第46章最昂贵的圣诞礼物（1）
AStringofBlueBeads
富尔顿·奥斯勒FultonOursler
&eRichardwasthelomanintown。OnthedayJeahedoorofhisshop。It’sasmallshopwhiedowntrahelittlefrontnwithadisarrayofold-fashiohisasworniheCivilWar，gsandsilverboxes，imagesofjadeandivory，porfigurihiswiernoonachildwasstandingthere，herfainsttheglass，earandeudyireasureasifshewerelookingforsomethingquitespeallyshestraightehasatisfiedairaore。
TheshadowyinteriorofPeteRichard’sestablishmentwaseveeredthanhissho。Shelveswerestackedwithjewelcaskets，duelingpistols，dlamps，andtheflooredwithirons，mandolinsandthingshardtofindanamefor。BehierstoodPetehimself，amahirtybutwithhairalreadyturninggray。Therewasableakairabouthimashelookedatthesmallerwhoflattenedherunglovedhaer。
“Mister，”shebegan，“wouldyoupleaseletmelookatthestringofbluebeadsinthewiedthedraperiesaaurquoisestolyagainstthepallorofhispalmashespreadtheorbeforeher。“They’rejustperfect，”saidthetirelytoherself。“Willyouprettyforme，please？”
&udiedherwithastonyair。“Areyoubuyingtheseforsomeohey’refsister。Shetakese。Yousee，thiswillbethefirstChristmassiherdied。I’vebeenlookiwonderfulChristmaspresentformysister。”
“Howmueydoyouhave？”askedPetewarily。Shehadbeenbusilyusinahandkerdnowshepouredoutahandfulofpeheter。“Iemptiedmybank。”sheexplainedsimply。
&elookedatherthoughtfully。Thenhecarefullydrewbaecklace。Thepricetagwasvisibletohimbutnottoher。Howcouldhetellher？Thetrustinglookofherblueeyessmotehimlikethepainofanoldwound。“Justaminute，”hesaid，aowardthebackofthestore。Overhisshoulderhecalled，“What’syourname？”Hewasverybusyaboutsomething。“JeanGrace。”
&ereturraceackagelayinhishand，edipaperahabowofgreen。“Thereyouare，”hesaidshortly，“Dohewayhome。”
Shesmiledhappilyoverhershoulderassherahroughtheatchedhergo，whiledesolatiohoughts。SomethingaboutJeanGradherstringofbeadshadstirredhimtothedepthsofagriefthatwouldnotstayburied。Thechild’shairwaswheatyellow，hereyesseablue，aime，notloehadbeehagirlwithhairofthatsameyellowaasblue。Aurquoiseohavebeenhers。
Buttherehadearainynight-atrugonaslipperyroad—andthelifewascrushedoutofhisdream。Siehadlivedtoomuchwithhisgriefinsolitude。Heolitelyatteomers，butafterhourshisworldseemedirrevocablyempty。Hewastryingtetiyideepeneddaybyday。TheblueeyesofJeaedhimintoacuteremembrahehadlost。Thepainofitmadehimretheexuberanceofholidayshtheradewasbrisk；gwomenswarmediriryingtaihelasterhadgoeonChristmasEve，hesighedwithrelief。ItwasoverforaforPetethenightwasnotquiteover。
Thedooropenedandayoungwomahaninexplicablestart，herealizedthatshelookedfamiliar，yetheberwhenorwherehehadseenherbefore。Herhairwasgoldenyelleeyeswereblue。Withoutspeaking，shedrewfromherpurseapackagelooselyusredpaper，abowofgreenribbonwithit。Preseringofbluebeadslaygleamingagainbeforehim。