the conflict-第65章
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different from the one made current by the newspapers。 He made a speech on the floor of the convention which almost caused a riot and nearly cost Davy the nomination。 That catastrophe was averted by adjournment。 Davy gave Dick Kelly's second lieutenant; Osterman; ten thousand in cash; of which Osterman said there was pressing need ‘‘for perfectly legitimate purposes; I assure you; Mr。 Mayor。'' Next day the Bannister faction lost forty and odd sturdy yeomen from districts where the crops had been painfully short; and Davy was nominated。
In due time the election was held; and Mayor Hull became Governor Hull by a satisfactory majority for so evenly divided a State。 He had spentin contributions to the machine campaign fundupwards of one hundred thousand dollars。 But that seemed a trifling sacrifice to make for reform principles and for keeping the voice of the people the voice of God。 He would have been elected if he had not spent a cent; for the Democratic machine; bent on reorganizing back to a sound basis with all real reformers or reformers tainted with sincerity eliminated; had nominated a straight machine manand even the politicians know that the people who decide elections will not elect a machine man if they have a chance to vote for any one else。 It saddened David Hull; in the midst of victory; that his own town and county went against him; preferring the Democrat; whom it did not know; as he lived at the other end of the State。 Locally the offices at stake were all captured by the ‘‘Dorn crowd。'' At last the Workingmen's League had a judge; at last it could have a day in court。 There would not be a repetition of the great frauds of the Hull…Harbinger campaign。
By the time David had sufficient leisure to reopen the heart department of his ambition; Jane was deep in the effort to show Doctor Charlton how much intelligence and character she had。 She was serving an apprenticeship as trained nurse in the Children's Hospital; where he was chief of the staff; and was taking several extra courses with his young assistants。 It was nearly two weeks after David's first attempt to see her when her engagements and his at last permitted this meeting。 Said he:
‘‘What's this new freak?''
‘‘I can't tell you yet;'' replied she。 ‘‘I'm not sure; myself。''
‘‘I don't see how you can endure that fellow Charlton。 They say he's as big a crank in medicine as he is in politics。''
‘‘It's all of a piece;'' said Jane; tranquilly。 ‘‘He says he gets his political views from his medicine and his medical ideas from his politics。''
‘‘Don't you think he's a frightful bounder?''
‘‘Frightful;'' said Jane。
‘‘Fresh; impudentconceited。 And he looks like a prize fighter。''
‘‘At some anglesyes;'' conceded Jane。 ‘‘At others; he's almost handsome。''
‘‘The other day; when I called at the hospital and they wouldn't take my name in to you'' David broke off to vent his indignation‘‘Did you ever hear of such impertinence!''
‘‘And you the governor…elect;'' laughed Jane。 ‘‘Shall I tell you what Doctor Charlton said? He said that a governor was simply a public servant; and anything but a public representativeusually a public disgrace。 He said that a servant's business was attending to his own job and not hanging round preventing his fellow servants from attending to their jobs。''
‘‘I knew he had low and vulgar views of public affairs;'' said David。 ‘‘What I started to say was that I saw him talking to you that day; across the court; and you seemed to be enjoying his conversation。''
‘‘ENJOYING it? I love it;'' cried Jane。 ‘‘He makes me laugh; he makes me cold with rage; he gives me a different sensation every time I see him。''
‘‘You LIKEhim?''
‘‘Immensely。 And I've never been so interested or so happy in my life。'' She looked steadily at him。 ‘‘Nothing could induce me to give it up。 I've put everything else out of my mind。''
Since the dismal end of his adventure with Selma Gordon; David had become extremely wary in his dealings with the female sex。 He never again would invite a refusal; he never again would put himself in a position where a woman might feel free to tell him her private opinion of him。 He reflected upon Jane's words。 They could have but the one meaning。 Not so calmly as he would have liked; but without any embarrassing constraint; he said:
‘‘I'm glad you've found what suits you; at last。 It isn't exactly the line I'd have thought a girl such as you would choose。 You're sure you are not making a mistake?''
‘‘Quite;'' said Jane。
‘‘I should think you'd prefer marriageand a home and a social circleand all that;'' ventured David。
‘‘I'll probably not marry。''
‘‘No。 You'd hardly take a doctor。''
‘‘The only one I'd want I can't get;'' said Jane。
She wished to shock David; and she saw with pleasure that she had succeeded。 Indeed so shocked was he that in a few minutes he took leave。 And as he passed from her sight he passed from her mind。
Victor Dorn described Davy Hull's inaugural address as ‘‘an uninteresting sample of the standard reform brand 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 fi