the conflict-第45章

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　。''

In　the　side　yard　Alice　Sherrill　and　her　children　and　several　neighbor　girls　were　putting　up　pears　and　peaches；　blackberries　and　plums。　　The　air　was　heavy　with　delicious　odors　of　ripe　and　perfect　fruit；　and　the　laughter；　the　bright　healthy　faces；　the　strong　graceful　bodies　in　all　manner　of　poses　at　the　work　required　made　a　scene　that　brought　tears　to　Jane's　eyes。　　Why　tears　she　could　not　have　explained；　but　there　they　were。　　At　far　end　of　the　arbor；　looking　exactly　as　he　had　in　the　same　place　the　year　before；　sat　Victor　Dorn；　writing。　　He　glanced　up；　saw　her！　　Into　his　face　came　a　look　of　welcome　that　warmed　her　chilled　heart。

‘‘Hel…LO！''　he　cried；　starting　up。　　‘‘I　AM　glad　to　see　you。''

‘‘I'm　mighty　glad　to　be　back；''　said　she；　lapsing　with　keen　pleasure　into　her　native　dialect。

He　took　both　her　hands　and　shook　them　cordially；　then　looked　at　her　from　head　to　foot　admiringly。　　‘‘The　latest　from　the　Rue　de　la　Paix；　I　suppose？''　said　he。

They　seated　themselves　with　the　table　between　them。　　She；　under　cover　of　commonplaces　about　her　travels；　examined　him　with　the　utmost　calmness。　　She　saw　every　point　wherein　he　fell　short　of　the　men　of　her　class　the　sort　of　men　she　ought　to　like　and　admire。　　But；　oh；　how　dull　and　stale　and　narrow　and　petty　they　were；　beside　this　man。　　She　knew　now　why　she　had　fled。　　She　didn't　want　to　love　Victor　Dorn；　or　to　marry　himor　his　sort　of　man。　　But　he；　his　intense　aliveness；　his　keen；　supple　mind；　had　spoiled　her　for　those　others。　　One　of　them　she　could　not　marry。　　‘‘I　should　go　mad　with　boredom。　　One　can　no　more　live　intimately　with　fashion　than　one　can　eat　gold　and　drink　diamonds。　　And；　oh；　but　I　am　hungry　and　thirsty！''

‘‘So　you've　had　a　good　time？''　he　was　saying。

Superb；''　replied　she。　　‘‘Such　scenerysuch　variety　of　people。　　I　love　Europe。　　ButI'm　glad　to　be　home　again。''

‘‘I　don't　see　how　you　can　stand　it；''　said　Victor。

‘‘Why？''　inquired　she　in　surprise。

‘‘Unless　I　had　an　intense　personal　interest　in　the　most　active　kind　of　life　in　a　place　like　this；　I　should　either　fly　or　take　to　drink；''　replied　he。　　‘‘In　this　world　you've　either　got　to　invent　occupation　for　yourself　or　else　keep　where　amusements　and　distractions　are　thrust　at　you　from　rising　till　bed…time。　　And　no　amusements　are　thrust　at　you　in　Remsen　City。''

‘‘But　I've　been　trying　the　life　of　being　amused；''　said　Jane；　‘‘and　I've　got　enough。''

‘‘For　the　moment；''　said　Victor；　laughing。　　‘‘You'll　go　back。　　You've　got　to。　　What　else　is　there　for　you？''

Her　eyes　abruptly　became　serious。　　‘‘That's　what　I've　come　home　to　find　out；''　said　she。　　Hesitatingly；　‘‘That's　why　I've　come　here　to…day。''

He　became　curiously　quietstared　at　the　writing　before　him　on　the　table。　　After　a　while　he　said：

‘‘Jane；　I　was　entirely　too　glad　to　see　you　to…day。　　I　had''

‘‘Don't　say　that；''　she　pleaded。　　‘‘Victor；　it　isn't　a　weakness''

His　hand　resting　upon　the　table　clenched　into　a　fist　and　his　brows　drew　down。　　‘‘There　can　be　no　question　but　that　it　is　a　weakness　and　a　folly；''　he　pushed　on。　　‘‘I　will　not　spoil　your　life　and　mine。　　You　are　not　for　me；　and　I　am　not　for　you。　　The　reason　we　hang　on　to　this　is　because　each　of　us　has　a　streak　of　tenacity。　　We　don't　want　each　other；　but　we　are　so　made　that　we　can't　let　go　of　an　idea　once　it　has　gotten　into　our　heads。''

‘‘There　is　another　reason；''　she　said　gently。　　‘‘We　are；　both　of　us；　aloneand　lonesome；　Victor。''

‘‘But　I'm　not　alone。　　I'm　not　lonesome''　　And　there　he　abruptly　halted；　to　gaze　at　her　with　the　expression　of　awakening　and　astonishment。　　‘‘I　believe　I'm　wrong。　　I　believe　you're　right；''　he　exclaimed。　　‘‘I　had　never　thought　of　that　before。''

‘‘You've　been　imagining　your　work；　your　cause　was　enough；''　she　went　on　in　a　quiet　rational　way　that　was　a　revelationand　a　self…revelationof　the　real　Jane　Hastings。　　‘‘But　it　isn't。　　There's　a　whole　other　side　of　your　naturethethethe　private　sidethat's　the　expressionthe　private　side。　　And　you've　been　denying　to　it　its　rights。''

He　reflected；　nodded　slowly。　　‘‘I　believe　that's　the　truth；''　he　said。　　‘‘It　explains　a　curious　feeling　I've　had　a　sort　of　shriveling　sensation。''　　He　gazed　thoughtfully　at　her；　his　face　gradually　relaxing　into　a　merry　smile。

‘‘What　is　it？''　asked　she；　smiling　in　turn。

‘‘We've　both　got　to　fall　in　love　and　marry；''　said　he。　　‘‘Not　with　each　other；　of　coursefor　we're　not　in　any　way　mated。　　But　love　and　marriage　and　the　rest　of　it　that's　the　solution。　　I　don't　need　it　quite　as　much　as　you　do；　for　I've　got　my　work。　　But　I　need　it。　　Now　that　I　see　things　in　the　right　light　I　wonder　that　I've　been　so　stupidly　blind。　　Why　do　we　human　beings　always　overlook　the　obvious？''

‘‘It　isn't　easy　to　marry；''　said　Jane；　rather　drearily。　　‘‘It　isn't　easy　to　find　some　one　with　whom　one　would　be　willing　to　pass　one's　life。　　I've　had　several　chances　one　or　two　of　them　not　entirely　mercenary；　I　think。　　But　not　one　that　I　could　bring　myself　to　accept。''

‘‘Vanityvanity；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘Almost　any　human　being　is　interesting　and　attractive　if　one　will　stop　thinking　about　oneself　and　concentrate　on　him　or　her。''

She　smiled。　　‘‘It's　evident　you've　never　tried　to　fall　in　love。''

‘‘The　nearest　I　ever　came　to　it　was　with　you；''　replied　he。　　‘‘But　that　was；　of　course；　out　of　the　question。''

‘‘I　don't　admit　that；''　said　she；　with　an　amusing　kind　of　timid　obstinacy。

‘‘Let's　be　honest　and　natural　with　each　other；''　urged　he。　　‘‘Now；　Jane；　admit　that　in　your　heart　of　hearts　you　feel　you　ought　not　to　marry　me。''

Her　glance　avoided　his。

‘‘Comeown　up！''　cried　he。

‘‘I　have　thought　of　that　side　of　it；''　she　conceded。

‘‘And　if　I　hadn't　piqued　you　by　thinking　of　it；　too；　you'd　never　have　lingered　on　any　other　side　of　it；''　said　he。　　‘‘Well！　　Now　that　we've　cleared　the　ground　there's　Davy。　　He's　to　be　nominated　by　the　Republicans　for　Governor　next　week。''

‘‘Davy？　　I　had　almost　forgotten　him。　　I'll　think　of　Davyand　let　you　know　。　。　。　　And　you？　　Who　is　there　for　you？''

‘‘Ohno　one　you　know。　　My　sister　has　recommended　several　girls　from　time　to　time。　　I'll　see。''

Jane　gave　the　freest　and　heartiest　laugh　that　had　passed　her　lips　in　more　than　a　year。　　It　was　thus　free　and　unrestrained　because　he　had　not　said　what　she　was　fearing　he　would　sayhad　not　suggested　the　woman　nearest　him；　the　obvious　woman。　　So　eager　was　she　to　discover　what　he　thought　of　Selma；　that　she　could　hardly　restrain　herself　from　suggesting　her。　　Before　they　could　say　anything　more；　two　men　came　to　talk　with　him。　　Jane　could　not　but　leave。

She　dined　that　night　at　Mrs。　Sherlock'sMrs。　Sherlock　was　Davy's　oldest　sister。　　Davy　took　her　in；　they　talkedabout　his　careerthrough　dinner；　and　he　walked　home　with　her　in　the　moonlight。　　He　was　full　of　his　approaching　nomination。　　He　had　been　making　what　is　known　as　a　good　record；　as　mayor。　　That　is；　he　had　struck　out　boldly　at　sundry　petty　abuses　practised　by　a　low　and　comparatively　uninfluential　class　of　exploiters　of　the　people。　　He　had　been　so　busy　with　these　showy　trifles　that　there　had　been　no　time　for　the　large　abuses。　　True；　he　had　publicly　warned　the　gas　company　about　its　poor　gas；　and　the　water　company　about　its　unwholesome　water　for　the　low…lying　tenement　districts；　and　the　traction　company　about　the　fewness　and　filthiness　of　its　cars。　　The　gas　company　had　talked　of　putting　in　improved　machinery；　the　water　company　had　invited　estimates　on　a　filtration　plant；　the　traction　company　had　said　a　vague　something　about　new　cars　as　soon　as　car　manufacturers　could　make　definite　promises　as　to　delivery。　　But　nothing　had　been　doneas　yet。　　Obviously　a　corporation；　a　large　investment　of　capital；　must　be　treated　with　consideration。　　It　would　not　do　for　a　conservative；　fair　minded　mayor　to　rush　into　demagogery。　　So；　Davy　was　content　to　point　proudly　to　his　record　of　having　‘‘made　the　big　corporations　awaken　to　a　sense　of　their　duty。''　　An　excellent　record；　as　good　as　a　reform　politician；　with　a　larger　career　in　prospect；　could　be　expected　to　make。　　People　spoke　well　of　Mayor　Hull　and　the　three　daily　papers　eulogized　him。　　Davy　no　longer　had　qualms　of　conscience。　　He　read　the　eulogies；　he　listened　to　the　flatteries　of　the　conservative　leading　citizens　he　met　at　the　Lincoln　and　at　the　University；　and　he　felt　that　he　was　all　that　he　in　young　enthusiasm　had　set　out　to　be。

When　he　went　to　other　cities　and　towns　and　to　county　fairs　to　make　addresses　he　was　introduced　as　the　man　who　had　redeemed　Remsen　City；　as　a　shining　example　of　the　honest　SANE　man　in　politics；　as　a　man　the　bosses　were　afraid　of；　yet　dared　not　try　to　down。　　‘‘You　can't　fool　the　people。''　　And　were　not　the　people；　notably　those　who　didn't　live　in　Remsen　City　and　had　only　read　in　their　newspapers　about　the　reform　Republican　mayor　weren't　they　clamorous　for　Mayor　Hull　for　governor！　　Thus；　Davy　was　high　in　his　own　esteem；　was　in　that　mood　of　profound　responsibility　to　righteousness　and　to　the　people　wherein　a　man　can　get　the　enthusiastic　endorsement　of　his　conscience　for　any　act　he　deems　it　expedient　to　commit　in　safeguarding　and　advancing　his　career。　　His　person　had　become　valuable　to　his　country。　　His　opponents　were　therefore　anathema　maranatha。

As　he　and　Jane　walked　side　by　side　in　the　tender　moonlight；　Jane　said：

‘‘What's　become　of　Selma　Gordon？''

A　painful　pause；　then　Davy；　in　a　tone　that　secretly　amused　Jane：　　‘‘Selma？　　I　see　her　occasionallyat　a　distance。　　She　still　writes　for　Victor　Dorn's　sheet；　I　believe。　　I　never　see　it。''

Jane　felt　she　could　easily　guess　why。　　‘‘Yesit　is　irritating　to　read　criticisms　of　oneself；''　said　she　sweetly。　　Davy's　self…complacence　had　been　most　trying　to　her　nerves。

Another　long　silence；　then　he　said：　　‘‘AboutMiss　Gordon。　　I　suppose　you　were　thinking　of　the　things　I　confided　to　you　last　year？''

‘‘Yes；　I　was；''　confessed　Jane。

‘‘That's　all　over；''　said　Mayor　and　prospective　Governor　Hull。　　‘‘I　found　I　was　mistaken　in　her。''

‘‘Didn't　you　tell　me　that　she　refused　you？''　pressed　Jane；　most　unkindly。

‘‘We　met　again　after　that；''　said　Davyby　way　of　proving　that　even　the　most　devoted　apostle　of　civic　righteousness　is　yet　not　without　his　share　of　the　common　humanity；　‘‘and　from　that　time　I　felt　differently　toward　her。　。　。　。　　I've　never　been　able　to　understand　my　folly。　。　。　。　　I　wonder　if　you　could　forgive　me　for　it？''

Davy　was　a　good　deal　of　a　bore；　she　felt。　　At　least；　he　seemed　so　in　this　first　renewing　of　old　acquaintance。　　But　he　was　a　man　of　purpose；　a　man　who　was　doing　much　and　would　do　more。　　And　she　liked　him；　and　had　for　him　that　feeling　of　sympathy　and　comprehension　which　exists　among　people　of　the　same　region；　brought　up　in　much　the　same　way。　　Instead　of　cutting　him　off；　she　temporized。　　Said　she　with　a　serenely　careless　laugh　that　might　have　let　a　man　more　expert　in　the　ways　of　women　into　the　secret　of　how　little　she　cared　about　him：　　‘‘You　mean　forgive　you　for　dropping　me　so　abruptly　and　running　after　her？''

‘‘That's　not　exactly　the　way　to　put　it；''　objected　he。

‘‘Put　it　any　way　you　like；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘I　forgive　you。　　I　didn't　care　at　the　time；　and　I　don't　care　now。''

Jane　was　looking　entrancing　in　that　delicate　light。　　Davy　was　notingwas　feelingthis。　　Also；　he　was　reflectingin　a　high…minded　wayupon　the　many　material；　mental　and　spiritual　advantages　of　a　marriag