the vision spendid(美景)-第4节
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〃Oh； well！ That's a way of putting it。 I mean that you have to accept
customs and traditions。 You have to work like the devil doing things that
count。 If you make the team you've got to think football； talk it； eat it；
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dream it。〃
〃But is it worth while？〃
James waved his protest aside。 〃Of course it's worth while。 Success
always is。 Get this in your head。 Four…fifths of the fellows at college don't
count。 They're also…rans。 To get in with the right bunch you've got to make
a good showing。 Look at me。 I'm no John D。 Rockefeller； Jr。 Athletics bore
me。 I can't sing。 I don't grind。 But I'm in everything。 Best frat。 Won the
oratorical contest。 Manager of the football team next season。 President of
the Dramatic Club。 Why？〃
He did not wait for Jeff to guess the reason。 〃Because our set runs
things and I go after the honors。〃
〃But a college ought to be a democracy；〃 Jeff protested。
〃Tommyrot！ It's an aristocracy； that's what it is； just like the little old
world outside； an aristocracy of the survival of the fittest。 You get there if
you're strong。 You go to the wall if you're weak。 That's the law of life。〃
The freshman came to this squint of pragmatism with surprise。 He had
thought of Verden University as a splendid democracy of intellectual
brotherhood that was to leaven the world with which it came in touch。
〃Do you mean that a fellow has to have money enough to make a good
showing before he can win any of the prizes？〃
James K。 nodded with the sage wisdom of a man of the world。 〃The
long green is a big help； but you've got to have the stuff in you。 Success
comes to the fellow who goes after it in the right way。〃
〃And suppose a fellow doesn't care to go after it？〃
〃He stays a nobody。〃
James was in evening dress； immaculate from clean…shaven cheek to
patent leather shoes。 He had a well…filled figure and a handsome face with
a square； clean…cut jaw。 His cousin admired the young fellow's virile
competency。 It was his opinion that James K。 Farnum was the last person
he knew likely to remain a nobody。 He knew how to conform； to take the
color of his thinking from the dominant note of his environment； but he
had； too； a capacity for leadership。
〃I'm not going to believe you if I can help it；〃 Jeff answered with a
smile。
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The upper classman shrugged。 〃You'd better take my advice； just the
same。 At college you don't get a chance to make two starts。 You're sized up
from the crack of the pistol。〃
〃I haven't the money to make a splurge even if I wanted to。〃
〃Borrow。〃
〃Who from？〃 asked Jeff ungrammatically。
〃You can rustle it somewhere。 I'm borrowing right now。〃
〃It's different with you。 I'm used to doing without things。 Don't worry
about me。 I'll get along。〃
James came with a touch of embarrassment to the real object of his
visit。 〃I say； Jeff。 I've had a tough time to win out。 You won't you'll not
say anythinglet anything slip； you knowsomething that might set the
fellows guessing。〃
His cousin was puzzled。 〃About what？〃
〃About the reason why Mother and I left Shelby and came out to the
coast。〃
〃What do you take me for？〃
〃I knew you wouldn't。 Thought I'd mention it for fear you might make
a slip。〃
〃I don't chatter about the private affairs of my people。〃
〃Course not。 I knew you didn't。〃 The junior's hand rested caressingly
on the shoulder of the other。 〃Don't get sore； Jeff。 I didn't doubt you。 But
that thing haunts me。 Some day it will come out and ruin me when I'm
near the top of the ladder。〃
The freshman shook his head。 〃Don't worry about it； James。 Just tell
the plain truth if it comes out。 A thing like that can't hurt you permanently。
Nothing can really injure you that does not come from your own
weakness。〃
〃That's all poppycock；〃 James interrupted fretfully。 〃Just that sort of
thing has put many a man on the skids。 I tell you a young fellow needs to
start unhampered。 If the fellows got onto it that my father had been in the
pen because he was a defaulting bank cashier they would drop me like a
hot potato。〃
〃None but the snobs would。 Your friends would stick the closer。〃
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〃Oh' friends！〃 The young man's voice had a note of angry derision。
Jeff's affectionate grin comforted him。 〃Don't let it get on your nerves；
J。 K。 Things never are as bad as we expect at their worst。〃
The junior set his teeth savagely。 〃I tell you； sometimes I hate him for
it。 That's a fine heritage for a father to give his son； isn't it？ Nothing but
trouble and disgrace。〃
His cousin spoke softly。 〃He's paid a hundred times for it； old man。〃
〃He ought to pay。 Why shouldn't he？ I've got to pay。 Mother had to as
long as she lived。〃 His voice was hard and bitter。
〃Better not judge him。 You're his only son； you know。〃
〃I'm the one he's injured most。 Why shouldn't I judge him？ I've been a
pauper all these years； living off money given us by my mother's people。 I
had to leave our home because of what he did。 I'd like to know why I
shouldn't judge him。〃
Jeff was silent。
Presently James rose。 〃But there's no use talking about it。 I've got to be
going。 We have an eat to…night at Tucker's。〃
PART 2
Jeff came to his new life on the full tide of an enthusiasm that did not
begin to ebb till near the close of his first semester。 He lived in a new
world； one removed a million miles from the sordid one through which he
had fought his way so many years。 All the idealism of his nature went out
in awe and veneration for his college。 It stood for something he could not
phrase； something spiritually fine and intellectually strong。 When he
thought of the noble motto of the university； 〃To Serve；〃 it was always
with a lifted emotion that was half a prayer。 His professors went clothed in
majesty。 The chancellor was of godlike dimensions。 Even the seniors
carried with them an impalpable aura of learning。
The illusion was helped by reason of the very contrast between the
jostling competition of the street and the academic air of harmony in
which he now found himself。 For the first time was lifted the sense of
struggle that had always been with him。
The outstanding notes of his boyhood had been poverty and
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meagerness。 It was as if he and his neighbors had been flung into a lake
where they must keep swimming to escape drowning。 There had been no
rest from labor。 Sometimes the tragedy of disaster had swept over a family。
But on the campus of the university he found the sheltered life。 The echo
of that battling world came to him only faintly。
He began to make tentative friendships； but in spite of the advice of
his cousin they were with the men who did not count。 Samuel Miller was
an example。 He was a big； stodgy fellow with a slow mind which arrived
at its convictions deliberately。 But when he had made sure of them he
hung to his beliefs like a bulldog to a bone。
It was this quality that one day brought them together in the classroom。
An instructor tried to drive Miller into admitting he was wrong in an
opinion。 The boy refused to budge； and the teacher became nettled。
〃Mr。 Miller will know more when he doesn't know so much；〃 the
instructor snapped out。
Jeff's instinct for fair play was roused at once； all the more because of
the ripple of laughter that came from the class。 He spoke up quietly。
〃I can't see yet but that Mr。 Miller is right； sir。〃
〃The discussion is closed；〃 was the tart retort。
After class the dissenters walked across to chapel together。
〃Poke the animal up with a stick and hear him growl；〃 Jeff laughed
airily。
