Theodore Dreiser Jennie Gerhardt; a novel

 
 

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CHAPTER XXXIII 
Outraged in her family pride, Louise lost no time in returning to Cincinnati, 
where she told the story of her discovery, embellished with many details. 
According to her, she was met at the door by a "silly-looking, white-faced 
woman," who did not even offer to invite her in when she announced her 
name, but stood there "looking just as guilty as a person possibly could." 
Lester also had acted shamefully, having outbrazened the matter to her face. 
When she had demanded to know whose the child was he had refused to tell 
her. "It isn't mine," was all he would say. 
"Oh dear, oh dear!" exclaimed Mrs. Kane, who was the first to hear the story. 
"My son, my Lester! How could he have done it!" 
"And such a creature!" exclaimed Louise emphatically, as though the words 
needed to be reiterated to give them any shadow of reality. 
"I went there solely because I thought I could help him," continued Louise. "I 
thought when they said he was indisposed that he might be seriously ill. 
How should I have known?" 
"Poor Lester!" exclaimed her mother. "To think he would come to anything 
like that!" 
Mrs. Kane turned the difficult problem over in her mind and, having no 
previous experiences whereby to measure it, telephoned for old Archibald, 
who came out from the factory and sat through the discussion with a 
solemn countenance. So Lester was living openly with a woman of whom 
they had never heard. He would probably be as defiant and indifferent as his 
nature was strong. The standpoint of parental authority was impossible. 
Lester was a centralized authority in himself, and if any overtures for a 
change of conduct were to be made, they would have to be very 
diplomatically executed. 
Archibald Kane returned to the manufactory sore and disgusted, but 
determined that something ought to be done. He held a consultation with 
Robert, who confessed that he had heard disturbing rumors from time to 
time, but had not wanted to say anything. Mrs. Kane suggested that Robert 
might go to Chicago and have a talk with Lester. 
"He ought to see that this thing, if continued, is going to do him irreparable 
damage," said Mr. Kane. "He cannot hope to carry it off successfully. Nobody 
can. He ought to marry her or he ought to quit. I want you to tell him that 
for me." 
"All well and good," said Robert, "but who's going to convince him? I'm sure I 
don't want the job." 

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"I hope to," said old Archibald, "eventually; but you'd better go up and try, 
anyhow. It can't do any harm. He might come to his senses." 
"I don't believe it," replied Robert. "He's a strong man. You see how much 
good talk does down here. Still, I'll go if it will relieve your feelings any. 
Mother wants it." 
"Yes, yes," said his father distractedly, "better go." 
Accordingly Robert went. Without allowing himself to anticipate any