登陆注册
5230100000009

第9章 CHAPTER IV(1)

Kitty Conover had inherited brains and beauty, and nothing else but the furniture. Her father had been a famous reporter, the admiration of cubs from New York to San Francisco; handsome, happy-go-lucky, generous, rather improvident, and wholly lovable. Her mother had been a comedy actress noted for her beauty and wit and extravagance.

Thus it will be seen that Kitty was in luck to inherit any furniture at all.

Kitty was twenty-four. A body is as old as it is, but a brain is as old as the facts it absorbs; and Kitty had absorbed enough facts to carry her brain well into the thirties.

Conover had been dead twenty years; and Kitty had scarcely any recollections of him. Improvident as the run of newspaper writers are, Conover had fulfilled one obligation to his family - he had kept up his endowment policies; and for eighteen years the insurance had taken care of Kitty and her mother, who because of a weak ankle had not been able to return to the scenes of her former triumphs. In 1915 this darling mother, whom Kitty loved to idolatry, had passed on.

There was enough for the funeral and the cleaning up of the bills; but that was all. The income ceased with Mrs. Conover's demise.

Kitty saw that she must give up writing short stories which nobody wanted, and go to work. So she proceeded at once to the newspaper office where her father's name was still a tradition, and applied for a job. It was frankly a charity job, but Kitty was never to know that because she fell into the newspaper game naturally; and when they discovered her wide acquaintance among theatrical celebrities they switched her into the dramatic department, where she had astonishing success as a raconteur. She was now assistant dramatic editor of the Sunday issue, and her pay envelope had four crisp ten-dollar notes in it each Monday.

She still remained in the old apartment; sentiment as much as anything. She had been born in it and her happiest days had been spent there. She lived alone, without help, being one of that singular type of womanhood that is impervious to the rust of loneliness. Her daily activities sufficed the gregarious instincts, and it was often a relief to move about in silence Among other things Kitty had foresight. She had learned that a little money in the background was the most satisfying thing in existence. So many times she and her mother had just reached the insurance check, with grumbling bill collectors in the hall, that she was determined never to be poor. She had to fight constantly her love of finery inherited from her mother, and her love of good times inherited from her father. So she established a bank account, and to date had not drawn a check against it; which speaks well for her will power, an attribute cultivated, not inherited.

Kitty was as pleasing to the eye as a basket of fruit. Her beauty was animated. There was an expression in her eyes and on her lips that spoke of laughter always on tiptoe. An enviable inheritance, this, the desire to laugh, to be searching always for a vent to laughter; it is something money cannot buy, something not to be cultivated; a true gift of the gods. This desire to laugh is found invariably in the tender and valorous; and Kitty was both. Brown hair with running threads of gold that was always catching light; slate-blue eyes with heavy black fringe-Irish; colour that waxed and waned; and a healthy, shapely body. Topped by a sparkling intellect these gifts made Kitty desirable of men.

Kitty had no beau. After the adolescent days beaux ceased to interest her. This would indicate that she was inclined toward suffrage. Nothing of the kind. Intensely romantic, she determined to await the grand passion or go it alone. No experimental adventures for her. Be assured that she weighed every new man she met, and finding some flaw discarded him as a matrimonial possibility. Besides, her unusual facilities to view and judge men had shown her masculine phases the average woman would have discovered only after the fatal knot was tied. She did not suspect that she was romantical. She attributed her wariness to common sense.

If there is one place where a pretty young woman may labour without having to build a wall of liquid air about her to fend off amatory advances that place is the editorial room of a great metropolitan daily. One must have leisure to fall in love; and only the office boys could assemble enough idle time to call it leisure.

Her desk faced Burlingame's; and Burlingame was the dramatic editor, a scholar and a gentleman. He liked to hear Kitty talk, and often he lured her into the open; and he gathered information about theatrical folks that was outside even his wide range of knowledge.

A drizzly fog had hung over New York since morning. Kitty was finishing up some Sunday special. Burlingame was reading proofs.

All day theatrical folks had been in and out of this little ten-by-twelve cubby-hole; and now there would be quiet.

But no. The door opened and an iron-gray head intruded.

"Will I be in the way?"

"Lord, no!" cried Burlingame, throwing down his proofs. "Come along in, Cutty."

The great war correspondent came in and sat down, sighing gratefully.

Cutty was a nickname; he carried and smoked - everywhere they would permit him - the worst-looking and the worst-smelling pipe in Christendom. You may not realize it, but a nickname is a round-about Anglo-Saxon way of telling a fellow you love him. He was Cutty, but only among his dear intimates, mind you; to the world at large, to presidents, kings, ambassadors, generals, and capitalists he is known by another name. You will find it on the roster of the Royal Geographical; on the title page of several unique books on travel, jewels, and drums; in magazines and newspapers; on the membership roll of the Savage in London and the Lambs in New York. But you will not find it in this story; because it would not be fair to set his name against the unusual adventures that crossed his line of life with that of the young man who wore the tobacco pouch suspended from his neck.

同类推荐
  • 居易录

    居易录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 海运说

    海运说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 革除遗事

    革除遗事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说大乘无量寿庄严经

    佛说大乘无量寿庄严经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 赏心乐事

    赏心乐事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 仙魔之巅

    仙魔之巅

    辗转凡尘千万年,道成平踏仙魔巅。为她,执三千仙魔命,掌亿万众生缘……
  • 论仙二代的逆袭

    论仙二代的逆袭

    (新文《我真的是人生赢家》已经发布,求推荐求收藏~)沈玉衡以为,自己的剧本应该是一心修炼,剿灭魔族,恢复沈家荣光,然而修着修着,沈玉衡发现自己的剧本里混进了什么奇怪的东西……穿越女特工,重生复仇大小姐,废材流男主角,重生夺舍的金丹修……只是简介欢脱,正文正剧风!!#落魄仙二代的奋斗史#男神多多,女神多多#我家男主他不在线#听说女主把男主砍死了绝对不坑,可放心食用。PS:读者群:547310107
  • 唐僧取经日记

    唐僧取经日记

    这是一个特殊的唐僧,他由一个文弱的僧侣,在西天取经的路上不断成长。最终得到了美丽、善良的观音的爱情,并吸收了她的法力。在西天取经的路上,所见到的人间一幕幕悲剧与阴暗,常令他痛心不已。与徒弟在取经路上,结下深厚的师徒情意。 通过日记的形式,反映了唐僧内心世界的爱恨情仇,无情地对现实中的丑恶给与批判,又对正义给与宣扬。 在这追逐钱权,崇尚享乐的极端时代,唐僧逆潮流而为大众利益出发,消耗自己十余年的生命,长途跋涉,历尽艰险,最终取得大火中侥幸幸存下来的真经残片。也为人间芸芸众生,无法过上统一幸福的生活,而发出一声遗憾的叹息。
  • 娇气公主的坏毛病

    娇气公主的坏毛病

    “夕阳过后,就是暗夜无眠。”她堂堂一位娇气的公主殿下,看似具有世间一切美好的她,然而最大的坏毛病就是,这所有的一切都是她装出来的。一个宁愿倾尽生命,却也只为换得一个答案少女,可是后来当爱情撞上了枪口,她会选择义无反顾的抛下爱情堵住枪口吗?一场大型甜美虐心恋,一个长达十一年的皇室仇恨,在那阴险、暗沉的笑容背后,恶又真的是恶吗?沉封了十一年的秘密,最后在爱情与生死不可兼得的她,又会选则死吗?~~~~快乐分割线
  • 锦瑟哀弦:李商隐传

    锦瑟哀弦:李商隐传

    本书在晚唐时代背景下叙述李商隐的一生,着重写其面对社会压抑和种种困厄所作的抗争,特别是他追求精神自由、实现人生价值、终以杰出成就登上唐诗艺术**的生命历程,也描写了他爱情、家庭和性格的多面。全书富于哲理和诗情画意。——文史专家陶文鹏浓淡相宜的笔墨,勾画出一个真实的李商隐。不讨巧、不曲笔,用平实的描述,托举着传记文学以为标识的真实性,显见了作者在运化资料、筹划结构、通融文字等方面的功力。纪实体的方正严谨,并未局限写作的视野。探究传主如何将文学,特别是诗的作用充分发挥,从而超越和提升了生命的价值;再探究传主何以将汉字之美发挥到难以企及的**。
  • 王爷太懒:养个丫鬟做老婆

    王爷太懒:养个丫鬟做老婆

    武国六王爷墨玄勋,天性慵懒、腹黑、傲娇又跋扈,目中无人,偏偏捡了个小丫头回府,百般宠爱,众人连小丫鬟也以为王爷会对她下手,但王爷却一直没有意思,这到底是为何?她在得到了王爷之后感叹,“王爷,这世间万物,我想要的,你都会给我,我想看的美景,都能看到,可是,这世间万物,美味都不及王爷香甜,美景都不及王爷妖艳。”
  • 不去躲

    不去躲

    历史的长河中偶尔泛起一朵水花,人生坎坷,命运多舛,荆棘之路上,男人挺着不屈的脊梁,就算浑身是伤,也挡不住我的心,我是步言,我不惧怕任何磨难,我不去躲!
  • 穿越海峡的白鸽

    穿越海峡的白鸽

    我记不清骑着这匹名为孤云的白马在苍茫的荒野上奔跑了多久,处在惊慌状态中的我脑子里老是闪动着凶狠的日本鬼子挥舞寒光闪闪的刺刀向我逼近的场面,这种幻觉刺激着我的神经,使我不断挥动马鞭抽打着孤云,孤云铆足了劲,拼命向前飞奔。在一条清澈的小溪边,孤云突然放慢了步子,它回过头,望了望伏在它身上的主人,此时的我长长吁了口气,心渐渐平静了下来。我用手摸了摸脑袋,真的有点儿不相信自己能从那场天昏地暗的恶战中幸存下来。现在,枪炮声、呐喊声、马蹄声都已远去。
  • 中医针炙与按摩

    中医针炙与按摩

    针灸学是祖国医学宝库中的一颗璀璨的明珠,是我国劳动人民在长期的医疗实践和生活实践中的经验总结。几千年来它为中华民族的繁衍昌盛做出了重要贡献。近几十年来,针灸医学的发展突飞猛进,已经走向世界,成为世界医学的重要组成部分。随着社会的发展和人民群众生活水平的提高,人们对保健知识的渴求越来越强烈,特别是非药物的保健方法,诸如针灸、按摩、饮食疗法等,因安全可靠,疗效持久,适应面广,无任何副作用,而深受广大人民群众的喜爱。
  • 淡渍堂三种(中国艺术研究院学术文库)

    淡渍堂三种(中国艺术研究院学术文库)

    《淡渍堂三种》由文选、剧选、诗选三部分组成。文选收录了作者关于戏曲理论研究的一些文章,剧选收录了《海陆缘》、《青萍剑》、《合银牌》、《琵琶记》、《刘青提》,这些剧本都是从古典名著、传统剧目改编或改写的,诗选收录了作者100多首诗词,重在表现作者的理想和爱国主义情怀。