the fortune hunter(闯世界的人)-第21章
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up to them in the Square。 But Otto was awaiting his chance； and when it
came； plunged boldly into his heart…subject and floundered bravely about。
‘‘I don't like to see you so sad； Hilda。 Isn't there any chance for me？
Can't things be as they used to be？''
Hilda shook her head sadly。 ‘‘I'm never going to marry；'' she said。
‘‘You must find some one else。''
‘‘It's you or nobody。 I said that when we were in school together
andI'll stick to it。'' His eyes confirmed his words。
‘‘You mustn't； Otto。 You make me feel as if I were spoiling your life。
And if you knew； you wouldn't want to marry me。''
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‘‘I don't care。 I always have； and I always will。''
‘‘I suppose I ought to tell you；'' she said； half to herself。 She turned
to him suddenly； and； with flushed cheeks and eyes that shifted； burst out：
‘‘Otto； he was a married man！''
‘‘But you didn't know。''
‘‘It doesn't change the way I feel。 You mightany man mightthrow
it up to me。 And sooner or later； everybody'll know。 No man would
want a girl that had had a scandal like that on her。''
‘‘I would；'' he said； ‘‘and I do。 And it isn't a scandal。''
Some one joined them and he had no chance to continue until the
following Sunday； when Heiligs and Brauners went together to the Bronx
for a half…holiday。 They could not set out until their shops closed； at half…
past twelve； and they had to be back at five to reopen for the Sunday
supper customers。 They lunched under the trees in the yard of a German
inn； and a merry party they were。
Hilda forgot to keep up her pretense that her healing wounds were not
healing and never would heal。 She teased Otto and even flirted with him。
This elevated her father and his mother to hilarity。 They were two very
sensible young…old people； with a keen sense of humorthe experience of
age added to the simplicity and gaiety of youth。
You would have paused to admire and envy had you passed that way
and looked in under the trees； as they clinked glasses and called one to
another and went off into gales of mirth over nothing at all。 What
laughter is so gay as laughter at nothing at all？ Any one must laugh
when there is something to laugh at； but to laugh just because one must
have an outlet for bubbling spirits there's the test of happiness！
After luncheon they wandered into the woods and soon Otto and Hilda
found themselves alone； seated by a little waterfall； which in a quiet；
sentimental voice suggested that low tones were the proper tones to use in
that place。
‘‘We've known each other always； Hilda；'' said Otto。 ‘‘And we know
all about each other。 Why notdear？''
She did not speak for several minutes。
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‘‘You know I haven't any heart to give you；'' she answered at last。
Otto did not know anything of the kind； but he knew she thought so；
and he was too intelligent to dispute； when time would settle the question…
…and； he felt sure； would settle it right。 So he reached out and took her
hand and said： ‘‘I'll risk that。''
And they sat watching the waterfall and listening to it； and they were
happy in a serious； tranquil way。 It filled him with awe to think that he
had at last won her。 As for her； she was looking forward； without
illusions； without regrets； to a life of work and content beside this strong；
loyal； manly man who protested little； but never failed her or any one else。
On the way home in the train she told her mother； and her mother told
her father。 He； then and there； to the great delight and pleasure of the
others in the car； rose up and embraced and kissed first his daughter； then
Otto and then Otto's mother。 And every once in a while he beamed
down the line of his party and said： ‘‘This is a happy day！''
And he made them all come into the sitting…room back of the shop。
‘‘Wait here；'' he commanded。 ‘‘No one must move！''
He went down to the cellar； presently to reappear with a dusty bottle of
Johannisberger Cabinet。 He pointed proudly to the seal。 ‘‘Bronze！'' he
exclaimed。 ‘‘It is wine like gold。 It must be drunk slowly。'' He drew
the cork and poured the wine with great ceremony； and they all drank with
much touching of glasses and bowing and exchanging of good wishes；
now in German； now in English； again in both。 And the last toast； the
one drunk with the greatest enthusiasm； was Brauner's favorite famous
‘‘Arbeit und Liebe und Heim！''
From that time forth Hilda began to look at Otto from a different point
of view。 And everything depends on point of view。
Thenthe house in which Schwartz and Heilig had their shop was
burned。 And when their safe was drawn from the ruins； they found that
their insurance had expired four days before the fire。 It was Schwartz's
business to look after the insurance； but Otto had never before failed to
oversee。 His mind had been in such confusion that he had forgotten。
He stared at the papers； stunned by the disaster。 Schwartz wrung his
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hands and burst into tears。 ‘‘I saw that you were in trouble；'' he wailed；
‘‘and that upset me。 It's my fault。 I've ruined us both。''
There was nothing left of their business or capital； nothing but seven
hundred dollars in debts to the importers of whom they bought。
Heilig shook off his stupor after a few minutes。 ‘‘No matter；'' he
said。 ‘‘What's past is past。''
He went straightway over to Second Avenue to the shop of Geishener；
the largest delicatessen dealer in New York。
‘‘I've been burned out；'' he explained。 ‘‘I must get something to do。''
Geishener offered him a place at eleven dollars a week。 ‘‘I'll begin in
the morning；'' said Otto。 Then he went to Paul Brauner。
‘‘When will you open up again？'' asked Brauner。
‘‘Not for a long time； several years。 Everything's gone and I've taken
a place with Geishener。 I came to say thatthat I can't marry your
daughter。''
Brauner did not know what answer to make。 He liked Otto and had
confidence in him。 But the masses of the people build their little fortunes
as coral insects build their islands。 And Hilda was getting alongwhy；
she would be twenty in four months。 ‘‘I don't know。 I don't know。''
Brauner rubbed his head in embarrassment and perplexity。 ‘‘It's bad
very bad。 And everything was running so smoothly。''
Hilda came in。 Both men looked at her guiltily。 ‘‘What is it？'' she
asked。 And if they had not been mere men they would have noticed a
change in her face； a great change； very wonderful and beautiful to see。
‘‘I came to release you；'' said Otto。
‘‘I've got nothing leftand a lot of debts。 I''
‘‘
