The Landloper: The Romance of a Man on FootDay, Holman
General
The Landloper: The Romance of a Man on Foot
Day, Holman
Political corruption -- Fiction; Water-supply -- Fiction
There was a crackle of autumn chill in the air, but Farr took off his
hat and sat down and leaned his head against the tree. He closed his
eyes. One might have thought that he wished to sleep.
When the rack-tender made his next turn toward the street he saw a woman
at the fence, and as he peered she beckoned to him. He went close and
saw it was the pretty lady to whom he had told the story of Rosemarie.
She trembled as she clutched the top of the high fence, and when she
spoke to him he understood that she was very near to tears.
“Is there not some way--some gate by which I may come in?” she pleaded.
“That is not allow, ma'm'selle. It is trespass.”
“But I want to speak--to--tell him--We can talk over there beside the
tree and will not be heard. It is to Mr. Farr I wish to speak. I saw
him when he climbed the fence.” She hurried her appeal with pitiful
eagerness.
“Ah yes, I have one little gate for maself--for my frien'--for hees
frien', ma'm'selle. I will break the rule. You shall come in.”
She went softly and stood before Farr for some minutes before he opened
his eyes.
Then he looked up and saw her and he did not speak. He seemed to accept
her presence as a natural matter. She was clasping her hands tightly to
steady herself. His calm demeanor helped her.
“I don't know why I came here,” she murmured.
“I know. It's because you are sorry for me.”
“But I followed you. I dared to do that. I don't know why. I haven't the
words--I can't explain.”
“I understand. You wondered why I came away from the convention. You
want to ask me why.”
“Yes, that's it. I am interested in the fight. I have left the office
where so many bad things were planned.”
“I know. It was good of you to warn me.”
“And now I am afraid you are in trouble.”
“I am.”
“But you have many good friends now, sir.”
“I fear they cannot help me. When I left that hall I tried to tell you
with my eyes that I was going away.”
“I--I think I understood,” she stammered. “It was wrong--it was
folly--but I followed you without knowing why I did so.”
“I am glad you did. I can say farewell to you here.”
“But you must not go away, Mr. Farr. You are needed.”
“I am going because I can best help the work in that way. If I stay here
I may be the cause of great harm.”
“I cannot understand.”
“I do not want you to understand.”
“Why?”
“It is a matter which concerns others besides myself.”
“Does Mr. Converse know that you are going away?”
“I shall tell him to-night before I leave town.”
“He will not allow you to do.”
“Yes--he will,” the young man returned, quietly.
There was a long silence.
“Coming here--following you--it was a mad thing for me to do,” said the
girl, still striving to find explanation for her act. “But I have had so
much trouble in my own life--I am sorry for others who are in trouble. I
want to tell you that I am sorry.”
“I understand,” he repeated.
Another period of silence followed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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