When the inauguration1 was accomplished2 - the proceedings3 were made smooth by the presence of the Rough Riders - it is well known that a herd4 of those competent and loyal ex-warrriors paid a visit to the big city. The newspaper reporters dug out of their trunks the old broad-brimmed hats and leather belts that they wear to North Beach fish fries, and mixed with the visitors. No damage was done beyond the employment of the wonderful plural5 "tenderfeet" in each of the scribe's stories. The Westerners mildly contemplated6 the skyscrapers7 as high as the third story, yawned at Broadway, hunched8 down in the big chairs in hotel corridors, and altogether looked as bored and dejected as a member of Ye Ancient and Honorable Artillery9 separated during a sham10 battle from his valet.
Out of this sightseeing delegations11 of good King Teddy's Gentlemen of the Royal Bear-hounds dropped one Greenbrier Nye, of Pin Feather, Ariz.
The daily cyclone12 of Sixth Avenue's rush hour swept him away from the company of his pardners true. The dust from a thousand rustling13 skirts filled his eyes. The mighty14 roar of trains rushing across the sky deafened15 him. The lightning-flash of twice ten hundred beaming eyes confused his vision.
The storm was so sudden and tremendous that Greenbrier's first impulse was to lie down and grab a root. And then he remembered that the disturbance16 was human, and not elemental; and he backed out of it with a grin into a doorway17.
The reporters had written that but for the widebrimmed hats the West was not visible upon these gauchos18 of the North. Heaven sharpen their eyes! The suit of black diagonal, wrinkled in impossible places; the bright blue four-in-hand, factory tied; the low, turned-down collar, pattern of the days of Seymour and Blair, white glazed19 as the letters on the window of the open-day-and-night-except-Sunday restaurants; the out-curve at the knees from the saddle grip; the peculiar20 spread of the half-closed right thumb and fingers from the stiff hold upon the circling lasso; the deeply absorbed weather tan that the hottest sun of Cape21 May can never equal; the seldom-winking blue eyes that unconsciously divided the rushing crowds into fours, as though they were being counted out of a corral; the segregated22 loneliness and solemnity of expression, as of an Emperor or of one whose horizons have not intruded23 upon him nearer than a day's ride - these brands of the West were set upon Greenbrier Nye. Oh, yes; he wore a broadbrimmed hat, gentle reader - just like those the Madison Square Post Office mail carriers wear when they go up to Bronx Park on Sunday afternoons.
Suddenly Greenbrier Nye jumped into the drifting herd of metropolitan24 cattle, seized upon a man, dragged him out of the stream and gave him a buffet25 upon his collarbone that sent him reeling against a wall.
The victim recovered his hat, with the angry look of a New Yorker who has suffered an outrage26 and intends to write to the Trib. about it. But he looked at his assailant, and knew that the blow was in consideration of love and affection after the manner of the West, which greets its friends with contumely and uproar27 and pounding fists, and receives its enemies in decorum and order, such as the judicious28 placing of the welcoming bullet demands.
"God in the mountains!" cried Greenbrier, holding fast to the foreleg of his cull29. "Can this be Longhorn Merritt?"
The other man was - oh, look on Broadway any day for the pattern - business man - latest rolled-brim derby - good barber, business, digestion30 and tailor.
"Greenbrier Nye!" he exclaimed, grasping the hand that had smitten31 him. "My dear fellow! So glad to see you! How did you come to - oh, to be sure - the inaugural32 ceremonies - I remember you joined the Rough Riders. You must come and have luncheon33 with me, of course."
Greenbrier pinned him sadly but firmly to the wall with a hand the size, shape and color of a McClellan saddle.
"Longy," he said, in a melancholy34 voice that disturbed traffic, "what have they been doing to you? You act just like a citizen. They done made you into an inmate35 of the city directory. You never made no such Johnny Branch execration37 of yourself as that out on the Gila. 'Come and have lunching with me!' You never defined grub by any such terms of reproach in them days."
"I've been living in New York seven years," said Merritt. "It's been eight since we punched cows together in Old Man Garcia's outfit38. Well, let's go to a cafe, anyhow.
It sounds good to hear it called 'grub' again."
They picked their way through the crowd to a hotel, and drifted, as by a natural law, to the bar.
"Speak up," invited Greenbrier.
"A dry Martini," said Merritt.
"Oh, Lord!" cried Greenbrier; "and yet me and you once saw the same pink Gila monsters crawling up the walls of the same hotel in Canon Diablo! A dry - but let that pass. Whiskey straight - and they're on you."
Merritt smiled, and paid.
They lunched in a small extension of the dining room that connected with the cafe. Merritt dexterously39 diverted his friend's choice, that hovered40 over ham and eggs, to a puree of celery, a salmon41 cutlet, a partridge pie and a desirable salad.
"On the day," said Greenbrier, grieved and thunderous, "when I can't hold but one drink before eating when I meet a friend I ain't seen in eight years at a 2 by 4 table in a thirty-cent town at 1 o'clock on the third day of the week, I want nine broncos to kick me forty times over a 640-acre section of land. Get them statistics?"
"Right, old man," laughed Merritt. "Waiter, bring an absinthe frapp'e and - what's yours, Greenbrier?"
"Whiskey straight," mourned Nye. "Out of the neck of a bottle you used to take it, Longy - straight out of the neck of a bottle on a galloping42 pony43 - Arizona redeye, not this ab - oh, what's the use? They're on you."
Merritt slipped the wine card under his glass.
"All right. I suppose you think I'm spoiled by the city. I'm as good a Westerner as you are, Greenbrier; but, somehow, I can't make up my mind to go back out there. New York is comfortable - comfortable. I make a good living, and I live it. No more wet blankets and riding herd in snowstorms, and bacon and cold coffee, and blowouts once in six months for me. I reckon I'll hang out here in the future. We'll take in the theatre to-night, Greenbrier, and after that we'll dine at -""I'll tell you what you are. Merritt," said Greenbrier, laying one elbow in his salad and the other in his butter. "You are a concentrated, effete44, unconditional45, short-sleeved, gotch-eared Miss Sally Walker. God made you perpendicular46 and suitable to ride straddle and use cuss words in the original. Wherefore you have suffered his handiwork to elapse by removing yourself to New York and putting on little shoes tied with strings47, and making faces when you talk. I've seen you rope and tie a steer48 in 42 1/2. If you was to see one now you'd write to the Police Commissioner49 about it. And these flapdoodle drinks that you inoculate50 your system with - these little essences of cowslip with acorns51 in 'em, and paregoric flip52 - they ain't anyways in assent53 with the cordiality of manhood. I hate to see you this way."
"Well, Mr. Greenbrier," said Merritt, with apology in his tone, "in a way you are right. Sometimes I do feel like I was being raised on the bottle. But, I tell you, New York is comfortable - comfortable. There's something about it - the sights and the crowds, and the way it changes every day, and the very air of it that seems to tie a one-mile-long stake rope around a man's neck, with the other end fastened somewhere about Thirty-fourth Street. I don't know what it is."
"God knows," said Greenbrier sadly, "and I know. The East has gobbled you up. You was venison, and now you're veal54. You put me in mind of a japonica in a window. You've been signed, sealed and diskivered. Requiescat in hoc signo. You make me thirsty."
"A green chartreuse here," said Merritt to the waiter.
"Whiskey straight," sighed Greenbrier, "and they're on you, you renegade of the round-ups."
"Guilty, with an application for mercy," said Merritt. "You don't know how it is, Greenbrier. It's so comfortable here that -"
"Please loan me your smelling salts," pleaded Greenbrier. "If I hadn't seen you once bluff55 three bluffers from Mazatzal City with an empty gun in Phoenix56 -"
Greenbrier's voice died away in pure grief."Cigars!" he called harshly to the waiter, to hide his emotion.
"A pack of Turkish cigarettes for mine," said Merritt."They're on you," chanted Greenbrier, struggling to conceal57 his contempt.
At seven they dined in the Where-to-Dine-Well column.That evening a galaxy58 had assembled there. Bright shone the lights o'er fair women and br - let it go, anyhow - brave men. The orchestra played charmingly. Hardly had a tip from a diner been placed in its hands by a waiter when it would burst forth59 into soniferousness. The more beer you contributed to it the more Meyerbeer it gave you.
Which is reciprocity.
Merritt put forth exertions60 on the dinner. Greenbrier was his old friend, and he liked him. He persuaded him to drink a cocktail61.
"I take the horehound tea," said Greenbrier, "for old times' sake. But I'd prefer whiskey straight. They're on you."
"Right!" said Merritt. "Now, run your eye down that bill of fare and see if it seems to hitch62 on any of these items."
"Lay me on my lava63 bed!" said Greenbrier, with bulging64 eyes. "All these specimens65 of nutriment in the grub wagon66! What's this? Horse with the heaves? I pass. But look along! Here's truck for twenty roundups all spelled out in different directions. Wait till I see."
The viands67 ordered, Merritt turned to the wine list.
"This Medoc isn't bad," he suggested.
"You're the doc," said Greenbrier. "I'd rather have whiskey straight. It's on you."
Greenbrier looked around the room. The waiter brought things and took dishes away. He was observing. He saw a New York restaurant crowd enjoying itself."How was the range when you left the Gila?" asked Merritt.
"Fine," said Greenbrier. "You see that lady in the red speckled silk at that table. Well, she could warm over her beans at my campfire. Yes, the range was good. She looks as nice as a white mustang I see once on Black River."
When the coffee came, Greenbrier put one foot on the seat of the chair next to him.
"You said it was a comfortable town, Longy," he said, meditatively68. "Yes, it's a comfortable town. It's different from the plains in a blue norther. What did you call that mess in the crock with the handle, Longy? Oh, yes, squabs in a cash roll. They're worth the roll. That white mustang had just such a way of turning his head and shaking his mane - look at her, Longy. If I thought I could sell out my ranch36 at a fair price, I believe I'd -
"Gyar - song!" he suddenly cried, in a voice that paralyzed every knife and fork in the restaurant.
The waiter dived toward the table."Two more of them cocktail drinks," ordered Greenbrier.
Merritt looked at him and smiled significantly.
"They're on me," said Greenbrier, blowing a puff69 of smoke to the ceiling.
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inauguration
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| n.开幕、就职典礼 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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plural
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| n.复数；复数形式；adj.复数的 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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skyscrapers
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| n.摩天大楼 | |
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hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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sham
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| n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的) | |
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delegations
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| n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派 | |
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cyclone
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| n.旋风，龙卷风 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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deafened
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| 使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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gauchos
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| n.南美牧人( gaucho的名词复数 ) | |
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glazed
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| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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segregated
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| 分开的； 被隔离的 | |
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intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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metropolitan
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| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
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buffet
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| n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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cull
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| v.拣选；剔除；n.拣出的东西；剔除 | |
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digestion
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| n.消化，吸收 | |
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smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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inaugural
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| adj.就职的；n.就职典礼 | |
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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execration
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| n.诅咒，念咒，憎恶 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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salmon
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| n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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effete
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| adj.无生产力的，虚弱的 | |
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unconditional
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| adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的 | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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strings
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| n.弦 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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commissioner
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| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
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inoculate
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| v.给...接种，给...注射疫苗 | |
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acorns
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| n.橡子，栎实( acorn的名词复数 ) | |
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52
flip
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| vt.快速翻动；轻抛；轻拍；n.轻抛；adj.轻浮的 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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veal
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| n.小牛肉 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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phoenix
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| n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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galaxy
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| n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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cocktail
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| n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物 | |
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hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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viands
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| n.食品，食物 | |
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meditatively
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| adv.冥想地 | |
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puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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