the fortunes of oliver horn- 第67部分

〃What　a　lovely　pair　of　old　duffers。　We　talk　about　Bohemia；　Munson；　and　think　we've　got　it；　but　we　haven't。　Our　kind　is　a　cheap　veneer　glued　to　　commonplace　pine。　Their　kind　is　old　mahogany；　solid　all　the　way　throughfine　grain；　high　polish　and　no　knots。　I　only　wish　they　lived　here。〃




CHAPTER　XXIV

IN　THE　TWILIGHT



Each　day　Margaret's　heart　warmed　more　and　more　to　Richard。　He　not　only　called　out　in　her　a　tenderness　　and　veneration　for　his　age　and　attainments　which　her　own　father　had　never　permitted　her　to　express；　but　his　personality　realized　for　her　an　ideal　which；　until　she　knew　him；　she　had　despaired　of　ever　finding。　While　his　courtesy；　his　old…time　manners；　his　quaintness　　of　speech　and　dress　captivated　her　imagination；　his　perfect　and　unfailing　sympathy　and　constant　kindness　completely　won　her　heart。　There　was；　too；　now　and　then；　a　peculiar　tone　in　his　voice　which　would　bring　the　tears　to　her　eyes　without　her　knowing　why；　until　her　mind　would　recall　some　blunt；　outspoken　speech　of　her　dead　father's　in　answer　to　the　very　　sentiments　she　was　then　expressing　to　Richard；　who　　received　them　as　a　matter　of　coursea　remembrance　which　always　caused　a　tightening　about　her　heart。

Sometimes　the　inventor　would　sit　for　her　while　she　sketched　his　head　in　different　lights；　he　watching　her　work；　interested　in　every　stroke；　every　bit　of　composition。　She　loved　to　have　him　beside　her　easel　criticising　her　work。　No　one；　she　told　Oliver；　had　ever　been　so　interested　before　with　the　little　niceties　of　her　techniquein　the　amount　of　oil　used；　in　the　way　the　paints　were　mixed；　in　the　value　of　a　palette　knife　as　a　brush　or　of　an　old　cotton　rag　as　a　blender；　nor　had　any　one　of　her　sitters　ever　been　so　enthusiastic　　over　her　results。

There　was　one　half…hour　sketch　which　more　than　all　the　others　astonished　and　delighted　himone　in　which　Margaret　in　her　finishing　touches　had　eschewed　brushes；　palette…knife　and　rag；　and　with　one　dash　of　her　dainty　thumb　had　brought　into　instant　relief　the　subtle　curves　about　his　finely　modelled　nose。　This　filled　him　with　wonder　and　admiration。　His　own　finger　had　always　obeyed　him；　and　he　loved　to　find　the　same　skill　in　another。

To　Richard　these　hours　of　intercourse　with　Margaret　　were　among　the　happiest　of　his　life。　It　was　Margaret；　indeed；　who　really　helped　him　bear　with　patience　the　tedious　delays　attendant　upon　the　completion　　of　his　financial　operations。　Even　when　the　final　sum　was　agreed　uponand　it　was　a　generous　one；　that　filled　Oliver's　heart　with　joy　and　set　Nathan's　　imagination　on　firethe　best　part　of　two　weeks　had　been　consumed　before　the　firm　of　lawyers　who　were　to　pass　upon　Richard's　patents　were　willing　to　certify　to　the　purchasers　of　the　stock　of　the　horn　Magnetic　Motor　Company；　as　to　the　priority　of　Richard's　　invention　based　on　the　patent　granted　on　August　13；　1856；　and　which　covered　the　principle　of　the　levers　working　in　connection　with　the　magnets。

During　these　tedious　delays；　in　which　his　heart　had　vibrated　between　hope　and　fear；　he　had　found　his　way　every　afternoon　to　Margaret's　studio；　Nathan　having　gone　home　to　Kennedy　Square　with　his　head　in　the　clouds　when　the　negotiations　became　a　certainty。　　In　these　weeks　of　waiting　the　Northern　girl　had　not　only　stolen　his　heart；　taking　the　place　of　a　daughter　he　had　never　knowna　void　never　filled　in　any　man's　soulbut　she　had　satisfied　a　craving　no　less　intense；　the　hunger　for　the　companionship　of　one　who　really　understood　his　aims　and　purposes。　Nathan　had　in　a　measure　met　this　need　as　far　as　unselfish　　love　and　unswerving　loyalty　could　go；　and　so　had　his　dear　wife；　especially　in　these　later　years；　when　her　mind　had　begun　to　grasp　the　meaning　of　the　social　and　financial　changes　that　the　war　had　brought；　and　what　place　her　husband's　inventions　might　hold　in　the　new　regime。　But　no　one　of　these；　not　even　Nathan；　had　ever　understood　him　as　clearly　as　had　this　young　girl。

When　it　grew　too　dark　to　paint；　he　would　make　her　sit　on　a　stool　at　his　feet；　while　he　would　talk　to　her　of　his　life　work　and　of　the　future　as　he　saw　itoften　of　things　which　he　had　kept　shut　away　in　his　heart　even　from　Nathan。　He　would　tell　her　of　the　long　years　of　anxiety；　of　the　sleepless　nights；　of　his　utter　loneliness；　without　a　friend　to　guide　him；　while　he　was　trying　to　solve　the　problems　that　had　blocked　his　path；　of　the　poverty　of　these　late　years；　all　the　more　pitiful　because　of　his　inability　at　times　to　buy　even　the　bare　materials　and　instruments　needed　for　his　work；　and；　again；　of　his　many　disappointments　in　his　search　for　the　hoped…for　link　that　was　needed　to　make　his　motor　a　success。

Once；　in　lowered　tones　and　with　that　eager；　restless　　expression　which　so　often　came　into　his　face　when　standing　over　his　work…bench　in　his　little　shop；　baffled　by　some　unsolved　problem；　he　told　her　of　his　many　anxieties　lest　some　other　brain　groping　along　the　same　paths　should　reach　the　goal　before　him；　how　the　Scientific　Review；　the　one　chronicle　of　the　discoveries　　of　the　time；　would　often　lie　on　his　table　for　hours　before　he　had　the　courage　to　open　it　and　read　the　list　of　patents　granted　during　the　preceding　months；　adding；　with　a　voice　full　of　gentleness；　〃I　was　ashamed　of　it　all；　afterward；　my　dear；　but　Mrs。　Horn　became　so　anxious　over　our　daily　expenses；　and　so　much　depended　on　my　success。〃

This　brave　pioneer　did　not　realize；　nor　did　she；　that　they　were　both　valiant　soldiers　fighting　the　good　fight　of　science　and　art　against　tradition　and　　provincialismpart　of　that　great　army　of　progress　which　was　steadily　conquering　the　world！

As　she　listened　in　the　darkening　shadows；　her　hand　in　his；　her　fingers　tight　about　his　own；　he；　reading　the　sympathy　of　her　touch；　and　fearing　to　have　distressed　　her　by　his　talk；　had　started　up；　and　in　his　cheery；　buoyant　voice　cried　out：

〃But　it　is　all　over　now；　my　child。　All　past　and　gone。　The　work　of　my　life　is　finished。　There's　plenty　now　for　all　of　us。　For　my　dear　wife　who　has　borne　up　so　bravely　and　has　never　complained；　and　for　you　and　Oliver。　Your　waiting　need　not　be　long；　my　dear。　This　last　happiness　which　has　come　to　me〃　and　he　smoothed　her　hair　gently　with　his　thin　hand　and　drew　her　closer　to　him〃seems　the　greatest　　of　them　all。〃


The　two　were　seated　in　this　way　one　afternoon；　Margaret　resting　after　a　day's　work；　when　Oliver　opened　the　door。　She　had　made　a　sketch　of　Richard's　　head　that　very　morning　as　he　lay　back　in　a　big　chair；　a　strong；　vigorous　piece　of　work　which　she　afterward　finished。

Richard　looked　up　and　his　face　broke　into　a　joyous　smile。

〃Bring　a　chair；　my　son；〃　he　cried；　〃and　sit　by　me。　I　have　something　to　say　to　you。〃　When；　a　few　moments　later；　Margaret　had　left　the　room　to　give　some　directions　to　Mrs。　Mulligan；　he　added：　〃I　have　been　telling　Margaret　that　you　both　do　wrong　in　putting　off　your　marriage。　These　delays　fret　young　people's　lives　away。　She　tells　me　it　is　your　wish。　What　are　you　waiting　for？〃

〃Only　for　money　enough　to　take　care　of　her；　father。　Madge　has　been　accustomed　to　more　comforts　　than　I　can　give　her。　She　would；　I　know；　cheerfully　　give　up　half　of　her　income；　small　as　it　is；　to　me　if　I　would　let　her；　but　that　is　not　the　way　I　want　to　make　her　happy。　Don't　worry；　dear　old　dad；　the　Fish　portrait　will　pull　us　out〃and　he　leaned　down　and　put　his　arms　about　his　father's　neck　as　he　used　to　do　when　he　was　a　boy。　〃I　shall　get　there　before　long。〃

Oliver　did　not　tell　his　father　what　a　grief　it　had　been　to　him　to　keep　Madge　waiting；　nor　how　he　had　tried　to　make　it　up　to　her　in　every　way　while　he　had　made　his　fight　alone。　Nor　did　he　tell　Richard　of　the　principal　cause　of　his　waitingthat　the　mortgage　to　which　his　mother　had　pledged　her　name　and　to　which　he　had　morally　pledged　his　own　was　still　unpaid。

Richard　listened　to　Oliver's　outburst　without　interrupting　　him。

〃I　only　wanted　to　do　the　best　I　could　for　you　my　son；〃　he　answered；　laying　his　fingers　on　Oliver's　hand。　〃I　was　thinking　of　nothing　but　your　happiness。　　During　the　last　few　days；　since　I　have　become　assured　that　this　negotiation　would　go　through；　I　have　decided　to　carry　out　a　plan　which　has　long　been　in　my　mind　and　which；　now　that　I　know　about　Margaret；　　makes　it　all　the　more　necessary。　I　am　going　to　make　provision　for　you　immediately。　This；　I　hope；　will　be　to…morrow　or　the　next　day　at　farthest。　The　contracts　are　all　ready　for　our　signatures；　and　only　await　the　return　of　one　of　the　attorneys　who　is　out　of　town。　The　cash　sum　they　pay　for　the　control　of　the　patents　is；　as　you　know；　a　considerable　one；　then　I　get　nearly　half　of　the　capital　stock　of　the　new　company。　　I　am　going　to　give　you；　at　once；　one…third　of　the　money　and　one…third　of　the　stock。〃

Oliver　raised　his　hand　in　protest；　but　Richard　kept　on。

〃It　is　but　just；　my　son。　There　are　but　three　of　us　your　mother；　yourself；　and　I。　It　is　only　your　share。　I　won't　have　you　and　Margaret　waiting　until　I　am　gone〃and　he　looked　up　with　a　smile　on　his　face。

Oliver　stood　for　a　moment　dazed　at　the　joyous　news；　his　father's　hand　in　his；　the　tears　dimming　his　eyes。　While　he　was　thanking　him；　telling　him　how　glad　he　was　that　the　struggle　was　over　and　how　proud　he　was　of　his　genius；　Margaret　stole　up　behind　him　and　put　her　hands　over　his　eyes；　bidding　him　guess　who　it　wasas　if　there　could　be　another　woman　in　the　whole　world　who　would　take　the　liberty。　Oliver　caught　her　in　his　arms　and　kissed　her；　whispering　in　her　ears　the　joyous　news　with　her　cheek　close　to　his；　and　Margaret　looked　from　one　to　the　other；　and　then　put　her　arms　around　Richard　and　kissed　him　without　a　wordthe　first　time　she　had　ever　dared　so　much。

Oh；　but　there　were　joyous　times　that　followed！

Mrs。　Mulligan；　at　a　whispered　word　from　her　mistress；　　ran　down…stairs　as　fast　as　her　old　legs　could　carry　her　and　came　back　with　her　arms　full　of　bundles；　　which　she　dumped　upon　her　small　kitchen…table。　And　Margaret　put　on　a　clean　white　apron；　white　as　snow；　and　rolled　up　her　sleeves；　showing　her　beautiful　　arms　above　her　elbowsOliver　always　vowed　that　she　had　picked　them　up　where　the　Milo　had　dropped　themand　began　emptying　the　contents　of　a　bowl　of　oysters；　one　of　Mrs。　Mulligan's　packages；　into　a　chafing…dish。　And　Oliver　wheeled　out　the　table　and　brought　out　the　cloth；　and　dear　old　Richard；　his　face　full　of　smiles；　placed　the　napkin