the american claimant-第2章
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my eyeand tortured my ear； till at last my very footfalls time
themselves to the brain…racking rhythm of Simon Lathers！Simon Lathers！
Simon Lathers！ And now； to make its presence in my soul eternal；
immortal； imperishable； you have resolved totowhat is it you have
resolved to do？〃
〃To go to Simon Lathers； in America； and change places with him。〃
〃What？ Deliver the reversion of the earldom into his hands？〃
〃That is my purpose。〃
〃Make this tremendous surrender without even trying the fantastic case in
the Lords？〃
〃Yes〃 with hesitation and some embarrassment。
〃By all that is amazing； I believe you are insane； my son。 See here
have you been training with that ass againthat radical； if you prefer
the term； though the words are synonymousLord Tanzy； of Tollmache？〃
The son did not reply； and the old lord continued：
〃Yes； you confess。 That puppy； that shame to his birth and caste； who
holds all hereditary lordships and privilege to be usurpation； all
nobility a tinsel sham； all aristocratic institutions a fraud； all
inequalities in rank a legalized crime and an infamy； and no bread honest
bread that a man doesn't earn by his own workwork； pah！〃and the old
patrician brushed imaginary labor…dirt from his white hands。 〃You have
come to hold just those opinions yourself； suppose；〃he added with a
sneer。
A faint flush in the younger man's cheek told that the shot had hit and
hurt； but he answered with dignity：
〃I have。 I say it without shameI feel none。 And now my reason for
resolving to renounce my heirship without resistance is explained。
I wish to retire from what to me is a false existence； a false position；
and begin my life over againbegin it rightbegin it on the level of
mere manhood； unassisted by factitious aids； and succeed or fail by pure
merit or the want of it。 I will go to America；； where all men are equal
and all have an equal chance； I will live or die； sink or swim； win or
lose as just a manthat alone； and not a single helping gaud or fiction
back of it。〃
〃Hear； hear！〃 The two men looked each other steadily in the eye a moment
or two； then the elder one added； musingly； 〃Ab…so…lutely
cra…zy…ab…solutely！ 〃After another silence； he said； as one who； long
troubled by clouds； detects a ray of sunshine；〃 Well； there will be one
satisfactionSimon Lathets will come here to enter into his own； and I
will drown him in the horsepond。 That poor devilalways so humble in
his letters； so pitiful； so deferential； so steeped in reverence for our
great line and lofty…station； so anxious to placate us； so prayerful for
recognition as a relative； a bearer in his veins of our sacred blood
and withal so poor； so needy； so threadbare and pauper…shod as to
raiment； so despised； so laughed at for his silly claimantship by the
lewd American scum around himah； the vulgar； crawling； insufferable
tramp！ To read one of his cringing； nauseating letterswell？〃
This to a splendid flunkey； all in inflamed plush and buttons and
knee…breeches as to his trunk； and a glinting white frost…work of
ground…glass paste as to his head； who stood with his heels together and
the upper half of him bent forward； a salver in his hands：
〃The letters； my lord。〃
My lord took them； and the servant disappeared。
〃Among the rest； an American letter。 From the tramp； of course。 Jove；
but here's a change！ No brown paper envelope this time； filched from a
shop； and carrying the shop's advertisement in the corner。 Oh； no； a
proper enough envelopewith a most ostentatiously broad mourning
borderfor his cat； perhaps； since he was a bachelorand fastened with
red waxa batch of it as big as a half…crownandandour crest for a
seal！motto and all。 And the ignorant； sprawling hand is gone； he
sports a secretary； evidentlya secretary with a most confident swing
and flourish to his pen。 Oh indeed； our fortunes are improving over
thereour meek tramp has undergone a metamorphosis。〃
〃Read it； my lord； please。〃
〃Yes； this time I will。 For the sake of the cat：
14；042 SIXTEENTH。 STREET；
WASHINGTON； May 2。
It is my painful duty to announce to you that the head of our illustrious
house is no moreThe Right Honourable； The Most Noble； The Most Puissant
Simon Lathers Lord Rossmore having departed this life （〃Gone at last
this is unspeakably precious news； my son；〃） at his seat in the environs
of the hamlet of Duffy's Corners in the grand old State of Arkansas；and
his twin brother with him； both being crushed by a log at a
smoke…house…raising； owing to carelessness on the part of all present；
referable to over…confidence and gaiety induced by overplus of
sour…mash（〃Extolled be sour…mash； whatever that may be； eh Berkeley？〃）
five days ago； with no scion of our ancient race present to close his
eyes and inter him with the honors due his historic name and lofty
rank…in fact； he is on the ice yet； him and his brotherfriends took a
collection for it。 But I shall take immediate occasion to have their
noble remains shipped to you （〃Great heavens！〃） for interment； with due
ceremonies and solemnities； in the family vault or mausoleum of our
house。 Meantime I shall put up a pair of hatchments on my house…front；
and you will of course do the same at your several seats。
I have also to remind you that by this sad disaster I as sole heir；
inherit and become seized of all the titles； honors； lands； and goods of
our lamented relative； and must of necessity； painful as the duty is；
shortly require at the bar of the Lords restitution of these dignities
and properties； now illegally enjoyed by your titular lordship。
With assurance of my distinguished consideration and warm cousinly
regard； I remain
Your titular lordship's
Most obedient servant；
Mulberry Sellers Earl Rossmore。
〃Im…mense！ Come； this one's interesting。 Why； Berkeley； his breezy
impudence isiswhy； it's colossal； it's sublime。〃
〃No； this one doesn't seem to cringe much。〃
〃Cringewhy； he doesn't know the meaning of the word。 Hatchments！ To
commemorate that sniveling tramp and his； fraternal duplicate。 And he is
going to send me the remains。 The late Claimant was a fool； but plainly
this new one's a maniac。 What a name！ Mulberry Sellersthere's music
for you； Simon LathersMulberry SellersMulberry SellersSimon
Lathers。 Sounds like machinery working and churning。 Simon Lathers；
Mulberry Sel Are you going？〃
〃If I have your leave； father。〃 …
The old gentleman stood musing some time； after his son was gone。 This
was his thought：
〃He is a good boy； and lovable。 Let him take his own courseas it would
profit nothing to oppose himmake things worse； in fact。 My arguments
and his aunt's persuasions have failed； let us see what America can do
for us。 Let us see what equality and hard…times can effect for the
mental health of a brain…sick young British lord。 Going to renounce his
lordship and be a man！ Yas！〃
CHAPTER II。
COLONEL MULBERRY SELLERSthis was some days before he wrote his letter
to Lord Rossmorewas seated in his 〃library；〃 which was also his
〃drawing…room〃 and was also his 〃picture gallery〃 and likewise his
〃work…shop。〃 Sometimes he called it by one of these names； sometimes by
another； according to occasion and circumstance。 He was constructing
what seemed to be some kind of a frail mechanical toy； and was apparently
very much interested in his work。 He was a white…headed man； now； but
otherwise he was as young； alert； buoyant； visionary and enterprising as
ever。 His loving old wife sat near by； contentedly knitting and
thinking； with a cat asleep in her lap。 The room was large； light； and
had a comfortable look； in fact a home…like look； though the furniture
was of a humble sort and not over abundant； and the knickknacks and
things that go to adorn a living…room not plenty and not costly。 But
there were natural flowers； and there was an abstract and unclassifiable
something about the place which betrayed the presence in the house of
somebody with a happy taste and an
