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did buck…and… wing wonders for half an hour longer。 Incredibly； wild and
boisterous things he did。 He sang； he told stories that set all but one
shrieking； he played the yokel； the humorous clodhopper； he was mad； and
with the revival of the old life in his blood。 He became so extravagant that
once his mother sought gently to reprove him。 Then Alicia moved as
though she were about to speak； but she did not。 Through it all she sat
immovable； a slim； white spirit in the dusk that no man might question or
read。
By and by she asked permission to ascend to her room； saying that she
was tired。 On her way she passed Robert。 He was standing in the door； the
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figure of vulgar comedy； with ruffled hair； reddened face and
unpardonable confusion of attire no trace there of the immaculate
Robert Walmsley； the courted clubman and ornament of select circles。 He
was do… ing a conjuring trick with some household utensils； and the family；
now won over to him without excep… tion； was beholding him with
worshipful admiration。
As Alicia passed in Robert started suddenly。 He had forgotten for the
moment that she was present。
Without a glance at him she went on upstairs。
After that the fun grew quiet。 An hour passed in talk； and then Robert
went up himself。
She was standing by the window when he entered their room。 She was
still clothed as when they were on the porch。 Outside and crowding
against the window was a giant apple tree； full blossomed。
Robert sighed and went near the window。 He was ready to meet his
fate。 A confessed vulgarian； he foresaw the verdict of justice in the shape
of that whiteclad form。 He knew the rigid lines that a Van Der Pool would
draw。 He was a peasant gam… bolling indecorously in the valley； and the
pure； cold； white； unthawed summit of the Matterhorn could not but frown
on him。 He had been unmasked by his own actions。 All the polish； the
poise； the form that the city had given him had fallen from him like an ill…
fitting mantle at the first breath of a country breeze。 Dully be awaited the
approaching condemna… tion。
〃Robert；〃 said the calm； cool voice of his judge； 〃I thought I married a
gentleman。〃
Yes； it was coming。 And yet； in the face of it； Robert Walmsley was
eagerly regarding a certain branch of the apple tree upon which be used to
climb out of that very window。 He believed he could do it now。 He
wondered bow many blossoms there were on the tree ten millions？ But
here was some one speaking again：
〃I thought I married a gentleman；〃 the voice went on； 〃but 〃
Why had she come and was standing so close by his side？
〃But I find that I have married〃 was this Alicia talking？
〃something better a man Bob； dear； kiss me； won't you？〃
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The city was far away。
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The Voice of the City
THE SHOCKS OF DOOM
Here is an aristocracy of the public parks and even of the vagabonds
who use them for their private apartments。 Vallance felt rather than knew
this； but when he stepped down out of his world into chaos his feet
brought him directly to Madison Square。
Raw and astringent as a schoolgirl of the old order young May
breathed austerely among the budding trees。 Vallance buttoned his coat；
lighted his last cigarette and took his seat upon a bench。 For three minutes
be mildly regretted the last hundred of his last thousand that it had cost
him when the bicycle cop put an end to his last automobile ride。 Then he
felt in every pocket and found not a single penny。 He had given up his
apartment that morning。 His furniture had gone toward certain debts。 His
clothes； save what were upon him； had descended to his man…servant for
back wages。 As he sat there was not in the whole city for him a bed or a
broiled lobster or a street…car fare or a carnation for buttonhole unless be
should obtain them by spong… on his friends or by false pretenses。
Therefore lie had chosen the park。
And all this was because an uncle had disinherited him； and cut down
his allowance from liberality to nothing。 And all that was because his
nephew had disobeyed him concerning a certain girl； who comes not into
this story therefore； all readers who brush their hair toward its roots may
be warned to read no further。 There was another nephew； of a different
branch； who had once been the prospective heir and favorite。 Being
without grace or hope； he had long ago disappeared in the mire。 Now
drag… nets were out for him； he was to be rehabilitated and restored。 And
so Vallance fell grandly as Lucifer to the lowest pit； joining the tattered
ghosts in the little park。
Sitting there； he leaned far back on the hard bench and laughed a jet of
cigarette smoke up to the lowest tree branches。 The sudden severing of all
his life's ties had brought him a free； thrilling； almost joyous elation。 He
felt precisely the sensation of the aero… naut when he cuts loose his
parachute and lets his balloon drift away。
The hour was nearly ten。 Not many loungers were on the benches。 The
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park…dweller； though a stubborn fighter against autumnal coolness； is slow
to attack the advance line of spring's chilly cohorts。
Then arose one from a seat near the leaping foun… tain； and came and
sat himself at Vallance's side。 He was either young or old； cheap lodging…
houses had flavored him mustily； razors and combs had passed him by； in
him drink had been bottled and sealed in the devil's bond。 He begged a
match； which is the form of introduction among park benchers； and then
he began to talk。
〃You're not one of the regulars；〃 he said to Val… lance。 〃I know tailored
clothes when I see 'em。 You just stopped for a moment on your way
through the park。 Don't mind my talking to you for a while？ I've got to be
with somebody。 I'm afraid I'm afraid。 I