The Barrier: A Novel

  CHAPTER XXXII

  WHICH IS IN SOME RESPECTS SATISFACTORY

  Judith sat in Mr. Fenno's little office, while in the larger room themagnates were slowly gathering. She was deeply interested in the resultof the coming meeting, a little anxious as well, on account of the lastwords which Mr. Fenno had said to her.

  "Do you think George will accept?" he had asked.

  "Why should he not?" she returned, startled.

  "You see no reason?" were his words as he left her.

  She puzzled to find a reason until, in the outer office, Mr. Fenno'sdeep voice began to address the little meeting. Before him sat, in twogroups, the financiers and the reform politicians, whose interests wereto be reconciled. They had, between them, the power to make a newrailway president and a new mayor, but never yet had the two groups ofmen worked together.

  "We all know why we are here," Mr. Fenno began. "A holy crusade is ourobject--or the protection of our interests."

  "It is not your interests that influence you," said one of thereformers. "We are glad to see, Mr. Fenno, that you are moved byrighteous indignation. This recent tragedy--" But Mr. Fenno stopped himby a sudden gesture.

  "My stenographer," and he emphasised the word, "my stenographer iswithin hearing. If we require any other agreements than I have prepared,she can copy them." He saw the glances which his friends exchanged atthe news of Judith's presence; moved by the sudden reference to hermisfortunes, his heavy voice trembled as he proceeded. "We all haveour--wrongs to avenge, and a good friend to place in his properposition. Before Mr. Mather comes, suppose we arrive at anunderstanding."

  "Suppose," rejoined the leader of the reformers, "Mr. Fenno makes astatement of his expectations. It seems to me," he said when theexplanation was forthcoming, "that the Good Government League isexpected to give more than it receives."

  "It is more blessed----" quoted Mr. Fenno drily.

  "Can't we," put in Pease mildly, "give concessions on either side? Ithink we need each other."

  "It is just this," said Mr. Fenno to the reformers: "Lend us yourcandidate to straighten out our tangle, and we'll lend him back tostraighten yours."

  "Is it possible," was the doubtful question, "that a president of thestreet-railroad can stand for mayor without raising suspicion of hismotives?"

  "Mather can," answered Pease promptly.

  "Certainly with less suspicion than Ellis arouses," supplemented Mr.Fenno. "Come, will you lose a chance to defeat Ellis on his first lineof battle? He will be beaten all the easier on his second."

  "We are thinking of Mr. Mather's standing before the public," repliedthe reformers. "He must resign from your presidency as soon as wenominate him."

  "Very well."

  "That suits you?"

  "Yes, if you will release him from his promise to you now."

  "We will, if you will support him then."

  "Here is an agreement covering these points," said Mr. Fenno. "Shall weput our names to this?"

  It was on a scene of paper-signing, then, that Mather entered. Some ofthe gentlemen looked up and nodded to him; others--they were all hisseniors--continued passing the papers around the table. He paused withhis hand upon the door-knob.

  "Am I in the way?" he asked.

  "Everything is decided without you," answered Mr. Fenno. "We have merelydisposed of your time for the next eighteen months."

  Mather laughed, threw off his coat, and took a chair. They explainedmatters to him; in her seclusion Judith listened long before she heardhim say a word. Then he began to ask questions, deep and far-reaching,but every difficulty had been considered beforehand.

  "And my obligations to you, Mr. Pease?" he said once. "I was not to quitthe Electrolytic Company until the fall."

  "I have arranged all that," Pease replied. "The new Chebasset manager isvery satisfactory; we will promote him."

  "Well, what do you say?" asked Fenno, when every point had been covered.

  Mather sat thoughtful for a while. "I may understand," he asked atlength, "that your proposition amounts to approval of my former courseas president of the street-railway?"

  They assured him that it did.

  "I should pursue," he next said, "the same policy. In place of Mr.Ellis's subway bill, which was this morning thrown out of thelegislature, I should at once introduce another."

  "Different in plan?" some one inquired.

  "Quite," Mather answered, smiling. "Having no real estate to condemn athigh prices, I have no desire for the privilege of eminent domain."

  "Have you any objection," they asked him, "to serving in these twopositions in such quick succession?"

  He smiled again. "Are you sure you can elect me to either?"

  "Suppose we can?" returned Mr. Fenno.

  "Supposing you can," began Mather--then stopped to think.

  "Well?" demanded Mr. Fenno after a moment's impatience.

  Mather roused himself. "Supposing that you can elect me," he saidseriously, "there is just one thing I wish to lay before you--astatement of my personal feelings. We all know each other well, we havethe same interests, we know and say things which are not given to thepublic. I wish to define my position exactly." He paused and looked atthe attentive faces. In her little office Judith asked herself withsudden alarm: "Will he refuse?"

  "The personal element," he went on, "has recently entered into myrelations with Mr. Ellis. There are distresses which I and--friends ofmine, have suffered through him, by actions which make him morally, ifnot legally, criminal. Some of you know that what I say is true."

  He looked at Pease, who nodded; Fenno did the same, but no one spoke.Mather began again with increasing energy, yet slowly, struggling for anexact statement of his position. "I have," he said, "and acknowledgefreely, reason for the bitterest personal dislike of Mr. Ellis. And forthat reason, considering the possibility of the proposals which you maketo me, it has sometimes seemed to me as if I ought to refuse you----"

  "You must consider----" cried Pease, half rising from his chair. ButMather held up a hand to stay him.

  "And yet," he said, as Pease sank back again, "I recognise thesituation here. Long ago I expressed my disapproval of Mr. Ellis as apublic man, and opposed him before--certain circumstances arose.Besides, I am the man (excuse me if I say it) that best can meet thisstrike; and again, a successful fight must be made for mayor in thefall. I believe that I can win there for you. So if it comes to aquestion between my personal feelings and my duties as a citizen,then--if you will believe my honesty in this confession, and in trustingmyself to oppose Mr. Ellis without vindictiveness--if you will believethis, and will fight him with me not as a man but as a force, an evilforce, then I will sign this document with you."

  In her little room Judith found herself trembling in response to theemotion which had vibrated in his voice; but in the larger office thegentlemen rose from their chairs, crowded around Mather, and inenthusiasm promised him their support. No one noticed the noise of theopening of the outer door; it was a full minute before the first of themperceived the figure which, attentive and sneering, watched them. It wasEllis.

  He heard their words and knew their purposes, yet he had guessedbeforehand what they had gathered there to do. By one of those boldstrokes which had so often succeeded for him, he had come among them inthe attempt to conciliate a strong minority. He had expected to arouseconsternation, yet on perceiving him they looked at each other as ifwelcoming his presence. Still ignorant of Price's treachery, he did notunderstand the sign.

  "Twelve good men and true," he said, coming forward. "Is this aninquest?"

  "A funeral," Mr. Fenno replied. "Some one whom we know is dead and cold.Will you not pronounce the benediction?"

  "Ah, I am not qualified," Ellis said. "But learning that you were herein great distress of mind, I came to see if I could not relieve you. Ihope you will excuse the interruption?"

  "Willingly," Mr. Fenno answered, with much cheerfulness.

  Then Ellis changed his tone; dropping t
he banter, he looked upon themfrankly. "Seriously, I understand that you are here to discuss what youregard as mismanagement in the street-railway. I know I come withoutinvitation, yet I wish to make an offer. You have large interests in theroad, I dislike to exclude a minority from any voice in affairs, and soI came to say that if you wish more representation on the next board ofdirectors----"

  "Then we shall have it?" interrupted Mr. Fenno. "Gentlemen, is not Mr.Ellis very kind?"

  Ellis noted the sustained irony, and as those present murmured theirresponses to the question he saw in them no conciliatory spirit. Theylooked at him with that inquiring reserve which was not difficult tomeet in them singly, but which, thus directed at him by a group of theblue-bloods, became irritatingly oppressive. And there was more in itsmeaning than ever before. Suddenly he asked himself if these men couldbe stronger than he had thought. He had been very busy all the morningwith messages to and from the capital in regard to his bill, and withthe strike. If anything had happened on exchange----

  The serious voice of Pease began to speak. "I imagine that Mr. Ellis, instudying the market reports to-day, failed to remark a transfer whichwas recorded three minutes before the closing time. Otherwise he wouldscarcely have come here."

  The inquiring glances of the others grew keener, pressing upon Ellisalmost physically as those present watched for the effect of Pease'swords. Standing alone against them, Ellis felt a sudden sense ofimpending calamity, between his temples a pressure began, and in thesilence his voice was scarcely audible as in spite of himself he askedhoarsely: "What do you mean?"

  "History," answered Pease slowly--never in his life before had he beendeliberately cruel--"history, Mr. Ellis, has taught some valuablelessons, of which I should like to call two to your attention. One isthat some great men meet their Waterloo, the other that some little menhave their--Price!"

  Something flashed before Ellis's eyes, and in that flash he saw thewhole treachery. His head dropped, his eyes closed, and his jaw shutconvulsively. "Price! Price!" he hissed.

  Then in an instant he stood upright and faced them without flinching.Though he saw the whole meaning of the news, though he realised thepower of the caste which, so long supine, at last had risen up againsthim, even though he knew he faced two great defeats, he looked upon hisadversaries, and they saw courage in his glance. He turned to Mather.

  "Mather," said Ellis, "you think you've got me."

  He felt, as that same quiet glance looked down on him, the continualirritation of it, the impossibility of ever attaining that superbindifference. And then the answer: "For the present I have." Would theynever boast, these aristocrats--never threaten? First, despising him,they had left him alone; even now when they turned on him they stilllooked down on him. A torrent of words rushed to his lips, and yet,feeling how powerless he was to impress those silent, attentivespectators, he checked himself.

  "For the present!" he repeated, and turned to go.

  In his unfamiliar surroundings he mistook the door and opened oneleading into a little office where, facing him across a table, hesaw--who was that? Pale, intent, startled at his entrance, JudithBlanchard rose and confronted him. For a moment he stared as at aportent.

  Then quickly he closed the door and turned to the men at his back. Fennoand Pease had started forward; with Mather, they were the nearest tohim. He eyed them one by one. "So," he said, pointing to the littleroom, "_that_ is why you are all here!"

  They made no answer. "Because I wish to enter your homes, is it," heasked, "that you combine against me? Because I nearly succeeded, Ifrightened you?"

  Mather did not understand, Pease and Fenno had no reply to make, butEllis, feeling with pain that he had pronounced a truth against himself,waited for no answer. "But wait!" he cried, stamping. "I have avoidedyou, favoured you at times, but now I am against you in everything. Iwill go out of my way to meet you. What you wish, I shall oppose; whatyou build, I shall throw down; what you bring in, I shall throw out! Foreverything you win, you must pay; I will weary you of fighting. I willplan while you sleep, act while you rest, work while you play. Yourvirtue shall be a load to you, and I will tire your vigilance!"

  He flung his phrases like bombs, to burst among his adversaries; castinghis prophecies in their faces, he startled his opponents from theirreserve. Then, turning, he rushed from the office, leaving them staringat each other as if a whirlwind had passed.

  * * * * *

  One by one Mather's supporters left the office, each renewing hispromise of assistance, yet each subdued by the thoughts aroused byEllis's amazing words. For they recognised a challenge which would behard to meet--to be as persistent in their efforts as Ellis should bewith his, to meet his subtlety, to foresee his plans, to counteract hisinfluence, to expose his methods. And having businesses, havingfamilies, loving repose and pleasure, only the reformers, those modernPuritans, could promise the self-denial necessary to meet Ellis'sunceasing activities.

  Pease, Fenno, and Mather at last remained in the office. "Tremendous!"sighed Pease, breaking a period of thought which the departure of Ellishad inaugurated for him.

  "Tremendous!" repeated Fenno.

  "Are we equal to it?" asked Mather seriously.

  Mr. Fenno recovered his cynicism. "Sufficient to the day is its weevil,"he answered. "Grubs breed fast, but they can be killed. I am goinghome."

  The three put on their coats. "We are going the same way, I suppose?"Mather remarked.

  "Pease and I have something to talk over," replied Mr. Fenno. "Yes wehave, Pease! None of your confounded straightforwardness. You must giveus a start, George; five minutes' law, if you please. And I should likeyou to wait," he pointed to the door of the inner office, "in that room.Good-evening."

  "Good-evening," repeated Pease, and followed Mr. Fenno out.

  Thought Mather: "What under the sun----" He opened the door of thelittle room. "Judith!"

  There she sat and looked at him; on her cheeks were traces of tears, buther eyes were bright as they met his. He looked from her to theuncovered typewriter, the pencils and note-book. "So it was you," hesaid, "that Ellis saw before he turned upon us so?"

  She nodded, looking on him silently.

  "What is it?" he asked, coming a step nearer. "You look--Judith, are youill?"

  Suddenly she rose and held out her hands to him. "Oh, George," shecried, "I am so glad for you!"

  "Oh," he said, relieved, "I was afraid that--Judith, you have beencrying. Is anything wrong? Was the work hard?" She shook her head. "Thenthis meeting has distressed you?"

  Unashamed, she wiped her cheeks. "It is not that."

  "Come to the window," he said, for the early twilight was falling. Butwhen he studied her in the stronger light he saw nothing in her eyesexcept a resolute cheerfulness; the unwonted pink in her cheeks might bethe reflection of the sunset glow.

  "Nothing is wrong with me," she said, and took her jacket from the hookon the wall. "I suppose Mr. Fenno will not want me any more to-day, so Imay as well go home." Yet while Mather helped her to put on the jacket,the knowledge that he was studying her set her nerves to trembling, andit was by an effort that she controlled herself.

  "You are under some strain," he said with decision. "Did Ellis frightenyou?"

  She answered, "I have no fear of him." Drawing her gloves from herpocket, she tried to put them on, but her hands trembled visibly. Sheabandoned the attempt at concealment, and turned to him.

  "It's just that I'm glad for you, George, and proud of you, and--I'vebeen making an acknowledgment to myself, that's all. Now shall we gohome?"

  But he took her hand and kept her face toward the window. "I should liketo hear that acknowledgment, if I may?"

  Perhaps the colours deepened in the sky; at any rate, her cheeks grewrosier as she looked away from him, out above the roofs. "If you wishto know," she answered.

  "I wish it very much."

  She folded her hands before her tightly; they showed white against herdress. "No
one else will hear," she began uncertainly, "although everyone else heard your confession, George. I heard, and somehow you set methinking of the time we met in the Golf Club, long ago, last April."

  "Last April," he repeated, and added with meaning, "Long ago."

  Her voice grew stronger. "I will tell you everything," she said. "Youwill see what a foolish girl I have been--how proud I was. We spoke thenof the world, and you warned me of it; you said that it was very big,and strong, and merciless."

  "I remember," Mather said.

  "But I did not believe," Judith went on. "I thought that you--you hadjust lost this presidency, George--I thought that you were cowed. And Ithought that I was braver than you, and stronger than you, and Ibelieved that I--I, George!--could conquer the world!"

  She made a little gesture of amazement at herself; gravely attentive, hedid not speak. Then she pointed down at her black dress, swept her handtoward the typewriter, and exclaimed: "And this is the result! But Iknow myself now, George, and I am glad you made me say this, for I wantto beg your pardon."

  "There is no need of that," he answered.

  "Then," she asked, "shall we go?"

  "Not yet," he replied. But he continued looking at her without sayingmore, and to cover her embarrassment she said:

  "Just let me tell you first that Mr. Fenno has engaged me permanently,and I feel that I have started a new life, George."

  She was attempting to be gay, a difficult task in the face of hiscontinued serious scrutiny; but to her relief he spoke. "A new life?Why, that leads to an old subject, Judith. And what you have said makesme hope that some day I may begin a new life, too."

  "Yours begins next week," she said, "with the stockholders' meeting."

  "It begins," he returned, "whenever you say the word." She turnedabruptly aside from him and looked out of the window; there could now beno doubt whence came the colour that flooded her face and even touchedher ears with coral. He came close to her side.

  "See," he said, pointing out the window. "The sun is going down. Shallit not rise again on a new life for us both?"

  "George," she answered, "how can I marry any one?"

  "You are thinking," he asked, "of your debt to Ellis?"

  She nodded. "How can I so burden you?"

  He laughed. "I can pay the money out of hand; I can earn it again inthree years. Jacob served seven years for Rachel: will you not let mework a little while for you?" He tried to draw her to him. "Judith!Judith!"

  Suddenly she turned and nestled to him. "Oh, hold me!" she sobbed. "Takecare of me always!"