欧亨利短篇小说集(15)

Soapywalkedeastward.Hethrewtheumbrellaangrilyintoapit.Hewasangrywiththemenwhowearhelmetsandcarryclubs.Becausehewantedtobearrested,theyseemedtoregardhimasakingwhocoulddonowrong.
AtlastSoapyreachedoneoftheavenuestotheeastwhereitwasnotsonoisy.HewenttowardsMadisonSquare,forthehomeinstinctremainsevenwhenthehomeisaparkbench.
ButonaquietcornerSoapystoppedbeforeanoldchurch.Throughonewindowasoftlightglowed,where,nodoubt,theorganistplayedaSundayanthem.FortherecametoSoapy"searssweetmusicthatcaughtandheldhimattheironfence.
Themoonwasshining;carsandpedestrianswerefew;birdstwitteredsleepilyundertheroof.AndtheanthemthattheorganistplayedcementedSoapytotheironfence,forhehadknownitwellinthedayswhenhislifecontainedsuchthingsasmothersandrosesandambitionsandfriends.
TheinfluenceofthemusicandtheoldchurchproducedasuddenandwonderfulchangeinSoapy"ssoul.Hesawwithhorrorthepitintowhichhehadfallen.Hethoughtofhisdegradeddays,deadhopesandwreckedfaculties.
Andalsoinamomentastrongimpulsemovedhimtobattlewithhisdesperatefate.Hewouldpullhimselfoutofthispit;hewouldmakeamanofhimselfagain.Therewastime;hewasyoungyet.Thosesweetorgannoteshadsetuparevolutioninhim.Tomorrowhewouldbesomebodyintheworld.Hewould-