowed　it　was　er　comin'。　I　knowed　it　was　gwine　ter　happen。　Er　Judge；　you　says；　Mars　William？　Dem　Yankees　done　made　you　er　judge？　It's　high　time；　sah；　dey　was　doin'　somep'n　to　make　up　for　dey　rascality　endurin'　de　war。　I　boun'　dey　holds　a　confab　and　says：　'Le's　make　Mars　William　Pemberton　er　judge；　and　dat'll　settle　it。'　Does　you　have　to　go　way　down　to　dem　Fillypines；　Mars　William；　or　kin　you　judge　'em　from　here？〃

〃I'd　have　to　live　there　most　of　the　time；　of　course；〃　said　Billy。

〃I　wonder　what　de　Gubnor　gwine　say　'bout　dat；〃　speculated　Jeff。

Billy　wondered　too。

After　supper；　when　the　two　sat　in　the　library；　according　to　their　habit；　the　Governor　smoking　his　clay　pipe　and　Billy　his　cigar；　the　son　dutifully　confessed　to　having　been　tendered　the　appointment。

For　a　long　time　the　Governor　sat；　smoking；　without　making　any　comment。　Billy　reclined　in　his　favourite　rocker；　waiting；　perhaps　still　flushed　with　satisfaction　over　the　tender　that　had　come　to　him；　unsolicited；　in　his　dingy　little　office；　above　the　heads　of　the　intriguing；　time…　serving；　clamorous　multitude。

At　last　the　Governor　spoke；　and；　though　his　words　were　seemingly　irrelevant；　they　were　to　the　point。　His　voice　had　a　note　of　martyrdom　running　through　its　senile　quaver。

〃My　rheumatism　has　been　growing　steadily　worse　these　past　months；　William。〃

〃I　am　sorry；　father；〃　said　Billy；　gently。

〃And　I　am　nearly　seventy…eight。　I　am　getting　to　be　an　old　man。　I　can　recall　the　names　of　but　two　or　three　who　were　in　public　life　during　My　Administration。　What　did　you　say　is　the　nature　of　this　position　that　is　offered　you；　William？〃

〃A　Federal　Judgeship；　father。　I　believe　it　is　considered　to　be　a　somewhat　flattering　tender。　It　is　outside　of　politics　and　wire…　pulling；　you　know。〃

〃No　doubt；　no　doubt。　Few　of　the　Pembertons　have　engaged　in　professional　life　for　nearly　a　century。　None　of　them　have　ever　held　Federal　positions。　They　have　been　land…holders；　slave…owners；　and　planters　on　a　large　scale。　One　of　two　of　the　Derwentsyour　mother's　familywere　in　the　law。　Have　you　decided　to　accept　this　appointment；　William？〃

〃I　am　thinking　it　over；〃　said　Billy；　slowly；　regarding　the　ash　of　his　cigar。

〃You　have　been　a　good　son　to　me；〃　continued　the　Governor；　stirring　his　pipe　with　the　handle　of　a　penholder。

〃I've　been　your　son　all　my　life；〃　said　Billy；　darkly。

〃I　am　often　gratified；〃　piped　the　Governor；　betraying　a　touch　of　complacency；　〃by　being　congratulated　upon　having　a　son　with　such　sound　and　sterling　qualities。　Especially　in　this；　our　native　town；　is　your　name　linked　with　mine　in　the　talk　of　our　citizens。〃

〃I　never　knew　anyone　to　forget　the　vindculum；〃　murmured　Billy；　unintelligibly。

〃Whatever　prestige；〃　pursued　the　parent；　〃I　may　be　possessed　of；　by　virtue　of　my　name　and　services　to　the　state；　has　been　yours　to　draw　upon　freely。　I　have　not　hesitated　to　exert　it　in　your　behalf　whenever　opportunity　offered。　And　you　have　deserved　it；　William。　You've　been　the　best　of　sons。　And　now　this　appointment　comes　to　take　you　away　from　me。　I　have　but　a　few　years　left　to　live。　I　am　almost　dependent　upon　others　now；　even　in　walking　and　dressing。　What　would　I　do　without　you；　my　son？〃

The　Governor's　pipe　dropped　to　the　floor。　A　tear　trickled　from　his　eye。　His　voice　had　risen；　and　crumbled　to　a　weakling　falsetto；　and　ceased。　He　was　an　old；　old　man　about　to　be　bereft　of　a　son　that　cherished　him。

Billy　rose；　and　laid　his　hand　upon　the　Governor's　shoulder。

〃Don't　worry；　father；〃　he　said；　cheerfully。　〃I'm　not　going　to　accept。　Elmville　is　good　enough　for　me。　I'll　write　to…night　and　decline　it。〃

At　the　next　interchange　of　devoirs　between　the　Governor　and　General　Deffenbaugh　on　Lee　Avenue；　His　Excellency；　with　a　comfortable　air　of　self…satisfaction；　spoke　of　the　appointment　that　had　been　tendered　to　Billy。

The　General　whistled。

〃That's　a　plum　for　Billy；〃　he　shouted。　〃Who'd　have　thought　that　Billy　but；　confound　it；　it's　been　in　him　all　the　time。　It's　a　boost　for　Elmville。　It'll　send　real　estate　up。　It's　an　honour　to　our　state。　It's　a　compliment　to　the　South。　We've　all　been　blind　about　Billy。　When　does　he　leave？　We　must　have　a　reception。　Great　Gatlings！　that　job's　eight　thousand　a　year！　There's　been　a　car…load　of　lead…pencils　worn　to　stubs　figuring　on　those　appointments。　Think　of　it！　Our　little；　wood…sawing；　mealy…mouthed　Billy！　Angel　unawares　doesn't　begin　to　express　it。　Elmville　is　disgraced　forever　until　she　lines　up　in　a　hurry　for　ratification　and　apology。〃

The　venerable　Moloch　smiled　fatuously。　He　carried　the　fire　with　which　to　consume　all　these　tributes　to　Billy；　the　smoke　of　which　would　ascend　as　an　incense　to　himself。

〃William；〃　said　the　Governor；　with　modest　pride；　〃has　declined　the　appointment。　He　refuses　to　leave　me　in　my　old　age。　He　is　a　good　son。〃

The　General　swung　round；　and　laid　a　large　forefinger　upon　the　bosom　of　his　friend。　Much　of　the　General's　success　had　been　due　to　his　dexterity　in　establishing　swift　lines　of　communication　between　cause　and　effect。

〃Governor；〃　he　said；　with　a　keen　look　in　his　big；　ox…like　eyes；　〃you've　been　complaining　to　Billy　about　your　rheumatism。〃

〃My　dear　General；〃　replied　the　Governor；　stiffly；　〃my　son　is　forty…　two。　He　is　quite　capable　of　deciding　such　questions　for　himself。　And　I；　as　his　parent；　feel　it　my　duty　to　state　that　your　remark　abouter　rheumatism　is　a　mighty　poor　shot　from　a　very　small　bore；　sir；　aimed　at　a　purely　personal　and　private　affliction。〃

〃If　you　will　allow　me；〃　retorted　the　General；　〃you've　afflicted　the　public　with　it　for　some　time；　and　'twas　no　small　bore；　at　that。〃

This　first　tiff　between　the　two　old　comrades　might　have　grown　into　something　more　serious；　but　for　the　fortunate　interruption　caused　by　the　ostentatious　approach　of　Colonel　Titus　and　another　one　of　the　court　retinue　from　the　right　county；　to　whom　the　General　confided　the　coddled　statesman　and　went　his　way。

After　Billy　had　so　effectually　entombed　his　ambitions；　and　taken　the　veil；　so　to　speak；　in　a　sonnery；　he　was　surprised　to　discover　how　much　lighter　of　heart　and　happier　he　felt。　He　realized　what　a　long；　restless　struggle　he　had　maintained；　and　how　much　he　had　lost　by　failing　to　cull　the　simple　but　wholesome　pleasures　by　the　way。　His　heart　warmed　now　to　Elmville　and　the　friends　who　had　refused　to　set　him　upon　a　pedestal。　It　was　better；　he　began　to　think；　to　be　〃Billy〃　and　his　father's　son；　and　to　be　hailed　familiarly　by　cheery　neighbours　and　grown…up　playmates；　than　to　be　〃Your　Honour；〃　and　sit　among　strangers；　hearing；　maybe；　through　the　arguments　of　learned　counsel；　that　old　man's　feeble　voice　crying：　〃What　would　I　do　without　you；　my　son？〃

Billy　began　to　surprise　his　acquaintances　by　whistling　as　he　walked　up　the　street；　others　he　astounded　by　slapping　them　disrespectfully　upon　their　backs　and　raking　up　old　anecdotes　he　had　not　had　the　time　to　recollect　for　years。　Though　he　hammered　away　at　his　law　cases　as　thoroughly　as　ever；　he　found　more　time　for　relaxation　and　the　company　of　his　friends。　Some　of　the　younger　set　were　actually　after　him　to　join　the　golf　club。　A　striking　proof　of　his　abandonment　to　obscurity　was　his　adoption　of　a　most　undignified；　rakish；　little　soft　hat；　reserving　the　〃plug〃　for　Sundays　and　state　occasions。　Billy　was　beginning　to　enjoy　Elmville；　though　that　irreverent　burgh　had　neglected　to　crown　him　with　bay　and　myrtle。

All　the　while　uneventful　peace　pervaded　Elmville。　The　Governor　continued　to　make　his　triumphal　parades　to　the　post…office　with　the　General　as　chief　marshal；　for　the　slight　squall　that　had　rippled　their　friendship　had；　to　all　indications；　been　forgotten　by　both。

But　one　day　Elmville　woke　to　sudden　excitement。　The　news　had　come　that　a　touring　presidential　party　would　honour　Elmville　by　a　twenty…minute　stop。　The　Executive　had　promised　a　five…minute　address　from　the　balcony　of　the　Palace　Hotel。

Elmville　rose　as　one　manthat　man　being；　of　course；　General　Deffenbaughto　receive　becomingly　the　chieftain　of　all　the　clans。　The　train　with　the　tiny　Stars　and　Stripes　fluttering　from　the　engine　pilot　arrived。　Elmville　had　done　her　best。　There　were　bands；　flowers；　carriages；　uniforms；　banners；　and　committees　without　end。　High…school　girls　in　white　frocks　impeded　the　steps　of　the　party　with　roses　strewn　nervously　in　bunches。　The　chieftain　had　seen　it　all　beforescores　of　times。　He　could　have　pictured　it　exactly　in　advance；　from　the　Blue…　and…Gray　speech　down　to　the　smallest　rosebud。　Yet　his　kindly　smile　of　interest　greeted　Elmville's　display　as　if　it　had　been　the　only　and　original。

In　the　upper　rotunda　of　the　Palace　Hotel　the　town's　most　illustrious　were　assembled　for　the　honour　of　being　presented　to　the　distinguished　guests　previous　to　the　expected　address。　Outside；　Elmville's　inglorious　but　patriotic　masses　filled　the　streets。

Here；　in　the　hotel　General　Deffenbaugh　was　holding　in　reserve　Elmville's　trump　card。　Elmville　knew；　for　the　trump　was　a　fixed　one；　and　its　lead　consecrated　by　archaic　custom。

At　the　proper　moment　Governor　Pemberton；　beautifully　venerable；　magnificently　antique；　tall；　paramount；　stepped　forward　upon　the　arm　of　the　General。

Elmville　watched　and　harked　with　bated　breath。　Never　until　nowwhen　a　Northern　President　of　the