the conflict-第48章

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　of　artificial　milk　for　political　infants。''　　The　press；　however；　was　enthusiastic；　and　substantial　people　everywhere　spoke　of　it　as　having　the　‘‘right　ring；''　as　being　the　utterance　of　a　‘‘safe；　clean　man　whom　the　politicians　can't　frighten　or　fool。''　　In　this　famous　speech　David　urged　everybody　who　was　doing　right　to　keep　on　doing　so；　warned　everybody　who　was　doing　wrong　that　they　would　better　look　out　for　themselves；　praised　those　who　were　trying　to　better　conditions　in　the　right　way；　condemned　those　who　were　trying　to　do　so　in　the　wrong　way。　　It　was　all　most　eloquent；　most　earnest。　　Some　few　people　were　disappointed　that　he　had　not　explained　exactly　what　and　whom　he　meant　by　right　and　by　wrong；　but　these　carping　murmurs　were　drowned　in　the　general　acclaim。　　A　man　whose　fists　clenched　and　whose　eyes　flashed　as　did　David　Hull's　must　‘‘mean　business''and　if　no　results　came　of　these　words；　it　wouldn't　be　his　fault；　but　the　machinations　of　wicked　plutocrats　and　their　political　agents。

‘‘Isn't　it　disgusting！''　exclaimed　Selma；　reading　an　impassioned　paragraph　aloud　to　Victor　Dorn。　　‘‘It　almost　makes　me　despair　when　I　see　how　peopleour　sort　of　people；　tooare　taken　in　by　such　guff。　　And　they　stand　with　their　empty　picked　pockets　and　cheer　this　man；　who's　nothing　but　a　stool　pigeon　for　pickpockets。''

‘‘It's　something　gained；''　observed　Victor　tranquilly；　‘‘when　politicians　have　to　denounce　the　plutocracy　in　order　to　get　audiences　and　offices。　　The　people　are　beginning　to　know　what's　wrong。　　They　read　into　our　friend　Hull's　generalities　what　they　think　he　ought　to　meanwhat　they　believe　he　does　mean。　　The　next　step　ishe'll　have　to　do　something　or　they'll　find　him　out。''

‘‘He　do　anything？''　Selma　laughed　derisively。　　‘‘He　hasn't　the　courageor　the　honesty。''

‘‘Well‘patience　and　shuffle　the　cards；'　as　Sancho　Panza　says。　　We're　winning　Remsen　City。　　And　our　friends　are　winning　a　little　ground　here；　and　a　little　there　and　a　little　yonderand　soononly　too　soon　this　crumbling　false　politics　will　collapse　and　disappear。　　Too　soon；　I　fear。　　Before　the　new　politics　of　a　work…compelling　world　for　the　working　class　only　is　ready　to　be　installed。''

Selma　had　been　only　half　attending。　　She　now　said　abruptly；　with　a　fluttering　movement　that　suggested　wind　blowing　strongly　across　open　prairies　under　a　bright　sky：

‘‘I've　decided　to　go　away。''

‘‘Yes；　you　must　take　a　vacation；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘I've　been　telling　you　that　for　several　years。　　And　you　must　go　away　to　the　sea　or　the　mountains　where　you'll　not　be　harassed　by　the　fate　of　the　human　race　that　you　so　take　to　heart。''

‘‘I　didn't　mean　a　vacation；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘I　meant　to　Chicagoto　work　there。''

‘‘You've　had　a　good　offer？''　said　Victor。　　‘‘I　knew　it　would　come。　　You've　got　to　take　it。　　You　need　the　wider　experiencethe　chance　to　have　a　paper　of　your　ownor　a　work　of　your　own　of　some　kind。　　It's　been　selfishness；　my　keeping　you　all　this　time。''

Selma　had　turned　away。　　With　her　face　hidden　from　him　she　said；　‘‘Yes；　I　must　go。''

‘‘When？''　said　Victor。

‘‘As　soon　as　you　can　arrange　for　some　one　else。''

‘‘All　right。　　I'll　look　round。　　I've　no　hope　of　finding　any　one　to　take　your　place；　but　I　can　get　some　one　who　will　do。''

‘‘You　can　train　any　one；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘Just　as　you　trained　me。''

‘‘I'll　see　what's　to　be　done；''　was　all　he　said。

A　week　passedtwo　weeks。　　She　waited；　he　did　not　bring　up　the　subject。　　But　she　knew　he　was　thinking　of　it；　for　there　had　been　a　change　in　his　manner　toward　hera　constraint；　a　self…consciousness　theretofore　utterly　foreign　to　him　in　his　relations　with　any　one。　　Selma　was　wretched；　and　began　to　show　it　first　in　her　appearance；　then　in　her　work。　　At　last　she　burst　out：

‘‘Give　that　article　back　to　me；''　she　cried。　　‘‘It's　rotten。　　I　can't　write　any　more。　　Why　don't　you　tell　me　so　frankly？　　Why　don't　you　send　me　away？''

‘‘You're　doing　better　work　than　I　am；''　said　he。　　‘‘You're　eager　to　be　offaren't　you？　　Will　you　stay　a　few　days　longer？　　I　must　get　away　to　the　country　aloneto　get　a　fresh　grip　on　myself。　　I'll　come　back　as　soon　as　I　can；　and　you'll　be　free。　　There'll　be　no　chance　for　vacations　after　you're　gone。''

‘‘Very　well；''　said　she。　　She　felt　that　he　would　think　this　curtness　ungracious；　but　more　she　could　not　say。

He　was　gone　four　days。　　When　he　reappeared　at　the　office　he　was　bronzed；　but　under　the　bronze　showed　fatiguein　a　man　of　his　youth　and　strength　sure　sign　of　much　worry　and　loss　of　sleep。　　He　greeted　her　almost　awkwardly；　his　eyes　avoiding　hers；　and　sat　down　to　opening　his　accumulated　mail。　　Although　she　was　furtively　observing　him　she　started　when　he　abruptly　said：

‘‘You　know　you　are　free　to　goat　any　time。''

‘‘I'll　wait　until　you　catch　up　with　your　work；''　she　suggested。

‘‘Nonever　mind。　　I'll　get　along。　　I've　kept　you　out　of　all　reason。　。　。　。　　The　sooner　you　go　the　better。　　I've　got　to　get　used　to　it；　andI　hate　suspense。''

‘‘Then　I'll　go　in　the　morning；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘I've　no　arrangements　to　makeexcept　a　little　packing　that'll　take　less　than　an　hour。　　Will　you　say　good…by　for　me　to　any　one　who　asks？　　I　hate　fusses；　and　I'll　be　back　here　from　time　to　time。''

He　looked　at　her　curiously；　started　to　speak；　changed　his　mind　and　resumed　reading　the　letter　in　his　hand。　　She　turned　to　her　work；　sat　pretending　to　write。　　In　fact　she　was　simply　scribbling。　　Her　eyes　were　burning　and　she　was　fighting　against　the　sobs　that　came　surging。　　He　rose　and　began　to　walk　up　and　down　the　room。　　She　hastily　crumpled　and　flung　away　the　sheet　on　which　she　had　be　scrawling；　he　might　happen　to　glance　at　her　desk　and　see。　　She　bent　closer　to　the　paper　and　began　to　writeanything　that　came　into　her　head。　　Presently　the　sound　of　his　step　ceased。　　An　uncontrollable　impulse　to　fly　seized　her。　　She　would　get　upwould　not　put　on　her　hatwould　act　as　if　she　were　simply　going　to　the　street　door　for　a　moment。　　And　she　would　not　returnwould　escape　the　danger　of　a　silly　breakdown。　　She　summoned　all　her　courage；　suddenly　rose　and　moved　swiftly　toward　the　door。　　At　the　threshold　she　had　to　pause；　she　could　not　control　her　heart　from　a　last　look　at　him。

He　was　seated　at　his　table；　was　staring　at　its　litter　of　letters；　papers　and　manuscripts　with　an　expression　so　sad　that　it　completely　transformed　him。　　She　forgot　herself。　　She　said　softly：

‘‘Victor！''

He　did　not　hear。

‘‘Victor；''　she　repeated　a　little　more　loudly。

He　roused　himself；　glanced　at　her　with　an　attempt　at　his　usual　friendly　smile　of　the　eyes。

‘‘Is　there　something　wrong　that　you　haven't　told　me　about？''　she　asked。

‘‘It'll　pass；''　said　he。　　‘‘I'll　get　used　to　it。''　　With　an　attempt　at　the　manner　of　the　humorous　philosopher；　‘‘Man　is　the　most　adaptable　of　all　the　animals。　　That's　why　he　has　distanced　all　his　relations。　　I　didn't　realize　how　much　our　association　meant　to　me　until　you　set　me　to　thinking　about　it　by　telling　me　you　were　going。　　I　had　been　taking　you　for　granteda　habit　we　easily　fall　into　with　those　who　simply　work　with　and　for　us　and　don't　insist　upon　themselves。''

She　was　leaning　against　the　frame　of　the　open　door　into　the　hall；　her　hands　behind　her　back。　　She　was　gazing　out　of　the　window　across　the　room。

‘‘You；''　he　went　on；　‘‘are　as　I'd　like　to　beas　I　imagined　I　was。　　Your　sense　of　duty　to　the　cause　orders　you　elsewhere；　and　you　golike　a　good　soldier；　with　never　a　backward　glance。''

She　shook　her　head；　but　did　not　speak。

‘‘With　never　a　backward　glance；''　he　repeated。　　‘‘While　I''　　He　shut　his　lips　together　firmly　and　settled　himself　with　fierce　resolution　to　his　work。　　‘‘I　beg　your　pardon；''　he　said。　　‘‘This　iscowardly。　　As　I　said　before；　I　shall　get　myself　in　hand　again；　and　go　on。''

She　did　not　move。　　The　breeze　of　the　unseasonably　warm　and　brilliant　day　fluttered　her　thick；　loosely　gathered　hair　about　her　brow。　　Her　strange；　barbaric　little　face　suggested　that　the　wind　was　blowing　across　it　a　throng　of　emotions　like　the　clouds　of　a　driven　storm。

A　long　silence。　　He　suddenly　flung　out　his　arms　in　a　despairing　gesture　and　let　them　fall　to　the　table。　　At　the　crash　she　startled；　gazed　wildly　about。

‘‘Selma！''　he　cried。　　‘‘I　must　say　it。　　I　love　you。''

A　profound　silence　fell。　　After　a　while　she　went　softly　across　the　room　and　sat　down　at　her　desk。

‘‘I　think　I've　loved　you　from　the　first　months　of　your　coming　here　to　workto　the　old　office；　I　mean。　　But　we　were　always　togetherevery　dayall　day　long　working　togetherI　thinking　and　doing　nothing　without　your　sharing　in　it。　　So；　I　never　realized。　　Don't　misunderstand。　　I'm　not　trying　to　keep　you　here。

It's　simply　that　I've　got　the　habit　of　telling　you　everything　of　holding　back　nothing　from　you。''

‘‘I　was　going；''　she　said；　‘‘because　I　loved　you。''

He　looked　at　her　in　amazement。

‘‘That　day　you　told　me　you　had　decided　to　get　married　and　asked　my　advice　about　the　girls　among　our　friendsthat　was　the　day　I　began　to　feel　I'd　have　to　go。　　It's　been　getting　worse　ever　since。''

Once　more　silence；　both　looking　uneasily　about；　their　glances　avoiding　each　other。　　The　door　of　the　printing　room　opened；　and　Holman；　the　printer；　came　in；　his　case　in　his　grimy　hand。　　Said　he：

‘‘Where's　the　rest　of　that　street　car　article？''

‘‘I　beg　your　pardon；''　said　Selma；　starting　up　and　taking　some　manuscript　from　her　desk　and　handing　it　to　him。

‘‘Louis；''　said　Victor；　as　Holmes　was　retreating；　‘‘Selma　and　I　are　going　to　be　married。''

Louis　paused；　but　did　not　look　round。　　‘‘That　ain't　what'd　be　called　news；''　said　he。　　‘‘I've　known　it　for　more　than　three　years。''

He　moved　on　toward　his　room。　　‘‘I'll　be　ready　for　that　leading　article　in　half　an　hour。　　So；　you'd　better　get　busy。''

He　went　out；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　　Selma　and　Victor　looked　at　each　other　and　burst　out　laughing。　　Thenstill　laughingthey　took　hold　of　hands　like　two　children。　　And　the　next　thing　they　knew　they　were　tight　in　each　other's　arms；　and　Selma　was　sobbing　wildly。



X


When　Jane　had　finished　her　apprenticeship；　Doctor　Charlton　asked　her　to　marry　him。　　Said　Jane：

‘‘I　never　knew　you　to　be　commonplace　before。　　I've　felt　this　coming　for　some　time；　but　I　expected　it　would　be　in　the　form　of　an　offer　to　marry　me。''

She　promptly　accepted　himand　she　has　not；　and　will　not　regret　it。　　So　far　as　a　single　case　can　prove　a　theory；　Jane's　case　has　proved　Charlton's　theory　that　environment　determines　character。　　His　alternations　of　tenderness　and　brusqueness；　of　devotion　to　her　and　devotion　to　his　work；　his　constant　offering　of　something　new　and　his　unremitting　insistence　upon　something　new　from　her　each　day　make　it　impossible　for　her　to　develop　the　slightest　tendency　toward　that　sleeping　sickness　wherewith　the　germ　of　conventionality　inflicts　any　mind　it　seizes　upon。

David　Hull；　now　temporarily　in　eclipse　through　over　caution　in　radical　utterance；　is　gathering　himself　for　a　fresh　spurt　that　will　doubtless　place　him　at　the　front　in　politics　again。　　He　has　never　married。　　The　belief　in　Remsen　City　is　that　he　is　a　victim　of　disappointed　love　for　Jane　Hastings。　　But　the　truth　is　that　he　is　unable　to　take　his　mind　off　himself　long　enough　to　be　come　sufficiently　interested　in　another　human　being。　　There　is　no　especial　reason　why　he　has　thus　far　escaped　the　many　snares　that　have　been　set　for　him　because　of　h