the conflict-第28章

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They　looked　at　each　other。　　Said　Jane：　　‘‘I　promise　on　one　condition。''

‘‘Yes？''

‘‘That　if　you　should　change　your　mind　and　should　want　my　help；　you'd　promptly　and　freely　ask　for　it。''

‘‘I　agree　to　that；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘Now；　let's　get　it　clearly　in　mind。　　No　matter　what　is　done　about　me　or　the　League；　you　promise　not　to　interfere　in　any　way；　unless　I　ask　you　to。''

Again　Jane　hesitated。　　‘‘No　matter　what　they　do？''　she　pleaded。

‘‘No　matter　what　they　do；''　insisted　he。

Something　in　his　expression　gave　her　a　great　thrill　of　confidence　in　him；　of　enthusiasm。　　‘‘I　promise；''　she　said。　　‘‘You　know　best。''

‘‘Indeed　I　do；''　said　he。　　‘‘Thank　you。''

A　moment's　silence；　then　she　exclaimed：　　‘‘That　was　why　you　let　me　in　to…daybecause　you　wanted　to　get　that　promise　from　me。''

‘‘That　was　one　of　the　reasons；''　confessed　he。　　‘‘In　fact；　it　was　the　chief　reason。''　　He　smiled　at　her。　　‘‘There's　nothing　I'm　so　afraid　of　as　of　enthusiasm。　　I'm　going　to　be　still　more　cautious　and　exact　another　promise　from　you。　　You　must　not　tell　any　one　that　you　have　promised　not　to　interfere。''

‘‘I　can　easily　promise　that；''　said　Jane。

‘‘Be　careful；''　warned　Victor。　　‘‘A　promise　easily　made　is　a　promise　easily　forgotten。''

‘‘I　begin　to　understand；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘You　want　them　to　attack　you　as　savagely　as　possible。　　And　you　don't　want　them　to　get　the　slightest　hint　of　your　plan。''

‘‘A　good　guess；''　admitted　Victor。　　He　looked　at　her　gravely。　　‘‘Circumstances　have　let　you　farther　into　my　confidence　than　any　one　else　is。　　I　hope　you　will　not　abuse　it。''

‘‘You　can　rely　upon　me；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘I　want　your　friendship　and　your　respect　as　I　never　wanted　anything　in　my　life　before。　　I'm　not　afraid　to　say　these　things　to　you；　for　I　know　I'll　not　be　misunderstood。''

Victor's　smile　thrilled　her　again。　　‘‘You　were　born　one　of　us；''　he　said。　　‘‘I　felt　it　the　first　time　we　talked　together。''

‘‘Yes。　　I　do　want　to　be　somebody；''　replied　the　girl。　　‘‘I　can't　content　myself　in　a　life　of　silly　routine　。　。　。　can't　do　things　that　have　no　purpose；　no　result。　　And　if　it　wasn't　for　my　father　I'd　come　out　openly　for　the　things　I　believe　in。　　But　I've　got　to　think　of　him。　　It　may　be　a　weakness；　but　I　couldn't　overcome　it。　　As　long　as　my　father　lives　I'll　do　nothing　that　would　grieve　him。

Do　you　despise　me　for　that？''

‘‘I　don't　despise　anybody　for　anything；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘In　your　place　I　should　put　my　father　first。''　　He　laughed。　　‘‘In　your　place　I'd　probably　be　a　Davy　Hull　or　worse。　　I　try　never　to　forget　that　I　owe　everything　to　the　circumstances　in　which　I　was　born　and　brought　up。　　I've　simply　got　the　ideas　of　my　class；　and　it's　an　accident　that　I　am　of　the　class　to　which　the　future　belongsthe　working　class　that　will　possess　the　earth　as　soon　as　it　has　intelligence　enough　to　enter　into　its　kingdom。''

‘‘But；''　pursued　Jane；　returning　to　herself；　‘‘I　don't　intend　to　be　altogether　useless。　　I　can　do　something　and　hemy　father；　I　meanneedn't　know。　　Do　you　think　that　is　dreadful？''

‘‘I　don't　like　it；''　said　Victor。　　But　he　said　it　in　such　a　way　that　she　did　not　feel　rebuked　or　even　judged。

‘‘Nor　do　I；''　said　she。　　‘‘I'd　rather　lead　the　life　I　wish　to　leadsay　the　things　I　believedo　the　things　I　believe　inall　openly。　　But　I　can't。　　And　all　I　can　do　is　to　spend　the　income　of　my　money　my　mother　left　me　spend　it　as　I　please。''　　With　a　quick　embarrassed　gesture　she　took　an　envelope　from　a　small　bag　in　which　she　was　carrying　it。　　‘‘There's　some　of　it；''　she　said。　　‘‘I　want　to　give　that　to　your　campaign　fund。　　You　are　free　to　use　it　in　any　way　you　pleaseany　way；　for　everything　you　are　and　do　is　your　cause。''

Victor　was　lying　motionless；　his　eyes　closed。

‘‘Don't　refuse；''　she　begged。　　‘‘You've　no　right　to　refuse。''

A　long　silence；　she　watching　him　uneasily。　　At　last　he　said；　‘‘NoI've　no　right　to　refuse。　　If　I　did；　it　would　be　from　a　personal　motive。　　You　understand　that　when　you　give　the　League　this　money　you　are　doing　what　your　father　would　regard　as　an　act　of　personal　treachery　to　him？''

‘‘You　don't　think　so；　do　you？''　cried　she。

‘‘Yes；　I　do；''　said　he　deliberately。

Her　face　became　deathly　pale；　then　crimson。　　She　thrust　the　envelope　into　the　bag；　closed　it　hastily。　　‘‘Then　I　can't　give　it；''　she　murmured。　　‘‘Ohbut　you　are　hard！''

‘‘If　you　broke　with　your　father　and　came　with　us　and　it　killed　him；　as　it　probably　would；''　Victor　Dorn　went　on；　‘‘I　should　respect　youshould　regard　you　as　a　wonderful；　terrible　woman。　　I　should　envy　you　having　a　heart　strong　enough　to　do　a　thing　so　supremely　right　and　so　supremely　relentless。　　And　I　should　be　glad　you　were　not　of　my　bloodshould　think　you　hardly　human。　　Yet　that　is　what　you　ought　to　do。''

‘‘I　am　not　up　to　it；''　said　Jane。

‘‘Then　you　mustn't　do　the　other；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘We　need　the　money。　　I　am　false　to　the　cause　in　urging　you　not　to　give　it。　　ButI'm　human。''

He　was　looking　away；　an　expression　in　his　eyes　and　about　his　mouth　that　made　him　handsomer　than　she　would　have　believed　a　man　could　be。　　She　was　looking　at　him　longingly；　her　beautiful　eyes　swimming。　　Her　lips　were　saying　inaudibly；　‘‘I　love　youI　love　you。''

‘‘What　did　you　say？''　he　asked；　his　thoughts　returning　from　their　far　journey。

‘‘My　time　is　up；''　she　exclaimed；　rising。

‘‘There　are　better　ways　of　helping　than　money；''　said　he；　taking　her　hand。　　‘‘And　already　you've　helped　in　those　ways。''

‘‘May　I　come　again？''

‘‘Whenever　you　like。　　Butwhat　would　your　father　say？''

‘‘Then　you　don't　want　me　to　come　again？''

‘‘It's　best　not；''　said　he。　　‘‘I　wish　fate　had　thrown　us　on　the　same　side。　　But　it　has　put　us　in　opposite　camps　and　we　owe　it　to　ourselves　to　submit。''

Their　hands　were　still　clasped。　　‘‘You　are　content　to　have　it　so？''　she　said　sadly。

‘‘No；　I'm　not；''　cried　he；　dropping　her　hand。　　‘‘But　we　are　helpless。''

‘‘We　can　always　hope；''　said　she　softly。

On　impulse　she　laid　her　hand　in　light　caress　upon　his　brow；　then　swiftly　departed。　　As　she　stood　in　Mrs。　Colman's　flowery　little　front　yard　and　looked　dazedly　about；　it　seemed　to　her　that　she　had　been　away　from　the　worldaway　from　herselfand　was　reluctantly　but　inevitably　returning。



VI


As　Jane　drove　into　the　grounds　of　the　house　on　the　hilltop　she　saw　her　father　and　David　Hull　in　an　obviously　intimate　and　agitated　conversation　on　the　front　veranda。　　She　made　all　haste　to　join　them；　nor　was　she　deterred　by　the　reception　she　gotthe　reception　given　to　the　unwelcome　interrupter。　　Said　she：

‘‘You　are　talking　about　those　indictments；　aren't　you？　　Everyone　else　is。　　There's　a　group　on　every　corner　down　town；　and　people　are　calling　their　views　to　each　other　from　windows　across　the　streets。''

Davy　glanced　triumphantly　at　her　father。　　‘‘I　told　you　so；''　said　he。

Old　Hastings　was　rubbing　his　hand　over　his　large；　bony；　wizened　face　in　the　manner　that　indicates　extreme　perplexity。

Davy　turned　to　Jane。　　‘‘I've　been　trying　to　show　your　father　what　a　stupid；　dangerous　thing　Dick　Kelly　has　done。　　I　want　him　to　help　me　undo　it。　　It　MUST　be　undone　or　Victor　Dorn　will　sweep　the　town　on　election　day。''

Jane's　heart　was　beating　wildly。　　She　continued　to　say　carelessly；　‘‘You　think　so？''

‘‘Davy's　got　a　bad　attack　of　big　red　eye　to…day；''　said　her　father。　　‘‘It's　a　habit　young　men　have。''

‘‘I'm　right；　Mr。　Hastings；''　cried　Hull。　　‘‘And；　furthermore；　you　know　I'm　right；　Jane；　you　saw　that　riot　the　other　night。　　Joe　Wetherbe　told　me　so。　　You　said　that　it　was　an　absolutely　unprovoked　assault　of　the　gangs　of　Kelly　and　House。　　Everyone　in　town　knows　it　was。　　The　middle　and　the　upper　class　people　are　pretending　to　believe　what　the　papers　printed　what　they'd　like　to　believe。　　But　they　KNOW　better。　　The　working　people　are　apparently　silent。　　They　usually　are　apparently　silent。　　But　they　know　the　truth　they　are　talking　it　among　themselves。　　And　these　indictments　will　make　Victor　Dorn　a　hero。''

‘‘What　of　it？　　What　of　it？''　said　Hastings　impatiently。　　‘‘The　working　people　don't　count。''

‘‘Not　as　long　as　we　can　keep　them　divided；''　retorted　Davy。　　‘‘But　if　they　unite''

And　he　went　on　to　explain　what　he　had　in　mind。　　He　gave　them　an　analysis　of　Remsen　City。　　About　fifty　thousand　inhabitants；　of　whom　about　ten　thousand　were　voters。　　These　voters　were　divided　into　three　classesupper　class；　with　not　more　than　three　or　four　hundred　votes；　and　therefore　politically　of　no　importance　AT　THE　POLLS；　though　overwhelmingly　the　most　influential　in　any　other　way；　the　middle　class；　the　big　and　little　merchants；　the　lawyers　and　doctors；　the　agents　and　firemen　and　so　on；　mustering　in　all　about　two　thousand　votes；　finally；　the　working　class　with　no　less　than　eight　thousand　votes　out　of　a　total　of　ten　thousand。

‘‘By　bribery　and　cajolery　and　browbeating　and　appeal　to　religious　prejudice　and　to　fear　of　losing　jobsby　all　sorts　of　chicane；''　said　Davy；　‘‘about　seven　of　these　eight　thousand　votes　are　kept　divided　between　the　Republican　or　Kelly　party　and　the　Democratic　or　House　party。　　The　other　ten　or　twelve　hundred　belong　to　Victor　Dorn's　League。　　Now；　the　seven　thousand　workingmen　voters　who　follow　Kelly　and　House　like　Victor　Dorn；　like　his　ideas；　are　with　him　at　heart。　　But　they　are　afraid　of　him。　　They　don't　trust　each　other。　　Workingmen　despise　the　workingman　as　an　ignorant　fool。''

‘‘So　he　is；''　said　Hastings。

‘‘So　he　is；''　agreed　Davy。　　‘‘But　Victor　Dorn　has　about　got　the　workingmen　in　this　town　persuaded　that　they'd　fare　better　with　Dorn　and　the　League　as　their　leaders　than　with　Kelly　and　House　as　their　leaders。　　And　if　Kelly　goes　on　to　persecute　Victor　Dorn；　the　workingmen　will　be　frightened　for　their　rights　to　free　speech　and　free　assembly。　　And　they'll　unite。　　I　appeal　to　you；　Janeisn't　that　common　sense？''

‘‘I　don't　know　anything　about　politics；''　said　Jane；　looking　bored。　　‘‘You　must　go　in　and　lie　down　before　dinner；　father。　　You　look　tired。''

Hastings　got　ready　to　rise。

‘‘Just　a　minute；　Mr。　Hastings；''　pleaded　Hull。　　‘‘This　must　be　settled　nowat　once。　　I　must　be　in　a　position　not　only　to　denounce　this　thing；　but　also　to　stop　it。　　Not　to…morrow；　but　to…day　。　。　。　so　that　the　morning　papers　will　have　the　news。''

Jane's　thoughts　were　flyingbut　in　circles。　　Everybody　habitually　judges　everybody　else　as　both　more　and　less　acute　than　he　really　is。　　Jane　had　great　respect　for　Davy　as　a　man　of　college　education。　　But　because　he　had　no　sense　of　humor　and　because　he　abounded　in　lengthy　platitudes　she　had　thought　poorly　indeed　of　his　abilities。　　She　had　been　realizing　her　mistake　in　these　last　few　minutes。　　The　man　who　had　made　that　analysis　of　politicsan　analysis　which　suddenly　enlighted　her　as　to　what　political　power　meant　and　how　it　was　wielded　everywhere　on　earth　as　well　as　in　Remsen　Citythe　man　was　no　mere　dreamer　and　theorist。　　He　had　seen　the　point　no　less　clearly　than　had　Victor　Dorn。　　But　what　concerned　her；　what　set　her　to　fluttering；　was　that　he　was　about　to　checkmate　Victor　Dorn。　　What　should　she　say　and　do　to　help　Victor？

She　must　get　her　father　away。　　She　took　him　gently　by　the　arm；　kissed　the　top　of　his　head。　　‘‘Come　on；　father；''　she　cried。　　‘‘I'll　let　Davy　work　his　excitement　off　on　me。　　You　must　take　care　of　your　health。''

But　Hastings　resisted。　　‘‘Wait　a　minute；　Jenny；''　said　he。　　‘‘I　must　think。''

‘‘You