3. I khui chi̍t-keng ê-á tiàm
Ralph Spencer, chit-ê ùi Jimmy Valentine ê hóe-hu kiâⁿ chhut-lâi ê hōng-hông chiáu -- chhut-thoat ùi hut-jiân koh kiông-hāu ê ài-chêng hóe-iām -- lâu lo̍h-lâi tī Elmore, koh ū sêng-kong ê hoat-tián. I khui chi̍t-keng ê-á tiàm, tit-tio̍h chin hó ê seng-lí ki-hōe.
Tī siā-kau hong-bīn, i mā chin sêng-kong, kau-pôe chin chē pêng-iú. I í-keng ta̍t-sêng i ê sim-goān. I kap Annabel Adams Sc sio-bat, lú lâi lú khì hō͘ yi ê bí-lē bê tio̍h.
Chi̍t-nî liáu-āu, Ralph Spencer Ss ê chōng-hóng sī án-ne: i í-keng tit-tio̍h siā-khu ê chun-kèng, i ê ê-tiàm seng-lí heng-ōng, i í-keng hām Annabel tēng-hun, nn̄g lé-pài āu boeh kiat-hun. Adams Ss sī chi̍t-ê tián-hêng, ún-tiōng ê chng-kha gîn-hâng-ka, i tùi Spencer chin khéng-tēng. Annabel tùi i ê chū-hô chha-put-to siong-tong yi tùi i ê ài-chêng. I tī Adams Ss in tau, kap tī Annabel ê í-keng kiat-hun ê a-chí yin tau, lóng chin chū-chāi, bē-su í-keng sī ka-têng ê chi̍t-ê sêng-oân.
Chi̍t-kang, Jimmy tī pâng-keng chē lo̍h-lâi, siá chi̍t-tiuⁿ phe, kià khì chi̍t-ê tī St. Louis ê lāu-pêng-iú ê khó-khò tē-chí:
=
Chhin-ài ê Lāu-hiaⁿ:
Góa chio lí āu lé-pài 3, àm-sî 9-tiám, lâi Little Rock ê Sullivan hia. Góa boeh chhiáⁿ lí thè góa chhú-lí tām-po̍h-á tāi-chì. Iá góa mā boeh kā góa kui-cho͘ ê ke-si-thâu-á sàng hō͘ lí. Góa chai lí ē chin hoaⁿ-hí tit-tio̍h in -- khai 1,000 kho͘ bí-kim lí mā ho̍k-chè bē-lâi. Góa kā lí kóng, Billy, góa í-keng siu-kha sé-chhiú -- í-keng chi̍t-nî ah. Góa keng-êng chi̍t-keng tiàm. Chit-má góa kòe ê sī chheng-pe̍k ê seng-oa̍h, nn̄g lé-pài liáu-āu, góa tō boeh hām choân-sè-kài siōng hó ê chă-gín-á kiat-hun. Che sī ûi-it ê seng-oa̍h, Billy -- sī chiàⁿ-ti̍t ê seng-oa̍h. Hō͘ góa chi̍t pah-bān, góa mā bē khì bak pa̍t-lâng ê chi̍t-kho͘ gîn. Kiat-hun liáu-āu, góa boeh kā tiàm bē-tiāu, boeh poaⁿ khì Se-pō͘, tī hia bē ū siáⁿ hûi-hiám khì tú-tio̍h chhōe góa sǹg kū-siàu ê tāi-chì. Góa kā lí kóng, Billy, yi sī chi̍t-ê thiⁿ-sài. Yi sìn-jīm góa; hō͘ góa kui-ê sè-kài, góa mā bē khì chò pháiⁿ-sū. Lí it-tēng tō ài lâi Sully hia, in-ūi góa it-tēng ài kìⁿ lí. Ke-si-thâu-á góa ē chah lâi.
Lí ê lāu pêng-iú,
Jimmy.
=
Jimmy siá chit-tiuⁿ phe liáu-āu ê hit-ê pài-it àm-sî, Ben Price chē chi̍t-tâi khin-khoài ê bé-chhia sūn-sūn-á lâi kàu Elmore.
I kō͘ tiām-chēng ê hong-sek se̍h sió-tìn, it-ti̍t kàu i hoat-hiān tio̍h i boeh ài chai ê mi̍h-kiāⁿ. Ùi Spencer ê ê-tiàm tùi-bīn ê io̍h-tiàm hia, i kā Ralph D. Spencer khòaⁿ kah chin chheng-chhó.
"Lí boeh hām gîn-hâng-ka ê cha-bó͘-kiáⁿ kiat-hun hoⁿh, Jimmy?" Ben ka-tī khin-khin án-ne kóng. "Hmh, góa bô khak-tēng neh!"
Keh-kang chá-khí, Jimmy tī Adams in tau chia̍h chá-tǹg. Hit-kang i boeh khì Little Rock tēng i hun-lé chhēng ê se-chong, koh boeh bé kóa hó mi̍h-kiāⁿ hō͘ Annabel. Che sī i lâi Elmore liáu-āu tē-it-pái lī-khui sió-tìn. Lī-khui í-chêng ê choan-gia̍p "khang-khòe" í-lâi, í-keng ū chi̍t-nî gōa ah, i jīn-ûi, taⁿ i ē-sái hòng-sim ta̍h chhut-khì ah.
Chá-tǹg liáu, chi̍t ke-hóe-á tâng-chê khì chhī-khu -- Adams Ss, Annabel, Jimmy, kap Annabel ê kiat-hun-liáu ê a-chí hām yin nn̄g-ê chă-gín-á, gō͘-hòe kap káu-hòe. In seng lâi Jimmy tòa ê lí-koán, i tō chiūⁿ-lâu khì kōaⁿ i ê chhiú-thê-siuⁿ. Koh-lâi, in khì kàu gîn-hâng. Tī hia khiā tio̍h ê sī Jimmy ê bé kap bé-chhia kap Dolph Gibson, i boeh sàng i khì hóe-chhia-thâu.
Ta̍k-ê lóng kiâⁿ kòe koân-koân ū-tiau-khek ê chhiūⁿ-bo̍k lân-kan, chìn-ji̍p kàu gîn-hâng ê tōa-thiaⁿ -- pau-koat Jimmy, in-ūi Adams Ss ê bī-lâi kiáⁿ-sài sì-kè lóng siū lâng hoan-gêng. Gîn-hâng-oân lóng chin hoaⁿ-hí hit-ê tit-boeh kap Annabel Sc kiat-hun ê iân-tâu, chhin-chhiat ê siàu-liân-ke kap in phah chio-ho͘. Jimmy kā i ê chhiú-thê-siuⁿ khǹg lo̍h-lâi. Annabel in-ūi hoaⁿ-hí kap chheng-chhun ê oa̍h-le̍k, sim-koaⁿ phī-pho̍k thiàu, yi kā Jimmy ê bō-á the̍h lâi tì, koh chhun-chhiú khì kōaⁿ hit-kha chhiú-thê-siuⁿ. "Góa kám bē-sái chò chi̍t-ê chin hó ê kó͘-chhiú?" Annabel kóng. "Ai-ah! Ralph, che ná ē hiah-nī tāng. Kám-kak ná-chhiūⁿ lāi-té choân kim-kak."
"Lāi-té ū chin chē tō͘ nikel ê ê-pê-á," Jimmy léng-chēng kóng, "hiah-ê góa boeh the̍h khì thè-hòe. Góa siūⁿ, ka-tī kōaⁿ khì góa ē-tàng séng chi̍t-pit khoài-sàng ê liāu-kim. Góa lú lâi lú khiām ah."
Elmore Gîn-hâng sin chng chi̍t-ê sin ê pó-hiám-kūi kap kim-khò͘. Adams Ss tùi che chin hong-sîn, kian-chhî boeh hō͘ ta̍k-ê kiám-giām khòaⁿ-māi. Kim-khò͘ bô kóng kài tōa, m̄-koh i ū chi̍t-ê sin ê, ū choan-lī ê mn̂g. I sī kō͘ saⁿ-ki kian-kò͘ ê kǹg chhòaⁿ iû chi̍t-ê chhiú-pèⁿ tông-pō͘ chhau-chok, koh ū chi̍t-ê siat-tēng sî-kan ê cheng. Adams Ss móa-bīn chhun-hong kā Spencer Ss kái-soeh chhau-chok ê goân-lí, Spencer piáu-hiān kah chin ū chhù-bī, m̄-koh bô-kóng chin-chiàⁿ thiaⁿ ē-lâi. Nn̄g-ê gín-á, May hām Agatha, tùi hiah-ê kim-sih-sih ê kim-sio̍k, hó-sńg ê sî-cheng, kap chūn-pôaⁿ chin ū hèng-chhù.
- -
3. 伊開一間鞋仔店
Ralph Spencer, 這个 ùi Jimmy Valentine ê 火烌行出來 ê 鳳凰鳥 -- 出脫 ùi 忽然 koh 強效 ê 愛情火焰 -- 留落來 tī Elmore, koh 有成功 ê 發展. 伊開一間鞋仔店, 得著真好 ê 生理機會.
Tī 社交方面, 伊 mā 真成功, 交陪真濟朋友. 伊已經達成伊 ê 心願. 伊 kap Annabel Adams Sc sio-bat, lú 來 lú 去予她 ê 美麗迷著.
一年了後, Ralph Spencer Ss ê 狀況是 án-ne: 伊已經得著社區 ê 尊敬, 伊 ê 鞋店生理興旺, 伊已經和 Annabel 訂婚, 兩禮拜後欲結婚. Adams Ss 是一个典型, 穩重 ê 庄跤銀行家, 伊對 Spencer 真肯定. Annabel 對伊 ê 自豪差不多相當她對伊 ê 愛情. 伊 tī Adams Ss in 兜, kap tī Annabel ê 已經結婚 ê 阿姊姻兜, lóng 真自在, 袂輸已經是家庭 ê 一个成員.
一工, Jimmy tī 房間坐落來, 寫一張批, 寄去一个 tī St. Louis ê 老朋友 ê 可靠地址:
=
親愛 ê 老兄:
我招你後禮拜 3, 暗時 9 點, 來 Little Rock ê Sullivan hia. 我欲請你替我處理淡薄仔代誌. Iá 我 mā 欲 kā 我規組 ê 家私頭仔送予你. 我知你會真歡喜得著 in -- 開 1,000 箍美金你 mā 複製袂來. 我 kā 你講, Billy, 我已經收跤洗手 -- 已經一年 ah. 我經營一間店. Chit-má 我過 ê 是清白 ê 生活, 兩禮拜了後, 我 tō 欲和全世界上好 ê chă 囡仔結婚. 這是唯一 ê 生活, Billy -- 是正直 ê 生活. 予我一百萬, 我 mā 袂去沐別人 ê 一箍銀. 結婚了後, 我欲 kā 店賣掉, 欲搬去西部, tī hia 袂有啥危險去拄著揣我算舊數 ê 代誌. 我 kā 你講, Billy, 她是一个天使. 她信任我; 予我規个世界, 我 mā 袂去做歹事. 你一定 tō 愛來 Sully hia, 因為我一定愛見你. 家私頭仔我會扎來.
你 ê 老朋友,
Jimmy.
=
Jimmy 寫這張批了後 ê 彼个拜一暗時, Ben Price 坐一台輕快 ê 馬車順順仔來到 Elmore.
伊 kō͘ 恬靜 ê 方式踅小鎮, 一直到伊發現著伊欲愛知 ê 物件. Ùi Spencer ê 鞋店對面 ê 藥店 hia, 伊 kā Ralph D. Spencer 看 kah 真清楚.
"你欲和銀行家 ê 查某囝結婚 hoⁿh, Jimmy?" Ben ka-tī 輕輕 án-ne 講. "Hmh, 我無確定 neh!"
隔工早起, Jimmy tī Adams in 兜食早頓. 彼工伊欲去 Little Rock 訂伊婚禮穿 ê 西裝, koh 欲買寡好物件予 Annabel. 這是伊來 Elmore 了後第一擺離開小鎮. 離開以前 ê 專業 "工課" 以來, 已經有一年外 ah, 伊認為, 今伊會使放心踏出去 ah.
早頓了, 一家伙仔同齊去市區 -- Adams Ss, Annabel, Jimmy, kap Annabel ê 結婚了 ê 阿姊和姻兩个 chă 囡仔, 五歲 kap 九歲. In 先來 Jimmy 蹛 ê 旅館, 伊 tō 上樓去捾伊 ê 手提箱. Koh 來, in 去到銀行. Tī hia 徛著 ê 是 Jimmy ê 馬 kap 馬車 kap Dolph Gibson, 伊欲送伊去火車頭.
逐个 lóng 行過懸懸有雕刻 ê chhiūⁿ 木欄杆, 進入到銀行 ê 大廳 -- 包括 Jimmy, 因為 Adams Ss ê 未來囝婿四界 lóng 受人歡迎. 銀行員 lóng 真歡喜彼个得欲 kap Annabel Sc 結婚 ê 緣投, 親切 ê 少年家 kap in 拍招呼. Jimmy kā 伊 ê 手提箱囥落來. Annabel 因為歡喜 kap 青春 ê 活力, 心肝 phī-pho̍k 跳, 她 kā Jimmy ê 帽仔提來戴, koh 伸手去捾 hit-kha 手提箱. "我敢袂使做一个真好 ê 鼓手?" Annabel 講. "Ai-ah! Ralph, 這那會 hiah-nī 重. 感覺 ná 像內底全金角."
"內底有真濟鍍 nikel ê 鞋扒仔," Jimmy 冷靜講, "hiah-ê 我欲提去退貨. 我想, ka-tī 捾去我會當省一筆快送 ê 料金. 我 lú 來 lú 儉 ah."
Elmore 銀行新裝一个新 ê 保險櫃 kap 金庫. Adams Ss 對這真風神, 堅持欲予逐个檢驗看覓. 金庫無講蓋大, m̄-koh 伊有一个新 ê, 有專利 ê 門. 伊是 kō͘ 三支堅固 ê 鋼閂由一个手柄同步操作, koh 有一个設定時間 ê 鐘. Adams Ss 滿面春風 kā Spencer Ss 解說操作 ê 原理, Spencer 表現 kah 真有趣味, m̄-koh 無講真正聽會來. 兩个囡仔, May 和 Agatha, 對 hiah-ê 金 sih-sih ê 金屬, 好耍 ê 時鐘, kap 捘盤真有興趣.
- -
3.
Mr. Ralph Spencer, the phoenix that arose from Jimmy Valentine's ashes—ashes left by the flame of a sudden and alterative attack of love— remained in Elmore, and prospered. He opened a shoe-store and secured a good run of trade.
Socially he was also a success, and made many friends. And he accomplished the wish of his heart. He met Miss Annabel Adams, and became more and more captivated by her charms.
At the end of a year the situation of Mr. Ralph Spencer was this: he had won the respect of the community, his shoe-store was flourishing, and he and Annabel were engaged to be married in two weeks. Mr. Adams, the typical, plodding, country banker, approved of Spencer. Annabel's pride in him almost equaled her affection. He was as much at home in the family of Mr. Adams and that of Annabel's married sister as if he were already a member.
One day Jimmy sat down in his room and wrote this letter, which he mailed to the safe address of one of his old friends in St. Louis:
=
Dear Old Pal:
I want you to be at Sullivan's place, in Little Rock, next Wednesday night, at nine o'clock. I want you to wind up some little matters for me. And, also, I want to make you a present of my kit of tools. I know you'll be glad to get them—you couldn't duplicate the lot for a thousand dollars. Say, Billy, I've quit the old business—a year ago. I've got a nice store. I'm making an honest living, and I'm going to marry the finest girl on earth two weeks from now. It's the only life, Billy—the straight one. I wouldn't touch a dollar of another man's money now for a million. After I get married I'm going to sell out and go West, where there won't be so much danger of having old scores brought up against me. I tell you, Billy, she's an angel. She believes in me; and I wouldn't do another crooked thing for the whole world. Be sure to be at Sully's, for I must see you. I'll bring along the tools with me.
Your old friend,
Jimmy.
=
On the Monday night after Jimmy wrote this letter, Ben Price jogged unobtrusively into Elmore in a livery buggy. He lounged about town in his quiet way until he found out what he wanted to know. From the drug-store across the street from Spencer's shoe-store he got a good look at Ralph D. Spencer.
“Going to marry the banker's daughter are you, Jimmy?” said Ben to himself, softly. “Well, I don't know!”
The next morning Jimmy took breakfast at the Adamses. He was going to Little Rock that day to order his wedding-suit and buy something nice for Annabel. That would be the first time he had left town since he came to Elmore. It had been more than a year now since those last professional “jobs,” and he thought he could safely venture out.
After breakfast quite a family party went downtown together—Mr. Adams, Annabel, Jimmy, and Annabel's married sister with her two little girls, aged five and nine. They came by the hotel where Jimmy still boarded, and he ran up to his room and brought along his suit-case. Then they went on to the bank. There stood Jimmy's horse and buggy and Dolph Gibson, who was going to drive him over to the railroad station.
All went inside the high, carved oak railings into the banking-room— Jimmy included, for Mr. Adams's future son-in-law was welcome anywhere. The clerks were pleased to be greeted by the good-looking, agreeable young man who was going to marry Miss Annabel. Jimmy set his suit-case down. Annabel, whose heart was bubbling with happiness and lively youth, put on Jimmy's hat, and picked up the suit-case. “Wouldn't I make a nice drummer?” said Annabel. “My! Ralph, how heavy it is. Feels like it was full of gold bricks.”
“Lot of nickel-plated shoe-horns in there,” said Jimmy, coolly, “that I'm going to return. Thought I'd save express charges by taking them up. I'm getting awfully economical.”
The Elmore Bank had just put in a new safe and vault. Mr. Adams was very proud of it, and insisted on an inspection by every one. The vault was a small one, but it had a new, patented door. It fastened with three solid steel bolts thrown simultaneously with a single handle, and had a time-lock. Mr. Adams beamingly explained its workings to Mr. Spencer, who showed a courteous but not too intelligent interest. The two children, May and Agatha, were delighted by the shining metal and funny clock and knobs.
- -
No comments:
Post a Comment