the man from glengarry-第30章

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Then　Mrs。　Murray　came　in。　　〃Won't　you　stay　for　supper；　Ranald？　　You
must　be　hungry。〃

〃No；　thank　you；〃　said　Ranald。　　〃I　must　go　now。〃

He　shook　hands　with　an　ease　and　freedom　that　the　minister　had　never
seen　in　him；　and　went　out。

〃That　young　man　is　coming　on；〃　said　the　minister。　　〃I　never　saw　any
one　change　and　develop　as　he　has　in　the　last　few　months。　　Let　me
see。　　He　is　only　eighteen；　isn't　he；　and　he　might　be　twenty…one。〃
The　minister　spoke　as　if　he　were　not　too　well　pleased　with　this
precocity　in　Ranald。

But　little　did　Ranald　care。　　That　young　man　was　striding　homeward
through　the　night；　his　head　striking　the　stars。　　His　path　lay
through　the　woods；　and　when　he　came　to　the　〃sugar　camp〃　road；　he
stood　still；　and　let　the　memories　of　the　night　when　he　had　snatched
Maimie　from　the　fire　troop　through　his　mind。　　Suddenly　he　thought
of　Aleck　McRae；　and　laughed　aloud。

〃Poor　Aleck；〃　he　said。　　Aleck　seemed　so　harmless　to　him　now。　　And
then　he　stood　silent；　motionless；　looking　straight　toward　the
stars；　but　seeing　them　not。　　He　was　remembering　Maimie's　face　when
she　said；　〃Yes；　Ranald；　I　will　always　remember　you　and　think　of
you〃；　and　then　the　thought　of　what　followed；　sent　the　blood　jumping
through　his　veins。

〃She　will　not　forget；〃　he　said　aloud；　and　went　on　his　way。　　It　was
his　happy　night；　the　happiest　of　his　life　thus　far；　and　he　would
always　be　happy。　　What　difference　could　anything　make？



CHAPTER　XV

THE　REVIVAL


Those　last　days　of　Maimie's　visit　sped　by　on　winged　feet。　　To
Ranald　they　were　brimming　with　happiness；　every　one　of　them。　　It
was　the　slack　time　of　the　year；　between　seeding　and　harvest；　and
there　was　nothing　much　to　keep　him　at　home。　　And　so；　with　Harry；
his　devoted　companion；　Ranald　roamed　the　woods；　hitching　up　Lisette
in　Yankee's　buckboard；　put　her　through　her　paces；　and　would　now　and
then　get　up　such　bursts　of　speed　as　took　Harry's　breath　away；　and
more　than　all；　there　was　the　chance　of　a　word　with　Maimie。　　He　had
lost　much　of　his　awkwardness。　　He　went　about　with　an　air　of　mastery；
and　why　not？　　He　had　entered　upon　his　kingdom。　　The　minister　noticed
and　wondered；　his　wife　noticed　and　smiled　sometimes；　but　oftener
sighed；　wisely　keeping　silence；　for　she　knew　that　in　times　like　this
the　best　words　were　those　unspoken。

The　happiest　day　of　all　for　Ranald　was　the　last；　when；　after　a　long
tramp　with　Harry　through　the　woods；　he　drove　him　back　to　the　manse；
coming　up　from　the　gate　to　the　door　like　a　whirlwind。

As　Lisette　stood　pawing　and　tossing　her　beautiful　head；　Mrs。
Murray；　who　stood　with　Maimie　watching　them　drive　up；　cried　out；
admiringly：　　〃What　a　beauty　she　is！〃

〃Isn't　she！〃　cried　Harry；　enthusiastically。　　〃And　such　a　flyer！
Get　in；　auntie；　and　see。〃

〃Do；〃　said　Ranald；　〃I　would　be　very　glad。　　Just　to　the　church　hill
and　back。〃

〃Go；　auntie；〃　pleaded　Harry。　　〃She　is　wonderful。〃

〃You　go；　Maimie；〃　said　her　aunt；　to　whom　every　offered　pleasure
simply　furnished　an　opportunity　of　thought　for　others。

〃Nonsense！〃　cried　Harry；　impatiently。　　〃You　might　gratify　yourself
a　little　for　once　in　your　life。　　Besides；〃　he　added；　with　true
brotherly　blindness；　〃it's　you　Ranald　wants。　　At　least　he　talks
enough　about　you。〃

〃Yes；　auntie；　do　go！　　It　will　be　lovely；〃　chimed　in　Maimie；　with
suspicious　heartiness。

So；　with　many　protestations；　Mrs。　Murray　took　her　place　beside
Ranald　and　was　whirled　off　like　the　wind。　　She　returned　in　a　very
few　minutes；　her　hair　blown　loose　till　the　little　curls　hung　about
her　glowing　face　and　her　eyes　shining　with　excitement。

〃Oh；　she　is　perfectly　splendid！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃And　so　gentle。
You　must　go；　Maimie；　if　only　to　the　gate。〃　　And　Maimie　went；　but
not　to　turn　at　even　the　church　hill。

For　a　mile　down　the　concession　road　Ranald　let　Lisette　jog　at　an
easy　pace　while　he　told　Maimie　some　of　his　aims　and　hopes。　　He　did
not　mean　to　be　a　farmer　nor　a　lumberman。　　He　was　going　to　the　city；
and　there　make　his　fortune。　　He　did　not　say　it　in　words；　but　his
tone；　his　manner；　everything　about　him；　proclaimed　his　confidence
that　some　day　he　would　be　a　great　man。　　And　Maimie　believed　him；
not　because　it　seemed　reasonable；　or　because　there　seemed　to　be　any
ground　for　his　confidence；　but　just　because　Ranald　said　it。　　His
superb　self…confidence　wrought　in　her　assurance。

〃And　then；〃　he　said；　proudly；　〃I　am　going　to　see　you。〃

〃Oh；　I　hope　you　will　not　wait　till　then；〃　she　answered。

〃I　do　not　know；〃　he　said。　　〃I　cannot　tell；　but　it　does　not　matter
much。　　I　will　be　always　seeing　you。〃

〃But　I　will　want　to　see　you；〃　said　Maimie。

〃Yes；〃　said　Ranald；　〃I　know　you　will；〃　as　if　that　were　a　thing　to
be　expected。　　〃But　you　will　be　coming　back　to　your　aunt　here。〃　　But
of　this　Maimie　could　not　be　sure。

〃Oh；　yes；　you　will　come；〃　he　said；　confidently；　〃I　am　sure　you　will
come。　　Harry　is　coming；　and　you　will　come；　too。〃　　And　having
settled　this　point；　he　turned　Lisette　and　from　that　out　gave　his
attention　to　his　driving。　　The　colt　seemed　to　realize　the　necessity
of　making　a　display　of　her　best　speed；　and　without　any　urging；　she
went　along　the　concession　road；　increasing　her　speed　at　every
stride　till　she　wheeled　in　at　the　gate。　　Then　Ranald　shook　the
lines　over　her　back　and　called　to　her。　　Magnificently　Lisette
responded；　and　swept　up　to　the　door　with　such　splendid　dash　that
the　whole　household　greeted　her　with　waving　applause。　　As　the　colt
came　to　a　stand；　Maimie　stepped　out　from　the　buckboard；　and　turning
toward　Ranald；　said　in　a　low；　hurried　voice：　　〃O；　Ranald；　that　was
splendid；　and　I　am　so　happy；　and　you　will　be　sure　to　come？〃

〃I　will　come；〃　said　Ranald；　looking　down　into　the　blue　eyes　with　a
look　so　long　and　steady　and　so　full　of　passionate　feeling　that
Maimie　knew　he　would　keep　his　word。

Then　farewells　were　said；　and　Ranald　turned　away；　Harry　and　Mrs。
Murray　watching　him　from　the　door　till　he　disappeared　over　the
church　hill。

〃Well；　that's　the　finest　chap　I　ever　saw；〃　said　Harry；　with
emphasis。　　〃And　what　a　body　he　has！　　He　would　make　a　great　half…
back。〃

〃Poor　Ranald！　　I　hope　he　will　make　a　great　and　good　man；〃　said　his
aunt；　with　a　ring　of　sadness　in　her　voice。

〃Why　poor；　auntie？〃

〃I'm　sure　I　do　not　know；〃　she　said；　with　a　very　uncertain　smile
playing　about　her　mouth。　　Then　she　went　upstairs　and　found　Maimie
sitting　at　the　window　overlooking　the　church　hill；　and　once　more
she　knew　how　golden　is　silence。　　So　she　set　to　work　to　pack
Maimie's　trunk　for　her。

〃It　will　be　a　very　early　start；　Maimie；〃　she　said；　〃and　so　we　will
get　everything　ready　to…night。〃

〃Yes；　auntie；〃　said　Maimie；　going　to　her　and　putting　her　arms　about
her。　　〃How　happy　I　have　been；　and　how　good　you　have　been　to　me！〃

〃And　how　glad　I　have　been　to　have　you！〃　said　her　aunt。

〃Oh；　I　will　never　forget　you！　　You　have　taught　me　so　much　that　I
never　knew　before。　　I　see　everything　so　differently。　　It　seems　easy
to　be　good　here；　and；　oh！　I　wish　you　were　not　so　far　away　from　me；
auntie。　　I　am　afraidafraid〃

The　tears　could　no　longer　be　denied。　　She　put　her　head　in　her
aunt's　lap　and　sobbed　out　her　heart's　overflow。　　For　an　hour　they
sat　by　the　open　trunk；　forgetting　all　about　the　packing；　while　her
aunt　talked　to　Maimie　as　no　one　had　ever　talked　to　her　before；　and
often；　through　the　long　years　of　suffering　that　followed；　the　words
of　that　evening　came　to　Maimie　to　lighten　and　to　comfort　an　hour　of
fear　and　sorrow。　　Mrs。　Murray　was　of　those　to　whom　it　is　given　to
speak　words　that　will　not　die　with　time；　but　will　live；　for　that
they　fall　from　lips　touched　with　the　fire　of　God。

Before　they　had　finished　their　talk　Harry　came　in；　and　then　Mrs。
Murray　told　them　about　their　mother；　of　her　beauty　and　her
brightness　and　her　goodness；　but　mostly　of　her　goodness。

〃She　was　a　dear；　dear　girl；〃　said　their　aunt；　〃and　her　goodness　was
of　the　kind　that　makes　one　think　of　a　fresh　spring　morning；　so
bright；　so　sweet；　and　pure。　　And　she　was　beautiful；　too。　　You　will
be　like　her；　Maimie；〃　and；　after　a　pause；　she　added；　softly；　〃And；
most　of　all；　she　loved　her　Saviour；　and　that　was　the　secret　of　both
her　beauty　and　her　goodness。〃

〃Auntie；〃　said　Harry；　suddenly；　〃don't　you　think　you　could　come　to
us　for　a　visit？　　It　would　do　fatherI　mean　it　would　be　such　a
great　thing　for　father；　and　for　me；　too；　for　us　all。〃

Mrs。　Murray　thought　of　her　home　and　all　its　ties；　and　then　said；
smiling：　　〃I　am　afraid；　Harry；　that　could　hardly　be。　　Besides；　my
dear　boy；　there　is　One　who　can　always　be　with　you；　and　no　one　can
take　His　place。〃

〃All　the　same；　I　wish　you　could　come；〃　said　Harry。　　〃When　I　am　here
I　feel　like　doing　something　with　my　life；　but　at　home　I　only　think
of　having　fun。〃

〃But；　Harry；〃　said　his　aunt；　〃life　is　a　very　sacred　and　very
precious　thing；　and　at　all　costs；　you　must　make　it　worthy　of　Him
who　gave　it　to　you。〃

Next　morning；　when　Harry　was　saying　〃Farewell〃　to　his　aunt；　she　put
her　arms　round　him；　and　said：　　〃Your　mother　would　have　wished　you
to　be　a　noble　man；　and　you　must　not　disappoint　her。〃

〃I　will　try；　auntie；〃　he　said；　and　could　say　no　more。

For　the　next　few　weeks　the　minister　and　his　wife　were　both　busy　and
anxious。　　For　more　than　eight　years　they　had　labored　with　their
people　without　much　sign　of　result。　　Week　after　week　the　minister
poured　into　his　sermons　the　strength　of　his　heart　and　mind；　and
then　gave　them　to　his　people　with　all　the　fervor　of　his　nature。
Week　after　week　his　wife；　in　her　women's　meetings　and　in　her　Bible
class；　lavished　freely　upon　them　the　splendid　riches　of　her
intellectual　and　spiritual　powers；　and　together　in　the　homes　of　the
people　they　wrought　and　taught。　　At　times　it　seemed　to　the　minister
that　they　were　spending　their　strength　for　naught；　and　at　such
times　he　bitterly　grudged；　not　his　own　toils；　but　those　of　his
wife。　　None　knew　better　than　he　how　well　fitted　she　was；　both　by
the　native　endowments　of　her　mind　and　by　the　graces　of　her
character；　to　fill　the　highest　sphere；　and　he　sometimes　grew
impatient　that　she　should　spend　herself　without　stint　and　reap　no
adequate　reward。

These　were　his　thoughts　as　he　lay　on　his　couch；　on　the　evening　of
the　last　Sabbath　in　the　old　church；　after　a　day's　work　more　than
usually　exhausting。　　The　new　church　was　to　be　opened　the　following
week。　　For　months　it　had　been　the　burden　of　their　prayers　that　at
the　dedication　of　their　church；　which　had　been　built　and　paid　for
at　the　cost　of　much　thought　and　toil；　there　should　be　some　〃signal
mark　of　the　divine　acceptance。〃　　No　wonder　the　minister　was　more
than　usually　depressed　to…night。

〃There　is　not　much　sign　of　movement　among　the　dry　bones；〃　he　said
to　his　wife。　　〃They　are　as　dry　and　as　dead　as　ever。〃

His　wife　was　silent　for　some　time；　for　she；　too；　had　her　moments　of
doubt　and　fear；　but　she　said：　　〃I　think　there　is　some　sign。　　The
people　were　certainly　much　impressed　this　morning；　and　the　Bible
class　was　very　large；　and　they　were　very　attentive。〃

〃So　they　are　every　day；〃　said　the　minister；　rather　bitterly。　　〃But
what　does　it　amount　to？　　There　is　not　a　sign　of　one　of　these　young
people　'coming　forward。'　　Just　think；　only　one　young　man　a　member
of　the　church；　and　he　hasn't　got　much　spunk　in　him。　　And　many　of
the　older　me