\"Fourth。ThemoneyBurgesshadisyours，onlybecauseI\'mgivingittoyou。
ItbelongstoBugBuler。Hecouldn\'ttalkplainwhenyousavedhim。
He\'snotBugBuler；he\'sBugBurleigh，sonofVictorBurleigh，heirtoV。B。\'smoneyinthelaw。I\'vegotalltheproofs。
Youseewhyyoucanhavethatmoney。Nobodywilleverknowbutme。
Don\'thuntformeandI\'llnevertell。TOMGRESH。”
ThepaperfellfromVictorBurleigh\'shands。Theworld，thattenminutesagowasarose-huedsunsetland，wasadrearymidnightwastenow。
TheonebarrierbetweenhimselfandElinorhadfallenonlytoriseupagain。
ThencameSatanintothegame。\"NobodyknewthisbutGresh!WhohadsavedBug\'slife？Whohadcaredforhimandwouldalwayscareforhim？
WhyshouldBug，little，lovingBug，comenowtospoilhishopes？
IfBugknewhewouldbefirsttogiveitalltohisbelovedVic。”
AndthencameSatan\'stenstrike。\"Noneedtosettlethingsnow。
Waitandthinkitover。”AndVicdecidedinablindwaytothinkitover。
IntherotundahemetTrench，oldTrench，slowofstepbutalightningcalculator。
\"Whereareyougoing？\"heexclaimed，ashesawVic\'sface。
\"I\'mgoingtothewhirlpoolbeforeI\'mthrough，\"Vicsaid，hoarsely。
Trenchcaughthiminapowerfulgripandshovedhimtothefootoftherotundastairs。
\"No，-youre-not-going-to-the-whirlpool，\"\'hesaid，slowly。
\"You\'regoinguptothetopofthedomerightagainstthat_AdAstraperAspera_businessupthere，andopenthewestwindowandlookoutattheworldtheLordmadetohealhurtsoulsbylookingat。
Andyouaregoingtostayupthereuntilyouhavefoughtthethingoutwithyourself，andcomedownlikeMosesdidwiththetenCommandmentscutdeeponthetablesofyourstonyoldheart。
Ifyoudon\'t，you\'llnotneedtogotooldLagonda\'spool。
Bytheholysaints，I\'lltakeyoutheremyselfandplungeyouinjusttoridtheworldofsuchafool。Youhearme!Now，goon!
AndrememberinyourtusslethatthatbigScutovertheoldSunrisedoorouttherestandsforService。That\'swhatwillmakeyournamefityouyet，Victor。”
Vicslowlyclimbeduptowhereanhouragothesuddenopportunityforthefruitionofhisyounglifeandhopehadbeenbroughttohim。
Lostnow，unless——NobodywouldeverknowandBugcouldlosenothing。
HeopenedthewestwindowandlookedoutattheWalnutValley，dimandshadowynow，andthesilverprairiesbeyonditandthegorgeouscrimsontintedskywherefromthesunhadslipped。Andthenandthere，withhisfacetothelight，hewrestledwiththeblackApollyonofhissoul。
Andeveryminutethetemptationgrewtokeepthefunds\"intrust，\"
andtokeeponcaringfortheboyhehadcaredforsincebabyhood。
HeclinchedhiswhiteteethandthetigerlightwasinhiseyesagainasthelongingforElinor\'sloveovercamehim。Hepicturedherasonlyonesunsetagoshehadlookedupintohiseyes，herfacetransfiguredwithlove\'ssweetness，andhewishedhemightkeepthatpictureforever。
But，somehow，betweenthatfaceandhisown，camethepictureoflittleBugaloneinthewretcheddugout，reachingupbabyarmstohimforlifeandsafety；onhisbabyfaceapleadingtrustfulness。
Victorunbuttonedhiscuffandslippeduphissleevetothescaronhisarm。
\"AnybodycanseethescarIputtherewhenIcutoutthepoison，\"
hesaidtohimself，atlast。\"Nobodywillseethescaronmysoul，butI\'llcutoutthepoisonjustthesame。Ididnotsavethatbabyboyfromtherattlesnakesonlytolethimbecrushedbytheserpentinme。
Trenchwasright，theSoverthedoorwaydowntherestandsforServiceaswellasforSacrificeandStrife。Dr。FennebensaystheyallenterintothewinningofaMaster\'sDegree。ShallIevergetmineearned，Iwonder？\"
Helookedoncemoreatthewest，allasoftpurple，gray-veiledwithmistyshadows，saveovertheplacewherethesunwentoutoneshaftofdeepestrosehuetippedwithgoldenflamewascleavingitswaytowardthedarkeningzenith。
ThenheclosedthewindowandwentdownstairsandoutintothebeautifulDecembertwilight。
InallKansasinthateveninghournomanbreatheddeeperofthesweet，pureair，norwalkedwithfirmerstride，thanthemanwhohadgoneoutunderthecarvedsymbolofthecollegedoorway，VictorBurleighofthejuniorclassatSunrise。
SUPREMACY
MakethyselffreeofManhood\'sguild，Pulldownthybarnsandgreaterbuild，Pluckfromthesunset\'sfruitofgold，Gleanfromtheheavensandoceanold，FromfiresideloneandtramplingstreetLetthylifegarnerdailywheat，Theepicofamanrehearse，Besomethingbetterthanthyverse，Andthoushalthearthelife-bloodflowFromfartheststarstograss-bladeslow——
LOWELL
CHAPTERXIII
THEMANBELOWTHESMOKE
_Andforgiveusourdebtsasweforgiveourdebtors_。
ELINORWREAMwasstandingatthegateasVictorBurleighcamestridingupthestreet。
\"Whereareyougoingsofast，Victor？\"sheasked。\"Everybodyisinarushthisevening。WehadatelegramfromtheEastthisafternoon。
UncleJoshuaisveryill，andUncleLloydhadtogetawayonshortnotice。
OldBondSaxonwentbyjustnow，but，\"loweringhervoice，\"hewasawfullydrunkandslippedalonglikeasnake。”
\"HaveyouseenBug？\"Victorasked。\"Denniesaysheleftalittlewhileagotofindhisballhelostoutnorththisafternoon。
Hewouldn\'ttellwhere，becausehehadpromisednotto。”
\"No，Ihavenotseenhim。Butdon\'tbeuneasyaboutBug。Heneverplaysneartheriver，northerailroadtracks，andhealwayscomesinattherighttime，\"
Elinorsaid，comfortingly。
\"Iknowhealwayshasbefore，butIwanttofindhim，anyhow。”
TheaffectionatetonetoldElinorwhatalovingguardianshipwasgiventotheunknownorphanchild。
\"TherewasamanheretoseeUncleLloydjustafterheleftthisevening。
Thesamemanthatbroughtalittlepackageforyouthenightwecamehome。
IsupposehecomesfromyourpartofthestateoutWest，forheseemedtoknowyouandBug。HeaskedmeifBugeverplayedalongtheriverandifhewasashychild。Hewasastrange-lookingman，andIthoughthehadthecruelestfaceIeversaw，butIamnoexpertonstrangefaces。”
Victordidnotwaitforanotherword。
\"ImustfindBugrightaway。Youcan\'tthinkwhatheistome，Elinor，\"
andhehurriedaway。
AtthebendintheWalnutVicsawBug\'slittlescarletstockingcapbesidetheflatstone。Thetwilightwasalmostgone，buttheglisteningriverreflectedonthetornbushesabovethebank-fullstream。
Thecrushingagonyofthefirstminutesmadethemseemlikehours。
Andthenthecollegedisciplineputinitswork。
Vicstoppedandreasoned。
\"Bugisn\'tdownthere。Henevergoesneartheriver。ThatstrangemanisTomGresh。Hekilledmyfatherandhe\'slaidatrapforme。Hedoesn\'twanttokillBug。Hewantstokeephimtoworkoutvengeanceandhateonme。
Hesayshe\'llsendmetomyfatherifIgonearhim。Well，I\'mgoingsonearhe\'llnotdoubtwhoIam，andI\'llhaveBugunharmedifIhavetosendGreshwheremyfathercouldnotgoevenwithwatertocoolhistongue。
Amanmayfightwithamanashewouldfightwithabeasttosavehimselforsomethingdearerthanhimselffrombeastlydestruction，Fennebensays。
That\'sthebattlebeforemenow，andit\'stothedeath。”
Thetigerlightwasintheyelloweyesasneverbeforeandthesternjawwasset，asVictorBurleighhurriedaway。
Andthiswasthemanwho，suchalittlewhileago，wasdebatingwithhimselfoverthequietpossessionofBugBuler\'sinheritance。
TrulytheMasterycomesveryneartosuchashe。
Itwaswithtiger-likestepandinstinct，too，thattheyoungmanwentleapingupthedark，frost-coatedglen。
Aboutthemouthofthecavetheblacknesswasappalling。
Itseemedaplaceapart，cursedwiththefrownofNature。YetintheApriltime，thesweetestmomentsofVic\'syounglifehadbeenspentinthisveryspotthatnowshowedallthedifferencebetweenLoveandHate。
Ashenearedtheopeningofthecavernheguardedhisfootstepsmorecarefully。Thejunglebeastwasalertwithinhimandthecollegetrainingwasgivingwaytothemightofmusclebackedbyawilltowin。
Adimlightgleamedinthecaveandhewatchedoutsidenow，asGreshontheAprildayhadwatchedhiminside。
Downbyawoodfire，whosesmokewastwistingoutthroughacreviceoverheadsomewhere，littleBugwassittingonTomGresh\'sbigcoat，thefirelightinguphistangleofred-browncurls。
Hisbigbrowneyeslookingupatthemancrouchingbythefirewereeyesofinnocentcourage，andtheexpressiononthesweetchild-facewasimpenetrable。
\"He\'saBurleigh。He\'snotafraid，\"Victhought，exultingly。
\"That\'shalfmybattle。Ihaditoutwiththerattlesnakes。
I\'lldobetterhere。”
AtthatmomenttheoutlawturnedtowardthedoorandleapedtohisfeetasVicspranginside。
Bugstartedupwithoutstretchedarms。
\"Keepoutoftheway，Bug，\"Viccried，asthetwomenclinched。
Andthestrugglebegan。Theywereevenlymatched，andbothhadthesinewsofgiants。Theoutlawhadtheadvantageofanironstrength，hardenedbyyearsofout-doorlife。
Butthecollegethathadsoftenedthecountryboysomewhatgaveinreturnthequickjudgmentandsuperioragilityofthetrainedpowerthatcountsagainstweightbeforethebattleisover。
Butwithal，itwasterrible。Onefighterwasamurdererbytrade，hishandsteadyfortheblackestdeeds，andherewasamanhehadwaitedlongmonthstodestroy。Theotherfighterwasinthestruggletosavealifedeartohim，alifethatmustvindicatehisconscienceandpreservehissoul\'speace。
Acrossthestone-flooredcavetheythreshedinfury，untilatthefartherwallGreshflungVicfromhimagainstthejaggedrockwithaforcethatcutagashacrosstheboy\'shead。
Thebloodsplashedonbothmen\'sfacesastheyrenewedthestrife。
ThenwithaquicktwistBurleighthrewtheoutlawtothefloorandheldhiminaclutchthatweighedhimdownlikealedgeofrock；
anditwaspoundforpoundagain。
Awayfromthemassofburningcoalstheblacknesswashorrible。
BeyondthatfireBugsat，silentasthestonewallbehindhim。
Greshgainedthemasteryagain，andwithagriponVic\'sthroatwasabouttothrusthishead，facedownward，intotheburningembers。
Vicunderstoodandstroveforhisownlifewithamaniac\'smight，forheknewthatonemorewrenchwouldendthething。
\"Youfirst，andthenthebaby；I\'llroastyouboth，\"Greshhissed，andVicsmelledtheheatofthewoodflame。
ButwhohadcountedonBug？Hehadwatchedthisfearfulgrapple，motionlessandterror-stricken，andnowwithachild\'svisionhesawwhatGreshmeanttodo。Springingup，hecaughttheheavycoatonwhichhehadbeensittingandflungitonthefire，smotheringtheembersandputtingthecavernintocompletedarkness。
Vicgainedthevantagebythisunlookedformovementandthegripshifted。
ThefightersfelltothefloorandthenbeganthesamekindofstrugglebywhichBurleighhadout-generaledbig，unconquerableTrenchoneday。
ThetwohadrolledandfoughtincollegecombatfromthetopofthelimestoneridgetothelowercampusandlandedwithBurleighgrippingTrenchhelplesstodefendfurther。Thatbattlewasfriendwithfriend。
Thisbattlewastothedeath。Thebloodofbothmensmearedthefloorastheytoreateachotherlikewildbeasts，andnomancouldhavetoldwhichoftenesthadthevantagehold，norhowthestrifewouldend。Butitdidendsoon。
Theheavycoat，thathadsmotheredthefireandsavedVic，smolderedalittle，thenflaredintoflame，lightingthewholecave，andthrowingoutblackandawfulshadowsofthetwofighters。Theywereclosetotheholeintheinnerwallnow。Gresh\'sfaceinthatunsteadyglarewashorribletosee。
Heloosedhisholdasecond，thenlungedatVicwiththefuryofamadbrute。
AndVic，whohadfoughtthedevilinhimselftoastandstillthreehoursago，nowcaughtthefiendoutsideofhimforafinishingblow，andthestrengthofthatlaststrugglewasterrific。
UptothistimeVichadnotspoken。
\"Ikilledtheothersnakes。I\'llkillyounow，\"hegrowled，asheheldtheoutlawatlengthinaconqueringgrip，hiskneesonGresh\'sbreast，hisrighthandonGresh\'sthroat。
Inthatweirdlighttheconqueror\'sfacewasonlyadegreelessbrutalthantheoutlaw\'sface。AndBurleighmeanteveryword，formurderwasinhisheartandinhisclutchingfingers。
BeneaththeweightofhisstrengthGreshslowlyrelaxed，strugglingfiercelyatfirstandgropingblindlytoescape。
Thenhebegantowhineformercy，buthiswhiningmaddenedhisconquerormorethanhisblowshaddone。Forsuchstrifeisnomerewrestlingmatch。Everyblowstruckagainstafellowmanisasthesmellofbloodtothetiger，feedingafiendisheagernesstokill。Beside，Burleighhadamplecauseforvengeance。
Thecreatureunderhisgripwasnotonlyabootleggerthroughwhoseevilinfluencementookotherlivesorlosttheirown；
hehadslainoneinnocentman，Vic\'sownfather，andintheroomwherehisdeadmotherlayhadrobbedVic\'shomeofeveryvaluablething。HehadswornvengeanceonallwhoborethenameofBurleigh。WhatfatemightawaitBug，Vicdarednotpicture。
Onestranglinggripnowcouldfinishthebusinessforever，andhisclutchtightened，asGreshlaybegginglikeacowardforhisownworthlesslife。
\"It\'sagoodthingafellowhasaguardianangelonceinawhile。
Wegetprettyclosetotheedgesometimesandneverknowhownearwearetodestruction，\"VichadsaidtoElinorinhereontheAprilday。
ItwasnotVic\'sguardianangel，butlittleBugwhosewhitefacewasthrustbetweenhimandhisvictim，andthetouchofasoftlittlehandandthepleadingchild-voicethatcried:
\"Don\'tkillhim，Vic。He\'sfroughoffightingnow。
Don\'thurthimnomore。”
Vicstaidhishandatthewords。Thefewminutesofthismad-beastduelhadmadehimforgetthesoundofhumanvoices。
HehalfliftedhimselffromGresh\'sbodyatBug\'scry。AndBug，wisebeyondhisyears，quaint-mindedlittleBug，said，softly:
\"Fordiveusourdebtsaswefordiveourdebtors。”
Strange，lovingwordsoftheManofGalilee，spokenonthemountain-sidelong，longago，andechoednowbychildishlipsinthedyinglightofthecaverntothesetwomen，drunkwithbrute-lustforhumanblood!ForVicthewordsstrucklikeblows。
Alltheyearssincehisfather\'sdeathhehadwaitedforthishour。
Atlasthehadmetandvanquishedthemanwhohadtakenhisfather\'slife，andnow，exultantinhisvictory，camethislittlechild\'svoice。
Thecavedarkened。Amist，halfblood，halfblindness，camebeforehiseyes，butcleartohisearstheresoundedtheringingwords:
\"Vengeanceismine；Iwillrepay!\"
ItwasthevoiceofDisciplinecallingtohisbetterjudgment，asBug\'sinnocentpleadingspoketothefinermanwithinhim。
UnderhisgripGreshlaymotionless，allpowerofresistancethreshedoutofhim。
\"Areyoureadytoquit？\"Vicquestioned，hoarsely，bendingoverthealmostlifelessform。
Theoutlawmumbledassent。
\"ThenI\'llletyoulive，youmiserablewretch，andthecourtswilltakecareofyou。”
Burleighhimselfwasfaintfromstrifeandlossofblood。
Asherelaxedhisvigilancethelastatomofstrength，thelasthopeofescapereturnedtoGresh。Hesprangtohisfeet，staggeredblindlythen，quickasapanther，heleapedthroughtheholeinthefartherwall，wriggledswiftlyintotheblindcrevicesoftheinnercave，andwasgone。
ItwasTrenchwhodressedVic\'sheadthatnightandshieldedhimuntilhisstrengthreturned。ButitwasBondSaxonwhocounseledpatience。
\"Don\'tsquealtothesheriffnow，\"heurged。\"Thescoundrelisgone，anditwouldmakeaninedays\'hooray，andnothingwouldcomeofit。
HewasdarnedslicktotakethetimewhenFunnybonewasaway。”
\"Why？\"Vicasked。
ButBondwouldnottellwhy。AndVicneverdreamedhowmuchcauseBondSaxonhadtodreadthedaywhenTomGreshshouldbebroughtintocourt，andhisowngreatcrimecommittedinhisdrunkenhourswoulddemandretribution。
SoLagondaLedgeandSunriseknewnothingofwhathadoccurred。
Burleighhadnorecoursebuttowait，whileBugbuttoneduphislips，ashehaddoneforBurgessoutatPigeonPlace，andconveniently\"fordot\"whathechosenottotell。
Buthewanderednomorealoneabouttheprettyby-cornersofLagondaLedge。
CHAPTERXIV
THEDERELICTS
_IdimlyguessfromblessingsknownOfgreateroutofsight，And，withthechastenedPsalmist，ownHisjudgments，too，areright。
IknownotwhatthefuturehathOfmarvelorsurprise，AssuredalonethatlifeanddeathHismercyunderlies_——
WHITTIER
ITwasearlyspringbeforeDr。FennebenreturnedtoLagondaLedge。Everybodythoughtthenewlineonhisfacewasputtherebythedeathofhisbrother。Tothosewholovedhimmost——
thatis，toallLagondaLedge——hewasgrowinghandsomereveryyear，andevenwiththisnewexpressionhiscountenanceworeamorekindlygracethaneverbefore。
\"Norrie，yourunclewasastrangeman，\"Fennebendeclared，asheandElinorsatinthelibraryontheeveningofhisreturn。
\"Naturally，Iamunlikemystepbrothers，butIhavenotevenunderstoodthem。ThereweremanythingsIlearnedatJoshua\'sbedsidethatIneverknewofthefamilybefore。
Thereweresomethingsforyoutoknow，butnotnow。”
\"Icantrustyou，UncleLloyd，todojusttherightthing，\"Norriedeclared。
ThenewlineofsadnessdeepenedinLloydFenneben\'sface。
\"Thatisahardthingtodosometimes。Yourtrustwillhelpmewonderfully，however，\"hereplied。\"MybrotherinhislasthoursmadeurgentrequestsofmeandpledwithmeuntilIpledgedmywordtocarryouthiswishes。
Here\'swhereIneedyourtrustmost。”
Elinorbentoverheruncleandsoftlystrokedtheheavyblackhairfromhisforehead。
\"Here\'swhereIhelpyoumost，then，\"shesaid，gently。
\"Ihavesomefunds，Elinor，tobeyoursatyourgraduation——notbefore。
Believeme，deargirl，IbeggedofJoshuatoletmeturnthemovertoyounow，buthestaidobstinatetothelast。”
\"AndIdon\'twantathingdifferenttillIgetmydiploma。
NoteventillIgetmyMaster\'sDegreeforthatmatter，\"
Elinorsaid，playfully。
\"Andmeantime，Norrie，willyoujustbeacollegegirlanddropallthoughtofthismarryingbusinessuntilyouarethroughschool？\"
Fennebenwashesitatingalittlenow。\"Ayearhencewillbetimeenoughforthat。”
\"Mostgladly，\"Elinorassuredhim。
\"Thenthat\'sallformybrother\'ssake。Nowformine，Norrie，orforyours，rather，ifmylittlegirlhashermindallsetaboutthingsafterschooldays，Ihopeshewillnotbeaflirt。
Sometimesthewordsandactscutdeeperintootherlivesthanweeverdream。Norrie，Iknowthisoutoftheyearsofmyownlonelylife。”
Elinor\'seyesweredewywithtearsandshebentherheaduntilherhairtouchedhischeek。
\"I\'lltrytobegood`fornever，\'asBugBulersays，\"shemurmured。
OverintheSaxonHouseonthissameeveningVincentBurgesshadcomeintoseeDennieaboutsomebooks。
\"Itookyouradvice，Dennie，\"hesaid。\"IhavebeenamantotheextentofmakingmyselfsquarewithVictorBurleigh，andI\'vefeltlikeafreemaneversince。”
ThelookofjoyandprideinDennie\'seyesthrilledhimwithakeenpleasure。
Hereyeswereofsuchasoftgrayandherprettywavyhairwassolustroustonight。
\"Dennie，Iamgoingtobeevenmoreofamanthanyouaskedmetobe。”
Denniedidnotlookup。Thepinkofhercheek，herlonglashesoverherdowncasteyes，thesunnycurlsaboveherforehead，allwerefairtoVincentBurgess。Ashelookedatherhebegantounderstand，blindbatthathehadbeenallthistime，he，ProfessorVincentBurgess，A。B。，InstructorinGreekfromHarvardUniversity。
\"Imustbegoingnow。Good-night，Dennie。”
Heshookhandsandhurriedaway，buttothegirlwhowasearninghercollegeeducationtherewassomethinginhishandclasp，deniedbefore。
ThenextdaytherewasasettlingofaffairsatSunrise，andthecharacter-buildingputintoLloydFenneben\'shand，asclayforthepotter\'swheel，seemedtohimtobeshapingsomewhattoitsdestineduses。
Again，VincentBurgesssatinthechairbytheweststudywindow，acting-dean，nowseekingneithertypes，norgeographicalbreadth，norseclusionamidbarrenprairielandsforprofoundresearchinpreparingforaMaster\'sDegree。
Withnoefforttoconcealmatters，exceptthefactthatthetrustfundshadfirstbelongedtohisownsisterandbrother-in-law，heexplainedtoFennebenthelineofeventsconnectinghimwithVictorBurleigh。
\"And，Dr。Fenneben，ImustspeakofamatterIhavenevertoucheduponwithyoubefore。ItwasagreedbetweenDr。WreamandmyselfthatIshouldbecomehisnephewbymarriage。
IwanttogotoMissElinorandaskhertoreleaseme。
Youwillpardonmyfrankness，forIcannothonorablycontinueinthisrelationshipsinceIhaverestoredthepropertytoVictorBurleigh。”
\"Hethinksshewillnotcareforhimnow，\"Fennebensaidtohimself。
Aloudhesaid:
\"HaveyoueverspokendirectlytoElinoronthismatter？\"
\"N-no。Itwasanunderstandingbetweenherandheruncleandbetweenhimandme，\"Burgessreplied。
\"Well，Idon\'tpretendtoknowgirlsverywell，beingaconfirmedbachelor\"——
theDean\'seyesweresmiling——\"butmyadviceatthisdistanceisnottoaskNorrietoreleaseyoufromwhatsheherselfhasneveryetboundyou。
I\'llvouchforherpeaceofmind；andyoursenseofhonorisfullyvindicatednow。Tobeequallyfrankwithyou，Burgess，nowthatNorrieisentirelyinmycharge，Ihaveputthissortofthingforherabsolutelyintotheafter-commencementyears。Thebestwifeisnotalwaysthegirlwhowearsadiamondringthroughthreeorfouryearsofhercollegelife。
Iwantmyniecetobeagirlnow，notabride-in-waiting。”
AsBurgessrosetogohiseyecaughtsightofthepigeonsabovethebendintheriver。
\"Bytheway，Doctor，haveyoueverfoundoutanythingaboutthewomanwhousedtoliveinthatdesertedplaceupnorth？\"
\"Nothingyet，\"Fennebenreplied。\"But，remember，Ihavenotspentaweek——
thatis，asaneweek——inLagondaLedgesincethenightyou，andshe，andSaxon，andthedogsavedmylife。Ishalltakeuphercasesoon。”
\"Sheisgoneawayandnobodyknowswhere，Saxontellsme，\"Burgesssaid。
\"FormanyreasonsIwishwecouldfindher，butshehasdroppedoutofsight。”
LloydFennebenwonderedatthesorrowfulexpressionontheyoungerman\'sfacewhenhesaidthis。
AsheleftthestudyVictorBurleighcamein。
\"Sitdown，Burleigh。WhatcanIdoforyou？\"Fennebenasked。
Somethinglikehisownmagnetismofpresencewasintheyoungmanbeforehim。
\"Iwanttotellyousomething，\"Vicresponded。
\"Letmetellyousomething。IknewyouhadgoodbloodinyourveinsevenwhenIsawyoukillthatbullsnake。Burgesshasjustbeenin。
Hehastoldmehissideofyourstory。Noblefellowheistofreehimselfofalife-longslaverytosomebodyelse\'sdollars。
Howevermuchamanmaytrytohidethefettersofunlawfulgains，theyclankinhisownearstillhehateshimself。NowBurgessisafreeman。”
\"Iamgladtohearyousayso，Dr。Fenneben。Itmakesmyownfreedomsweeter，\"Vicdeclared。
\"Yes，\"Fennebenreplied。\"Youraddedmeanswillbringyoulife\'sbestgift——opportunity。”
\"Ihavenoaddedmeans，Doctor。IhavefundsintrustforBugBuler，andIcometoaskyoutotakehislegalguardianshipforme。”
Andthenhetoldhisownlifestory。
\"Sotheheroismshiftstoyouaswell。Icanpicturethecosttoamanlikeyourself，\"theDeansaid。\"HaveyounorecordofBug\'sfatherandmother？\"
\"NonebuttherecordgivenbyDr。Wream。Theyaredead，\"Burleighreplied。
\"Hisfathermayhavemetthesamefatethatmyfatherdid。”
\"Whydon\'tyoutaketheguardianshipyourself，Burleigh？Theboyisyoursinloveandblood。Heoughttobeinlaw。”
VictorBurleighstooduptohisfullheight，amagnificentproductofNature\'shandiwork。Butthemindandsoul\"DeanFunnybone\"
hadhelpedtoshape。
\"Iwillbehonestwithyou，Dr。Fenneben，\"Burleighsaid，andhisvoicewasdeepandsweetlyresonant。\"IfIkeepthemoneyinchargeImaynotbeproofagainstthetemptationtouseitformyself。Asstrongasmystrongarmsaremyhatesandloves，andforsomereasonsIwoulddoalmostanythingtogainriches。
Imightnotresistthetempter。”
LloydFenneben\'sblackeyesblazedatthewords。
\"Iunderstandperfectlywhatyoumean，butnowomanwhoexactsthispriceisworththecost。”Then，inagentlertone，hecontinued:
\"Burleigh，willyoutakemyadvice？Ihavealwayshadyourwelfareonmyheart。Finishyourcollegeworkfirst。
Getthebestoftheclassroom，thelibrary，theathleticfield，andthe`picnicspread。\'Isthattherightterm？
Butfityourselfformanhoodbeforeyouundertakeaman\'sduties。
Meantime，Hewhohasgivenyouthemasteryintheyearsbehindyouisleadingyoutowardthelargerplacesbeforeyou，teachingyouallthemeaningsofStrife，andSacrifice，andServicesymbolizedaboveourdoorwayinourproudCollegeinitialletter。
TheSupremacyisyettocome。Willyoufollowmycounsel？
I\'lltakecareofBug，andwewillkeepBurgessoutofthisforawhile。”
Burleighthoughtheunderstood，andthesilenthandclasppledgedthefaithofthecountryboytotheteacher\'swishes。
Itisonlyinstorybooksthateventsleapoutaspagesareturned，eventsthattakedaysondaysofreallifetocompass。
IntheswingofonebriefyearLagondaLedgeknewlittlechange。
NewcementwalkswerebuiltsouthalmosttotheKickapooCorral。Anewmanufacturingconcernhadbondsvotedforitatanexcitingelection，andasquabbleforasuitablesitewasinprocess。VincentBurgessandVictorBurleigh，twostrongmen，weregrowingactuallychummy，andTrenchdeclaredhewasgladtheyhaddecidedtoquitplayingmarblesforkeepsandhidingeachother\'scaps。
AndnowthespringtimeoftheyearwasonthebeautifulWalnutValley。ElinorandDennie，Trench，\"Limpy，\"thecrippledstudent，andVictorBurleighwereallonthehome-stretchoftheirsenioryear。
OnemoreJuneCommencementdayandSunrisewouldknowthemnomore。
BeyondallthistherewasnothingnewatLagondaLedgeuntilsuddenlythewhite-hairedwomanwasupatPigeonPlace，again，afactknownonlytooldBondSaxonandlittleBug，whosawherleavethetrain。
Thelittlebluesmoke-twistwasagainrisinglazilyinthewarmMayair，andsomebodywassystematicallyrobbinghousesintown，andBondSaxonwasoftendrunkandhidingawayfromsight。
AMaystormsenttheWalnutboomingdownthevalley，bankfull，cuttingofftrafficatthetownbridge，butthedaysthatfollowedwereajoy。
Atenderlygreenworlditwasnow，allblossom-decked，andblownacrossbythegentleMayzephyrs，withnothingharshnorcruelinit，unlesstherushingriverdownbelowtheshallowsmightseemso。
TheKickapooCorral，luxuriantwithflowers，andspringinggrass，andMaygreenfoliage，toldnothingoftheold-timesiegeandsorrowofSwiftElkandtheFawnoftheMorningLight。
OnthenightafterthestormProfessorBurgessstoppedattheSaxonHouse。
\"Whereisyourfather，Dennie？\"heasked。
\"Hewentupnorthtohelpsomebodyoutofthemudandwater，Isuppose，\"Denniereplied。\"Heisthekindestneighbor，andhehasbeentryingto——tokeepstraight。Hetoldmewhenheleftthatthisnight\'sworkwastobeaworkofredemptionforhim。
Hemaygetstrongersometime。”
InhisheartBurgessknewbetter。Hehadnofaithintheoldman\'swillpower，andtheburdenofahiddencrimeheknewwouldbutincreaseitsweightwithtime，anddragBonddownatlast。
ButDennieneednotsuffernow。
\"WillyougowithmedowntotheoldCorraltomorrowafternoon，Dennie？Iwantsomeplantsthatgrowthere。
I\'mstudyingnaturealongwithGreek，\"hesaid，smiling。
\"Ofcourse，ifitisfair，\"Denniereplied，theprettycolorbloomingdeeperinhercheeks。