God help the man who has never known such dreams -- who , as he leaves his alma mater , is not already rich in aerial castles , the proprietor of many a spacious estate in Spain . He has missed his birthright . The crowd streamed out of the entrance hall and scattered over the campus , fraying off into the many streets beyond . Eric Marshall and David Baker walked away together . The former had graduated in Arts that day at the head of his class ; the latter had come to see the graduation , nearly bursting with pride in Eric 's success . Between these two was an old and tried and enduring friendship , although David was ten years older than Eric , as the mere tale of years goes , and a hundred years older in knowledge of the struggles and difficulties of life which age a man far more quickly and effectually than the passing of time . Physically the two men bore no resemblance to one another , although they were second cousins . Eric Marshall , tall , broad-shouldered , sinewy , walking with a free , easy stride , which was somehow suggestive of reserve strength and power , was one of those men regarding whom less-favoured mortals are tempted seriously to wonder why all the gifts of fortune should be showered on one individual . He was not only clever and good to look upon , but he possessed that indefinable charm of personality which is quite independent of physical beauty or mental ability . He had steady , grayish-blue eyes , dark chestnut hair with a glint of gold in its waves when the sunlight struck it , and a chin that gave the world assurance of a chin . He was a rich man 's son , with a clean young manhood behind him and splendid prospects before him . He was considered a practical sort of fellow , utterly guiltless of romantic dreams and visions of any sort . `` I am afraid Eric Marshall will never do one quixotic thing , '' said a Queenslea professor , who had a habit of uttering rather mysterious epigrams , `` but if he ever does it will supply the one thing lacking in him . '' David Baker was a short , stocky fellow with an ugly , irregular , charming face ; his eyes were brown and keen and secretive ; his mouth had a comical twist which became sarcastic , or teasing , or winning , as he willed . His voice was generally as soft and musical as a woman 's ; but some few who had seen David Baker righteously angry and heard the tones which then issued from his lips were in no hurry to have the experience repeated . He was a doctor -- a specialist in troubles of the throat and voice -- and he was beginning to have a national reputation . He was on the staff of the Queenslea Medical College and it was whispered that before long he would be called to fill an important vacancy at McGill . He had won his way to success through difficulties and drawbacks which would have daunted most men . In the year Eric was born David Baker was an errand boy in the big department store of Marshall & Company . Thirteen years later he graduated with high honors from Queenslea Medical College .
Mr. Marshall had given him all the help which David 's sturdy pride could be induced XXXXX accept , and now he insisted on sending the young man abroad for a post-graduate course in London and Germany .
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