the conflict-第28节

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‘‘I　believe　that's　true；''　said　Davy　miserably。

She　reflected；　then　continued：　　‘‘But　there's　Jane　Hastings。　　Why　not　marry　her？　　She　is　having　the　same　sort　of　struggle　with　herself。　　You　and　she　could　help　each　other。　　And　you're；　both　of　you；　fine　characters。　　I　like　each　of　you　for　exactly　the　same　reasons。　。　。　。　　YesJane　needs　you；　and　you　need　her。''　　She　looked　at　him　with　her　sweet；　frank　smile　like　a　breeze　straight　from　the　sweep　of　a　vast　plateau。　　‘‘Why；　it's　so　obvious　that　I　wonder　you　and　she　haven't　become　engaged　long　ago。　　You　ARE　fond　of　her；　aren't　you？''

‘‘Oh；　Selma；''　cried　Davy；　‘‘I　LOVE　you。　　I　want　YOU。''

She　shook　her　head　with　a　quaint；　fascinating　expression　of　positiveness。　　‘‘Now；　my　friend；''　said　she；　‘‘drop　that　fancy。　　It　isn't　sensible。　　And　it　threatens　to　become　silly。''　　Her　smile　suddenly　expanded　into　a　laugh。　　‘‘The　idea　of　you　and　me　marriedof　ME　married　to　YOU！　　I'd　drive　you　crazy。　　No；　I　shouldn't　stay　long　enough　for　that。　　I'd　be　of　on　the　wings　of　the　wind　to　the　other　end　of　the　earth　as　soon　as　you　tried　to　put　a　halter　on　me。''

He　did　not　join　in　her　laugh。　　She　rose。　　‘‘You　will　think　again　before　you　go　in　with　those　peoplewon't　you；　David？''　she　said；　sober　and　earnest。

‘‘I　don't　care　what　becomes　of　me；''　he　said　boyishly。　

‘‘But　_I_　do；''　she　said。　　‘‘I　want　to　see　you　the　man　you　can　be。''

‘‘Thenmarry　me；''　he　cried。

Her　eyes　looked　gentle　friendship；　her　passionate　lips　curled　in　scorn。　　‘‘I　might　marry　the　sort　of　man　you　could　be；''　she　said；　‘‘but　I　never　could　marry　a　man　so　weak　that；　without　me　to　bolster　him　up；　he'd　become　a　stool…pigeon。''

And　she　turned　and　walked　away。



V。


A　few　days　later；　after　she　had　taken　her　daily　two　hours'　walk；　Selma　went　into　the　secluded　part　of　Washington　Park　and　spent　the　rest　of　the　morning　writing。　　Her　walk　was　her　habitual　time　for　thinking　out　her　plans　for　the　day。　　And　when　it　was　writing　that　she　had　to　do；　and　the　weather　was　fine；　that　particular　hillside　with　its　splendid　shade　so　restful　for　the　eyes　and　so　stimulating　to　the　mind　became　her　work…shop。　　She　thought　that　she　was　helped　as　much　by　the　colors　of　grass　and　foliage　as　by　the　softened　light　and　the　tranquil　view　out　over　hills　and　valleys。

When　she　had　finished　her　article　she　consulted　the　little　nickel　watch　she　carried　in　her　bag　and　discovered　that　it　was　only　one　o'clock。　　She　had　counted　on　getting　through　at　three　or　half　past。　　Two　hours　gained。　　How　could　she　best　use　them。　　The　part　of　the　Park　where　she　was　sitting　was　separated　from　the　Hastings　grounds　only　by　the　winding　highroad　making　its　last　reach　for　the　top　of　the　hill。　　She　decided　that　she　would　go　to　see　Jane　Hastingswould　try　to　make　tactful　progress　in　her　project　of　helping　Jane　and　David　Hull　by　marrying　them　to　each　other。　　Once　she　had　hit　upon　this　project　her　interest　in　both　of　them　had　equally　increased。　　Yes；　these　gained　two　hours　was　an　opportunity　not　to　be　neglected。

She　put　her　papers　into　her　shopping　bag　and　went　straight　up　the　steep　hill。　　She　arrived　at　the　top；　at　the　edge　of　the　lawn　before　Jane's　house；　with　somewhat　heightened　color　and　brightened　eyes；　but　with　no　quickening　of　the　breath。　　Her　slim；　solid　little　body　had　all　the　qualities　of　endurance　of　those　wiry　ponies　that　come　from　the　regions　her　face　and　walk　and　the　careless　grace　of　her　hair　so　delightfully　suggested。　　As　she　advanced　toward　the　house　she　saw　a　gay　company　assembled　on　the　wide　veranda。　　Jane　was　giving　a　farewell　luncheon　for　her　visitors；　had　asked　almost　a　dozen　of　the　most　presentable　girls　in　the　town。　　It　was　a　very　fashionable　affair；　and　everyone　had　dressed　for　it　in　the　best　she　had　to　wear　at　that　time　of　day。

Selma　saw　the　company　while　there　was　still　time　for　her　to　draw　back　and　descend　into　the　woods。　　But　she　knew　little　about　conventionalities；　and　she　cared　not　at　all　about　them。　　She　had　come　to　see　Jane；　she　conducted　herself　precisely　as　she　would　have　expected　any　one　to　act　who　came　to　see　her　at　any　time。　　She　marched　straight　across　the　lawn。　　The　hostess；　the　fashionable　visitors；　the　fashionable　guests　soon　centered　upon　the　extraordinary　figure　moving　toward　them　under　that　blazing　sun。　　The　figure　was　extraordinary　not　for　dressthe　dress　was　plain　and　unconspicuousbut　for　that　expression　of　the　free　and　the　untamed；　the　lack　of　self…consciousness　so　rarely　seen　except　in　children　and　animals。　　Jane　rushed　to　the　steps　to　welcome　her；　seized　her　extended　hands　and　kissed　her　with　as　much　enthusiasm　as　she　kissed　Jane。　　There　was　sincerity　in　this　greeting　of　Jane's；　but　there　was　pose；　also。　　Here　was　one　of　those　chances　to　do　the　unconventional；　the　democratic　thing。

‘‘What　a　glorious　surprise！''　cried　Jane。　　‘‘You'll　stop　for　lunch；　of　course？''　　Then　to　the　girls　nearest　them：　　‘‘This　is　Selma　Gordon；　who　writes　for　the　New　Day。''

Pronouncing　of　namessmilesbowsveiled　glances　of　curiosityseveral　young　women　exchanging　whispered　comments　of　amusement。　　And　to　be　sure；　Selma；　in　that　simple　costume；　gloveless；　with　dusty　shoes　and　blown　hair；　did　look　very　much　out　of　place。　　But　then　Selma　would　have　looked；　in　a　sense；　out　of　place　anywhere　but　in　a　wilderness　with　perhaps　a　few　tents　and　a　half…tamed　herd　as　background。　　In　another　sense；　she　seemed　in　place　anywhere　as　any　natural　object　must。

‘‘I　don't　eat　lunch；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘But　I'll　stay　if　you'll　put　me　next　to　you　and　let　me　talk　to　you。''

She　did　not　realize　what　an　upsetting　of　order　and　precedence　this　request；　which　seemed　so　simple　to　her；　involved。　　Jane　hesitated；　but　only　for　a　fraction　of　a　second。　　‘‘Why；　certainly；''　said　she。　　‘‘Now　that　I've　got　you　I'd　not　let　you　go　in　any　circumstances。''

Selma　was　gazing　around　at　the　other　girls　with　the　frank　and　pleased　curiosity　of　a　child。　　‘‘Gracious；　what　pretty　clothes！''　she　criedshe　was　addressing　Miss　Clearwater；　of　Cincinnati。　　‘‘I've　read　about　this　sort　of　thing　in　novels　and　in　society　columns　of　newspapers。　　But　I　never　saw　it　before。　　ISN'T　it　interesting！''

Miss　Clearwater；　whose　father　was　a　United　States　Senatorby　purchasehad　had　experience　of　many　oddities；　male　and　female。　　She　also　was　attracted　by　Selma's　sparkling　delight；　and　by　the　magnetic　charm　which　she　irradiated　as　a　rose　its　perfume。　　‘‘Pretty　clothes　are　attractive；　aren't　they？''　said　she；　to　be　saying　something。

‘‘I　don't　know　a　thing　about　clothes；''　confessed　Selma。　　‘‘I've　never　owned　at　the　same　time　more　than　two　dresses　fit　to　wearusually　only　one。　　And　quite　enough　for　me。　　I'd　only　be　fretted　by　a　lot　of　things　of　that　kind。　　But　I　like　to　see　them　on　other　people。　　If　I　had　my　way　the　whole　world　would　be　well　dressed。''

‘‘Except　you？''　said　Ellen　Clearwater　with　a　smile。

‘‘I　couldn't　be　well　dressed　if　I　tried；''　replied　Selma。　　‘‘When　I　was　a　child　I　was　the　despair　of　my　mother。　　Most　of　the　people　in　the　tenement　where　we　lived　were　very　dirty　and　disorderlynaturally　enough；　as　they　had　no　knowledge　and　no　money　and　no　time。　　But　mother　had　ideas　of　neatness　and　cleanliness；　and　she　used　to　try　to　keep　me　looking　decent。　　But　it　was　of　no　use。　　Ten　minutes　after　she　had　smoothed　me　down　I　was　flying　every　which　way　again。''

‘‘You　were　brought　up　in　a　tenement？''　said　Miss　Clearwater。　　Several　of　the　girls　within　hearing　were　blushing　for　Selma　and　were　feeling　how　distressed　Jane　Hastings　must　be。

‘‘I　had　a　wonderfully　happy　childhood；''　replied　Selma。　　‘‘Until　I　was　old　enough　to　understand　and　to　suffer。　　I've　lived　in　tenements　all　my　lifeamong　very　poor　people。　　I'd　not　feel　at　home　anywhere　else。''

‘‘When　I　was　born；''　said　Miss　Clearwater；　‘‘we　lived　in　a　log　cabin　up　in　the　mining　district　of　Michigan。''

Selma　showed　the　astonishment　the　other　girls　were　feeling。　　But　while　their　astonishment　was　in　part　at　a　girl　of　Ellen　Clearwater's　position　making　such　a　degrading　confession；　hers　had　none　of　that　element　in　it。　　‘‘You　don't　in　the　least　suggest　a　log　cabin　or　poverty　of　any　kind；''　said　she。　　‘‘I　supposed　you　had　always　been　rich　and　beautifully　dressed。''

‘‘No；　indeed；''　replied　Ellen。　　She　gazed　calmly　round　at　the　other　girls　who　were　listening。　　‘‘I　doubt　if　any　of　us　here　was　born　to　what　you　see。　　Of　course　we　some　of　usmake　pretensesall　sorts　of　silly　pretenses。　　But　as　a　matter　of　fact　there　isn't　one　of　us　who　hasn't　near　relatives　in　the　cabins　or　the　tenements　at　this　very　moment。''

There　was　a　hasty　turning　away　from　this　dangerous　conversation。　　Jane　came　back　from　ordering　the　rearrangement　of　her　luncheon　table。　　Said　Selma：

‘‘I'd　like　to　wash　my　hands；　and　smooth　my　hair　a　little。''

‘‘You　take　her　up；　Ellen；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘And　hurry。　　We'll　be　in　the　dining…room　when　you　come　down。''

Selma's　eyes　were　wide　and　roving　as　she　and　Ellen　went　through　the　drawing…room；　the　hall；　up　stairs　and　into　the　very　prettily　furnished　suite　which　Ellen　was　occupying。　　‘‘I　never　saw　anything　like　this　before！''　exclaimed　Selma。　　‘‘It's　the　first　time　I　was　ever　in　a　grand　house。　　This　is　a　grand　house；　isn't　it？''

‘‘Noit's　only　comfortable；''　replied　Ellen。　　‘‘Mr。　Hastingsand　Jane；　too；　don't　go　in　for　grandeur。''

‘‘How　beautiful　eve