the fortunes of oliver horn- 第1部分

The　Fortunes　of　Oliver　Horn

by　F。　Hopkinson　Smith




I　DEDICATE　THIS　BOOK　TO　THE　MEMORY　OF


〃THE　MAN　OF　ALL　OTHERS　ABOUT　KENNEDY
SQUARE　MOST　BELOVED；　AND　THE　MAN　OF　ALL
OTHERS　LEAST　UNDERSTOODRICHARD　HORN；
THE　DISTINGUISHED　INVENTOR。〃

F。H。S。







　CHAPTER　I

THE　OLD　HOUSE　IN　KENNEDY　SQUARE


Kennedy　Square；　in　the　late　fifties；　was　a　place　of　birds　and　trees　and　flowers；　of　rude　stone　benches；　sagging　arbors　smothered　in　vines；　and　cool　dirt…paths　bordered　by　sweet…smelling　box。　Giant　magnolias　filled　the　air　with　their　fragrance；　and　climbing　roses　played　hide　and　seek　among　the　railings　of　the　rotting　fence。　Along　the　shaded　walks　laughing　boys　and　girls　romped　all　day；　with　hoop　and　ball；　attended　by　old　black　mammies　in　white　aprons　and　gayly　colored　　bandannas；　while　in　the　more　secluded　corners；　sheltered　by　protecting　shrubs；　happy　lovers　sat　and　talked；　tired　wayfarers　rested　with　hats　off；　and　staid　old　gentlemen　read　by　the　hour；　their　noses　in　their　books。

Outside　of　all　this　color；　perfume；　and　old…time　charm；　outside　the　grass…line　and　the　rickety　wooden　fence　that　framed　them　in；　ran　an　uneven　pavement　splashed　with　cool　shadows　and　stained　with　green　mould。　Here；　in　summer；　the　watermelon…man　stopped　his　cart；　and　here；　in　winter；　upon　its　broken　bricks；　old　Moses　unhooked　his　bucket　of　oysters　and　ceased　for　a　moment　his　droning　call。

On　the　shady　side　of　the　square；　and　half…hidden　in　ivy；　was　a　Noah's　Ark　church；　topped　by　a　quaint　belfry　holding　a　bell　that　had　not　rung　for　years；　and　faced　by　a　clock…dial　all　weather…stains　and　cracks；　around　which　travelled　a　single　rusty　hand。　In　its　shadow　to　the　right　lay　the　home　of　the　Archdeacon；　a　stately　mansion　with　Corinthian　columns　reaching　to　the　roof　and　surrounded　by　a　spacious　garden　filled　with　damask　roses　and　bushes　of　sweet　syringa。　To　the　left　crouched　a　row　of　dingy　houses　built　of　brick；　their　iron　balconies　hung　in　flowering　vines；　the　windows　glistening　with　panes　of　wavy　glass　purpled　　by　age。

On　the　sunny　side　of　the　square；　opposite　the　church；　were　more　houses；　high　and　low；　one　all　garden；　　filled　with　broken…nosed　statues　hiding　behind　still　more　magnolias；　and　another　all　veranda　and　honeysuckle；　big　rocking…chairs　and　swinging　hammocks；　　and　still　others　with　porticos　curtained　by　white　jasmine　or　Virginia　creeper。

Half…way　down　this　stretch　of　sunshineand　what　a　lovely　stretch　it　wasthere　had　stood　for　years　a　venerable　mansion　with　high　chimneys；　sloping　roof；　and　quaint　dormer…windows；　shaded　by　a　tall　sycamore　　that　spread　its　branches　far　across　the　street。　Two　white　marble　steps　guarded　by　old…fashioned　iron　railings　led　up　to　the　front　door；　which　bore　on　its　face　a　silver…plated　knocker；　inscribed　in　letters　of　black　with　the　name　Of　its　owner〃Richard　Horn。〃　All　three；　the　door；　the　white　marble　steps；　and　the　silver…plated　knockernot　to　forget　the　round　silver　knobs　ornamenting　the　newel　posts　of　the　railings　were　kept　as　bright　as　the　rest　of　the　family　plate　by　that　most　loyal　of　servants；　old　Malachi；　who　daily　soused　the　steps　with　soap　and　water；　and　then　brought　to　a　phenomenal　polish　the　knocker；　bell…pull；　and　knobs　by　means　of　fuller's…earth；　turpentine；　hard　breathing；　and　the　vigorous　use　of　a　buckskin　rag。

If　this　weazened…faced；　bald…headed　old　darky；　resplendent　　in　white　shirt…sleeves；　green　baize　apron；　and　never…ceasing　smile　of　welcome；　happened　to　be　engaged　　in　this　cleansing　and　polishing　processand　it　occurred　every　morningand　saw　any　friend　of　his　master　approaching；　he　would　begin　removing　his　pail　and　brushes　and　throwing　wide　the　white　door　before　the　visitor　reached　the　house；　would　there　await　his　coming；　bent　double　in　profound　salutation。　Indeed；　whenever　Malachi　had　charge　of　the　front　steps　he　seldom　stood　upright；　so　constantly　was　he　occupied　by　reason　of　his　master's　large　acquaintancein　either　crooking　his　back　in　the　beginning　of　a　bow；　or　straightening　it　up　in　the　ending　of　one。

To　one　and　all　inquiries　for　Mr。　Horn　his　answer　during　the　morning　hours　was　invariably　the　same：

〃Yes；　sah；　Marse　Richard's　in　his　li'l　room　wrastlin'　wid　his　machine；　I　reckon。　He's　in　dar　now；　sah〃　this　with　another　low　bow；　and　then　slowly　recovering　　his　perpendicular　with　eyes　fixed　on　the　retreating　　figure；　so　as　to　be　sure　there　was　no　further　need　of　his　services；　he　would　resume　his　work；　drenching　the　steps　again　with　soap…suds　or　rubbing　away　on　the　door…plate　or　door…pull；　stopping　every　other　moment　to　blow　his　breath　on　the　polished　surface。

When；　however；　someone　asked　for　young　Oliver；　the　inventor's　only　son；　the　reply　was　by　no　means　so　definite；　although　the　smile　was　a　trifle　broader　and　the　bow；　if　anything；　a　little　more　profound。

〃Marse　Oliver；　did　you　say；　sah？　Dat's　a　difficult　question；　sah。　Fo'　Gawd　I　ain't　seen　him　since　breakfas'。　　You　might　look　into　Jedge　Ellicott's　office　if　you　is　gwine　downtown；　whar　dey　do　say　he's　studyin'　law；　an'　if　he　ain't　daran'　I　reckon　he　ain'tden　you　might　drap　in　on　Mister　Crocker；　whar　Marse　Oliver's　paintin'　dem　pictures；　an'　if　he　ain't　dar；　den　fo…sho　he's　wid　some　o'　do　young　ladies；　but　which　one　de　Lawd　only　knows。　Marse　Oliver's　like　the　rabbit；　sahhe　don't　leab　no　tracks；〃　and　Malachi　would　hold　his　sides　in　a　chuckle　of　so　suffocating　a　nature　that　it　would　have　developed　into　apoplexy　in　a　less　wrinkled　and　emaciated　person。

Inside　of　the　front　door　of　this　venerable　mansion　ran　a　wide　hall　bare　of　everything　but　a　solid　mahogany　　hat…rack　and　table　with　glass　mirror　and　heavy　haircloth　settee；　over　which；　suspended　from　the　ceiling；　　hung　a　curious　eight…sided　lantern；　its　wick　replaced　　with　a　modern　gas…burner。　Above　were　the　bedrooms；　reached　by　a　curved　staircase　guarded　by　spindling　mahogany　bannisters　with　slender　hand…rail　a　staircase　so　pure　in　style　and　of　so　distinguished　an　air　that　only　maidens　in　gowns　and　slippers　should　have　tripped　down　its　steps；　and　only　cavaliers　in　silk　stockings　and　perukes　have　waited　below　for　their　hands。

Level　with　the　bare　hall；　opened　two　highly　polished　　mahogany　doors；　which　led　respectively　into　the　drawing…room　and　library；　their　windows　draped　in　red　damask　and　their　walls　covered　with　family　portraits。　　All　about　these　rooms　stood　sofas　studded　with　brass　nails；　big　easy…chairs　upholstered　in　damask；　and　small　tables　piled　high　with　magazines　and　papers。　Here　and　there；　between　the　windows；　towered　a　bookcase　　crammed　with　well…bound　volumes　reaching　clear　to　the　ceiling。　In　the　centre　of　each　room　was　a　broad　mantel　sheltering　an　open　fireplace；　and　on　cold　days　and　there　were　some　pretty　cold　days　about　Kennedy　　Squaretwo　roaring　wood…fires　dispensed　comfort；　　the　welcoming　blaze　of　each　reflected　in　the　shining　　brass　fire…irons　and　fenders。

Adjoining　the　library　was　the　dining…room　with　its　well…rubbed　mahogany　table；　straight…backed　chairs；　and　old　sideboard　laden　with　family　silver；　besides　a　much…coveted　mahogany　cellaret　containing　some　of　that　very　rare　Madeira　for　which　the　host　was　famous。　Here　were　more　easy…chairs　and　more　portraitsone　of　Major　Horn；　who　fell　at　Yorktown；　in　cocked　hat　and　epaulets；　and　two　others　in　mob…caps　and　ruffles　both　ancient　grandmothers　of　long　ago。

The　〃li'l　room　ob　Marse　Richard；〃　to　which　in　the　morning　Malachi　directed　all　his　master's　visitors；　was　in　an　old…fashioned　one…story　out…house；　with　a　sloping　　roof；　that　nestled　under　the　shade　of　a　big　tulip…　tree　in　the　back　yarda　cool；　damp；　brick…paved　old　yard；　shut　in　between　high　walls　mantled　with　ivy　and　Virginia　creeper　and　capped　by　rows　of　broken　bottles　sunk　in　mortar。　This　out…building　had　once　served　as　servants'　quarters；　and　it　still　had　the　open　fireplace　and　broad　hearth　before　which　many　a　black　mammy　had　toasted　the　toes　of　her　pickaninnies；　as　well　as　the　trap…door　in　the　ceiling　leading　to　the　loft　where　they　had　slept。　Two　windows　which　peered　out　from　under　bushy　eyebrows　of　tangled　honeysuckle　gave　the　only　light；　a　green…painted　wooden　door；　which　swung　level　with　the　moist　bricks；　the　only　entrance。

It　was　at　this　green…painted　wooden　door　that　you　would　have　had　to　knock　to　find　the　man　of　all　others　about　Kennedy　Square　most　beloved；　and　the　man　of　all　others　least　understoodRichard　Horn；　the　　distinguished　inventor。

Perhaps　at　the　first　rap　he　would　have　been　too　absorbed　to　hear　you。　He　would　have　been　bending　over　his　carpenter…benchhis　deep；　thoughtful　eyes　fixed　on　a　drawing　spread　out　before　him；　the　shavings　　pushed　back　to　give　him　room；　a　pair　of　compasses　　held　between　his　fingers。　Or　he　might　have　been　raking　the　coals　of　his　forgeset　up　in　the　same　fireplace　that　had　warmed　the　toes　of　the　pickaninnies；　　his　long　red　calico　working…gown；　which　clung　about　his　spare　body；　tucked　between　his　knees　to　keep　it　from　the　blaze。　Or　he　might　have　been　stirring　　a　pot　of　gluea　wooden　model　in　his　hand　or　hammering　away　on　some　bit　of　hot　iron；　the　brown　paper　cap　that　hid　his　sparse　gray　locks　pushed　down　over　his　broad　forehead　to　protect　it　from　the　heat。

When；　however；　his　ear　had　caught　the　tap　of　your　knuckles　and　he　had　thrown　wide　the　green　door；　what　a　welcome　would　have　awaited　you！　How　warm　the　grasp　of　his　fine　old　hand；　how　cordial　his　greeting。

〃Disturb　me；　my　dear　sir；〃　he　would　have　said　in　answer　to　your　apologies；　〃that's　what　I　was　put　in　the　world　for。　I　love　to　be　disturbed。　Please　do　it　every　day。　Come　in！　Come　in！　It's　delightful　to　get　hold　of　your　hand。〃

If　you　were　his　friend；　and　most　men　who　knew　him　were；　he　would　have　slipped　his　arm　through　your　own；　and　after　a　brief　moment　you　would　have　found　yourself　poring　over　a　detailed　plan；　his　arm　still　in　yours；　while　he　showed　you　the　outline　of　some　pin；　or　lever；　needed　to　perfect　the　most　marvellous　of　all　discoveries　of　modern　timeshis　new　galvanic　motor。

If　it　were　your　first　visit；　and　he　had　touched　in　you　some　sympathetic　chord；　he　would　have　uncovered　　a　nondescript　combination　of　glass　jars；　horse…shoe　　magnets；　and　copper　wires　which　lay　in　a　curious　shaped　box　beneath　one　of　the　windows；　and　in　a　voice　trembling　with　emotion　as　he　spoke；　he　would　have　explained　to　you　the　value　of　this　or　that　lever；　and　i