the man from glengarry-第45章

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out　later。

True；　there　were　those　who　thought　him　too　particular；　and
undoubtedly　he　had　peculiar　ideas。　　He　never　drank；　never　played
for　money；　and　he　never　had　occasion　to　use　words　in　the　presence
of　men　that　would　be　impossible　before　their　mothers　and　sisters；
and　there　was　a　quaint；　old…time　chivalry　about　him　that　made　him　a
friend　of　the　weak　and　helpless；　and　the　champion　of　women；　not
only　of　those　whose　sheltered　lives　had　kept　them　fair　and　pure；
but　of　those　others　as　well；　sad…eyed　and　soul…stained；　the　cruel
sport　of　lustful　men。　　For　his　open　scorn　of　their　callous　lust
some　hated　him；　but　all　with　true　men's　hearts　loved　him。

The　club…rooms　were　filling　up；　the　various　games　were　in　full
swing。

〃Hello；　little　Merrill！〃　　Young　Merrill　looked　up　from　his　billiards。

〃Glengarry；　by　all　the　gods！〃　throwing　down　his　cue；　and　rushing　at
Ranald。　　〃Where　in　this　lonely　universe　have　you　been　these　many
months；　and　how　are　you；　old　chap？〃　　Merrill　was　excited。

〃All　right；　Merrill？〃　inquired　the　deep　voice。

〃Right；　so　help　me〃　exclaimed　Merrill；　solemnly；　lifting　up　his
hand。　　〃He's　inquiring　after　my　morals；〃　he　explained　to　the　men
who　were　crowding　about；　〃and　I　don't　give　a　blank　blank　who　knows
it；〃　continued　little　Merrill；　warmly；　〃my　present　magnificent
manhood；〃　smiting　himself　on　the　breast；　〃I　owe　to　that　same　dear
old　solemnity　there；〃　pointing　to　Ranald。

〃Shut　up；　Merrill；　or　I'll　spank　you；〃　said　Ranald。

〃You　will；　eh？〃　cried　Merrill；　looking　at　him。　　〃Look　at　him
vaunting　his　beastly　fitness　over　the　frail　and　weak。　　I　say；　men；
did　you　ever　behold　such　condition！　　See　that　clear　eye；　that
velvety　skin；　thatOh；　I　say！　pax！　pax！　peccavi！〃

〃There；〃　said　Ranald；　putting　him　down　from　the　billiard…table；
〃perhaps　you　will　learn　when　to　be　seen。〃

〃Brute；〃　murmured　little　Merrill；　rubbing　the　sore　place；　〃but
ain't　he　fit？〃　he　added；　delightedly。　　And　fit　he　looked。　　Four
years　of　hard　work　and　clean　living　had　done　for　him　everything
that　it　lies　in　years　to　do。　　They　had　made　of　the　lank；　raw；
shanty　lad　a　man；　and　such　a　man　as　a　sculptor　would　have　loved　to
behold。　　Straight　as　a　column　he　stood　two　inches　over　six　feet；
but　of　such　proportions　that　seeing　him　alone；　one　would　never　have
guessed　his　height。　　His　head　and　neck　rose　above　his　square
shoulders　with　perfect　symmetry　and　poise。　　His　dark　face；　tanned
now　to　a　bronze；　with　features　clear…cut　and　strong；　was　lit　by　a
pair　of　dark　brown　eyes；　honest；　fearless；　and　glowing　with　a
slumbering　fire　that　men　would　hesitate　to　stir　to　flame。　　The
lines　of　his　mouth　told　of　self…control；　and　the　cut　of　his　chin
proclaimed　a　will　of　iron；　and　altogether；　he　bore　himself　with　an
air　of　such　quiet　strength　and　cool　self…confidence　that　men　never
feared　to　follow　where　he　led。　　Yet　there　was　a　reserve　about　him
that　set　him　a　little　apart　from　men；　and　a　kind　of　shyness　that
saved　him　from　any　suspicion　of　self…assertion。　　In　vain　he　tried
to　escape　from　the　crowd　that　gathered　about　him；　and　more
especially　from　the　foot…ball　men；　who　utterly　adored　him。

〃You　can't　do　anything　for　a　fellow　that　doesn't　drink；〃　complained
Starry　Hamilton；　the　big　captain　of　the　foot…ball　team。

〃Drink！　a　nice　captain　you　are；　Starry；〃　said　Ranald；　〃and
Thanksgiving　so　near。〃

〃We　haven't　quite　shut　down　yet；〃　explained　the　captain。

〃Then　I　suppose　a　cigar　is　permitted；〃　replied　Ranald；　ordering　the
steward　to　bring　his　best。　　In　a　few　minutes　he　called　for　his
mail；　and　excusing　himself；　slipped　into　one　of　the　private　rooms。
The　manager　of　the　Raymond　&　St。　Clair　Company　and　prominent
clubman；　much　sought　after　in　social　circles；　he　was　bound　to　find
letters　of　importance　awaiting　him；　but　hastily　shuffling　the
bundle；　he　selected　three；　and　put　the　rest　in　his　pocket。

〃So　she's　back；〃　he　said　to　himself；　lifting　up　one　in　a　square
envelope；　addressed　in　large；　angular　writing。　　He　turned　it　over
in　his　hand；　feasting　his　eyes　upon　it；　as　a　boy　holds　a　peach；
prolonging　the　blissful　anticipation。　　Then　he　opened　it　slowly　and
read：


MY　DEAR　RANALD：　　All　the　way　home　I　was　hoping　that　on　my　return；
fresh　from　the　〃stately　homes　of　England；〃　and　from　association
with　lords　and　dukes　and　things；　you　would　be　here　to　receive　your
share　of　the　luster　and　aroma　my　presence　would　shed　（that's　a
little　mixed；　I　fear）；　but　with　a　most　horrible　indifference　to
your　privileges　you　are　away　at　the　earth's　end；　no　one　knows
where。　　Father　said　you　were　to　be　home　to…day；　so　though　you　don't
in　the　least　deserve　it；　I　am　writing　you　a　note　of　forgiveness；
and　will　you　be　sure　to　come　to　my　special　party　to…morrow　night？
I　put　it　off　till　to…morrow　solely　on　your　account；　and　in　spite　of
Aunt　Frank；　and　let　me　tell　you　that　though　I　have　seen　such　heaps
of　nice　men；　and　all　properly　dear　and　devoted；　still　I　want　to　see
you；　so　you　must　come。　　Everything　else　will　keep。　　Yours；

MAIMIE。


Over　and　over　again　he　read　the　letter；　till　the　fire　in　his　eyes
began　to　gleam　and　his　face　became　radiant　with　a　tender　glow。

〃'Yours；　Maimie；'　eh？　　I　wonder　now　what　she　means；〃　he　mused。
〃Seven　years　and　for　my　life　I　don't　know　yet；　but　to…morrow　night
yes；　to…morrow　night；　I　will　know！〃　　He　placed　the　letter　in　its
envelope　and　put　it　carefully　in　his　inside　pocket。　　〃Now　for　Kate；
dear　old　girl；　no　better　anywhere。〃　　He　opened　his　letter　and　read：


DEAR　RANALD：　　What　a　lot　of　people　will　be　delighted　to　see　you
back！　　First；　dear　old　Dr。　Marshall；　who　is　in　despair　over　the
Institute；　of　which　he　declares　only　a　melancholy　ruin　will　be　left
if　you　do　not　speedily　return。　　Indeed；　it　is　pretty　bad。　　The　boys
are　quite　terrible；　and　even　my　〃angels〃　are　becoming　infected。
Your　special　pet；　Coley；　after　reducing　poor　Mr。　Locke　to　the　verge
of　nervous　prostration；　has　〃quit；〃　and　though　I　have　sought　him　in
his　haunts；　and　used　my　very　choicest　blandishments；　he　remains
obdurate。　　To　my　remonstrances；　he　finally　deigned　to　reply：　　〃Naw；
they　ain't　none　of　'em　any　good　no　more；　them　ducks　is　too　pious
for　me。〃　　I　don't　know　whether　you　will　consider　that　a　compliment
or　not。　　So　the　Institute　and　all　its　people　will　welcome　you　with
acclaims　of　delight　and　sighs　of　relief。　　And　some　one　else　whom
you　adore；　and　who　adores　you；　will　rejoice　to　see　you。　　I　have
begged　her　from　Maimie　for　a　few　precious　days。　　But　that's　a
secret；　and　last　of　all　and　least　of　all；　there　is

Your　friend；

KATE。

P。　S。Of　course　you　will　be　at　the　party　to…morrow　night。　　Maimie
looks　lovelier　than　ever；　and　she　will　be　so　glad　to　see　you。

K。


〃What　a　trump　she　is；〃　murmured　Ranald；　〃unselfish；　honest　to　the
core；　and　steady　as　a　rock。　　'Some　one　else　whom　you　adore。'　　Who
can　that　be？　　By　Jove；　is　it　possible？　　I　will　go　right　up　to…night。〃

His　last　letter　was　from　Mr。　St。　Clair；　who　was　the　chief　executive
of　the　firm。　　He　glanced　over　it　hurriedly；　then　with　a　curious
blending　of　surprise；　perplexity；　and　dismay　on　his　face；　he　read
it　again　with　careful　deliberation：


MY　DEAR　RANALD：　　Welcome　home！　　We　shall　all　be　delighted　to　see
you。　　Your　letter　from　North　Bay；　which　reached　me　two　days　ago；
contained　information　that　places　us　in　rather　an　awkward　position。
Last　May；　just　after　you　left　for　the　north；　Colonel　Thorp；　of　the
British…American　Coal　and　Lumber　Company；　operating　in　British
Columbia　and　Michigan；　called　to　see　me；　and　made　an　offer　of
75；000　for　our　Bass　River　limits。　　Of　course　you　know　we　are
rather　anxious　to　unload；　and　at　first　I　regarded　his　offer　with
favor。　　Soon　afterwards　I　received　your　first　report；　sent
apparently　on　your　way　up。　　I　thereupon　refused　Colonel　Thorp's
offer。　　Then　evidently　upon　the　strength　of　your　report；　which　I
showed　him；　Colonel　Thorp；　who　by　the　way　is　a　very　fine　fellow；
but　a　very　shrewd　business　man；　raised　his　offer　to　an　even　hundred
thousand。　　This　offer　I　feel　inclined　to　accept。　　To　tell　you　the
truth；　we　have　more　standing　timber　than　we　can　handle；　and　as　you
know；　we　are　really　badly　crippled　for　ready　money。　　It　is　a　little
unfortunate　that　your　last　report　should　be　so　much　less　favorable
in　regard　to　the　east　half　of　the　limits。　　However；　I　don't　suppose
there　is　any　need　of　mentioning　that　to　Colonel　Thorp；　especially
as　his　company　are　getting　a　good　bargain　as　it　is；　and　one　which
of　themselves；　they　could　not　possibly　secure　from　the　government。
I　write　you　this　note　in　case　you　should　run　across　Colonel　Thorp
in　town　to…morrow；　and　inadvertently　say　something　that　might
complicate　matters。　　I　have　no　doubt　that　we　shall　be　able　to　close
the　deal　in　a　few　days。

Now　I　want　to　say　again　how　delighted　we　all　are　to　have　you　back。
We　never　realized　how　much　we　were　dependent　upon　you。　　Mr。　Raymond
and　I　have　been　talking　matters　over；　and　we　have　agreed　that　some
changes　ought　to　be　made；　which　I　venture　to　say　will　not　be
altogether　disagreeable　to　you。　　I　shall　see　you　first　thing　in　the
morning　about　the　matter　of　the　limits。

Maimie　has　got　home；　and　is；　I　believe；　expecting　you　at　her　party
to…morrow　night。　　Indeed；　I　understand　she　was　determined　that　it
should　not　come　off　until　you　had　returned；　which　shows　she　shares
the　opinion　of　the　firm　concerning　you。

I　am　yours　sincerely；

EUGENE　ST。　CLAIR。


Ranald　sat　staring　at　the　letter　for　a　long　time。　　He　saw　with
perfect　clearness　Mr。　St。　Clair's　meaning；　and　a　sense　of　keen
humiliation　possessed　him　as　he　realized　what　it　was　that　he　was
expected　to　do。　　But　it　took　some　time　for　the　full　significance　of
the　situation　to　dawn　upon　him。　　None　knew　better　than　he　how
important　it　was　to　the　firm　that　this　sale　should　be　effected。
The　truth　was　if　the　money　market　should　become　at　all　close　the
firm　would　undoubtedly　find　themselves　in　serious　difficulty。　　Ruin
to　the　company　meant　not　only　the　blasting　of　his　own　prospects；
but　misery　to　her　whom　he　loved　better　than　life；　and　after　all；
what　he　was　asked　to　do　was　nothing　more　than　might　be　done　any　day
in　the　world　of　business。　　Every　buyer　is　supposed　to　know　the
value　of　the　thing　he　buys；　and　certainly　Colonel　Thorp　should　not
commit　his　company　to　a　deal　involving　such　a　large　sum　of　money
without　thoroughly　informing　himself　in　regard　to　the　value　of　the
limits　in　question；　and　when　he；　as　an　employee　of　the　Raymond　and
St。　Clair　Lumber　Company；　gave　in　his　report；　surely　his
responsibility　ceased。　　He　was　not　asked　to　present　any　incorrect
report；　he　could　easily　make　it　convenient　to　be　absent　until　the
deal　was　closed。　　Furthermore；　the　chances　were　that　the　British…
American　Coal　and　Lumber　Company　would　still　have　good　value　for
their　money；　for　the　west　half　of　the　limits　was　exceptionally
good；　and　besides；　what　right　had　he　to　besmirch　the　honor　of　his
employer；　and　to　set　his　judgment　above　that　of　a　man　of　much
greater　experience？　　Ranald　understood　also　Mr。　St。　Clair's
reference　to　the　changes　in　the　firm；　and　it　gave　him　no　small
satisfaction　to　think　that　in　four　years　he　had　risen　from　the
position　of　lumber　checker　to　that　of　manager；　with　an　offer　of　a
partnership；　nor　could　he　mistake　the　suggestion　in　Mr。　St。