within the law-第16部分

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on；　with　a　swift　revulsion　of　mood　to　the　former　serious　topic；　〃I'm　for　Mary　strong！　You　stick　to　her；　Joe；　and　you'll　wear　diamon's。。。。　And　that　reminds　me！　I　wish　she'd　let　me　wear　mine；　but　she　won't。　　She　says　they're　vulgar　for　an　innocent　country　girl　like　her　cousin；　Agnes　Lynch。　　Ain't　that　fierce？。。。　How　can　anything　be　vulgar　that's　worth　a　hundred　and　fifty　a　carat？〃　



CHAPTER　IX。　A　LEGAL　DOCUMENT。　

Mary　Turner　spent　less　than　an　hour　in　that　mysteriously　important　engagement　with　Dick　Gilder；　of　which　she　had　spoken　to　Aggie。　　After　separating　from　the　young　man；　she　went　alone　down　Broadway；　walking　the　few　blocks　of　distance　to　Sigismund　Harris's　office。　　On　a　corner；　her　attention　was　caught　by　the　forlorn　face　of　a　girl　crossing　into　the　side　street。　　A　closer　glance　showed　that　the　privation　of　the　gaunt　features　was　emphasized　by　the　scant　garments；　almost　in　tatters。　　Instantly；　Mary's　quick　sympathies　were　aroused；　the　more　particularly　since　the　wretched　child　seemed　of　about　the　age　she　herself　had　been　when　her　great　suffering　had　befallen。　　So；　turning　aside；　she　soon　caught　up　with　the　girl　and　spoke　an　inquiry。

It　was　the　familiar　story；　a　father　out　of　work；　a　sick　mother；　a　brood　of　hungry　children。　　Some　confused　words　of　distress　revealed　the　fact　that　the　wobegone　girl　was　even　then　fighting　the　final　battle　of　purity　against　starvation。　　That　she　still　fought　on　in　such　case　proved　enough　as　to　her　decency　of　nature；　wholesome　despite　squalid　surroundings。　　Mary's　heart　was　deeply　moved；　and　her　words　of　comfort　came　with　a　simple　sincerity　that　was　like　new　life　to　the　sorely　beset　waif。　　She　promised　to　interest　herself　in　securing　employment　for　the　father；　such　care　as　the　mother　and　children　might　need；　along　with　a　proper　situation　for　the　girl　herself。　　In　evidence　of　her　purpose；　she　took　her　engagement…book　from　her　bag；　and　set　down　the　street　and　number　of　the　East　Side　tenement　where　the　family　possessed　the　one　room　that　mocked　the　word　home；　and　she　gave　a　banknote　to　the　girl　to　serve　the　immediate　needs。

When　she　went　back　to　resume　her　progress　down　Broadway；　Mary　felt　herself　vastly　cheered　by　the　warm　glow　within；　which　is　the　reward　of　a　kindly　act；　gratefully　received。　　And；　on　this　particular　morning；　she　craved　such　assuagement　of　her　spirit；　for　the　conscience　that；　in　spite　of　all　her　misdeeds；　still　lived　was　struggling　within　her。　　In　her　revolt　against　a　world　that　had　wantonly　inflicted　on　her　the　worst　torments；　Mary　Turner　had　thought　that　she　might　safely　disregard　those　principles　in　which　she　had　been　so　carefully　reared。　　She　had　believed　that　by　the　deliberate　adoption　of　a　life　of　guile　within　limits　allowed　by　the　law；　she　would　find　solace　for　her　wants；　while　feeling　that　thus　she　avenged　herself　in　some　slight　measure　for　the　indignities　she　had　undergone　unjustly。　　Yet；　as　the　days　passed；　days　of　success　as　far　as　her　scheming　was　concerned；　this　brilliant　woman；　who　had　tried　to　deem　herself　unscrupulous；　found　that　lawlessness　within　the　law　failed　to　satisfy　something　deep　within　her　soul。　　The　righteousness　that　was　her　instinct　was　offended　by　the　triumphs　achieved　through　so　devious　devices；　though　she　resolutely　set　her　will　to　suppress　any　spiritual　rebellion。

There　was；　as　well；　another　grievance　of　her　nature；　yet　more　subtle；　infinitely　more　painful。　　This　lay　in　her　craving　for　tenderness。　　She　was　wholly　woman；　notwithstanding　the　virility　of　her　intelligence；　its　audacity；　its　aggressiveness。　　She　had　a　heart　yearning　for　the　multitudinous　affections　that　are　the　prerogative　of　the　feminine；　she　had　a　heart　longing　for　love；　to　receive　and　to　give　in　full　measure。。。。　And　her　life　was　barren。　　Since　the　death　of　her　father；　there　had　been　none　on　whom　she　could　lavish　the　great　gifts　of　her　tenderness。　　Through　the　days　of　her　working　in　the　store；　circumstances　had　shut　her　out　from　all　association　with　others　congenial。　　No　need　to　rehearse　the　impossibilities　of　companionship　in　the　prison　life。　Since　then；　the　situation　had　not　vitally　improved；　in　spite　of　her　better　worldly　condition。　　For　Garson；　who　had　saved　her　from　death；　she　felt　a　strong　and　lasting　gratitudenothing　that　relieved　the　longing　for　nobler　affections。　　There　was　none　other　with　whom　she　had　any　intimacy　except　that；　of　a　sort；　with　Aggie　Lynch；　and　by　no　possibility　could　the　adventuress　serve　as　an　object　of　deep　regard。　　The　girl　was　amusing　enough；　and；　indeed；　a　most　likable　person　at　her　best。　　But　she　was；　after　all；　a　shallow…pated　individual；　without　a　shred　of　principle　of　any　sort　whatsoever；　save　the　single　merit　of　unswerving　loyalty　to　her　〃pals。〃　　Mary　cherished　a　certain　warm　kindliness　for　the　first　woman　who　had　befriended　her　in　any　way；　but　beyond　this　there　was　no　finer　feeling。

Nevertheless；　it　is　not　quite　accurate　to　say　that　Mary　Turner　had　had　no　intimacy　in　which　her　heart　might　have　been　seriously　engaged。　　In　one　instance；　of　recent　happening；　she　had　been　much　in　association　with　a　young　man　who　was　of　excellent　standing　in　the　world；　who　was　of　good　birth；　good　education；　of　delightful　manners；　and；　too；　wholesome　and　agreeable　beyond　the　most　of　his　class。　　This　was　Dick　Gilder；　and；　since　her　companionship　with　him；　Mary　had　undergone　a　revulsion　greater　than　ever　before　against　the　fate　thrust　on　her；　which　now　at　last　she　had　chosen　to　welcome　and　nourish　by　acquiescence　as　best　she　might。

Of　course；　she　could　not　waste　tenderness　on　this　man；　for　she　had　deliberately　set　out　to　make　him　the　instrument　of　her　vengeance　against　his　father。　　For　that　very　reason；　she　suffered　much　from　a　conscience　newly　clamorous。　　Never　for　an　instant　did　she　hesitate　in　her　long…cherished　plan　of　revenge　against　the　one　who　had　brought　ruin　on　her　life；　yet；　through　all　her　satisfaction　before　the　prospect　of　final　victory　after　continued　delay；　there　ran　the　secret；　inescapable　sorrow　over　the　fact　that　she　must　employ　this　means　to　attain　her　end。　　She　had　no　thought　of　weakening；　but　the　better　spirit　within　her　warred　against　the　lust　to　repay　an　eye　for　an　eye。　　It　was　the　new　Gospel　against　the　old　Law；　and　the　fierceness　of　the　struggle　rent　her。　Just　now；　the　doing　of　the　kindly　act　seemed　somehow　to　gratify　not　only　her　maternal　instinct　toward　service　of　love；　but；　too；　to　muffle　for　a　little　the　rebuking　voice　of　her　inmost　soul。

So　she　went　her　way　more　at　ease；　more　nearly　content　again　with　herself　and　with　her　system　of　living。　Indeed；　as　she　was　shown　into　the　private　office　of　the　ingenious　interpreter　of　the　law；　there　was　not　a　hint　of　any　trouble　beneath　the　bright　mask　of　her　beauty；　radiantly　smiling。

Harris　regarded　his　client　with　an　appreciative　eye；　as　he　bowed　in　greeting；　and　invited　her　to　a　seat。　　The　lawyer　was　a　man　of　fine　physique；　with　a　splendid　face　of　the　best　Semitic　type；　in　which　were　large；　dark；　sparkling　eyeseyes　a　Lombroso　perhaps　might　have　judged　rather　too　closely　set。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　Harris　had　suffered　a　flagrant　injustice　in　his　own　life　from　a　suspicion　of　wrong…doing　which　he　had　not　merited　by　any　act。　　This　had　caused　him　a　loss　of　prestige　in　his　profession。　　He　presently　adopted　the　wily　suggestion　of　the　adage；　that　it　is　well　to　have　the　game　if　you　have　the　name；　and　he　resolutely　set　himself　to　the　task　of　making　as　much　money　as　possible　by　any　means　convenient。　　Mary　Turner　as　a　client　delighted　his　heart；　both　because　of　the　novelty　of　her　ideas　and　for　the　munificence　of　the　fees　which　she　ungrudgingly　paid　with　never　a　protest。　　So；　as　he　beamed　on　her　now；　and　spoke　a　compliment；　it　was　rather　the　lawyer　than　the　man　that　was　moved　to　admiration。

〃Why；　Miss　Turner；　how　charming！〃　he　declared；　smiling。　　〃Really；　my　dear　young　lady；　you　look　positively　bridal。〃

〃Oh；　do　you　think　so？〃　　Mary　rejoined；　with　a　whimsical　pout；　as　she　seated　herself。　　For　the　moment　her　air　became　distrait；　but　she　quickly　regained　her　poise；　as　the　lawyer；　who　had　dropped　back　into　his　chair　behind　the　desk；　went　on　speaking。　　His　tone　now　was　crisply　business…like。

〃I　sent　your　cousin；　Miss　Agnes　Lynch；　the　release　which　she　is　to　sign；〃　he　explained；　〃when　she　gets　that　money　from　General　Hastings。　　I　wish　you'd　look　it　over；　when　you　have　time　to　spare。　　It's　all　right；　I'm　sure；　but　I　confess　that　I　appreciate　your　opinion　of　things；　Miss　Turner；　even　of　legal　documentsyes；　indeed；　I　do！perhaps　particularly　of　legal　documents。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　Mary　said；　evidently　a　little　gratified　by　the　frank　praise　of　the　learned　gentleman　for　her　abilities。　　〃And　have　you　heard　from　them　yet？〃　　she　inquired。

〃No；〃　the　lawyer　replied。　　〃I　gave　them　until　to…morrow。　　If　I　don't　hear　then；　I　shall　start　suit　at　once。〃　　Then　the　lawyer's　manner　became　unusually　bland　and　self…satisfied　as　he　opened　a　drawer　of　the　desk　and　brought　forth　a　rather　formidable…appearing　document；　bearing　a　most　impressive　seal。　　〃You　will　be　glad　to　know；〃　he　went　on　unctuously；　〃that　I　was　entirely　successful　in　carrying　out　that　idea　of　yours　as　to　the　injunction。　　My　dear　Miss　Turner；〃　he　went　on　with　florid　compliment；　〃Portia　was　a　squawking　baby；　compared　with　you。〃

〃Thank　you　again；〃　Mary　answered；　as　she　took　the　legal　paper　which　he　held　outstretched　toward　her。　Her　scarlet　lips　were　curved　happily；　and　the　clear　oval　of　her　cheeks　blossomed　to　a　deeper　rose。　　For　a　moment；　her　glance　ran　over　the　words　of　the　page。　　Then　she　looked　up　at　the　lawyer；　and　there　were　new　lusters　in　the　violet　eyes。

〃It's　splendid；〃　she　declared。　　〃Did　you　have　much　trouble　in　getting　it？〃　

Harris　permitted　himself　the　indulgence　of　an　unprofessional　chuckle　of　keenest　amusement　before　he　answered。

〃Why；　no！〃　he　declared；　with　reminiscent　enjoyment　in　his　manner。　　〃That　is；　not　really！〃　There　was　an　enormous　complacency　in　his　air　over　the　event。　　〃But；　at　the　outset；　when　I　made　the　request；　the　judge　just　naturally　nearly　fell　off　the　bench。　　Then；　I　showed　him　that　Detroit　case；　to　which　you　had　drawn　my　attention；　and　the　upshot　of　it　all　was　that　he　gave　me　what　I　wanted　without　a　whimper。　　He　couldn't　help　himself；　you　know。　　That's　the　long　and　the　short　of　it。〃

That　mysterious　document　with　th