within the law-第2章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the two girls with whom she shared a cheap room。 Their common decency in attitude toward the other sex was the unique bond of union。 In their association； she found no real companionship。 Nevertheless； they were wholesome enough。 Otherwise they were illiterate； altogether uncongenial。
In such wise； through five dreary years； Mary Turner lived。 Nine hours daily； she stood behind a counter。 She spent her other waking hours in obligatory menial labors： cooking her own scant meals over the gas； washing and ironing； for the sake of that neat appearance which was required of her by those in authority at the Emporiumyet； more especially； necessary for her own self…respect。 With a mind keen and earnest； she contrived some solace from reading and studying； since the free library gave her this opportunity。 So； though engaged in stultifying occupation through most of her hours； she was able to find food for mental growth。 Even； in the last year； she had reached a point of development whereat she began to study seriously her own position in the world's economy； to meditate on a method of bettering it。 Under this impulse； hope mounted high in her heart。 Ambition was born。 By candid comparison of herself with others about her； she realized the fact that she possessed an intelligence beyond the average。 The training by her father； too； had been of a superior kind。 There was as well； at the back vaguely； the feeling of particular self…respect that belongs inevitably to the possessor of good blood。 Finally； she demurely enjoyed a modest appreciation of her own physical advantages。 In short； she had beauty； brains and breeding。 Three things of chief importance to any womanthough there be many minds as to which may be chief among the three。
I have said nothing specific thus far as to the outer being of Mary Turnerexcept as to filmed eyes and a huddled form。 But； in a happier situation； the girl were winning enough。 Indeed； more！ She was one of those that possess an harmonious beauty； with； too； the penetrant charm that springs from the mind； with the added graces born of the spirit。 Just now； as she sat； a figure of desolation； there on the bed in the Tombs cell； it would have required a most analytical observer to determine the actualities of her loveliness。 Her form was disguised by the droop of exhaustion。 Her complexion showed the pallor of sorrowful vigils。 Her face was no more than a mask of misery。 Yet； the shrewd observer； if a lover of beauty； might have found much for delight； even despite the concealment imposed by her present condition。 Thus； the stormy glory of her dark hair； great masses that ran a riot of shining ripples and waves。 And the straight line of the nose； not too thin； yet fine enough for the rapture of a Praxiteles。 And the pink daintiness of the ear…tips； which peered warmly from beneath the pall of tresses。 One could know nothing accurately of the complexion now。 But it were easy to guess that in happier places it would show of a purity to entice； with a gentle blooming of roses in the cheeks。 Even in this hour of unmitigated evil； the lips revealed a curving beauty of rednot quite crimson； though near enough for the word； not quite scarlet either； only； a red gently enchanting； which turned one's thoughts toward tendernesswith a hint of desire。 It was； too； a generous mouth； not too large； still； happily； not so small as those modeled by Watteau。 It was altogether winsomemore； it was generous and true； desirable for kissesyes！more desirable for strength and for faith。
Like every intelligent woman； Mary had taken the trouble to reinforce the worth of her physical attractiveness。 The instinct of sex was strong in her； as it must be in every normal woman； since that appeal is nature's law。 She kept herself supple and svelte by many exercises； at which her companions in the chamber scoffed； with the prudent warning that more work must mean more appetite。 With arms still aching from the lifting of heavy bolts of cloth to and fro from the shelves； she nevertheless was at pains nightly to brush with the appointed two hundred strokes the thick masses of her hair。 Even here； in the sordid desolation of the cell； the lustrous sheen witnessed the fidelity of her care。 So； in each detail of her； the keen observer might have found adequate reason for admiration。 There was the delicacy of the hands； with fingers tapering； with nails perfectly shaped； neither too dull nor too shining。 And there were； too； finally； the trimly shod feet； set rather primly on the floor； small； and arched like those of a Spanish Infanta。 In truth； Mary Turner showed the possibilities at least； if not just now the realities； of a very beautiful woman。
Naturally； in this period of grief； the girl's mind had no concern with such external merits over which once she had modestly exulted。 All her present energies were set to precise recollection of the ghastly experience into which she had been thrust。
In its outline； the event had been tragically simple。
There had been thefts in the store。 They had been traced eventually to a certain department； that in which Mary worked。 The detective was alert。 Some valuable silks were missed。 Search followed immediately。 The goods were found in Mary's locker。 That was enough。 She was charged with the theft。 She protested innocenceonly to be laughed at in derision by her accusers。 Every thief declares innocence。 Mr。 Gilder himself was emphatic against her。 The thieving had been long continued。 An example must be made。 The girl was arrested。
The crowded condition of the court calendar kept her for three months in the Tombs； awaiting trial。 She was quite friendless。 To the world； she was only a thief in duress。 At the last； the trial was very short。 Her lawyer was merely an unfledged practitioner assigned to her defense as a formality of the court。 This novice in his profession was so grateful for the first recognition ever afforded him that he rather assisted than otherwise the District Attorney in the prosecution of the case。
At the end； twelve good men and true rendered a verdict of guilty against the shuddering girl in the prisoner's dock。
So simple the history of Mary Turner's trial。。。。 The sentence of the judge was lenientonly three years！
CHAPTER II。 A CHEERFUL PRODIGAL。
That which was the supreme tragedy to the broken girl in the cell merely afforded rather agreeable entertainment to her former fellows of the department store。 Mary Turner throughout her term of service there had been without real intimates； so that now none was ready to mourn over her fate。 Even the two room…mates had felt some slight offense； since they sensed the superiority of her； though vaguely。 Now； they found a smug satisfaction in the fact of her disaster as emphasizing very pleasurably their own continuance in respectability。
As many a philosopher has observed； we secretly enjoy the misfortunes of others； particularly of our friends； since they are closest to us。 Most persons hasten to deny this truth in its application to themselves。 They do so either because from lack of clear understanding they are not quite honest with themselves； from lack of clear introspection； or because； as may be more easily believed； they are not quite honest in the assertion。 As a matter of fact； we do find a singular satisfaction in the troubles of others。 Contemplation of such suffering renders more striking the contrasted well…being of our own lot。 We need the pains of others to serve as background for our joysjust as sin is essential as the background for any appreciation of virtue； even any knowledge of its existence。。。。 So now； on the day of Mary Turner's trial； there was a subtle gaiety of gossipings to and fro through the store。 The girl's plight was like a shuttlecock driven hither and yon by the battledores of many tongues。 It was the first time in many years that one of the employees had been thus accused of theft。 Shoplifters were so common as to be a stale topic。 There was a refreshing novelty in this case； where one of themselves was the culprit。 Her fellow workers chatted desultorily of her as they had opportunity； and complacently thanked their gods that the
