Complete Works of Sherwood Anderson

by Sherwood Anderson

  In a moment he reappears and stands looking at her. He raises the cane and strikes the leg of his trousers viciously HELEN

  Daddy — is that you?

  WHITE is trying to get himself in hand. He stands looking at HELEN

  WHITE

  Helen, what did that woman — that Miss Carpenter who came here — what did she say to you?

  HELEN gets quickly up. She is not disturbed by her father’s excitement, absorbed in her own thoughts

  HELEN

  Why daddy! Why, what is the matter with you, daddy?

  WHITE

  Bracing himself Matter? What do you mean, Helen? What did that woman say to you?

  HELEN A little surprised Why, nothing, daddy. We had a little talk, that’s all.

  WHITE cannot understand. He is nervous and a little frightened, HELEN starts down to him Why it wasn’t anything, daddy! I was a little upset but it wasn’t anything special. She came here to see you on business. She couldn’t stay.

  She addresses him playfully Why, daddy, you look annoyed! What’s the matter with you?

  WHITE

  He is immensely relieved Annoyed? Why it’s nothing, nothing, Helen. I just don’t like people to get in the habit of coming here on business.

  HELEN looks up at him smiling

  HELEN

  Why daddy, daddy! That doesn’t sound like you — and besides, daddy — she’s nice. Oh, I think she is nice!

  WHITE is relieved and has got control of himself

  WHITE

  But Helen, Helen, I don’t understand. What made you cry?

  HELEN looks away from him, she speaks quietly

  HELEN

  Why, I hardly know, daddy. It was something she said. I suddenly liked her.

  She speaks hurriedly And daddy, you see I’d heard things about her. I’d got it into my head she was a hard woman, and she isn’t.

  She turns to him and smiles Do you want to know what she said, daddy?

  WHITE is now in control of himself

  WHITE

  Yes. Yes, Helen. That’s what I want to know. What did she say?

  HELEN looks up at him

  HELEN

  Daddy — she said — she said you and I were alike. Oh daddy — I’m sure of something — she’s good. And daddy, I’ve heard such things about her.

  WHITE

  Not looking at her That’s what I’d like to know, Helen. What have you heard?

  HELEN

  Why, daddy, I heard — I heard she was going to have a child, and some one told me that it was George Willard’s child.

  WHITE is intensely relieved. He laughs quietly

  WHITE.

  Miss Carpenter didn’t tell you that, did she, Helen?

  HELEN

  Looking up at him No, daddy. You see — you see I wanted to ask her about it but I didn’t quite dare.

  WHITE is now in control of himself. He comes to sit beside

  HELEN

  WHITE

  Helen! Helen! You are growing up, aren’t you?

  He turns and with one arm about her shoulder speaks to her Well, well, Helen dear. You are growing up. Do you know, Helen, I’ve been noticing it lately — the change in you. I suppose every father goes through this. He has a little girl in his house and then suddenly — suddenly she is no longer a little girl. As for this Belle Carpenter and George Willard story — you’d better forget it. If Belle Carpenter is going to have a child George Willard will not be its father.

  HELEN

  Are you quite sure, daddy?

  He turns to look at her

  WHITE

  You seem a good deal interested in George Willard.

  HELEN

  Confused No, no, daddy. I just want to know the truth.

  WHITE is now quite in control of himself. He jumps up and stands before HELEN. He stands looking at her

  WHITE

  So you want to know the truth? Well, I’ll tell it to you. You see, Miss Carpenter must have come here to see me because I’m her banker. I handle her affairs. There are many things going on at a bank, Helen, that are not down in the books. If it is true that Miss Carpenter is going to have a child — and I guess it is — George Willard will not be its father.

  HELEN

  Jumping up Oh, daddy, I’m so glad to know the truth.

  For just a moment father and daughter stand looking at each other, then WHITE steps over to her and again puts his two hands on her shoulders WHITE He suddenly turns her around and pats her on the back Helen, I tell you what let’s do. You’re growing up. When that happens to a girl something else happens. She begins looking for a man.

  He pats her gently on the shoulder and laughs You were upset about this story concerning young George Willard. Are you really interested in him, Helen?

  HELEN is confused. She turns her head and looks away from him

  HELEN

  No, no, of course not, father.

  WHITE

  Laughing Well, all right, all right. Helen, I was going out for a walk. Come, go with me. You’ll be looking for a beau now. Let me be your beau tonight. Run in the house and get your hat.

  HELEN

  Running toward the house Oh, daddy, daddy! I think you’re grand!

  WHITE

  As she is about to exit, the latter part of this speech comes when she has left the stage And don’t worry any more about George Willard and Miss Carpenter. If she is going to have a child its father will be a better man than George Willard.

  HELEN

  From just offstage Oh, daddy, daddy!

  WHITE

  Helen, Helen, be quick! Your mother may come any moment now. You don’t want some other woman to steal your first beau from you, do you?

  HELEN

  From inside the house I’m coming. I’m coming. Oh, daddy, I’m crazy about you!

  BANKER WHITE is quite in control of himself as HELEN comes running on stage and takes his arm. They go off, left, HELEN speaks

  HELEN

  Oh, daddy, I think you’re grand.

  There is again heard the sound of horses’ hoofs trotting and pacing.

  SCENE VII

  SAME AS SCENE 3

  AT RISE: — LOUISE TRUNION is talking with her lover, ED HANBY.

  She is sitting on the low bench, right front, while ED sometimes sits on the woodpile and sometimes moves about. He has a paper in his hand. He smokes a cigar and wears a derby hat on the side of his head ED He points Hey, kid. I’m just reading about the horses. Peddler Boy. I’ll bet he can peddle the speed all right.

  LOUISE

  Bored Yes, race horses are kinda nice.

  ED

  Browning at her Kinda, Hell!

  He looks away from her as though dreaming God, kid. I’m crazy about the trotters and pacers. When I was a kid, I’d have given my neck to be a race-driver. They’d be working out the colts up at the fair grounds. What’n hell’d I want with school? Every day I’d duck out and go up there. Hell, I wasn’t afraid of work. I’d work all day up there for nothin’ — rubbing horses’ legs — walkin’ ’em around to cool ’em off after a fast heat — anything, just to be near them.

  He turns and looks at LOUISE with a soft look in his eye — folds paper and puts it in his pocket Like being near you, eh, kid?

  Again he becomes absorbed. He leans forward like a man driving a race horse Just to see a good colt coming fast — when he heads into the stretch — just to see him flatten out like that — coming fast — down to the ground — low and fast —

  He acts life a man coming out of a dream. He looks at LOUISE and laughs self-consciously Gee, kid, you got me on my nutty subject. Say, you know the fair’s here this week. Let’s go out tomorrow.

  LOUISE

  Horses are kinda cute.

  ED turns and looks at her with an “Oh, what’s-the-use” expression

  ED

  How’s your old man, kid?

  LOUISE

  Not much interested He’s all right. Why?
/>   ED

  I was thinking about him coming down here tonight, that’s all. Jesus, Louise, ain’t life hell?

  LOUISE

  I don’t know. Why?

  ED

  Oh, these poor old geezers. Your old man and my old man — they ain’t spent life in no orchard gathering fruit. Your old man’s been a hard worker all his life. Christ — he was a section hand on the railroad when I was a kid — before you was born. Gettin’ up at daylight, rain or shine. Working all day out in the hot sun and in the snow in winter. What for? For nothin’. Just the eats. Not such damn swell eats either.

  LOUISE is not much interested. She sits listening listlessly Louise, your old man and my old man was always friends. They both been like that — just common workmen all their lives. Gee, God. Louise, kid —

  He draws himself up and laughs Say, my old man was sure disappointed in me. He wanted me to be a big bug — educated — something hoity-toity, like my sister Sue. She’s teaching school over in Medina County. The old man thinks she’s just hell on wheels. She with her education — she don’t want nothin’ to do with me now — a saloonkeeper....

  LOUISE

  What’s the matter with a saloonkeeper? It’s honest, ain’t it?

  ED

  School made me sick — school — grammar, arithmetic, readin’ — dressin’ up and speakin’ their damn pieces on Friday afternoon....

  LOUISE

  I hate it too — what do you need to learn all that stuff for?

  ED

  I can jerk beer as well as any man in the state without knowin’ no grammar. The old man knocked hell outa me more’n once — but I wouldn’t go to school and I didn’t neither.

  He draws himself up proudly I wanted a man’s life. I liked to go huntin’ and fishin’ and I didn’t mind a good light either. But best of all, I liked to go ‘round where race horses were.

  At the mention of horses a flash of feeling comes into ED’S voice LOUISE LOUISE gets up and going to him slaps him rather awkwardly on the shoulder Sure, Ed, let’s go up to the fair grounds to see the races tomorrow.

  She sits again, ED moves about

  ED

  Kid, I can remember when your old man’s first wife was alive. He didn’t have any kids by her. I don’t know why. When she went and died on him he was pretty much cut up. He used to come over to our house and see my old man....

  He laughs, sits on pile of lumber They’d sit together for hours on the porch of our house — funny old coots — not saying a word to each other — work, work. That. ain’t no way to go through life. Nothin’ to it, Louise. Still and all, they were two of the hardest workin’ old geezers in this town.

  He raises his voice What’d they get out of it? They just got nowhere.

  He turns to her Louise, does your old man own this house?

  LOUISE

  Absent-mindedly I don’t know — I guess so. Yes, I guess he does.

  ED Looking around the yard Christ, Louise. Some flowers and rose bushes’d be swell here.

  He grows serious Louise — say, kid — look here. You know I been married once. Well, Kate, — my wife — she’s been dead two years now and I’m thinking of gettin’ tied up again. Kate and I didn’t have any kids, and I want some kids. I been keepin’ a couple of trotters up in the fair grounds, but I’ll let ’em go. A man ought to settle down, some time. Louise, if you married me we could live right here — fix this place up. I ain’t no tight-wad. Your old man could quit work.

  He goes over to

  LOUISE

  LOUISE

  Pop never kicked about workin’.

  ED

  Kid, let’s talk straight. I’m on to you. I know you’ve been foolin’ around. Maybe you ain’t no virgin. I know what women are like. I can handle a woman same as a horse. I can make you behave.

  LOUISE

  Oh, you think so? You think you can?

  ED suddenly makes a grab at her but she eludes him. She laughs at him tauntingly, ED is half angry.

  He stands staring hard at her

  ED

  I don’t just think I can make you behave — I know I can. Kate was just your kind before I got her. I made her step straight down the track. I made a good woman out of her and don’t you forget it.

  LOUISE

  Looking at ED half admiringly and half defiant Oh, I don’t know. You ain’t so much. There can’t any man tell me where to get off.

  At this moment SETH RICHMOND comes stealthily on the stage at the left rear. He creeps across and dodges behind the lumber pile

  ED

  The trouble with you, kid, is that no man’s ever taken you in hand. Some colts are like that. You gotta beat ’em up. They got it in ’em — they can step fast, — but they won’t let go of it. You gotta make ’em let go.

  LOUISE has noticed SETH dodge behind the lumber pile and looks toward it and laughs What the hell you laughing at? You laughing at me? LOUISE is still looking around Say, is any of them kids hanging around here?

  He makes a grab at her but she eludes him and he starts to go away. He walks a little away from her and then comes back. His voice becomes commanding Come here, kid.

  She takes a step or two toward him, but stops out of his reach, ED speaks sharply Come here!

  LOUISE

  Teasing Not so fast — you ain’t got me yet. There can’t no man tell me where to get off.

  ED

  But, Louise, I’m treating you on the square. I’m talking about gettin’ married.

  LOUISE

  But we ain’t married yet.

  ED Thoroughly sore now, grabbing her Are you gonna cut out your monkey business or ain’t you? I don’t stand for no monkey business.

  LOUISE

  Growing haughty. She jerks herself away from him Oh, you don’t.

  ED

  Well, I gotta go now, and I’ll be back. I gotta tend up my business.

  He moves a few steps away and then turns. His voice is gruff Say....

  LOUISE

  Well?

  ED

  Are you gonna cut it out or ain’t you?

  LOUISE

  Laughing Cut what out?

  ED

  I mean foolin’ around them kids — with any one but me. You lettin’ them follow you around. Flirtin’ with them. Are you gonna cut it out or ain’t you?

  LOUISE

  Oh, I don’t know.

  He starts to move away again but LOUISE calls to him, tauntingly

  I ain’t promised.... If you want to know, I got a date for tonight.

  ED

  Who with?

  LOUISE

  Oh, some one.

  ED

  Whoever it is, he better not let me catch him here. I’ll knock hell outa both of you.

  He goes away growling and LOUISE looks after him, laughing. She turns and looks toward the woodpile. Then turns again to be sure ED is out of sight. She whispers loudly

  LOUISE

  Hey, Seth — Hello, Seth.

  SETH’S head pops up from behind the lumber pile Hello, Seth — what are you after?

  SETH

  Nervously Oh, nothing — nothing, Louise. I was just going by here — I had some business down this way.

  He looks hungrily toward LOUISE, but she doesn’t encourage him. He hesitates and then begins to move slowly away I heard what you said to Ed. You gotta date. Is it with George Willard?

  LOUISE

  Oh, I don’t know. Maybe....

  SETH goes reluctantly away; as he gets to the exit, he stops

  SETH

  You better look out for George Willard, he’s been in trouble with one girl.

  He is gone, LOUISE stands for a moment watching him and laughs. She sits on the bench and breads into a little laugh again, GEORGE WILLARD enters. He walks a little past. He has felt the pull of LOUISE but is a little ashamed of it

  LOUISE

  Hello — George.

  GEORGE

  Acting as though surprised at seeing
her Why! Hello, Louise.

  GEORGE stops and LOUISE comes down to him

  LOUISE

  Did you want to see me?

  GEORGE

  Hesitating and embarrassed Well — not especially — you told me on the street the other day you wanted to see me and I thought I’d drop around.

  LOUISE is standing before him amused Did you want to see me about something special, Louise?

  LOUISE

  Well — you know, George — you know when you was here that other time. It was nice, wasn’t it, George? You said it was nice. You haven’t been here since. Have you been ashamed? You said you wouldn’t ever be ashamed of me, after what happened.

  GEORGE

  Still embarrassed Ashamed? Why, no, Louise.

  LOUISE is bent on taunting him

  LOUISE

  You remember what you said? You said you’d go anywhere with me. On Main Street — to the drug store — you promised to take me to the drug store — you said some time you’d take me to a show. —

  GEORGE

  Very much embarrassed Well, —

  LOUISE

  Mimicking Well, — let’s go then —

  GEORGE

  Looking at the ground, his feet shuffling about All right, Louise — but —

  Hopefully But not tonight, Louise. I gotta work tonight.

  LOUISE

  Turning suddenly and — going through the gate Oh, all right — if you gotta work, you’re going uptown. You wait, I’m gonna get my hat. I’ll go with you.

  GEORGE

  Excited and frightened Louise — stop — wait — hey, come here.

  LOUISE comes down to him. GEORGE looks at her for a moment in embarrassed silence Louise — since I was here that time — er, Louise — well, er —

  He goes suddenly earnest I meant it when I said it — honest I did.

  Again embarrassment sweeps over him But, Louise —

  LOUISE is having a grand time Louise — it was nice — everything I said I meant — but since then — Louise — since then —

  LOUISE

  Laughing coldly Oh, I know — I know — there’s some other girl....

  GEORGE

  I can’t tell you — it isn’t the same — I’m not the same — I’m different —

  LOUISE

  Well, you can tell me who it is, can’t you? Who is it?

  GEORGE

  No, no — I can’t tell you.

  SETH RICHMOND again creeps in and hides behind the woodpile LOUISE Pretending to be angry So, you’re too good for me now! — She’s too good for me to know about — so you don’t want to be seen on the street with me. You’re ashamed of me.