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\'sblessingandwiththeassurancethatwithElinorsafelyprovidedforhisconsciencewhyhisconscience？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。