the cost-第7章

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〃I'm　nominating　him；〃　replied　Scarborough；　〃as　the　barb　candidate。〃

〃Take　my　advice　don't　do　it；　old　man；〃　said　Pierson　in　a　friendly；　somewhat　patronizing　tone。

〃You'll　only　get　our　fellows　down　on　youthem　and　all　the　fraternity　men。　　Andwell；　your　candidate'll　have　a　dozen　votes　or　so；　at　mostand　there'll　be　a　laugh。〃

〃YesI　suppose　there　will　be　a　laugh；〃　said　Scarborough；　his　eyes　twinkling。

〃Don't　do　it；〃　urged　Pierson。　　〃Be　practical。〃

〃NoI　leave　that　to　your　people。〃

Just　then　nominations　for　president　were　called　for　and　the　candidates　of　the　two　factions　were　proposed　and　seconded。　　〃The　nominations　for　president　are〃　began　the　chairman；　but　before　he　could　utter　the　word　〃closed〃　Scarborough　was　on　his　feetwas　saying；　〃Mr。　Chairman！〃

Pierson　dropped　his　eyes　and　grew　red　with　embarrassment　for　his　friend　who　was　thus　〃rushing　on　to　make　a　fool　of　himself。〃

Scarborough's　glance　traveled　slowly　from　row　to　row　of　expectant　young　men。

〃Mr。　Chairman　and　fellow…members　of　the　Washington　and　Jefferson　Society；〃　he　said　in　a　conversational　tone。　　〃I　have　the　honor　of　placing　in　nomination　Frank　Adee；　of　Terre　Haute。　　In　addition　to　other　qualifications　of　which　it　would　be　superfluous　for　me　to　speak　in　this　presence；　he　represents　the　masses　of　the　membership　of　this　society　which　has　been　too　long　dominated　by　and　for　its　classes。　　It　is　time　to　compel　the　fraternities　to　take　faction　and　caste　and　political　wire…pulling　away　from　this　hall；　and　to　keep　them　away。　　It　is　time　to　rededicate　our　society　to　equality；　to　freedom　of　thought　and　speech；　to　the　democratic　ideas　of　the　plain　yet　proud　builders　of　this　college　of　ours。〃

Scarborough　made　no　attempt　at　oratory；　made　not　a　single　gesture。　　It　was　as　though　he　were　talking　privately　and　earnestly　with　each　one　there。　　He　sat　amid　silence；　when　a　few　barbs　nervously　applauded；　the　fraternity　men　of　both　factions；　recovering　themselves；　raised　a　succession　of　ironical　cheers。　　A　shabby；　frightened　barb　stood　awkwardly；　and　in　a　trembling；　weak　voice　seconded　the　nomination。　　There　was　an　outburst　of　barb　applausestrong；　defiant。　　Pierson　was　anxiously　studying　the　faces　of　his　barbs。

〃By　Jove；〃　he　muttered；　〃Vance　has　been　caught　napping。　　I　believe　Scarborough　has　put　up　a　job　on　us。　　If　I　can't　gain　time　we're　beat。〃　　And　he　sprang　to　his　feet；　his　face　white。　　In　a　voice　which　he　struggled　in　vain　to　keep　to　his　wonted　affected　indifferent　drawl；　he　said：　　〃Mr。　Chairman；　I　move　you；　sir；　that　we　adjourn。〃　　As　he　was　bending　to　sit　his　ready　lieutenant　seconded　the　motion。

〃Mr。　Chairman！〃　　It　was　an　excited　voice　from　the　rear　of　the　hallthe　voice　of　a　tall；　lank；　sallow　man　of　perhaps　thirty…five。　　〃What　right；〃　he　shouted　shrilly；　〃has　this　Mr。　Pierson　to　come　here　and　make　that　there　motion？　　He　ain't　never　seen　here　except　on　election　nights。　　He〃

The　chairman　rapped　sharply。

〃Motion　to　adjourn　not　debatable；〃　he　said；　and　then　mumbled　rapidly：　　〃The　question's　the　motion　to　adjourn。　　All　in　favor　say　Ayeall　opposed；　Nothe　ayes　seem　to　have　itthe　ayes　have〃

〃Mr。　Chairman；　I　call　for　a　count　of　the　ayes　and　noes！〃　　It　was　Scarborough；　standing；　completely　self…possessed。　　His　voice　was　not　raised　but　it　vibrated　through　that　room；　vibrated　through　those　three　hundred　intensely　excited　young　men。

The　chairmanWaller；　a　Zeta　Rho；　of　the　Sigma　Alpha　combinationknew　that　Pierson　was　scowling　a　command　to　him　to　override　the　rules　and　adjourn　the　meeting；　but　he　could　not　take　his　eyes　from　Scarborough's；　dared　not　disobey　Scarborough's　imperious　look。　　〃A　count　of　the　　ayes　and　noes　is　called　for；〃　he　said。　　〃The　secretary　will　call　the　roll。〃

Pierson's　motion　was　lostone　hundred　and　thirty…two　to　one　hundred　and　seventy…nine。　　For　the　first　time　in　his　life　he　was　beaten；　and　it　was　an　overwhelming；　a　public　defeat　that　made　his　leadership　ridiculous。　　His　vanity　was　cut　savagely；　it　was　impossible　for　him　to　control　himself　to　stay　and　witness　the　inevitable　rout。　　He　lounged　down　the　wide　aisle；　his　face　masked　in　a　supercilious　smile；　his　glance　contemptuously　upon　the　jubilant　barbs。　　They　were　thick　about　the　doors；　and　as　he　passed　among　them　he　said；　addressing　no　one　in　particular：　　〃A　revolt　of　the　Helots。〃　　A　barb　raised　a　threatening　fist；　Pierson　sneered；　and　the　fist　unclenched　and　dropped　before　his　fearless　eyes。

An　hour　later　Scarborough；　his　ticket　elected　and　the　society　adjourned；　reached　Mrs。　Trent's　porch。　　In　its　darkness　he　saw　the　glowing　end　of　a　cigarette。　　〃That　you；　Pierson？〃　he　asked　in　the　tone　of　one　who　knows　what　the　answer　will　be。

〃Sit　down　for　a　few　minutes；〃　came　the　reply；　in　a　strained　voice。

He　could　not　see　even　the　outline　of　Pierson's　face；　but　with　those　acute　sensibilities　which　made　life　alternately　a　keen　pleasure　and　a　pain　to　him；　he　felt　that　his　friend　was　struggling　for　self…control。　　He　waited　in　silence。

At　last　Pierson　began：　　〃I　owe　you　an　apology。　I've　been　thinking　all　sorts　of　things　about　you。　I　know　they're　unjust　andmean；　which　is　worse。　　But；　damn　it；　Scarborough；　I　HATE　being　beaten。　　And　it　doesn't　make　defeat　any　the　easier　because　YOU　did　it。〃

He　paused；　but　Scarborough　did　not　speak。

〃I'm　going　to　be　frank；〃　Pierson　went　on　with　an　effort。　　〃I　know　you　had　a　perfect　right　to　do　as　you　pleased；　buthang　it　all；　old　manyou　might　have　warned　me。〃

〃But　I　didn't　do　as　I　pleased；〃　said　Scarborough。　　〃And　as　for　telling　you〃　　He　paused　before　he　interrupted　himself　with：　　〃But　first　I　want　to　say　that　I　don't　like　to　give　an　account　of　myself　to　my　friends。　　What　does　friendship　mean　if　it　forbids　freedom？　　I　didn't　approve　or　condemn　you　because　you　belonged　to　a　fraternity；　and　because　you　headed　a　clique　that　was　destroying　the　Literary　Society　by　making　it　a　place　for　petty　fraternity　politics　instead　of　a　place　to　develop　speakers；　writers　and　debaters。　　Yet　now　you're　bringing　me　to　account　because　I　didn't　slavishly　accept　your　ideas　as　my　own。　　Do　you　think　that's　a　sound　basis　for　a　friendship；　Pierson？〃

When　Scarborough　began　Pierson　was　full　of　a　grievance　which　he　thought　real　and　deep。　　He　was　proposing　to　forgive　Scarborough；　forgive　him　generously；　but　not　without　making　him　realize　that　it　was　an　act　of　generosity。　　As　Scarborough　talked　he　was　first　irritated；　then；　and　suddenly；　convinced　that　he　was　himself　in　the　wrongin　the　wrong　throughout。

〃Don't　say　another　word；　Scarborough；〃　he　replied；　impulsively　laying　his　hand　on　the　arm　of　his　friendhow　powerful　it　felt　through　the　sleeve！　　〃I've　been　spoiled　by　always　having　my　own　way　and　by　people　letting　me　rule　them。　　You　gave　me　my　first　lesson　in　defeat。　　AndI　needed　it　badly。　　As　for　your　not　telling　me；　you'd　have　ruined　your　scheme　if　you　had。　　Besides；　looking　back；　I　see　that　you　did　warn　me。　　I　know　now　what　you　meant　by　always　jumping　on　the　fraternities　and　the　combinations。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Scarborough；　simply。　　〃When　I　saw　you　leaving　the　society　hall　I　feared　I'd　lost　a　friend。　　Instead；　I've　found　what　a　friend　　I　have。〃　　Then　after　a　brief　silence　he　continued：　　〃This　little　incident　up　there　to…nightthis　little　revolution　I　took　part　inhas　meant　a　good　deal　to　me。　　It　was　the　first　chance　I'd　had　to　carry　out　the　ideas　I've　thought　over　and　thought　over　down　there　on　the　farm　while　I　was　working　in　the　fields　or　lying　in　the　hay；　staring　up　at　the　sky。　　And　I　don't　suppose　in　all　the　future　I'll　ever　have　a　greater　temptation　to　be　false　to　myself　than　I　had　in　the　dread　that's　been　haunting　methe　dread　of　losing　your　friendshipand　the　friendship　ofofsome　others　who　might　see　it　as　I　was　afraid　you　would。　　There　may　be　lessons　in　this　incident　for　you；　Fred。　　But　the　greatest　lesson　of　all　is　the　one　you've　taught　meNEVER　to　be　afraid　to　go　forward　when　the　Finger　points。〃

Pierson　and　Olivia　walked　to　chapel　together　the　next　morning；　and　he　told　her　the　story　of　the　defeat；　putting　himself　in　a　worse　light　than　he　deserved。　　But　Olivia；　who　never　lost　a　chance　to　attack　him　for　his　shortcomings；　now；　to　his　amazement；　burst　out　against　Scarborough。

〃It　was　contemptible；〃　she　said　hotly。　　〃It　was　treachery！　　It　was　a　piece　of　cold…blooded　ambition。　　He'd　sacrifice　anything；　any　one；　to　ambition。　　I　shall　never　like　him　again。〃

Pierson　was　puzzledbeing　in　love　with　her；　he　had　been　deceived　by　her　pretense　that　she　had　a　poor　opinion　of　him；　and　he　did　not　appreciate　that　her　sense　of　justice　was　now　clouded　by　resentment　for　his　sake。　　At　dinner；　when　the　four　were　together；　she　attacked　Scarborough。　　Though　she　did　not　confess　it；　he　forced　her　to　see　that　at　least　his　motives　were　not　those　she　had　been　attributing　to　him。　　When　he　and　Pauline　were　aloneOlivia　and　Pierson　had　to　hurry　away　to　a　lecture　he　said：　　〃What　do　YOU　think；　Miss　Gardiner？　　Youdid　youdo　youagree　with　your　cousin？

〃I？〃　Pauline　dropped　her　eyes。　　〃Oh；　I〃

She　hesitated　so　long　that　he　said：　　〃Go　ontell　me　just　what　you　think。　　I'd　rather　know　than　suspect。〃

〃I　think　you　did　right。　　ButI　don't　see　how　you　had　the　courage　to　do　it。〃

〃That　is；　you　think　I　did　rightbut　the　sort　of　right　that's　worse　than　wrong。〃

〃Nono！〃　she　protested；　putting　a　good　deal　of　feeling　into　her　voice　in　the　effort　to　reassure　him。　　〃I'd　have　been　ashamed　of　you　if　you　hadn't　done　it。　　Andoh；　I　despise　weakness　in　a　man　most　of　all！　　And　I　like　to　think　that　if　everybody　in　college　had　denounced　you；　you'd　have　gone　straight　on。　　Andyou　WOULD！〃

Within　a　week　after　this　they　were　calling　each　the　other　by　their　first　names。


For　the　Christmas　holidays　she　went　with　her　mother　from　Battle　Field　direct　to　Chicago；　to　her　father's　sisters　Mrs。　HaydenColonel　Gardiner　had　been　called　south　on　business。　　When　she　came　back　she　and　Scarborough　took　up　their　friendship　where　they　had　left　it。　　They　read　the　same　books；　had　similar　tastes；　disagreed　sympathetically；　agreed　with　enthusiasm。　　She　saw　a　great　deal　of　several　other　men　in　her　class；　enough　not　to　make　her　preference　for　him　significant　to　the　collegeor　to　herself。　　They　went　for　moonlight　straw…rides；　on　moonlight　and　starlight　skating　and　ice…boat　parties；　for　long　walks　over　the　hillsall　invariably　with　others；　but　they　were　often　practically　alone。　　He　rapidly　dropped　his　rural　manners　and　mannerismsFred　Pierson's　tailor　in　Indianapolis　made　the　most　radical　of　the　surface　changes　in　him。

Late　in　February　his　cousin；　the　superintendent　of　the　farm；　telegraphed　him　to　come　home。　　He　found　his　mother　illplainly　dying。　　And　his　fatherBladen　Scarborough's　boast　had　been　that　he　never　took　a　〃dose　of　drugs〃　in　his　life；　and　for　at　least　seventy　of　his　seventy…nine　years　he　had　been　〃on　the　jump〃　daily　from　long　before　dawn　until　long　after　sundown。　　Now　he　was　content　to　sit　in　his　arm…chair　and；　with　no　more　vigorous　protest　than　a　frown　and　a　growl；　to　swallow　the　despised　drugs。

Each　day　he　made　them　carry　him　in　his　great　chair　into　HER　bedroom。　　And　there　he　sat　all　day　long；　his　shaggy　brows　down；　his　gaze　rarely　wandering　from　the　little　ridge　her　small　body　made　in　the　high　white　bed；　and　in　his　stern　eyes　there　was　a　look　of　stoic　anguish。　　Each　night；　as　they　were　carrying　him　to　his　own　room；　they　took　him　near　the　be