Dr。Archieswungroundinhischairandlookedather，honestlyandleniently。\"Well，Thea，itseemstomelikethis。Everypeoplehashaditsreligion。Allreligionsaregood，andallareprettymuchalike。ButIdon’tseehowwecouldliveuptotheminthesenseyoumean。I’vethoughtaboutitagooddeal，andIcan’thelpfeelingthatwhileweareinthisworldwehavetoliveforthebestthingsofthisworld，andthosethingsarematerialandpositive。Now，mostreligionsarepassive，andtheytelluschieflywhatweshouldnotdo。\"Thedoctormovedrestlessly，andhiseyeshuntedforsomethingalongtheoppositewall：\"Seehere，mygirl，takeouttheyearsofearlychildhoodandthetimewespendinsleepanddulloldage，andweonlyhaveabouttwentyable，wakingyears。That’snotlongenoughtogetacquaintedwithhalfthefinethingsthathavebeendoneintheworld，muchlesstodoanythingourselves。IthinkweoughttokeeptheCommandmentsandhelpotherpeopleallwecan；butthemainthingistolivethose
twentysplendidyears；todoallwecanandenjoyallwecan。\"
Dr。Archiemethislittlefriend’ssearchinggaze，thelookofacuteinquirywhichalwaystouchedhim。
\"Butpoorfellowslikethattramp——\"shehesitatedandwrinkledherforehead。
Thedoctorleanedforwardandputhishandprotect—
inglyoverhers，whichlayclenchedonthegreenfeltdesk—
top。\"Uglyaccidentshappen，Thea；alwayshaveandalwayswill。Butthefailuresaresweptbackintothepileandforgotten。Theydon’tleaveanylastingscarintheworld，andtheydon’taffectthefuture。Thethingsthatlastarethegoodthings。Thepeoplewhoforgeaheadanddosomething，theyreallycount。\"Hesawtearsonhercheeks，andherememberedthathehadneverseenhercrybefore，notevenwhenshecrushedherfingerwhenshewaslittle。Heroseandwalkedtothewindow，camebackandsatdownontheedgeofhischair。
\"Forgetthetramp，Thea。Thisisagreatbigworld，andIwantyoutogetaboutandseeitall。You’regoingtoChicagosomeday，anddosomethingwiththatfinevoiceofyours。You’regoingtobeanumberonemusicianandmakeusproudofyou。TakeMaryAnderson，now；eventhetrampsareproudofher。Thereisn’tatrampalongthe`Q’
systemwhohasn’theardofher。Wealllikepeoplewhodothings，evenifweonlyseetheirfacesonacigar—boxlid。\"
Theyhadalongtalk。TheafeltthatDr。Archiehadneverlethimselfouttohersomuchbefore。Itwasthemostgrown—upconversationshehadeverhadwithhim。
Shelefthisofficehappy，flatteredandstimulated。Sheranforalongwhileaboutthewhite，moonlitstreets，lookingupatthestarsandthebluishnight，atthequiethousessunkinblackshade，theglitteringsandhills。Shelovedthefamiliartrees，andthepeopleinthoselittlehouses，andshelovedtheunknownworldbeyondDenver。Shefeltasifshewerebeingpulledintwo，betweenthedesiretogo
awayforeverandthedesiretostayforever。Shehadonlytwentyyears——notimetolose。
ManyanightthatsummersheleftDr。Archie’sofficewithadesiretorunandrunaboutthosequietstreetsuntilsheworeouthershoes，orworeoutthestreetsthemselves；
whenherchestachedanditseemedasifherheartwerespreadingalloverthedesert。Whenshewenthome，itwasnottogotosleep。Sheusedtodraghermattressbesideherlowwindowandlieawakeforalongwhile，vibratingwithexcitement，asamachinevibratesfromspeed。Liferushedinuponherthroughthatwindow——orsoitseemed。
Inreality，ofcourse，liferushesfromwithin，notfromwith—
out。Thereisnoworkofartsobigorsobeautifulthatitwasnotonceallcontainedinsomeyouthfulbody，likethisonewhichlayonthefloorinthemoonlight，pulsingwithardorandanticipation。ItwasonsuchnightsthatTheaKronborglearnedthethingthatoldDumasmeantwhenhetoldtheRomanticiststhattomakeadramaheneededbutonepassionandfourwalls。
XIX
Itiswellforitspeaceofmindthatthetravelingpublictakesrailroadssomuchforgranted。Theonlymenwhoareincurablynervousaboutrailwaytravelaretherailroadoperatives。Arailroadmanneverforgetsthatthenextrunmaybehisturn。
Onasingle—trackroad，likethatuponwhichRayKen—
nedyworked，thefreighttrainsmaketheirwayasbesttheycanbetweenpassengertrains。Evenwhenthereissuchathingasafreighttime—schedule，itismerelyaform。Alongtheonetrackdozensoffastandslowtrainsdashinbothdirections，keptfromcollisiononlybythebrainsinthedispatcher’soffice。Ifonepassengertrainislate，thewholeschedulemustberevisedinaninstant；thetrainsfollowingmustbewarned，andthosemovingtowardthebelatedtrainmustbeassignednewmeeting—places。
Betweentheshiftsandmodificationsofthepassengerschedule，thefreighttrainsplayagameoftheirown。Theyhavenorighttothetrackatanygiventime，butaresup—
posedtobeonitwhenitisfree，andtomakethebesttimetheycanbetweenpassengertrains。Afreighttrain，onasingle—trackroad，getsanywhereatallonlybystealingbases。
RayKennedyhadstucktothefreightservice，althoughhehadhadopportunitiestogointothepassengerserviceathigherpay。Healwaysregardedrailroadingasatempo—
rarymakeshift，untilhe\"gotintosomething，\"andhedis—
likedthepassengerservice。Nobrassbuttonsforhim，hesaid；toomuchlikealivery。Whilehewasrailroadinghewouldwearajumper，thankyou！
Thewreckthat\"caught\"Raywasaverycommonplaceone；nothingthrillingaboutit，anditgotonlysixlinesin
theDenverpapers。Ithappenedaboutdaybreakonemorning，onlythirty—twomilesfromhome。
Atfouro’clockinthemorningRay’strainhadstoppedtotakewateratSaxony，havingjustroundedthelongcurvewhichliessouthofthatstation。ItwasJoeGiddy’sbusinesstowalkbackalongthecurveaboutthreehundredyardsandputouttorpedoestowarnanytrainwhichmightbecomingupfrombehind——afreightcrewisnotnotifiedoftrainsfollowing，andthebrakemanissupposedtoprotecthistrain。Raywassofussyaboutthepunctiliousobserv—
anceofordersthatalmostanybrakemanwouldtakeachanceonceinawhile，fromnaturalperversity。
Whenthetrainstoppedforwaterthatmorning，Raywasatthedeskinhiscaboose，makingouthisreport。
Giddytookhistorpedoes，swungofftherearplatform，andglancedbackatthecurve。Hedecidedthathewouldnotgobacktoflagthistime。Ifanythingwascomingupbe—
hind，hecouldhearitinplentyoftime。Soheranforwardtolookafterahotjournalthathadbeenbotheringhim。
Inageneralway，Giddy’sreasoningwassound。Ifafreighttrain，orevenapassengertrain，hadbeencomingupbehindthem，hecouldhavehearditintime。Butasithappened，alightengine，whichmadenonoiseatall，wascoming，——
orderedouttohelpwiththefreightthatwaspilingupattheotherendofthedivision。Thisenginegotnowarning，cameroundthecurve，struckthecaboose，wentstraightthroughit，andcrashedintotheheavylumbercarahead。
TheKronborgswerejustsittingdowntobreakfast，whenthenighttelegraphoperatordashedintotheyardatarunandhammeredonthefrontdoor。Gunneransweredtheknock，andthetelegraphoperatortoldhimhewantedtoseehisfatheraminute，quick。Mr。Kronborgappearedatthedoor，napkininhand。Theoperatorwaspaleandpanting。
\"FourteenwaswreckeddownatSaxonythismorning，\"
heshouted，\"andKennedy’sallbrokeup。We’resendinganenginedownwiththedoctor，andtheoperatoratSaxonysaysKennedywantsyoutocomealongwithusandbringyourgirl。\"Hestoppedforbreath。
Mr。Kronborgtookoffhisglassesandbeganrubbingthemwithhisnapkin。
\"Bring——Idon’tunderstand，\"hemuttered。\"Howdidthishappen？\"
\"Notimeforthat，sir。Gettingtheengineoutnow。
Yourgirl，Thea。You’llsurelydothatforthepoorchap。
Everybodyknowshethinkstheworldofher。\"SeeingthatMr。Kronborgshowednoindicationofhavingmadeuphismind，theoperatorturnedtoGunner。\"Callyoursister，kid。I’mgoingtoaskthegirlherself，\"heblurtedout。
\"Yes，yes，certainly。Daughter，\"Mr。Kronborgcalled。
Hehadsomewhatrecoveredhimselfandreachedtothehallhatrackforhishat。
JustasTheacameoutonthefrontporch，beforetheoperatorhadhadtimetoexplaintoher，Dr。Archie’sponiescameuptothegateatabrisktrot。Archiejumpedoutthemomenthisdriverstoppedtheteamandcameuptothebewilderedgirlwithoutsomuchassayinggood—morn—
ingtoanyone。Hetookherhandwiththesympathetic，reassuringgravenesswhichhadhelpedheratmorethanonehardtimeinherlife。\"Getyourhat，mygirl。Ken—
nedy’shurtdowntheroad，andhewantsyoutorundownwithme。They’llhaveacarforus。Getintomybuggy，Mr。Kronborg。I’lldriveyoudown，andLarrycancomefortheteam。\"
ThedriverjumpedoutofthebuggyandMr。Kronborgandthedoctorgotin。Thea，stillbewildered，satonherfa—
ther’sknee。Dr。Archiegavehisponiesasmartcutwiththewhip。
Whentheyreachedthedepot，theengine，withonecarattached，wasstandingonthemaintrack。Theengineerhadgothissteamup，andwasleaningoutofthecabim—
patiently。Inamomenttheywereoff。TheruntoSaxonytookfortyminutes。TheasatstillinherseatwhileDr。
Archieandherfathertalkedaboutthewreck。Shetooknopartintheconversationandaskednoquestions，butoccasionallyshelookedatDr。Archiewithafrightened，inquiringglance，whichheansweredbyanencouragingnod。NeitherhenorherfathersaidanythingabouthowbadlyRaywashurt。WhentheenginestoppednearSaxony，themaintrackwasalreadycleared。Astheygotoutofthecar，Dr。Archiepointedtoapileofties。
\"Thea，you’dbettersitdownhereandwatchthewreckcrewwhileyourfatherandIgoupandlookKennedyover。
I’llcomebackforyouwhenIgethimfixedup。\"
Thetwomenwentoffupthesandgulch，andTheasatdownandlookedatthepileofsplinteredwoodandtwistedironthathadlatelybeenRay’scaboose。Shewasfright—
enedandabsent—minded。ShefeltthatsheoughttobethinkingaboutRay，buthermindkeptracingofftoallsortsoftrivialandirrelevantthings。ShewonderedwhetherGraceJohnsonwouldbefuriouswhenshecametotakehermusiclessonandfoundnobodytheretogiveittoher；
whethershehadforgottentoclosethepianolastnightandwhetherThorwouldgetintothenewroomandmessthekeysallupwithhisstickyfingers；whetherTilliewouldgoupstairsandmakeherbedforher。Hermindworkedfast，butshecouldfixituponnothing。Thegrasshoppers，thelizards，distractedherattentionandseemedmorerealtoherthanpoorRay。
OntheirwaytothesandbankwhereRayhadbeencar—
ried，Dr。ArchieandMr。KronborgmettheSaxonydoctor。
Heshookhandswiththem。
\"Nothingyoucando，doctor。Icouldn’tcountthefractures。Hisback’sbroken，too。Hewouldn’tbealivenowifheweren’tsoconfoundedlystrong，poorchap。Nousebotheringhim。I’vegivenhimmorphia，oneandahalf，ineighths。\"
Dr。Archiehurriedon。Raywaslyingonaflatcanvaslitter，undertheshelterofashelvingbank，lightlyshadedbyaslendercottonwoodtree。Whenthedoctorandthepreacherapproached，helookedatthemintently。
\"Didn’t——\"heclosedhiseyestohidehisbitterdisap—
pointment。
Dr。Archieknewwhatwasthematter。\"Thea’sbackthere，Ray。I’llbringherassoonasI’vehadalookatyou。\"
Raylookedup。\"Youmightcleanmeupatrifle，doc。
Won’tneedyouforanythingelse，thankyouallthesame。\"
Howeverlittletherewasleftofhim，thatlittlewascer—
tainlyRayKennedy。Hispersonalitywasaspositiveasever，andthebloodanddirtonhisfaceseemedmerelyaccidental，tohavenothingtodowiththemanhimself。
Dr。ArchietoldMr。Kronborgtobringapailofwater，andhebegantospongeRay’sfaceandneck。Mr。Kronborgstoodby，nervouslyrubbinghishandstogetherandtryingtothinkofsomethingtosay。Serioussituationsalwaysembarrassedhimandmadehimformal，evenwhenhefeltrealsympathy。
\"Intimeslikethis，Ray，\"hebroughtoutatlast，crum—
plinguphishandkerchiefinhislongfingers，——\"intimeslikethis，wedon’twanttoforgettheFriendthatstickethcloserthanabrother。\"
Raylookedupathim；alonely，disconsolatesmileplayedoverhismouthandhissquarecheeks。\"Nevermindaboutallthat，PADRE，\"hesaidquietly。\"Christandmefelloutlongago。\"
Therewasamomentofsilence。ThenRaytookpityonMr。Kronborg’sembarrassment。\"Yougobackforthelittlegirl，PADRE。Iwantawordwiththedocinprivate。\"
RaytalkedtoDr。Archieforafewmoments，thenstoppedsuddenly，withabroadsmile。Overthedoctor’sshoulderhesawTheacomingupthegulch，inherpinkchambraydress，carryinghersun—hatbythestrings。Suchayellowhead！Heoftentoldhimselfthathe\"wasper—
fectlyfoolishaboutherhair。\"Thesightofher，coming，wentthroughhimsoftly，likethemorphia。\"Theresheis，\"hewhispered。\"Gettheoldpreacheroutoftheway，doc。Iwanttohavealittletalkwithher。\"
Dr。Archielookedup。Theawashurryingandyethang—
ingback。Shewasmorefrightenedthanhehadthoughtshewouldbe。Shehadgonewithhimtoseeverysickpeopleandhadalwaysbeensteadyandcalm。Asshecameup，shelookedattheground，andhecouldseethatshehadbeencrying。
RayKennedymadeanunsuccessfulefforttoputouthishand。\"Hello，littlekid，nothingtobeafraidof。DarnedifIdon’tbelievethey’vegoneandscaredyou！Nothingtocryabout。I’mthesameoldgoods，onlyalittledented。
Sitdownonmycoatthere，andkeepmecompany。I’vegottolaystillabit。\"
Dr。ArchieandMr。Kronborgdisappeared。Theacastatimidglanceafterthem，butshesatdownresolutelyandtookRay’shand。
\"Youain’tscarednow，areyou？\"heaskedaffection—
ately。\"Youwerearegularbricktocome，Thee。Didyougetanybreakfast？\"
\"No，Ray，I’mnotscared。OnlyI’mdreadfulsorryyou’rehurt，andIcan’thelpcrying。\"
Hisbroad，earnestface，languidfromtheopiumandsmilingwithsuchsimplehappiness，reassuredher。Shedrewnearertohimandliftedhishandtoherknee。Helookedatherwithhisclear，shallowblueeyes。Howhelovedeverythingaboutthatfaceandhead！Howmanynightsinhiscupola，lookingupthetrack，hehadseenthatfaceinthedarkness；throughthesleetandsnow，orinthesoftblueairwhenthemoonlightsleptonthedesert。
\"Youneedn’tbothertotalk，Thee。Thedoctor’smedi—
cinemakesmesortofdopey。Butit’snicetohavecom—
pany。Kindofcozy，don’tyouthink？Pullmycoatunderyoumore。It’sadarnedshameIcan’twaitonyou。\"
\"No，no，Ray。I’mallright。Yes，Ilikeithere。AndI
guessyououghtnottotalkmuch，oughtyou？Ifyoucansleep，I’llstayrighthere，andbeawfulquiet。Ifeeljustasmuchathomewithyouasever，now。\"
Thatsimple，humble，faithfulsomethinginRay’seyeswentstraighttoThea’sheart。Shedidfeelcomfortablewithhim，andhappytogivehimsomuchhappiness。Itwasthefirsttimeshehadeverbeenconsciousofthatpowertobestowintensehappinessbysimplybeingnearanyone。
Shealwaysrememberedthisdayasthebeginningofthatknowledge。Shebentoverhimandputherlipssoftlytohischeek。
Ray’seyesfilledwithlight。\"Oh，dothatagain，kid！\"
hesaidimpulsively。Theakissedhimontheforehead，blushingfaintly。Rayheldherhandfastandclosedhiseyeswithadeepsighofhappiness。Themorphiaandthesenseofhernearnessfilledhimwithcontent。Thegoldmine，theoilwell，thecopperledge——allpipedreams，hemused，andthiswasadream，too。Hemighthaveknownitbefore。
Ithadalwaysbeenlikethat；thethingsheadmiredhadalwaysbeenawayoutofhisreach：acollegeeducation，agentleman’smanner，anEnglishman’saccent——thingsoverhishead。AndTheawasfartheroutofhisreachthanalltherestputtogether。Hehadbeenafooltoimagineit，buthewasgladhehadbeenafool。Shehadgivenhimonegranddream。Everymileofhisrun，fromMoonstonetoDenver，waspaintedwiththecolorsofthathope。Everycactusknewaboutit。Butnowthatitwasnottobe，heknewthetruth。Theawasnevermeantforanyroughfellowlikehim——hadn’thereallyknownthatallalong，heaskedhimself？Shewasn’tmeantforcommonmen。Shewaslikeweddingcake，athingtodreamon。Heraisedhiseye—
lidsalittle。Shewasstrokinghishandandlookingoffintothedistance。HefeltinherfacethatlookofunconsciouspowerthatWunschhadseenthere。Yes，shewasboundforthebigterminalsoftheworld；nowaystationsforher。His
lidsdrooped。Inthedarkhecouldseeherasshewouldbeafterawhile；inaboxattheTaborGrandinDenver，withdiamondsonherneckandatiarainheryellowhair，withallthepeoplelookingatherthroughtheiropera—glasses，andaUnitedStatesSenator，maybe，talkingtoher。\"Thenyou’llrememberme！\"Heopenedhiseyes，andtheywerefulloftears。
Thealeanedcloser。\"Whatdidyousay，Ray？Icouldn’thear。\"
\"Thenyou’llrememberme，\"hewhispered。
Thesparkinhiseye，whichisone’sveryself，caughtthesparkinhersthatwasherself，andforamomenttheylookedintoeachother’snatures。Thearealizedhowgoodandhowgreat—heartedhewas，andherealizedabouthermanythings。Whenthatelusivesparkofpersonalityre—
treatedineachofthem，Theastillsawinhisweteyesherownface，verysmall，butmuchprettierthanthecrackedglassathomehadevershownit。Itwasthefirsttimeshehadseenherfaceinthatkindestmirrorawomancaneverfind。
RayhadfeltthingsinthatmomentwhenheseemedtobelookingintotheverysoulofTheaKronborg。Yes，thegoldmine，theoilwell，thecopperledge，they’dallgotawayfromhim，asthingswill；buthe’dbackedawinneronceinhislife！Withallhismighthegavehisfaithtothebroadlittlehandheheld。Hewishedhecouldleavehertheruggedstrengthofhisbodytohelpherthroughwithitall。Hewouldhavelikedtotellheralittleabouthisolddream，——thereseemedlongyearsbetweenhimandital—
ready，——buttotellhernowwouldsomehowbeunfair；
wouldn’tbequitethestraightestthingintheworld。
Probablysheknew，anyway。Helookedupquickly。\"Youknow，don’tyou，Thee，thatIthinkyouarejustthefinestthingI’vestruckinthisworld？\"
ThetearsrandownThea’scheeks。\"You’retoogoodtome，Ray。You’realottoogoodtome，\"shefaltered。
\"Why，kid，\"hemurmured，\"everybodyinthisworld’sgoingtobegoodtoyou！\"
Dr。Archiecametothegulchandstoodoverhispatient。
\"How’sitgoing？\"
\"Can’tyougivemeanotherpunchwithyourpacifier，doc？Thelittlegirlhadbetterrunalongnow。\"Rayre—
leasedThea’shand。\"Seeyoulater，Thee。\"
Shegotupandmovedawayaimlessly，carryingherhatbythestrings。Raylookedafterherwiththeexaltationbornofbodilypainandsaidbetweenhisteeth，\"Alwayslookafterthatgirl，doc。She’saqueen！\"
TheaandherfatherwentbacktoMoonstoneontheone—o’clockpassenger。Dr。ArchiestayedwithRayKen—
nedyuntilhedied，lateintheafternoon。
XX
OnMondaymorning，thedayafterRayKennedy’sfuneral，Dr。ArchiecalledatMr。Kronborg’sstudy，alittleroombehindthechurch。Mr。Kronborgdidnotwriteouthissermons，butspokefromnotesjotteduponsmallpiecesofcardboardinakindofshorthandofhisown。
Assermonsgo，theywerenotworsethanmost。Hiscon—
ventionalrhetoricpleasedthemajorityofhiscongregation，andMr。Kronborgwasgenerallyregardedasamodelpreacher。Hedidnotsmoke，henevertouchedspirits。Hisindulgenceinthepleasuresofthetablewasanendearingbondbetweenhimandthewomenofhiscongregation。
Heateenormously，withazestwhichseemedincongruouswithhisspareframe。
Thismorningthedoctorfoundhimopeninghismailandreadingapileofadvertisingcircularswithdeepattention。
\"Good—morning，Mr。Kronborg，\"saidDr。Archie，sit—
tingdown。\"Icametoseeyouonbusiness。PoorKennedyaskedmetolookafterhisaffairsforhim。Likemostrail—
roadmenhespenthiswages，exceptforafewinvest—
mentsinmineswhichdon’tlooktomeverypromising。
ButhislifewasinsuredforsixhundreddollarsinThea’sfavor。\"
Mr。Kronborgwoundhisfeetaboutthestandardofhisdesk—chair。\"Iassureyou，doctor，thisisacompletesur—
prisetome。\"
\"Well，it’snotverysurprisingtome，\"Dr。Archiewenton。\"Hetalkedtomeaboutitthedayhewashurt。Hesaidhewantedthemoneytobeusedinaparticularway，andinnoother。\"Dr。Archiepausedmeaningly。
Mr。Kronborgfidgeted。\"IamsureTheawouldobservehiswishesineveryrespect。\"
\"Nodoubt；buthewantedmetoseethatyouagreedtohisplan。ItseemsthatforsometimeTheahaswantedtogoawaytostudymusic。ItwasKennedy’swishthatsheshouldtakethismoneyandgotoChicagothiswinter。Hefeltthatitwouldbeanadvantagetoherinabusinessway：
thatevenifshecamebackheretoteach，itwouldgivehermoreauthorityandmakeherpositionheremorecom—
fortable。\"
Mr。Kronborglookedalittlestartled。\"Sheisveryyoung，\"hehesitated；\"sheisbarelyseventeen。Chicagoisalongwayfromhome。Wewouldhavetoconsider。I
think，Dr。Archie，wehadbetterconsultMrs。Kronborg。\"
\"IthinkIcanbringMrs。Kronborgaround，ifIhaveyourconsent。I’vealwaysfoundherprettylevel—headed。
IhaveseveraloldclassmatespracticinginChicago。Oneisathroatspecialist。Hehasagooddealtodowithsingers。
Heprobablyknowsthebestpianoteachersandcouldre—
commendaboarding—housewheremusicstudentsstay。I
thinkTheaneedstogetamongalotofyoungpeoplewhoarecleverlikeherself。Hereshehasnocompanionsbutoldfellowslikeme。It’snotanaturallifeforayounggirl。