Ruth had a high sense of honor. She would have been the last one to eavesdrop through idle curiosity. The sentence which she caught convinced her the conversation taking place on the other side of the door concerned her indirectly1, if not directly, and she felt warranted in listening.
She listened with bated breath while the color left her cheeks. She opened and shut her hands nervously2.
When the conversation ceased and Stover's caller left she sat down to her desk and wrote a note. She looked at her watch; it was almost quitting time. She stepped to the president's office. "Is there anything more tonight?"
"No, Ruth, nothing more tonight. You may go if you wish to."
She went back into her room, tore up the lengthy3 note that she had written and wrote a very brief one. After she had placed this in an envelope and addressed it, she put on her hat and went out on the street.
She had walked but a short way from the bank when she met a small boy. "Say, boy, will you deliver this note for me?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Harold King had seen but little of Ruth in the last two weeks. He had been busy getting up a perspective and plans to submit to the mayor and commissioners5. He had seen Ruth a couple of times lately in ice cream parlors6 with Golter. That afternoon Harold had submitted his drawing and plans. Now that he had submitted them he wondered if anything would come of it. The architect's fee would be fifteen thousand dollars for this city job. If he could just land that his financial embarrassment7 would be relieved and he would be sufficiently8 advertised to get other good jobs. He had been three years in Wilford Springs, and had barely made a living. There had been many expensive buildings erected9 since he came, but out-of-town architects had been employed. Sometimes he had been discouraged and felt a desire to seek a new location, but his friend, Charles Wilson, would always tell him at such times: "Stay with it and things will come your way; just keep a stiff upper lip. When you get a job, no matter how little it is, do your best and some day the big jobs will be running after you." Harold was inclined to question this philosophy, but nevertheless it encouraged him somewhat.
Ruth Babcock had had a large place in his thoughts since he had met her two years before. He admired her and was sure if he would allow himself to he would love her—but what right did he have to allow himself to fall in love with a girl when he couldn't properly provide for his own needs!
He had felt bitter pangs10 of jealousy11 when he had seen Ruth with Golter. He didn't blame her for accepting the attentions of someone who had an income sufficient to take her out in public and properly entertain her, one who had a right to entertain thoughts of love and matrimony—but he didn't like this man Golter and wished that she would not keep company with him. Golter was a snob12 and in no sense a man that appealed to men, but deep down in his heart Harold knew that he would be unhappy to see Ruth escorted by any man. If he wasn't so poverty stricken he wouldn't stand back for anyone. His best suit was hardly decent to appear in at social affairs. He would not, in his present condition, embarrass Ruth by asking her to accompany him any place, but maybe fortune would soon smile on him. If he landed the city job and the fifteen thousand dollars, things would be different. His reverie was interrupted by a small boy who entered the office and asked, "This Mr. King?"
"Yes."
"Here's a letter for you. A young lady sent it to you."
"Was she good looking?" asked Harold, smiling.
"You bet yer life. She's a peach."
"Well, I'm interested. What do I owe you?"
"How'd a dime be?"
"All right." Harold tossed him the coin.
As he was going out the door he stopped and looked back. "Say, mister, the girl had done give me one dime, but I thought you'd want to go fifty-fifty with her." He hurried down the stairway without waiting for a reply.
As Harold tore the letter open he thought, "That boy may land in the penitentiary13, but his chances to escape the poor house are good. However, I am inclined to believe I would be willing to go fifty-fifty with Ruth in a life partnership14, but the one great obstacle is I can't furnish my fifty."
The letter was brief but interesting:
Dear Mr. King:
I would like to have a talk with you. If it will not greatly inconvenience you I would be pleased to have you call at my home this evening.
Yours truly,
Ruth Babcock.
"There is nothing to do but to go, if I do have to wear the old suit," he thought. He tried to conjecture15 what it could be that she wanted to talk to him about. Maybe she had some suggestion to help him secure the city job. Her employer, Jim Stover, was regarded as the political boss of the town and whatever he said went with the city officials. He was quite sure Ruth was going to make a suggestion to help him to secure Stover's assistance. Wilson had already talked with Stover in his interest but had not secured a definite answer.
That evening Harold got out his best suit and brushed it thoroughly16. It was badly worn. When he had dressed he viewed himself in the mirror. "Harold, old boy," he said to himself, "there is no mistaking the fact you are run-down, you look seedy. You need a new casing but will have to make out with the old one for awhile."
As Harold walked down the street to the car line he met Golter. Harold noticed his well groomed17 appearance. When they spoke18, the supercilious19 smirk20 on Golter's face nettled21 Harold.
"Come in, Mr. King. Let me have your hat. Ruth ran over to a neighbor's. She said if you called before she returned to tell you that she would be back in a few minutes."
"How are you, Mr. Babcock? I believe you are looking better."
"If I could only get over having this pain in my head. Sometimes I do not have it for two or three days and then it will come back and I suffer terribly. I worry lots, Mr. King, because I can't remember my business affairs before I was hurt."
"It may come to you some time."
"I hope so. Not long ago in my dream I remembered the rest of the safe combination."
"Are you sure that was really your safe combination?"
"Yes, positive of it. I had remembered all but the last number before the dream."
"Did you remember anything else besides the combination?"
"Yes, I dreamed that I showed the combination to a man in whom I had confidence and that he stole the money."
"Whose money was in the safe, Mr. Babcock?"
"My money."
"Are you sure you had money?"
"Yes, I have always remembered that."
"You say you dreamed that you showed the combination to a man in whom you had confidence?"
"Yes, I trusted him. The dream was very real."
"Can you remember anything about this man's appearance or what his business was or his connection with you?"
"No, I have been trying for days to remember who he was but have not been able to."
At this juncture22 Ruth came in and the subject was dropped. Soon after, the door opened and Clara Babcock started to enter, but seeing there was company present, hesitated.
"Come on in, Aunt Clara," said Ruth.
The four visited together for a time. When Ruth's father and aunt had left the room Ruth asked, "Were you surprised to get my note?"
"Yes, I was somewhat surprised," he replied.
"I first wrote you what I wanted to tell you but afterwards decided23 that I could tell you better; so I tore up the letter I had written you and wrote the note asking you to come."
"I was pleased to come, and if I can be of any service to you I will only be too glad to help you."
"Harold," she spoke in a low, soft voice, "I did not ask you to come here because I needed your help."
He felt a little twinge of disappointment. He would like to have her look to him for help and be able to help her. The only time he had attempted to help her he had failed.
"I asked you to come because I wanted to help you."
His pride was hurt. He thought she was beginning to pity him. Pity is not relished24 by a strong, self-respecting man. He became conscious of his run-down condition. He would not have been much surprised if she had offered to loan him money to buy a new suit of clothes. He wished he was away.
"You know," she continued, "I think that friends should always guard the interests of each other and, Harold, if I should need advice or assistance I do not know of anyone, outside of my father, whom I would rather trust than you." He felt better.
"What I have to say concerns you directly, and it concerns me because you are my friend. I know that I can trust you not to tell the source of your information."
"Certainly you can."
"This afternoon I was seated in my office with the door slightly ajar. There was someone in the president's office talking with Mr. Stover. I am not sure who the man was, but from the quality of his voice I believe it was McBryan. I heard this man say 'Harold King is one of them.' I moved close to the door that I might hear better. Mr. Stover asked, 'Are you sure of that?'"
"What did he say?"
"He said, 'Yes, I am positive. We have a man who is a member of the Klan, who gave us this information.'"
"Did he say who it was?"
"No, the man to whom Stover talked——"
"I'm sure that it was McBryan," said Harold, interrupting her.
"This man said, 'we'll fix this young upstart.'" Harold clenched26 his teeth and hands. He felt the muscles of his arms tighten27. "Mr. Stover said, 'let's give him one chance.' 'What do you propose?' the other asked. I could not hear what Mr. Stover said as he dropped his voice to a whisper."
"What else did they say?"
"That was all I heard except the man said, 'I'll keep you informed.'"
"You are sure he said that he got his information from a member of the Klan?"
"Yes, positive."
"So they are going to fix the 'young upstart,' are they?"
"Mr. Stover did not say that; it was the other man who said it. Mr. Stover said, 'Let's give him another chance.'"
"I thank you, Ruth, for this information."
"Harold," she said, laying her hand gently on his arm, "I hope you can prove that you are not a member of this organization."
"Didn't you say the principles were all right?"
"Yes, but so many claim that a lawless element belongs."
"Ruth, you know that hatred28 and prejudice will cause people to make bitter accusations29 which they cannot prove and which have no basis in fact. Enrolled30 as members of the Klan are ministers, lawyers, judges, congressmen, governors. Do you believe that officers who have taken an oath to support the government and enforce its laws and who have always been law-abiding citizens would become and remain members of an outlaw31 organization? I tell you, Ruth, the Klan is composed of many of the best citizens and its purpose is to uphold and enforce law—not to violate it."
"I suppose that is true, but somehow I can't help but hope you do not belong and that if necessary you can prove that you do not. I hardly know, after what you have told me about the Klan, why I should feel this way unless it is because I am your friend and interested in you and do not want you to do anything that will injure your chances for success in the business world or subject you to worry and persecution32."
"I appreciate your consideration for me, but, Ruth, if the issues are as vital as I believe they are and the United States needs an organization of this character to protect our American institutions and our Christian33 civilization would you want me to refuse my support for fear of personal consequences?" As he asked this question, his gray eyes looked straight into her brown ones.
"Excuse me a moment," she said and left the room. She soon returned with two portraits. "This," she said, handing him one of the pictures, "is a portrait of Colonel Jameson, a Virginian, who was an officer in the Confederate army, and a member of the old Ku Klux Klan. He was my mother's father; and this is a picture of Major Babcock of General Sherman's staff, who was my father's father. Both of these men fought at the risk of their lives and at the sacrifice of personal interests for principles they believed to be right. On both sides of the house ancestors fought in the wars of 1812 and the Revolution. My family had a part in making this nation. Not only did the men of the Jameson and Babcock families fight, but the women folk sent them forth34 to battle in the spirit of love and sacrifice. The blood of these ancestors are in my veins35. If the institutions and laws of our country and the sacred principles of Americanism are imperiled I ask you to do your duty courageously36 as becomes the man that I know you are." They were standing37 now, and as she made this speech he met her steady gaze unflinchingly. He slipped his arm about her and for a moment neither spoke. There are moments when speech is inadequate38.
The following morning at the breakfast table in the Babcock home Mr. Babcock remarked, "You know that the more I see of that Mr. King the more favorably I am impressed with him. He strikes me as a man who has good stuff in him."
"Looks to me like he's kind of run-down at the heel—as mother used to say," said Aunt Clara. "He sure isn't prosperous looking like that Mr. Golter. In this day and age it's mighty39 essential that a man have money or a good income when he gets married or his wife can't have a place of any consequence in society."
Ruth blushed but made no reply. Her father noticed her embarrassment and said, "Ruth, money has its place in life, but character is the big thing."
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1
indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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2
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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3
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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4
dime
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| n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角 | |
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5
commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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6
parlors
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| 客厅( parlor的名词复数 )； 起居室； （旅馆中的）休息室； （通常用来构成合成词）店 | |
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7
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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8
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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9
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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10
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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11
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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12
snob
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| n.势利小人，自以为高雅、有学问的人 | |
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13
penitentiary
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| n.感化院；监狱 | |
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14
partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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15
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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16
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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17
groomed
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| v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的过去式和过去分词 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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18
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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19
supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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20
smirk
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| n.得意地笑；v.傻笑；假笑着说 | |
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21
nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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22
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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23
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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24
relished
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| v.欣赏( relish的过去式和过去分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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25
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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26
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
tighten
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| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
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28
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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29
accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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30
enrolled
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| adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起 | |
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31
outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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32
persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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33
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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34
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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35
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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36
courageously
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| ad.勇敢地，无畏地 | |
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37
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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38
inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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39
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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