The Voice of the City: Further Stories of the Four Million. O. Henry

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СКАЧАТЬ pleaded the young ran. His expression of satisfaction had changed to one of penitence and humility. "It was my fault, you know – I mean, there are girls in parks, you know – that is, of course, you don't know, but – "

      "Abandon the subject, if you please. Of course I know. Now, tell me about these people passing and crowding, each way, along these paths. Where are they going? Why do they hurry so? Are they happy?"

      The young man had promptly abandoned his air of coquetry. His cue was now for a waiting part; he could not guess the rôle he would be expected to play.

      "It is interesting to watch them," he replied, postulating her mood. "It is the wonderful drama of life. Some are going to supper and some to – er – other places. One wonders what their histories are."

      "I do not," said the girl; "I am not so inquisitive. I come here to sit because here, only, can I be near the great, common, throbbing heart of humanity. My part in life is cast where its beats are never felt. Can you surmise why I spoke to you, Mr. – ?"

      "Parkenstacker," supplied the young man. Then he looked eager and hopeful.

      "No," said the girl, holding up a slender finger, and smiling slightly. "You would recognize it immediately. It is impossible to keep one's name out of print. Or even one's portrait. This veil and this hat of my maid furnish me with an incog. You should have seen the chauffeur stare at it when he thought I did not see. Candidly, there are five or six names that belong in the holy of holies, and mine, by the accident of birth, is one of them. I spoke to you, Mr. Stackenpot – "

      "Parkenstacker," corrected the young man, modestly.

      " – Mr. Parkenstacker, because I wanted to talk, for once, with a natural man – one unspoiled by the despicable gloss of wealth and supposed social superiority. Oh! you do not know how weary I am of it – money, money, money! And of the men who surround me, dancing like little marionettes all cut by the same pattern. I am sick of pleasure, of jewels, of travel, of society, of luxuries of all kinds."

      "I always had an idea," ventured the young man, hesitatingly, "that money must be a pretty good thing."

      "A competence is to be desired. But when you have so many millions that – !" She concluded the sentence with a gesture of despair. "It is the monotony of it," she continued, "that palls. Drives, dinners, theatres, balls, suppers, with the gilding of superfluous wealth over it all. Sometimes the very tinkle of the ice in my champagne glass nearly drives me mad."

      Mr. Parkenstacker looked ingenuously interested.

      "I have always liked," he said, "to read and hear about the ways of wealthy and fashionable folks. I suppose I am a bit of a snob. But I like to have my information accurate. Now, I had formed the opinion that champagne is cooled in the bottle and not by placing ice in the glass."

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