McTeague: A Story of San Francisco

d awake for hours in her little, gayly painted bed, with its white netting, torturing herself with doubts and questions. At times she remembered the scene in the station with a ve

ond giant had appeared, this huge, stolid fellow, with his immense, crude strength. She had not loved him at first, that was certain. The day he had spoken to her in his "Parlors" she had only been terrified. If he had confined himself to merely speaking, as did Marcus, to pleading with her, to wooing her at

? Why had it suddenly thrilled her from head to foot with a quick, terrifying gust of passion, the like of which she had never known? Ne

ened her now as she thought of it, this second self that had wakened within her, and that shouted and clamored for recognition. And yet, was it to be feared? Was it something to be

y meant. Until that rainy day by the shore of the bay Trina had lived her life with as little self-consciousness as a tree. She was frank, straightforward, a he

even a choice in the taking of that step that was to make or mar her life? The Woman is awakened, and, starting from her sleep, catches blindly at what

ould, she belonged to him, body and soul, for life or for death. She had not sought it, she had not desired it. The spel

sought each other. Chance had brought them face to face, and mysterious instincts as ungovernable as the winds of heaven were at work knitting their lives together. Neither of them had asked that this thing sho

ge, square-cut head, his salient jaw, his shock of yellow hair, his heavy, lumbering body, his slow wits-she found little to admire in him beyond his physical strength, and at such moments she shook her head decisively. "No, surely she did not love him." Sunday afternoon, however, McTea

put aside her hands with a single gesture, and gripped her to him in a bearlike embrace that all but smothered her. Trina was but a reed before that giant strength. McTeague turned her face to his and kissed her again upon the mouth. Where was all Trina's resolve then? Where was her carefully prepared little

d McTeague were taking lunch at the car conducto

r. By damn! you ought to, for a fact. Why don't you take her out

rcus of his success with Trina.

am, for a fact. I know you'll be happy with her. I know how

hought of taking T

uired, hesitating. Marcus answered,

e. That's the

s so. The theatre

whose social position was not clearly defined, could never be sure how far they could go and yet preserve their "respectability." When they wished to be "proper," they invariably overdid the thing. It was not as if they belonged to the "tough" element, who had no appearances to keep up. Polk Street rubbed elbows with the "avenue" one block above. There were certain l

other," insisted Marcus. "It wouldn'

horribly anxious. He called upon Trina the following Wednesday and made arrangements. Mrs. Sie

ague. "August too-every

ained Trina, "in order to catch the last

nd the dentist would give up their rooms to them and sleep at the dog hospital. There was a bed there in the sick ward that

the matter with having something

d Mrs. Sieppe. "Bier,

!" exclaimed Trina,

ront, on the left-hand side, so as to be out of the hearing of the drums in the orchestra; he must make arrangements about the rooms with Marcus, must get in the beer, but not the tamales; must buy for him

sent from one wicket to another; was bewildered, confused; misunderstood directions; was at one moment suddenly convinc

e you buy

w m

it h

want 'em? Yes, sir,

lf of the formula he had been re

ght in the fourth row from the f

house or as you face the sta

e," he insisted, stolidly; adding,

s you face the stage," shouted the other impatiently

right-hand side," p

w out four tickets with a magn

ght-hand side, then, and you'

r the drums," protested McT

ler with calmness, thrusting his head at McTeague. The

of the house in front of him and began to explain excitedly.

ckets into McTeague's hands. "They are the fourth row from

ant on the right-no, I want on the le

ps of pasteboard. Two girls took his place at the wicket. In another moment Mc

e for Mon

llet. For a moment he stood thoughtful on the steps of the entrance. Then all at once he became enrage

of me. I'll thump you in the head, you little-you little-you little-little-little pup." The

d to let the matter drop. He moved away, but on the steps was

time, wagging his head and shaking his fist. "I wi

t Marcus had selected for him. Trina was very pretty in the black dress that McTeague knew so well. She wore a pair of new gloves. Mrs. Sieppe had on lisle-thread mits, and carri

rn his stockun alreatty? Walk in der front

s. He tore through his pockets, ransacked his wallet. They were nowhere to be found. All at once he

torium echoing with their noisy talk. Occasionally a waiter with his tray and clean white apron sauntered up and doun the aisle. Directly in front of them w

-comiques and skirt dancers." And after this came a great array of other "artists" and "specialty performers," musical wonders, acrobats, lightning artists, ventriloquists, and last of all, "The feature of the evening, the crowning scientific achievement of the n

heir thumb and finger, and from every part of the auditorium could be heard the sharp clap-clapping of the seats as the ushers flipped th

d candies, popcorn, peanuts and candy." The orchestra entered, each man crawling out from an opening under the stage, hardly larger than the gate of a rabbit hutch. At every instant now the crowd increased; there were

ir necks arched like the capital letter S, floated about. At the head of the marble steps were two vases filled with red and yellow flowers, while at the foot was moored a gondola. This gondola was full of red velvet rugs that hung over the side and trailed in the water. In the prow of the gondola a y

c?" exclaimed Trina, t

d Owgooste. Suddenly the lights all over the ho

r. Sieppe. Every seat was take

" said Trina. She was in great spirits that eve

chairs and a green sofa. A girl in a short blue dress and black stockings entered in a hurry and began to dust the two chairs. She was in a great temper, talking very fast, disclaiming against the "new lodger." It appeared t

happy I

rling's fa

r to meet me in

he golden li

atch-chain dangled from his pocket, and a yellow satin slipper was tied to a button-hole of his vest; his nose was vermilion, one eye was black and blue. After a short dialogue with the girl, a third actor appeared. He was dressed like a little boy, the girl's younger brother. He wore an immense turned-down collar, and was continually doing hand-springs and wonderful back somersaults. The "act" devolved upon these three people; the lodger making love t

, clapping his hands and continually asking, "What did he say, ma? What did he say?" Mrs. Sieppe laughed immoderately, her huge fat body shaking like a mountain of je

es and plaid vests. They seemed to be able to wrestle a tune out of almost anything-glass bottles, cigar-box fiddles, strings

gravely. "'Home, Sweet Home,' played upon a tro

In one of them the dentist fancied he saw a strong resemblance to the boy who had tormented the intoxicated lodger and who had turned such marvello

the sentimental songs, and carried the sheets of music at which she never look

not lo

good-by

ves in her enthusiasm

sad music, Mac

lked with fearful rapidity; their wi

g down the str

going down the

girl at a

a girl at

irl she was

terday YOU saw a girl at a window, and thi

with lightning rapidity, each performer making precisely the same gestures at precisely the same instant.

ne out, the iron advertise

w?" said McTea

mission of fift

utch, and the audience stirred and stretched i

rina had Queen Charlottes, McTeague drank a glass of beer, Owgooste ate the orange an

um quiet," obse

d in his seat, swinging his legs violently, looking about him with eyes full of a vague distress. At length, just as the

ried, reseating

n went so far as to ask for subjects from the audience, and the names of prominent men were shouted to him from the gallery.

mart. A thick blue mist hung low over the heads of the audience. The air was full of varied smells-the

ndered for a minute. Trina and her mother enjoyed themselves hugely. At every

fool joost

ng. Don't you like

rful! Yes, yes, wonder

ching a little girl in her father's lap across the aisle, his eyes fixed in a glassy, ox-like stare. But he was uneasy. H

stractedly chewing his orange p

t reached his mother's consciousness. She sudde

all at once, and jammed him down into his place.

bout "mountain tops" and "bold hunters" and the like. The yodling chorus was a marvel of flute-like modulations. The girls were really pretty, and were

in gran'mutter used to be one of der mos' famous yodl

d departed. He could not keep still an instant; he twisted f

want to

e arm; "loog, der leedle girl is watchun you. Dis

h, to their great relief, he went to s

fairly took th

served Trina, in amazement.

was awe

"Look at that cable car coming-and the man going across the street. See, her

eppe, with sudden conviction. "I ain'

mamma," exclaime

pe put her he

sisted. "It's a drick." Nothing mor

e left immediately afterward. However, while the unfortunate Irish comedian went through his "act" to the backs of the departing people, Mrs.

pe. "Take ut home to popper. Where is der hat of

eritable catastrophe, deplorable, lamentable, a thing beyond words! For a moment he gazed wildly about him, helpless and petrified with astonish

e!" Her face blazed; without more ado she smacked him soundly. Then it was that Owgooste touched the limit of his misery, his unhappiness, his horribl

he matter?" inq

g away. "Come, we must be going. It's about over." The end of the show and

Already the lights were being extinguished and the us

t. The car was crowded; McTeague and Owgooste were obliged to stand. The little b

e they discussed

best der

the best-the lady who

nd wasn't that first act funny, where the fellow fell down all the time? And that musical act, a

e street was dark and empty; opposite the flat, in the back of th

from the half-breed Mexican at the

ht in his window. There!" he exclaimed at once, "

at scurrying. Maria Macapa stood there, her hand upon the rope that drew the bolt; Marcus was at her side; Old Grannis was in the background, looking over their shoulder

it's

at you

you, Miss

name Trin

n all the rest, Ma

e quick. Your lottery ticket