按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Beaumont。 〃On Monday the Cedric sails。〃
Harold Farrington's eyes proclaimed his regret。 〃I too must leave on
Monday；〃 he said； 〃but I do not go abroad。〃
Madame Beaumont shrugged one round shoulder in a foreign gesture。
〃One cannot bide here forever； charming though it may be。 The
chateau has been in preparation for me longer than a month。 Those house
parties that one must give what a nuisance！ But I shall never for… get my
week in the Hotel Lotus。〃
〃Nor shall I；〃 said Farrington in a low voice； and I shall never forgive
the Cedric。〃
On Sunday evening； three days afterward； the two sat at a little table
on the same balcony。 A discreet waiter brought ices and small glasses of
claret cup。
Madame Beaumont wore the same beautiful even… ing gown that she
had worn each day at dinner。 She seemed thoughtful。 Near her hand on the
table lay a small chatelaine purse。 After she had eaten her ice she opened
the purse and took out a one…dollar bill。
〃Mr。 Farrington；〃 she said； with the smile that had won the Hotel Lotus；
〃I want to tell you some… thing。 I'm going to leave before breakfast in the
morning； because I've got to go back to my work。 I'm behind the hosiery
counter at Casey's Mammoth Store； and my vacation's up at eight o'clock
to… morrow。 That paper…dollar is the last cent I'll see till I draw my eight
dollars salary next Saturday night。 You're a real gentleman； and you've
111
… Page 112…
The Voice of the City
been good to me； and I wanted to tell you before I went。 I've been saving
up out of my wages for a year just for this vacation。 I wanted to spend one
week like a lady if I never do another one。 I wanted to get up when I
please instead of having to crawl out at seven every morning； and I wanted
to live on the best and be waited on and ring bells for things just like rich
folks do。 Now I've done it； and I've had the happiest time I ever expect to
have in my life。 I'm going back to my work and my little hall bedroom
satisfied for another year。 I wanted to tell you about it； Mr。 Farrington；
because I I thought you kind of liked me； and I I liked you。 But； oh； I
couldn't help deceiving you up till now； for it was all just like a fairy tale
to me。 So I talked about Eu… rope and the things I've read about in other
countries； and made you think I was a great lady。
〃This dress I've got on it's the only one I have that's fit to wear I
bought from O'Dowd & Levin… sky on the instalment plan。〃
〃Seventy…five dollars is the price； and it was made to measure。 I paid
10 down； and they're to collect 1 a week till it's paid for。 That'll be about
all I have to say； Mr。 Farrington； except that my name is Mamie Siviter
instead of Madame Beaumont； and I thank you for your attentions。 This
dollar will pay the instalment due on the dress to…morrow。 I guess I'll go
up to my room now。〃
Harold Farrington listened to the recital of the Lotus's loveliest guest
with an impassive countenance。 When she had concluded he drew a small
book like a checkbook from his coat pocket。 He wrote upon a blank form
in this with a stub of pencil； tore out the leaf； tossed it over to his
companion and took up the paper dollar。
〃I've got to go to work； too； in the morning；〃 he said； 〃and I might as
well begin now。 There's a receipt for the dollar instalment。 I've been a col…
lector for O'Dowd & Levinsky for three years。 Funny； ain't it； that you and
me both had the same idea about spending our vacation？ I've always
wanted to put up at a swell hotel； and I saved up out of my twenty per； and
did it。 Say； Mame； how about a trip to Coney Saturday night on the boat
what？〃
The face of the pseudo Madame Heloise D'Arcy Beaumont beamed。
〃Oh； you bet I'll go； Mr。 Farrington。 The store closes at twelve on
112
… Page 113…
The Voice of the City
Saturdays。 I guess Coney'll be all right even if we did spend a week with
the swells。〃
Below the balcony the sweltering city growled and buzzed in the July
night。 Inside the Hotel Lotus the tempered； cool shadows reigned； and the
solicitous waiter single…footed near the low windows； ready at a nod to
serve Madame and her escort。
At the door of the elevator Farrington took his leave； and Madame
Beaumont made her last ascent。 But before they reached the noiseless cage
be said： 〃Just forget that 'Harold Farrington；' will you？ McManus is the
name James McManus。 Some call me Jimmy。〃
〃Good…night； Jimmy；〃 said Madame。
113
… Page 114…
The Voice of the City
THE RATHSKELLER AND THE
ROSE
Miss Posie Carrington had earned her suc… cess。 She began life
handicapped by the family name of 〃Boggs；〃 in the small town known as
Cranberry Corners。 At the age of eighteen she had acquired the name of
〃Carrington〃 and a position in the chorus of a metropolitan burlesque
company。 Thence upward she had ascended by the legitimate and
delectable steps of 〃broiler；〃 member of the famous 〃Dickey…bird〃 octette；
in the successful musical comedy； 〃Fudge and Fellows；〃 leader of the
potato… bug dance in 〃Fol…de…Rol；〃 and at length to the part of the maid
〃'Toinette〃 in 〃The King's Bath…Robe；〃 which captured the critics and gave
her her chance。 And when we come to consider Miss Carrington she is in
the heydey of flattery； fame and fizz； and that astute manager； Herr
Timothy Goldstein； has her signature to iron…clad papers that she will star
the coming season in Dyde Rich's new play； 〃Paresis by Gaslight。〃
Promptly there came to Herr Timothy a capable twentieth…century
young character actor by the name of Highsmith； who besought
engagement as 〃Sol Haytosser；〃 the comic and chief male character part in
〃Paresis by Gaslight。〃
〃My boy；〃 said Goldstein； 〃take the part if you can get it。 Miss
Carrington won't listen to any of my suggestions。 She has turned down
half a dozen of the best imitators of the rural dub in the city。 She declares
she won't set a foot on the stage un… less 'Haytosser' is the best that can be
raked up She was raised in a village； you know； and when a Broadway
orchid sticks a straw