第9章

"Iguessso，"hereplied。"Idon"tjustknowwhatmakesagirladarlingtoanothergirl。Ionlyknow"——hewasonthinicenow——"andIdon"tevenknowthatverywell。”

Theyturnedtothelandscapeagain。Thewholebuildingwasgrowingquiet。Footstepswerefadingawaydownthehalls。

Doorsclickedfaintlyhereandthere。Somebodywassingingsoftlyinthebasementlaboratory，andthesunsetskywasexquisitelylovelyabovethequietgrayDecemberprairies。

"Itistoobeautifultolast，"Elinorsaid，turningtotheyoungmanbesideher。"Thejoyofitistoodeepforustohold。”

Shedidnotmeantostayamomentlonger，forallthescenecouldbehersforeverinmemory——imperishable!——andVictordidnotmeantodetainher。

Butherfaceassheturnedfromthewindow，thehallowedsettingoftimeandopportunity，andaheart-lovehungeringthroughhopeless，slow-draggingmonths，allhadtheirownwaywithhim。

Heputouthisarmstoherandshenestledwithinthem，liftingafacetohisowntransfiguredwithlove"ssweetness。

Andhebentandkissedherredlips，holdinghercloseinhisarms。

Andintheshadowytwilight，withthefaintlyroseatebannersofthesunset"safter-glowtrailingthroughit，forjustoneminute，heavenandearthcameveryneartogetherforthesetwo。

Andthentheyremembered，andElinorputherhandinVictor"s，whohelditinhiswithoutaword。

Outinthehall，Trenchwithsoftlazystephadjustcometothestudydoorintimetoseeandturnawayunseen，andslowlypassoutofthebigfrontdoor，whistlinglowthewhile:

MysweetheartlivesontheprairieswideBythesandyCimarron，Inadaytocomeshewillbemybride，BythesandyCimarron。

Outbythebigstonepillarsoftheportico，helookedtowardthesouthturretandsawDr。FennebenasVichadseenElinorontheeveningoftheMaystorm。

Hedidnotcall，butwithatwistofthefingersasofunlockingadoor，hedodgedbackintothebuildinganduptothechapelendoftheturretstairstoreleasetheDean。

Dr。Fennebenhadstarteddowntothestudybythesameold"roadtoperdition"stairsandpausedatthewindowasDennieandBurgesswerepassingout，unconsciousofthreepairsofeyesonthem。

ThentheDeansawdownthroughthehalf-openstudydoorthetwoyoungpeoplebythewindow，andheknewhewasnotneededthere。

Whatthatlookinhisblackeyesmeant，asheturnedtothehalf-waywindowoftheturret，itwouldhavebeenhardtoread。

Andthepictureofafair-facedgirlcamebacktohisownhungrymemory。

HewastryingtocalculatethedistancefromtheturretwindowtothegroundwhenTrenchwig-waggedarescuesignal。

"Youareabrick，Trench，"hesaid，astheupperstairwaydoorswungopentoreleasehim。

"You"vethewholechimney，"Trenchresponded，asheswunghimselfaway。

Dr。FennebenmetElinorintherotunda。

"Waitaminute，Norrie，andI"llwalkhomewithyou。”

InthestudyhemetBurleigh，whosesternfacewastenderwithapatheticsadness，buttherewasnoembarrassmentinhisglance。

AndFenneben，beingamanhimself，knewwhatpowerforsacrificelaybackofthosebeautifuleyes。

"Ican"tgivehimthemessageImeanttogivenow。Themansaidtherewasnohurry。Averitabletramphelookedtobe。

Ihopethereisnoharmtotheboyinit。WhyshouldagirllikeNorrielovethepocketbook，andthethingsofthepocketbook，whenaheartlikeVictorBurleigh"scallstoher？Iknowmen。

Inevershallknowwomen。”Sohethought。Aloudhesaid:

"Iwasdetained，Burleigh，andI"llhavetoseeyouagain。

Ihavesomematterstoconsiderwithyousoon。”

AndBurleighwonderedmuchwhat"somematters"mightbe。

WhenProfessorBurgessleftDenniehesaid，lightly:

"MissDennie，Ineedalittlehelpinmywork。

Wouldyouletmecallthiseveningandtalkitoverwithyou？

Idon"tbelieveanybodyelsewouldgetholdofitquitesowell。”

DenniehadsupposedthisfirsteveningafterElinor"sreturnwouldfindherlovermakinguseofit。WhyshouldDennienotfeelathrillofpleasurethatherservicesout-weighedeverythingelse？

PoorDennie!Shewasnoflirt，butmuchassociationwithVincentBurgesshadgivenherinsighttoknowthatNorrieWreamwouldneverunderstandhim。

WhenBurgessreturnedtotheSaxonHouselaterintheevening，hemetBondSaxonatthedoor。

"Say，Professor，thedevilwillbetopayagain。ThatMrs。Marianisback。

GothereonthesametrainFunnybonecameon。And，"loweringhisvoice，"hewillbeoverthereagain，"pointingtowardthewestbluffs。"He"llhoundFunnybonetohisdoomyet。Andshe——she"llstandbetween"emtothelast。

Itoldyouoneofthetwohumantraitsleftinthatbeastishisfoolfondnessforthatwomanwhowouldn"tlethimsetfootonhergroundifsheknewit。

It"sagrimtragedybeingplayedoutherewithnobodyknowingbutyouandme。”

"Saxon，I"minnomoodforallthistonight，"Burgesssaid，"butforyourdaughter"ssakekeepawayfromtheman"sbottlenow。”

"Yes，forDennie"ssake——"BondlookedimploringlyatBurgess。

"Yes，yes，I"lldomydutyasIpromised。Butwhynotdoityourselftowardher？Whynotbeamanandafather？"

"Me!Acriminal!Doyouknowwhatthatkindofslaveryis？"

Saxonwhispered。

"Almost，"Burgessanswered，buttheoldmandidnotcatchhismeaning。

Denniewaswaitingintheparlor，acosylittleroombutwithouttheluxuriousappointmentsofNorrieWream"shome。

YettonightDennieseemedbeautifultoBurgess，andthisquietlittleroom，ahavenofsafety。

"Dennie，"hesaid，plungingintohispurposeatonce。

"IcometoyoubecauseIneedafriendandyouaretemperedsteel。”

TonightDennie"sgrayeyesweredarkandshining。TheripplingwavesofyellowbrownhairgaveasortofMadonnaoutlinetoherface，andtherewasabouthersomethingindefinablypleasant。

"WhatcanIdoforyou，ProfessorBurgess？"sheasked。

"Listentome，Dennie，andthenadviseme。”

Wasthistheacting-deanofSunrise，asecondFenneben，alreadydeclared？

Hisfacewasfullofpathos，yeteveninhisfeverishgriefitseemedabetterfacetoDenniethanthecoldscholarlycountenanceoftwoyearsago。

"Mytroublesgobackalongway。Myfatherwasgiventogreed。

Hesoldhimselfandmysister"shappinessandmineformoney。

Youthinkyourfatherisaslave，Dennie，becausehehasacravingforwhisky。Lessthanhalfadozentimesayearthedemoninsidegetshimdown。”

Dennielookedupwithasorrowfulface。

"Yes，butthinkofwhathemightdo。Youdon"tknowwhatdreadfulthingshehasdone——"

"Yes，Ido。Hetoldmehimselftheveryworst。I"llneverbetrayhim，Dennie。Hispunishmentisheavyenough。”

Burgesslaidhishandonherdimpledhandintokenofsincerity。

"Butthat"sonlyrarely，littlegirl。Myfathereverydayintheyeargavehimselftoanappetiteformoneytillhecaredfornothingelse。

Mysister，whodiedbelievingthatIalsohadturnedagainsther，wasforcedtomarryamanshedidnotlovebecausehehadmoney。

Ineverknewthemanshedidlove。Itwasaromanceofhergirlhood。

Iwasawayfromhomethemostofmyboyhoodyears，andshenevermentionedhisnameaftertheaffairwasbrokenoff。AllIknowisthatshewasdeceivedandmadetobelievesomecruelstoryagainsthim。

SheandherhusbandcameWest，wheretheydied。MyfatherneverforgavethemforgoingWest，norpermittedmetospeakhernametohim。

Ineverknewwhyuntilyesterday。Mysister"shusbandhadabrotheroutherewithwhomhemeanttodividesomepossessionshehadinherited。

Thatsettledhimwithmyfatherforever。TherewasnoDIVISION

ofpropertyinhiscreed。”

Burgesspaused。Dennie"sinterestandsympathymadehersilentcompanyacomfort。

"Iwasheirtomyfather"sestate，andheiralsotosomefundsheheldintrust。Iwasascholarwithambitionforhonors——

aMaster"sDegreeandahighprofessionalplaceinagreatuniversity。

Itrustedmywholelifeplanstothemanwhoknewmyfatherbest——

Dr。JoshuaWream。”

Dennielookedup，questioningly。

"Yes，toElinor"suncle，asunlikeDr。Fennebenasnightandday。”

"Donotblameme，Dennie，iftwomenhavehelpedtomisshapemylife。Myfatherbelievedthatmoneyisabsolute。

Dr。Wreamholdsscholarlyachievementasthegreatestlifework。

IthasbeenDr。Fenneben"sparttoshowmethedangerandthepowerineach。”

ItwasdimlydawningonBurgessthatthepresenceofDennie，good，sensibleDennie，wasablessingoutsideofthesethingsthatcouldgofartowardmakinglifesuccessful。

Buthedidnotgraspitclearlyyet。

"Dr。WreamandImadeacompactbeforeIcameWest。Itseemedfairtomethen。ByitstermsIwasassured，first，ofmyrighttocertainfundsmyfatherheldintrust。ItwasWreamwhosecuredtheserightsforme。

Second，IwastosucceedtohischairinHarvardifIprovedworthyinSunrise。InreturnIpromisedtomarryElinorWreamandtoprovideforhercomfortandluxurywiththesetrustfundsmyfatherandWreamhadsomehowbeenmanipulating。”

Oh，yes!Denniewaslevel-headed。AndbecauseshedidnotlookupnorcryoutVincentBurgessdidnotseenorguessanything。

Hislifehadbeenashelteredone。HowcouldhemeasureDennie"slife-disciplineinself-controlandlovingbravery？

"ElinorwasheavyonWream"sconscienceVincentwenton，"becauseheandherfather，Dr。NathanWream，tookthefortunetoendowcollegesanduniversitychairsthatshouldhavebeenhersfromhermother"sestate。

Yousee，Dennie，therewasnowrongintheplan。Elinorwouldbeprovidedforbyme。Iwouldgetupinmychosenprofession。

Nobodywasrobbedordefrauded。JoshuaWream"slastyearswouldbepeacefulwithhisconscienceatrestregardingElinor"sproperty。

And，Dennie，whowouldn"twanttomarryElinorWream？"

"Yes，whowouldn"t？"Dennielookedupwithasmile。

AndifthereweretearsinhereyesBurgessknewtheywerebornofDennie"ssweetspiritofsympathy。

"Whatiswrong，then？"sheasked。"IsElinorunwilling？"

"ElinorandIareboundbypromisestoeachother，althoughnowordhaseverbeenspokenbetweenus。Itisimpossibletomakeanychangenow。

Weareveryhappy，ofcourse。”

"Ofcourse，"Dennieechoed。

"IhadaletterfromDr。Wreamlastnight。Apitifulletter，forhe"sgettingnearthebrink。Dennie——thesefundsIhold——

Ihaveneverquiteunderstood，butIhadfeltsuretherewasnootherclaimant。Therewasaclauseinthestrangely-wordedbequest:

`forV。B。andhisheirs。Failinginthat，tothenearestrelatedV。B。"Itwasathingforlawyers，notGreekprofessors，tosettle，andIcametobethenearestrelatedV。B。，VincentBurgess，forI

findthemoneybelongedtomysister"shusband，andIthoughtheleftnoheirsandIamthenearestrelatedV。B。bymarriage，yousee？"

"Well？"Dennie"smindwasjumpingtotheend。

"MysistermarriedaVictorBurleigh，whocametoKansastofindhisbrother。Bothmenaredeadnow。Theonlyoneofthetwofamilieslivingisthisbrother"sson，youngVictorBurleigh，juniorinSunriseCollege。HeknowsnothingofhisUncleVictor，mybrother-in-law——norofmoneythathemightclaim。

Hebelongstothesoilouthere。Nobodyhasanyclaimsonhim，norhasheanyambitionforachairinHarvard，noranypromisetomarryandprovideforabeautifulgirlwholooksuponhimasherfutureguardian。”

VincentBurgesssuddenlyceasedspeakingandlookedatDennie。

"Icannotbreakanoldman"sheart。Heimploresmenottorevealallthis，butIhadtotellsomebody，andyouarethebestfriendamancouldeverhave，DennieSaxon，soIcometoyou，"headdedpresently。

"WhendidthisDr。WreamfindoutaboutVic？"Dennieasked。

"Amonthago。Somestrange-lookingtrampofafellowbroughthimproofsthatareincontestable，"Burgessreplied。

"Anditisforanoldman"speaceyouwouldkeepthissecret？"

Denniequestioned。

"ForhimandforElinor——andformyself。Don"thateme，Dennie。Elinorlooksuponmeasherfuturehusband。Ihavepromisedtoprovideforherwiththecomfortsdeniedherbyherfather，andIhavelivedintheambitionofholdingthatHarvardchair——Oh，itisallahopelesstangle。

IcouldnevergotoVictorBurleighnow。HewouldnotbelievethatI

hadbeenignorantofhisclaimallthistime。Hewasneverwrappedupinthepursuitofacareer——Oh，Dennie，Dennie，whatshallIdo？"

HerosetohisfeetandDenniestoodupbeforehim。

Hegentlyrestedhishandsonhershouldersandlookeddownather。

"Whatshallyoudo？"Dennierepeated，slowly。"Whisky，Money，Ambition——

theappetitethatdestroys!VincentBurgess，ifyouwanttowinaMaster"sDegree，wintotheMasteryofManhoodfirst。

Thesinsofthefathers，yoursandmine，wecannotundo。

Butyoucanbeaman。”

Shehadputherdimpledhandsonhisarmsastheystoodthere，andthebravecourageofherupturnedfacecalledbackagaintherainyMaynight，andthefaceofVictorBurleighbesideBugBuler"scot，andhislowvoiceashesaid:

"Icannotplayintomorrow"sgameandbeaman。”

CHAPTERXII

THESILVERPITCHER

_Apicketfrozenonduty——

Amotherstarvedforherbrood——

Socratesdrinkingthehemlock，AndJesusontherood。

Andmillionswho，humbleandnameless，Thestraighthardpathwaytrod——

SomecallitConsecration，AndotherscallitGod_——

WILLIAMHERBERTCARRUTH

"DR。FENNEBEN，Ishouldlikemuchtodismissmyclassesfortheafternoon，"

ProfessorBurgesssaidtotheDeaninhisstudythenextday。

"Verywell，Professor，Iamafraidyouareoverworkedwithallmydutiesaddedtoyourshere。Butyoudon"tlookit，"

Fennebensaid，smiling。

Burgesswasgrowingalmoststalwartinthisgraciousclimate。

"Iamverywell，Doctor。Whatabeautifulviewthisis。”

HewaslookingintentlynowattheEmpirethathadfailedtointeresthimonce。

"Yes；itismyinspiration。`Eachman"schimneyishisgoldenmilestone，"

"Fennebenquoted。"I"vewatchedthesmokefrommanychimneysupanddowntheWalnutValleyduringmyyearshere，andlaterI"vehuntedoutthepeopleofeachhearthstoneandmadefriendswiththem。

SowhenIlookawayfrommyworkhereIseefriendlytokensofthoseI

knowoutthere。”Hewavedhishandtowardthewholevalley。

"Andmaybe，whentheylookuphereandseethedomebyday，orcatchourbeaconlightbynight，theythinkof`Funnybone，"too。

Itiswelltoliveclosetothefolksofyourvalleyalways。”

"Youareawonderfulman，Doctor，"Burgesssaid。

"Therearetwo`milestones"I"veneverreached，"theDoctorwenton。

"Oneisthatplacebythebendintheriver。Seethepigeonsrisingaboveitnow。Iwonderifthatstrangewhite-hairedwomanevercamebackagain。

ElinorsaidsheleftLagondaLedgelastsummer。”

"Where"stheotherplace？"Burgesswouldchangethesubject。

"Iti"salittleshaftofbluesmokefromawoodfirerisingabovethoserockyplacesacrosstheriver。

I"veseenitsooften，atirregulartimes，thatI"vegrowninterestedinit，butIhavemisseditsinceIcameback。

It"slikelosingafriend。Everymanhashisvagaries。

Oneofmineisthisfriendshipwiththesymbolsofhumanhomes。”

Burgessofferednocommentinresponse。HecouldnotseethatthetimehadcometotellFennebenwhatBondSaxonhadconfidedtohimaboutthemanbelowthesmoke。SoheleftthehilltopandwentdowntotheSaxonHouse。HewantedtoseeDennie，butfoundherfatherinstead。

"Thatwoman"sleftPigeonPlaceagain，"Saxonsaid。"Wentearlythismorning。It"sfreedomformewhenIdon"thavetothinkofthemtwo。

Thinkingofmyselfisslaveryenough。”

Burgessloiteredaimlesslyaboutthedoorwayforawhile。

Itwasamildafternoon，withnohintofwinter，norChristmasglitteroficeandsnowaboutit。JustagloriousfinishingofanidyllicKansasautumnroundingoutinthebeautyofasunshinymid-Decemberday。Buttothemanwhostoodthere，waitingfornothingatall，thedaywasamockery。

Behindthefinescholarlyfaceastormwasragingandtherewasonlyonefriendwhomhecouldtrust——Dennie。

"Let"sgowalking，youandme!"

BugBulerputuponehandtoBurgess，whileheclutchedalittleredballintheother。Bughadanirresistiblechildvoiceandchildtouch，andBurgessyieldedtotheirleading。

Hehadnotrealizeduntilnowhowlonelyhewas，andBugwascompanionablebyintuitionandastanchlittlestroller。

Northoftowntheriverlayglisteningbetweenitsvine-drapedbanks。

ThetwopausedatthebendwhereFennebenhadbeenhurledalmosttohisdoom，andBurgessrememberedthedarkness，andtherain，andthelimpbodyhehadheld。HethoughtFennebenwasdeadthen，andeveninthatmomenthehadfeltasenseofdisloyaltytoDennieasherealizedthathemustthinkofElinorentirelynow。

Butwhynot？HehadcometoKansasforthisverythinking。

Itmustbehislifepurposenow。

TodayBurgessbegantowonderwhyElinormusthavealifeofeaseprovidedforherandDennieSaxonaskfornothing。

WhyshouldJoshuaWream"sconsciencebehisburden，too？

Thenhehatedhimselfalittlemorethanever，anddutyandmanlyhonorbegantheirwrestlewithinhimagain。

"Let"swegoseethepigeons，"Bugsuggested，tossinghisballinhishands。

BurgessrememberedwhatBondhadsaidofthewoman"sleaving。

Therecouldbenoharmingoinginside，hethought。Theleaflesstreesandshrubberyrevealedtheneatlittlehomethatthesummerfoliageconcealed。

Bugranforwardwithchildishcuriosityandtiptoeduptoalowwindow，droppinghislittleredballinhiseagerness。

"Oh，tum!tum!"hecried。"Suchaprettypictureframeandvaseonthetable。”

Hewasnearlyfiveyearsoldnow，butinhisexcitementhestillusedbabylanguage，ashepulledeagerlyatVincentBurgess"coat。

"Itisn"tnicetopeep，Bug，"Burgessinsisted，butheshadedhiseyesandglancedintopleasetheboy。Hedidnotnotetheprettygiltframenorthevasebesideitonthetable。

ButthefacelookingoutofthatframemadehimturnalmostascoldandlimpasFennebenhadbeenwhenhewasdraggedfromtheriver。

Catchingthelittleonebythehandhehurriedaway。

AtthegatewayheliftedBuginhisarms。

Hewasnotyetateasewithchildren。

"Idroppedmyball，"Bugsaid。"Letmedetit。”

"Oh，no；I"llgetyouanotherone。Don"tgoback，"Burgessurged。

"Doyouknowitisveryrudetolookintowindows。

Let"snevertellanybodywedidit；norever，everdoitagain。

Willyouremember？"

"Umphhumph!Imean，yes，sir!Iwon"tforneverdoitagain，nortellnobody。”Bugbuttoneduphislipsforasphinx-likesecrecy。

"NobodybutDennie。AndImayfordetitforher。”

"Yes，forgetit，andwe"llgoawayuptheriverandseeotherthings。

Bug，whatdoyousaywhenyouwanttokeepfromdoingwrong？"

Buglookedupconfidingly。

"Iistsay，`Dod，bemercilesstome，asinner"。”

"Whynotmerciful，Bug？"

"Tause!IfHe"smercifulit"stooeasyandI"mnodooder，"

Bugsaid，wisely。

"Whotoldyouthedifference？"Burgessasked。

"Vic。Heknowsalot。IwishIhadmyball，butlet"sgouptheriver。”

"Outofthemouthsofbabes，"Burgessmurmuredandhuggedthelittleoneclosetohim。

VictorBurleighwasinthelittlebalconyofthedomelatethatafternoonfixingadefectivewiring。Throughtheopenwindowshecouldseetheskylineineverydirection。

Thefar-reachinggrayprairie，overhungbyitsdomeofamethystborderedroundwithopalandrimmedwithjasper，seemedineveryblendingtintandtonetocallhimbacktoNorrie。ThewestbluffabovetheoldKickapooCorralintheautumn，theglenfullofshadow-fleckedlightunderthetenderyoungAprilleaves，theDecemberlandscapeasitlaybeyondDr。Fenneben"sstudywindows——

thesebelongedtoElinor。Andallofthemwereblendedinthisvisionofinexpressiblegrandeur，unfoldedtohimnowfromthedome"shighvantageplace。

"TwiceNorriehasletmeholdherinmyarmsandkissher，"hemused。

"WhenIdothatthethirdtimeitmustbewhentherewillbenoremorsetohoundmeafterward。”HelookeddownthewindingWalnuttowardthewhirlpool。

"I"dratherswimthatwaterthanflounderhere。”

ThesoundoffootstepsontherotundastairsmadehimturntoseeVincentBurgessjustreachingthelittlebalconyofthedome。

"I"vecometohaveawordwithyouuphere，"hesaid。

"Wemetoncebeforeinthisrotunda。”

"Yes，downthereinthearena，"Vicreplied，recallinghowlikeabeasthehadfeltthen。"Iwasayounghyenathatday。

BugBulercamejustintimetosavebothofus。

Thereisacomfortinfeelingwecanlearnsomething。

I"veneededbooksandcollegeprofessorstotempermetocourtesy。”

ItwastheonlyapologyVichadeverofferedtoBurgess，whoaccepteditasallthathedeserved。

"Welearnmorefrommenthanfrombookssometimes。I"velearnedfromthemhowcourageousamanmaybewhentheneedforsacrificecomes。

Sitdown，Burleigh，andletmetellyousomething。”

Theysatdownonthelowseatbesidethedomewindows。Overheadgleamedthemessageofhighcourage，_AdAstraPerAspera_。Belowwastheartisticbeautyoftherotunda，wheretheeveningshadowsweredeepening。

"Wearehigherthanwewerethatotherday。Wecarelessforfightingaswegetfartherup，maybe，"Burgesssaid，pleasantly。

"Theonlyplacetofightamanisinacave，anyhow，"Burleighreplied，lookingathisbrawnyarms，nordreaminghowprophetichiswordsmightbe。

"Wedon"tbelongtothatclassofmennow，whateverourfaroffancestorsmayhavebeen，butwearethesonsofourfathers，Burleigh，anditislefttothelivingtorightthewrongsthedeadhavebegun。”

Then，briefly，VincentBurgess，A。B。，GreekProfessorfromHarvard，toldtoVicBurleighfromaprairieclaimoutbeyondtheWalnut，apartofwhathehadalreadytoldtoDennieSaxon，ofthefundswithheldfromhimsolong。

Tolditingeneralterms，however，notshieldinghisfatheratall，butgivingnohintthatthefirstVictorBurleighwashisownbrother-in-law。

AndofthecompactwithJoshuaWreamandofNorriehetoldnothing。

"ThreedaysagoIdidnotknowthatyoucouldbeheirtothisproperty，"

heconcluded。"I"vebeeninterestedinbooksandhaveleftlegalmatterstothosewhocontrolledthemforme。”

Herosehastily，forBurleigh，sayingnothing，waslookingathimwithwide-openbrowneyesthatseemedtolookstraightintohissoul。

"Icanrestoreyourpropertytoyou。Icannotchangethepast。

Youhaveallthefutureinwhichtouseitbetterthanmyfatherdid，orImighthavedone。Goodnight。”

Heturnedawayandpassedslowlydowntherotundastairs。

WhenhewasgoneVictorBurleighturnedtotheopenwindowofthedome。

HewasnottoblamethatthebeautifulearthunderamagnificentDecembersunsetskyseemedallhisownnow。

"`Ifbig，handsomeVictorBurleighhadhiscornersknockedoffandwassandpapereddown，""hemused。"Well，whatcornersI

haven"tknockedoffmyselfhavebeenknockedoffformeandI"vebeensandpapered——Lord，I"vebeensandpapereddownallright。

I"mathomeonacarpetnow。`Andifhehadmoney"。”

Vic"sfacewastriumphant。"Ithascomeatlast——themoney。

AndwhatofElinor？"

Thesacredmemoriesofbrieffleetingmomentswithhertoldhim"whatofElinor。”

"Thebarriersaredownnow。Itisagloriousoldworld。

ImusthuntupTrenchandthen——"

Heclosedthedomewindow，lookedamomentatthebraveKansasmotto，radiantinthesunsetlight，andthen，pickinguphistools，hewentdownstairs。

"Hello，TrenchIhecalledashereachedtherotundafloor。

Imustseeyouaminute。”

"Hello，youAngel-face!Caseofnecessity。Well，lookaminute，"

Trenchdrawled。"Butthat"sthelimit，andtwiceaslongasI"dcaretoseeyou，although，Iwashuntingyou。

Funnybonewantstoseeyouinthere。”

Victor"seyeswereglowingwithagoldenlightasheenteredFenneben"sstudy，andtheDeannotedthewonderfulchangefromthebig，awkwardfellowwithabulldogcountenancetothisself-poisedgentlemanwhosefinefaceitwasajoytosee。

"Ihaveamessageforyou，Burleigh。NohurryaboutitIwastold，butI

amcalledawayonimportantbusinessandImustgetitoutofmymind。

Anodd-lookingfellowcalledatmydooronthenightIcamehomeandleftapackageforyou。Hesaidhehadtriedtofindyouandfailed，thathewasastrangerhere，andthatyouwouldunderstandthemessageinside。

Heinsistedonnotgivingthisinanyhurry，andasmycominghomehasbroughtmeamassofthingstoconsider，Ihavenotbeenpromptaboutit。”

FennebenputasmallpackageintoBurleigh"shands。

"Examineithere，ifyoucareto。Youcanfastenthedoorwhenyouleave。

Goodby!"andhewasgone。

Victorsatdownandopenedthepackage。Insidewasaquaintlittlesilverpitcher，muchornamented，withtheinitialB

embossedonthesmoothside。

"Thelostpitcher——stolenthedaymymotherdied——

andIwaswarnednevertotrytofindwhostoleit。”

Heturnedtothelightofthewestwindow。

"ItistheverythingIfoundinthecavethatnight。

Themanwhotookitmayhavebeenoverthere。”Heglancedoutofthewindowandsawathintwistofbluesmokerisingabovetheledgesacrosstheriver。

"Whocanhavehaditallthistime，andwhyreturnitnow？"hequestioned。

Asheturnedthepitcherinhishandsapaperfellout。

"Themessageinside!"Hespreadoutthepaperandread"themessageinside。”

WellforhimthatDr。Fennebenhadlefthimalone。

Theshiningfaceandeyesaglowchangedsuddenlytoawhite，hardcountenanceashereadthismessageinside。Itran:

"VictorBurleigh。First，don"tevertrytofollowme。

ThedayyoudoI"llsendyouwhereIsentyourfather。

NoBurleighcanstaynearmeandlive。Nowbewise。

"Second。YousavedthebabyIleftintheolddugout。

BeforeGodInevermeanttokillitthen。ThethoughtofithascursedmysoulnightanddaytillIfoundoutyouhadsavedhim。

"Third。Thegirlyouwanttomarry——goandmarry。Doanything，goodorbad，todestroyBurgess。