the cost-第9章

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interesting。〃

And　Olivia　said　to　herself：　　〃In　spite　of　his　tight　clothes　he　may　cure　her　of　that　worthless　Dumont。〃



VI。

〃LIKE　HIS　FATHER。〃


Scarborough　soon　lifted　himself　high　above　the　throng；　and　was　marked　by　faculty　and　students　as　a　man　worth　watching。　　The　manner　of　this　achievement　was　one　of　those　forecasts　of　the　future　with　which　youth　bristles　for　those　who　take　the　trouble　to　watch　it。

Although　Pierson　was　only　a　sophomore　he　was　the　political　as　well　as　the　social　leader　of　his　fraternity。　　Envy　said　that　the　Sigma　Alphas　truckled　to　his　wealth；　perhaps　the　exacter　truth　was　that　his　wealth　forced　an　earlier　recognition　of　his　real　capacity。　　His　position　as　leader　made　him　manager　of　the　Sigma　Alpha　combination　of　fraternities　and　barbs　which　for　six　years　had　dominated　the　Washington　and　Jefferson　Literary　Society。　　The　barbs　had　always　voted　humbly　with　the　aristocratic　Sigma　Alphas；　so　Pierson's　political　leadership　apparently　had　no　onerous　duties　attached　to　itand　he　was　not　the　man　to　make　work　for　himself。

As　the　annual　election　approached　he　heard　rumors　of　barb　disaffection；　of　threatened　barb　revolt。　　Vance；　his　barb　lieutenant；　reassured　him。

〃Always　a　few　kickers；〃　said　Vance；　〃and　they　make　a　lot　of　noise。　　But　they　won't　draw　off　twenty　votes。〃　　Pierson　made　himself　easythere　was　no　danger　of　one　of　those　hard…fought　contests　which　in　past　years　had　developed　at　Battle　Field　many　of　Indiana's　adroit　political　leaders。

On　election　night　he　felt　important　and　powerful　as　he　sat　in　the　front　row　among　the　arrogant　Sigma　Alphas；　at　the　head　of　his　forces　massed　in　the　left　side　of　the　hall。　　He　had　insisted　on　Scarborough's　occupying　a　seat　just　behind　him。　　He　tilted　back　in　his　arm…chair　and　said；　in　an　undertone：　　〃You're　voting　with　us？〃

Scarborough　shook　his　head。　　〃Can't　do　it。　　I'm　pledged　to　Adee。〃

Pierson　looked　amused。　　〃Who's　he？　　And　who's　putting　him　up？〃

〃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