Her eyes fell to the printed page and her clear, sweet voice took up the ancient tale of vengeance"Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
"For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
"Thou, therefore, O Lord God of Hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors.Selah."Ridgway glanced across in surprise at the strong old man lying on the lounge.His hands were locked in front of him, and his gaze rested peacefully on the fair face of the child reading.His foe's mind swept up the insatiable cruel years that lay behind this man, and he marveled that with such a past he could still hold fast to that simple faith of David.He wondered whether this ruthless spoiler went back to the Old Testament for the justification of his life, or whether his credo had given the impulse to his career.One thing he no longer doubted: Simon Harley believed his Bible implicitly and literally, and not only the New Testament.
"For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
"Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth."The fresh young girlish voice died away into silence.Harley, apparently deep in meditation, gazed at the ceiling.His guest felt a surge of derision at this man who thought he had a compact with God to rule the world for his benefit.
"I am sure Mr.Harley must enjoy the Psalms a great deal," he said ironically, but it was in simple faith the young wife answered eagerly:
"He does.He finds so much in them that is applicable to life." "I can see how he might," agreed the young man.
"Few people take their religion so closely into their every-day lives as he does," she replied in a low voice, seeing that her husband was lost in thought.
"I am sure you are right."
"He is very greatly misunderstood, Mr.Ridgway.I am sure if people knew how good he is-- But how can they know when the newspapers are so full of falsehoods about him? And the magazines are as bad, he says.It seems to be the fashion to rake up bitter things to say about prominent business men.You must have noticed it.""Yes.I believe I have noticed that," he answered with a grim little laugh.
"Don't you think it could be explained to these writers? They can't WANT to distort the truth.It must be they don't know.""You must not take the muckrakers too seriously.They make a living roasting us.A good deal of what they say is true in a way.Personally, I don't object to it much.It's a part of the penalty of being successful.That's how I look at it.""Do they say bad things about you, too?" she asked in open-eyed surprise.
"Occasionally," he smiled."When they think I'm important enough." "I don't see how they can," he heard her murmur to herself.
"Oh, most of what they say is true."
