peace manoeuvres-第2节

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again　and　again；　and　had　failed　to　keep　that　promise。　　Only　a　week
before　he　had　been　banished　from　her　presence；　to　remain　an　exile
until　she　gave　him　permission　to　see　her　at　her　home　in　New　York。
It　was　not　her　purpose　to　return　there　for　two　weeks；　and　yet　here
he　was；　a　beggar　at　her　gate。　　It　might　be　that　he　was　there；　as　he
said；　〃on　duty；〃　but　her　knowledge　of　him　and　of　the　doctrine　of
chances　caused　her　to　doubt　it。

〃Mr。　Lathrop！〃　she　began；　severely。

As　though　to　see　to　whom　she　had　spoken　Lathrop　glanced　anxiously
over　his　shoulder。　　Apparently　pained　and　surprised　to　find　that　it
was　to　him　she　had　addressed　herself；　he　regarded　her　with　deep
reproach。　　His　eyes　were　very　beautiful。　　It　was　a　fact　which　had
often　caused　Miss　Farrar　extreme　annoyance。

He　shook　his　head　sadly。

〃'Mr。　Lathrop？'〃　he　protested。　　〃You　know　that　to　you　I　am　always
'CharlesCharles　the　Bold；'　because　I　am　bold　to　love　you；　but
never　'Mr。　Lathrop；'　unless；〃　he　went　on　briskly；　〃you　are
referring　to　a　future　state；　when；　as　Mrs。　Lathrop；　you　will　make
me〃

Miss　Farrar　had　turned　her　back　on　him；　and　was　walking　rapidly　up
the　path。

〃Beatrice；〃　he　called。　　〃I　am　coming　after　you！〃

Miss　Farrar　instantly　returned　and　placed　both　hands　firmly　upon
the　gate。

〃I　cannot　understand　you！〃　she　said。　　〃Don't　you　see　that　when　you
act　as　you　do　now；　I　can't　even　respect　you？　　How　do　you　think　I
could　ever　care；　when　you　offend　me　so？　　You　jest　at　what　you
pretend　is　the　most　serious　thing　in　your　life。　　You　play　with　it
laugh　at　it！〃

The　young　man　interrupted　her　sharply。

〃It's　like　this；〃　he　said。　　〃When　I　am　with　you　I　am　so　happy　I
can't　be　serious。　　When　I　am　NOT　with　you；　it　is　SO　serious　that　I
am　utterly　and　completely　wretched。　　You　say　my　love　offends　you；
bores　you！　　I　am　sorry；　but　what；　in　heaven's　name；　do　you　think
your　NOT　loving　me　is　doing　to　ME？　　I　am　a　wreck！　　I　am　a　skeleton！
Look　at　me！〃

He　let　his　bicycle　fall；　and　stood　with　his　hands　open　at　his
sides；　as　though　inviting　her　to　gaze　upon　the　ruin　she　had　caused。

Four　days　of　sun　and　rain；　astride　of　a　bicycle；　without　food　or
sleep；　had　drawn　his　face　into　fine；　hard　lines；　had　bronzed　it
with　a　healthy　tan。　　His　uniform；　made　by　the　same　tailor　that
fitted　him　with　polo　breeches；　clung　to　him　like　a　jersey。　　The
spectacle　he　presented　was　that　of　an　extremely　picturesque；
handsome；　manly　youth；　and　of　that　fact　no　one　was　better　aware
than　himself。

〃Look　at　me；〃　he　begged；　sadly。

Miss　Farrar　was　entirely　unimpressed。

〃I　am！〃　she　returned；　coldly。　　〃I　never　saw　you　looking　so　well
and　you　know　it。〃　　She　gave　a　gasp　of　comprehension。　　〃You　came
here　because　you　knew　your　uniform　was　becoming！〃

Lathrop　regarded　himself　complacently。

〃Yes；　isn't　it？〃　he　assented。　　〃I　brought　on　this　war　in　order　to
wear　it。　　If　you　don't　mind；〃　he　added；　〃I　think　I'll　accept　your
invitation　and　come　inside。　　I've　had　nothing　to　eat　in　four　days。〃

Miss　Farrar's　eyes　flashed　indignantly。

〃You're　NOT　coming　inside；〃　she　declared；　〃but　if　you'll　only
promise　to　go　away　at　once；　I'll　bring　you　everything　in　the
house。〃

〃In　that　house；〃　exclaimed　Lathrop；　dramatically；　〃there's　only　one
thing　that　I　desire；　and　I　want　that　so　badly　that　'life　holds　no
charm　without　you。'〃

Miss　Farrar　regarded　him　steadily。

〃Do　you　intend　to　drive　me　away　from　my　own　door；　or　will　you　go？〃

Lathrop　picked　his　wheel　out　of　the　dust。

〃Good…by；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　come　back　when　you　have　made　up　your
mind。〃

In　vexation　Miss　Farrar　stamped　her　foot　upon　the　path。

〃I　HAVE　made　up　my　mind！〃　she　protested。

〃Then；〃　returned　Lathrop；　〃I'll　come　back　when　you　have　changed
it。〃

He　made　a　movement　as　though　to　ride　away；　but　much　to　Miss
Farrar's　dismay；　hastily　dismounted。　　〃On　second　thoughts；〃　he
said；　〃it　isn't　right　for　me　to　leave　you。　　The　woods　are　full　of
tramps　and　hangers…on　of　the　army。　　You're　not　safe。　　I　can　watch
this　road　from　here　as　well　as　from　anywhere　else；　and　at　the　same
time　I　can　guard　you。〃

To　the　consternation　of　Miss　Farrar　he　placed　his　bicycle　against
the　fence；　and；　as　though　preparing　for　a　visit；　leaned　his　elbows
upon　it。

〃I　do　not　wish　to　be　rude；〃　said　Miss　Farrar；　〃but　you　are　annoying
me。　　I　have　spent　fifteen　summers　in　Massachusetts；　and　I　have
never　seen　a　tramp。　　I　need　no　one　to　guard　me。〃

〃If　not　you；〃　said　Lathrop　easily；　〃then　the　family　silver。　　And
think　of　your　jewels；　and　your　mother's　jewels。　　Think　of　yourself
in　a　house　filled　with　jewels；　and　entirely　surrounded　by　hostile
armies！　　My　duty　is　to　remain　with　you。〃

Miss　Farrar　was　so　long　in　answering；　that　Lathrop　lifted　his　head
and　turned　to　look。　　He　found　her　frowning　and　gazing　intently　into
the　shadow　of　the　woods；　across　the　road。　　When　she　felt　his　eyes
upon　her　she　turned　her　own　guiltily　upon　him。　　Her　cheeks　were
flushed　and　her　face　glowed　with　some　unusual　excitement。

〃I　wish；〃　she　exclaimed　breathlessly〃I　wish；〃　she　repeated；　〃the
Reds　would　take　you　prisoner！〃

〃Take　me　where？〃　asked　Lathrop。

〃Take　you　anywhere！〃　cried　Miss　Farrar。　　〃You　should　be　ashamed　to
talk　to　me　when　you　should　be　looking　for　the　enemy！〃

〃I　am　WAITING　for　the　enemy；〃　explained　Lathrop。　　〃It's　the　same
thing。〃

Miss　Farrar　smiled　vindictively。　　Her　eyes　shone。　　〃You　need　not
wait　long；〃　she　said。　　There　was　a　crash　of　a　falling　stone　wall；
and　of　parting　bushes；　but　not　in　time　to　give　Lathrop　warning。　　As
though　from　the　branches　of　the　trees　opposite　two　soldiers　fell
into　the　road；　around　his　hat　each　wore　the　red　band　of　the
invader；　each　pointed　his　rifle　at　Lathrop。

〃Hands　up！〃　shouted　one。　　〃You're　my　prisoner！〃　cried　the　other。

Mechanically　Lathrop　raised　his　hands；　but　his　eyes　turned　to　Miss
Farrar。

〃Did　you　know？〃　he　asked。

〃I　have　been　watching　them；〃　she　said；　〃creeping　up　on　you　for　the
last　ten　minutes。〃

Lathrop　turned　to　the　two　soldiers；　and　made　an　effort　to　smile。

〃That　was　very　clever；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　have　twenty　men　up　the
road；　and　behind　them　a　regiment。　　You　had　better　get　away　while
you　can。〃

The　two　Reds　laughed　derisively。　　One；　who　wore　the　stripes　of　a
sergeant；　answered：　〃That　won't　do！　　We　been　a　mile　up　the　road；
and　you　and　us　are　the　only　soldiers　on　it。　　Gimme　the　gun！〃

Lathrop　knew　he　had　no　right　to　refuse。　　He　had　been　fairly
surprised；　but　he　hesitated。　　When　Miss　Farrar　was　not　in　his　mind
his　amateur　soldiering　was　to　him　a　most　serious　proposition。　　The
war　game　was　a　serious　proposition；　and　that；　through　his　failure
for　ten　minutes　to　regard　it　seriously；　he　had　been　made　a
prisoner；　mortified　him　keenly。　　That　his　humiliation　had　taken
place　in　the　presence　of　Beatrice　Farrar　did　not　lessen　his
discomfort；　nor　did　the　explanation　he　must　later　make　to　his
captain　afford　him　any　satisfaction。　　Already　he　saw　himself
playing　the　star　part　in　a　court…martial。　　He　shrugged　his
shoulders　and　surrendered　his　gun。

As　he　did　so　he　gloomily　scrutinized　the　insignia　of　his　captors。

〃Who　took　me？〃　he　asked。

〃WE　took　you；〃　exclaimed　the　sergeant。

〃What　regiment？〃　demanded　Lathrop；　sharply。　　〃I　have　to　report　who
took　me；　and　you　probably　don't　know　it；　but　your　collar　ornaments
are　upside　down。〃　　With　genuine　exasperation　he　turned　to　Miss
Farrar。

〃Lord！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃isn't　it　bad　enough　to　be　taken　prisoner；
without　being　taken　by　raw　recruits　that　can't　put　on　their
uniforms？〃

The　Reds　flushed；　and　the　younger；　a　sandy…haired；　rat…faced　youth；
retorted　angrily：　〃Mebbe　we　ain't　strong　on　uniforms；　beau；〃　he
snarled；　〃but　you've　got　nothing　on　us　yet；　that　I　can　see。　　You
look　pretty　with　your　hands　in　the　air；　don't　you？〃

〃Shut　up；〃　commanded　the　other　Red。　　He　was　the　older　man；　heavily
built；　with　a　strong；　hard　mouth　and　chin；　on　which　latter　sprouted
a　three　days'　iron…gray　beard。　　〃Don't　you　see　he's　an　officer？
Officers　don't　like　being　took　by　two…spot　privates。〃

Lathrop　gave　a　sudden　start。　　〃Why；〃　he　laughed；　incredulously；
〃don't　you　know〃　　He　stopped；　and　his　eyes　glanced　quickly　up　and
down　the　road。

〃Don't　we　know　what？〃　demanded　the　older　Red；　suspiciously。

〃I　forgot；〃　said　Lathrop。　　〃II　must　not　give　information　to　the
enemy〃

For　an　instant　there　was　a　pause；　while　the　two　Reds　stood
irresolute。　　Then　the　older　nodded　the　other　to　the　side　of　the
road；　and　in　whispers　they　consulted　eagerly。

Miss　Farrar　laughed；　and　Lathrop　moved　toward　her。

〃I　deserve　worse　than　being　laughed　at；〃　he　said。　　〃I　made　a
strategic　mistake。　　I　should　not　have　tried　to　capture　you　and　an
army　corps　at　the　same　time。〃

〃You；〃　she　taunted；　〃who　were　always　so　keen　on　soldiering；　to　be
taken　prisoner；〃　she　lowered　her　voice；　〃and　by　men　like　that！
Aren't　they　funny？〃　she　whispered；　〃and　East　Side　and　Tenderloin！
It　made　me　homesick　to　hear　them！　　I　think　when　not　in　uniform　the
little　one　drives　a　taxicab；　and　the　big　one　is　a　guard　on　the
elevated。〃

〃They　certainly　are　very　'New　York；'〃　assented　Lathrop；　〃and　very
tough。〃

〃I　thought；〃　whispered　Miss　Farrar；　〃those　from　New　York　with　the
Red　Army　were　picked　men。〃

〃What　does　it　matter？〃　exclaimed　Lat