登陆注册
15803500000010

第10章

He turned up a few days later at Aunt Chloe's door, with various packages of presents and quite the air of a returning father of a family, to the intense delight of that lady and to Sophy's proud gratification. For he was lost in a profuse, boyish admiration of her pretty studio, and in wholesome reverence for her art and her astounding progress. They were also amused at his awe and evident alarm at the portraits of two ladies, her latest sitters, that were still on the easels, and, in consideration of his half-assumed, half-real bashfulness, they turned their faces to the wall. Then his quick, observant eye detected a photograph of himself on the mantel.

"What's that?" he asked suddenly.

Sophy and Aunt Chloe exchanged meaning glances. Sophy had, as a surprise to Jack, just completed a handsome crayon portrait of himself from an old photograph furnished by Hannibal, and the picture was at that moment in the window of her former patron,--the photographer.

"Oh, dat! Miss Sophy jus' put it dar fo' de lady sitters to look at to gib 'em a pleasant 'spresshion," said Aunt Chloe, chuckling.

Mr. Hamlin did not laugh, but quietly slipped the photograph into his pocket. Yet, perhaps, it had not been recognized.

Then Sophy proposed to have luncheon in the studio; it was quite "Bohemian" and fashionable, and many artists did it. But to her great surprise Jack gravely objected, preferring the little parlor of Aunt Chloe, the vine-fringed windows, and the heavy respectable furniture. He thought it was profaning the studio, and then--anybody might come in. This unusual circumspection amused them, and was believed to be part of the boyish awe with which Jack regarded the models, the draperies, and the studies on the walls.

Certain it was that he was much more at his ease in the parlor, and when he and Sophy were once more alone at their meal, although he ate nothing, he had regained all his old naivete. Presently he leaned forward and placed his hand fraternally on her arm. Sophy looked up with an equally frank smile.

"You know I promised to let bygones be bygones, eh? Well, Iintended it, and more,--I intended to make 'em so. I told you I'd never speak to you again of that man who tried to run you off, and I intended that no one else should. Well, as he was the only one who could talk--that meant him. But the cards are out of my hands;the game's been played without me. For he's dead!"The girl started. Mr. Hamlin's hand passed caressingly twice or thrice along her sleeve with a peculiar gentleness that seemed to magnetize her.

"Dead," he repeated slowly. "Shot in San Diego by another man, but not by me. I had him tracked as far as that, and had my eyes on him, but it wasn't my deal. But there," he added, giving her magnetized arm a gentle and final tap as if to awaken it, "he's dead, and so is the whole story. And now we'll drop it forever."The girl's downcast eyes were fixed on the table. "But there's my sister," she murmured.

"Did she know you went with him?" asked Jack.

"No; but she knows I ran away."

"Well, you ran away from home to study how to be an artist, don't you see? Some day she'll find out you ARE ONE; that settles the whole thing."They were both quite cheerful again when Aunt Chloe returned to clear the table, especially Jack, who was in the best spirits, with preternaturally bright eyes and a somewhat rare color on his cheeks. Aunt Chloe, who had noticed that his breathing was hurried at times, watched him narrowly, and when later he slipped from the room, followed him into the passage. He was leaning against the wall. In an instant the negress was at his side.

"De Lawdy Gawd, Marse Jack, not AGIN?"

He took his handkerchief, slightly streaked with blood, from his lips and said faintly, "Yes, it came on--on the boat; but I thought the d----d thing was over. Get me out of this, quick, to some hotel, before she knows it. You can tell her I was called away.

Say that"--but his breath failed him, and when Aunt Chloe caught him like a child in her strong arms he could make no resistance.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 是你是你

    是你是你

    从不认识到认识到相识到相恋再到相爱,最后只剩下与世界和时间和父母和社会的偏见对抗。最后只剩下你、我、父母、世界、时间。当一切不复存在的时候你会不会答应和我在一起?
  • 英雄联盟之疾风归来

    英雄联盟之疾风归来

    我是谁?这是···疾风剑么?我是个流浪孤儿还是···浪客杀手···
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 至尊大武神

    至尊大武神

    少年,就该用拳头,去努力奋斗!讲一个阳光一点的故事,娱人娱己。
  • 创世的重生

    创世的重生

    无尽虚无中,龙玄望着那无数将他包围的虚神笑了:“贪婪是原罪,吾生于虚无,不死不灭,你们的贪婪,将把你们拖入深渊!”随后,他消失在那灭世般的攻击下。(新人新书,带给你不一样的小说。)
  • TFBOYS源来你在这

    TFBOYS源来你在这

    王源和一个女孩的故事。作者不太会写简介,请大家自己看吧注意!不喜勿喷!黑粉勿进!
  • 巴菲特写给子女的10个投资忠告

    巴菲特写给子女的10个投资忠告

    林汶奎编著的《巴菲特写给子女的10个投资忠告》是对巴菲特这位著名股神的描写,看他是如何成功对孩子进行家庭教育,将自己的成功经验与投资哲学从生活的点滴渗入到孩子的思想中。《巴菲特写给子女的10个投资忠告》对巴菲特的生活细节,学习理念、学习方法、人生等进行描写,深入到巴菲特对于金钱观、人生观、价值观等的认知与态度,从而告诉儿女如何进行正确的投资。
  • 太上老君玄妙枕中内德神咒经

    太上老君玄妙枕中内德神咒经

    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。
  • 爱情有时徒有虚名

    爱情有时徒有虚名

    童仝最新力作!每一篇短小精干的文章背后,作者想告诉每一位女性的是:理性的女人,不应把爱情当做生命的全部,也不需将爱情憧憬得太过美好。当爱情遭遇现实,它只是徒有虚名。这不作品是作者多年来对爱情、生活、婚姻的思考、感悟和积淀。全书分为七个部分:《允许我吃醋》《喜新厌旧》《未婚妈妈的芥末粉》《防不胜防》《其实我知道》《那么近又那么远》《童言无忌》。
  • 起源神殿

    起源神殿

    只见她侧躺在金色座椅之上,眼神望向远处,似乎在等待着什么。这巨大的金色座椅,位于金色大殿的最深处,而这座磅礴无比的黄金宫殿,入口处耸立无数巨大的浮雕石柱,这些石柱诡异的排列,组成了四个大字!……......