Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter III
Thegreatmagazinegivesmesuch—a—background;givesmesuchweight.”
“GivesYOUsuchweight,givesyousuchbackground.IsitYOURSELFyouthinkof?Youhelperofthehelpless.Isthatyoursincerity?Youmustsinkyourself;mustforgetyourselfandyourowndesireoffame,ofadmittedsuccess.ItisyourPOEM,yourMESSAGE,thatmustprevail,—notYOU,whowroteit.Youpreachadoctrineofabnegation,ofself-obliteration,andyousignyournametoyourwordsashighonthetabletsasyoucanreach,sothatalltheworldmaysee,notthepoem,butthepoet.Presley,therearemanylikeyou.Thesocialreformerwritesabookontheiniquityofthepossessionofland,andoutoftheproceeds,buysacornerlot.Theeconomistwholamentsthehardshipsofthepoor,allowshimselftogrowrichuponthesaleofhisbook.”
ButPresleywouldhearnofurther.
“No,”hecried,“IknowIamsincere,andtoproveittoyou,Iwillpublishmypoem,asyousay,inthedailypress,andIwillacceptnomoneyforit.”
Theytalkedonforaboutanhour,whiletheeveningworeaway.PresleyverysoonnoticedthatVanameewasagainpreoccupied.Morethaneveroflate,hissilence,hisbroodinghadincreased.Byandbyheroseabruptly,turninghisheadtothenorth,inthedirectionoftheMissionchurchofSanJuan.“Ithink,”hesaidtoPresley,“thatImustbegoing.”
“Going?Wheretoatthistimeofnight?”
“Offthere.”Vanameemadeanuncertaingesturetowardthenorth.“Good-bye,”andwithoutanotherwordhedisappearedinthegreyofthetwilight.Presleywasleftalonewondering.
