the man from glengarry-第35章

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like　her　model。〃

But　the　shantymen　noticed　that　the　revival　had　swept　into　the
church；　during　the　winter　months；　a　great　company　of　the　young
people　of　the　congregation；　and　of　these；　a　band　of　some　ten　or
twelve　young　men；　with　Don　among　them；　were　attending　daily　a
special　class　carried　on　in　the　vestry　of　the　church　for　those　who
desired　to　enter　training　for　the　ministry。

Mrs。　Murray　urged　Ranald　to　join　this　class；　for；　even　though　he
had　no　intention　of　becoming　a　minister；　still　the　study　would
be　good　for　him；　and　would　help　him　in　his　after　career。　　She
remembered　how　Ranald　had　told　her　that　he　had　no　intention　of
being　a　farmer　or　lumberman。　　And　Ranald　gladly　listened　to　her；
and　threw　himself　into　his　study；　using　his　spare　hours　to　such
good　purpose　throughout　the　summer　that　he　easily　kept　pace　with
the　class　in　English；　and　distanced　them　in　his　favorite　subject；
mathematics。

But　all　these　months　Mrs。　Murray　felt　that　Ranald　was　carrying　with
him　a　load　of　unrest；　and　she　waited　for　the　time　when　he　would
come　to　her。　　His　uncle；　Macdonald　Bhain；　too；　shared　her　anxiety
in　regard　to　Ranald。

〃He　is　the　fine；　steady　lad；〃　he　said　one　night；　walking　home　with
her　from　the　church；　〃and　a　good　winter's　work　has　he　put　behind
him。　　He　is　that　queeck；　there　is　not　a　man　like　him　on　the　drive；
but　he　is　not　the　same　boy　that　he　was。　　He　will　not　be　telling　me
anything；　but　when　the　boys　will　be　sporting；　he　is　not　with　them。
He　will　be　reading　his　book；　or　he　will　be　sitting　by　himself
alone。　　He　is　like　his　father　in　the　courage　of　him。　　There　is　no
kind　of　water　he　will　not　face；　and　no　man　on　the　river　would　put
fear　on　him。　　And　the　strength　of　him！　　His　arms　are　like　steel。
But；〃　returning　to　his　anxiety；　〃there　is　something　wrong　with　him。
He　is　not　at　peace　with　himself；　and　I　wish　you　could　get　speech
with　him。〃

〃I　would　like　it；　too；〃　replied　Mrs。　Murray。　　〃Perhaps　he　will　come
to　me。　　At　any　rate；　I　must　wait　for　that。〃

At　last；　when　the　summer　was　over；　and　the　harvest　all　gathered　in；
the　days　were　once　more　shortening　for　the　fall；　Ranald　drove
Lisette　one　day　to　the　manse；　and　went　straight　to　the　minister's
wife　and　opened　up　his　mind　to　her。

〃I　cannot　keep　my　promise　to　my　father；　Mrs。　Murray；〃　he　said；
going　at　once　to　the　heart　of　his　trouble。　　〃I　cannot　keep　the
anger　out　of　my　heart。　　I　cannot　forgive　the　man　that　killed　my
father。　　I　will　be　waking　at　night　with　the　very　joy　of　feeling　my
fingers　on　his　throat；　and　I　feel　myself　longing　for　the　day　when　I
will　meet　him　face　to　face　and　nothing　between　us。　　But；〃　he　added；
〃I　promised　my　father；　and　I　must　keep　my　word；　and　that　is　what　I
cannot　do；　for　the　feeling　of　forgiveness　is　not　here；〃　smiting　his
breast。　　〃I　can　keep　my　hands　off　him；　but　the　feeling　I　cannot
help。〃

For　a　long　time　Mrs。　Murray　let　him　go　on　without　seeking　to　check
the　hot　flow　of　his　words　and　without　a　word　of　reproof。　　Then；
when　he　had　talked　himself　to　silence；　she　took　her　Bible　and　read
to　him　of　the　servant　who；　though　forgiven；　took　his　fellow…servant
by　the　throat；　refusing　to　forgive。　　And　then　she　turned　over　the
leaves　and　read　once　more：　　〃'God　commendeth　his　love　toward　us；　in
that；　while　we　were　yet　sinners；　Christ　died　for　us。'〃

She　closed　the　book　and　sat　silent；　waiting　for　Ranald　to　speak。

〃I　know；〃　he　said；　deliberately；　〃I　have　read　that　often　through
the　winter；　but　it　does　not　help　the　feeling　I　have。　　I　think　it
only　makes　it　worse。　　There　is　some　one　holding　my　arm；　and　I　want
to　strike。〃

〃And　do　you　forget；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　and　her　voice　was　almost
stern；　〃and　do　you　forget　how；　for　you；　God　gave　His　Son　to　die？〃

Ranald　shook　his　head。　　〃I　am　far　from　forgetting　that。〃

〃And　are　you　forgetting　the　great　mercy　of　God　to　your　father？〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Ranald；　〃I　often　think　of　that。　　But　when　I　think　of
that　man；　something　stirs　within　me　and　I　cannot　see；　for　the　daze
before　my　eyes；　and　I　know　that　some　day　I　will　be　at　him。　　I
cannot　help　my　feeling。〃

〃Ranald；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　〃have　you　ever　thought　how　he　will　need
God's　mercy　like　yourself？　　And　have　you　never　thought　that　perhaps
he　has　never　had　the　way　of　God's　mercy　put　before　him？　　To　you　the
Lord　has　given　much；　to　him　little。　　It　is　a　terrible　thing　to　be
ungrateful　for　the　mercy　of　God；　and　it　is　a　shameful　thing。　　It　is
unworthy　of　any　true　man。　　How　can　any　one　take　the　fullness　of
God's　mercy　and　his　patience　every　day；　and　hold　an　ungrateful
heart？〃

She　did　not　spare　him；　and　as　Ranald　sat　and　listened；　his　life　and
character　began　to　appear　to　him　small　and　mean　and　unworthy。

〃The　Lord　means　you　to　be　a　noble　man；　Ranalda　man　with　the　heart
and　purpose　to　do　some　good　in　the　world；　to　be　a　blessing　to　his
fellows；　and　it　is　a　poor　thing　to　be　so　filled　up　with　selfishness
as　to　have　no　thought　of　the　honor　of　God　or　of　the　good　of　men。
Louis　LeNoir　has　done　you　a　great　wrong；　but　what　is　that　wrong
compared　with　the　wrong　you　have　done　to　Him　who　loved　you　to　His
own　death？〃

Then　she　gave　him　her　last　word：　　〃When　you　see　Louis　LeNoir；　think
of　God's　mercy；　and　remember　you　are　to　do　him　good　and　not　evil。〃

And　with　that　word　in　his　heart；　Ranald　went　away；　ashamed　and
humbled；　but　not　forgiving。　　The　time　for　that　had　not　yet　come。
But　before　he　left　for　the　shanties；　he　saw　Mrs。　Murray　again　to
say　good　by。　　He　met　her　with　a　shamed　face；　fearing　that　she　must
feel　nothing　but　contempt　for　him。

〃You　will　think　ill　of　me；〃　he　said；　and　in　spite　of　his　self…
control　his　voice　shook。　　〃I　could　not　bear　that。〃

〃No；　I　could　never　think　ill　of　you；　Ranald；　but　I　would　be　grieved
to　think　that　you　should　fail　of　becoming　a　noble　man；　strong　and
brave；　strong　enough　to　forgive　and　brave　enough　to　serve。〃

Once　more　Ranald　went　to　the　woods；　with　earnest　thoughts　in　his
mind；　hoping　he　should　not　meet　LeNoir；　and　fighting　out　his　battle
to　victory；　and　by　the　time　the　drive　had　reached　the　big　water
next　spring；　that　battle　was　almost　over。　　The　days　in　the　silent
woods　and　the　nights　spent　with　his　uncle　in　the　camp；　and
afterward　in　his　cabin　on　the　raft；　did　their　work　with　Ranald。

The　timber　cut　that　year　was　the　largest　that　had　ever　been　known
on　the　Upper　Ottawa。　　There　was　great　crowding　of　rafts　on　the
drive；　and　for　weeks　the　chutes　were　full；　and　when　the　rafts　were
all　brought　together　at　Quebec；　not　only　were　the　shores　lined　and
Timber　Cove　packed；　but　the　broad　river　was　full　from　Quebec　to
Levis；　except　for　the　steamboat　way　which　must　be　kept　open。

For　the　firm　of　Raymond　&　St。　Clair　this　meant　enormous　increase　of
business；　and　it　was　no　small　annoyance　that　at　this　crisis　they
should　have　detected　their　Quebec　agent　in　fraud；　and　should　have
been　forced　to　dismiss　him。　　The　situation　was　so　critical　that　Mr。
St。　Clair　himself；　with　Harry　as　his　clerk；　found　it　necessary　to
spend　a　month　in　Quebec。　　He　took　with　him　Maimie　and　her　great
friend　Kate　Raymond；　the　daughter　of　his　partner；　and　established
himself　in　the　Hotel　Cheval　Blanc。

On　the　whole；　Maimie　was　not　sorry　to　visit　the　ancient　capital　of
Canada；　though　she　would　have　chosen　another　time。　　It　was　rather
disappointing　to　leave　her　own　city　in　the　West；　just　at　the
beginning　of　the　spring　gayeties。　　It　was　her　first　season；　and　the
winter　had　been　distinguished　by　a　series　of　social　triumphs。　　She
was　the　toast　of　all　the　clubs　and　the　belle　of　all　the　balls。　　She
had　developed　a　rare　and　fascinating　beauty；　and　had　acquired　an
air　so　distingue　that　even　her　aunt；　Miss　St。　Clair；　was　completely
satisfied。　　It　was　a　little　hard　for　her　to　leave　the　scene　of　her
triumphs　and　to　abandon　the　approaching　gayeties。

But　Quebec　had　its　compensations；　and　then　there　were　the　De　Lacys；
one　of　the　oldest　English　families　of　Quebec。　　The　St。　Clairs　had
known　them　for　many　years。　　Their　blood　was　unquestionably　blue；
they　were　wealthy；　and　besides；　the　only　son　and　representative　of
the　family　was　now　lieutenant；　attached　to　the　garrison　at　the
Citadel。　　Lieutenant　De　Lacy　suggested　possibilities　to　Maimie。
Quebec　might　be　endurable　for　a　month。

〃What　a　lovely　view；　and　how　picturesque！〃

Maimie　was　standing　at　the　window　looking　down　upon　the　river　with
its　fleet　of　rafts。　　Beside　her　stood　Kate；　and　at　another　window
Harry。

〃What　a　lot　of　timber！〃　said　Harry。　　〃And　the　town　is　just　full　of
lumbermen。　　A　fellow　said　there　must　be　six　thousand　of　them；　so
there　will　be　lots　of　fun。〃

〃Fun！〃　exclaimed　Kate。

〃Fun！　rather。　　These　fellows　have　been　up　in　the　woods　for　some
five　or　six　months；　and　when　they　get　to　town　where　there　is　whisky
andandthat　sort　of　thing；　they　just　get　wild。　　They　say　it　is
awful。〃

〃Just　horrible！〃　said　Maimie；　in　a　disgusted　tone。

〃But　splendid；〃　said　Kate；　〃that　is；　if　they　don't　hurt　any　one。〃

〃Hurt　anybody！〃　exclaimed　Harry。　　〃Oh；　not　at　all；　they　are　always
extremely　careful　not　to　hurt　any　one。　　They　are　as　gentle　as
lambs。　　I　say；　let　us　go　down　to　the　river　and　look　at　the　rafts。
De　Lacy　was　coming　up；　but　it　is　too　late　now　for　him。　　Besides；　we
might　run　across　Maimie's　man　from　Glengarry。〃

〃Maimie's　man　from　Glengarry！〃　exclaimed　Kate。　　〃Has　she　a　man
there；　too？〃

〃Nonsense；　Kate！〃　said　Maimie；　blushing。　　〃He　is　talking　about
Ranald；　you　know。　　One　of　Aunt　Murray's　young　men；　up　in　Glengarry。
You　have　heard　me　speak　of　him　often。〃

〃Oh；　the　boy　that　pulled　you　out　of　the　fire；〃　said　Kate。

〃Yes；〃　cried　Harry；　striking　an　attitude；　〃and　the　boy　that　for
love　of　her　entered　the　lists；　and　in　a　fistic　tournament　upheld
her　fair　name；　and〃

〃Oh；　Harry；　do　have　some　sense！〃　said　Maimie；　impatiently。　　〃Hush；
here　comes　some　one；　Lieutenant　De　Lacy；　I　suppose。〃

It　was　the　lieutenant；　handsome；　tall；　well　made；　with　a　high…bred
if　somewhat　dissipated　face；　an　air　of　blase　indifference　a　little
overdone；　and　an　accent　which　he　had　brought　back　with　him　from
Oxford；　and　which　he　was　anxious　not　to　lose。　　Indeed；　the　bare
thought　of　the　possibility　of　his　dropping　into　the　flat；　semi…
nasal　of　his　native　land　filled　the　lieutenant　with　unspeakable
horror。

〃We　were　just　going　down　to　the　river；〃　said　Maimie；　after　the
introductions　were　over；　〃but　I　suppose　it　is　all　old　to　you；　and
you　would　not　care　to　go？〃

〃Aw；　charmed；　I'm　sure。〃　　（The　lieutenant　pronounced　it　〃shuah。〃）
〃But　it　is　rathaw；　don't　you　know；　not　exactly　clean。〃

〃He　is　thinking　of　his　boots；〃　said　Harry；　scornfully；　looking　down
at　the　lieutenant's　shining　patent　leathers。

〃Really；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　mildly；　〃awfully　dirty　street；
though。〃

〃But　we　want　to　see　the　shantymen；〃　said　Kate；　frankly。

〃Oh；　the　men！　　Very　proper；　but　not　so　very　discriminating；　you
know。〃

〃I　love　the　shantymen；〃　exclaimed　Kate；　enthusiastically。　　〃Maimie
told　me　all　about　them。〃

〃By　Jove！　　I'll　join　to…morrow；〃　exclaimed　the　lieutenant　with
gentle　excitement。

〃They　would　not　have　you；〃　answered　Kate。　　〃Besides；　you　would　have
to　eat　pork　and　onions　and　things。〃

The　lieutenant　shuddered；　gazing　reproachfully　at　Kate。

〃Onions！〃　he　gasped；　〃and　you　love　them？〃

〃Let　us　go　along；　then；〃　said　Harry