登陆注册
15394700000014

第14章

"Very well," said she."And when I do, you will understand by it that either you or I have learned something new about the purchasing power of money.You've been spoiled, my friend.No, I don't think I could marry you.To-morrow I will send you back the presents you have given me."

"Presents!" said Pilkins in surprise."I never gave you a present in my life.I would like to see a full-length portrait of the man that you would take a present from.Why, you never would let me send you flowers or candy or even art calendars."

"You've forgotten," said Alice v.d.R., with a little smile."It was a long time ago when our families were neighbours.You were seven, and I was trundling my doll on the sidewalk.You have me a little gray, hairy kitten, with shoe-buttony eyes.Its head came off and it was full of candy.You paid five cents for it--you told me so.I haven't the candy to return to you--I hadn't developed a conscience at three, so I ate it.But I have the kitten yet, and I will wrap it up neatly to-night and send it to you to-morrow."

Beneath the lightness of Alice v.d.R.'s talk the steadfastness of her rejection showed firm and plain.So there was nothing left for him but to leave the crumbly red brick house, and be off with his abhorred millions.

On his way back, Pilkins walked through Madison Square.The hour hand of the clock hung about eight; the air was stingingly cool, but not at the freezing point.The dim little square seemed like a great, cold, unroofed room, with its four walls of houses, spangled with thousands of insufficient lights.Only a few loiterers were huddled here and there on the benches.

But suddenly Pilkins came upon a youth sitting brave and, as if conflicting with summer sultriness, coatless, his white shirt-sleeves conspicuous in the light from the globe of an electric.Close to his side was a girl, smiling, dreamy, happy.Around her shoulders was, palpably, the missing coat of the cold-defying youth.It appeared to be a modern panorama of the Babes in the Wood, revised and brought up to date, with the exception that the robins hadn't turned up yet with the protecting leaves.

With delight the money-caliphs view a situation that they think is relievable while you wait.

Pilkins sat on the bench, one seat removed from the youth.He glanced cautiously and saw (as men do see; and women--oh! never can) that they were of the same order.

Pilkins leaned over after a short time and spoke to the youth, who answered smilingly, and courteously.From general topics the conversation concentrated to the bed-rock of grim personalities.But Pilkins did it as delicately and heartily as any caliph could have done.And when it came to the point, the youth turned to him, soft-

voiced and with his undiminished smile.

"I don't want to seem unappreciative, old man," he said, with a youth's somewhat too-early spontaneity of address, "but, you see, I can't accept anything from a stranger.I know you're all right, and I'm tremendously obliged, but I couldn't think of borrowing from anybody.You see, I'm Marcus Clayton--the Claytons of Roanoke County, Virginia, you know.The young lady is Miss Eva Bedford--I reckon you've heard of the Bedfords.She's seventeen and one of the Bedfords of Bedford County.We've eloped from home to get married, and we wanted to see New York.We got in this afternoon.Somebody got my pocketbook on the ferry-boat, and I had only three cents in change outside of it.I'll get some work somewhere to-morrow, and we'll get married."

"But, I say, old man," said Pilkins, in confidential low tones, "you can't keep the lady out here in the cold all night.Now, as for hotels--"

"I told you," said the youth, with a broader smile, "that I didn't have but three cents.Besides, if I had a thousand, we'd have to wait here until morning.You can understand that, of course.I'm much obliged, but I can't take any of your money.Miss Bedford and I have lived an outdoor life, and we don't mind a little cold.I'll get work of some kind to-morrow.We've got a paper bag of cakes and chocolates, and we'll get along all right."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 海贼王同人之闯江湖

    海贼王同人之闯江湖

    本人喜欢《海贼王》,也喜欢武侠小说。看了不少人的海贼王同人,一时兴起,也打一篇同人。不过与别人的同人不同,我的同人,只是用海贼王里头的角色,放在中国的江湖上。就是路飞、卓洛、那美、胡说卜这些人闯中国江湖的故事。纯粹玩玩,不定期更新,不要抱太大希望哦!
  • 编号89747

    编号89747

    未必会来,未必会走。生命是量身定做也难免出错,但多么遗憾,我们的故事未完。
  • 十年爱你依不变

    十年爱你依不变

    “即使我们之间有太多的误会,即使时光流逝,物是人非,我也依然爱你”“即使孤身一人处在异乡,即使不知道你在何处,夜深人静时,依旧想起那个温润俊朗的少年,我依然爱你。”他们本是朋友眼中最相配的一对,女生可爱活泼,男生温润俊朗。却因误会让彼此相距甚远。七年后的相遇对否能让彼此化解误会?
  • 帝征天宇

    帝征天宇

    天下大道,众生芸芸,古之帝皇,谁为之最。成,天上之皇。败,烟消云散。万千帝皇,降临现世,亦是怎样的场景?春秋战国,秦皇汉武,将星云集,谋星璀璨,又能发出怎样的碰撞,谁又能笑傲苍宇。天要谋我,我必征天。
  • 邪王宠妻:毒医逆天大小姐

    邪王宠妻:毒医逆天大小姐

    风起,“魂”悄然在着对她陌生的生死林隐匿了气息,等待猎物的出现。风拂过“魂”绝美的脸,周边的景色黯然失色,太安静了。“魂”感到不对劲,她的预感总是很灵“咻”细小的声音使她的脸色一变,子弹向“魂”飞过,“魂”动了动身子闪过了子弹子弹上面抹着一层“毒芽”令人深然再笨的杀手都知道“毒芽”是血煞组织对付敌人最狠毒的一种毒药,中了“毒芽”没有解药就会死,毒发的过程极其残忍,从人的心脏生出一朵芽,吸食毒发者的心脏,十分痛苦“呵,看来组织想除掉我,嗯?在什么地方呢?”“呵呵,找到了。”如嗜血的修罗般,绝美的脸庞令人生畏
  • 虚拟情缘

    虚拟情缘

    什么是真,什么是假?生活是真实的,有时人情却很假。网络是虚假的,但感觉那才是我的天下。
  • 残王宠妻:神医世子妃

    残王宠妻:神医世子妃

    她一个顶尖的神偷,国家级的通缉犯,一次任务失手,被迫穿越到古代,紫星大陆。一来就发现自己在水里,顿时怒火滔天!把姐姐们踹下水,自己却在一旁看戏,有时候还调侃两句来打击打击他们。说她是废柴吗?无所谓!姐以前可是通缉犯!难道还怕那些没用的东西?某女曰:这世间要脸有何用,还能当饭吃不成?难道你们不知道一句话吗人是铁饭是钢,一顿不吃饿的慌这句话吗?作为一个神偷,她觉得自己已经够不要脸了,可是却发现某只妖孽比她还不要脸!真是应了一句话啊,叫做人外有人,天外有天。在下建了个群,有兴趣的可以来观摩一下,里面有预告的哦!~(≧▽≦)/~〖146739606〗欢迎大家光临
  • 女神的杀手护卫

    女神的杀手护卫

    作为天下第一杀手的项宇,完成最后一单,决定浪迹天涯。岂料保护美女总裁,让项宇的人生再次波澜壮阔。哥本低调,不想逆天!纵横商场,叱咤江湖,终与美人朝朝暮暮……
  • 绝色特工之我只想要平静的生活

    绝色特工之我只想要平静的生活

    “扣扣”声响起,梦涵低头看着手机提示,系统提示有人加好友,梦涵不耐的关掉消息,她不喜欢加陌生人,可是没一会,提示音又响起,梦涵再次拿起手机,这次,附加消息里只有五个字:是我,萧漫东。
  • 重生之大亨帝国

    重生之大亨帝国

    徐帆原本只是一个普通的小职员,却因为一次意外回到了高三那年。这是一个随处充满着机遇的年代,这是个到处都被物欲填满的时代。既然重活一次,那又如何不让自己站在这个世界的顶端。徐帆要做的,就是创造一个前所未有的庞大帝国。