the major-第23节

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Kathleen　hesitated。　　〃Come；　we'll　beat　them　out。　　Right　turn；　march。〃

The　commanding　tones　of　the　young　man　appeared　to　dominate　the　girl。　　She　set　her　horse　to　the　steep　hillside；　following　her　companion　to　the　right。　　A　steep　climb　through　a　tangle　of　underbrush　brought　them　into　the　cleared　woods；　where　they　paused　to　breathe　their　animals。

〃Ah；　that　was　splendidly　done。　　You　are　a　good　horsewoman；〃　said　Ernest。　　〃If　you　only　had　a　horse　as　good　as　mine　we　could　go　anywhere　together。　　You　deserve　a　better　horse；　too。　　I　wonder　if　you　know　how　fine　you　look。〃

〃My　dear　old　Kitty　is　not　very　quick　nor　very　beautiful；　but　she　is　very　faithful；　and　so　kind；〃　said　Kathleen；　reaching　down　and　patting　her　mare　on　the　nose。　　〃Shall　we　go　on？〃

〃We　need　not　hurry；〃　replied　her　companion。　　〃We　have　beaten　them　already。　　I　love　the　woods　here；　and；　Kathleen；　I　have　not　seen　you　for　ever　so　long；　for　nine　long　months。　　And　since　your　return　fifteen　days　ago　I　have　seen　you　only　once；　only　once。〃

〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　Kathleen；　hurrying　her　horse　a　little。　　〃We　happened　to　be　out　every　time　you　called。〃

〃Other　people　have　seen　you；〃　continued　the　young　man　with　a　note　almost　of　anger　in　his　voice。　　〃Everywhere　I　hear　of　you；　but　I　cannot　see　you。　　At　churchI　go　to　church　to　see　youbut　that；　that　Englishman　is　with　you。　　He　walks　with　you；　you　go　in　his　motor　car；　he　is　in　your　house　every　day。〃

〃What　are　you　talking　about；　Ernest？　　Mr。　Romayne？　　Of　course。　Mother　likes　him　so　much；　and　we　all　like　him。〃

〃Your　mother；　ah！〃　　Ernest's　tone　was　full　of　scorn。

〃Yes；　my　motherwe　all　like　him；　and　his　sister；　Mrs。　Waring…　Gaunt；　you　know。　　They　are　our　nearest　neighbours；　and　we　have　come　to　know　them　very　well。　　Shall　we　go　on？〃

〃Kathleen；　listen　to　me；〃　said　the　young　man。

At　this　point　a　long　call　came　across　the　ravine。

〃Ah；　there　they　are；〃　cried　the　girl。　　〃Let's　hurry；　please　do。〃　She　brought　her　whip　down　unexpectedly　on　Kitty's　shoulders。　　The　mare；　surprised　at　such　unusual　treatment　from　her　mistress；　sprang　forward；　slipped　on　the　moss…covered　sloping　rock；　plunged；　recovered　herself；　slipped　again；　and　fell　over　on　her　side。　　At　her　first　slip；　the　young　man　was　off　his　horse；　and　before　the　mare　finally　pitched　forward　was　at　her　head；　and　had　caught　the　girl　from　the　saddle　into　his　arms。　　For　a　moment　she　lay　there　white　and　breathing　hard。

〃My　God；　Kathleen！〃　he　cried。　　〃You　are　hurt？　　You　might　have　been　killed。〃　　His　eyes　burned　like　two　blazing　lights；　his　voice　was　husky；　his　face　white。　　Suddenly　crushing　her　to　him；　he　kissed　her　on　the　cheek　and　again　on　her　lips。　　The　girl　struggled　to　get　free。

〃Oh；　let　me　go；　let　me　go；〃　she　cried。　　〃How　can　you；　how　can　you？〃

But　his　arms　were　like　steel　about　her；　and　again　and　again　he　continued　to　kiss　her；　until；　suddenly　relaxing；　she　lay　white　and　shuddering　in　his　arms。

〃Kathleen；〃　he　said；　his　voice　hoarse　with　passion；　〃I　love　you；　I　love　you。　　I　want　you。　　Gott　in　Himmel；　I　want　you。　　Open　your　eyes；　Kathleen；　my　darling。　　Speak　to　me。　　Open　your　eyes。　　Look　at　me。　　Tell　me　you　love　me。〃　　But　still　she　lay　white　and　shuddering。　Suddenly　he　released　her　and　set　her　on　her　feet。　　She　stood　looking　at　him　with　quiet；　searching　eyes。

〃You　love　me；〃　she　said；　her　voice　low　and　quivering　with　a　passionate　scorn；　〃and　you　treat　me　so？　　Let　us　go。〃　　She　moved　toward　her　horse。

〃Kathleen；　hear　me；〃　he　entreated。　　〃You　must　hear　me。　　You　shall　hear　me。〃　　He　caught　her　once　more　by　the　arm。　　〃I　forgot　myself。　I　saw　you　lying　there　so　white。　　How　could　I　help　it？　　I　meant　no　harm。　　I　have　loved　you　since　you　were　a　little　girl；　since　that　day　I　saw　you　first　herding　the　cattle。　　You　had　a　blue　dress　and　long　braids。　　I　loved　you　then。　　I　have　loved　you　every　day　since。　I　think　of　you　and　I　dream　of　you。　　The　world　is　full　of　you。　　I　am　offering　you　marriage。　　I　want　you　to　be　my　wife。〃　　The　hands　that　clutched　her　arm　were　shaking；　his　voice　was　thick　and　broken。　　But　still　she　stood　with　her　face　turned　from　him；　quietly　trying　to　break　from　his　grasp。　　But　no　word　did　she　speak。

〃Kathleen；　I　forgot　myself；〃　he　said；　letting　go　of　her　arm。　　〃I　was　wrong；　but；　my　God；　Kathleen；　I　am　not　stone；　and　when　I　felt　your　heart　beat　against　mine〃

〃Oh；〃　she　cried；　shuddering　and　drawing　further　away　from　him。

〃and　your　face　so　white；　your　dear　face　so　near　mine；　I　forgot　myself。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　girl；　turning　her　face　toward　him　and　searching　him　with　her　quiet；　steady；　but　contemptuous　eyes；　〃you　forgot　me。〃



CHAPTER　IX

EXCEPT　HE　STRIVE　LAWFULLY


The　Wolf　Willow　Dominion　Day　Celebration　Committee　were　in　session　in　the　schoolhouse　with　the　Reverend　Evans　Rhye　in　the　chair；　and　all　of　the　fifteen　members　in　attendance。　　The　reports　from　the　various　sub…committees　had　been　presented　and　approved。

The　programme　for　the　day　was　in　the　parson's　hand。　　〃A　fine　programme；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　thanks　to　you　all；　and　especially　to　our　friend　here；〃　said　Mr。　Rhye；　placing　his　hand　on　Larry's　shoulder。

A　chorus　of　approval　greeted　his　remark；　but　Larry　protested。　　〃Not　at　all。　　Every　one　was　keen　to　help。　　We　are　all　tremendous　Canadians　and　eager　to　celebrate　Dominion　Day。〃

〃Well；　let　us　go　over　it　again；〃　said　Mr。　Rhye。　　〃The　football　match　with　the　Eagle　Hill　boys　is　all　right。　　How　about　the　polo　match　with　the　High　River　men；　Larry？〃

〃The　captain　of　the　High　River　team　wrote　to　express　regret　that　two　of　his　seniors　would　not　be　available；　but　that　he　hoped　to　give　us　a　decent　game。〃

〃There　will　only　be　one　fault　with　the　dinner　and　the　tea；　Mrs。　Kemp。〃

〃And　what　will　that　be；　sir？〃　enquired　Mrs。　Kemp；　who　happened　to　be　Convener　of　the　Refreshment　Committee。

〃They　will　receive　far　too　much　for　their　money；〃　said　Mr。　Rhye。　〃How　about　the　evening　entertainment；　Larry？〃　he　continued。

〃Everything　is　all　right；　I　think；　sir；〃　said　Larry。

〃Are　the　minstrels　in　good　form？〃　enquired　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　〃This　is　your　last　appearance；　you　know；　and　you　must　go　out　in　a　blaze　of　glory。〃

〃We　hope　to　get　through　somehow；〃　said　Larry。

〃And　the　speakers？〃　enquired　Mr。　Rhye。

〃Both　will　be　on　hand。　　Mr。　Gilchrist　promises　a　patriotic　address。　Mr。　Alvin　P。　Jones　will　represent　Wolf　Willow　in　a　kind　of　local　glorification　stunt。〃

〃This　is　all　perfectly　splendid；〃　said　Mr。　Rhye；　〃and　I　cannot　tell　you　how　grateful　I　am　to　you　all。　　We　ought　to　have　a　memorable　day　to…morrow。〃

And　a　memorable　day　it　was。　　The　weather　proved　worthy　of　Alberta's　best　traditions；　for　it　was　sunny；　with　a　fine　sweeping　breeze　to　temper　the　heat　and　to　quicken　the　pulses　with　its　life…bringing　ozone　fresh　from　the　glacier　gorges　and　the　pine　forests　of　the　Rockies。

The　captain　of　the　Wolf　Willow　football　team　was　awake　and　afoot　soon　after　break　of　day　that　he　might　be　in　readiness　for　the　Eagle　Hill　team　when　they　arrived。　　Sam　was　in　his　most　optimistic　mood。　His　team；　he　knew；　were　in　the　finest　condition　and　fit　for　their　finest　effort。　　Everything　promised　victory。　　But　alas！　for　Sam's　hopes。　　At　nine　o'clock　a　staggering　blow　fell　when　Vial；　his　partner　on　the　right　wing　of　the　forward　line；　rode　over　with　the　news　that　Coleman；　their　star　goal…keeper；　their　ultimate　reliance　on　the　defence　line；　had　been　stepped　on　by　a　horse　and　rendered　useless　for　the　day。　　It　was；　indeed；　a　crushing　calamity。　　Sam　spent　an　hour　trying　to　dig　up　a　substitute。　　The　only　possible　substitutes　were　Hepworth　and　Biggs；　neither　of　them　first　class　men　but　passable；　and　Fatty　Rose。　　The　two　former；　however；　had　gone　for　the　day　to　Calgary；　and　Fatty　Rose　was　hopelessly　slow。　Sam　discussed　the　distressing　situation　with　such　members　of　the　team　as　could　be　hastily　got　together。

〃Dere's　dat　new　feller；〃　suggested　Joe。

〃That's　so；〃　said　Vial；　familiarly　known　as　Bottles。　　〃That　chap　Sykes；　Farwell's　friend。　　He's　a　dandy　dribbler。　　He　could　take　Cassap's　place　on　left　wing　and　let　Cassap　take　goal。〃

With　immense　relief　the　team　accepted　this　solution　of　the　difficulty。　　But　gloom　still　covered　Sam's　face。　　〃He's　only　been　here　two　weeks；〃　he　said；　〃and　you　know　darn　well　the　rule　calls　for　four。〃

〃Oh；　hang　it！〃　said　Bottles；　〃he's　going　to　be　a　resident　all　right。　　He's　a　real　resident　right　now；　and　anyway；　they　won't　know　anything　about　it。〃

〃Oh；　cut　it　out；〃　said　Sam；　suddenly　flaring　into　wrath。　　〃You　know　we　can't　do　that　sort　of　thing。　　It　ain't　the　game　and　we　ain't　goin'　to　do　it。〃

〃What　ain't　the　game？〃　enquired　Larry；　who　had　come　upon　the　anxious　and　downcast　group。

Farwell　told　him　the　calamitous　news　and　explained　the　problem　under　discussion。　　〃We'd　play　Sykes；　only　he　hasn't　been　here　a　month　yet；　and　Sam　won't　stand　for　it；〃　he　said。

〃Of　course　Sam　won't　stand　for　it；　and　the　Captain　is　right；〃　said　Larry。　　〃Is　there　nobody　else；　Sam？〃　　Sam　shook　his　head　despondently。　　〃Would　I　be　any　good；　Sam？　　I　am　not　keen　about　it；　but　if　you　think　I　could　take　Cassap's　place　on　left　wing；　he　could　take　goal。〃

Sam　brightened　up　a　little。　　〃Guess　we　can't　do　no　better；〃　he　said　doubtfully。　　〃I　mean；〃　he　added　in　answer　to　the　shout　of　laughter　from　the　team〃Aw；　shut　up；　can　that　cackle。　　We　know　the　Master　hates　footbal