the man from glengarry-第18章

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worry　about　that。　　Good　night；　my　dear。〃　　And　Maimie；　relieved　by
her　aunt's　tone；　said　〃good　night〃　with　her　heart　at　rest。

Then　Mrs。　Murray　went　into　the　study；　determined　to　find　out　what
had　passed　between　her　husband　and　Ranald。　　She　found　him　lying　on
his　couch；　luxuriating　in　the　satisfaction　of　a　good　day's　work
behind　him；　and　his　first　pipe　nearly　done。　　She　at　once　ventured
upon　the　thing　that　lay　heavy　upon　her　heart。　　She　began　by　telling
all　she　knew　of　the　trouble　from　its　beginning　in　the　church；　and
then　waited　for　her　husband's　story。

For　some　moments　he　lay　silently　smoking。

〃Ah；　well；〃　he　said；　at　length；　knocking　out　his　pipe；　〃perhaps　I
was　a　little　severe　with　the　lad。　　He　may　not　have　been　so　much　to
blame。〃

〃Oh；　papa！　　What　did　you　do？〃　said　his　wife；　in　an　anxious　voice。

〃Well；〃　said　the　minister；　hesitating；　〃I　found　that　the　young
rascal　had　struck　Aleck　McRae　first；　and　a　very　bad　blow　it　was。
So　I　administered　a　pretty　severe　rebuke　and　sent　him　home。〃

〃Oh；　what　a　shame！〃　cried　his　wife；　in　indignant　tears。　　〃It　was
far　more　the　fault　of　Peter　and　Aleck　and　the　rest。　　Poor　Ranald！〃

〃Now；　my　dear；〃　said　the　minister；　〃you　need　not　fear　for　Ranald。
I　do　not　suppose　he　cares　much。　　Besides；　his　face　was　not　fit　to
be　seen；　so　I　sent　him　home。　　Well；　it〃

〃Yes；〃　burst　in　his　wife；　〃great；　brutal　fellow；　to　strike　a　boy
like　that！〃

〃Boy？〃　said　her　husband。　　〃Well；　he　may　be；　but　not　many　men　would
dare　to　face　him。〃　　Then　he　added；　〃I　wish　I　had　knownI　fear　I
spokeperhaps　the　boy　may　feel　unjustly　treated。　　He　is　as　proud
as　Lucifer。〃

〃Oh；　papa！〃　said　his　wife；　〃what　did　you　say？〃

〃Nothing　but　what　was　true。　　I　just　told　him　that　a　boy　who　would
break　the　Lord's　Day　by　fighting；　and　in　the　very　shadow　of　the
Lord's　house；　when　Christian　people　were　worshiping　God；　was　acting
like　a　savage；　and　was　not　fit　for　the　company　of　decent　folk。〃

To　this　his　wife　made　no　reply；　but　went　out　of　the　study；　leaving
the　minister　feeling　very　uncomfortable　indeed。　　But　by　the　end　of
the　second　pipe　he　began　to　feel　that；　after　all；　Ranald　had　got　no
more　than　was　good　for　him；　and　that　he　would　be　none　the　worse　of
it；　in　which　comforting　conviction　he　went　to　rest；　and　soon　fell
into　the　sleep　which　is　supposed　to　be　the　right　of　the　just。

Not　so　his　wife。　　Wearied　though　she　was　with　the　long　day；　its
excitements　and　its　toils；　sleep　would　not　come。　　Anxious　thoughts
about　the　lad　she　had　come　to　love　as　if　he　were　her　own　son　or
brother　kept　crowding　in　upon　her。　　The　vision　of　his　fierce；　dark；
stormy　face　held　her　eyes　awake　and　at　length　drew　her　from　her
bed。　　She　went　into　the　study　and　fell　upon　her　knees。　　The　burden
had　grown　too　heavy　for　her　to　bear　alone。　　She　would　share　it　with
Him　who　knew　what　it　meant　to　bear　the　sorrows　and　the　sins　of
others。

As　she　rose；　she　heard　Fido　bark　and　whine　in　the　yard　below；　and
going　to　the　window；　she　saw　a　man　standing　at　the　back　door；　and
Fido　fawning　upon　him。　　Startled；　she　was　about　to　waken　her
husband；　when　the　man　turned　his　face　so　that　the　moonlight　fell
upon　it；　and　she　saw　Ranald。　　Hastily　she　threw　on　her　dressing…
gown；　put　on　her　warm　bedroom　slippers　and　cloak；　ran　down　to　the
door；　and　in　another　moment　was　standing　before　him；　holding　him　by
the　shoulders。

〃Ranald！〃　she　cried；　breathlessly；　〃what　is　it？〃

〃I　am　going　away；〃　he　said；　simply。　　〃And　I　was　just　passing　by
and〃　he　could　not　go　on。

〃Oh；　Ranald！〃　she　cried；；　〃I　am　glad　you　came　this　way。　　Now　tell
me　where　you　are　going。〃

The　boy　looked　at　her　as　if　she　had　started　a　new　idea　in　his　mind；
and　then　said；　〃I　do　not　know。〃

〃And　what　are　you　going　to　do；　Ranald？〃

〃Work。　　There　is　plenty　to　do。　　No　fear　of　that。〃

〃But　your　father；　Ranald？〃

The　boy　was　silent　for　a　little；　and　then　said；　〃He　will　soon　be
well；　and　he　will　not　be　needing　me；　and　he　said　I　could　go。〃　　His
voice　broke　with　the　remembrance　of　the　parting　with　his　father。

〃And　why　are　you　going；　Ranald？〃　she　said；　looking　into　his　eyes。

Again　the　boy　stood　silent。

〃Why　do　you　go　away　from　your　home　and　your　father；　andandall
of　us　who　love　you？〃

〃Indeed；　there　is　no　one；〃　he　replied；　bitterly；　〃and　I　am　not　for
decent　people。　　I　am　not　for　decent　people。　　I　know　that　well
enough。　　There　is　no　one　that　will　care　much。〃

〃No　one；　Ranald？〃　she　asked；　sadly。　　〃I　thought〃　she　paused；
looking　steadily　into　his　face。

Suddenly　the　boy　turned　to　her；　and　putting　out　both　his　hands；
burst　forth；　his　voice　coming　in　dry　sobs：　　〃Oh；　yes；　yes！　　I　do
believe　you。　　I　do　believe　you。　　And　that　is　why　I　came　this　way。
I　wanted　to　see　your　door　again　before　I　went。　　Oh；　I　will　never
forget　you！　　Never；　never；　and　I　am　glad　I　am　seeing　you；　for　now
you　will　knowhow　much〃　　The　boy　was　unable　to　proceed。　　His
sobs　were　shaking　his　whole　frame；　and　to　his　shy　Highland　Scotch
nature；　words　of　love　and　admiration　were　not　easy。　　〃You　will　not
be　sending　me　back　home　again？〃　he　pleaded；　anticipating　her。
〃Indeed；　I　cannot　stay　in　this　place　after　to…day。〃

But　the　minister's　wife　kept　her　eyes　steadily　upon　his　face
without　a　word；　trying　in　vain　to　find　her　voice；　and　the　right
words　to　say。　　She　had　no　need　of　words；　for　in　her　face；　pale；　wet
with　her　flowing　tears；　and　illumined　with　her　gray…brown　eyes；
Ranald　read　her　heart。

〃Oh！〃　he　cried　again；　〃you　are　wanting　me　to　stay；　and　I　will　be
ashamed　before　them　all；　and　the　minister；　too。　　I　cannot　stay。　　I
cannot　stay。〃

〃And　I　cannot　let　you　go；　Ranald；　my　boy；〃　she　said；　commanding　her
voice　to　speech。　　〃I　want　you　to　be　a　brave　man。　　I　don't　want　you
to　be　afraid　of　them。〃

〃Afraid　of　them！〃　said　the　boy；　in　scornful　surprise。　　〃Not　if　they
were　twice　as　more　and　twice　as　beeg。〃

Mrs。　Murray　saw　her　advantage；　and　followed　it　up。

〃And　the　minister　did　not　know　the　whole　truth；　Ranald；　and　he　was
sorry　he　spoke　to　you　as　he　did。〃

〃Did　he　say　that？〃　said　Ranald；　in　surprise。　　It　was　to　him；　as　to
any　one　in　that　community；　a　terrible　thing　to　fall　under　the
displeasure　of　the　minister　and　to　be　disgraced　in　his　eyes。

〃Yes；　indeed；　Ranald；　and　he　would　be　sorry　if　you　should　go　away。
I　am　sure　he　would　blame　himself。〃

This　was　quite　a　new　idea　to　the　boy。　　That　the　minister　should
think　himself　to　be　in　the　wrong　was　hardly　credible。

〃And　how　glad　we　would　be；〃　she　continued；　earnestly；　〃to　see　you
prove　yourself　a　man　before　them　all。〃

Ranald　shook　his　head。　　〃I　would　rather　go　away。〃

〃Perhaps；　but　it's　braver　to　stay；　and　to　do　your　work　like　a　man。〃
And　then；　allowing　him　no　time　for　words；　she　pictured　to　him　the
selfish；　cowardly　part　the　man　plays　who　marches　bravely　enough　in
the　front　ranks　until　the　battle　begins；　but　who　shrinks　back　and
seeks　an　easy　place　when　the　fight　comes　on；　till　his　face　fell
before　her　in　shame。　　And　then　she　showed　him　what　she　would　like
him　to　do；　and　what　she　would　like　him　to　be　in　patience　and　in
courage；　till　he　stood　once　more　erect　and　steady。

〃Now；　Ranald；〃　she　said；　noting　the　effect　of　her　words　upon　him；
〃what　is　it　to　be？〃

〃I　will　go　back；〃　he　said；　simply；　and　turning　with　a　single　word
of　farewell；　he　sprang　over　the　fence　and　disappeared　in　the　woods。
The　minister's　wife　stood　looking　the　way　he　went　long　after　he　had
passed　out　of　sight；　and　then；　lifting　her　eyes　to　the　radiant　sky
with　its　shining　lights；　〃He　made　the　stars　also；〃　she　whispered；
and　went　up　to　her　bed　and　laid　her　down　and　slept　in　peace。　　Her
Sabbath　day's　work　was　done。



CHAPTER　X

THE　HOME…COMING　OF　THE　SHANTYMEN


For　some　weeks　Ranald　was　not　seen　by　any　one　belonging　to　the
manse。　　Hughie　reported　that　he　was　not　at　church；　nor　at　Bible
class；　and　although　this　was　not　in　itself　an　extraordinary　thing；
still　Mrs。　Murray　was　uneasy；　and　Hughie　felt　that　church　was　a
great　disappointment　when　Ranald　was　not　there。

In　their　visits　to　Macdonald　Dubh　the　minister　and　his　wife　never
could　see　Ranald。　　His　Aunt　Kirsty　could　not　understand　or　explain
his　reluctance　to　attend　the　public　services；　nor　his　unwillingness
to　appear　in　the　house　on　the　occasion　of　the　minister's　visits。
〃He　is　busy　with　the　fences　and　about　the　stables　preparing　for　the
spring's　work；〃　she　said；　〃but；　indeed；　he　is　very　queer　whatever；
and　I　cannot　make　him　out　at　all。〃　　Macdonald　Dubh　himself　said
nothing。　　But　the　books　and　magazines　brought　by　the　minister's
wife　were　always　read。　　〃Indeed；　when　once　he　gets　down　to　his
book；〃　his　aunt　complained；　〃neither　his　bed　nor　his　dinner　will
move　him。〃

The　minister　thought　little　of　the　boy's　〃vagaries；〃　but　to　his
wife　came　many　an　anxious　thought　about　Ranald　and　his　doings。　　She
was　more　disappointed　than　she　cared　to　confess；　even　to　herself；
that　the　boy　seemed　to　be　quite　indifferent　to　the　steadily
deepening　interest　in　spiritual　things　that　marked　the　members　of
her　Bible　class。

While　she　was　planning　how　to　reach　him　once　more；　an　event
occurred　which　brought　him　nearer　to　her　than　he　had　ever　been
before。　　As　they　were　sitting　one　evening　at　tea；　the　door
unexpectedly　opened；　and　without　announcement；　in　walked　Ranald；
splashed　with　hard　riding；　pale；　and　dazed。　　Without　a　word　of
reply　to　the　greetings　that　met　him　from　all　at　the　table；　he　went
straight　to　the　minister's　wife；　handed　her　an　opened　letter；　and
stood　waiting。　　It　was　addressed　to　Ranald　himself；　and　was　the
first　he　had　ever　received　in　his　life。　　It　was　from　Yankee　Jim；
and　read　as　follows：


Dear　RanaldThe　Boss　aint　feelin　like　ritin　much　and　the　rest　of
the　boys　is　all　broke　up；　and　so　he　told　me　to　rite　to　you　and　to
tell　you　some　purty　bad　news。　　I　don't　know　how　to　go　about　it；　but
the　fact　is；　Mack　Cameron　got　drownded　yesterday　tryin　to　pull　a
little　fool　of　a　Frenchman　out　of　the　river　just　below　the　Lachine。
We'd　just　got　through　the　rough　water　and　were　lyin　nice　and　quiet；
gettin　things　together　again　when　that　ijit　Frenchman　got　tite　and
got　tryin　some　fool　trick　or　other　walking　a　timber　stick　and　got
upsot　into　the　wet。　　I'd　a　let　him　go；　you　bet；　but　Mack　cudn't
stand　to　see　him　bobbin　up　and　down　so　he　ripped　off　and　in　after
him。　　He　got　him　too；　but　somehow　the　varmint　gripped　him　round
the　neck。　　They　went　down　but　we　got　em　out　purty　quick　and　the
Frenchman　come　round　all　right；　but　somehow　Mack　wouldn't；　choked
appearinly　by　that　tarnel　little　fool　who　aint　worth　one　of　Mack's
fingers；　and　if　killin　him　wud　do　any　good；　then　he　wudn't　be　livin
long。　　We　are　all　feelin　purty　bad。　　We　are　comin'　home　on　Thursday
by　Cornwall；　eight　or　ten　of　us。　　The　rest　will　go　on　with　the
rafts。　　The　Boss　says；　better　have　rigs　to　meet　us　and　Mack。
That's　all。　　I　haint　no　good　at　weepin'；　never　was；　wish　I　cud
somehow；　it　might　ease　off　a　feller　a　little；　but　tell　you　what；
Ranald；　I　haint　felt　so　queer　since　I　was　a　boy　lookin　at　my　mother
in　her　coffin。　　There　was　nothin　mean　about　Mack。　　He　was　good　to
the　heart。　　He　wud　do　his　work　slick　and　never　a　growl　or　a　groan；
and　when　you　wanted　a　feller　to　your　back；　Mack　was　there。　　I　know
there　aint　no　use　goin　on　like　this。　　All　I　say　is；　ther's　a　purty
big　hole　in　the　w