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'And the beginning of better ones； I hope；' was her answer。
'Yes； but they are so far away；' I said； 'you leave home to study and I am to be four years in college…possibly I can finish in three。'
'Perfectly terrible！' she said； and then she added the favourite phrase and tone of her mother： 'We must be patient。'
'I am very sorry of one thing；' I said。 'What's that？'
'I promised not to ask you for one more kiss。'
'Well then；' said she； 'you … you … needn't ask me。' And in a moment I helped her out at the door。
Chapter 25
David Brower had prospered； as I have said before； and now he was chiefly concerned in the welfare of his children。 So； that he might give us the advantages of the town； he decided either to lease or sell his farm… by far the handsomest property in the township。 I was there when a buyer came； in the last days of that summer。 We took him over the smooth acres from Lone Pine to Woody Ledge； from the top of Bowman's Hill to Tinkie Brook in the far valley。 He went with us through every tidy room of the house。 He looked over the stock and the stables。
'Wall！ what's it wuth？' he said； at last； as we stood looking down the fair green acres sloping to the sugar bush。
David picked up a stick； opened his knife； and began to whittle thoughtfully； a familiar squint of reflection in his face。 I suppose he thought of all it had cost him … the toil of many years； the strength of his young manhood； the youth and beauty of his wife； a hundred things that were far better than money。
'Fifteen thousan' dollars；' he said slowly … 'not a cent less。' The man parleyed a little over the price。
'Don' care t' take any less t'day；' said David calmly。 'No harm done。'
'How much down？'
David named the sum。
'An' possession？'
'Next week'
'Everything as it stan's？'
'Everything as it stan's 'cept the beds an' bedding。'
'Here's some money on account；' he said。 'We'll close t'morrer？'
'Close t'morrer；' said David； a little sadness in his tone； as he took the money。
It was growing dusk as the man went away。 The crickets sang with a loud； accusing； clamour。 Slowly we turned and went into the dark house； David whistling under his breath。 Elizabeth was resting in her chair。 She was humming an old hymn as she rocked。
'Sold the farm； mother；' said David。
She stopped singing but made no answer。 In the dusk； as we sat down； I saw her face leaning upon her hand。 Over the hills and out of the fields around us came many voices … the low chant in the stubble； the baying of a hound in the far timber； the cry of the tree toad … a tiny drift of odd things （like that one sees at sea） on the deep eternal silence of the heavens。 There was no sound in the room save the low creaking of the rocker in which Elizabeth sat。 After all the going； and corning； and doing； and saying of many years here was a little spell of silence and beyond lay the untried things of the future。 For me it was a time of reckoning。
'Been hard at work here all these years； mother；' said David。 'Oughter be glad t' git away。'
'Yes；' said she sadly； 'it's been hard work。 Years ago I thought I never could stan' it。 But now I've got kind o' used t' it。'
'Time ye got used t' pleasure 'n comfort；' he said。 'Come kind o' hard； at fast； but ye mus' try t' stan' it。 If we're goin' t' hev sech flin in Heaven as Deacon Hospur tells on we oughter begin t' practice er we'll be 'shamed uv ourselves。'
The worst was over。 Elizabeth began to laugh。
At length a strain of song came out of the distance。
'Maxwelton's braes are bonnie where early falls the dew。'
'It's Hope and Uncle Eb；' said David while I went for the lantern。 'Wonder what's kep' 'em s' late。'
When the lamps were lit the old house seemed suddenly to have got a sense of what had been done。 The familiar creak of the stairway as I went to bed had an appeal and a protest。 The rude chromo of the voluptuous lady； with red lips and the name of Spring； that had always hung in my chamber had a mournful； accusing look。 The stain upon her cheek that had come one day from a little leak in the roof looked now like the path of a tear drop。 And when the wind came up in the night and I heard the creaking of Lone Pine it spoke of the doom of that house and itsown that was not far distant。
We rented a new home in town； that week； and were soon settled in it。 Hope went away to resume her studies the same day I began work in college。
Chapter 26
Not much in my life at college is essential to this history … save the training。 The students came mostly from other and remote parts of the north country … some even from other states。 Coming largely from towns and cities they were shorn of those simple and rugged traits； that distinguished the men o' Faraway； and made them worthy of what poor fame this book may afford。 In the main they were like other students the world over； I take it' and mostly； as they have shown； capable of wiling their own fame。 It all seemed very high and mighty and grand to me especially the names of the courses。 I had my baptism of Sophomoric scorn and many a heated argument over my title to life； liberty and the pursuit of learning。 It became necessary to establish it by force of arms； which I did decisively and with as little delay as possible。 I took much interest in athletic sports and was soon a good ball player； a boxer of some skill； and the best wrestler in college。 Things were going on comfortably when an upper classman met me and suggested that on a corning holiday； the Freshmen ought to wear stove…pipe hats。 Those hats were the seed of great trouble。
'Stove…pipe hats！' I said thoughtfully。
'They're a good protection；' he assured me。
It seemed a very reasonable； not to say a necessary precaution。 A man has to be young and innocent sometime or what would become of the Devil。 I did not see that the stove…pipe hat was the red rag of insurrection and； when I did see it' I was up to my neck in the matter。
You see the Sophs are apt to be very nasty that day；' he continued。
I acknowledged they were quite capable of it。
'And they don't care where they hit；' he went on。
I felt of my head that was still sore； from a forceful argument of the preceding day； and admitted there was good ground for the assertion。
When I met my classmen； that afternoon； I was an advocate of the 'stove…pipe' as a means of protection。 There were a number of husky fellows； in my class； who saw its resisting power and seconded my suggestion。 We decided to leave it to the ladies of the class and they greeted our plan with applause。 So； that morning； we arrayed ourselves mhigh hats； heavy canes and fine linen； marching together up College Hill。 We had hardly entered the gate before we saw the Sophs forming in a thick rank outside the door prepared； as we took it； to resist our entrance。 They out…numbered us and were； in the main； heavier but we had a foot or more of good stiff material between each head and harm。 Of just what befell us； when we got to the enemy； I have never felt sure。 Of the total inefficiency of the stove…pipe hat as an article of armour； I have never had the slightest doubt since then。 There was a great flash and rattle of canes。 Then the air was full of us。 In the heat of it all prudence went to the winds。 We hit out right and left； on both sides； smashing hats and bruising heads and hands。 The canes went down in a jiffy and then we closed with each other hip and thigh。 Collars were ripped off； coats were torn； shirts were gory from the blood of noses； and in this condition the most of us were rolling and tumbling on the ground。 I had flung a man； heavily； and broke away and was tackling another when I heard a hush in the tumult and then the voice of the president。 He stood on the high steps； his grey head bare； his right hand lifted。 It must have looked like carnage from where he stood。
'Young gentlemen！' he called。 'Cease； I command you。 If we cannot get along without this thing we will shut up shop。'
Well； that was the end of it and came near being the end of our careers in college。 We looked at each other； torn and panting and bloody； and at the girls； who stood by； pale with alarm。 Then we picked up the shapeless hats and went away f