IT was with a puzzled frown that Anthony halted in the heart of the
city and considered his present resources, his future, possible plans.
He had three dollars and some small silver left from the Hardinges, and
he regarded with skepticism the profession of chauffeur; he would rather
adventure the heavier work of the garages. As the afternoon was far
advanced he decided to defer his search until the following morning; and
he was absorbed within the gaudy maw of a moving picture theater.
Later, he entered an elaborate maze of mirrors, where, apparently, a
sheaf of Susannas unconsciously exhibited their diminishing, anatomical
charms to a procession of elders advancing two by two through a
perspective of sycamores.--At the bar, his glass of beer supported
by two fried oysters, a sandwich and a saucer of salted almonds, he
reflected upon the slough of sterility that had fastened upon his feet:
something must be accomplished, decisive, immediate.
He was proceeding toward the entrance when the familiar aspect of a back
brought him to a halt. The back moved, turned, and resolved into the
features of Thomas Addington Meredith. The mutual, surprised recognition
was followed by a greeting of friendly slaps, queries, the necessity for
instant, additional beers, and they found a place at a small, polished
table.
He was surprised to discover Tom Meredith the same foxy-faced boy he
had left in Doctor Allhop's drugstore... it seemed to Anthony that
an incalculable time had passed since the breaking of the bottles of
perfume; he felt himself to be infinitely changed, older, and the other
his junior by decades of experience and a vast accumulation of worldly
knowledge, contact with men, women, and events. Tom's raiment did not
seem so princely as it had aforetime; the ruby reputed to be the gift of
a married woman, was obviously meretricious, the gold timepiece merely
commonplace. But Anthony was unaffectedly glad to see him, to discuss
homely, familiar topics, repeat affectionately the names of favorite
localities, persons.
“I'm in a bonding house here,” Tom explained upon Anthony's query.
“Nothing in Ellerton for _me_. What are you doing?”
“Nothing, until to-morrow, when I think I'll get something in one of the
garages.” He thrust his hands negligently into his pockets, and came
in contact with his father's forgotten letter. He opened it, gazing
curiously at the words: “My dear Son,” when Tom, with an exclamation,
bent and recovered a piece of yellow paper that had fallen from the
envelope. “Is this all you think of these?” he demanded, placing a fifty
dollar bill upon the table.
Anthony read the letter with growing incredulous wonder and joy. He
looked up with burning cheeks at his companion. “Remember old Mrs.
Bosbyshell?” he questioned in an eager voice. “I used to carry wood,
do odd jobs, for her: well, she's dead, and left me--what do you
think!--father says about forty-seven thousand dollars. It's there,
waiting for me, in Ellerton.”
Suddenly he forgot Thomas Meredith, the glittering saloon, the
diminishing perspective of Susannas--he saw Eliza smiling at him out of
the dusk, with her arms full of white lilacs. With an unsteady
pounding of his heart, a tightening of the throat, he realized that,
miraculously, the happiness which he had imagined so far removed in the
uncertain future had been brought to him now, to the immediate present.
He could take a train at once and go to her. The waiting was over. The
immeasurable joy that flooded him deepened to a great chord of happiness
that vibrated highly through him. He folded the letter gravely,
thoughtfully. It was but a few hours to Ellerton by train, he knew, but
he doubted the possibility of a night connection to that sequestered
town. He would go in the morning.
“Thomas,” he declared, “I am about to purchase you the best dinner that
champagne can shoot into your debased middle. Oh, no, not here, but in a
real place where you can catch your own fish and shoot a pheasant out of
a painted tree.”
Thus pleasantly apostrophized that individual led Anthony to the Della
Robbia room of an elaborate hostelry, where they studied the _carte de
jour_ amid pink tiling and porphyry. There was a rosy flush of shaded
lights over snowy linen in the long, high chamber, the subdued passage
of waiters like silhouettes, low laughter, and a throbbing strain
of violins falling from a balcony above their heads. They pondered
nonchalantly the strange names, elaborate sauces; but were finally
launched upon suave cocktails and clams. Anthony settled back into
a glow of well-being, of the tranquillity that precedes an expected,
secure joy. He saluted the champagne bucket by the table; when,
suddenly, the necessity to speak of Eliza overcame him, he wished to
hear her name pronounced by other lips... perhaps he would tell Tom all;
he was the best of fellows....
“Are the Dreens home?” he asked negligently. “Have you seen Eliza Dreen
about--you know with that soft, shiny hair?”
Thomas Meredith directed at him a glance of careless surprise. “Why,” he
answered, “I thought you knew; it seemed to me she died before you left.
Anyhow, it was about the same time, it must have been the next week.
Pneumonia. This soup's great, Anthony.”