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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