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of look my grandfather has； and I could punch him for it sometimes。
Why should you and he think I'm not going to amount to anything？〃
〃I don't think so。 And I'm sure he doesn't either。 And I wasn't
laughing at you。 Or； if I was； itit was only because〃
〃Well； because what？〃
〃Oh； because you are so AWFULLY sure you knowwell； know more than
most people。〃
〃Meaning I'm stuck on myself； I suppose。 Well； now I tell you I'm
not going to hang around in this one…horse town all my life to
please grandfather or any one else。〃
When he mentioned his determination to win literary glory she was
always greatly interested。 Dreams of histrionic achievement were
more coldly received。 The daughter of a New England country
clergyman； even in these days of broadening horizons； could
scarcely be expected to look with favor upon an actor's career。
June came and with it the first of the summer visitors。 For the
next three months Albert was happy with a new set of acquaintances。
They were HIS kind； these young folks from the city； and his spare
moments were for the most part spent in their society。 He was
popular with them； too。 Some of them thought it queer that he
should be living all the year in the village and keeping books for
a concern like Z。 Snow and Co。； but juvenile society is tolerant
and a youth who could sing passably； dance wonderfully and； above
all； was as beautifully picturesque as Albert Speranza； was
welcomed； especially by the girls。 So the Saturdays and Sundays
and evenings of that summer were pleasant for him。 He saw little
of Helen or Gertie Kendrick while the hotel or the cottages
remained open。
Then came the fall and another long； dreary winter。 Albert plodded
on at his desk or in the yard； following Mr。 Keeler's suggestions；
obeying his grandfather's orders； tormenting Issy； doing his daily
stint because he had to； not because he liked it。 For amusement he
read a good deal； went to the usual number of sociables and
entertainments； and once took part in amateur theatricals； a play
given by the church society in the town hall。 There was where he
shone。 As the dashing young hero he was resplendent。 Gertie
Kendrick gazed upon him from the third settee center with shining
eyes。 When he returned home after it was over his grandmother and
Mrs。 Ellis overwhelmed him with praises。
〃I declare you was perfectly splendid； Albert！〃 exclaimed Olive。
〃I was so proud of you I didn't know what to do。〃
Rachel looked upon him as one might look upon a god from Olympus。
〃All I could think of was Robert Penfold；〃 she said。 〃I says so to
Laban： 'Laban；' says I； ain't he Robert Penfold and nobody else？'
There you was； tellin' that Hannibal Ellis that you was innocent
and some day the world would know you was； just the way Robert
Penfold done in the book。 I never did like that Hannie Ellis！〃
Mrs。 Snow smiled。 〃Mercy； Rachel；〃 she said； 〃I hope you're not
blamin' Hannie because of what he did in that play。 That was his
part； he had to do it。〃
But Rachel was not convinced。 〃He didn't have to be so everlastin'
mean and spiteful about it； anyhow；〃 she declared。 〃But there；
that family of Ellises never did amount to nothin' much。 But； as I
said to Laban； Albert； you was Robert Penfold all over。〃
〃What did Labe say to that？〃 asked Albert； laughing。
〃He never had a chance to say nothin'。 Afore he could answer；
that Maria B。 Priceshe was settin' right back of me and eatin'
molasses candy out of a rattly paper bag till I thought I SHOULD
dieshe leaned forward and she whispered： 'He looks more to me
like that Stevie D。 that used to work for Cap'n Crowell over to
the Center。 Stevie D。 had curly hair like that and HE was part
Portygee； you remember； though there was a little nigger blood in
him； too；' she says。 I could have shook her！ And then she went to
rattlin' that bag again。〃
Even Mr。 Keeler congratulated him at the office next morning。 〃You
done well； Al；〃 he said。 〃Yesyesyes。 You done fust…rate；
fust…rate。〃
His grandfather was the only one who refused to enthuse。
〃Well；〃 inquired Captain Zelotes； sitting down at his desk and
glancing at his grandson over his spectacles； 〃do you cal'late to
be able to get down to earth this mornin' far enough to figger up
the payroll？ You can put what you made from play…actin' on a
separate sheet。 It's about as much as the average person makes at
that job；〃 he added。
Albert's face flushed。 There were times when he hated his
grandfather。 Mr。 Keeler； a moment later； put a hand on his
shoulder。
〃You mustn't mind the old man； Al；〃 he whispered。 〃I expect that
seein' you last night brought your dad's job back to him strong。
He can't bear play…actin'； you know； on your dad's account。 Yes
yes。 That was it。 Yesyesyes。〃
It may have been a truthful explanation； but as an apology it was a
limited success。
〃My father was a gentleman； at any rate；〃 snapped Albert。 Laban
opened his mouth to reply； but closed it again and walked back to
his books。
In May； which was an unusually balmy month； the Congregational
Sunday School gave an automobile excursion and box…luncheon party
at High Point Light down at Trumet。 As Rachel Ellis said； it was
pretty early for picnickin'； but if the Almighty's season was ahead
of time there didn't seem to be any real good reason why one of his
Sunday schools shouldn't be。 And； which was the principal excuse
for the hurry； the hotel busses could be secured； which would not
be the case after the season opened。
Albert went to the picnic。 He was not very keen on going； but his
grandfather had offered him a holiday for the purpose； and it was
one of his principles never to refuse a chance to get away from
that office。 Besides； a number of the young people of his age were
going； and Gertie Kendrick had been particularly insistent。
〃You just MUST come； Al；〃 she said。 〃It won't be any fun at all if
you don't come。〃
It is possible that Gertie found it almost as little fun when he
did come。 He happened to be in one of his moods that day；
〃Portygee streaks；〃 his grandfather termed these moods； and told
Olive that they were 〃that play…actor breakin' out in him。〃 He
talked but little during the ride down in the bus； refused to sing
when called upon； and； after dinner； when the dancing in the
pavilion was going on； stepped quietly out of the side door and
went tramping along the edge of the bluff； looking out over the sea
or down to the beach； where； one hundred and fifty feet below； the
big waves were curling over to crash into a creamy mass of froth
and edge the strand with lacy ripples。
The high clay bluffs of Trumet are unique。 No other part of the
Cape shows anything just like them。 High Point Light crowns their
highest and steepest point and is the flashing beacon the rays of
which spell 〃America〃 to the incoming liner Boston bound。
Along the path skirting the edge of the bluff Albert strolled； his
hands in his pockets and his thoughts almost anywhere except on the
picnic and the picnickers of the South Harniss Congregational
Church。 His particular mood on this day was one of discontent and
rebellion against the fate which had sentenced him to the assistant
bookkeeper's position in the office of Z。 Snow and Co。 At no time
had he reconciled himself to the idea of that position as a
permanent one； some day； somehow he was going to break away and
domarvelous things。 But occasionally； and usually after a
disagreeable happening in the office； he awoke from his youthful
day dreams of glorious futures to a realization of the dismal to…
day。
The happening which had brought about realization in this instance
was humorous in the eyes of two…thirds of South Harniss's
population。 They were chuckling over it yet。 The majority of
the remaining third were shocked。 Albert； who was primarily
responsible for the whole affair； was neither amused nor shocked；
he was angry and humiliated。
The Reverend Seabury Calvin； of Providence； R。 I。； had arrived in
town and opened his summer cottage unusually early in the season。
What was quite as important； Mrs。 Seabury Calvin had arrived with
him。 The Reverend Calvin； whose stay was in this case merely
temporary； was planning to build an addition to his cottage porch。
Mrs。 Calvin； who was the head of the summer 〃Welfare Workers；〃
whatever they were； had called a meeting at the Calvin house to
make Welfare plans for the season。
The lumber for the new porch was ordered of Z。 Snow and Co。 The
Reverend Calvin ordered it himself in person。 Albert received the
order。
〃I wish this delivered to…morrow without fail；〃 said Mr。 Calvin。
Albert promised。
But promises are not always easy to keep。 One of Z。 Snow and Co。's
teams was busy hauling lumber for the new schoolhouse at Bayport。
The other Issachar had commandeered for deliveries at Harniss
Center and refused to give up his claim。 And Laban Keeler； as it
happened； was absent on one of his 〃vacations。〃 Captain Zelotes
was attending a directors' meeting at Osham and from there was
going to Boston for a day's stay。
〃The ship's in your hands； Al；〃 he had said to his grandson。 〃Let
me see how yo