按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
she been able to speak at all。 But he bore her off and soon made her
forget herself in the happiness of being drifted in his strong arm upon the
rhythmic billows of the waltz。 At the end he led her to a seat and fell to
complimenting herhis eyes eloquent； his voice； it seemed to her； as
entrancing as the waltz music。 When he spoke in German it was
without the harsh sputtering and growling； the slovenly slurring and
clipping to which she had been accustomed。 She could answer only with
monosyllables or appreciative looks； though usually she was a great talker
and； as she had much common sense and not a little wit； a good talker。
But her awe of him； which increased when she learned that he was on the
stage； did not prevent her from getting the two main impressions he
wished to make upon herthat Mr。 Feuerstein was a very grand person
indeed； and that he was condescending to be profoundly smitten of her
4
… Page 5…
THE FORTUNE HUNTER
charms。
She was the ‘‘catch'' of Avenue A； taking prospects and looks together；
and the men she knew had let her rule them。 In Mr。 Feuerstein she had
found what she had been unconsciously seeking with the Idealismus of
genuine youtha man who compelled her to look far up to him； a man
who seemed to her to embody those vague dreams of a life grand and
beautiful； away off somewhere； which are dreamed by all young people；
and by not a few older ones； who have less excuse for not knowing where
happiness is to be found。 He spent the whole evening with her； Mrs。
Liebers and Sophie； with whom she had come； did not dare interrupt her
pleasure； but had to stay； yawning and cross； until the last strain of Home；
Sweet Home。
At parting he pressed her hand。 ‘‘I have been happy；'' he murmured
in a tone which said； ‘‘Mine is a sorrow…shadowed soul that has rarely
tasted happiness。''
She glanced up at him with ingenuous feeling in her eyes and managed
to stammer： ‘‘I hope we'll meet again。''
‘‘Couldn't I come down to see you Sunday evening？''
‘‘There's a concert in the Square。 If you're there I might see you。''
‘‘Until Sunday night；'' he said； and made her feel that the three
intervening days would be for him three eternities。
She thought of him all the way home in the car； and until she fell
asleep。 His sonorous name was in her mind when she awoke in the
morning； and； as she stood in the store that day； waiting on the customers；
she looked often at the door； and； with the childhood…surviving faith of
youth in the improbable and impossible； hoped that he would appear。 For
the first time she was definitely discontented with her lot； was definitely
fascinated by the idea that there might be something higher and finer than
the simple occupations and simple enjoyments which had filled her life
thus far。
In the evening after supper her father and mother left her and her
brother August in charge； and took their usual stroll for exercise and for
the profound delight of a look at their flat…housesthose reminders of
5
… Page 6…
THE FORTUNE HUNTER
many years of toil and thrift。 They had spent their youth； she as cook； he
as helper； in one of New York's earliest delicatessen shops。 When they
had saved three thousand dollars they married and put into effect the plan
which had been their chief subject of conversation every day and every
evening for ten years they opened the ‘‘delicatessen'' in Avenue A； near
Second Street。 They lived in two back rooms； they toiled early and late
for twenty…three contented； cheerful years she in the shop when she was
not doing the housework or caring for the babies； he in the great clean
cellar； where the cooking and cabbage…cutting and pickling and spicing
were done。 And now； owners of three houses that brought in eleven
thousand a year clear； they were about to retire。 They had fixed on a
place in the Bronx； in the East Side； of course； with a big garden； where
every kind of gay flower and good vegetable could be grown； and an arbor
where there could be pinochle； beer and coffee on Sunday afternoons。 In
a sentence； they were honorable and exemplary members of that great
mass of humanity which has the custody of the present and the future of
the racethose who live by the sweat of their own brows or their own
brains； and train their children to do likewise； those who maintain the true
ideals of happiness and progress； those from whom spring all the workers
and all the leaders of thought and action。
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
6
… Page 7…
THE FORTUNE HUNTER
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。