第5章

HadyoubeenintheearlieryearsofyourlifeacitizenofthevillageofWinesburg，Ohio，therewouldhavebeenforyounomysteryinregardtothebeastinhiscage。"ItislikeWashWilliams，"youwouldhavesaid。"Ashesitsinthecornerthere，thebeastisexactlylikeoldWashsittingonthegrassinthestationyardonasummereveningafterhehasclosedhisofficeforthenight。"

WashWilliams，thetelegraphoperatorofWines-

burg，wastheugliestthingintown。Hisgirthwasimmense，hisneckthin，hislegsfeeble。Hewasdirty。Everythingabouthimwasunclean。Eventhewhitesofhiseyeslookedsoiled。

Igotoofast。NoteverythingaboutWashwasun-

clean。Hetookcareofhishands。Hisfingerswerefat，buttherewassomethingsensitiveandshapelyinthehandthatlayonthetablebytheinstrumentinthetelegraphoffice。InhisyouthWashWilliamshadbeencalledthebesttelegraphoperatorinthestate，andinspiteofhisdegradementtotheobscureofficeatWinesburg，hewasstillproudofhisability。

WashWilliamsdidnotassociatewiththemenofthetowninwhichhelived。"I\'llhavenothingtodowiththem，"hesaid，lookingwithblearyeyesatthemenwhowalkedalongthestationplatformpastthetelegraphoffice。UpalongMainStreethewentintheeveningtoEdGriffith\'ssaloon，andafterdrink-

ingunbelievablequantitiesofbeerstaggeredofftohisroomintheNewWillardHouseandtohisbedforthenight。

WashWilliamswasamanofcourage。Athinghadhappenedtohimthatmadehimhatelife，andhehateditwholeheartedly，withtheabandonofapoet。Firstofall，hehatedwomen。"Bitches，"hecalledthem。Hisfeelingtowardmenwassomewhatdifferent。Hepitiedthem。"Doesnoteverymanlethislifebemanagedforhimbysomebitchoran-

other？"heasked。

InWinesburgnoattentionwaspaidtoWashWil-

liamsandhishatredofhisfellows。OnceMrs。

White，thebanker\'swife，complainedtothetele-

graphcompany，sayingthattheofficeinWinesburgwasdirtyandsmelledabominably，butnothingcameofhercomplaint。Hereandthereamanre-

spectedtheoperator。Instinctivelythemanfeltinhimaglowingresentmentofsomethinghehadnotthecouragetoresent。WhenWashwalkedthroughthestreetssuchaonehadaninstincttopayhimhomage，toraisehishatortobowbeforehim。Thesuperintendentwhohadsupervisionoverthetele-

graphoperatorsontherailroadthatwentthroughWinesburgfeltthatway。HehadputWashintotheobscureofficeatWinesburgtoavoiddischarginghim，andhemeanttokeephimthere。Whenhereceivedtheletterofcomplaintfromthebanker\'swife，hetoreitupandlaughedunpleasantly。Forsomereasonhethoughtofhisownwifeashetoreuptheletter。

WashWilliamsoncehadawife。WhenhewasstillayoungmanhemarriedawomanatDayton，Ohio。

Thewomanwastallandslenderandhadblueeyesandyellowhair。Washwashimselfacomelyyouth。

Helovedthewomanwithaloveasabsorbingasthehatredhelaterfeltforallwomen。

InallofWinesburgtherewasbutonepersonwhoknewthestoryofthethingthathadmadeuglythepersonandthecharacterofWashWilliams。HeoncetoldthestorytoGeorgeWillardandthetellingofthetalecameaboutinthisway:

GeorgeWillardwentoneeveningtowalkwithBelleCarpenter，atrimmerofwomen\'shatswhoworkedinamillineryshopkeptbyMrs。KateMcHugh。Theyoungmanwasnotinlovewiththewoman，who，infact，hadasuitorwhoworkedasbartenderinEdGriffith\'ssaloon，butastheywalkedaboutunderthetreestheyoccasionallyembraced。

Thenightandtheirownthoughtshadarousedsomethinginthem。AstheywerereturningtoMainStreettheypassedthelittlelawnbesidetherailroadstationandsawWashWilliamsapparentlyasleeponthegrassbeneathatree。OnthenexteveningtheoperatorandGeorgeWillardwalkedouttogether。

Downtherailroadtheywentandsatonapileofdecayingrailroadtiesbesidethetracks。Itwasthenthattheoperatortoldtheyoungreporterhisstoryofhate。

PerhapsadozentimesGeorgeWillardandthestrange，shapelessmanwholivedathisfather\'shotelhadbeenonthepointoftalking。Theyoungmanlookedatthehideous，leeringfacestaringaboutthehoteldiningroomandwasconsumedwithcuriosity。Somethinghesawlurkinginthestar-

ingeyestoldhimthatthemanwhohadnothingtosaytoothershadneverthelesssomethingtosaytohim。Onthepileofrailroadtiesonthesummereve-

ning，hewaitedexpectantly。Whentheoperatorre-

mainedsilentandseemedtohavechangedhismindabouttalking，hetriedtomakeconversation。"Wereyouevermarried，Mr。Williams？"hebegan。"Isup-

poseyouwereandyourwifeisdead，isthatit？"

WashWilliamsspatforthasuccessionofvileoaths。"Yes，sheisdead，"heagreed。"Sheisdeadasallwomenaredead。Sheisaliving-deadthing，walkinginthesightofmenandmakingtheearthfoulbyherpresence。"Staringintotheboy\'seyes，themanbecamepurplewithrage。"Don\'thavefoolnotionsinyourhead，"hecommanded。"Mywife，sheisdead；yes，surely。Itellyou，allwomenaredead，mymother，yourmother，thattalldarkwomanwhoworksinthemillinerystoreandwithwhomIsawyouwalkingaboutyesterday——allofthem，theyarealldead。Itellyouthereissomethingrottenaboutthem。Iwasmarried，sure。Mywifewasdeadbeforeshemarriedme，shewasafoulthingcomeoutawomanmorefoul。Shewasathingsenttomakelifeunbearabletome。Iwasafool，doyousee，asyouarenow，andsoImarriedthiswoman。

Iwouldliketoseemenalittlebegintounderstandwomen。Theyaresenttopreventmenmakingtheworldworthwhile。ItisatrickinNature。Ugh!Theyarecreeping，crawling，squirmingthings，theywiththeirsofthandsandtheirblueeyes。Thesightofawomansickensme。WhyIdon\'tkilleverywomanIseeIdon\'tknow。"

Halffrightenedandyetfascinatedbythelightburningintheeyesofthehideousoldman，GeorgeWillardlistened，afirewithcuriosity。Darknesscameonandheleanedforwardtryingtoseethefaceofthemanwhotalked。When，inthegatheringdark-

ness，hecouldnolongerseethepurple，bloatedfaceandtheburningeyes，acuriousfancycametohim。

WashWilliamstalkedinloweventonesthatmadehiswordsseemthemoreterrible。Inthedarknesstheyoungreporterfoundhimselfimaginingthathesatontherailroadtiesbesideacomelyyoungmanwithblackhairandblackshiningeyes。TherewassomethingalmostbeautifulinthevoiceofWashWil-

liams，thehideous，tellinghisstoryofhate。

ThetelegraphoperatorofWinesburg，sittinginthedarknessontherailroadties，hadbecomeapoet。

Hatredhadraisedhimtothatelevation。"ItisbecauseIsawyoukissingthelipsofthatBelleCarpenterthatItellyoumystory，"hesaid。"Whathappenedtomemaynexthappentoyou。Iwanttoputyouonyourguard。Alreadyyoumaybehavingdreamsinyourhead。Iwanttodestroythem。"

WashWilliamsbegantellingthestoryofhismar-

riedlifewiththetallblondegirlwiththeblueeyeswhomhehadmetwhenhewasayoungoperatoratDayton，Ohio。Hereandtherehisstorywastouchedwithmomentsofbeautyintermingledwithstringsofvilecurses。Theoperatorhadmarriedthedaughterofadentistwhowastheyoungestofthreesisters。Onhismarriageday，becauseofhisability，hewaspromotedtoapositionasdispatcheratanincreasedsalaryandsenttoanofficeatColumbus，Ohio。Therehesettleddownwithhisyoungwifeandbeganbuyingahouseontheinstallmentplan。

Theyoungtelegraphoperatorwasmadlyinlove。

Withakindofreligiousfervorhehadmanagedtogothroughthepitfallsofhisyouthandtoremainvirginaluntilafterhismarriage。HemadeforGeorgeWillardapictureofhislifeinthehouseatColum-

bus，Ohio，withtheyoungwife。"inthegardenbackofourhouseweplantedvegetables，"hesaid，"youknow，peasandcornandsuchthings。WewenttoColumbusinearlyMarchandassoonasthedaysbecamewarmIwenttoworkinthegarden。WithaspadeIturneduptheblackgroundwhilesheranaboutlaughingandpretendingtobeafraidofthewormsIuncovered。LateinAprilcametheplanting。

Inthelittlepathsamongtheseedbedsshestoodholdingapaperbaginherhand。Thebagwasfilledwithseeds。AfewatatimeshehandedmetheseedsthatImightthrustthemintothewarm，softground。"

Foramomenttherewasacatchinthevoiceofthemantalkinginthedarkness。"Ilovedher，"hesaid。"Idon\'tclaimnottobeafool。Iloveheryet。

ThereintheduskinthespringeveningIcrawledalongtheblackgroundtoherfeetandgroveledbe-

foreher。Ikissedhershoesandtheanklesabovehershoes。WhenthehemofhergarmenttouchedmyfaceItrembled。WhenaftertwoyearsofthatlifeIfoundshehadmanagedtoacquirethreeotherlov-

erswhocameregularlytoourhousewhenIwasawayatwork，Ididn\'twanttotouchthemorher。

Ijustsentherhometohermotherandsaidnothing。

Therewasnothingtosay。Ihadfourhundreddol-

larsinthebankandIgaveherthat。Ididn\'taskherreasons。Ididn\'tsayanything。WhenshehadgoneIcriedlikeasillyboy。PrettysoonIhadachancetosellthehouseandIsentthatmoneytoher。"

WashWilliamsandGeorgeWillardarosefromthepileofrailroadtiesandwalkedalongthetrackstowardtown。Theoperatorfinishedhistalequickly，breathlessly。

"Hermothersentforme，"hesaid。"ShewrotemealetterandaskedmetocometotheirhouseatDayton。WhenIgotthereitwaseveningaboutthistime。"

WashWilliams\'voicerosetoahalfscream。"Isatintheparlorofthathousetwohours。Hermothertookmeinthereandleftme。Theirhousewasstyl-

ish。Theywerewhatiscalledrespectablepeople。

Therewereplushchairsandacouchintheroom。I

wastremblingallover。IhatedthemenIthoughthadwrongedher。Iwassickoflivingaloneandwantedherback。ThelongerIwaitedthemorerawandtenderIbecame。IthoughtthatifshecameinandjusttouchedmewithherhandIwouldperhapsfaintaway。Iachedtoforgiveandforget。"

WashWilliamsstoppedandstoodstaringatGeorgeWillard。Theboy\'sbodyshookasfromachill。Againtheman\'svoicebecamesoftandlow。"Shecameintotheroomnaked，"hewenton。"Hermotherdidthat。WhileIsatthereshewastakingthegirl\'sclothesoff，perhapscoaxinghertodoit。FirstI

heardvoicesatthedoorthatledintoalittlehallwayandthenitopenedsoftly。Thegirlwasashamedandstoodperfectlystillstaringatthefloor。Themotherdidn\'tcomeintotheroom。Whenshehadpushedthegirlinthroughthedoorshestoodinthehallwaywaiting，hopingwewould——well，yousee——

waiting。"

GeorgeWillardandthetelegraphoperatorcameintothemainstreetofWinesburg。Thelightsfromthestorewindowslaybrightandshiningonthesidewalks。Peoplemovedaboutlaughingandtalk-

ing。Theyoungreporterfeltillandweak。Inimagi-

nation，healsobecameoldandshapeless。"Ididn\'tgetthemotherkilled，"saidWashWilliams，staringupanddownthestreet。"Istruckheroncewithachairandthentheneighborscameinandtookitaway。Shescreamedsoloudyousee。Iwon\'teverhaveachancetokillhernow。Shediedofafeveramonthafterthathappened。"

THETHINKER

THEHOUSEinwhichSethRichmondofWinesburglivedwithhismotherhadbeenatonetimetheshowplaceofthetown，butwhenyoungSethlivedthereitsgloryhadbecomesomewhatdimmed。ThehugebrickhousewhichBankerWhitehadbuiltonBuck-

eyeStreethadovershadowedit。TheRichmondplacewasinalittlevalleyfaroutattheendofMainStreet。Farmerscomingintotownbyadustyroadfromthesouthpassedbyagroveofwalnuttrees，skirtedtheFairGroundwithitshighboardfencecoveredwithadvertisements，andtrottedtheirhorsesdownthroughthevalleypasttheRichmondplaceintotown。AsmuchofthecountrynorthandsouthofWinesburgwasdevotedtofruitandberryraising，Sethsawwagon-loadsofberrypickers——boys，girls，andwomen——goingtothefieldsinthemorningandreturningcoveredwithdustintheevening。Thechatteringcrowd，withtheirrudejokescriedoutfromwagontowagon，sometimesirritatedhimsharply。Heregrettedthathealsocouldnotlaughboisterously，shoutmeaninglessjokesandmakeofhimselfafigureintheendlessstreamofmoving，gigglingactivitythatwentupanddowntheroad。

TheRichmondhousewasbuiltoflimestone，and，althoughitwassaidinthevillagetohavebecomerundown，hadinrealitygrownmorebeautifulwitheverypassingyear。Alreadytimehadbegunalittletocolorthestone，lendingagoldenrichnesstoitssurfaceandintheeveningorondarkdaystouchingtheshadedplacesbeneaththeeaveswithwaveringpatchesofbrownsandblacks。

ThehousehadbeenbuiltbySeth\'sgrandfather，astonequarryman，andit，togetherwiththestonequarriesonLakeErieeighteenmilestothenorth，hadbeenlefttohisson，ClarenceRichmond，Seth\'sfather。ClarenceRichmond，aquietpassionatemanextraordinarilyadmiredbyhisneighbors，hadbeenkilledinastreetfightwiththeeditorofanewspaperinToledo，Ohio。ThefightconcernedthepublicationofClarenceRichmond\'snamecoupledwiththatofawomanschoolteacher，andasthedeadmanhadbeguntherowbyfiringupontheeditor，theefforttopunishtheslayerwasunsuccessful。Afterthequarryman\'sdeathitwasfoundthatmuchofthemoneylefttohimhadbeensquanderedinspecula-

tionandininsecureinvestmentsmadethroughtheinfluenceoffriends。

Leftwithbutasmallincome，VirginiaRichmondhadsettleddowntoaretiredlifeinthevillageandtotheraisingofherson。Althoughshehadbeendeeplymovedbythedeathofthehusbandandfa-

ther，shedidnotatallbelievethestoriesconcerninghimthatranaboutafterhisdeath。Tohermind，thesensitive，boyishmanwhomallhadinstinctivelyloved，wasbutanunfortunate，abeingtoofineforeverydaylife。"You\'llbehearingallsortsofstories，butyouarenottobelievewhatyouhear，"shesaidtoherson。"Hewasagoodman，fulloftendernessforeveryone，andshouldnothavetriedtobeamanofaffairs。NomatterhowmuchIweretoplananddreamofyourfuture，Icouldnotimagineanythingbetterforyouthanthatyouturnoutasgoodamanasyourfather。"

Severalyearsafterthedeathofherhusband，Vir-

giniaRichmondhadbecomealarmedatthegrowingdemandsuponherincomeandhadsetherselftothetaskofincreasingit。Shehadlearnedstenogra-

phyandthroughtheinfluenceofherhusband\'sfriendsgotthepositionofcourtstenographeratthecountyseat。Thereshewentbytraineachmorningduringthesessionsofthecourt，andwhennocourtsat，spentherdaysworkingamongtherosebushesinhergarden。Shewasatall，straightfigureofawomanwithaplainfaceandagreatmassofbrownhair。

IntherelationshipbetweenSethRichmondandhismother，therewasaqualitythatevenateighteenhadbeguntocolorallofhistrafficwithmen。Analmostunhealthyrespectfortheyouthkeptthemotherforthemostpartsilentinhispresence。

Whenshedidspeaksharplytohimhehadonlytolooksteadilyintohereyestoseedawningtherethepuzzledlookhehadalreadynoticedintheeyesofotherswhenhelookedatthem。

Thetruthwasthatthesonthoughtwithremark-

ableclearnessandthemotherdidnot。Sheexpectedfromallpeoplecertainconventionalreactionstolife。

Aboywasyourson，youscoldedhimandhetrem-

bledandlookedatthefloor。Whenyouhadscoldedenoughheweptandallwasforgiven。Aftertheweepingandwhenhehadgonetobed，youcreptintohisroomandkissedhim。

VirginiaRichmondcouldnotunderstandwhyhersondidnotdothesethings。Aftertheseverestrepri-

mand，hedidnottrembleandlookatthefloorbutinsteadlookedsteadilyather，causinguneasydoubtstoinvadehermind。Asforcreepingintohisroom——

afterSethhadpassedhisfifteenthyear，shewouldhavebeenhalfafraidtodoanythingofthekind。

Oncewhenhewasaboyofsixteen，Sethincom-

panywithtwootherboysranawayfromhome。Thethreeboysclimbedintotheopendoorofanemptyfreightcarandrodesomefortymilestoatownwhereafairwasbeingheld。Oneoftheboyshadabottlefilledwithacombinationofwhiskeyandblackberrywine，andthethreesatwithlegsdan-

glingoutofthecardoordrinkingfromthebottle。

Seth\'stwocompanionssangandwavedtheirhandstoidlersaboutthestationsofthetownsthroughwhichthetrainpassed。Theyplannedraidsuponthebasketsoffarmerswhohadcomewiththeirfam-

iliestothefair。"Wewillfivelikekingsandwon\'thavetospendapennytoseethefairandhorseraces，"theydeclaredboastfully。

AfterthedisappearanceofSeth，VirginiaRich-

mondwalkedupanddownthefloorofherhomefilledwithvaguealarms。Althoughonthenextdayshediscovered，throughaninquirymadebythetownmarshal，onwhatadventuretheboyshadgone，shecouldnotquietherself。AllthroughthenightshelayawakehearingtheclocktickandtellingherselfthatSeth，likehisfather，wouldcometoasuddenandviolentend。Sodeterminedwasshethattheboyshouldthistimefeeltheweightofherwraththat，althoughshewouldnotallowthemarshaltointerferewithhisadventure，shegotoutapencilandpaperandwrotedownaseriesofsharp，sting-

ingreproofssheintendedtopouroutuponhim。

Thereproofsshecommittedtomemory，goingaboutthegardenandsayingthemaloudlikeanactormemorizinghispart。

Andwhen，attheendoftheweek，Sethreturned，alittlewearyandwithcoalsootinhisearsandabouthiseyes，sheagainfoundherselfunabletoreprovehim。Walkingintothehousehehunghiscaponanailbythekitchendoorandstoodlookingsteadilyather。"Iwantedtoturnbackwithinanhourafterwehadstarted，"heexplained。"Ididn\'tknowwhattodo。Iknewyouwouldbebothered，butIknewalsothatifIdidn\'tgoonIwouldbeashamedofmyself。Iwentthroughwiththethingformyowngood。Itwasuncomfortable，sleepingonwetstraw，andtwodrunkenNegroescameandsleptwithus。WhenIstolealunchbasketoutofafarmer\'swagonIcouldn\'thelpthinkingofhischil-

drengoingalldaywithoutfood。Iwassickofthewholeaffair，butIwasdeterminedtostickitoutuntiltheotherboyswerereadytocomeback。"

"I\'mgladyoudidstickitout，"repliedthemother，halfresentfully，andkissinghimupontheforeheadpretendedtobusyherselfwiththeworkaboutthehouse。

OnasummereveningSethRichmondwenttotheNewWillardHousetovisithisfriend，GeorgeWillard。Ithadrainedduringtheafternoon，butashewalkedthroughMainStreet，theskyhadpartiallyclearedandagoldenglowlitupthewest。Goingaroundacorner，heturnedinatthedoorofthehotelandbegantoclimbthestairwayleadinguptohisfriend\'sroom。Inthehotelofficetheproprietorandtwotravelingmenwereengagedinadiscussionofpolitics。

OnthestairwaySethstoppedandlistenedtothevoicesofthemenbelow。Theywereexcitedandtalkedrapidly。TomWillardwasberatingthetravel-

ingmen。"IamaDemocratbutyourtalkmakesmesick，"hesaid。"Youdon\'tunderstandMcKinley。

McKinleyandMarkHannaarefriends。Itisimpossi-

bleperhapsforyourmindtograspthat。Ifanyonetellsyouthatafriendshipcanbedeeperandbiggerandmoreworthwhilethandollarsandcents，orevenmoreworthwhilethanstatepolitics，yousnickerandlaugh。"

Thelandlordwasinterruptedbyoneoftheguests，atall，grey-mustachedmanwhoworkedforawholesalegroceryhouse。"DoyouthinkthatI\'velivedinClevelandalltheseyearswithoutknowingMarkHanna？"hedemanded。"Yourtalkispiffle。

Hannaisaftermoneyandnothingelse。ThisMcKin-

leyishistool。HehasMcKinleybluffedanddon\'tyouforgetit。"

Theyoungmanonthestairsdidnotlingertoheartherestofthediscussion，butwentonupthestairwayandintothelittledarkhall。Somethinginthevoicesofthementalkinginthehotelofficestartedachainofthoughtsinhismind。Hewaslonelyandhadbeguntothinkthatlonelinesswasapartofhischaracter，somethingthatwouldalwaysstaywithhim。Steppingintoasidehallhestoodbyawindowthatlookedintoanalleyway。AtthebackofhisshopstoodAbnerGroff，thetownbaker。Histinybloodshoteyeslookedupanddownthealley-

way。Inhisshopsomeonecalledthebaker，whopretendednottohear。Thebakerhadanemptymilkbottleinhishandandanangrysullenlookinhiseyes。

InWinesburg，SethRichmondwascalledthe"deepone。""He\'slikehisfather，"mensaidashewentthroughthestreets。"He\'llbreakoutsomeofthesedays。Youwaitandsee。"

Thetalkofthetownandtherespectwithwhichmenandboysinstinctivelygreetedhim，asallmengreetsilentpeople，hadaffectedSethRichmond\'soutlookonlifeandonhimself。He，likemostboys，wasdeeperthanboysaregivencreditforbeing，buthewasnotwhatthemenofthetown，andevenhismother，thoughthimtobe。Nogreatunderlyingpurposelaybackofhishabitualsilence，andhehadnodefiniteplanforhislife。Whentheboyswithwhomheassociatedwerenoisyandquarrelsome，hestoodquietlyatoneside。Withcalmeyeshewatchedthegesticulatinglivelyfiguresofhiscom-

panions。Hewasn\'tparticularlyinterestedinwhatwasgoingon，andsometimeswonderedifhewouldeverbeparticularlyinterestedinanything。Now，ashestoodinthehalf-darknessbythewindowwatch-

ingthebaker，hewishedthathehimselfmightbe-

comethoroughlystirredbysomething，evenbythefitsofsullenangerforwhichBakerGroffwasnoted。

"ItwouldbebetterformeifIcouldbecomeexcitedandwrangleaboutpoliticslikewindyoldTomWil-

lard，"hethought，asheleftthewindowandwentagainalongthehallwaytotheroomoccupiedbyhisfriend，GeorgeWillard。

GeorgeWillardwasolderthanSethRichmond，butintheratheroddfriendshipbetweenthetwo，itwashewhowasforevercourtingandtheyoungerboywhowasbeingcourted。ThepaperonwhichGeorgeworkedhadonepolicy。Itstrovetomentionbynameineachissue，asmanyaspossibleoftheinhabitantsofthevillage。Likeanexciteddog，GeorgeWillardranhereandthere，notingonhispadofpaperwhohadgoneonbusinesstothecountyseatorhadreturnedfromavisittoaneigh-

boringvillage。Alldayhewrotelittlefactsuponthepad。"A。P。Wringlethadreceivedashipmentofstrawhats。EdByerbaumandTomMarshallwereinClevelandFriday。UncleTomSinningsisbuildinganewbarnonhisplaceontheValleyRoad。"

TheideathatGeorgeWillardwouldsomedaybe-

comeawriterhadgivenhimaplaceofdistinctioninWinesburg，andtoSethRichmondhetalkedcon-

tinuallyofthematter，"It\'stheeasiestofalllivestolive，"hedeclared，becomingexcitedandboastful。

"Hereandthereyougoandthereisnoonetobossyou。ThoughyouareinIndiaorintheSouthSeasinaboat，youhavebuttowriteandthereyouare。

WaittillIgetmynameupandthenseewhatfunI

shallhave。"

InGeorgeWillard\'sroom，whichhadawindowlookingdownintoanalleywayandonethatlookedacrossrailroadtrackstoBiffCarter\'sLunchRoomfacingtherailroadstation，SethRichmondsatinachairandlookedatthefloor。GeorgeWillard，whohadbeensittingforanhouridlyplayingwithaleadpencil，greetedhimeffusively。"I\'vebeentryingtowritealovestory，"heexplained，laughingner-

vously。Lightingapipehebeganwalkingupanddowntheroom。"IknowwhatI\'mgoingtodo。I\'mgoingtofallinlove。I\'vebeensittinghereandthink-

ingitoverandI\'mgoingtodoit。"

Asthoughembarrassedbyhisdeclaration，Georgewenttoawindowandturninghisbacktohisfriendleanedout。"IknowwhoI\'mgoingtofallinlovewith，"hesaidsharply。"It\'sHelenWhite。Sheistheonlygirlintownwithany\'get-up\'toher。"

Struckwithanewidea，youngWillardturnedandwalkedtowardhisvisitor。"Lookhere，"hesaid。

"YouknowHelenWhitebetterthanIdo。IwantyoutotellherwhatIsaid。YoujustgettotalkingtoherandsaythatI\'minlovewithher。Seewhatshesaystothat。Seehowshetakesit，andthenyoucomeandtellme。"

SethRichmondaroseandwenttowardthedoor。

Thewordsofhiscomradeirritatedhimunbearably。

"Well，good-bye，"hesaidbriefly。

Georgewasamazed。RunningforwardhestoodinthedarknesstryingtolookintoSeth\'sface。

"What\'sthematter？Whatareyougoingtodo？Youstayhereandlet\'stalk，"heurged。

Awaveofresentmentdirectedagainsthisfriend，themenofthetownwhowere，hethought，perpet-

uallytalkingofnothing，andmostofall，againsthisownhabitofsilence，madeSethhalfdesperate。

"Aw，speaktoheryourself，"heburstforthandthen，goingquicklythroughthedoor，slammeditsharplyinhisfriend\'sface。"I\'mgoingtofindHelenWhiteandtalktoher，butnotabouthim，"hemuttered。

Sethwentdownthestairwayandoutatthefrontdoorofthehotelmutteringwithwrath。Crossingalittledustystreetandclimbingalowironrailing，hewenttosituponthegrassinthestationyard。

GeorgeWillardhethoughtaprofoundfool，andhewishedthathehadsaidsomorevigorously。Al-

thoughhisacquaintanceshipwithHelenWhite，thebanker\'sdaughter，wasoutwardlybutcasual，shewasoftenthesubjectofhisthoughtsandhefeltthatshewassomethingprivateandpersonaltohimself。

"Thebusyfoolwithhislovestories，"hemuttered，staringbackoverhisshoulderatGeorgeWillard\'sroom，"whydoeshenevertireofhiseternaltalking。"

ItwasberryharvesttimeinWinesburganduponthestationplatformmenandboysloadedtheboxesofred，fragrantberriesintotwoexpresscarsthatstooduponthesiding。AJunemoonwasinthesky，althoughinthewestastormthreatened，andnostreetlampswerelighted。Inthedimlightthefig-

uresofthemenstandingupontheexpresstruckandpitchingtheboxesinatthedoorsofthecarswerebutdimlydiscernible。Upontheironrailingthatprotectedthestationlawnsatothermen。Pipeswerelighted。Villagejokeswentbackandforth。

Awayinthedistanceatrainwhistledandthemenloadingtheboxesintothecarsworkedwithre-

newedactivity。

SetharosefromhisplaceonthegrassandwentsilentlypastthemenperchedupontherailingandintoMainStreet。Hehadcometoaresolution。"I\'llgetoutofhere，"hetoldhimself。"WhatgoodamI

here？I\'mgoingtosomecityandgotowork。I\'lltellmotheraboutittomorrow。"

SethRichmondwentslowlyalongMainStreet，pastWacker\'sCigarStoreandtheTownHall，andintoBuckeyeStreet。Hewasdepressedbythethoughtthathewasnotapartofthelifeinhisowntown，butthedepressiondidnotcutdeeplyashedidnotthinkofhimselfasatfault。IntheheavyshadowsofabigtreebeforeDoctorWelling\'shouse，hestoppedandstoodwatchinghalf-wittedTurkSmollet，whowaspushingawheelbarrowintheroad。Theoldmanwithhisabsurdlyboyishmindhadadozenlongboardsonthewheelbarrow，and，ashehurriedalongtheroad，balancedtheloadwithextremenicety。"Easythere，Turk!Steadynow，oldboy!"theoldmanshoutedtohimself，andlaughedsothattheloadofboardsrockeddangerously。

SethknewTurkSmollet，thehalfdangerousoldwoodchopperwhosepeculiaritiesaddedsomuchofcolortothelifeofthevillage。HeknewthatwhenTurkgotintoMainStreethewouldbecomethecen-

terofawhirlwindofcriesandcomments，thatintruththeoldmanwasgoingfaroutofhiswayinordertopassthroughMainStreetandexhibithisskillinwheelingtheboards。"IfGeorgeWillardwerehere，he\'dhavesomethingtosay，"thoughtSeth。

"Georgebelongstothistown。He\'dshoutatTurkandTurkwouldshoutathim。They\'dbothbese-

cretlypleasedbywhattheyhadsaid。It\'sdifferentwithme。Idon\'tbelong。I\'llnotmakeafussaboutit，butI\'mgoingtogetoutofhere。"

Sethstumbledforwardthroughthehalf-darkness，feelinghimselfanoutcastinhisowntown。Hebegantopityhimself，butasenseoftheabsurdityofhisthoughtsmadehimsmile。Intheendhede-

cidedthathewassimplyoldbeyondhisyearsandnotatallasubjectforself-pity。"I\'mmadetogotowork。Imaybeabletomakeaplaceformyselfbysteadyworking，andImightaswellbeatit，"hedecided。

SethwenttothehouseofBankerWhiteandstoodinthedarknessbythefrontdoor。Onthedoorhungaheavybrassknocker，aninnovationintroducedintothevillagebyHelenWhite\'smother，whohadalsoorganizedawomen\'sclubforthestudyofpo-

etry。Sethraisedtheknockerandletitfall。Itsheavyclattersoundedlikeareportfromdistantguns。

"HowawkwardandfoolishIam，"hethought。"IfMrs。Whitecomestothedoor，Iwon\'tknowwhattosay。"

ItwasHelenWhitewhocametothedoorandfoundSethstandingattheedgeoftheporch。Blush-

ingwithpleasure，shesteppedforward，closingthedoorsoftly。"I\'mgoingtogetoutoftown。Idon\'tknowwhatI\'lldo，butI\'mgoingtogetoutofhereandgotowork。IthinkI\'llgotoColumbus，"hesaid。"PerhapsI\'llgetintotheStateUniversitydownthere。Anyway，I\'mgoing。I\'lltellmothertonight。"

Hehesitatedandlookeddoubtfullyabout。"Perhapsyouwouldn\'tmindcomingtowalkwithme？"

SethandHelenwalkedthroughthestreetsbe-

neaththetrees。Heavycloudshaddriftedacrossthefaceofthemoon，andbeforetheminthedeeptwi-

lightwentamanwithashortladderuponhisshoul-

der。Hurryingforward，themanstoppedatthestreetcrossingand，puttingtheladderagainstthewoodenlamp-post，lightedthevillagelightssothattheirwaywashalflighted，halfdarkened，bythelampsandbythedeepeningshadowscastbythelow-branchedtrees。Inthetopsofthetreesthewindbegantoplay，disturbingthesleepingbirdssothattheyflewaboutcallingplaintively。Inthelightedspacebeforeoneofthelamps，twobatswheeledandcircled，pursuingthegatheringswarmofnightflies。

SinceSethhadbeenaboyinkneetrouserstherehadbeenahalfexpressedintimacybetweenhimandthemaidenwhonowforthefirsttimewalkedbesidehim。ForatimeshehadbeenbesetwithamadnessforwritingnoteswhichsheaddressedtoSeth。Hehadfoundthemconcealedinhisbooksatschoolandonehadbeengivenhimbyachildmetinthestreet，whileseveralhadbeendeliveredthroughthevillagepostoffice。

Thenoteshadbeenwritteninaround，boyishhandandhadreflectedamindinflamedbynovelreading。Sethhadnotansweredthem，althoughhehadbeenmovedandflatteredbysomeofthesen-

tencesscrawledinpenciluponthestationeryofthebanker\'swife。Puttingthemintothepocketofhiscoat，hewentthroughthestreetorstoodbythefenceintheschoolyardwithsomethingburningathisside。Hethoughtitfinethatheshouldbethusselectedasthefavoriteoftherichestandmostat-

tractivegirlintown。

HelenandSethstoppedbyafencenearwherealowdarkbuildingfacedthestreet。Thebuildinghadoncebeenafactoryforthemakingofbarrelstavesbutwasnowvacant。Acrossthestreetupontheporchofahouseamanandwomantalkedoftheirchildhood，theirvoicescomingdearlyacrosstothehalf-embarrassedyouthandmaiden。Therewasthesoundofscrapingchairsandthemanandwomancamedownthegravelpathtoawoodengate。Stand-

ingoutsidethegate，themanleanedoverandkissedthewoman。"Foroldtimes\'sake，"hesaidand，turning，walkedrapidlyawayalongthesidewalk。

"That\'sBelleTurner，"whisperedHelen，andputherhandboldlyintoSeth\'shand。"Ididn\'tknowshehadafellow。Ithoughtshewastoooldforthat。"Sethlaugheduneasily。Thehandofthegirlwaswarmandastrange，dizzyfeelingcreptoverhim。Intohismindcameadesiretotellhersome-

thinghehadbeendeterminednottotell。"GeorgeWillard\'sinlovewithyou，"hesaid，andinspiteofhisagitationhisvoicewaslowandquiet。"He\'swrit-

ingastory，andhewantstobeinlove。Hewantstoknowhowitfeels。Hewantedmetotellyouandseewhatyousaid。"

AgainHelenandSethwalkedinsilence。TheycametothegardensurroundingtheoldRichmondplaceandgoingthroughagapinthehedgesatonawoodenbenchbeneathabush。

OnthestreetashewalkedbesidethegirlnewanddaringthoughtshadcomeintoSethRichmond\'smind。Hebegantoregrethisdecisiontogetoutoftown。"ItwouldbesomethingnewandaltogetherdelightfultoremainandwalkoftenthroughthestreetswithHelenWhite，"hethought。Inimagina-

tionhesawhimselfputtinghisarmaboutherwaistandfeelingherarmsclaspedtightlyabouthisneck。

Oneofthoseoddcombinationsofeventsandplacesmadehimconnecttheideaoflove-makingwiththisgirlandaspothehadvisitedsomedaysbefore。HehadgoneonanerrandtothehouseofafarmerwholivedonahillsidebeyondtheFairGroundandhadreturnedbyapaththroughafield。Atthefootofthehillbelowthefarmer\'shouseSethhadstoppedbeneathasycamoretreeandlookedabouthim。A

softhummingnoisehadgreetedhisears。Foramo-

menthehadthoughtthetreemustbethehomeofaswarmofbees。

Andthen，lookingdown，Sethhadseenthebeeseverywhereallabouthiminthelonggrass。Hestoodinamassofweedsthatgrewwaist-highinthefieldthatranawayfromthehillside。Theweedswereabloomwithtinypurpleblossomsandgaveforthanoverpoweringfragrance。Upontheweedsthebeesweregatheredinarmies，singingastheyworked。

Sethimaginedhimselflyingonasummereve-

ning，burieddeepamongtheweedsbeneaththetree。Besidehim，inthescenebuiltinhisfancy，layHelenWhite，herhandlyinginhishand。Apeculiarreluctancekepthimfromkissingherlips，buthefelthemighthavedonethatifhewished。Instead，helayperfectlystill，lookingatherandlisteningtothearmyofbeesthatsangthesustainedmasterfulsongoflaborabovehishead。

OnthebenchinthegardenSethstirreduneasily。

Releasingthehandofthegirl，hethrusthishandsintohistrouserpockets。Adesiretoimpressthemindofhiscompanionwiththeimportanceoftheresolutionhehadmadecameoverhimandhenod-

dedhisheadtowardthehouse。"Mother\'llmakeafuss，Isuppose，"hewhispered。"Shehasn\'tthoughtatallaboutwhatI\'mgoingtodoinlife。ShethinksI\'mgoingtostayonhereforeverjustbeingaboy。"

Seth\'svoicebecamechargedwithboyishearnest-

ness。"Yousee，I\'vegottostrikeout。I\'vegottogettowork。It\'swhatI\'mgoodfor。"

HelenWhitewasimpressed。Shenoddedherheadandafeelingofadmirationsweptoverher。

"Thisisasitshouldbe，"shethought。"Thisboyisnotaboyatall，butastrong，purposefulman。"Cer-

tainvaguedesiresthathadbeeninvadingherbodyweresweptawayandshesatupverystraightonthebench。Thethundercontinuedtorumbleandflashesofheatlightninglituptheeasternsky。Thegardenthathadbeensomysteriousandvast，aplacethatwithSethbesidehermighthavebecomethebackgroundforstrangeandwonderfuladven-

tures，nowseemednomorethananordinaryWines-

burgbackyard，quitedefiniteandlimitedinitsoutlines。

"Whatwillyoudoupthere？"shewhispered。

Sethturnedhalfaroundonthebench，strivingtoseeherfaceinthedarkness。Hethoughtherinfi-

nitelymoresensibleandstraightforwardthanGeorgeWillard，andwasgladhehadcomeawayfromhisfriend。Afeelingofimpatiencewiththetownthathadbeeninhismindreturned，andhetriedtotellherofit。"Everyonetalksandtalks，"hebegan。"I\'msickofit。I\'lldosomething，getintosomekindofworkwheretalkdon\'tcount。MaybeI\'lljustbeamechanicinashop。Idon\'tknow。IguessIdon\'tcaremuch。Ijustwanttoworkandkeepquiet。

That\'sallI\'vegotinmymind。"

Setharosefromthebenchandputouthishand。

Hedidnotwanttobringthemeetingtoanendbutcouldnotthinkofanythingmoretosay。"It\'sthelasttimewe\'llseeeachother，"hewhispered。

AwaveofsentimentsweptoverHelen。PuttingherhanduponSeth\'sshoulder，shestartedtodrawhisfacedowntowardherownupturnedface。Theactwasoneofpureaffectionandcuttingregretthatsomevagueadventurethathadbeenpresentinthespiritofthenightwouldnowneverberealized。"I

thinkI\'dbetterbegoingalong，"shesaid，lettingherhandfallheavilytoherside。Athoughtcametoher。

"Don\'tyougowithme；Iwanttobealone，"shesaid。"Yougoandtalkwithyourmother。You\'dbetterdothatnow。"

Sethhesitatedand，ashestoodwaiting，thegirlturnedandranawaythroughthehedge。Adesiretorunafterhercametohim，butheonlystoodstaring，perplexedandpuzzledbyheractionashehadbeenperplexedandpuzzledbyallofthelifeofthetownoutofwhichshehadcome。Walkingslowlytowardthehouse，hestoppedintheshadowofalargetreeandlookedathismothersittingbyalightedwindowbusilysewing。Thefeelingofloneli-

nessthathadvisitedhimearlierintheeveningre-

turnedandcoloredhisthoughtsoftheadventurethroughwhichhehadjustpassed。"Huh!"heex-

claimed，turningandstaringinthedirectiontakenbyHelenWhite。"That\'showthings\'llturnout。

She\'llbeliketherest。Isupposeshe\'llbeginnowtolookatmeinafunnyway。"Helookedatthegroundandponderedthisthought。"She\'llbeem-

barrassedandfeelstrangewhenI\'maround，"hewhisperedtohimself。"That\'showit\'llbe。That\'showeverything\'llturnout。Whenitcomestolovingsomeone，itwon\'tneverbeme。It\'llbesomeoneelse——somefool——someonewhotalksalot——some-

onelikethatGeorgeWillard。"

TANDY

UNTILSHEWASsevenyearsoldshelivedinanoldunpaintedhouseonanunusedroadthatledoffTrunionPike。Herfathergaveherbutlittleattentionandhermotherwasdead。Thefatherspenthistimetalkingandthinkingofreligion。Heproclaimedhim-

selfanagnosticandwassoabsorbedindestroyingtheideasofGodthathadcreptintothemindsofhisneighborsthatheneversawGodmanifestinghimselfinthelittlechildthat，halfforgotten，livedhereandthereonthebountyofherdeadmother\'srelatives。

AstrangercametoWinesburgandsawinthechildwhatthefatherdidnotsee。Hewasatall，red-

hairedyoungmanwhowasalmostalwaysdrunk。

SometimeshesatinachairbeforetheNewWillardHousewithTomHard，thefather。AsTomtalked，declaringtherecouldbenoGod，thestrangersmiledandwinkedatthebystanders。HeandTombecamefriendsandweremuchtogether。

ThestrangerwasthesonofarichmerchantofClevelandandhadcometoWinesburgonamission。

Hewantedtocurehimselfofthehabitofdrink，andthoughtthatbyescapingfromhiscityassociatesandlivinginaruralcommunityhewouldhaveabetterchanceinthestrugglewiththeappetitethatwasdestroyinghim。

HissojourninWinesburgwasnotasuccess。Thedullnessofthepassinghoursledtohisdrinkingharderthanever。Buthedidsucceedindoingsome-

thing。HegaveanamerichwithmeaningtoTomHard\'sdaughter。