登陆注册
5214900000028

第28章

"How are you, Norbert?" Joe began."Don't you remember me? I--" He came to a full stop, as the fat one, thrusting out an under lip as his only token of recognition, passed balefully on.

Joe proceeded slowly until he came to the Tocsin building.At the foot of the stairway leading up to the offices he hesitated for a few moments; then he turned away and walked towards the quieter part of Main Street.Most of the people he met took no notice of him, only two or three giving him second glances of half-cognizance, as though he reminded them of some one they could not place, and it was not until he had come near the Pike Mansion that he saw a full recognition in the eyes of one of the many whom he knew, and who had known him in his boyhood in the town.A lady, turning a corner, looked up carelessly, and then half-stopped within a few feet of him, as if startled.

Joe's cheeks went a sudden crimson; for it was the lady of his old dreams.

Seven years had made Mamie Pike only prettier.

She had grown into her young womanhood with an ampleness that had nothing of oversufficiency in it, nor anywhere a threat that some day there might be too much of her.Not quite seventeen when he had last seen her, now, at twenty-four, her amber hair elaborately becoming a plump and regular face, all of her old charm came over him once more, and it immediately seemed to him that he saw clearly his real reason for coming back to Canaan.She had been the Rich-Little-Girl of his child days, the golden princess playing in the Palace-Grounds, and in his early boyhood (until he had grown wicked and shabby) he had been sometimes invited to the Pike Mansion for the games and ice-cream of the daughter of the house, before her dancing days began.He had gone timidly, not daring ever to "call" her in "Quaker Meeting" or "Post-office," but watching her reverently and surreptitiously and continually.She had always seemed to him the one thing of all the world most rare, most mysterious, most unapproachable.She had not offered an apparition less so in those days when he began to come under the suspicion of Canaan, when the old people began to look upon him hotly, the young people coldly.His very exclusion wove for him a glamour about her, and she was more than ever his moon, far, lovely, unattainable, and brilliant, never to be reached by his lifted arms, but only by his lifted eyes.Nor had his long absence obliterated that light; somewhere in his dreams it always had place, shining, perhaps, with a fainter lustre as the years grew to seven, but never gone altogether.

Now, at last, that he stood in her very presence again, it sprang to the full flood of its old brilliance --and more!

As she came to her half-stop of surprise, startled, he took his courage in two hands, and, lifting his hat, stepped to her side.

"You--you remember me?" he stammered.

"Yes," she answered, a little breathlessly.

"Ah, that's kind of you!" he cried, and began to walk on with her, unconsciously."I feel like a returned ghost wandering about--invisible and unrecognized.So few people seem to remember me!""I think you are wrong.I think you'll find everybody remembers you," she responded, uneasily.

"No, I'm afraid not," he began."I--"

"I'm afraid they do!"

Joe laughed a little."My father was saying something like that to me a while ago.He meant that they used to think me a great scapegrace here.

Do you mean that?"

"I'd scarcely like to say," she answered, her face growing more troubled; for they were close on the imperial domain.

"But it's long ago--and I really didn't do anything so outrageous, it seems to me." He laughed again."I know your father was angry with me once or twice, especially the night I hid on your porch to watch you--to watch you dance, I mean.

But, you see, I've come back to rehabilitate myself, to--"She interrupted him.They were not far from her gate, and she saw her father standing in the yard, directing a painter who was at work on one of the cast-iron deer.The Judge was apparently in good spirits, laughing with the workman over some jest between them, but that did not lessen Mamie's nervousness.

"Mr.Louden," she said, in as kindly a tone as she could, "I shall have to ask you not to walk with me.My father would not like it."Joe stopped with a jerk.

"Why, I--I thought I'd go in and shake hands with him,--and tell him I--"Astonishment that partook of terror and of awe spread itself instantly upon her face.

"Good gracious!" she cried."NO!"

"Very well," said Joe, humbly."Good-bye."He was too late to get away with any good grace.

Judge Pike had seen them, and, even as Joe turned to go, rushed down to the gate, flung it open, and motioned his daughter to enter.This he did with one wide sweep of his arm, and, with another sweep, forbade Joe to look upon either moon ORsun.It was a magnificent gesture: it excluded the young man from the street, Judge Pike's street, and from the town, Judge Pike's town.It swept him from the earth, abolished him, denied him the right to breathe the common air, to be seen of men; and, at once a headsman's stroke and an excommunication, destroyed him, soul and body, thus rebuking the silly Providence that had created him, and repairing Its mistake by annihilating him.This hurling Olympian gesture smote the street; the rails of the car-track sprang and quivered with the shock; it thundered, and, amid the dumfounding uproar of the wrath of a god, the Will of the Canaanite Jove wrote the words in fiery letters upon the ether:

"CEASE TO BE!"

Joe did not go in to shake hands with Judge Pike.

同类推荐
  • 寄永道士

    寄永道士

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说白衣金幢二婆罗门缘起经

    佛说白衣金幢二婆罗门缘起经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重庆堂随笔

    重庆堂随笔

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 郑氏史料初编

    郑氏史料初编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 药师琉璃光七佛本愿功德经

    药师琉璃光七佛本愿功德经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 重生之拒情

    重生之拒情

    这不妻不妾的10年里最后得来的是什么啊,工作、家庭、儿子、自信、尊严······所有的一切都离开的时候,一道急刹车的声音,换来了成零的重生。成零在心中发誓:既然命运让我重生在遇见你之前,那么就让我好好的扭转那因为爱你而纷乱的人生,我要活出我的精彩,还有就是不会再爱你。但是重生就真的能让自己脱茧成蝶吗?就真的是可以为所欲为的吗?生活有着很多的不确定,遇到了这些强势而霸道的人后,自己的人生真的就可以随心所欲了吗?························································大家要是想看一个普通且平凡的女人在重生后的日子里会怎么慢慢活出自己的精彩,怎样得到自己的爱情的,就多来逛逛吧。本文保证每天一更。本文原书名《重来一次不爱你》亲不要看错了~!···································································《莫笑》莫笑,漂亮且温柔的女孩,是莫月琴带入篮家的拖油瓶。蓝祁,蓝家大少,莫笑的继哥哥。本来两个世界的人,因为双方父母的结合生活在一起。跟着妈妈走进城堡似的新家,天真的莫笑以为从此以后自己有了一个新家,多了一个哥哥,不想却是迎来了她一生的梦魇。一个是恶意引诱,一个是无力挣脱。两个名义上的兄妹怎么在爱与欲的海里挣扎,沉沦。·····························曾经他将她抵压在墙角,上下其手。“小笑,他也像我一样摸过你吗?”哥哥诱惑的嗓音在莫笑的耳畔响起,温热的气息洒在裸露的脖颈激起阵阵战栗。“哥哥·······”羞红了脸的莫笑无措的看着就像恶魔一样的人,全身乏力不知道该如何逃离。······························那天,她兴奋的拿着那张早孕通知单想要给他一个惊喜。莫笑没有想到推开门看到的会是这样的景象,哥哥和马琳竟然在自己最爱的那张床上翻滚,那样忘我,那么投入,连多了她这个观赏者都没有发觉。·····························多年以后再次相逢,他还是那样的丰神俊朗,花边新闻不断。而,她挽着爱人的手,云淡风轻的看着这个曾经的‘哥哥’。她,做到了无视。他,却尝到了心碎。
  • 大乘金刚髻珠菩萨修行分一卷

    大乘金刚髻珠菩萨修行分一卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 穿越成公主

    穿越成公主

    她出生的时候,父母就因为车祸而去世了,她的童年都是在孤儿院里面长大的,别人的童年都是要什么有什么,可以无休止的在父母的面前撒娇,可是小沫的童年印象里面只有严厉的管理员不断地训斥,还有饿着肚子瑟缩在薄薄的被子里不能入睡的悲哀。【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 重生之杀手女王逆袭记

    重生之杀手女王逆袭记

    前世,她以杀手为生,至死没有名字,空留代号:Z。今生,她从军营崛起,“慕长安”这个名字陪伴了她一生。前世,她无亲无故、无牵无挂,对手倒是不少。今生,她有亲有友、更有了他,对手依旧不绝,只是有了软肋也有了铠甲。遭背叛重生,过往尽断,却还是纠缠。“沐下,我的东西,即使再不喜欢,我不点头,没人能拿走,包括你,这是我教给你最后一课。”慕长安年轻时候的“无忌童言”,让某个觊觎的男人眉头紧锁又心花怒放,他不动声色、步步为营,让两个人从此“纠缠”了一生。前世杀手为生,今生军营崛起,身份调换,却都是做的人命买卖。不过前者只为杀人,后者多为救人,今生不走黑路,走军途。
  • 题虎丘山西寺

    题虎丘山西寺

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 做人要有气度 做事要有尺度

    做人要有气度 做事要有尺度

    《做人要有气度 做事要有尺度》内容简介:作为活在社会中的人,始终摆脱不了与人交往。做人要有“雅量”和“气度”,不计前嫌,不抱私怨。有功不自耀,有善不自伐;有怨不计较,有错能容忍。“人”字的构成来自于你的一“撇”与他人的一“捺”的共同支撑,人与人交往可近可远,或疏或密。细节决定成败,如何恰到好处的“把握尺度”是一门值得我们深度思考与研究的“处世艺术”。
  • 侧妃万万岁

    侧妃万万岁

    【女强+小小点玄幻】她本是医学系的高材生,带着现世的记忆,在不知名的皇朝穿越重生。得之不易的亲情,让她倍感珍惜,可惜却短暂得让她来不及抓紧……自此她化身暗夜精灵,生存,只为一个目的——报仇雪恨,手刃仇敌!她,刁钻古怪,邪肆狂放;淡定睿智,文静秀雅;傲视天下,冷漠如冰……没有人知道,哪个,才是真正的她。◆他,狂傲不羁,冷酷无情:“傻瓜,只是一出戏罢了,然儿当真以为本王对你动了情?若本王不配合你演这场戏,冷情聪慧如你怎会心甘情愿助本王成就千古霸业?”她媚眼如丝,轻抚他的俊颊:“王爷可知,若论做戏,我亦可青出于蓝……”◆他忠君爱国,铁面无私,却独对她一人温柔以待:“是不是只有坐上那万人之尊的位置,才能拥有你?如果是,当一次乱臣贼子,又有何妨。”她柳眉一挑,轻轻击掌:“好啊,那就同室操戈,改朝换代去吧。”◆他,阴狠毒辣,俊美无双:“留不住你的心,就留下你的人,即便要杀尽天下人,本皇子也绝不后悔!”她风轻云淡,一脸无谓:“天下人是死是活,与我何干?◆他,医毒无双,俊雅风趣:“恶女,不然咱俩就凑和凑合过吧!”她乜斜明眸,语气淡淡:“嗯?凑和?等你赢我之日再说吧!”——前世债,今生缘,她与他们是否能挣脱宿命的摆布?是谁曾在盈盈月下,低眉耳语,许诺今生不离不弃,是谁曾为她画眉绾发,只愿执手到老?戏里戏外,她只想做个看淡红尘的世外客,却不想当她来到这里已成剧中人。凤凰涅磐,浴火重生,昔日被弃之如敝履的侧妃,化身令天下人闻之色变的邪医。江山易主,龙登九重,凤啸九天,谁毁了江山,谁又是守护人【温馨提示】一、此文美男多多,这里就不一一介绍。二、女主腹黑,医相星卜,无一不精,但非万能,慢慢强大。三、本文简介无能,更多精彩尽在文中。喜欢的亲们,尽管用你的票票砸死我吧,不用客气。*****随风清的其他作品:《傲气皇妃》《军师王妃》《总裁的古妻》《月倾天下》《狂帝》■推荐徒儿的文文:小悠闲:《寡妇三嫁》慕容甜馨:《情香》QQ群:侧妃阁:120339805敲门砖:随风清所有作品的任何一个人物。
  • 梦回七夕

    梦回七夕

    突如其来的一场车祸,让梅若楠重生于12年前她与老公相识的日子~七夕。多年婚姻中的心酸与绝望一朝了却,唯一难以割舍的只有可爱的幼子。从此人生如上帝的补偿一样完美开挂。完美的容貌、神秘的能力、两个优秀的男人.......温柔宠溺的前世痴心人,酷帅却甘愿为她俯身做忠犬的霸道总裁。再加上前世混蛋,今生痴缠的前老公林超......几个人交织的命运、令人感动的深情、一件件突发的案件和甜蜜时刻,谱写一曲治愈心灵的~梦回七夕。
  • 路在何方

    路在何方

    姐,昨天的招聘会上死了人,财大的一名女学生活活给挤死了。表弟掸着送报员刚送来的《都市早报》在客厅里高声嚷嚷。我在厨房,隔着透明的玻璃门,看见表弟小来的脸上一片惨白,一动不动摊在沙发上,像是遭了冷箭一般。我不由得一阵心酸,昨天的招聘会是我陪他去的。
  • 青春和你不期而遇

    青春和你不期而遇

    身为资深网文迷的李子清,总想着来一段霸总甜甜爱,黑卡无限刷的倾城之恋,但网文跟现实压根不搭边。在看到班级名单时,李子清暗道:孽缘,多年兄弟竟成同班同学,对方还手握众多“黑料”,为了形象,李子清决定先下手为强。杨晨本以为那位在游戏里疯狂飙车又常摔死,喊打喊杀却又常伪装伏地魔的女生是个长得很强壮长相偏于男性化的糙妹子,没想到本人却像个柔不禁风的文艺女青年