Free and Other Stories
.pdf
FREE AND OTHER STORIES
«I have sent a servant to discover it for me, but he has not yet returned. It must have fascinated him also. We must sit to lunch at once, sir.»
As the hostess said this, she turned about in her great hoops, now but recently, like long trousers, come into fashion, and led the way. Her hair was done in the curls of the postrevolution period, three at each side, about the ears, and a tall chignon that was almost a curl in itself. With stately grace she led the way to the dining chamber and bowed him to his place. Eulalia, a daughter, and Sophia, a friend, entered almost at the same moment with them through another door.
At the head of the long, oaken table there were already standing the two black table servants of this dignified household, splendid imported Africans, trained in Virginia. My lady's table was a-gleam with much of the richest plate and old Holland china in the city. An immense silver candelabra graced the center, and at every corner were separate graven gold sticks making a splendid show.
«I have the greatest terror of fire anywhere in our city,» began the hostess, even as young Walton was bowing. «We have so little protection. I have urged upon our selectmen the necessity of providing something better than we have – a water tower or something of the sort but so far nothing has come of it.»
«You were at the fire, Master Walton?» inquired the handsome Eulalie archly.
«I came that way with several friends from the Collect,» he answered.
«Why the Collect?» asked the hostess, who was now seated with the two blacks towering above her.
361
THEODORE DREISER
«There is a man there who has a boat which is to go without sail, as I understand it, providing his idea is correct. It is to go by steam, I believe, only he did not succeed in making it so do to-day, at least not while I was there. It may have gone, though. I could not wait to see.»
«Oh marvelous,» exclaimed Eulalie, putting up a pair of pretty hands, «and really is it a boat that will travel so?»
«I cannot vouch for that,» returned the youth gravely. «It was not going when we visited it. The fire and my engagement took the entire audience of the inventor away,» and he smiled.
«I shall have no faith in any such trap as that until I see it,» observed Madame Kortright. «Fancy being on the water and no sail to waft you. Mercy!»
«I fancy it will be some time before men will venture afar on any such craft,» returned the youth; «but it is a bit curious.»
«Dangerous, I should say,» suggested Mistress Sophia. «No,» said Walton, «not that, I think. My father has of-
ten told me that Master Franklin predicted to him that men should harness the lightning before many years. That is even more strange than this.»
«That may all be true,» said Madame Kortright, but it has not come to pass yet. It will never be in our time, I fear. But did you hear of the case of jewels at Maton's?»
«Has he imported something new?» inquired Eulalie smartly.
«The last ship brought a case of gems for him, I hear,» continued the hostess. «That should be of interest to you, Master Walton.»
362
FREE AND OTHER STORIES
The youth flushed slightly at the implication involved. His attentions to Mistress Beppie Cruger were becoming a subject of pleasing social comment.
«So it is,» he said gaily, as he recovered his composure. «I shall look in upon Maton this very afternoon.»
«And I should like to see what is new in France,» said the ruddy Sophia seriously. «I have not an earring or a pin in my collection that is not as old as the hills – «
«Nor any the less valuable, I venture,» answered Walton, with an impressive air.
«I would give them for new ones, believe me,» returned the girl quaintly.
Upon this gossiping company the two blacks waited with almost noiseless accuracy, one serving at each side in answer to silent looks and nods from the hostess. Walton watched them out of the corner of his eye, gossiping the while. In his new home, he thought, whenever the fair lady consented, there should be two such lackeys gracing her more tender beauty. He could not help thinking how much more effective they would appear behind her than his present hostess, who, however, was attractive enough. It made him restless to depart, for certainly this afternoon he should definitely, if he could, learn his fate. The jewels would be one excuse. He would take her to look at the jewels before the evening called them to the theater, and then he would see.
Once he was free of the entertainment provided, he hurried away into Wall Street, the spire of Trinity already beginning to cast a short eastward shadow. About the building occupied as the new National Capitol a few dignitaries from the colonies were to be seen. The new mixture of stores among
363
THEODORE DREISER
the residences was beginning to make lovely Wall Street less conservative. A bank had opened just below the Capitol, its entrance reaching out to the very sidewalk and hedging in the view of the gardens beyond. Soon, if the city kept on growing, all the fine old gardens would have to go.
He pondered, as he walked, until he came to a certain gateway below William Street, where he entered. From a window looking out upon a small balcony above a face disappeared, and now he was greeted by another pompous servant at the door.
«My compliments,» he said, «to Mistress Cruger, if she pleases, and I am waiting.»
The servant bowed and retired. In a few moments more there fluttered down into the large reception room from above the loveliest embodiment of the new order of finery that he had ever seen. Such daintiness in curls and laces, such lightness in silken flounces displayed upon spreading hoops, he felt to be without equal. With a graceful courtesy she received his almost ponderous bow.
«Mother gives you her greeting, and she cannot come with us to-day,» she said. «She has a very severe headache.»
«I am very sorry to hear that,» he replied sympathetically, «but you will come? The weather has favored us, and I fancy the meadows will be beautiful to see.»
«Oh, yes, I will come,» she returned smiling. «It is not quite three, however,» she added. «You are early.»
«I know,» he answered, «but we may talk until then. Besides there is something I wish you to see before theater time – no, I will tell you of it later. Henry will be on time.»
364
FREE AND OTHER STORIES
They seated themselves very respectfully distant and took up the morning's commonplaces. Had he heard of the fire and where the French minister was now being entertained? Cards had but this morning come from the Jacob Van Dams for a reception at their new house in Broome Street. The Goelets were to build farther out in Pearl Street
«I think it is a shame,» she said, «the way they are deserting us in this street. We shall have to go also very shortly, and I like Wall Street.»
«When your turn comes perhaps you will not mind it so much,» he returned, thinking of the proposal he hoped to find the courage to make. «Broome Street is certainly pleasing after the new style.»
She thought of all the fine residences being erected in that new residence section, and for some, to him, inexplicable reason, smiled. Outside, through the vine-festooned window, she could see a broad, open barouche turning.
«Here is the carriage,» she said.
As they came out of the quiet chamber into the open sunlight, part of their stilted reserve vanished. Once in the carriage beside him, she smiled happily. As they rolled into William Street and up the Old Boston Road into the green shaded Bowery, she laughed for the very joy of laughing.
«It is good to feel spring again,» she said, «the cold days are so many.»
As they traveled, an occasional citizen before his doorway, or pleasure seeker upon horseback, greeted them. The distinguished Aaron Burr was here prancing gaily countryward. Old Peter Stuyvesant's mansion was kept as rich in flowers as when he had been alive to care for it.
365
THEODORE DREISER
«Are not the fields beautiful about here?» he observed, after they had passed the region of the Collect.
«Lovely,» she returned. «I never see them but I think of dancing, they are so soft.»
«Let us get out and walk upon them, anyhow,» he answered. «Henry can wait for us at the turn yonder.»
He was pointing to a far point, where, through a dump of trees, the winding footpath, leading out from here, joined Broadway, now a lane through the woods and fields.
Gaily she acquiesced, and he helped her down. When the servant was out of hearing, he reached for a dandelion, and pressing his lips to it said, «Here is a token.»
«Of what?» she said shyly.
«What should it be?» he asked wistfully. «Spring, probably.»
«And nothing else?»
«Youth,» she answered, laughing.
«And nothing else?» he questioned, drawing close with a tenderness in his voice.
«How should I know?» she said, laughing and casting it down, because of her fear of the usual significance of the situation.
«You mustn't throw it away,» he said stooping. «Keep it. I'll tell you what it means. I – I – «
«See the wild roses!» she exclaimed, suddenly increasing her pace. «I should rather have some of those for a token, if you please.»
He relaxed his tension, and hastened for that which she desired. When he returned to hand them to her, she was laughing at something.
366
FREE AND OTHER STORIES
«Ah, you laugh,» he said sadly. «I think I know why.» «It is because of the day,» she answered.
Somehow he could make no progress with his declaration until it was too late. Already they were near the carriage, and south along the road a quarter of a mile was the Lispenard country house. Her relatives, the Lispenards, were there as owners. He scarcely had time for what he wished to say.
«Shall we stop there?» he asked in a subdued murmur, as in driving again they neared the long piazza where guests were seated enjoying the prospect of the meadows beyond. «It is four now, and the play begins at six. There are some new jewels from France at Maton's, which I thought you might like to see before then.»
«Jewels from France! Oh, yes, I should like to see those. Let us go there,» she answered. «But I must have time to dress, too, you know.»
To the guests then, bowing as they passed, they returned a smiling nod, and meeting others in carriages and chairs, extended this same courtesy as they went along. Walton brooded in a mock-dreary manner, but finding that it availed nothing thought to tempt her considerateness with jewels.
«What trinkets are these you have from France of which I hear?» he inquired of Maton as they entered that sturdy jeweler's shop in Maiden Lane.
«On the very last packet,» explained the latter, spreading the best of his importations upon a black velvet cloth before them. «You will not see the like of these six diamonds in New York again for many years, I warrant you. Look at this.»
367
THEODORE DREISER
He held up an exquisitely wrought ring of French workmanship, in which a fine stone was gleaming, and smiled upon it approvingly.
«Look,» he said, «it is very large. It is cut by Toussard. Did you ever see such workmanship?» He turned it over and over, and then held it lovingly up. «The band itself is so small,» he added, «that I believe it would fit the lady's finger – let us see.»
Coquettishly she put out her hand, and then seeing that it marvelously slipped on and fitted, opened her eyes wide.
«Now, is not that beautiful!» exclaimed the jeweler. «What a gem! The finest of any that I have imported yet, and it fits as though it had been ordered for her.» He cast a persuasive smile upon Walton whose interest in the fair Beppie he well knew. The latter pretended not the slightest understanding.
«It is well cut,» she said.
«And the loveliest you have ever worn,» added Walton hopefully.
By her side, in front of the counter and between their bodies, he was endeavoring to take her free hand.
«Let it stay,» he said gently, when he had secured it, and was signalling the significance of the ring to her fingers.
«Oh,» she said, smiling as if she were only jesting, «you are too daring. I might!»
«Do,» he answered.
«Such a ring!» said the jeweler. «I will then,» said she.
«Then, Master Maton,» said Walton, «you need only send the bill to me,» and he laughed as he pushed the remaining display away.
368
FREE AND OTHER STORIES
As they came out, after having vaguely picked over the others, the young lover was all elation. Upon the narrow side-path a servant wheeling a trunk to the Liverpool dock upon a barrow brushed him rudely, but he did not notice. Only a newsboy crying out the Gazette, the blast of the bugle of the incoming stage coach from Boston, the dust of the side-path, where the helper of the Apollo was sweeping the lobby preparatory to the performance of the night, attracted and pleased him. He helped his fiancée gaily into the carriage and half bounded with joy to the seat beside her, where he smiled and smiled.
«I may not wear it, though,» said his betrothed, now that the remarkable episode was over, and she held up a dainty finger; «because, as you know, you have not spoken to my father as yet.»
«Keep it, nevertheless,» he answered. «I will speak to him fast enough.»
«I give you good-day, Master Walton,» said the distinguished Jefferson as they passed from William into Wall Street, near where that statesman made temporary stoppingplace when in the city.
«Master Jefferson, William,» cried his fiancée softly, using for the first time his given name. «Master Jefferson has bid you good-day.»
«Good evening!» cried Walton, all deference in a moment because of the error which his excitement had occasioned, «good evening to you, sir!» and he bowed, and bowed very gracefully again.
«How can I be so mindful, though, of all these formalities,» he said explanatorily as he turned once more to his fair intended, «when I have you? It is not to be expected.»
369
THEODORE DREISER
«But necessary, just the same,» she said. «And if you are to begin thus quickly neglecting your duties, what am I to think?»
For answer he took her hand. Elatedly then they made their way to the old homestead again, and there being compelled to leave her while she dressed for the theater, he made his way toward the broad and tree-shaded Bowery, where was the only true and idyllic walk for a lover. The older houses nearest the city, redolent in their Dutch architecture of an older and even quainter period; the wide paths and broad doorways, rich in both vines and flowers; the rapidly decreasing evidences of population as one's steps led northward – all combined to soothe and set dreaming the poetic mind. Here young Walton, as so many before him, strolled and hummed, thinking of all that life and the young city held for him. Now, indeed, was his fortune truly made. Love was his, the lovely Beppie, no less. Here then he decided to build that mansion of his own – far out, indeed, above Broome Street, but in this self-same thoroughfare where all was so suggestive of flowers and romance. He had no inkling, as he pondered, of what a century might bring forth. The crush and stress and wretchedness fast treading upon this path of loveliness he could not see.
THE END