"I don't know," said the senator. "But it's good."
"Aladdin wrote it," said Margaret.
"Upon my word!" said the senator.
Margaret knelt and threw her arms about her father's neck and blushed alovely blush.
"Isn't it splendid?"
There was a ring at the front door, and a telegram was brought in.
"Read it, Peggy," said the senator. He used that name only when movedabout something. The despatch was from the senator's youngest son,Hannibal, and read:
Do not worry; we are singing Bispham up a tree.
"And Aladdin wrote the song!" cried Margaret. "Aladdin wrote it!"
The senator's face clouded for a moment. He forced the cloud to pass.
"We must thank him," he said. "We must thank him."
Senator St. John was reelected by a small majority. Everybody admittedthat it was due to Aladdin O'Brien's song. It was impossible to disguisethe engaging childishness of the vote.
XIV
As he went to his desk in the back room of the Portland "Spy" officesthe morning after the election, Aladdin had an evil headache, and asubconscious hope that nobody would speak to him suddenly. He felt thathis arms and legs might drop off if anybody did, and he could have swornthat he saw a gray sparrow with blue eyes run into a dark corner, andturn into a mouse. But he was quite free from penitence, as the occasionof this last offense had been joy and triumph, whereas that of his firsthad been sorrow. He lighted a bad cigar, put off his editorial tilllater, and covered a whole sheet of paper with pictures like these:
(Transcriber's note: These are simple sketches of birds and animals.)
He looked back with a certain smug satisfaction upon a hilarious eveningbeginning with a dinner at the club, which some of the older adherentsof St. John had given him in gratitude for the part he had taken in thecampaign. He remembered that he had not given a bad exhibition, and thatnoble prophecies had been made of his future by gentlemen in their cups,and that he himself, when just far enough gone to be courageous withoutbeing silly, had made a snappy little speech of thanks which had beenreceived with great applause, and that later he had sung his campaignsong and others, and that finally, in company with an ex-judge, whosehat was also decorated with a wreath of smilax, he had rolled amiablyabout the town in a hack, going from one place where drinks could begotten to another, and singing with great fervor and patriotism:
Zhohn Brownzh bozhy liezh a mole-ring in zhe grave.
Aladdin thought over these things with pleasure, for he had fallenunder the dangerous flattery of older men, and with less pleasure of theeditorial which it was his immediate business to write. His brisk,crisp chief, Mr. Blankinship, came in for a moment, walking testily andlooking like the deuce.
"So you've showed up, Aladdin, have you?" he said. "That's youngblood. If any question of politics--I mean policy--arises, I leave itabsolutely to you. I'm going back to bed. Can't you stop smoking thatrotten cigar?"
Aladdin laughed aloud, and Mr. Blankinship endeavored to smile.
"Somewhere," he said, "in this transcendentally beautiful continent,Aladdin, there may be some one that feels worse than I do, but I doubtit." He turned to go.
"Won't Mr. Orde be here either?" said Aladdin.
"No; he's home in bed. You're editor-in-chief and everything else forthe day, see? And I wish I was dead." Mr. Blankinship nodded, veryslightly, for it hurt, and went out.
The misery of others is a great cure: with the first sight of Mr.Blankinship, Aladdin's headache had gone, and he now pounced upon freshpaper, got a notion out of the God-knows-where, wrote his editorial atfull speed, and finished it without once removing the cigar from hismouth.
He had just done when the shrewd, inky little boy, who did everythingabout the "Spy" offices which nobody else would do, entered and saidthat a gentleman wanted to speak with Mr. O'Brien. Aladdin had thegentleman shown up, and recognized the oldest of Hannibal St. John'ssons; he knew them well by sight, but it so happened that he had nevermet them. They were the three biggest and most clean-cut young menin Maine, measuring between six feet three and four; erect, massive,utterly composed, and, if anything, a little stronger than so manydray-horses. They were notable shots, great fishermen, and the wholeState was beginning to speculate with excitement about their respectivefutures and the present almost glittering success of the law firm whichthey composed. The oldest was the tallest and the strongest. He had beenknown to break horseshoes and to tear a silver dollar in two. Iron wasas sealing-wax in his huge hands. His habits were Spartan. The secondson was almost a replica of the first--a little darker and a little lessvivid. The third was like the others; but his face was handsomer, andnot so strong. He was of a more gentle and winning disposition, for hislife was not ignorant of the frailties. The girl to whom he hadbeen engaged had died, and that had left a kind of sweetness, almostbeseechingness, in his manner, very engaging in so tall and strong aman.
"Mr. O'Brien?" said John St. John.
Aladdin arose and held out his long, slender hand.
Aladdin had a way of moving which was very individual to himself, aslight, ever so slight, exaggeration of stride and gesture, a kind ofcaptivating awkwardness and diffidence that was on the borderland ofgrace and assurance. Like all slender people who work much withtheir heads, he had a strong grip, but he felt that his hand was asinconsistent as an eel when St. John's closed over it.
"I came in for a moment," said St. John, "to say that we are allexceedingly grateful to you. Your song was a great factor in my father'sreelection to the Senate. But we do not hold so much by the song asby the good will which you showed us in writing it. I want you tounderstand and believe that if I can ever be of the slightest service toyou, I will go very far to render it."
"I'm as obliged as I can be," said Aladdin. "It's mighty good of youto come and talk to me like this, and except for the good will I havetoward all your family, I don't deserve it a bit."
When John St. John had gone, the inky boy came to announce that anothergentleman wished to speak with Mr. O'Brien.
The second gentleman proved to be the second brother, Hamilton St. John.
"Mr. O'Brien?" said he.
Aladdin shook hands with him.
"I came in for a moment," said Hamilton St. John, "for the pleasure oftelling you how tremendously grateful we all are to you for your song,which was such a big factor in my father's redirection to the Senate.But I want to say, too, that we're more grateful for your good will thanfor the song, and if I can ever do you a service, I want you to feelperfectly free to come and ask it of me, whatever it is."
Aladdin could have laughed for joy. Margaret did not seem so far away assometimes.
"I'm as obliged as I can be," he said. "It's mighty good of you to comeand talk to me like this, and except for the good will I have towardall your family, I don't deserve it a bit, but I appreciate it just thesame."
Presently Hamilton St. John departed.
Again the inky boy, and this time grinning.
"There's a gentleman would like to speak with you, sir," he said.
"Show him in," said Aladdin.
Hannibal St. John, Jr., entered.
"O'Brien," he said, "I've often heard my sister Margaret speak aboutyou, and I've been meaning for ever so long to look you up. And I wishI'd done it before I had such an awfully good excuse as that song ofyours, because I don't know how to thank you, quite. But I want you tounderstand that if at any time--rubbish, you know what I mean. Come upto the club, and we'll make a drink and talk things over."
He drew Aladdin's arm into his, and they went out.
Aladdin had never before felt so near Margaret.
He returned to the office in half an hour, happy and a slave. HannibalSt. John, Jr., had won the heart right out of him in ten minutes. He satmusing and dreaming. Was he to be one of those chosen?
"Gentleman to see you, sir."
"Show him in."
The inky snickered and hurried out. He cou
ld be heard saying withimportance, "This way, sir. Look out for that press, sir. It's very darkin here, sir." And then, like a smart flunky in a house of condition, heappeared again at the door and announced
"Senator Hannibal St. John."
Aladdin sprang up.
The senator, still suffering from the gout, and leaning heavily on hiswhalebone cane, limped majestically in. There was an amiability on hisface, which Aladdin had never seen there before. He placed a chair forhis distinguished guest. The senator removed his high hat and stood itupon the edge of Aladdin's desk.
"My boy," he said,--the word tingled from Aladdin's ears to his heart,for it was a word of great approachment and unbending,--"I am verygrateful for your efforts in my behalf. I will place honor where honoris due, and say that I owe my recent reflection to the United StatesSenate not so much to my more experienced political friends as to you.The present crisis in the affairs of the nation calls for men of feelingand honor, and not for politicians. I hope that you will not misconstrueme into a braggart if I say from the bottom of my heart I believethat, in returning a man of integrity and tradition to his seat in theCongress of the nation, you have rendered a service to the nation."
The senator paused, and Aladdin, still standing, waited for him tofinish.
"After a week," said the senator, "I shall return to my duties inWashington. In the meanwhile, Margaret" (he had hitherto always referredto her before Aladdin as "my daughter") "and I are keeping open house,and if it will give you pleasure we shall be charmed" (the word fellfrom the senator's lips like a complete poem) "to have you make us avisit. Two of my sons will be at home, and other young people."
"Indeed, and it will give me pleasure!" cried Aladdin, falling into theleast suspicion of a brogue.
"I will write a line to your chief," continued the senator, "and I havereason to believe that he will see you excused. We shall expect youto-morrow by the fourthirty."
"I'm ever so much obliged, sir," said Aladdin.
"My boy," said the senator, gravely, after a full minute's pause, "weare all concerned in your future, which promises to be a brilliantone. It rests with you. But, if an old man may be permitted a word ofcaution, it would be this: Let your chief recreation lie in your work;leave the other things. Do I make myself clear enough?" (Aladdin noddedguiltily.) "Leave the frailties to the dullards of this world."
He rose to go.
"My young friend," said the senator, "you have my best wishes."
Grimacing with the pain in his foot, limping badly, but always statelyand impressive,--almost superimpending,--Hannibal St. John moved slowlyout of the office.
XV
The weather turned suddenly gusty and cold, and that afternoon it beganto snow, and it kept on snowing. All night fine dry flakes fell inunexampled profusion, and by morning the face of the land was manyinches deep. Nor did the snow then cease. All the morning it continuedto fall with vigor. The train by which Aladdin was to go to the St.Johns' left at two-thirty, arriving there two hours later; and it waswith numb feet and stinging ears that he entered the car reserved forsmokers, and, bundling in a somewhat threadbare over coat, endeavoredto make himself comfortable for the journey. As the train creaked andjerked out of the protecting station, the storm smote upon the windowswith a noise like thrown sand, and a back draft down the chimney ofthe iron stove in one end of the car sent out puffs of smutty smoke atwhatever points the various castings of the stove came together withinsufficient snugness. There were but half a dozen people in the wholetrain.
"Troubles, old man," said Aladdin, for so he was in the habit ofaddressing himself at moments of self-communication, "this is going tobe the slowest kind of a trip, but we're going to enjoy every minuteof it, because it's taking us to the place where we would be-God blessher!"
Aladdin took a cigar from his breast pocket.
"Troubles," said he, "may I offer you a smoke? What? Oh, you're verymuch obliged and don't mind if you do. There you are, then." Aladdinsent out a great puff of white smoke; this turned into a blue wraith,drifted down the aisle, between the seats, gathering momentum as itwent, and finally, with the rapidity of a mint julep mounting a suckedstraw (that isn't split) and spun long and fine, it was drawn through apuncture of the isinglass in the stove door and went up the chimneyin company with other smoke, and out into the storm. Aladdin, full ofanticipation and glee, smoked away with great spirit. Presently, for thecar was empty but for himself, Aladdin launched into the rollicking airof "Red Renard"
"Three scarlet huntsmen rode up to White Plains With a carol of voices and jangle of chains, For the morning was blue and the morning was fair, And the word ran, "Red Renard" is waiting us there."
He puffed at his cigar a moment to be sure that its fire should notflag, and sang on:
"The first scarlet huntsman blew into his horn, Lirala, Lovely Morning, I'm glad I was born"; The second red huntsman he whistled an air, And the third sang, "Red Renard" is waiting us there."
"Just such weather as this, Troubles," he said, looking out into theswirl of snow. "Just the beautifulest kind of cross-country weather!" Hesang on:
Three lovely ladies they met at the meet, With whips in their hands and with boots on their feet; And the gentlemen lifted their hats with a cheer, As the girls said, "Red Renard is waiting you here."
He quickened into the stanza he liked best:
Three scarlet huntsmen rode off by the side Of three lovely ladies on horses of pride. Said the first, "Call me Ellen"; the second, "I'm Claire"; Said the third, "I'm Red Renard--so called from my hair."
The train, which had been running more slowly, drew up with a chug, andsome minutes passed before it again gathered itself and lurched on.
"That's all right," said Aladdin. He was quite warm now, and thoroughlyhappy.
Three scarlet huntsmen rode home from White Plains, With its mud on their boots, and its girls on their brains; And the first sang of Ellen, the second of Claire, But the third sang, "Red Renard is waiting back there."
He made a waggish face to finish with:
Three scarlet huntsmen got into frock-coats, And they pinched their poor feet, and they tortured their throats; And the first married Ellen, the second wed Claire, While the third said, "Re Renar izh waishing back zhere."
He assumed the expression for a moment of one astutely drunk.
"A bas!" he said, for this much of the French language was his tocommand, and no more. He turned and attempted to look out. He yawned.Presently he threw away the reeking butt of his cigar, closed his eyes,and fell asleep.
The water below the veranda was alive with struggling fishes in highhats and frock-coats. Each fish had a label painted across his back withhis name and address neatly printed on it, and each fish was strugglingto reach a tiny minnow-hook, naked of bait, which dangled just out ofreach above the water. The baitless hook was connected by a fine line(who ever heard of baiting a line at the wrong end?) with Margaret'shand. She had on a white dress stamped with big pink roses, and therewas a pale-green ribbon round the middle of it; her hair was done up forthe first time, and she was leaning over the railing, which was made ofsafety-lamps and stranglers alternately, painted light blue, regardingthe struggling fishes with a look at once full of curiosity and pity.Presently one of the fishes' labels soaked off, and went hurtling outto sea, with the fish weeping bitterly and following at express speed,until in less than one moment both label and fish were hull downbelow the horizon. Then another label washed off, and then another andanother, and fish after fish, in varying states of distraction, followedafter and disappeared, until all you could see were two, whereof the onewas labeled Manners and the other O'Brien (these continued to fight forthe hook), and all you could hear was Neptune, from down, down, down inthe sea, saying coquettishly to Cleopatra, "I'm Red Renard--socalled from my hair." And then all of a sudden valiant CaptainKissed-by-Margaret went by on a log writing mottos for the wives offamous men. And th
en Manners and O'Brien, struggling desperately todrown each other, sank down, down, down, and Cleopatra could be heardsaying perfectly logically to Neptune, "You didn't!" And then there wasa tremendous shower of roses, and the dream went out like a candle.
Aladdin opened his eyes and stroked his chin. He was troubled about thedream. The senator had spoken to him of "others." Could Peter Mannerspossibly be there? Was that the especial demolishment that fate held instore for him? He was very wide awake now.
At times, owing to the opaqueness of the storm, it was impossible to seeout of the car window. But there were moments when a sudden rush of windblew a path for the eye, and by such occasional pictures--little longof the instantaneous--one could follow the progress of the blizzard.Aladdin saw a huddle of sheep big with snow; then a man getting into ahouse by the window; an ancient apple-tree with a huge limb torn off;two telegraph poles that leaned toward each other, like one man fixinganother's cravat; and he caught glimpses of wires broken, loosened,snarled, and fuzzy with snow. Then the train crawled over a rememberedtrestle, and Aladdin knew that he was within four miles of his station,and within three of the St. Johns' house by the best of short cutsacross country. He looked precisely in its direction, and kissed hisfingers to Margaret, and wondered what she was doing. Then there was arumbling, jumping jar, and the train stopped. Minute after minute wentby. Aladdin waited impatiently for the train to start. The conductorpassed hurriedly through.
"What's up?" called Aladdin after him.
"Up!" cried the conductor. "We're off the track."