the man from glengarry-第57章

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Kate　had　grown　to　be　much　to　him。　　She　had　in　many　ways　helped　him
in　his　work。　　The　thought　of　her　and　her　approval　had　brought　him
inspiration　and　strength　in　many　an　hour　of　weakness　and　loneliness。
She　had　been　so　loyal　and　so　true　from　the　very　first；　and　it　was　a
bitter　thing　to　feel　that　another　had　come　between　them。　　Over　and
over　again　he　accused　himself　of　sheer　madness。　　Why　should　she　not
love　Harry？　　That　need　not　make　her　any　less　his　friend。　　But　in
spite　of　his　arguments；　he　found　himself　weary　of　the　East　and　eager
to　turn　away　from　it。　　He　must　hurry　on　at　once　to　Ottawa；　and　with
all　speed　get　done　his　business　there。

At　Chicago　he　left　the　colonel　with　a　promise　to　meet　him　in　three
weeks　at　the　headquarters　of　the　British…American　Coal　and　Lumber
Company　at　Bay　City。　　He　wired　to　Ottawa；　asking　an　appointment
with　the　government；　and　after　three　days'　hard　travel　found
himself　in　the　capital　of　the　Dominion。　　The　premier；　Sir　John　A。
Macdonald；　with　the　ready　courtesy　characteristic　of　him；
immediately　arranged　for　a　hearing　of　the　delegation　from　British
Columbia。　　Ranald　was　surprised　at　the　indifference　with　which　he
approached　this　meeting。　　He　seemed　to　have　lost　capacity　for　keen
feeling　of　any　kind。　　Sir　John　A。　MacDonald　and　his　cabinet
received　the　delegation　with　great　kindness；　and　in　every　possible
way　strove　to　make　them　feel　that　the　government　was　genuinely
interested　in　the　western　province；　and　were　anxious　to　do　all　that
could　be　done　in　their　interest。　　In　the　conference　that　ensued；
the　delegate　for　Victoria　took　a　more　prominent　part；　being　an
older　man；　and　representing　the　larger　and　more　important
constituency。　　But　when　Sir　John　began　to　ask　questions；　the
Victoria　delegate　was　soon　beyond　his　depth。　　The　premier　showed
such　an　exactness　of　knowledge　and　comprehensiveness　of　grasp　that
before　long　Ranald　was　appealed　to　for　information　in　regard　to　the
resources　of　the　country；　and　especially　the　causes　and　extent　of
the　present　discontent。

〃The　causes　of　discontent　are　very　easy　to　see；　〃　said　Ranald；
〃all　British　Columbians　feel　hurt　at　the　failure　of　the　Dominion
government　to　keep　its　solemn　obligations。〃

〃Is　there　nothing　else　now；　Mr。　Macdonald？〃

〃There　may　be；〃　said　Ranald；　〃some　lingering　impatience　with　the
government　by　different　officials；　and　there　is　a　certain　amount　of
annexation　sentiment。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　Sir　John；　〃I　think　we　have　our　finger　upon　it　now。〃

〃Do　not　over…estimate　that；〃　said　Ranald；　〃I　believe　that　there　are
only　a　very　few　with　annexation　sentiments；　and　all　these　are　of
American　birth。　　The　great　body　of　the　people　are　simply　indignant
at；　and　disappointed　with；　the　Dominion　government。〃

〃And　would　you　say　there　is　no　other　cause　of　discontent；　Mr。
Macdonald？〃　said　Sir　John；　with　a　keen　look　at　Ranald。

〃There　is　another　cause；　I　believe；〃　said　Ranald；　〃and　that　is　the
party　depression；　but　that　depression　is　due　to　the　uncertainty　in
regard　to　the　political　future　of　the　province。　　When　once　we　hear
that　the　railroad　is　being　built；　political　interest　will　revive。〃

〃May　I　ask　where　you　were　born？〃　said　Sir　John。

〃In　Glengarry；〃　said　Ranald；　with　a　touch　of　pride　in　his　voice。

〃Ah；　I　am　afraid　your　people　are　not　great　admirers　of　my　government；
and　perhaps　you；　Mr。　Macdonald；　share　in　the　opinion　of　your　county。〃

〃I　have　no　opinion　in　regard　to　Dominion　politics。　　I　am　for
British　Columbia。〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Macdonald；〃　said　Sir　John；　rising；　〃that　is　right；　and
you　ought　to　have　your　road。〃

〃Do　I　understand　you　to　say　that　the　government　will　begin　to　build
the　road　at　once？〃　said　Ranald。

〃Ah；〃　smiled　Sir　John；　〃I　see　you　want　something　definite。〃

〃I　have　come　two　thousand　miles　to　get　it。　　The　people　that　sent　me
will　be　content　with　nothing　else。　　It　is　a　serious　time　with　us；
and　I　believe　with　the　whole　of　the　Dominion。〃

〃Mr。　Macdonald；〃　said　Sir　John；　becoming　suddenly　grave；　〃believe
me；　it　is　a　more　serious　time　than　you　know；　but　you　trust　me　in
this　matter。〃

〃Will　the　road　be　begun　this　year？〃　said　Ranald。

〃All　I　can　say　to…day；　Mr。　Macdonald；〃　said　Sir　John；　earnestly；
〃is　this；　that　if　I　can　bring　it　about；　the　building　of　the　road
will　be　started　at　once。〃

〃Then；　Sir　John；〃　said　Ranald；　〃you　may　depend　that　British
Columbia　will　be　grateful　to　you；〃　and　the　interview　was　over。

Outside　the　room；　he　found　Captain　De　Lacy　awaiting　him。

〃By　Jove；　Macdonald；　I　have　been　waiting　here　three…quarters　of　an
hour。　　Come　along。　　Maimie　has　an　afternoon　right　on；　and　you　are
our　lion。〃　　Ranald　would　have　refused；　but　De　Lacy　would　not　accept
any　apology；　and　carried　him　off。

Maimie's　rooms　were　crowded　with　all　the　great　social　and　political
people　of　the　city。　　With　an　air　of　triumph；　De　Lacy　piloted　Ranald
through　the　crowd　and　presented　him　to　Maimie。　　Ranald　was　surprised
to　find　himself　shaking　hands　with　the　woman　he　had　once　loved；　with
unquickened　pulse　and　nerves　cool　and　steady。　　Here　Maimie；　who　was
looking　more　beautiful　than　ever；　and　who　was　dressed　in　a　gown　of
exquisite　richness；　received　Ranald　with　a　warmth　that　was　almost
enthusiastic。

〃How　famous　you　have　become；　Mr。　Macdonald；〃　she　said；　offering　him
her　hand；　〃we　are　all　proud　to　say　that　we　know　you。〃

〃You　flatter　me；〃　said　Ranald；　bowing　over　her　hand。

〃No；　indeed。　　Every　one　is　talking　of　the　young　man　from　the　West。
And　how　handsome　you　are；　Ranald；〃　she　said；　in　a　low　voice；
leaning　toward　him；　and　flashing　at　him　one　of　her　old…time
glances。

〃I　am　not　used　to　that；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　can　only　reply　as　we　used
to　in　school；　'You；　too。'〃

〃Oh；　now　you　flatter　me；〃　cried　Maimie；　gayly；　〃but　let　me　introduce
you　to　my　dear　friend；　Lady　Mary　Rivers。　　Lady　Mary；　this　is　Mr。
Macdonald　from　British　Columbia；　you　know。〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Lady　Mary；　with　a　look　of　intelligence　in　her
beautiful　dark　eyes；　〃I　have　heard　a　great　deal　about　you。　　Let　me
see；　you　opposed　separation；　saved　the　Dominion；　in　short。〃

〃Did　I；　really？〃　said　Ranald；　〃and　never　knew　it。〃

〃You　see；　he　is　not　only　famous　but　modest；〃　said　Maimie；　〃but　that
is　an　old　characteristic　of　his。　　I　knew　Mr。　Macdonald　a　very　long
time　ago。〃

〃Very；〃　said　Ranald。

〃When　we　were　quite　young。〃

〃Very　young；〃　replied　Ranald；　with　great　emphasis。

〃And　doubtless　very　happy；〃　said　Lady　Mary。

〃Happy；〃　said　Ranald；　〃yes；　so　happy　that　I　can　hardly　bear　to
think　of　those　days。〃

〃Why　so？〃　inquired　Lady　Mary。

〃Because　they　are　gone。〃

〃But　all　days　go　and　have　to　be　parted　with。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　Lady　Mary。　　That　is　true　and　so　many　things　die　with
them；　as；　for　instance；　our　youthful　beliefs　and　enthusiasms。　　I
used　to　believe　in　every　one；　Lady　Mary。〃

〃And　now　in　no　one？〃

〃God　forbid！　　I　discriminate。〃

〃Now；　Lady　Mary；〃　replied　Maimie；　〃I　want　my　lion　to　be　led　about
and　exhibited；　and　I　give　him　over　to　you。〃

For　some　time　Ranald　stood　near；　chatting　to　two　or　three　people　to
whom　Lady　Mary　had　introduced　him；　but　listening　eagerly　all　the
while　to　Maimie　talking　to　the　men　who　were　crowded　about　her。　　How
brilliantly　she　talked；　finding　it　quite　within　her　powers　to　keep
several　men　busy　at　the　same　time；　and　as　Ranald　listened　to　her
gay；　frivolous　talk；　more　and　more　he　became　conscious　of　an
unpleasantness　in　her　tone。　　It　was　thin；　shallow；　and　heartless。

〃Can　it　be　possible；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃that　once　she　had　the
power　to　make　my　heart　quicken　its　beat？〃

〃Tell　me　about　the　West；〃　Lady　Mary　was　saying；　when　Ranald　came　to
himself。

〃If　I　begin　about　the　West；〃　he　replied；　〃I　must　have　both　time　and
space　to　deliver　myself。〃

〃Come；　then。　　We　shall　find　a　corner；〃　said　Lady　Mary；　and　for　half
an　hour　did　Ranald　discourse　to　her　of　the　West；　and　so　eloquently
that　Lady　Mary　quite　forgot　that　he　was　a　lion　and　that　she　had
been　intrusted　with　the　duty　of　exhibiting　him。　　By　and　by　Maimie
found　them。

〃Now；　Lady　Mary；　you　are　very　selfish；　for　so　many　people　are
wanting　to　see　our　hero；　and　here　is　the　premier　wanting　to　see
you。〃

〃Ah；　Lady　Mary；〃　said　Sir　John；　〃you　have　captured　the　man　from
Glengarry；　I　see。〃

〃I　hope　so；　indeed；〃　said　Lady　Mary；　〃but　why　from　Glengarry？　　He
is　from　the　West；　is　he　not？〃

〃Once　from　Glengarry；　now　from　the　West；　and　I　hope　he　will　often
come　from　the　West；　and　he　will；　no　doubt；　if　those　people　know
what　is　good　for　them。〃　　And　Sir　John；　skillfully　drawing　Ranald
aside；　led　him　to　talk　of　the　political　situation　in　British
Columbia；　now　and　then　putting　a　question　that　revealed　a　knowledge
so　full　and　accurate　that　Ranald　exclaimed；　suddenly；　〃Why；　Sir
John；　you　know　more　about　the　country　than　I　do！〃

〃Not　at　all；　not　at　all；〃　replied　Sir　John；　and　then；　lowering　his
voice　to　a　confidential　tone；　he　added；　〃You　are　the　first　man　from
that　country　that　knows　what　I　want　to　know。〃　　And　once　more　he
plied　Ranald　with　questions；　listening　eagerly　and　intelligently　to
the　answers　so　enthusiastically　given。

〃We　want　to　make　this　Dominion　a　great　empire；〃　said　Sir　John；　as
he　said　good　by　to　Ranald；　〃and　we　are　going　to　do　it；　but　you　and
men　like　you　in　the　West　must　do　your　part。〃

Ranald　was　much　impressed　by　the　premier's　grave　earnestness。

〃I　will　try；　Sir　John；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　shall　go　back　feeling
thankful　that　you　are　going　to　show　us　the　way。〃

〃Going　so　soon？〃　said　Maimie；　when　he　came　to　say　good　by。　　〃Why　I
have　seen　nothing　of　you；　and　I　have　not　had　a　moment　to　offer　you
my　congratulations；〃　she　said；　with　a　significant　smile。　　Ranald
bowed　his　thanks。

〃And　Kate；　dear　girl；〃　went　on　Maimie；　〃she　never　comes　to　see　me
now；　but　I　am　glad　she　will　be　so　happy。〃

Ranald　looked　at　her　steadily　for　a　moment　or　two；　and　then　said；
quietly；　〃I　am　sure　I　hope　so；　and　Harry　is　a　very　lucky　chap。〃

〃Oh；　isn't　he；〃　cried　Maimie；　〃and　he　is　just　daft　about　her。　　Must
you　go？　　I　am　so　sorry。　　I　wanted　to　talk　about　old　times；　the　dear
old　days。〃　　The　look　in　Maimie's　eyes　said　much　more　than　her
words。

〃Yes；〃　said　Ranald；　with　an　easy；　frank　smile；　〃they　were　dear
days；　indeed；　I　often　think　of　them。　　And　now　I　must　really　go。
Say　good　by　to　De　Lacy　for　me。〃

He　came　away　from　her　with　an　inexplicable　feeling　of　exultation。
He　had　gone　with　some　slight　trepidation　in　his　heart；　to　meet　her；
and　it　was　no　small　relief　to　him　to　discover　that　she　had　lost　all
power　over　him。

〃What　sort　of　man　could　I　have　been；　I　wonder？〃　he　asked　himself；
〃and　it　was　only　three　years　ago。〃

Near　the　door　Lady　Mary　stopped　him。　　〃Going　so　early；　and　without
saying　good　by？〃　she　said；　reproachfully。

〃I　must　leave　town　to…night；〃　he　replied；　〃but　I　am　glad　to　say
good　by　to　you。〃

〃I　think　you　ought　to　stay。　　I　am　sure　His　Excellency　wants　to　see
you。〃

〃I　am　sure　you　are　good　to　think　so；　but　I　am　also　quite　sure　that
he　has　never　given　a　thought　to　my　insignificant　self。〃

〃Indeed　he　has。　　Now；　can't　you　stay　a　few　days？　　I　want　to　see
morewe　all　want　to　hear　more　about　the　West。〃

〃You　will　never　know　the　West　by　hearing　of　it；〃　said　Ranald；
offering　his　hand。

〃Good　by；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　coming。〃

〃Good；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　look　for　you。〃