the dwelling place of ligh-第51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！


he　said；　slipping　his　arm　through　hers；　〃I　will　take　you　to　Headquarters；
I　will　enlist　you；　you　shall　be　my　recruit。　　I　will　give　you　the　cause；
the　religion　you　need。〃

She　longed　to　go；　and　yet　she　drew　back；　puzzled。　　The　man　fired　and
fascinated　her；　but　there　were　reservations；　apprehensions　concerning
him；　felt　rather　than　reasoned。　　Because　of　her　state　of　rebellion；　of
her　intense　desire　to　satisfy　in　action　the　emotion　aroused　by　a　sense　of
wrong；　his　creed　had　made　a　violent　appeal；　but　in　his　voice；　in　his
eyes；　in　his　manner　she　had　been　quick　to　detect　a　personal；　sexual　note
that　disturbed　and　alarmed　her；　that　implied　in　him　a　lack　of　unity。

〃I　can't；　to…night；〃　she　said。　　〃I　must　go　homemy　mother　is　all　alone。
But　I　want　to　help；　I　want　to　do　something。〃

They　were　standing　on　a　corner；　under　a　street　lamp。　　And　she　averted　her
eyes　from　his　glance。

〃Then　come　to…morrow；〃　he　said　eagerly。　　〃You　know　where　Headquarters　is；
in　the　Franco…Belgian　Hall？〃

〃What　could　I　do？〃　　she　asked。

〃You？　　You　could　help　in　many　waysamong　the　women。　　Do　you　know　what
picketing　is？〃

〃You　mean　keeping　the　operatives　out　of　the　mills？〃

〃Yes；　in　the　morning；　when　they　go　to　work。　　And　out　of　the　Chippering
Mill；　especially。　　Ditmar；　the　agent　of　that　mill；　is　the　ablest　of　the
lot；　I'm　told。　　He's　the　man　we　want　to　cripple。〃

〃Cripple！〃　exclaimed　Janet。

〃Oh；　I　don't　mean　to　harm　him　personally。〃　　Rolfe　did　not　seem　to　notice
her　tone。　　〃But　he　intends　to　crush　the　strike；　and　I　understand　he's
importing　scabs　here　to　finish　out　an　ordera　big　order。　　If　it　weren't
for　him；　we'd　have　an　easier　fight；　he　stiffens　up　the　others。　　There's
always　one　man　like　that；　in　every　place。　　And　what　we　want　to　do　is　to
make　him　shut　down；　especially。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Janet。

〃You'll　come　to　Headquarters？〃　Rolfe　repeated。

〃Yes；　I'll　come；　to…morrow；〃　she　promised。

After　she　had　left　him　she　walked　rapidly　through　several　streets；　not
heeding　her　directionsuch　was　the　driving　power　of　the　new　ideas　he　had
given　her。　　Certain　words　and　phrases　he　had　spoken　rang　in　her　head；　and
like　martial　music　kept　pace　with　her　steps。　　She　strove　to　remember　all
that　he　had　said；　to　grasp　its　purport；　and　because　it　seemed　recondite；
cosmic；　it　appealed　to　her　and　excited　her　the　more。　　And　he；　the　man
himself；　had　exerted　a　kind　of　hypnotic　force　that　partially　had
paralyzed　her　faculties　and　aroused　her　fears　while　still　in　his
presence：　her　first　feeling　in　escaping　had　been　one　of　reliefand　then
she　began　to　regret　not　having　gone　to　Headquarters。　　Hadn't　she　been
foolish？　　In　the　retrospect；　the　elements　in　him　that　had　disturbed　her
were　less　disquieting；　his　intellectual　fascination　was　enhanced：　and　in
that　very　emancipation　from　cant　and　convention；　characteristic　of　the
Order　to　which　he　belonged；　had　lain　much　of　his　charm。　　She　had
attracted　him　as　a　woman；　there　was　no　denying　that。　　He；　who　had　studied
and　travelled　and　known　life　in　many　lands；　had　discerned　in　her；　Janet
Bumpus；　some　quality　to　make　him　desire　her；　acknowledge　her　as　a
comrade！　　Tremblingly　she　exulted　in　the　possession　of　that　quality
whatever　it　might　be。　　Ditmar；　too；　had　perceived　it！　　He　had　not　known
how　to　value　it。　　With　this　thought　came　a　flaming　suggestionDitmar
should　see　her　with　this　man　Rolfe；　she　would　make　him　scorch　with　the
fires　of　jealousy。　　Ditmar　should　know　that　she　had　joined　his　enemies；
the　Industrial　Workers　of　the　World。　　Of　the　world！　　Her　shackles　had
been　cast　off　at　last！。。。　　And　then；　suddenly；　she　felt　tired。　　The
prospect　of　returning　to　Fillmore　Street；　to　the　silent　flatmade　the
more　silent　by　her　mother's　tragic　presenceoverwhelmed　her。　　The　ache
in　her　heart　began　to　throb　again。　　How　could　she　wait　until　the　dawn　of
another　day？。。。

In　the　black　hours　of　the　morning；　with　the　siren　dinning　in　her　ears　a
hoarse　call　to　war；　Janet　leaped　from　her　bed　and　began　to　dress。　　There
is　a　degree　of　cold　so　sharp　that　it　seems　actually　to　smell；　and　as　she
stole　down　the　stairs　and　out　of　the　door　she　shivered；　assailed　by　a
sense　of　loneliness　and　fear。　　Yet　an　insistent　voice　urged　her　on；
whispering　that　to　remain　at　home；　inactive；　was　to　go　mad；　salvation　and
relief　lay　in　plunging　into　the　struggle；　in　contributing　her　share
toward　retribution　and　victory。　　Victory！　　In　Faber　Street　the　light　of
the　electric　arcs　tinged　the　snow　with　blue；　and　the　flamboyant
advertisements　of　breakfast　foods；　cigarettes　and　ales　seemed　but　the
mockery　of　an　activity　now　unrealizable。　　The　groups　and　figures
scattered　here　and　there　farther　down　the　street　served　only　to
exaggerate　its　wide　emptiness。　　What　could　these　do；　what　could　she
accomplish　against　the　mighty　power　of　the　mills？　　Gradually；　as　she
stood　gazing；　she　became　aware　of　a　beating　of　feet　upon　the　snow；　over
her　shoulder　she　caught　the　gleam　of　steel。　　A　squad　of　soldiers　muffled
in　heavy　capes　and　woolen　caps　was　marching　along　the　car…tracks。　　She
followed　them。　　At　the　corner　of　West　Street；　in　obedience　to　a　sharp
command　she　saw　them　halt；　turn；　and　advance　toward　a　small　crowd
gathered　there。　　It　scattered；　only　to　collect　again　when　the　soldiers
had　passed　on。　　Janet　joined　them。　　She　heard　men　cursing　the　soldiers。
The　women　stood　a　little　aside；　some　were　stamping　to　keep　warm；　and　one；
with　a　bundle　in　her　arms　which　Janet　presently　perceived　to　be　a　child；
sank　down　on　a　stone　step　and　remained　there；　crouching；　resigned。

〃We　gotta　right　to　stay　here；　in　the　street。　　We　gotta　right　to　live；　I
guess。〃　　The　girl's　teeth　were　chattering；　but　she　spoke　with　such
vehemence　and　spirit　as　to　attract　Janet's　attention。　　〃You　worked　in　the
Chippering；　like　meyes？〃　she　asked。

Janet　nodded。　　The　faded；　lemon…coloured　shawl　the　girl　had　wrapped　about
her　head　emphasized　the　dark　beauty　of　her　oval　face。　　She　smiled；　and
her　white　teeth　were　fairly　dazzling。　　Impulsively　she　thrust　her　arm
through　Janet's。

〃You　Americanyou　comrade；　you　come　to　help？〃　she　asked。

〃I've　never　done　any　picketing。〃

〃I　showa　you。〃

The　dawn　had　begun　to　break；　revealing　little　by　little　the　outlines　of
cruel；　ugly　buildings；　the　great　mill　looming　darkly　at　the　end　of　the
street；　and　Janet　found　it　scarcely　believable　that　only　a　little　while
ago　she　had　hurried　thither　in　the　mornings　with　anticipation　and　joy　in
her　heart；　eager　to　see　Ditmar；　to　be　near　him！　　The　sight　of　two
policemen　hurrying　toward　them　from　the　direction　of　the　canal　aroused
her。　　With　sullen　murmurs　the　group　started　to　disperse；　but　the　woman
with　the　baby；　numb　with　cold；　was　slow　in　rising；　and　one　of　the
policemen　thrust　out　his　club　threateningly。

〃Move　on；　you　can't　sit　here；〃　he　said。

With　a　lithe　movement　like　the　spring　of　a　cat　the　Italian　girl　flung
herself　between　thema　remarkable　exhibition　of　spontaneous
inflammability；　her　eyes　glittered　like　the　points　of　daggers；　and；　as
though　they　had　been　dagger　points；　the　policeman　recoiled　a　little。　　The
act；　which　was　absolutely　natural；　superb；　electrified　Janet；　restored　in
an　instant　her　own　fierceness　of　spirit。　　The　girl　said　something
swiftly；　in　Italian；　and　helped　the　woman　to　rise；　paying　no　more
attention　to　the　policeman。　　Janet　walked　on；　but　she　had　not　covered
half　the　block　before　she　was　overtaken　by　the　girl；　her　anger　had　come
and　gone　in　a　flash；　her　vivacity　had　returned；　her　vitality　again　found
expression　in　an　abundant　good　nature　and　good　will。　　She　asked　Janet's
name；　volunteering　the　information　that　her　own　was　Gemma；　that　she　was　a
〃fine　speeder〃　in　the　Chippering　Mill；　where　she　had　received　nearly
seven　dollars　a　week。　　She　had　been　among　the　first　to　walk　out。

〃Why　did　you　walk　out？〃　asked　Janet　curiously。

〃Why？　　I　get　mad　when　I　know　that　my　wages　is　cut。　　I　want　the　moneyI
get　married。〃

〃Is　that　why　you　are　striking？〃　asked　Janet　curiously。

〃That　is　whyof　course。〃

〃Then　you　haven't　heard　any　of　the　speakers？　　They　say　it　is　for　a　cause…
…the　workers　are　striking　for　freedom；　some　day　they　will　own　the　mills。
I　heard　a　man　named　Rolfe　yesterday〃

The　girl　gave　her　a　radiant　smile。

〃Rolfe！　　It　is　beautiful；　what　Rolfe　said。　　You　think　so？　　I　think　so。　　I
am　for　the　cause；　I　hate　the　capitalist。　　We　will　win；　and　get　more
money；　until　we　have　all　the　money。　　We　will　be　rich。　　And　you；　why　do
you　strike？〃

〃I　was　mad；　too；〃　Janet　replied　simply。

〃Revenge！〃　exclaimed　the　girl；　glittering　again。　　〃I　understan'。　　Here
come　the　scabs！　　Now　I　show　you。〃

The　light　had　grown；　but　the　stores　were　still　closed　and　barred。　　Along
Faber　Street；　singly　or　in　little　groups；　anxiously　glancing　around　them；
behind　them；　came　the　workers　who　still　clung　desperately　to　their　jobs。
Gemma　fairly　darted　at　two　girls　who　sought　the　edge　of　the　sidewalk；
seizing　them　by　the　sleeves；　and　with　piteous　expressions　they　listened
while　she　poured　forth　on　them　a　stream　of　Italian。　　After　a　moment　one
tore　herself　away；　but　the　other　remained　and　began　to　ask　questions。
Presently　she　turned　and　walked　slowly　away　in　the　direction　from　which
she　had　come。

〃I　get　her；〃　exclaimed　Gemma；　triumphantly。

〃What　did　you　say？〃　asked　Janet。

〃Listenthat　she　take　the　bread　from　our　mouths；　she　is　traditorescab。
We　strike　for　them；　too；　is　it　not　so？

It　is　no　use　for　them　to　work　for　wages　that　starve。　　We　win　the　strike；
we　get　good　wages　for　all。　　Here　comes　anothershe　is　a　Jewessyou　try；
you　spik。〃

Janet　failed　with　the　Jewess；　who　obstinately　refused　to　listen　or　reply
as　the　two　walked　along　with　her；　one　on　either　side。　　Near　West　Street
they　spied　a　policeman；　and　desisted。　　Up　and　down　Faber　Street；
everywhere；　the　game　went　on：　but　the　police　were　watchful；　and　once　a
detachment　of　militia　passed。　　The　picketing　had　to　be　done　quickly；　in
the　few　minutes　that　were　to　elapse　before　the　gates　should　close。
Janet's　blood　ran　faster；　she　grew　excited；　absorbed；　bolder　as　she
perceived　the　apologetic　attitude　of　the　〃scabs〃　and　she　began　to　despise
them　with　Gemma's　heartiness；　and　soon　she　had　lost　all　sense　of　surprise
at　finding　herself　arguing；　pleading；　appealing　to　several　women　in　turn；
fluently；　in　the　language　of　the　industrial　revolution。　　Somebecause
she　was　an　Americanexamined　her　with　furtive　curiosity；　others
pretended　not　to　understand；　accelerating　their　pace。　　She　gained　no
converts　that　morning；　but　one　girl；　pale；　anemic　with　high　cheek　bones
evidently　a　Slavlistened　to　her　intently。

〃I　gotta　right　to　work；〃　she　said。

〃Not　if　others　will　starve　because　you　work；〃　objected　Janet。

〃If　I　don't　work　I　starve；〃　said　the　girl。

〃No；　the　Committee　will　take　care　of　youthere　will　be　food　for　all。
How　much　do　you　get　now？〃

〃Four　dollar　and　a　half。〃

〃You　starve　now；〃　Janet　declared　contemptuously。　　〃The　quicker　you　join
us；　the　sooner　you'll　get　a　living　wage。〃

The　girl　was　not　quite　convinced。　　She　stood　for　a　while　undecided；　and
then　ran　abruptly　off　in　the　direction　of　West　Street。　　Janet　sought　for
others；　but　they　had　ceased　coming；　only　the　scattered；　prowling
picketers　remained。

Over　the　black　rim　of　the　Clarendon　Mill　to　the　eastward　the　sky