\"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。