the portygee-第18节
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Rachel； in her Sunday black； bulked large beside him。 As Captain
Zelotes said； the pair looked like 〃a tug takin' a liner out to
sea。〃
CHAPTER V
Outside of the gates of the Snow place Albert was making many
acquaintances and a few friends。 After church on Sundays his
grandmother had a distressful habit of suddenly seizing his arm or
his coat…tail as he was hurrying toward the vestibule and the
sunshine of outdoors； and saying： 〃Oh； Albert； just a minute！
Here's somebody you haven't met yet； I guess。 Elsie〃or Nellie or
Mabel or Henry or Charlie or George； whichever it happened to be
〃this is my grandson； Albert Speranza。〃 And the young person to
whom he was thus introduced would； if a male； extend a hesitating
hand； give his own an embarrassed shake； smile uncertainly and say；
〃Yeseryes。 Pleased to meet you。〃 Or； if of the other sex；
would blush a little and venture the observation that it was a
lovely morning； and wasn't the sermon splendid。
These Sabbath introductions led to week…day； or rather week…
evening； meetings。 The principal excitement in South Harniss was
〃going for the mail。〃 At noon and after supper fully one…half of
the village population journeyed to the post office。 Albert's
labors for Z。 Snow and Co。 prevented his attending the noon
gatheringshis grandfather usually got the morning mailbut he
early formed the habit of sauntering 〃down street〃 in the evening
if the weather was not too cold or disagreeable。 There he was
certain to find groups of South Harniss youth of both sexes；
talking； giggling； skylarking and flirting。 Sometimes he joined
one or the other of these groups； quite as often he did not； but
kept aloof and by himself； for it may as well be acknowledged now；
if it is not already plain； that the son of Miguel Carlos Speranza
had inherited a share of his father's temperament and self…esteem。
The whim of the moment might lead him to favor these young people
with his society； but he was far from considering himself under
obligation to do so。 He had not the least idea that he was in any
way a snob； he would have hotly resented being called one； but he
accepted his estimate of his own worth as something absolute and
certain； to be taken for granted。
Now this attitude of mind had its dangers。 Coupled with its
possessor's extraordinary good looks； it was fascinating to a large
percentage of the village girls。 The Speranza eyes and the
Speranza curls and nose and chin were； when joined with the easy
condescension of the Speranza manner； a combination fatal to the
susceptible。 The South Harniss 〃flappers；〃 most of them； enthused
over the new bookkeeper in the lumber office。 They ogled and
giggled and gushed in his presence； and he was tolerant or bored；
just as he happened to be feeling at the moment。 But he never
displayed a marked interest in any one of them； for the very good
reason that he had no such interest。 To him they were merely
girls； nice enough in their way； perhaps； but that way not his。
Most of the town young fellows of his age he found had a 〃girl〃 and
almost every girl had a 〃fellow〃； there was calf love in abundance；
but he was a different brand of veal。
However； a great man must amuse himself； and so he accepted
invitations to church socials and suppers and to an occasional
dance or party。 His style of dancing was not that of South Harniss
in the winter。 It was common enough at the hotel or the 〃tea
house〃 in July and August when the summer people were there； but
not at the town hall at the Red Men's Annual Ball in February。 A
fellow who could foxtrot as he could swept all before him。 Sam
Thatcher； of last year's class in the high school； but now clerking
in the drug store； who had hitherto reigned as the best 〃two…
stepper〃 in town； suddenly became conscious of his feet。 Then；
too； the contents of the three trunks which had been sent on from
school were now in evidence。 No Boston or Brockton 〃Advanced
Styles〃 held a candle to those suits which the tailor of the late
Miguel Carlos had turned out for his patron's only son。 No other
eighteen…year…older among the town's year…around residents
possessed a suit of evening clothes。 Albert wore his 〃Tux〃 at the
Red Men's Ball and hearts palpitated beneath new muslin gowns and
bitter envy stirred beneath the Brockton 〃Advanced Styles。〃
In consequence； by spring the social status of Albert Speranza
among those of his own age in the village had become something
like this： He was in high favor with most of the girls and in
corresponding disfavor with most of the young fellows。 The girls；
although they agreed that he was 〃stand…offish and kind of queer；〃
voted him 〃just lovely； all the same。〃 Their envious beaux
referred to him sneeringly among themselves as a 〃stuck…up dude。〃
Some one of them remembered having been told that Captain Zelotes；
years before； had been accustomed to speak of his hated son…in…law
as 〃the Portygee。〃 Behind his back they formed the habit of
referring to their new rival in the same way。 The first time
Albert heard himself called a 〃Portygee〃 was after prayer meeting
on Friday evening； when； obeying a whim； he had walked home with
Gertie Kendrick； quite forgetful of the fact that Sam Thatcher； who
aspired to be Gertie's 〃steady；〃 was himself waiting on the church
steps for that privilege。
Even then nothing might have come of it had he and Sam not met in
the path as he was sauntering back across lots to the main road
and home。 It was a brilliant moonlight night and the pair came
together； literally； at the bend where the path turns sharply
around the corner of Elijah Doane's cranberry shanty。 Sam； plowing
along； head down and hands in his pockets； swung around that corner
and bumped violently into Albert； who； a cigarette between his
lipsout here in the fields； away from civilization and Captain
Zelotes； was a satisfyingly comfortable place to smoke a cigarette
was dreaming dreams of a future far away from South Harniss。 Sam
had been thinking of Gertie。 Albert had not。 She had been a mere
incident of the evening； he had walked home with her because he
happened to be in the mood for companionship and she was rather
pretty and always talkative。 His dreams during the stroll back
alone in the moonlight had been of lofty things； of poetry and fame
and high emprise； giggling Gerties had no place in them。 It was
distinctly different with Sam Thatcher。
They crashed together； gasped and recoiled。
〃Oh； I'm sorry！〃 exclaimed Albert。
〃Can't you see where you're goin'； you darned Portygee half…breed？〃
demanded Sam。
Albert； who had stepped past him； turned and came back。
〃What did you say？〃 he asked。
〃I said you was a darned half…breed； and you are。 You're a no…good
Portygee； like your father。〃
It was all he had time to say。 For the next few minutes he was too
busy to talk。 The Speranzas； father and son； possessed temperament；
also they possessed temper。 Sam's face； usually placid and
good…natured； for Sam was by no means a bad fellow in his way； was
fiery red。 Albert's； on the contrary； went perfectly white。 He
seemed to settle back on his heels and from there almost to fly at
his insulter。 Five minutes or so later they were both dusty and
dirty and dishevelled and bruised； but Sam was pretty thoroughly
licked。 For one thing； he had been taken by surprise by his
adversary's quickness； for another； Albert's compulsory training in
athletics at school gave him an advantage。 He was by no means an
unscarred victor； but victor he was。 Sam was defeated； and very
much astonished。 He leaned against the cranberry house and held on
to his nose。 It had been a large nose in the beginning； it was
larger now。
Albert stood before him； his facewhere it was not a pleasing
combination of black and bluestill white。
〃If youif you speak of my father or me again like that；〃 he
panted； 〃I'llI'll kill you！〃
Then he strode off； a bit wobbly on his legs； but with dignity。
Oddly enough； no one except the two most interested ever knew of
this encounter。 Albert； of course； did not tell。 He was rather
ashamed of it。 For the son of Miguel Carlos Speranza to conquer
dragons was a worthy and heroic business； but there seemed to be
mighty little heroism in licking Sam Thatcher behind 'Lije Doane's
cranberry shack。 And Sam did not tell。 Gertie next day confided
that she didn't care two cents for that stuck…up Al Speranza；
anyway； she had let him see her home only because Sam had danced so
many times with Elsie Wixon at the ball that night。 So Sam said
nothing concerning the fight； explaining the condition of his nose
by saying that he had run into something in the dark。 And he did
not appear to hold a grudge against his conqueror； on the contrary
when others spoke of the latter as a 〃sissy；〃 Sam defended him。
〃He may be a dude；〃 said Sam； 〃I don't say he ain't。 But he ain't
no sissy。〃
When pressed to tell why he was so certain； his answer was：
〃Because he don't act like one。〃 It was not a convincing answer；
the general opinion being that that was exactly how Al Speranza did
act。
There was one young person in the village toward whom Albe
