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。