to him that hath-第3章

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let's　seetwelve；　was　it？〃

〃Yes；　twelve。　　And　I　felt　just　a　kid。〃

〃And　now？〃　　Captain　Jack's　voice　was　quite　grave。

〃Now？　　Well；　I　am　not　exactly　a　kid。　　At　least；　not　the　same　kind
of　kid。　　And；　as　you　say；　a　lot　of　things　are　different。　　I　think　I
know　how　you　feel。　　I　was　like　that；　tooafterafterHerbert〃
The　girl　paused；　with　her　lips　quivering。　　〃It　was　all　different
so　different。　　Everything　we　used　to　do；　I　didn't　feel　like　doing。
And　I　suppose　that's　the　way　with　you；　Captain　Jack；　with　Andyand
then　your　Mother；　too。〃　　She　leaned　close　to　him　and　put　her　hand
timidly　on　his　arm。

Captain　Jack；　sitting　up　very　straight　and　looking　very　grave；　felt
the　thrill　of　the　timid　touch　run　through　his　very　heart。　　A　rush
of　warm；　tender　emotion　such　as　he　had　not　allowed　himself　for　many
months　suddenly　surprised　him；　filling　his　eyes　and　choking　his
throat。　　Since　his　return　from　the　war　he　had　without　knowledge
been　yearning　for　just　such　an　understanding　touch　as　this　child
with　her　womanly　instinct　had　given　him。　　He　withdrew　one　hand　from
the　wheel　and　took　the　warm　clinging　fingers　tight　in　his　and
waited　in　silence　till　he　was　sure　of　himself。　　He　drove　some
blocks　before　he　was　quite　master　of　his　voice。　　Then；　releasing
the　fingers；　he　turned　his　face　toward　the　girl。

〃You　are　a　real　pal；　aren't　you；　Patsy　old　girl？〃　he　said　with　a
very　bright　smile　at　her。

〃I　want　to　be！　　Oh；　I　would　love　to　be！〃　she　said；　with　a　swift
intake　of　breath。　　〃And　after　a　while　you　will　be　just　as　you　were
before　you　went　away。〃

〃Hardly；　I　fear；　Patsy。〃

〃Well；　not　the　same；　but　different　from　what　you　are　now。　　No；　I
don't　mean　that　a　bit；　Captain　Jack。　　But　perhaps　you　knowI　do
want　to　see　you　on　the　ice　again。　　Oh；　it　would　be　wonderful！　　Of
course；　the　old　team　wouldn't　be　thereHerbert　and　Phil　and　Andy。
Why！　　You　are　the　only　one　left！　　And　Rupert。〃　　She　added　the　name
doubtfully。　　〃It　WOULD　be　different！　oh；　so　different！　　Oh！　I　don't
wonder　you　don't　care；　Captain　Jack。　　I　won't　wonder〃　　There　was
a　little　choke　in　the　young　voice。　　〃I　see　it　now〃

〃I　think　you　understand；　Patsy；　and　you　are　a　little　brick；〃　said
Captain　Jack　in　a　low；　hurried　tone。　　〃And　I　am　going　to　try。
Anyway；　whatever　happens；　we　will　be　pals。〃

The　girl　caught　his　arm　tight　in　her　clasped　hands　and　in　a　low
voice　she　said；　〃Always　and　always；　Captain　Jack；　and　evermore。〃
And　till　they　drew　up　at　the　Rectory　door　no　more　was　said。

Maitland　drove　homeward　through　the　mellow　autumn　evening　with　a
warmer；　kindlier　glow　in　his　heart　than　he　had　known　through　all
the　dreary　weeks　that　had　followed　his　return　from　the　war。　　For
the　war　had　wrought　desolation　for　him　in　a　home　once　rich　in　the
things　that　make　life　worth　while；　by　taking　from　it　his　mother；
whose　rare　soul　qualities　had　won　and　held　through　her　life　the
love；　the　passionate；　adoring　love　of　her　sons；　and　his　twin
brother；　the　comrade；　chum；　friend　of　all　his　days；　with　whose　life
his　own　had　grown　into　a　complete　and　ideal　unity；　deprived　of　whom
his　life　was　left　like　a　body　from　whose　raw　and　quivering　flesh
one…half　had　been　torn　away。

The　war　had　left　his　life　otherwise　bruised　and　maimed　in　ways
known　only　to　himself。

Returning　thus　from　his　soul…devastating　experience　of　war　to　find
his　life　desolate　and　maimed　in　all　that　gave　it　value；　he　made　the
appalling　discovery　that　he　was　left　almost　alone　of　all　whom　he
had　known　and　loved　in　past　days。　　For　of　his　close　friends　none
were　left　as　before。　　For　the　most　part　they　were　lying　on　one　or
other　of　the　five　battle　fronts　of　the　war。　　Others　had　found
service　in　other　spheres。　　Only　one　was　still　in　his　home　town；
poor　old　Phil　Amory；　Frances'　brother；　half…blind　in　his　darkened
room；　but　to　bring　anything　of　his　own　heart　burden　to　that　brave
soul　seemed　sacrilege　or　worse。　　True　enough；　he　was　passing
through　the　new　and　thrilling　experience　of　making　acquaintance
with　his　father。　　But　old　Grant　Maitland　was　a　hard　man　to　know；
and　they　were　too　much　alike　in　their　reserve　and　in　their　poverty
of　self…expression　to　make　mutual　acquaintance　anything　but　a　slow
and　in　some　ways　a　painful　process。

Hence　in　Maitland's　heart　there　was　an　almost　extravagant　gratitude
toward　this　young　generous…hearted　girl　whose　touch　had　thrilled
his　heart　and　whose　voice　with　its　passionate　note　of　loyal　and
understanding　comradeship　still　sang　like　music　in　his　soul；
〃Always　and　always；　Captain　Jack；　and　evermore。〃

〃By　Jove；　I　have　got　to　find　some　way　of　playing　up　to　that；〃　he
said　aloud；　as　he　turned　from　the　gravelled　driveway　into　the
street。　　And　in　the　months　that　followed　he　was　to　find　that　the
search　to　which　he　then　committed　himself　was　to　call　for　the
utmost　of　the　powers　of　soul　which　were　his。



CHAPTER　II

THE　COST　OF　SACRIFICE


Perrotte　was　by　all　odds　the　best　all…round　man　in　the　planing
mill；　and　for　the　simple　reason　that　for　fifteen　years　he　had
followed　the　lumber　from　the　raw　wood　through　the　various　machines
till　he　knew　woods　and　machines　and　their　ways　as　no　other　in　the
mill　unless　it　was　old　Grant　Maitland　himself。　　Fifteen　years　ago
Perrotte　had　drifted　down　from　the　woods；　beating　his　way　on　a
lumber　train；　having　left　his　winter's　pay　behind　him　at　the　verge
of　civilisation；　with　old　Joe　Barbeau　and　Joe's　〃chucker　out。〃　　It
was　the　〃chucker　out〃　that　dragged　him　out　of　the　〃snake　room〃　and；
all　unwitting；　had　given　him　a　flying　start　toward　a　better　life。
Perrotte　came　to　Maitland　when　the　season's　work　was　at　its　height
and　every　saw　and　planer　were　roaring　night　and　day。

〃Want　a　job？〃　Maitland　had　shouted　over　the　tearing　saw　at　him。
〃What　can　you　do？〃

〃（H）axe…man　me；〃　growled　Perrotte；　looking　up　at　him；　half　wistful；
half　sullen。

〃See　that　slab？　　Grab　it；　pile　it　yonder。　　The　boards；　slide　over
the　shoot。〃　　For　these　were　still　primitive　days　for　labor…saving
devices；　and　men　were　still　the　cheapest　thing　about　a　mill。

Perrotte　grabbed　the　slab；　heaved　it　down　to　its　pile　of　waste；　the
next　board　he　slid　into　the　shoot；　and　so　continued　till　noon　found
him　pale　and　staggering。

〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃　said　Maitland。

〃Nottingme　bon；〃　said　Perrotte；　and；　clutching　at　the　door　jamb；
hung　there　gasping。

Maitland's　keen　blue　eyes　searched　his　face。　　〃Huh！　　When　did　you
last　eat？　　Come！　　No　lying！〃

〃Two　day；〃　said　Perrotte；　fighting　for　breath　and　nerve。

〃Here；　boy；〃　shouted　Maitland　to　a　chore　lad　slouching　by；　〃jump
for　that　cook　house　and　fetch　a　cup　of　coffee；　and　be　quick。〃

The　boss'　tone　injected　energy　into　the　gawky　lad。　　In　three
minutes　Perrotte　was　seated　on　a　pile　of　slabs；　drinking　a　cup　of
coffee；　in　five　minutes　more　he　stood　up；　ready　for　〃（h）anny　man；
（h）anny　ting。〃　　But　Maitland　took　him　to　the　cook。

〃Fill　this　man　up；〃　he　said；　〃and　then　show　him　where　to　sleep。
And；　Perrotte；　to…morrow　morning　at　seven　you　be　at　the　tail　of　the
saw。〃

〃Oui；　by　gar！　　Perrotte　be　dere。　　And　you　got　one　good　man　TOO…day；
for　sure。〃

That　was　fifteen　years　ago；　and；　barring　certain　〃jubilations；〃
Perrotte　made　good　his　prophecy。　　He　brought　up　from　the　Ottawa　his
Irish　wife；　a　clever　woman　with　her　tongue　but　a　housekeeper　that
scandalised　her　thrifty；　tidy；　French…Canadian　mother…in…law；　and
his　two　children；　a　boy　and　a　girl。　　Under　the　supervision　of　his
boss　he　made　for　his　family　a　home　and　for　himself　an　assured　place
in　the　Blackwater　Mills。　　His　children　fell　into　the　hands　of　a
teacher　with　a　true　vocation　for　his　great　work　and　a　passion　for
young　life。　　Under　his　hand　the　youth　of　the　rapidly　growing　mill
village　were　saved　from　the　sordid　and　soul…debasing　influences　of
their　environment；　were　led　out　of　the　muddy　streets　and　can…strewn
back　yards　to　those　far　heights　where　dwell　the　high　gods　of　poesy
and　romance。　　From　the　master；　too；　they　learned　to　know　their　own
wonderful　woods　out　of　which　the　near…by　farms　had　been　hewn。　　Many
a　home；　too；　owed　its　bookshelf　to　Alex　Day's　unobtrusive
suggestions。

The　Perrotte　children　were　prepared　for　High　School　by　the　master's
quiet　but　determined　persistence。　　To　the　father　he　held　up　the
utilitarian　advantages　of　an　education。

〃Your　boy　is　quickwhy　should　not　Tony　be　a　master　of　men　some
day？　　Give　him　a　chance　to　climb。〃

〃Oui；　by　gar！　　Antoine　he's　smart　lee'le　feller。　　I　mak　him　steeck
on　his　book；　you　mak　him　one　big　boss　on　some　mill。〃

To　the　mother　the　master　spoke　of　social　advantages。　　The　empty…
headed　Irish　woman　who　had　all　the　quick　wit　and　cleverness　of
tongue　characteristic　of　her　race　was　determined　that　her　girl
Annette　should　learn　to　be　as　stylish　as　〃them　that　tho't
themselves　her　betters。〃　　So　the　children　were　kept　at　school　by
their　fondly　ambitious　parents；　and　the　master　did　the　rest。

At　the　Public　School；　that　greatest　of　all　democratic　institutions；
the　Perrotte　children　met　the　town　youth　of　their　own　age；　giving
and　taking　on　equal　terms；　sharing　common　privileges　and　advantages
and　growing　into　a　community　solidarity　all　their　own；　which　in
later　years　brought　its　own　harvest　of　mingling　joy　and　bitterness；
but　which　on　the　whole　made　for　sound　manhood　and　womanhood。

With　the　girl　Annette　one　effect　of　the　Public　School　and　its
influences；　educational　and　social；　was　to　reveal　to　her　the　depth
of　the　educational　and　social　pit　from　which　she　had　been　taken。
Her　High　School　training　might　have　fitted　her　for　the　teaching
profession　and　completed　her　social　emancipation　but　for　her　vain
and　thriftless　mother；　who；　socially　ambitious　for　herself　but　more
for　her　handsome；　clever　children；　found　herself　increasingly
embarrassed　for　funds。　　She　lacked　the　means　with　which　to　suitably
adorn　herself　and　her　children　for　the　station　in　life　to　which　she
aspired　and　for　which　good　clothes　were　the　prime　equipment　and　to
〃eddicate〃　Tony　as　he　deserved。　　Hence　when　Annette　had　completed
her　second　year　at　the　High　School　her　mother　withdrew　her　from　the
school　and　its　associations　and　found　her　a　place　in　the　new　Fancy
Box　Factory；　where　girls　could　obtain　〃an　illigant　and　refoined　job
with　good　pay　as　well。〃

This　change　in　Annette's　outlook　brought　wrathful　disappointment　to
the　head　master；　Alex　Day；　who　had　taken　a　very　special　pride　in
Annette's　brilliant　school　career　and　who　had　outlined　for　her　a
University　course。　　To　Annette　herself　the　ending　of　her　school
days　was　a　bitter　grief；　the　bitterness　of　which　would　have　been
greatly　intensified　had　she　been　able　to　measure　the　magnitude　of
the　change　to　be　wrought　in　her　life　by　her　mother's　foolish　vanity
and　unwise　preference　of　her　son's　to　her　daughter's　future。

The　determining　factor　in　Annette's　submission　to　her　mother's　will
was　consideration　for　her　brother　and　his　career。　　For　while　for
her　father　she　cherished　an　affectionate　pride　and　for　her　mother
an　amused　and　protective　pity；　her　great　passion　was　for　her
brotherher　handsome；　vivacious；　audacious　and　mercurial　brother；
Tony。　　With　him　she　counted　it　only　joy　to　share　her　all　too　meagre
wages　whenever　he　found　himself　in　financial　straits。　　And　a　not
infrequent　situation　this　was　with　Tony；　who；　while