within the law-第33章
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at circumstances had compelled her； and that through all the suffering of her life she had retained the more beautiful qualities of her womanliness； for which he reverenced her。 In the closeness of their association； short as it had been； he had learned to know something of the tenderer depths within her； the kindliness of her； the wholesomeness。 Swayed as he was by the loveliness of her； he was yet more enthralled by those inner qualities of which the outer beauty was only the fitting symbol。
So； in the face of this catastrophe； where a less love must have been destroyed utterly； Dick remained loyal。 His passionate regard did not falter for a moment。 It never even occurred to him that he might cast her off； might yield to his father's prayers； and abandon her。 On the contrary； his only purpose was to gain her for himself； to cherish and guard her against every ill； to protect with his love from every attack of shame or injury。 He would not believe that the girl did not care for him。 Whatever had been her first purpose of using him only as an instrument through which to strike against his father； whatever might be her present plan of eliminating him from her life in the future； he still was sure that she had grown to know a real and lasting affection for himself。 He remembered startled glances from the violet eyes； caught unawares； and the music of her voice in rare instants； and these told him that love for him stirred； even though it might as yet be but faintly； in her heart。
Out of that fact； he drew an immediate comfort in this period of his misery。 Nevertheless； his anguish was a racking one。 He grew older visibly in the night and the day。 There crept suddenly lines of new feeling into his face； and； too； lines of new strength。 The boy died in that time； the man was born； came forth in the full of his steadfastness and his courage； and his love。
The father suffered with the son。 He was a proud man； intensely gratified over the commanding position to which he had achieved in the commercial world； proud of his business integrity； of his standing in the community as a leader； proud of his social position； proud most of all of the son whom he so loved。 Now； this hideous disaster threatened his pride at every turnworse； it threatened the one person in the world whom he really loved。 Most fathers would have stormed at the boy when pleading failed； would have given commands with harshness； would have menaced the recalcitrant with disinheritance。 Edward Gilder did none of these things； though his heart was sorely wounded。 He loved his son too much to contemplate making more evil for the lad by any estrangement between them。 Yet he felt that the matter could not safely be left in the hands of Dick himself。 He realized that his son loved the womannor could he wonder much at that。 His keen eyes had perceived Mary Turner's graces of form； her loveliness of face。 He had apprehended； too； in some measure at least； the fineness of her mental fiber and the capacities of her heart。 Deep within him； denied any outlet； he knew there lurked a curious； subtle sympathy for the girl in her scheme of revenge against himself。 Her persistent striving toward the object of her ambition was something he could understand； since the like thing in different guise had been back of his own business success。 He would not let the idea rise to the surface of consciousness； for he still refused to believe that Mary Turner had suffered at his hand unjustly。 He would think of her as nothing else than a vile creature； who had caught his son in the toils of her beauty and charm； for the purpose of eventually making money out of the intrigue。
Gilder； in his library this night； was pacing impatiently to and fro； eagerly listening for the sound of his son's return to the house。 He had been the guest of honor that night at an important meeting of the Civic Committee； and he had spoken with his usual clarity and earnestness in spite of the trouble that beset him。 Now； however； the regeneration of the city was far from his thought； and his sole concern was with the regeneration of a life； that of his son； which bade fair to be ruined by the wiles of a wicked woman。 He was anxious for the coming of Dick； to whom he would make one more appeal。 If that should failwell； he must use the influences at his command to secure the forcible parting of the adventuress from his son。
The room in which he paced to and fro was of a solid dignity； well fitted to serve as an environment for its owner。 It was very large； and lofty。 There was massiveness in the desk that stood opposite the hall door； near a window。 This particular window itself was huge； high； jutting in octagonal； with leaded panes。 In addition； there was a great fireplace set with tiles； around which was woodwork elaborately carved； the fruit of patient questing abroad。 On the walls were hung some pieces of tapestry； where there were not bookcases。 Over the octagonal window； too； such draperies fell in stately lines。 Now； as the magnate paced back and forth； there was only a gentle light in the room； from a reading…lamp on his desk。 The huge chandelier was unlighted。。。。 It was even as Gilder； in an increasing irritation over the delay； had thrown himself down on a couch which stood just a little way within an alcove； that he heard the outer door open and shut。 He sprang up with an ejaculation of satisfaction。
〃Dick； at last！〃 he muttered。
It was； in truth； the son。 A moment later； he entered the room； and went at once to his father； who was standing waiting； facing the door。
〃I'm awfully sorry I'm so late； Dad；〃 he said simply。
〃Where have you been？〃 the father demanded gravely。 But there was great affection in the flash of his gray eyes as he scanned the young man's face； and the touch of the hand that he put on Dick's shoulder was very tender。 〃With that woman again？〃
The boy's voice was disconsolate as he replied：
〃No； father； not with her。 She won't see me。〃
The older man snorted a wrathful appreciation。
〃Naturally！〃 he exclaimed with exceeding bitterness in the heavy voice。 〃She's got all she wanted from you my name！〃 He repeated the words with a grimace of exasperation： 〃My name！〃
There was a novel dignity in the son's tone as he spoke。
〃It's mine； too； you know； sir；〃 he said quietly。
The father was impressed of a sudden with the fact that； while this affair was of supreme import to himself； it was； after all； of still greater significance to his son。 To himself； the chief concerns were of the worldly kind。 To this boy； the vital thing was something deeper； something of the heart： for； however absurd his feeling； the truth remained that he loved the woman。 Yes； it was the son's name that Mary Turner had taken； as well as that of his father。 In the case of the son； she had taken not only his name； but his very life。 Yes； it was； indeed； Dick's tragedy。 Whatever he； the father； might feel； the son was； after all； more affected。 He must suffer more； must lose more； must pay more with happiness for his folly。
Gilder looked at his son with a strange； new respect； but he could not let the situation go without protest； protest of the most vehement。
〃Dick；〃 he cried； and his big voice was shaken a little by the force of his emotion； 〃boy； you are all I have in the world。 You will have to free yourself from this woman somehow。〃 He stood very erect； staring steadfastly out of his clear gray eyes into those of his son。 His heavy face was rigid with feeling； the coarse mouth bent slightly in a smile of troubled fondness； as he added more softly： 〃You owe me that much。〃
The son's eyes met his father's freely。 There was respect in them； and affection； but there was something else； too； something the older man recognized as beyond his control。 He spoke gravely； with a deliberate conviction。
〃I owe something to her； too； Dad。〃
But Gilder would not let the statement go unchallenged。 His heavy voice rang out rebukingly； overtoned with protest。
〃What can you owe her？〃 he demanded indignantly。 〃She tricked you into the marriage。 Why； legally； it's not even that。 There's been nothing more than a wedding ceremony。 The cour
