the conflict-第24章

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　a　fresh　point　of　view。　　I　can　understand　the　people　of　your　class　better；　and　be　more　tolerant　about　them。　　I　understand　now　why　they　are　so　hard　and　so　indifferent。　　They're　quite　removed　from　the　common　lot。　　They　don't　realize；　they　can't。　　How　narrow　it　must　make　one　to　have　one's　life　filled　with　these　pretty　little　things　for　luxury　and　show。　　Why；　if　I　lived　this　life；　I'd　cease　to　be　human　after　a　short　time。''

Ellen　was　silent。

‘‘I　didn't　mean　to　say　anything　rude　or　offensive；''　said　Selma；　sensitive　to　the　faintest　impressions。　　‘‘I　was　speaking　my　thoughts　aloud。　。　。　。　　Do　you　know　David　Hull？''

‘‘The　young　reformer？''　said　Ellen　with　a　queer　little　smile。　　‘‘Yesquite　well。''

‘‘Does　he　live　like　this？''

‘‘Rather　more　grandly；''　said　Ellen。

Selma　shook　her　head。　　A　depressed　expression　settled　upon　her　features。　　‘‘It's　useless；''　she　said。　　‘‘He　couldn't　possibly　become　a　man。''

Ellen　laughed。　　‘‘You　must　hurry；''　she　said。　　‘‘We're　keeping　everyone　waiting。''

As　Selma　was　making　a　few　passes　at　her　rebellious　thick　hairpasses　the　like　of　which　Miss　Clearwater　had　never　before　seenshe　explained：

‘‘I've　been　somewhat　interested　in　David　Hull　of　latehave　been　hoping　he　could　graduate　from　a　fake　reformer　into　a　useful　citizen。　　But''　　She　looked　round　expressively　at　the　luxury　surrounding　them　‘‘one　might　as　well　try　to　grow　wheat　in　sand。''

‘‘Davy　is　a　fine　fraud；''　said　Ellen。　　‘‘Finebecause　he　doesn't　in　the　least　realize　that　he's　a　fraud。''

‘‘I'm　afraid　he　is　a　fraud；''　said　Selma　setting　on　her　hat　again。　　‘‘What　a　pity？　　He　might　have　been　a　man；　if　he'd　been　brought　up　properly。''　　She　gazed　at　Ellen　with　sad；　shining　eyes。　　‘‘How　many　men　and　women　luxury　blights！''　she　cried。

‘‘It　certainly　has　done　for　Davy；''　said　Ellen　lightly。　　‘‘He'll　never　be　anything　but　a　respectable　fraud。''

‘‘Why　do　YOU　think　so？''　Selma　inquired。

‘‘My　father　is　a　public　man；''　Miss　Clearwater　explained。　　‘‘And　I've　seen　a　great　deal　of　these　reformers。　　They're　the　ordinary　human　variety　of　politician　plus　a　more　or　less　conscious　hypocrisy。　　Usually　they're　men　who　fancy　themselves　superior　to　the　common　run　in　birth　and　breeding。　　My　father　has　taught　me　to　size　them　up。''

They　went　down；　and　Selma；　seated　between　Jane　and　Miss　Clearwater；　amused　both　with　her　frank　comments　on　the　scene　so　strange　to　herthe　beautiful　table；　the　costly　service；　the　variety　and　profusion　of　elaborate　food。　　In　fact；　Jane；　reaching　out　after　the　effects　got　easily　in　Europe　and　almost　as　easily　in　the　East；　but　overtaxed　the　resources　of　the　household　which　she　was　only　beginning　to　get　into　what　she　　regarded　as　satisfactory　order。　　The　luncheon；　therefore；　was　a　creditable　and　promising　attempt　rather　than　a　success；　from　the　standpoint　of　fashion。　　Jane　was　a　little　ashamed；　and　at　times　extremely　nervous　this　when　she　saw　signs　of　her　staff　falling　into　disorder　that　might　end　in　rout。　　But　Selma　saw　none　of　the　defects。　　She　was　delighted　with　the　dazzling　spectaclefor　two　or　three　courses。　　Then　she　lapsed　into　quiet　and　could　not　be　roused　to　speak。

Jane　and　Ellen　thought　she　was　overwhelmed　and　had　been　seized　of　shyness　in　this　company　so　superior　to　any　in　which　she　had　ever　found　herself。　　Ellen　tried　to　induce　her　to　eat；　and；　failing；　decided　that　her　refraining　was　not　so　much　firmness　in　the　two　meals…a…day　system　as　fear　of　making　a　‘‘break。''　　She　felt　genuinely　sorry　for　the　silent　girl　growing　moment　by　moment　more　ill…at…ease。　　When　the　luncheon　was　about　half　over　Selma　said　abruptly　to　Jane：

‘‘I　must　go　now。　　I've　stayed　longer　than　I　should。''

‘‘Go？''　cried　Jane。　　‘‘Why；　we　haven't　begun　to　talk　yet。''

‘‘Another　time；''　said　Selma；　pushing　back　her　chair。　　‘‘No；　don't　rise。''　　And　up　she　darted；　smiling　gayly　round　at　the　company。　　‘‘Don't　anybody　disturb　herself；''　she　pleaded。　　‘‘It'll　be　useless；　for　I'll　be　gone。''

And　she　was　as　good　as　her　word。　　Before　any　one　quite　realized　what　she　was　about；　she　had　escaped　from　the　dining…room　and　from　the　house。　　She　almost　ran　across　the　lawn　and　into　the　woods。　　There　she　drew　a　long　breath　noisily。

‘‘Free！''　she　cried；　flinging　out　her　arms。　　‘‘Ohbut　it　was　DREADFUL！''

Miss　Hastings　and　Miss　Clearwater　had　not　been　so　penetrating　as　they　fancied。　　Embarrassment　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　silence　that　had　taken　possession　of　the　associate　editor　of　the　New　Day。

She　was　never　self…conscious　enough　to　be　really　shy。　　She　hastened　to　the　office；　meeting　Victor　Dorn　in　the　street　doorway。　　She　cried：

‘‘Such　an　experience！''

‘‘What　now？''　said　Victor。　　He　was　used　to　that　phrase　from　the　ardent　and　impressionable　Selma。　　For　her；　with　her　wide…open　eyes　and　ears；　her　vivid　imagination　and　her　thirsty　mind；　life　was　one　closely　packed　series　of　adventures。

‘‘I　had　an　hour　to　spare；''　she　proceeded　to　explain。　　‘‘I　thought　it　was　a　chance　to　further　a　little　scheme　I've　got　for　marrying　Jane　Hastings　and　David　Hull。''

‘‘Um！''　said　Victor　with　a　quick　change　of　expression　which；　however；　Selma　happened　not　to　observe。

‘‘And；''　she　went　on；　‘‘I　blundered　into　a　luncheon　party　Jane　was　giving。　　You　never　sawyou　never　dreamed　of　such　stylesuch　dresses　and　dishes　and　flowers　and　hats！　　And　I　was　sitting　there　with　them；　enjoying　it　all　as　if　it　were　a　circus　or　a　ballet；　when　Oh；　Victor；　what　a　silly；　what　a　pitiful　waste　of　time　and　money！　　So　much　to　do　in　the　worldso　much　that　is　thrillingly　interesting　and　usefuland　those　intelligent　young　people　dawdling　there　at　nonsense　a　child　would　weary　of！　　I　had　to　run　away。　　If　I　had　stayed　another　minute　I　should　have　burst　out　crying　or　denouncing　themor　pleading　with　them　to　behave　themselves。''

‘‘What　else　can　they　do？''　said　Victor。　　‘‘They　don't　know　any　better。　　They've　never　been　taught。　　How's　the　article？''

And　he　led　the　way　up　to　the　editorial　room　and　held　her　to　the　subject　of　the　article　he　had　asked　her　to　write。　　At　the　first　opportunity　she　went　back　to　the　subject　uppermost　in　her　mind。　　Said　she：

‘‘I　guess　you're　rightas　usual。　　There's　no　hope　for　any　people　of　that　class。　　The　busy　ones　are　thinking　only　of　making　money　for　themselves；　and　the　idle　ones　are　too　enfeebled　by　luxury　to　think　at　all。　　No；　I'm　afraid　there's　no　hope　for　Hullor　for　Jane　either。''

‘‘I'm　not　sure　about　Miss　Hastings；''　said　Victor。

‘‘You　would　have　been　if　you'd　seen　her　to…day；''　replied　Selma。　　‘‘Oh；　she　was　lovely；　Victorreally　wonderful　to　look　at。　　But　so　obviously　the　idler。　　And　body　and　soul　she　belongs　to　the　upper　class。　　She　understands　charity；　but　she　doesn't　understand　justice；　and　never　could　understand　it。　　I　shall　let　her　alone　hereafter。''

‘‘How　harsh　you　women　are　in　your　judgments　of　each　other；''　laughed　Dorn；　busy　at　his　desk。

‘‘We　are　just；''　replied　Selma。　　‘‘We　are　not　fooled　by　each　other's　pretenses。''

Dorn　apparently　had　not　heard。　　Selma　saw　that　to　speak　would　be　to　interrupt。　　She　sat　at　her　own　table　and　set　to　work　on　the　editorial　paragraphs。　　After　perhaps　an　hour　she　happened　to　glance　at　Victor。　　He　was　leaning　back　in　his　chair；　gazing　past　her　out　into　the　open；　in　his　face　was　an　expression　she　had　never　seena　look　in　the　eyes；　a　relaxing　of　the　muscles　round　the　mouth　that　made　her　think　of　him　as　a　man　instead　of　as　a　leader。　　She　was　saying　to　herself。　　‘‘What　a　fascinating　man　he　would　have　been；　if　he　had　not　been　an　incarnate　cause。''

She　felt　that　he　was　not　thinking　of　his　work。　　She　longed　to　talk　to　him；　but　she　did　not　venture　to　interrupt。　　Never　in　all　the　years　she　had　known　him　had　he　spoken　to　heror　to　any　onea　severe　or　even　an　impatient　word。　　His　tolerance；　his　good　humor　were　infinite。　　Yetshe；　and　all　who　came　into　contact　with　him；　were　afraid　of　him。　　There　could　come；　and　on　occasion　there　did　comeinto　those　extraordinary　blue　eyes　an　expression　beside　which　the　fiercest　flash　of　wrath　would　be　easy　to　face。

When　she　glanced　at　him　again；　his　normal　expression　had　returnedthe　face　of　the　leader　who　aroused　in　those　he　converted　into　fellow…workers　a　fanatical　devotion　that　was　the　more　formidable　because　it　was　not　infatuated。　　He　caught　her　eye　and　said：

‘‘Things　are　in　such　good　shape　for　us　that　it　frightens　me。　　I　spend　most　of　my　time　in　studying　the　horizon　in　the　hope　that　I　can　foresee　which　way　the　storm's　coming　from　and　what　it　will　be。''

‘‘What　a　pessimist　you　are！''　laughed　Selma。

‘‘That's　why　the　Workingmen's　League　has　a　thick…　and…thin　membership　of　thirteen　hundred　and　fifty；''　replied　Victor。　　‘‘That's　why　the　New　Day　has　twenty…　two　hundred　paying　subscribers。　　That's　why　we　grow　faster　than　the　employers　can　weed　our　men　out　and　replace　them　with　immigrants　and　force　them　to　go　to　other　towns　for　work。''

‘‘Well；　anyhow；''　said　the　girl；　‘‘no　matter　what　happens　we　can't　be　weeded　out。''

Victor　shook　his　head。　　‘‘Our　danger　period　has　just　begun；''　he　replied。　　‘‘The　bosses　realize　our　power。　　In　the　past　we've　been　annoyed　a　little　from　time　to　time。　　But　they　thought　us　hardly　worth　bothering　with。　　In　the　future　we　will　have　to　fight。''

‘‘I　hope　they　will　prosecute　us；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘Then；　we'll　grow　the　faster。''

‘‘Not　if　they　do　it　intelligently；''　replied　Victor。　　‘‘An　intelligent　persecutionif　it's　relentless　enough　always　succeeds。　　You　forget　that　this　isn't　a　world　of　moral　ideas　but　of　force。　。　。　。　　I　am　afraid　of　Dick　Kelly。　　He　is　something　more　than　a　vulgar　boss。　　He　SEES。　　My　hope　is　that　he　won't　be　able　to　make　the　others　see。　　I　saw　him　a　while　ago。　　He　was　extremely　polite　to　memore　so　than　he　ever　has　been　before。　　He　is　up　to　something。　　I　suspect''

Victor　paused；　reflecting。　　‘‘What？''　asked　Selma　eagerly。

‘‘I　suspect　that　he　thinks　he　has　us。''　　He　rose；　preparing　to　go　out。　　‘‘Wellif　he　haswhy；　he　has。　　And　we　shall　have　to　begin　all　over　again。''

‘‘How　stupid　they　are！''　exclaimed　the　girl。　　‘‘To　fight　us　who　are　simply　trying　to　bring　about　peaceably　and　sensibly　what's　bound　to　come　about　anyhow。''

‘‘Yesthe　rain　is　bound　to　come；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘And　we　say；　‘Here's　an　umbrella　and　there's　the　way　to　shelter。'　　And　they　laugh　at　OUR　umbrella　and；　with　the　first　drops　plashing　on　their　foolish　faces；　deny　that　it's　going　to　rain。''

The　Workingmen's　League；　always　first　in　the　field　with　its　ticket；　had　been　unusually　early　that　year。　　Although　it　was　only　the　first　week　in　August　and　the　election　would　not　be　until　the　third　of　October；　the　League　had　nominated。　　It　was　a　ticket　made　up　entirely　of　skilled　workers　who　had　lived　all　their　lives　in　Remsen　City　and　who　had　acquired　an　independence　Victor　Dorn　was　careful　not　to　expose　to　the　falling　fire　of　the　opposition　any　of　his　men　who　could　be　ruined　by　the　loss　of　a　job　or　could　be　compelled　to　leave　town　in　search　of　work。　　The　League　always　went　early　into　campaign　because　it　pursued　a　much　slower　and　less　expensive　method　of　electioneering　than　either　of　the　old　partiesor　than　any　of　the　‘‘upper　class''　reform　parties　that　sprang　up　from　time　to　time　and　died　away　as　they　accomplished　or　failed　of　their　purposesecuring　recognition　for　certain　personal　ambitions　not　agreeable　to　the　old　established　bosses。　　Besides；　the　League　was；　like　the　bosses