the cost-第13节

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〃The　fraternities　are　in　this　somewhere；〃　the　barbs　decided。　　〃They're　trying　to　destroy　him　by　lying　about　him。〃　　And　they　liked　it　that　their　leader　was　the　brilliant；　the　talked…about；　the　sought…after　person　in　the　college。　　When　he　stood　up　to　speak　in　the　assembly　hall　or　the　Literary　Society　they　always　greeted　him　with　several　rounds　of　applause。

To　the　chagrin　of　the　faculty　and　the　irritation　of　the　fraternities　a　jury　of　alumni　selected　him　to　represent　Battle　Field　at　the　oratorical　contest　among　the　colleges　of　the　state。　　And　he　not　only　won　there　but　also　at　the　interstate　contesta　victory　over　the　orators　of　the　colleges　of　seven　western　states　in　which　public　speaking　was；　and　is；　an　essential　part　of　higher　education。　　His　oratory　lacked　style；　they　thought　at　Battle　Field。　　It　was　the　same　then；　essentially；　as　it　was　a　few　years　later　when　the　whole　western　country　was　discussing　it。　　He　seemed　to　depend　entirely　upon　the　inherent　carrying　power　of　his　ably　constructed　sentenceslike　so　many　arrows；　some　flying　gracefully；　others　straight　and　swift；　all　reaching　the　mark　at　which　they　were　aimed。　　In　those　days；　as　afterward；　he　stood　upon　the　platform　almost　motionless；　his　voice　was　clear　and　sweet；　never　noisy；　but　subtly　penetrating　and；　when　the　sense　demanded　it；　full　of　that　mysterious　quality　which　makes　the　blood　run　more　swiftly　and　the　nerves　tingle。　　〃Merely　a　talker；　not　an　orator；〃　declared　the　professor　of　elocution；　and　few　of　those　who　saw　him　every　day　appreciated　his　genius　then。　　It　was　on　the　subject…matter　of　his　oration；　not　on　his　〃delivery；〃　that　the　judges　decided　for　himso　they　said　and　thought。

In　February　of　this　resplendent　sophomore　year　there　came　in　his　mail　a　letter　postmarked　Battle　Field　and　addressed　in　printed　handwriting。　　The　envelope　contained　only　a　newspaper　cuttingfrom　the　St。　Christopher　Republic：


At　four　o'clock　yesterday　afternoon　a　boy　was　born　to　Mr。　and　Mrs。　John　Dumont。　　It　is　their　first　child；　the　first　grandchild　of　the　Dumont　and　Gardiner　families。　　Mother　and　son　are　reported　as　doing　well。


Scarborough　spent　little　time　in　the　futile　effort　to　guess　what　coward　enemy　had　sped　this　anonymous　shaft　on　the　chance　of　its　hitting　him。　　His　only　enemies　that　interested　him　were　those　within　himself。　　He　destroyed　envelope　and　clipping；　then　said　to　Pierson：　　〃I　neglected　to　celebrate　an　important　event　not　long　ago。〃　　He　paused　to　laughso　queerly　that　Pierson　looked　at　him　uneasily。　　〃We　must　go　to　Chicago　to　celebrate　it。〃

〃Very　good；〃　said　Fred。　　〃We'll　get　Chalmers　to　go　with　us　to…morrow。〃

〃No…to…daythe　four…o'clock　trainwe've　got　an　hour　and　a　half。　　And　we'll　have　four　clear　days。〃

〃But　there's　the　ball　to…night　and　I'm　down　for　several　dances。〃

〃We'll　dance　them　in　Chicago。　　I've　never　been　really　free　to　dance　before。〃　　He　poured　out　a　huge　drink。　　〃I'm　impatient　for　the　ball　to　begin。〃　　He　lifted　his　glass。　　〃To　our　ancestors；〃　he　said；　〃who　repressed　themselves；　denied　themselves；　who　hoarded　health　and　strength　and　capacity　for　joy；　and　transmitted　them　in　great　oceans　to　usto　drown　our　sorrows　in！〃

He　won　six　hundred　dollars　at　faro　in　a　club　not　far　from　the　Auditorium；　Pierson　won　two　hundred　at　roulette；　Chalmers　lost　seventythey　had　about　fourteen　hundred　dollars　for　their　four　days'　〃dance。〃　　When　they　took　the　train　for　Battle　Field　they　had　spent　all　they　had　with　themhad　flung　it　away　for　dinners；　for　drives；　for　theaters；　for　suppers；　for　champagne。　　All　the　return　journey　Scarborough　stared　moodily　out　of　the　car　window。　　And　at　every　movement　that　disturbed　his　clothing　there　rose　to　nauseate　him；　to　fill　him　with　self…loathing；　the　odors　of　strong；　sickening…sweet　perfumes。

The　next　day　but　one；　as　he　was　in　the　woods　near　Indian　Rock；　he　saw　Olivia　coming　toward　him。　　They　had　hardly　spoken　for　several　months。　　He　turned　to　avoid　her　but　she　came　on　after　him。

〃I　wish　to　talk　with　you　a　few　minutes；　Mr。　Scarborough；〃　she　said　coldly；　storm　in　her　brave　eyes。

〃At　your　service；〃　he　answered　with　strained　courtesy。　　And　he　walked　beside　her。

〃I　happen　to　know；〃　she　began；　〃that　they're　going　to　expel　you　and　Fred　Pierson　the　next　time　you　leave　here　without　permission。〃

〃Indeed！　　You　are　very　kind　to　warn　me　of　my　awful　danger。〃　　He　looked　down　at　her　with　a　quizzical　smile。

〃And　I　wish　to　say　I　think　it's　a　disgrace　that　they　didn't　do　it　long　ago；〃　she　went　on；　her　anger　rising　to　the　bait　of　his　expression。

〃Your　opinions　are　always　interesting；〃　he　replied。　　〃If　you　have　nothing　further　I'll　ask　your　permission　to　relieve　you　of〃

〃No；〃　she　interrupted。　　〃I've　not　said　what　I　wished　to　say。　　You're　making　it　hard　for　me。　　I　can't　get　accustomed　to　the　change　in　you　since　last　year。　　There　used　to　be　a　good　side　to　you；　a　side　one　could　appeal　to。　　And　I　want　to　talk　aboutFred。　　You're　RUINING　him。〃

〃You　flatter　me。〃　　He　bowed　mockingly。　　〃But　I　doubt　if　HE'D　feel　flattered。〃

〃I've　told　him　the　same　thing；　but　you're　too　strong　for　me。〃　　Her　voice　trembled；　she　steadied　it　with　a　frown。　　〃I　can't　influence　him　any　longer。〃

〃Really；　Miss　Shrewsbury〃

〃Please！〃　she　said。　　〃Fred　and　I　were　engaged。　　I　broke　it　last　night。　　I　broke　it　becauseyou　know　why。〃

Scarborough　flushed　crimson。

〃Oh；〃　he　said。　　〃I　didn't　know　he　was　engaged。〃

〃I　know　you；　Hampden　Scarborough；〃　Olivia　continued。　　〃I've　understood　why　you've　been　degrading　yourself。　　And　I　haven't　blamed　youthough　I've　wondered　at　your　lack　of　manhood。〃

〃You　are　imposing　on　my　courtesy；〃　he　said　haughtily。

〃I　can't　help　it。　　You　and　I　must　talk　this　thing　to　the　end。　　You're　robbing　me　of　the　man　I　love。　　Worse　than　that；　you're　destroying　him；　dragging　him　down　to　a　level　at　which　HE　may　stay；　while　YOU　are　sure　to　rise　again。　　You've　got　your　living　to　makeI　don't　agree　with　those　who　think　you'll　become　a　professional　gambler。　　But　he　his　father's　rich　and　indulgent；　andGod　only　knows　how　low　he'll　sink　if　you　keep　on　pushing　him。〃

〃You　are　excited；　hysterical。　　You　misjudge　him；　believe　me；〃　said　Scarborough；　gently。

〃NoI　know　he's　not　depravedyet。　　Do　you　think　_I_　could　care　for　him　if　he　were？〃

〃I　hope　so。　　That's　when　he'd　need　it　most。〃

Olivia　grew　red。　　〃Well；　perhaps　I　should。　　I'm　a　fool；　like　all　women。　　But　I　ask　you　to　let　him　alone；　to　give　his　better　self　a　chance。〃

〃Why　not　ask　him　to　let　ME　aloneto　give　MY　better　nature　a　chance？〃

〃Youlaughing　at　me　in　these　circumstances！　　You　who　pretended　to　be　a　man；　pretended　to　love　Pauline　Gardiner〃

He　started　and　his　eyes　blazed；　as　if　she　had　cut　him　across　the　face　with　a　whip。　　Then　he　drew　himself　up　with　an　expression　of　insolent　fury。　　His　lips；　his　sharp　white　teeth；　were　cruel。

She　bore　his　look　without　flinching。

〃Yes；〃　she　went　on；　〃you　think　you　love　her。　　Yet　you　act　as　if　her　love　were　a　degrading　influence　in　your　life；　as　if　she　were　a　bad　woman　instead　of　one　who　ought　to　inspire　a　man　to　do　and　be　his　best。　　How　ashamed　she'd　be　of　you；　of　your　love；　if　she　could　see　you　as　you　are　nowthe　tempter　of　all　the　bad　impulses　in　this　college。〃

He　could　not　trust　himself　to　reply。　　He　was　suffocating　with　rage　and　shame。　　He　lifted　his　hat；　walked　rapidly　away　from　her　and　went　home。　　Pierson　had　never　seen　him　in　an　ugly　mood　before。　　And　he；　too；　was　in　an　ugly　mooddisgusted　with　his　own　conduct；　angry　at　Scarborough；　whom　he　held　responsible　for　the　unprecedented　excesses　of　this　last　trip　to　Chicago　and　for　their　consequences。

〃What's　happened？〃　he　asked　sourly。　　〃What's　the　matter　with　YOU？〃

〃Your　Olivia；〃　replied　Scarborough；　with　a　vicious　sneer；　〃has　been　insulting　me　for　your　sins。　　She　is　a　shrew！　　I　don't　wonder　you　dropped　her。〃

Pierson　rose　slowly　and　faced　him。

〃You　astonish　me；〃　he　said。　　〃I　shouldn't　have　believed　you　capable　of　a　speech　which　no　gentleman　could　possibly　utter。〃

〃YOU；　sitting　as　a　court　of　honor　to　decide　what's　becoming　a　gentleman！〃　　Scarborough　looked　amused　contempt。　　〃My　dear　Pierson；　you're　worse　than　offensiveyou　are　ridiculous。〃

〃No　man　shall　say　such　things　to　me　especially　a　man　who　notoriously　lives　by　his　wits。〃

Scarborough　caught　him　up　as　if　he　had　been　a　child　and　pinned　him　against　the　wall。　　〃Take　that　back；〃　he　said；　〃or　I'll　kill　you。〃　　His　tone　was　as　colorless　as　his　face。

〃Kill　and　be　damned；〃　replied　Pierson；　cool　and　disdainful。　　〃You're　a　coward。〃

Scarborough's　fingers　closed　on　Pierson's　throat。　　Then　flashed　into　his　mind　that　warning　which　demands　and　gets　a　hearing　in　the　wildest　tempest　of　passion　before　an　irrevocable　act　can　be　done。　　It　came　to　him　in　the　form　of　a　reminder　of　his　laughing　remark　to　Pauline　when　he　told　her　of　the　traditions　of　murder　in　his　family。　　He　released　Pierson　and　fled　from　the　apartment。

Half　an　hour　later　Pierson　was　reading　a　note　from　him：

〃I've　invited　some　friends　this　evening。　　I　trust　it　will　be　convenient　for　you　to　absent　yourself。　　They'll　be　out　by　eleven；　and　then；　if　you　return；　we　can　decide　which　is　to　stay　in　the　apartment　and　which　to　leave。〃

Pierson　went　away　to　his　fraternity　house　and　at　half…past　eight　Scarborough；　Chalmers；　Jack　Wilton　and　Brigham　sat　down　to　a　game　o