登陆注册
15324100000087

第87章

"No, no, now or never.Sign, join the League.""Don't leave us.We look to you to help."But presently the excited throng that turned their faces towards the Governor were aware of a new face at his elbow.The door of the harness room had been left unbolted and Mrs.Derrick, unable to endure the heart-breaking suspense of waiting outside, had gathered up all her courage and had come into the room.

Trembling, she clung to Magnus's arm, her pretty light-brown hair in disarray, her large young girl's eyes wide with terror and distrust.What was about to happen she did not understand, but these men were clamouring for Magnus to pledge himself to something, to some terrible course of action, some ruthless, unscrupulous battle to the death with the iron-hearted monster of steel and steam.Nerved with a coward's intrepidity, she, who so easily obliterated herself, had found her way into the midst of this frantic crowd, into this hot, close room, reeking of alcohol and tobacco smoke, into this atmosphere surcharged with hatred and curses.She seized her husband's arm imploring, distraught with terror.

"No, no," she murmured; "no, don't sign."She was the feather caught in the whirlwind.En masse, the crowd surged toward the erect figure of the Governor, the pen in one hand, his wife's fingers in the other, the roll of signatures before him.The clamour was deafening; the excitement culminated brusquely.Half a hundred hands stretched toward him; thirty voices, at top pitch, implored, expostulated, urged, almost commanded.The reverberation of the shouting was as the plunge of a cataract.

It was the uprising of The People; the thunder of the outbreak of revolt; the mob demanding to be led, aroused at last, imperious, resistless, overwhelming.It was the blind fury of insurrection, the brute, many-tongued, red-eyed, bellowing for guidance, baring its teeth, unsheathing its claws, imposing its will with the abrupt, resistless pressure of the relaxed piston, inexorable, knowing no pity.

"No, no," implored Annie Derrick."No, Magnus, don't sign.""He must," declared Harran, shouting in her ear to make himself heard, "he must.Don't you understand?"Again the crowd surged forward, roaring.Mrs.Derrick was swept back, pushed to one side.Her husband no longer belonged to her.

She paid the penalty for being the wife of a great man.The world, like a colossal iron wedge, crushed itself between.She was thrust to the wall.The throng of men, stamping, surrounded Magnus; she could no longer see him, but, terror-struck, she listened.There was a moment's lull, then a vast thunder of savage jubilation.Magnus had signed.

Harran found his mother leaning against the wall, her hands shut over her ears; her eyes, dilated with fear, brimming with tears.

He led her from the harness room to the outer room, where Mrs.

Tree and Hilma took charge of her, and then, impatient, refusing to answer the hundreds of anxious questions that assailed him, hurried back to the harness room.

Already the balloting was in progress, Osterman acting as temporary chairman on the very first ballot he was made secretary of the League pro tem., and Magnus unanimously chosen for its President.An executive committee was formed, which was to meet the next day at the Los Muertos ranch house.

同类推荐
  • Histories

    Histories

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 饮膳正要

    饮膳正要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 周易集注

    周易集注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 奉和鲁望渔具十五咏

    奉和鲁望渔具十五咏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 古本难经阐注

    古本难经阐注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 惊世雷醒

    惊世雷醒

    自认为大燕第一纨绔,得罪了即将成为女帝的长公主,一朝女帝成,家族满门抄看着家族被抄,自己却被女帝留下来折磨,当过面首,差点成为太监,最后沦为乞丐落世十年,尝尽人间百态,在偷看女帝解决最后一个对手,试图偷袭女帝之时,被惊世宝物砸中,莫名其妙重生再来一世,面对即将发生的过往,大燕第一纨绔的他,选择继续纨绔…还是奋起改变…
  • 主宰你的情感

    主宰你的情感

    一个人要想取得成功,首先要有一个健康良好的心理素质,其中,健康的情感是必不可少的。什么是情感?情感是怎样形成的?成功需要怎样的情感素养?怎样培养自己走向成功必备的情感素养?在本书中我们将一起探讨这些有关成功的心理奥秘。主要内容有:情感的探秘、人生不能没有情感、主宰你的情感世界、调控你的情感生活、战胜你的消极情感、克服你的考试焦虑、善待你的初春恋情、情感自我测试等。同时,结合古今中外的典型故事以及心理咨询案例,帮助读者在亲切轻松的交流中把握情感培养的心理奥秘,行文活泼,深入浅出。
  • 最经典的探险故事

    最经典的探险故事

    阅读古今中外人类历史上的经典探险故事,能够扩大我们的眼界,鼓舞我们的斗志,激励我们的精神,启迪我们的人生。为此我们编写了这本集故事性和纪实性于一体的《最经典的探险故事》。在漫漫的历史长河中,探险家和探险故事数不尽数,我们尽量选取在人类探险史有重大影响的探险家或探险故事来向大家介绍。
  • 暗之尘封的记忆

    暗之尘封的记忆

    凋零的生命,贪婪愚蠢的人,腐败的国家,你究竟能改变什么。只能让自己强大起来,排除一切不利,守护心爱的人。
  • 四分戒本

    四分戒本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 这次换我来认识你

    这次换我来认识你

    一位少女在陌生的地方睁开眼来,看着眼前陌生的一切,过着从头开始的生活……
  • 幻想的英雄

    幻想的英雄

    一个爱幻想的胖子,因为在现实中无法实现幻想而写下的产物。。学生作品,周更2—4章。2K党。幻想的异界,游戏,漫画的物品出现。老套的系统,平凡的宅男胖子,在异界,以一位侍从的身份出现于此。遵守本心,为自己,为爱人而战。
  • 刀塔和联盟有个约会

    刀塔和联盟有个约会

    沉睡在瓦罗兰大陆的Dota灵魂复苏Dota英雄和联盟英雄将展开宏大厮杀一场不仅仅是跨了服务器的史诗级战争究竟鹿死谁手,究竟哪一方更强敬请期待《刀塔和联盟有个约会》
  • 最强高手混校园

    最强高手混校园

    世界级封号杀手重生回归,一路逆袭,重回巅峰。面对强敌,他无所畏惧。但面对美人,他也来者不拒。漫步花都的最强王者,一手美人,一手天下,尽在最强高手。
  • 陌上轻尘风无言

    陌上轻尘风无言

    她,林轻尘,只是一个开茶馆的简单女孩儿;他,父亲是国企的总裁,从来不缺人爱的霸道公子,后来接手了父亲的公司。她说:我还没有离开你,就已经开始想念你。他说:如果你这一生注定有一个人宠你、爱你、保护你的话,那个人只能是我,必须是我。顾凉言经典语录:【1】“林轻尘,我准你离开我了吗?老老实实的在我身边呆着,不许离开我的视线一步。”【2】“林轻尘,谁接你的胆子看别的男人的?再看我现在就废了他,不要怀疑我说话的真实性。”【3】“林轻尘,不许不要我,再挑衅就咬你了,汪汪。”别多想,汪汪只是一只狗的名字。