第6章

SomehowthesightofhermadedeeperthevoidinFenneben"slife——

sincethatloveaffairofhisownlongago。

"Well，"Norriewenton，"UnclesaysI"mtomarryrich，becausemypapaexpectedmeto。Hesaidpapahadmoneywhichwasmamma"sandheuseditforcollegeendowments，becausetheWreamslovecollegesbest，andthatitwashiswish，andit"sUncleJoshua"stoo，thatIshouldmarrywell。

IknewIcamehonestlybymyloveofspending。Iinheriteditfrommymother。Aren"ttheWreamsallfunnymentojustseenothinginmoney，butacapandgownandaMaster"sDegree？Butyouareahumanbeing，UncleLloyd。Youwouldn"tleaveadaughterdependentonherunclesandusehermoneytoendowcolleges，wouldyou？"Thewhitearmstoleroundhisneckaffectionately，asElinoraddedsoftly，"I"mgoingtotellyousomethingelse。

UncleJoshuawantsmetomarryProfessorBurgess。”

"Doyouwanttomarryhim？"Fennebenasked。

"Hehasn"taskedmetoyet。Butheissuchagentlemanandhehasafortuneinhisownname，orintrust，orsomethinglikethat。

ItwouldpleasetheCambridgefolks，andUncleJoshuaexpectsmetoconsent，andI"veneverdisobeyeduncle"swishes，soI

couldn"trefusenow。And，well，ifhe"llwaittillI"mready，Iguessitwillsuitme。”

"He"llwaitallright，ifhewantsyou，Norrie。Hemustwaituntilyougraduate，"theDeandeclared。

"Oh，yes；aWreamwithoutacollegediplomaislikeashipwithoutacompass，amerederelictonlife"ssea。I"minnohurryanyhow，"

andshebegantotalkofotherthings。

InthemonthsthatfollowedTrenchhadnoneedtowatchProfessorBurgessinhisrelationtoDennieSaxon，forBurgesshadnothoughtofherotherthanofkindlysympathy。Thatis，Burgessthoughthehadnothought。

HeknewhewasinlovewithElinor，knewthatbackinCambridgebeforehewasgraduatedfromtheuniversity。HehadbeentoldthatElinorlikedluxuriousliving，andhehadmoney——hehadtoldFennebenasmuchintheirfirstinterview。Everythingseemedtobesettlednow，forJoshuaWreamhadwrittenBurgessthekindofletteronlyaveryoldman，andanab-stractscholar，andabachelorwouldeverwrite，tellingallthathehadsaidtoNorrie。HemadeitobligatorythatFennebenshouldfirstgivehissanctiontotheunion。

HerequestedalsothatBurgesswouldnevermentionthislettertohisdearyoungniece，andheexpresslystipulatedthatNorrieshouldgraduateatSunrisefirst。Heendedwithanoldman"sblessingandwiththeassurancethatwithElinorsafelyprovidedforhisconscience(whyhisconscience？)wouldbeatrest，andhecoulddieinpeace。

SotherewassmoothsailingatSunriseformanymonths。

Elinorwasalwayscharming，andDr。Fennebenseemedoblivioustothesituation，leastofalltoputtingupanyobjection，which，accordingtobrotherJoshua，wouldhaveblockedthegameoflove。

Therewastimenowforprofoundresearch，thestudyoftypes，seclusion，andtheadvantageofgeographicalbreathwhichhadbroughttheProfessortoKansas，andwhichheheededlessandlesswiththepassingdays。

Forhefoundhimselfmoreandmorelivinginthelivesofthestudents。

Hehadbeenashamed，once，ofhavingbeenDennieSaxon"sescort；

andheneverknewwhenshecametobetheonepersoninLagondaLedgetowhomheturnedforconfidenceandaidinmanythings。

MeanwhilethebigboyfromthewesternclaimwasassurelygoinguptheroundsofcultureastheProfessorwascomingdowntothecommonneedsofcommonminds，andbothwereunconsciousthenthatbackofeachwasDr。Fenneben，"dearoldFunnybone"tothestudentbody，playingeachmanforhiskingrowinthegreatgameoflifefoughtoutinSunrise-by-the-Walnut。

TowardElinor，VictorBurleighseemedutterlyindifferent。

EvenLloydFenneben，whohadcaughtaninsightintothingsonthenightoftheOctoberstorm，andhadbeguntoreadthatnewlineintheboy"sface，failedtograspwhatlaybackofthoseinnocent-looking，wide-openeyes，whosetiger-goldengleamshowedbutrarelynow。

Vicwaseasilythemostpopularfellowinhisclass，andtheyearatSunrisehadworkedamarvelouschangeinhim。

"Youareadarnedsmoothcitizen，"Trenchdrawled，asheandBurleighstoodintheshadebythecampusgateontheclosingdayoftheirfreshmanyear。

Agroupofgirlshadbeenbiddingthetwogood-byeforthesummer。

AsElinorWream，whowasthelastoneofthecompany，offeredherhandtoVictherewasalookofexpectancyinherglancewhichfoundnoresponseinhisowneyes。AsheturnedawaywithindifferentcourtesytoTrench，thebigrightguardstaredhardathim。

"Youarea——well，anykindofasmoothcitizen，Isay，"herepeated。

"What"stroublingyourlivernow？"Vicasked。

Trenchdidnotheedthequestion，butsaid，slowly:

"And-the-big-noble-hearted-young-fellow-walked-in-and-out-beside-

how-the-touch-of-her-hand-thrilled-his-every-pulse-beat，-and-how-her-smile-was-

the-light-of-his-soul。And-he-grew-handsomer-and-more-beloved-with-the-passing-

manhood——"

AsuddenclutchonTrench"sarm，theblazeoftheold-timefuryinburningeyes，asVic"shoarsevoicecried:

"ForGod"ssake，Trench，getoutofmysight!"

"Iwill，"drawledTrench。"Theonlyfriendyoueverhad。

I"llcarrymytroublesuptoBigChiefFunnybone。Likeasnothe"llsentencemetotumbleyouthroughthechapeldoorofthesouthturretdownthe`roadtoperdition。"Nousethough，yougothatroadeveryday。Bettertreatmerightandtellmeallyourtroubles。

IfthereisanycoolhandletotakeholdofGehannabynexttoFunnybone，I"mtheonefellowinSunrisetograbontoit。”

ButVicwasoutofhearing。

Andthedaysofalong，hotKansassummer，agloriousautumn，andashort，nippywinterswungbyintheirappointedseasons。Andnowthespringtimewasunrollingindaintybeautyoftendergreenleaf，andgrowinggrass，andwarm，sweetair，andtrillofsongbird。Collegestudentsphilosophizelittleinthespringtimeoftheirsophomoreyear。Havinglearnedallthatbookscanteach，andalittlemore，theyseekotherpastime。

NobodyinSunriseexceptDr。FennebentookthetimetorememberhowstiffandungenialProfessorBurgesswaswhenhefirstcameWest；

norwhatanawkwardgoslingVictorBurleighwasthedayheenteredSunrise；

northatonceitcouldhaveseemedjustalittleoddtoinviteDennieSaxon，apoorstudent，daughterofahalf-reformeddrunkard，totheclassparties；northatevenElinorWream，"Norriethebeloved，"

wasnotsupposedtobeengagedtoVincentBurgess。Supposed!Andthat，whenhersenioryearwaswellalong，theengagementwouldbeopenlyspokenofasnowinhersophomoreyear，itwasquietlyaccepted，evenifProfessorBurgesswasoftenDennieSaxon"sescort。

Thatwasbecausehewassuchagentleman。NorthatwithallthesechangesTrenchhadremainedthesameoldlazyTrench，thecomfortableidolofthegirls，forhewasrightguardtoallofthem，andcaredfornone。

AndtheyneverknewtillafterwardthatforallthefouryearshewasfaithfultoalittlesweetheartoutinthesandyCimarronRivercountry，towhomhetookbackcleanhandsandapureheart，whenhewenthomeafterfouryearsofcollegelife。

Noneofthesethingswerenotedespecially，savebyDr。LloydFenneben，andhewasn"tasophomorenoraprofessorinlovewithaprettygirl；

aprofessorlearningforthefirsttimethatsympathyhasalsoitsculturevalue，aswellasperfectlytranslatedHorace，andthatthegrowthofahumansoulmeanssomethingasbeautifulasthegrowthofacompleteconjugationonanoldGreekstemfromanolderGreekroot。

FennebenhadlearnedallthiswhilehewaschasingabouttheKansasprairieswithacollegeinhisvestpocket。

Thereweresomeunchangedthings，however，whichFennebenonlyguessedat。

VictorBurleighhadneverapologizedtoProfessorBurgessforhisrudeattack，unlessacertainstraineddignifiedcourtesybethemarkofatacitapology。

AndBurgesscouldgiveonlycoldrecognitiontothebigfellowwhohadchokedhimintosubmissionandhadgoneunpunishedbythecollegeauthorities。

BetweenthesetwoFennebenguessedtherewasnochange。

Buthedidnotgrievedeeply。Theremustbeapersonalphaseinthisgrudgethatnothirdpersoncouldhandle。

Itmightbeagirl——butthefaceofthereturnsindicatedotherwise。

MeanwhilethecollegewasdoingitsperfectworkforBurleigh，whosestrengthofmind，andself-control，andgrowinggraciousnessofmannerbetokenedthesplendidmanhoodthatshouldrestonthisfoundation。Whilethespiritoftheprairiesod，thebenedictionofthebroad-sweepingairofheaven，andthesturdy，wholesomelifeofthesonsanddaughtersoffreedom-loving，broad-spiritedmenandwomen——allweregivingtoVincentBurgessanewhappinessinhisworkunlikeanypleasurehehadeverknownbefore。

LittleBugBuler，nowfouryearsofage，hadchangedleastofallamongchangingthingsaboutLagondaLedge。Asweet-faced，quaintlittlefellowhewas，withbigappealingeyes，ababylisptohiswords，andinnocentways。

Hewasasturdy，pudgy，self-reliantyoungster，however，whotooklongramblesaloneandturnedupsafeattherightmoment。AllLagondaLedgepettedhim，eventoBurgess，whoneverforgotthedayintherotundawhenBug"spityingvoicehadbrokenBurleigh"sgriponhisneck。

BondSaxonhadnotchanged，northewhite-hairedwomanofPigeonPlace——

northereputationoftheravinesandrockycovertsforhidinglawbreakersacrosstheWalnutRiver。AndFennebennotedoftentheslenderbluesmokerisingwherenobodyhadahouse。

ItwasanAprildayintheWalnutValley，withallthefreshnessoftheearthjustwashedandperfumedbyAprilshowers。

Thesunshinewaspalegold。Therewasagray-greenfilmylightfrombuddingtrees，andtheold-timemiracleofthegrasswaswroughtoutoncemorebeforetheeyesofmen。TheorchardsalongtheWalnutwerefaintlypink，andtheeggsintherobin"snest，thesouthwindspurringthroughthewoodedspaces，theodoroffar-plowedfurrowsontheprairiefarms，allgaveassuranceoftheyear"sgladdestdays。

FromtheSunriseledgethebeautyofthelandscapewasexquisite。

Therewasnohazeoverhangingtheearthnow，andtheWalnutValleywasapicturebeyondaMaster"sdream。VictorBurleighsatonthetopoftheflightofstepsleadingfromthelowercampus，lookinglazilyoutwithdreamyeyesonallthattheearthhadtogiveonthissweetAprilafternoon。

PresentlyElinorWreamcamearoundthenorthangleofthebuilding，hesitatedalittle，thenwalkedstraighttothesteps。

"Goodafternoon，Victor，"shesaid。

Burleighlookedup，gladthenofhismonthsofdisciplineandself-control。Asightgoodforanybodyonadaylikethiswasthiscollegegirlwithbeautifuldarkhairandlaughingdarkeyes，asatinypinkandwhitecomplexion，andaslenderform，cladjustnowindaintypinkginghamwithfaintlittleedgingsofwhiteandpalegreen，allstylishlyputtogethertorevealroundedarms，andwhiteneck，anddimpledchin。

"Hello，Elinor，"Vicsaid，calmly，makingroomforheronthestonesteps。

"Takeaseat。”

Elinorsatdownbesidehim，throwingherhatontheground。

"Whitheraway？"Vicasked。

"I"lltellyoupresently。Iwanttogetovermystagefrightfirst。”

"Allright，lookatthisview。I"llgiveittoyouifyoulikeit。”

Vichadturnedtothewestagainandwaslookingawaytowardthedreamyprairiesbeyondthevalley。

ElinorrecalledtheSeptemberdaywhenthebullsnakelaysunningitselfonthisverystone。Howshyandawkwardheseemedthen，withonlyadeepsweetvoicetoattractfavorableattention。

Andnow，big，andgraceful，andhandsome，andreserved——

anygirlmightbeproudtohavehisregard。Ofcourse，forherself，therewasVincentBurgessinthepleasantinevitablesometime。

Shegavelittlethoughttothat。Shewaslivinginthepresent。

AndinthewooingspiritoftheAprilafternoonElinorwasgladtositherebesideVictorBurleigh。

"Whattimenextmonthdowehavethebigbaseballgame？"sheasked。

"ThegamethatistomakeSunrisethechampioncollegeinKansas，andyouourcollegechampion？"Vic"slipssuddenlygrewgray。

"Friday，thethirteenth——auspiciousdate!"heanswered。

"ButImaynotplayinit。Imightfail。”

"Oh，wemustwinthisgame，anyhow，andyouneverdofail。

Don"tforgetthenameyourmothergaveyou。Doyourememberwhenyoutoldmethat？"

"Acoupleofthousandyearsago，wasn"tit？"Vicasked，smilingdownonher。

"IfIdon"tplaySunriseneedn"tfail，evenforFriday，thethirteenth。”

"Butitwillfailwithoutyou。YoupulledustovictoryayearagoattheThanksgivinggame，andlastfalltheSunrisegoallinewasn"tcrossedthewholeseasonwith`Burleigh!Burly!Burlee!"foraslogan。

Wemustwinthisyear。Thenitwillbeacompletechampionship:

football，basket-ball，andbaseball。Wewon"tdoitthoughunlesswehave`Burleighatthebat"。”

Ashadowcrossedhisfaceandhelookedawaytowhereatinyfilmofbluesmokewasrisingabovetheroughledgesbeyondtheriver。

"I"mgettingovermystagefrightnow，"Elinorsaid，thepinkdeepeningonherfaircheek，"andI"lltellyouwhatIwant。”

"Commandme!"hesaid，gallantly。

"Well，it"sawful，andthegirlsaretoomeantolive。

Buttheyaregettingevenwithme，theysay，forsomethingI

didlastfall。”

"Allright。”Vicwaswaiting，graciously。

"AlotofushavebrokensomeoftherulesoftheSororityandit"sdecreedthatImustgoovertheroutewecamehomebyonthenightofthestormdownintheKickapooCorral。Theyarehavinga`spread"

downthereatfiveo"clockandwearetogetthereintimeforit，goingbythewestsideoftheriver，andthey"llbringushome。

TheysaidIshouldaskyoutogowithme，andifyouwouldn"tgoformetoaskMr。Trenchtogo。Theyaretoosillyforanything。”

"Trenchwasexecutedformanslaughterattwoforty-fivetoday。

It"sthreeo"clocknow。Let"sgo。”Heliftedhertoherfeetandstoopedtopickupherhat。

"Doyoureallymindgoingwithme，Victor？"Elinorasked。

"DoImind？I"vebeenwaitingtwoyearsforyoutoaskmetogo。”

Hisvoicewasverydeepandtherewasasoftlightinhisbrowneyes。

Elinor"spulsebeatfeltathrill。Asuddensenseofthesweetnessofthedayandofajoyunlikeanyotherjoyofherlifepossessedher。

DownonthebridgetheystoppedtowatchthesunlitwatersoftheWalnutripplingbelowthem。

"Arewethesametwowhocreptuponthisbridge，wet，andmuddyandtired，andscaredonestormyOctobernighteighteenmonthsago？"Elinorasked。

"I"vehadnoreincarnationthatIknowof，"Vicreplied。

"Ihave，"Elinordeclared，andVicthoughtofBurgess。

Upthenarrowhiddenglentheymadetheirway，clamberingaboutbrokenledges，crossingandrecrossingthelittlestream，huggingthedryfootingunderoverhangingrockshelves，laughingatmisstepsandrejoicinginthespringtimejoy，untiltheycamesuddenlyuponagrassyopenspace，cliff-walledandhidden，evenfromtherestoftheglen。

Atthefartherendwasthelowdoorway-likeentrancetothecave。

Thesong-birdsweretwitteringinthetreesabovethem，thewatersofthelittlestreamgurgledattheirfeet，thewoodsyodorofgrowingthingswasintheair，andallthelittleglenwasrestfulandquiet。

"Isn"titbeautifulandromantic——andeverythingnice？"

Elinorcried。"Idon"tmindthissentencetohardservice。

Itisworthit。Doyoumindthelossoftime，Victor？"

"Icounteditgaintobeherewithyou，eveninthestormandterror。

Howcanthisbeloss？"heansweredher。Hisvoicewaslowandmusical。

Elinorlookedupquickly。AndquicklyasthethinghadcometoVictorBurleighonthewestbluffabovetheoldKickapooCorraltwoOctobersago，sotoElinorWreamcamethevisionofwhattheloveofsuchamanwouldbetothewomanwhocouldwinit。

"Doyoureallymeanit，Victor？Wasn"tIalumpoflead？

Adeadweighttoyourstrengththatnight？Youhaveneveroncespokenofit。”

Shelookedupwithshiningeyesandputoutherhand。

Whatcouldhedobutkeepitinhisownforamoment，firm-held，assomethinghewouldkeepforever。

"Ihaveneveronceforgottenit，"hemurmured。

Thecavebydaylightwasasthelightninghadshownit，abigchamber，rock-walled，rock-floored，rock-roofed，inthesideofthebluff，butlittlebelowthelevelofthegroundandeasyofentrance。

Itwascoolanddamp，but，withthedaylightthroughthedoorway，itwasmerelyshadowyinside。Inthefartherwallyawnedtheraggedopeningtotheblackspacesleadingoffunderground。

Throughthisopeningthesetwohadcreptonce，feelingthatbehindthewallsomebodywascrouchingwithevilintent。

Theypeeredthroughtheopeningnow，tryingtoseethemiraculouswaybywhichtheyhadcomeintothecavefromtherear。

Buttheystaredonlyintoblacknessandcaughtthebreathofthedampundergroundairwithafaintodorofwoodsmokesomewhere。

"Elinor，it"sagoodthingwecamethroughhereinthenight。

Itwouldhavebeenmaddeningtobeforcedinherebydaylight。

Wemusthaveslippeddownthroughaholesomewhereinourstumblesandhitapassageleadingoutofhereonlytotheriver，asortoffireescapebywayofthewaters。Yourememberwecouldn"tgetanywhereonthebacktrack，excepttothecliffabovetheWalnut。It"sallveryfineiftheescapergetsoutoftheriverbeforehereachesLagonda"swhirlpool。”

Hewasleaningfarthroughtheopeninginthewall，gazingintothedarknessandseeingnothing。

"Somewherebackinthere，whileIwaspawingaroundthatnight，Ifoundsomethingupinachinkthatfeltliketheodd-shapedlittlesilverpitchermymotherhadonce——anoldfamilyheirloom，lostorstolensometimeago。Icamebackandhuntedforitlater，butitwaswintertimeandcoldasthegraveoutsideanddarkerinhere，andIcouldn"tfindanything，soIconcludedmaybeIwasmistakenaltogetheraboutitsbeinglikethatoldpitcherofours。

Itwasabadnightfor`seein"things"；itmighthavebeenfor`feelin"things"aswell。There"snothingherebutdampairanddarkness。”

Andevenwhilehewasspeakingclosebesidethewall，sonearthatahandcouldhavereachedhim，amanwascrouching；

thesamemanwhosecrueleyeshadstaredthroughthebushesatLloydFennebenashesatbytheriverbeforePigeonPlace；

thesamemanwhoseeyeshadleeredatVicBurleighinthissameplaceeighteenmonthsbefore；thesamemanwhomlittleBugBuler"sinnocentfacehadstartledashewasabouttoseizethemoneyboxatthegatewaytotheSunrisefootballfield；

andthissamemanwascrouchingnowtospringatVicBurleigh"sthroatinthedarkness。

"It"sagoodthingafellowhasaguardianangelonceinawhile，"

Vicsaid，ashehastilywithdrewhisheadandshoulders。

"Wegetprettyclosetotheedgeofthingssometimesandneverknowhownearwearetodestruction。”

"Wewereprettyclosethatnight，"Elinorreplied。

"Shallwerestherealittlewhile，ordoyoursavagesororitysistersrequireyoutodotimeinsomanyminutes？"

Vicasked，astheyleftthecaveandcameagainintothesunlight，andallthesweetnessoftheAprilwoodland，andtheruggedbeautyoftheglen。

"I"mgladtorest，"Elinorsaid，droppingdownonastone。

Hercheekswerebloomingfromtheexerciseofthetramp，andherprettyhairwasindisorder。

Farawayfromthewestprairiecamethefaintnoteofachild"svoiceinsong。

"Victor，"Elinorsaid，astheylistened，"doyouknowthattheSunrisegirlsenvyBugBuler？Theysayyouwouldhavemoretimeforthegirlsifitwasn"tforhim。Whatyouspendforhimyoucouldspendonlightrefreshmentsforthem，don"tyousee？"

"IknowI"mastingycuss，"Vicsaid，carelessly，butadeeperredtouchedhischeek。

"Youknowyouarenot，"Elinorinsisted，"andI"vealwaysthoughtitwasabeautifulthingforabiggrownmanlikeyoutocareforalittleorphanboy。

Allthegirlsthinkso，too。”

Burleighlookeddownathergratefully。

"Ithoughtonce——infact，Iwastoldonce——thatmycareforhimwassufficientreasonwhyIshouldletallthegirlsalone，mostofallwhyIshouldnotthinkofElinorWream。”

"Howstrange!"Elinor"sfacehadawomanlyexpression。

"I"veneverhadalittlechildtoloveme。I"vebeenbroughtupwithonlyAEneas"ssmallsonAscanius，andotherclassicalchildren，onUncleJoshua"sDeadLanguagebookshelves。

IfeelsometimesasifI"dbeenrobbed。”

"You？Ididn"tknowyouhadeverwantedanythingyoudidn"tget。”

Victorhadthoughtallthingswereduetoherandcameasduly。

Thewomanlylookonherfacenowwasarevelationtohim。

Butthenhehadnotdaredtostudyherfaceformonths，andhedidnotyetrealizewhatlifeinDr。Fenneben"shomemustmeantohercharacter-building。

"I"lltellyousometimeaboutsomethingIoughttohavehad，asacrificeIwasforcedtomake；butnotnow，TellmeaboutBug。”

TherewasnobitternessinElinor"stone，yettheideaofherhavingthecapacitytoenduregaveheranewercharmtothemanbesideher。

"IhaveneverknownwhosechildBugis，"hebegan。

"Thewayinwhichhecametomeisfullofterriblememories，anditallhappenedontheblackestdayofmylife——

thehardlifeofalonelyboyonaKansasclaim。

That"swhyIneverspeakofitandtryalwaystoforgetit。

Ifoundhimbymereaccident，helplessandinawfuldanger。

Hewasabouttwoyearsoldthenandallhecouldsaywas`badman"

andhisname，`BugBuler。"I"vewonderedifBugishisname，orifhecouldnotspeakhisrealnameplainlythen。”

Burleighpaused，andasenseofElinor"sinterestbroughtathrillofjoytohim。

"Wherewashe？"sheasked。

Vicslowlyunfastenedhiscuffandslippedhiscoatsleeveuptohiselbow。

"Doyourememberthatscar？"heasked。"ItisnottheonlyoneIhave。

IfoughtwithdeathforthatbabyboyandIshallalwayscarrythescarsofthatday。Bugwasaloneinalonelylittledeserteddugout。

Somebodyhadlefthimtheretoperish。Hewasonalowchair，theonlyfurnitureintheroom，andontheearthfloorbetweenhimandmewerefiveoftheugliestrattlesnakesthatevercoiledforadeadlyblow。

LittleBugheldouthisarmstome，andI"llneverforgethisbabyface——

and——Ikilledthemallandcarriedhimaway。Itwasadangerous，hardjob，buttheboyIsavedhasbeentheblessingofmylifeeversince。

Icouldnothaveenduredthedaysthatfollowedwithouthisneedforcareandhisloveandinnocence。He"skeptmegood，Elinor。WhenI

gotbackhomewithhimmymother，whohadbeenverysick，wasdead，andourhousehadbeenrobbedofeveryvaluablebysomethief——awaysidetragedyofwesternKansas。Thatwasthedaythepitcherwasstolen。

Anotewasleftwarningmenottofollownortrytofindoutwhohaddonethestealing，butIthoughtIknewanyhow。That"swhyIkilledthatbullsnakethefirstdayIcametoSunriseandthat"swhyImusthavelookedlikeabulldogtoyou，soft-shelteredCambridgefolks。

Lifehasbeenmostlyafistfightforme，butDr。Fennebenhastaughtmethatthereareotherpowersbesidephysicalstrength。

Thattheknock-downgamedoesn"tbringtherealvictoryalways。

IhopeI"velearnedalittlehere。”

Alittle!CouldthisbethebigawkwardfreshmanofaSeptemberdaygoneby？

Thencollegecultureissurelyworththecost。

Elinorleanedforward，eagerly。

"Tellmeaboutyourfather，"shesaid。

"Myfatherlosthislifebecausehedaredtotellthetruth，"Victorreplied。

"Oh，glorious!"Elinorcried，earnestly。

"Ihavealwayslovedmyfather"smemoryforhiscourage，"

Victorcontinued。"Hewasabelieverinlawenforcementandhewasaterrortothebootleggerswhocarriedwhiskyintooursettlement。

AmannamedGreshwasnotoriousforsellingwhiskytotheclaimholders。

Hegaveit，Elinor，gaveit，toaboy，awidow"sson，madehimdrunk，robbedhim，andlefthimtofreezetodeathinablizzard。

Theboylivedlongenoughtotellmyfatherwhodidit，anditwashistestimonythathelpedtoconvictGreshandstarthimtothepenitentiary。

Heescapedfromthesheriffontheway——and，sofarasIknow，there"sonebadmanstillatlarge，afugitivebeforethelaw。

Whiskyisthedevil"sownbesttool，whetheramandrinksithimselforgetsotherpeopletodrinkit。”

"That"sabadname，"Elinorsaid。"MygrandfatheradoptedaboynamedGresh，whoturnedoutbad。IthinkhewaskilledinasaloonrowinChicago。DidthisGreshevertroubleyouagain？"

Burleigh"sfacewasgrimasheanswered:

"Myfatherwaswaylaidandmurderedwithaclubbythisman。

HeescapedafterwardintoIndianTerritory。Helefthisownname，Gresh，scrawledonapieceofpaperpinnedtomyfather"scoattoshowwhoserevengewasworkedout。Hewasavolcanoofhumanhate——

thatmanGresh。Aftermyfather"snamewaswritten——`ThesameclubforeveryBurleighwhoevercrossesmypath。"

Iexpecttocrosshispathsomeday，andifIeverlaymyeyesonthatfienditwillgohardwithoneofus。”TheyellowglowburnedagaininVictorBurleigh"seyesandhisfistsclinchedinvoluntarily。

Theyweresilentawhile，untilthesweetnessofthedayandthejoyofbeingtogetherwooedthemtohappierthoughts。

ThenElinorrememberedherdisorderedhairand，throwingasideherhat，shedeftlyputitintoplace。

"AmIpresentableforthesupperattheKickapooCorral？"

sheasked，asshepickedupherhatagain。

"Yousuitme，"Burleighreplied。"WhataretheKickapoorequirements？"

"ThatVictorBurleighshallbesatisfied，"sheanswered，roguishly。

"Really，that"sright。Fourgirlsofferedtosubstituteformeinthispenitentialpilgrimageandwritesomelongtranslationsformebeside。”

"Four，individuallyorcollectively？"heasked。

"Eitherway，"sheanswered。

"Whydidn"tyouletthemdoit？

"Whichway？"

"Eitherway，"hereplied。

"Wouldyouratherhavehadthefoureitherway，thanme？"

shequestioned，withprettyvanity。

"Muchrather。”Hisvoicewasstern。

"Why？"Shewasstungbytheanswer。

Theglenwasalladreamygray-greenruggednessofshelvingrockwithmossycrevicesandfernynooks。Thesunlightfilteringthroughtheyoungleavesfellabouttheminashadow-fleckedsoftness。

Therewasacrooningsongofsomebirdonitsnest，themurmurofwatersripplingdownthestonyshallows，andabeautifulgirlinadaintypinkdresswithherfingersjusttouchingherfluffymassesofhair。

"Why？"

WiththequestionElinorlookedupandsawwhy。

SawinVictorBurleigh"sgolden-browneyesalookshehadneverreadineyesbefore；sawthewholeface，therugged，manlyfacelightedwithaman"sovermasteringlove。

Andthejoyofitthrilledhersoul。

"Doyouknowwhy？

Heleanedtowardhereversolittle。AndElinorWream，forgetfuloftheWreamfamilyrank，forgetfulofhertacitconsenttoUncleJoshua"swishes，forgetfulofVincentBurgessandhisheritageofculture，beautifulElinorWream，withherstarryeyes，andcheeksofpeach-blossompink，putoutherhandstoVictorBurleigh，whotookthemeagerly。

"Letmeholdthemaminute，"hesaid，softly。"Therearesixtyyearstoremember，butonlyonehourlikethis。”

Then，forgetfuloftheworldandthedemandsoftheworld，keepingherhandsinhis，hebentandkissedher，asfromthefoundationoftheworlditwashisrighttodo。

AndLove"sYoungDream，notboughtwithpain，asmotherloveisbought，norwroughtoutwithprayerandsacrificialservice，asloveforallhumanityiswon，cameagainonthisAprildaytothelittle，rock-shelteredglenbesidethebrightwatersoftheWalnut，andbrieflythererebuiltinrainbowhuestheold，oldparadiseofjoyforthesetwoalone。

AndintothenewEdencamethenewserpentalsofortodestroy。

BeforeElinorandVictorwasthesunlitvalley。Behindthemwasthecave"smouthwithitsshadowygloomdeepeningbacktodensedarkness。

Andcreepingstealthilythroughthatblackness，likeaserpentwarmingitsvenomandwrithingslowlytowardthelight，ahumanformwasslowly，stealthilycrawlingoutward，withheaduprearedandcrueleyesalert。

Thebrutalfacewasvoidofpity，asiftheconsciencebehindithadlongbeenboundandgaggedtohumansympathy。

WhileBurleighwasspeakingthecavemanhadreachedthedoorwayandrearedupjustbesideitintheshadow。Clutchingabrutal-lookingclubinhishairy，roughhand，hestoodlisteningtothestoryofthemurderthathadleftVictorfatherless。

Thefaceofthelistenermadecleartheneedforguardianangels。