the fortune hunter-第2部分

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They　walked　slowly　up　the　Avenue；　speaking　to　their　neighbors；　pausing　now　and　then　for　a　joke　or　to　pat　a　baby　on　the　head；　until　they　were　within　two　blocks　of　Tompkins　Square。　　They　stopped　before　a　five…story　tenement；　evidently　the　dwelling…place　of　substantial；　intelligent；　　self…respecting　artisans　and　their　families；　leading　the　natural　life　of　busy　usefulness。　　In　its　first　floor　was　a　delicatessen　the　sign　read　‘‘Schwartz　and　Heilig。''　Paul　Brauner　pointed　with　his　long…　stemmed　pipe　at　the　one　show…window。

‘‘Fine；　isn't　it？　　Beautiful！''　he　exclaimed　in　Low…Germanthey　and　almost　all　their　friends　spoke　Low…German；　and　used　English　only　when　they　could　not　avoid　it。

The　window　certainly　was　well　arranged。　　Only　a　merchant　who　knew　his　business　thoroughlyboth　his　wares　and　his　customerscould　have　thus　displayed　cooked　chickens；　hams　and　tongues；　the　imported　sausages　and　fish；　the　jelly…inclosed　paste　of　chicken　livers；　the　bottles　and　jars　of　pickled　or　spiced　meats　and　vegetables　and　fruits。　　The　spectacle　was　adroitly　arranged　to　move　the　hungry　to　yearning；　the　filled　to　regret；　and　the　dyspeptic　to　rage　and　remorse。　　And　behind　the　show…window　lay　a　shop　whose　shelves；　counters　and　floor　were　clean　as　toil　could　make　and　keep　them；　and　whose　air　was　saturated　with　the　most　delicious　odors。

Mrs。　Brauner　nodded。　　‘‘Heilig　was　up　at　half…past　four　this　morning；''　she　said。　　‘‘He　cleans　out　every　morning　and　he　moves　everything　twice　a　week。''　　She　had　a　round；　honest　face　that　was　an　inspiring　study　in　simplicity；　sense　and　sentiment。

‘‘What　a　worker！''　was　her　husband's　comment。　　‘‘So　unlike　most　of　the　young　men　nowadays。　　If　August　were　only　like　him！''

‘‘You'd　think　Heilig　was　a　drone　if　he　were　your　son；''　replied　Mrs。　Brauner。　　She　knew　that　if　any　one　else　had　dared　thus　to　attack　their　boy；　his　father　would　have　been　growling　and　snapping　like　an　angry　bear。

‘‘That's　right！''　he　retorted　with　mock　　scorn。　　‘‘Defend　your　children！　　You'll　be　excusing　Hilda　for　putting　off　Heilig　next。''

‘‘She'll　marry　himgive　her　time；''　said　Mrs。　Brauner。　　‘‘She's　romantic；　but　she's　sensible；　toowhy；　she　was　born　to　make　a　good　wife　to　a　hard…working　man。　　Where's　there　another　woman　that　knows　the　business　as　she　does？　　You　admit　on　her　birthdays　that　she's　the　only　real　helper　you　ever　had。''

‘‘Except　you；''　said　her　husband。

‘‘Never　mind　me。''　　Mrs。　Brauner　pretended　to　disdain　the　compliment。

Brauner　understood；　however。　　‘‘We　have　had　the　best；　you　and　I；''　said　he。

‘‘Arbeit　und　Liebe　und　Heim。　　Nicht　wahr？''　Otto　Heilig　appeared　in　his　doorway　and　greeted　them　awkwardly。　　Nor　did　their　cordiality　lessen　his　embarrassment。　　His　pink　and　white　skin　was　rosy　red　and　his　frank　blue…gray　eyes　shifted　　uneasily。　　But　he　was　smiling　with　eager　friendliness；　showing　even；　sound；　white　teeth。

‘‘You　are　coming　to　see　us　to…morrow？''　asked　Mrs。　Braunerhe　always　called　on　Sunday　afternoons　and　stayed　until　five；　when　he　had　to　open　shop　for　the　Sunday　supper　rush。

‘‘Whythat　isnot　exactlyno；''　he　stammered。　　Hilda　had　told　him　not　to　come；　but　he　knew　that　if　he　admitted　it　to　her　parents　they　would　be　severe　with　her。　　He　didn't　like　anybody　to　be　severe　with　Hilda；　and　he　felt　that　their　way　of　helping　his　courtship　was　not　suited　to　the　modern　ideas。　　‘‘They　make　her　hate　me；''　he　often　muttered。　　But　if　he　resented　it　he　would　offend　them　and　Hilda　too；　if　he　acquiesced　he　encouraged　them　and　added　to　Hilda's　exasperation。

Mrs。　Brauner　knew　at　once　that　Hilda　was　in　some　way　the　cause　of　the　break　in　　the　custom。　　‘‘Oh；　you　must　come；''　she　said。　　‘‘We'd　feel　strange　all　week　if　we　didn't　see　you　on　Sunday。''

‘‘YesI　must　have　my　cards；''　insisted　Brauner。　　He　and　Otto　always　played　pinochle；　Otto's　eyes　most　of　the　time　and　his　thoughts　all　the　time　were　on　Hilda；　in　the　corner；　at　the　zither；　playing　the　maddest；　most　romantic　music；　her　father　therefore　usually　won；　poor　at　the　game　though　he　was。　　It　made　him　cross　to　lose；　and　Otto　sometimes　defeated　his　own　luck　deliberately　when　love　refused　to　do　it　for　him。

‘‘Very　well；　thenthat　isif　I　can　I'll　try　to　come。''

Several　customers　pushed　past　him　into　his　shop　and　he　had　to　rejoin　his　partner；　Schwartz；　behind　the　counters。　　Brauner　and　his　wife　walked　slowly　homeit　was　late　and　there　would　be　more　business　than　Hilda　and　August　could　attend　　to。　　As　they　crossed　Third　Street　Brauner　said：　　‘‘Hilda　must　go　and　tell　him　to　come。　　This　is　her　doing。''

‘‘But　she　can't　do　that；''　objected　Mrs。　Brauner。　　‘‘She'd　say　it　was　throwing　herself　at　his　head。''

‘‘Not　if　I　send　her？''　Brauner　frowned　with　a　seeming　of　severity。　　‘‘Not　if　I；　her　father；　send　herfor　two　chickens；　as　we're　out？''　　Then　he　laughed。　　His　fierceness　was　the　family　joke　when　Hilda　was　small　she　used　to　say；　‘‘Now；　get　mad；　father；　and　make　little　Hilda　laugh！''

Hilda　was　behind　the　counter；　a　customer　watching　with　fascinated　eyes　the　graceful；　swift　movements　of　her　arms　and　hands　as　she　tied　up　a　bundle。　　Her　sleeves　were　rolled　to　her　dimpled　elbows；　and　her　arms　were　round　and　strong　and　white；　and　her　skin　was　fine　and　smooth。　　Her　shoulders　were　wide；　but　not　square；　her　hips　were　narrow；　her　wrists；　her　hands；　her　head；　small。　　She　looked　healthy　and　vigorous　and　useful　as　well　as　beautiful。

When　the　customers　had　gone　Brauner　said：　　‘‘Go　up　to　Schwartz　and　Heilig；　daughter；　and　ask　them　for　two　two…pound　chickens。　　And　tell　Otto　Heilig　you'll　be　glad　to　see　him　to…morrow。''

‘‘But　we　don't　need　the　chickens；　now。　　We''　　Hilda's　brow　contracted　and　her　chin　came　out。

‘‘Do　as　I　tell　you；''　said　her　father。

‘‘MY　children　shall　not　sink　to　the　disrespect　of　these　days。''

‘‘But　I　shan't　be　here　to…morrow！　　I've　made　another　engagement。''

‘‘You　SHALL　be　here　to…morrow！　　If　you　don't　wish　young　Heilig　here　for　your　own　sake；　you　must　show　consideration　for　your　parents。　　Are　they　to　be　deprived　of　their　Sunday　afternoon？　　You　have　never　done　this　before；　Hilda。　　You　have　never　forgotten　us　before。''　

Hilda　hung　her　head；　after　a　moment　she　unrolled　her　sleeves；　laid　aside　her　apron　and　set　out。　　She　was　repentant　toward　her　father；　but　she　felt　that　Otto　was　to　blame。　　She　determined　to　make　him　suffer　for　ithow　easy　it　was　to　make　him　suffer；　and　how　pleasant　to　feel　that　this　big　fellow　was　her　slave！　　She　went　straight　up　to　him。　　‘‘So　you　complained　of　me；　did　you？''　she　said　scornfully；　though　she　knew　well　that　he　had　not；　that　he　could　not　have　done　anything　that　even　seemed　mean。

He　flushed。　　‘‘Nono；''　he　stammered。　　‘‘No；　indeed；　Hilda。　　Don't　think''

She　looked　contempt。　　‘‘Well；　you've　won。　　Come　down　Sunday　afternoon。　　I　suppose　I'll　have　to　endure　it。''

‘‘Hilda；　you're　wrong。　　I　will　NOT　come！''　　He　was　angry；　but　his　mind　was　confused。　　He　loved　her　with　all　the　strength　of　his　simple；　straightforward　　nature。　　Therefore　he　appeared　at　his　worst　before　herusually　either　incoherent　or　dumb。　　It　was　not　surprising　that　whenever　it　was　suggested　that　only　a　superior　man　could　get　on　so　well　as　he　did；　she　always　answered：　　‘‘He　works　twice　as　hard　as　any　one　else；　and　you　don't　need　much　brains　if　you'll　work　hard。''

She　now　cut　him　short。　　‘‘If　you　don't　come　I'll　have　to　suffer　for　it；''　she　said。　　‘‘You　MUST　come！　　I'll　not　be　glad　to　see　you。　　But　if　you　don't　come　I'll　never　speak　to　you　again！''　　And　she　left　him　and　went　to　the　other　counter　and　ordered　the　chickens　from　Schwartz。

Heilig　was　wretched；another　of　those　hideous　dilemmas　over　which　he　had　been　stumbling　like　a　drunken　man　in　a　dark　room　full　of　furniture　ever　since　he　let　his　mother　go　to　Mrs。　Brauner　and　ask　her　for　Hilda。　　He　watched　Hilda's　splendid　back；　and　fumbled　about；　upsetting　bottles　and　rattling　dishes；　until　she　went　out　with　a　glance　of　jeering　scorn。　　Schwartz　burst　out　laughing。

‘‘Anybody　could　tell　you　are　in　love；''　he　said。　　‘‘Be　stiff　with　her；　Otto；　and　you'll　get　her　all　right。　　It　don't　do　to　let　a　woman　see　that　you　care　about　her。　　The　worse　you　treat　the　women　the　better　they　like　it。　　When　they　used　to　tell　my　father　about　some　woman　being　crazy　over　a　man；　he　always　used　to　say；　‘What　sort　of　a　scoundrel　is　he？'　　That　was　good　sense。''

Otto　made　no　reply。　　No　doubt　these　maxims　were　sound　and　wise；　but　how　was　he　to　apply　them？　　How　could　he　pretend　indifference　when　at　sight　of　her　he　could　open　his　jaws　only　enough　to　chatter　them；　could　loosen　his　tongue　only　enough　to　roll　it　thickly　about？　　‘‘I　can　work；''　he　said　to　himself；　‘‘and　I　can　pay　my　debts　and　have　something　over；　but　when　it　comes　to　love　I'm　no　good。''



II

BRASS　OUTSHINES　GOLD

Hilda　returned　to　her　father's　shop　and　was　busy　there　until　nine　o'clock。　　Then　Sophie　Liebers　came　and　they　went　into　the　Avenue　for　a　walk。　　They　pushed　their　way　through　and　with　the　throngs　up　into　Tompkins　Squarethe　center　of　one　of　the　several　vast　districts；　little　known　because　little　written　about；　that　contain　the　real　New　York　and　the　real　New　Yorkers。　　In　the　Square　several　thousand　young　people　were　promenading；　many　of　the　girls　walking　in　pairs；　almost　all　the　young　men　paired　off；　each　with　a　young　woman。　　It　was　warm；　and　the　stars　beamed　down　upon　the　hearts　of　young　lovers；　blotting　out　for　them　electric　lights　and　surrounding　crowds。　　It　caused　no　　comment　there　for　a　young　couple　to　walk　hand　in　hand；　looking　each　at　the　other　with　the　expression　that　makes　commonplace　eyes　wonderful。　　And　when　the　sound　of　a　kiss　came　from　a　somewhat　secluded　bench；　the　only　glances　east　in　the　direction　whence　it　had　come　were　glances　of　approval　or　envy。

‘‘There's　Otto　Heilig　dogging　us；''　said　Hilda　to　Sophie；　as　they　walked　up　and　down。　　‘‘Do　you　wonder　I　hate　him？''　　They　talked　in　American；　as　did　all　the　young　people；　except　with　those　of　their　elders　who　could　speak　only　German。

Sophie　was　silent。　　If　Hilda　had　been　noting　her　face　she　would　have　seen　a　look　of　satisfaction。

‘‘I　can't　bear　him；''　went　on　Hilda。　　‘‘No　girl　could。　　He's　so　stupid　andand　common！''　　Never　before　had　she　used　that　last　word　in　such　a　sense。　　Mr。　Feuerstein　had　begun　to　educate　her。　

Sophie's　unobserved　look　changed　to　resentment。　　‘‘Of　course　he's　not　equal　t