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Captures, by John Galsworthy.
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Touching stories.
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CONTENTS
A FEUD
THE MAN WHO KEPT HIS FORM
A HEDONIST
TIMBER
SANTA LUCIA
BLACKMAIL
THE BROKEN BOOT
STROKE OF LIGHTNING
VIRTUE
CONSCIENCE
SALTA PRO NOBIS
PHILANTHROPY
A LONG-AGO AFFAIR
ACME
LATE — 299
HAD A HORSE
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A FEUD
" ... Snip had not liked, any more than his master, that thin, spry, red-grey-bearded chap’s experimental ways of farming, his habit of always being an hour, a week, a month earlier than Bowden; had not liked his lean, dry activity, his thin legs, his east-wind air. Bowden knew that he would have shot Steer’s dog if he himself had been the third person bitten by it; but then Steer’s dog had not bitten Bowden, Bowden’s dog had bitten Steer; and this seemed to Bowden to show that his dog knew what was what. ... "
" ... To the casual eye Steer was much more up-to-date and ‘civilised’; to one looking deeper, Bowden had been ‘civilised’ much longer. He had grown protective covering in a softer climate or drawn it outward from an older strain of blood."
"The news that New Bowden had ‘joined up’ reached the village simultaneously with the report that Steer had ‘shot’ him in London for three hundred pounds and costs for breaking his promise to Molly Winch. The double sensation was delicious. Honours seemed so easy that no one could see which had come off best. It was fairly clear, however, that Molly Winch and the girl Pansy had come off worst. And there was great curiosity to see them. This was not found possible, for Molly Winch was at Weston-super-Mare and the girl Pansy invisible, even by those whose business took them to Bowden’s yard. Bowden himself put in his customary appearance at ‘The Three Stars,’ where he said quite openly that Steer would never see a penny of that money; Steer his customary appearances at church, where he was a warden, and could naturally say nothing. Christmas passed, and the New Year wore on through colourless February and March, when every tree was bare, the bracken’s russet had gone dark-dun, and the hedgerows were songless."
" ... Neither of the neighbouring enemies showed by word or sign that they saw any connection between gain and loss; but the schoolmistress met them one afternoon at the end of March seated in their carts face to face in a lane so narrow that some compromise was essential to the passage of either. They had been there without movement long enough for their mares to have begun grazing in the hedge on either hand. Bowden was sitting with folded arms and an expression as of his own bull on his face. Steer’s teeth and eyes were bared very much like a dog’s when it is going to bite."
June 30, 2021 - June 30, 2021.
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THE MAN WHO KEPT HIS FORM
"It was during one of my Odysseys in connection with sport that I saw him again. He was growing fruit on a ranch in Vancouver Island. Nothing used to strike a young Englishman travelling in the Colonies more than the difference between what he saw and what all printed matter led him to expect. When I ran across Ruding in the club at Victoria and he invited me to stay with him, I expected rows of line trees with large pears and apples hanging on them, a Colonial house with a broad verandah, and Ruding in ducks, among rifles and fishing rods, and spirited horses. What I found was a bare new wooden house, not yet painted, in a clearing of the heavy forest. His fruit trees had only just been planted, and he would be lucky if he got a crop within three years. He wore, not white ducks, but blue jeans, and worked about twelve hours a day, felling timber and clearing fresh ground. He had one horse to ride and drive, and got off for a day’s shooting or fishing about once a month. He had three Chinese boys working under him, and lived nearly as sparingly as they. He had been out of England eight years, and this was his second venture — the first in Southern California had failed after three years of drought. He would be all right for water here, he said; which seemed likely enough in a country whose rainfall is superior to that of England."
"“Aren’t you ever coming home?” I asked when I was taking leave.
"“When I’ve made good here,” he said, “I shall come bark and marry.”"
" ... Some enterprising gentleman, interested in real estate, had reported the discovery of coal seams, which greatly enhanced the value of Bear Ranch and several neighbouring properties. Ruding was offered a big sum. He took it, and had already left the neighbourhood when the report about coal was duly disproved. Ruding at once offered to cancel the price, and take the agricultural value of the property. His offer was naturally accepted, and the disgust of other owners who had sold on the original report may be imagined. More wedded to the rights of property, they upheld the principle ‘Caveat emptor,’ and justified themselves by calling Ruding names. With his diminished proceeds he bought another ranch on the mainland."
" ... If only I could have established a blood tie! Ruding would have taken help or support from his kinsfolk — would have inherited without a qualm from a second cousin that he’d never seen; but from the rest of the world it would be charity. ... "
" ... From my club doorway I saw him resume his driver’s seat, the cigarette still between his lips, and the lamplight shining on his lean profile. Very still he sat — symbol of that lost cause, gentility."
June 30, 2021 - June 30, 2021.
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A HEDONIST
"Everyone who goes to Charleston in the spring, soon or late, visits Magnolia Gardens. ... I used to sit paralysed by the absurdity of putting brush to canvas in front of that dream-pool. I wanted to paint of it a picture like that of the fountain, by Helleu, which hangs in the Luxembourg. But I knew I never should."
June 30, 2021 - July 01, 2021.
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TIMBER
"They did not cut down the elm-tree under which they found his body, with the rest of the sold timber, but put a little iron fence round it, and a little tablet on its trunk."
July 01, 2021 - July 01, 2021.
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SANTA LUCIA
" ... Among the congregation to whom he had that morning read the lessons he had noted, for instance, that old blackguard Telford, who had run off with two men’s wives in his time, and was now living with a Frenchwoman, they said. What on earth was he doing in church? And that ostracised couple, the Gaddenhams, who had the villa near Roquebrune? She used his name, but they had never been married, for Gaddenham’s wife was still alive. And, more seriously, had he observed Mrs. Rolfe, who before the war used to come with her husband — now in India — to The Cedars to shoot the coverts in November. Young Lord Chesherford was hanging about her, they said. That would end in scandal to a certainty. Never without uneasiness did he see that woman, with whom his daughter was on terms of some intimacy. Grass widows were dangerous, especially in a place like this. He must give Agatha a hint."
" ... The very — ! He stood staring into a tangled garden through the fog of forty-five years, resting his large prayer-book with its big print on the top rail of the old green gate; then, looking up and down the road like a boy about to steal cherries, he lifted the latch and passed in."
"Two nights he had sat here, waiting, sick with anxiety and longing. A third day he had watched outside the villa, closed, shuttered, abandoned; not a sound from it, not a living thing, ... "
" ... What had he been thinking of before? Oh, ah! The Rolfe woman and that young fool Chesherford. Yes, he would certainly warn Agatha, certainly warn her. They were a loose lot out here!"
July 01, 2021 - July 02, 2021.
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BLACKMAIL
A man attempting to blackmail a faithful husband and failing, succeeds in planting a seed of doubt.
July 02, 2021 - July 02, 2021.
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THE BROKEN BOOT
" ... He gathered himself and rose. The young women were gazing up. Elegant, with faint smile, he passed them close, managing — so that they could not see — his broken boot."
July 03, 2021 - July 03, 2021.
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STROKE OF LIGHTNING
"“If she didn’t love me,” he said, “I could bear it. But she does. Well! So long as I can see her I shall stand it; and she’ll come — she’ll come to me at last.”"
July 03, 2021 - July 03, 2021.
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VIRTUE
"‘Glad I didn’t go into that girl’s house, anyway,’ he thought. ‘I would have felt a scum!’ The only decent thing about it all had been her look when she said: “Ow! thank you!” That gave him a little feeling of warmth even now; and then — it, too, chilled away. Nothing for it! When he had done sitting there, he must go home!"
July 03, 2021 - July 04, 2021.
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CONSCIENCE
"This devilling was quite an art, and, not unlike art, poorly enough paid. Still, not bad fun feeling you were the pea and the chief only the shell — the chief, with his great name and controlling influence. He finished pencilling, O.K.’d the sheets, thought, ‘Georgie Grebe! what the deuce shall I write about?’ and went back to his room.
"It was not much of a room, and there was not much in it except Jimmy Counter, smoking a pipe and writing furiously.
"Taggart sat down too, lit his own pipe, took a sheet of paper and scrawled the words ‘Georgie Grebe Article’ across the top."
July 04, 2021 - July 04, 2021.
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SALTA PRO NOBIS
" ... The spy-woman in her charge, a dancer with gipsy blood they said — or was it Moorish? — who had wormed secrets from her French naval lover and sold them to the Germans in Spain. At the trial they said there was no doubt. And they had brought her to the convent saying: “Keep her for us till the fifteenth. She will be better with you than in prison.” To be shot — a woman! It made one shiver! And yet — it was war! It was for France!"
"Morning, cold and grey, a sprinkle of snow on the ground. They came for the dancer during Mass. Later a sound of firing! ‘ With trembling lips the Mother Superior prayed for the soul dancing before her God...
"That evening they searched for Sister Marie, and could not find her. After two days a letter came.
"“Forgive me, my Mother. I have gone back to life.
"“MARIE.”"
July 04, 2021 - July 04, 2021.
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PHILANTHROPY
"Why had he helped them? What did he care so long as he got rid of man, woman, and dog?"
July 04, 2021 - July 04, 2021.
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A LONG-AGO AFFAIR
" ... He pressed the palms of his hands to the turf. A glorious summer — something like that summer of long ago. And warmth from the turf, or perhaps from the past, crept into his heart, and made it ache a little. Just here he must have sat, after his innings, at Mrs. Monteith’s feet peeping out of a flounced dress. Lord! The fools boys were! How headlong and uncalculating their devotions! A softness in voice and eyes, a smile, a touch or two — and they were slaves! Young fools, but good young fools. And, standing behind her chair — he could see him now — that other idol, Captain MacKay, with his face of browned ivory — just the colour of that elephant’s tusk his uncle had, which had gone so yellow — and his perfect black moustache, his white tie, check suit, carnation, spats, Malacca cane — all so fascinating! ... And that day on the river, when she made much of him, and Captain MacKay attended Evelyn Curtiss so assiduously that he was expected to propose. Quaint period! They used the word courting then, wore full skirts, high stays; and himself a blue elastic belt round his white-flannelled waist. ... "
" ... Betrayed with a kiss! Two idols in the dust! And did they care what he was feeling? Not they! All they cared for was to cover up their tracks with him! But somehow — somehow — he had never shown her that he knew. Only, when their dance was over, and someone came and took her for the next, he escaped up to his little room, tore off his gloves, his waistcoat; lay on his bed, thought bitter thoughts."
" ... Wonder what became of those two? Victorian Age! Hatches were battened down in those days! But, innocent — my hat!’"
July 04, 2021 - July 04, 2021.
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ACME
"“Hallo!” he said. “I went into a thing they call a cinema last night. Have you ever been?”
"“Ever been? Do you know how long the cinema has been going? Since about 1900.”
"“Well! What a thing! I’m writing a skit on it!”"
" ... Skit! By George! He had written a perfect scenario — or, rather, that which wanted the merest professional touching-up to be perfect. I was excited. It was a little gold-mine if properly handled. Any good film company, I felt convinced, would catch at it. Yes! But how to handle it? Bruce was such an unaccountable creature, such a wild old bird! Imagine his having only just realised the cinema! If I told him his skit was a serious film, he would say: “Good God!” and put it in the fire, priceless though it was. And yet, how could I market it without carte blanche, and how get carte blanche without giving my discovery away? I was deathly keen on getting some money for him; and this thing, properly worked, might almost make him independent. I felt as if I had a priceless museum piece which a single stumble might shatter to fragments. ... "
"“You live out of the world — you don’t realise what humdrum people want; something to balance the grey ness, the — the banality of their lives. They want blood, thrill, sensation of all sorts. You didn’t mean to give it them, but you have, you’ve done them a benefit, whether you wish to or not, and the money’s yours and you’ve got to take it.”
"The cat suddenly jumped down. I waited for the storm to burst.
"“I know,” I dashed on, “that you hate and despise the film—”
"Suddenly his voice boomed out:
"“Bosh! What are you talking about? Film! I go there every other night.”"
July 04, 2021 - July 04, 2021.
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LATE — 299
"“If I’d been breakable, your prison would have broken me all right. ... "
July 04, 2021 - July 04, 2021.
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HAD A HORSE
"An error to suppose that men conduct finance, high or low, from greed, or love of gambling; they do it out of self-esteem, out of an itch to prove their judgment superior to their neighbours’, out of a longing for importance. George Pulcher did not despise the turning of a penny, but he valued much more the consciousness that men were saying: “Old George, what ‘e says goes — knows a thing or two — George Pulcher!”"
"‘Jimmy’ inclined to the bold course. He kept saying: “The mare’s a flyer, George — she’s the ‘ell of a flyer !”
"“Wait till she’s been tried,” said the oracle.
"Had Polman anything that would give them a line?"
"“Tell Mr. Shrewin how she went.”
"“Had a bit up my sleeve. If I’d hit her a smart one, I could ha’ landed by a length or more.”
"“That so?” said ‘Jimmy’ with a hiss. “Well, don’t you hit her; she don’t want hittin’. You remember that.”
"The boy said sulkily: “All right!”
“Take her home,” said Polman. Then, with that reflective averted air of his, he added: “She was carrying eight stone, Mr. Shrewin; you’ve got a good one there. She’s The Hangman at level weights.”
"Something wild leaped up in ‘Jimmy’ — The Hangman’s form unrolled itself before him in the air — he had a horse — he dam’ well had a horse!"
"The longer you can bet on a race the greater its fascination. Handicappers can properly enjoy the beauty of their work; clubmen and oracles of the course have due scope for reminiscence and prophecy; bookmakers in lovely leisure can indulge a little their own calculated preferences, instead of being hurried to soulless conclusions by a halfhour’s market on the course; the professional backer has the longer in which to dream of his fortune made at last by some hell of a horse — spotted somewhere as interfered with, left at the post, running green, too fat, not fancied, backward — now bound to win this hell of a race. And the general public has the chance to read the horses’ names in the betting news for days and days; and what a comfort that is!"
"“She could ‘a won,” muttered ‘Jimmy.’
"“Not she, my boy; there’s two at least can beat ‘er.”
"Like all oracles, George Pulcher could believe what he wanted to."
"They were staring at her, following her. No wonder! She was a picture, his horse — his! She had gone to ‘Jimmy’s’ head."
"“Calliope!”
"He saw his mare shoot out — she’d won!"
"Not having laid against his horse, he had had a good race in spite of everything; yet, the following week, uncertain into what further quagmires of quixotry she might lead him, he sold Calliope.
"But for years betting upon horses that he never saw, underground like a rat, yet never again so accessible to the kicks of fortune, or so prone before the shafts of superiority, he would think of the Downs with the blinkin’ larks singin’, and talk of how once he — had a horse."
July 05, 2021 - July 06, 2021.
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June 30, 2021 - July 06, 2021.
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