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。