the dwelling place of ligh-第64章
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〃Why didn't you telephone me？ In Boston？〃 he repeated。
She nodded。 He started forward again； but she avoided him。
〃What's the matter？〃 he cried。 〃I've been worried about you all day
until this damned strike broke loose。 I was afraid something had
happened。〃
〃You might have asked my father；〃 she said。
〃For God's sake； tell me what's the matter！〃
His desire for her mounted as his conviction grew more acute that
something had happened to disturb a relationship which； he had
congratulated himself； after many vicissitudes and anxieties had at last
been established。 He was conscious； however； of irritation because this
whimsical and unanticipated grievance of hers should have developed at
the moment when the caprice of his operatives threatened to interfere
with his cherished plansfor Ditmar measured the inconsistencies of
humanity by the yardstick of his desires。 Her question as to why he had
not made inquiries of her father added a new element to his disquietude。
As he stood thus； worried； exasperated； and perplexed； the fact that
there was in her attitude something ominous； dangerous； was slow to dawn
on him。 His faculties were wholly unprepared for the blow she struck
him。
〃I hate you！〃 she said。 She did not raise her voice； but the deliberate；
concentrated conviction she put into the sentence gave it the dynamic
quality of a bullet。 And save for the impact of itbefore which he
physically recoiledits import was momentarily without meaning。
〃What？〃 he exclaimed； stupidly。
〃I might have known you never meant to marry me；〃 she went on。 Her hands
were busy with the buttons of her coat。
〃All you want is to use me； to enjoy me and turn me out when you get
tired of methe way you've done with other women。 It's just the same
with these mill hands； they're not human beings to you； they'rethey're
cattle。 If they don't do as you like； you turn them out； you say they
can starve for all you care。〃
〃For God's sake； what do you mean？〃 he demanded。 〃What have I done to
you； Janet？ I love you； I need you！〃
〃Love me！〃 she repeated。 〃I know how men of your sort loveI've seen
itI know。 As long as I give you what you want and don't bother you；
you love me。 And I know how these workers feel；〃 she cried； with sudden；
passionate vehemence。 〃I never knew before； but I know now。 I've been
with them； I marched up here with them from the Clarendon when they
battered in the gates and smashed your windowsand I wanted to smash
your windows； too； to blow up your mill。〃
〃What are you saying？ You came here with the strikers？ you were with
that mob？〃 asked Ditmar； astoundedly。
〃Yes； I was in that mob。 I belong there； with them； I tell youI don't
belong here； with you。 But I was a fool even then； I was afraid they'd
hurt you； I came into the mill to find you； and youand you you acted as
if you'd never seen me before。 I was a fool； but I'm glad I cameI'm
glad I had a chance to tell you this。〃
〃My Godwon't you trust me？〃 he begged； with a tremendous effort to
collect himself。 〃You trusted me yesterday。 What's happened to change
you？ Won't you tell me？ It's nothing I've doneI swear。 And what do
you mean when you say you were in that mob？ I was almost crazy when I
came back and found they'd been here in this millcan't you understand？
It wasn't that I didn't think of you。 I'd been worrying about you all
day。 Look at this thing sensibly。 I love you； I can't get along without
youI'll marry you。 I said I would； I meant it I'll marry you just as
soon as I can clean up this mess of a strike。 It won't take long。〃
〃Don't touch me！〃 she commanded； and he recoiled again。 〃I'll tell you
where I've been； if you want to know；I've been to see my sister inin
a house； in Boston。 I guess you know what kind of a house I mean； you've
been in them； you've brought women to them；just like the man that
brought her there。 Would you marry me nowwith my sister there？ And am
I any different from her？ You you've made me just like her。〃 Her voice
had broken； now； into furious； uncontrolled weepingto which she paid no
heed。
Ditmar was stunned； he could only stare at her。
〃If I have a child；〃 she said； 〃I'llI'll kill youI'll kill myself。〃
And before he could replyif indeed he had been able to replyshe had
left the office and was running down the stairs。。。。
CHAPTER XIV
What was happening to Hampton？ Some hundreds of ignorant foreigners；
dissatisfied with the money in their pay envelopes； had marched out of
the Clarendon Mill and attacked the Chippering and behold； the revered
structure of American Government had quivered and tumbled down like a
pack of cards！ Despite the feverish assurances in the Banner 〃extra〃
that the disturbance was merely local and temporary； solid citizens
became panicky； vaguely apprehending the release of elemental forces
hitherto unrecognized and unknown。 Who was to tell these solid； educated
business men that the crazy industrial Babel they had helped to rear； and
in which they unconsciously dwelt； was no longer the simple edifice they
thought it？ that Authority； spelled with a capital； was a thing of the
past？ that human instincts suppressed become explosives to displace the
strata of civilization and change the face of the world？ that conventions
and institutions； laws and decrees crumble before the whirlwind of human
passions？ that their city was not of special； but of universal
significance？ And how were these； who still believed themselves to be
dwelling under the old dispensation； to comprehend that environments
change； and changing demand new and terrible Philosophies？ When night
fell on that fateful Tuesday the voice of Syndicalism had been raised in
a temple dedicated to ordered； Anglo…Saxon libertythe Hampton City
Hall。
Only for a night and a day did the rebellion lack both a leader and a
philosophy。 Meanwhile； in obedience to the unerring instinct for drama
peculiar to great metropolitan dailies； newspaper correspondents were
alighting from every train； interviewing officials and members of labour
unions and mill agents： interviewing Claude Ditmar； the strongest man in
Hampton that day。 He at least knew what ought to be done； and even
before his siren broke the silence of the morning hours in vigorous and
emphatic terms he had informed the Mayor and Council of their obvious
duty。 These strikers were helots； unorganized scum； the regular unions
by comparison respectableheld aloof from them。 Here； in effect； was
his argument： a strong show of force was imperative； if the police and
deputies were inadequate； request the Governor to call out the local
militia； but above all； waste no time； arrest the ringleaders； the
plotters； break up all gatherings； keep the streets clear。 He demanded
from the law protection of his property； protection for those whose right
to continue at work was inalienable。 He was listened to with sympathy
and respectbut nothing was done！ The world had turned upside down
indeed if the City Government of Hampton refused to take the advice of
the agent of the Chippering Mill！ American institutions were a failure！
But such was the fact。 Some unnamed fear； outweighing their dread of the
retributions of Capital； possessed these men； made them supine； derelict
in the face of their obvious duty。
By the faint grey light of that bitter January morning Ditmar made his
way to the mill。 In Faber Street dark figures flitted silently across
the ghostly whiteness of the snow； and gathered in groups on the corners；
seeking to avoid these； other figures hurried along the sidewalks close
to the buildings； to be halted； accosted； pleaded withthreatened；
perhaps。 Picketing had already begun！ The effect of this pantomime of
the eternal struggle for survivals which he at first beheld from a
distance； was to exaggerate appallingly the emptiness of the wide street；
to emphasize the absence of shoppers and vehicles； and a bluish darkness
lurked in the stores； whose plate glass windows were frosted in quaint
designs。 Where were the police？ It was not fear that Ditmar felt； he
was galvanized and dominated by anger； by an overwhelming desire for
a
