Tell him, said Gant, to spare no expense. What do
you want the sausage-grinder for, son? Horse Hines bent sympathetically and assisted
the boy to his feet. As he cameopposite Dixieland, he moved in to the curb, tossing
his freshpaper with a careful plop. Then, hearing the sharp whine of the wind, she
wept again. Horse Hines came in briskly, but checked himself when he saw thetwo
young men.
He nodded, and closed the door behind
her.
Theyve been calling up every day to findout about
him.
Then, slowly, stonily, from right to left,
withoutexpression, she shook her head. F-f-f-fried chicken a la Maryland, he
muttered. Wind pressed the boughs, the withered leaves were quaking. A f-f-five cent
ride on the street-car bringsme right out to the beach. And the Pentlandfamily is
one of the wealthiest and most prominent. Life, ruddered life, that would not fail,
began its myriadembarkations.
Were big strong men, but weve hadhard lives. Itcame
infrequently, almost inaudibly, with a faint flutteringrespiration. I have known the
Gant and Pentland families forthirty years or more. My dear, dear girl, he said
gently as she tried to speak, wecant turn back the days that have gone. Slightly
nauseated, he took his seat with Eliza in thecarriage, and tried to think of supper.
This little bright and stricken thing stood up on Eugenes heartand talked into his
mouth.
I cant bear to think of him out thereto-night. The
women filled the house with their moaning.
Horse Hines bent sympathetically and assisted the
boy to his feet. F-f-f-fried chicken a la Maryland, he muttered. He had been closely
shaved:he was immaculately groomed.
He wont haveto drink mamas coffee any more. Now,
said Horse Hines quietly, I know the family doesnt wantanything cheap. Then, drying
her eyes, sheadded:You boys go get something to eat. Eugene thought of death now,
with love, with joy.
Fatigue andpowerful nervous depletion conquered
him. Good-morning, gentlemen, said Horse Hines, in an accent ofrefined sadness.
There are a great many things Id like to do over again, saidEliza gravely. All of
that is over now, and each time itwas like a death.
The walls, the windowsseemed to bend inward from
the thrusting pressure of the dark. Not allthe kings horses, not all the doctors and
nurses in the world, canhelp him now.