the conflict-第2章

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rrowest　range　of　interests　herself　and　the　things　that　would　enable　her　to　show　off　to　advantage；　she　was　used　to　being　bored　by　the　conversational　efforts　of　men　and　to　concealing　her　boredom。　　She　had　listened　patiently　and　had　led　the　conversation　by　slow；　imperceptible　stages　round　to　the　interesting　personal　to　the　struggle　for　dominion　over　this　difficult　male。

‘‘Anyhow；''　he　went　on；　‘‘no　intelligent　person　could　fail　to　be　interested　in　politics；　once　he　or　she　appreciated　what　it　meant。

And　people　of　our　class　owe　it　to　society　to　take　part　in　politics。　　Victor　Dorn　is　a　crank；　but　he's　right　about　some　thingsand　he's　right　in　saying　that　we　of　the　upper　class　are　parasites　upon　the　masses。　　They　earn　all　the　wealth；　and　we　take　a　large　part　of　it　away　from　them。　　And　it's　plain　stealing　unless　we　give　some　service　in　return。　　For　instance；　you　and　Iwhat　have　we　done；　what　are　we　doing　that　entitles　us　to　draw　so　much？　　Somebody　must　earn　by　hard　labor　all　that　is　produced。　　We　are　not　earning。　　So''he　was　looking　handsome　now　in　his　manly　earnestness‘‘Jen；　it's　up　to　us　to　do　our　shareto　stop　stealingisn't　it？''

She　was　genuinely　interested。　　‘‘I　hadn't　thought　of　these　things；''　said　she。

‘‘Victor　Dorn　says　we　ought　to　go　to　work　like　laborers；''　pursued　David。　　‘‘But　that's　where　he's　a　crank。　　The　truth　is；　we　ought　to　give　the　service　of　leadershipespecially　in　politics。　　And　I'm　going　to　do　it；　Jane　Hastings！''

For　the　first　time　she　had　an　interest　in　him　other　than　that　of　conquest。　　‘‘Just　what　are　you　going　to　do？''　she　asked。

‘‘Not　upset　everything　and　tear　everything　to　pieces；　as　Victor　Dorn　wants　to　do；''　replied　he。　　‘‘But　reform　the　abuses　and　wrongsmake　it　so　that　every　one　shall　have　a　fair　chancemake　politics　straight　and　honest。''

This　sounded　hazy　to　her。　　‘‘And　what　will　you　get　out　of　it？''　asked　she。

He　colored　and　was　a　little　uneasy　as　he　thus　faced　a　direct　demand　for　his　innermost　secretthe　secret　of　selfishness　he　tried　to　hide　even　from　himself。　　But　there　was　no　evading；　if　he　would　interest　her　he　must　show　her　the　practical　advantages　of　his　proposal。　　‘‘If　I'm　to　do　any　good；''　said　he；　putting　the　best　face；　and　really　not　a　bad　face；　upon　a　difficult　and　delicate　matter‘‘if　I'm　to　do　any　good　I　must　win　a　commanding　positionmust　get　to　be　a　popular　leadermust　hold　high　officesandandall　that。''

‘‘I　understand；''　said　she。　　‘‘That　sounds　attractive。　　Yes；　David；　you　ought　to　make　a　career。　　If　I　were　a　man　that's　the　career　I'd　choose。''

‘‘You　can　choose　it；　though　you're　a　woman；''　rejoined　he。　　‘‘Marry　me；　and　we'll　go　up　together。　　You've　no　idea　how　exciting　campaigns　and　elections　are。　　A　little　while；　and　you'll　be　crazy　about　it　all。　　The　women　are　taking　part；　more　and　more。''

‘‘Who's　Victor　Dorn？''　she　suddenly　asked。

‘‘You　must　remember　him。　　It　was　his　father　that　was　killed　by　the　railway　the　day　we　all　went　on　that　excursion　to　Indianapolis。''

‘‘Dorn　the　carpenter；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘YesI　remember。''　　Her　face　grew　dreamy　with　the　effort　of　memory。　　‘‘I　see　it　all　again。　　And　there　was　a　boy　with　a　very　white　face　who　knelt　and　held　his　head。''

‘‘That　was　Victor；''　said　Hull。

‘‘YesI　remember　him。　　He　was　a　bad　boyalways　fighting　and　robbing　orchards　and　getting　kept　after　school。''

‘‘And　he's　still　a　bad　boybut　in　a　different　way。　　He's　out　against　everything　civilized　and　everybody　that's　got　money。''

‘‘What　does　he　do？　　Keep　a　saloon？''

‘‘No；　but　he　spends　a　lot　of　time　at　them。　　I　must　say　for　him　that　he　doesn't　drinkand　professes　not　to　believe　in　drink。　　When　I　pointed　out　to　him　what　a　bad　example　he　set；　loafing　round　saloons；　he　laughed　at　me　and　said　he　was　spending　his　spare　time　exactly　as　Jesus　Christ　did。　　‘You'll　find；　Davy；　old　man；'　he　said；　‘if　you'll　take　the　trouble　to　read　your　Bible；　that　Jesus　traveled　with　publicans　and　sinnersand　a　publican　is　in　plain　English　a　saloonkeeper。'　''

‘‘That　was　very　originalwasn't　it？''　said　Jane。　　‘‘I'm　interested　in　this　man。　　He'sdifferent。　　I　like　people　who　are　different。''

‘‘I　don't　think　you'd　like　him；　Victor　Dorn；''　said　David。

‘‘Don't　you？''

‘‘Oh；　yesin　a　way。　　I　admire　him；''　graciously。　　‘‘He's　really　a　remarkable　fellow；　considering　his　opportunities。''

‘‘He　calls　you　‘Davy；　old　man；'　''　suggested　Jane。

Hull　flushed。　　‘‘That's　his　way。　　He's　free　and　easy　with　every　one。　　He　thinks　conventionality　is　a　joke。''

‘‘And　it　is；''　cried　Miss　Hastings。

‘‘You'd　not　think　so；''　laughed　Hull；　‘‘if　he　called　you　Jane　or　Jenny　or　my　dear　Jenny　half　an　hour　after　he　met　you。''

‘‘He　wouldn't；''　said　Miss　Hastings　in　a　peculiar　tone。

‘‘He　would　if　he　felt　like　it；''　replied　Hull。　　‘‘And　if　you　resented　it；　he'd　laugh　at　you　and　walk　away。　　I　suspect　him　of　being　a　good　deal　of　a　poseur　and　a　fakir。　　All　those　revolutionary　chaps　are。　　But　I　honestly　think　that　he　really　doesn't　care　a　rap　for　classes　or　for　moneyor　for　any　of　the　substantial　things。''

‘‘He　sounds　common；''　said　Miss　Hastings。　　‘‘I've　lost　interest　in　him。''　　Then　in　the　same　breath：　　‘‘How　does　he　live？　　Is　he　a　carpenter？''

‘‘He　wasfor　several　years。　　You　see；　he　and　his　mother　together　brought　up　the　Dorn　family　after　the　father　was　killed。　　They　didn't　get　a　cent　of　damages　from　the　railroad。　　It　was　an　outrage''

‘‘But　my　father　was　the　largest　owner　of　the　railroad。''

Hull　colored　violently。　　‘‘You　don't　understand　about　business；　Jen。　　The　railroad　is　a　corporation。　　It　fought　the　caseand　the　Dorns　had　no　moneyand　the　railway　owned　the　judge　and　bribed　several　jurors　at　each　trial。　　Dorn　says　that　was　what　started　him　to　thinking　to　being　a　revolutionistthough　he　doesn't　call　himself　that。''

‘‘I　should　think　it　would！''　cried　Miss　Hastings。　　‘‘If　my　father　had　known''　　She　caught　her　breath。　　‘‘But　he　MUST　have　known！　　He　was　on　the　train　that　day。''

‘‘You　don't　understand　business；　Jen。　　Your　father　wouldn't　interfere　with　the　management　of　the　corporation　。''

‘‘He　makes　money　out　of　itdoesn't　he？''

‘‘So　do　we　all　get　money　out　of　corporations　that　are　compelled　to　do　all　sorts　of　queer　things。　　But　we　can't　abolish　the　systemwe've　got　to　reform　it。　　That's　why　I'm　in　politicsand　want　you''

‘‘Something　must　be　done　about　that；''　interrupted　Jane。　　‘‘I　shall　talk　to　father''

‘‘For　heaven's　sake；　Jen；''　cried　David　in　alarm；　‘‘don't　tell　your　father　I'VE　been　stirring　you　up。　　He's　one　of　the　powers　in　politics　in　this　State；　and''

‘‘I'll　not　give　you　away；　Davy；''　said　Miss　Hastings　a　little　contemptuously。　　‘‘I　want　to　hear　more　about　this　Victor　Dorn。　　I'll　get　that　money　for　him　and　his　mother。　　Is　he　very　poor？''

‘‘Wellyou'd　call　him　poor。　　But　he　says　he　has　plenty。　　He　runs　a　small　paper。　　I　think　he　makes　about　twenty…five　dollars　a　week　out　of　itand　a　little　more　out　of　lecturing。　　Thenevery　once　in　a　while　he　goes　back　to　his　tradeto　keep　his　hand　in　and　enjoy　the　luxury　of　earning　honest　money；　as　he　puts　it。''

‘‘How　queer！''　exclaimed　Miss　Hastings。　　‘‘I　would　like　to　meet　him。　　Is　hevery　ignorant？''

‘‘Oh；　nono；　indeed。　　He's　worked　his　way　through　collegeand　law　school　afterward。　　Supported　the　family　all　the　time。''

‘‘He　must　be　tremendously　clever。''

‘‘I've　given　you　an　exaggerated　idea　of　him；''　Davy　hastened　to　say。　　‘‘He's　really　an　ordinary　sort　of　chap。''

‘‘I　should　think　he'd　get　rich；''　said　Miss　Hastings。　　‘‘Most　of　the　men　that　doso　far　as　I've　met　them　seem　ordinary　enough。''

‘‘He　says　he　could　get　rich；　but　that　he　wouldn't　waste　time　that　way。　　But　he's　fond　of　boasting。''

‘‘You　don't　think　he　could　make　moneyafter　all　he　didgoing　to　college　and　everything？''

‘‘YesI　guess　he　could；''　reluctantly　admitted　Davy。　　Then　in　a　burst　of　candor：　　‘‘Perhaps　I'm　a　little　jealous　of　him。　　If　_I_　were　thrown　on　my　own　resources；　I'm　afraid　I'd　make　a　pretty　wretched　showing。　　Butdon't　get　an　exaggerated　idea　of　him。　　The　things　I've　told　you　sound　romantic　and　unusual。　　If　you　met　himsaw　him　every　dayyou'd　realize　he's　not　at　allat　least；　not　muchout　of　the　ordinary。''

‘‘Perhaps；''　said　Miss　Hastings　shrewdly；　‘‘perhaps　I'm　getting　a　better　idea　of　him　than　you　who　see　him　so　often。''

‘‘Oh；　you'll　run　across　him　sometime；''　said　Davy；　who　was　bearing　up　no　better　than　would　the　next　man　under　the　strain　of　a　woman's　interest　in　and　excitement　about　another　man。　　‘‘When　you　do；　you'll　get　enough　in　about　five　minutes。　　You　see；　he's　not　a　gentleman　。''

‘‘I'm　not　sure　that　I'm　wildly　crazy　about　gentlemen　AS　gentlemen；''　replied　the　girl。　　‘‘Very　few　of　the　interesting　people　I've　read　about　in　history　and　biography　have　been　gentlemen。''

‘‘And　very　few　of　them　would　have　been　pleasant　to　associate　with；''　rejoined　Hull。　　‘‘You'll　admire　Victor　as　I　do。　　But　you'll　feelas　I　dothat　there's　small　excuse　for　a　man　who　has　been　educated；　who　has　associated　with　upper　class　people；　turning　round　and　inciting　the　lower　classes　against　everything　that's　fine　and　improving。''

It　was　now　apparent　to　the　girl　that　David　Hull　was　irritatedly　jealous　of　this　queer　Victor　Dorn　was　jealous　of　her　interest　in　him。　　Her　obvious　cue　was　to　fan　this　flame。　　In　no　other　way　could　she　get　any　amusement　out　of　Davy's　society；　for　his　tendency　was　to　be　heavily　seriousand　she　wanted　no　more　of　the　too　strenuous　love　making；　yet　wanted　to　keep　him　‘‘on　the　string。''　　This　jealousy　was　just　the　means　for　her　end。　　Said　she　innocently：　　‘‘If　it　irritates　you；　Davy；　we　won't　talk　about　him。''

‘‘Not　at　allnot　at　all；''　cried　Hull。　　‘‘I　simply　thought　you'd　be　getting　tired　of　hearing　so　much　about　a　man　you'd　never　known。''

‘‘But　I　feel　as　if　I　did　know　him；''　replied　she。　　‘‘Your　account　of　him　was　so　vivid。　　I　thought　of　asking　you　to　bring　him　to　call。''

Hull　laughed　heartily。　　‘‘Victor　Dorncalling！''

‘‘Why　not？''

‘‘He　doesn't　do　that　sort　of　thing。　　And　if　he　did；　how　could　I　bring　him　here？''

‘‘Why　not？''

‘‘Wellin　the　first　place；　you　are　a　ladyand　he　is　not　in　your　class。　　Of　course；　men　can　associate　with　each　other　in　politics　and　business。　　But　the　social　side　of　lifethat's　different。''

‘‘But　a　while　ago　you　were　talking　about　my　going　in　for　politics；''　said　Miss　Hastings　demurely。

‘‘Still；　you'd　not　have　to　meet　SOCIALLY　queer　and　rough　characters''

‘‘Is　Victor　Dorn　very　rough？''

The　interrupting　question　was　like　the　bite　of　a　big　fly　to　a　sweating　horse。　　‘‘I'm　getting　sick　of　hearing　about　him　from　you；''　cried　Hull　with　the　pettishness　of　the　spoiled　children　of　the　upper　class。

‘‘In　what　way　is　he　rough？''　persisted　Miss　Hastings。　　‘‘If　you　didn't　wish　to　talk　about　Victor　Dorn；　why　did　you　bring　the　subject　up？''

‘‘Ohall　right；''　cried　Hull；　restraining　himself。　　‘‘Victor　isn't　exactly　rough。　　He　can　act　like　a　gentleman　when　he　happens　to　want　to。　　But　you　never　can　tell　what　he'll　do　next。''

‘‘You　MUST　bring　him　to　call！''　exclaimed　Miss　Hastings。

‘‘Impossible；''　said　Hull　angrily。

‘‘But　he's　the　only　man　I've　heard　about　since　I've　been　home　that　I've　taken　the　least　interest　in。''

‘‘If　he　did　come；　your　father　would　have　the　servants　throw　him　off　the　place。''

‘‘Oh；　no；''　said　Hiss　Hastings　haughtily。　　‘‘My　father　wouldn't　insult　a　guest　of　mine。''

‘‘Bu