the major-第71节

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nly　one　boy。You　will　let　him　come　back。He　is　my　baby　boy。It　is　his　mother　asking。〃

Larry　could　bear　it　no　longer。　　〃Oh；　mother；　mother；　mother；〃　he　cried。　　〃You　are　breaking　my　heart。　　You　are　breaking　my　heart。〃　His　sobs　were　shaking　the　bed　on　which　he　leaned。

His　mother　lifted　her　head。　　〃What　is　it；　Lawrence；　my　boy？〃　she　asked　in　surprise。　　〃What　is　it？〃　　Her　voice　was　calm　and　steady。　〃We　must　be　steadfast；　my　boy。　　We　must　not　grudge　our　offering。　No；　with　willing　hearts　we　must　bring　our　sacrifice。〃　　She　passed　into　prayer。　　〃Thou；　who　didst　give　Thy　Son；　Thine　only　Son；　to　save　Thy　world；　aid　me　to　give　mine　to　save　our　world　to…day。　　Let　the　vision　of　the　Cross　make　us　both　strong。　　Thou　Cross…bearer；　help　us　to　bear　our　cross。〃　　With　a　voice　that　never　faltered；　she　poured　forth　her　prayer　of　sacrifice；　of　thanksgiving；　of　supplication；　till　serene；　steady；　triumphant；　they　arose　from　their　knees。　　She　was　heard　〃in　that　she　feared；〃　in　her　surrender　she　found　victory；　in　her　cross；　peace。　　And　that　serene　calm　of　hers　remained　undisturbed　to　the　very　last。

There　were　tears　again　at　the　parting；　but　the　tears　fell　gently；　and　through　them　shone　ever　her　smile。

A　few　short　days　Larry　spent　at　his　home　moving　about　among　those　that　were　dearer　to　him　than　his　own　life；　wondering　the　while　at　their　courage　and　patience　and　power　to　sacrifice。　　In　his　father　he　seemed　to　discover　a　new　man；　so　concentrated　was　he　in　his　devotion　to　business；　and　so　wise；　his　only　regret　being　that　he　could　not　don　the　king's　uniform。　　With　Kathleen　he　spent　many　hours。　　Not　once　throughout　all　these　days　did　she　falter　in　her　steady；　calm　endurance；　and　in　her　patient　devotion　to　duty。　Without　tears；　without　a　word　of　repining　against　her　cruel　fate；　with　hardly　a　suggestion；　indeed；　of　her　irreparable　loss；　she　talked　to　him　of　her　husband　and　of　his　glorious　death。

After　two　months　an　unexpected　order　called　the　battalion　on　twenty…four　hours'　notice　for　immediate　service　over　seas；　and　amid　the　cheers　of　hundreds　of　their　friends　and　fellow　citizens；　although　women　being　in　the　majority；　the　cheering　was　not　of　the　best；　they　steamed　out　of　Melville　Station。　　There　were　tears　and　faces　white　with　heartache；　but　these　only　after　the　last　cheer　had　been　flung　upon　the　empty　siding　out　of　which　the　cars　of　the　troop…train　had　passed。　　The　tears　and　the　white　faces　are　for　that　immortal　and　glorious　Army　of　the　Base；　whose　finer　courage　and　more　heroic　endurance　make　victory　possible　to　the　army　of　the　Fighting　First　Line。

At　Winnipeg　the　train　was　halted　for　a　day　and　a　night；　where　the　battalion　ENJOYED　the　hospitality　of　the　city　which　never　tires　of　welcoming　and　speeding　on　the　various　contingents　of　citizen　soldiers　of　the　West　en　route　for　the　Front。　　There　was　a　dinner　and　entertainment　for　the　men。　　For　Larry；　because　he　was　Acting　Adjutant；　there　was　no　respite　from　duty　through　all　the　afternoon　until　the　men　had　been　safely　disposed　in　the　care　of　those　who　were　to　act　as　their　hosts　at　dinner。　　Then　the　Colonel　took　him　off　to　Jane　and　her　father；　who　were　waiting　with　their　car　to　take　them　home。

〃My！　but　you　do　look　fine　in　your　uniform；〃　said　Jane；　〃and　so　strong；　and　so　big；　you　have　actually　grown　taller；　I　believe。〃　Her　eyes　were　fairly　standing　out　with　pride　and　joy。

〃Not　much　difference　north　and　south；〃　said　Larry；　〃but　east　and　west；　considerable。　　And　you；　Jane；　you　are　looking　better　than　ever。　　Whatever　has　happened　to　you？〃

〃Hard　work；〃　said　Jane。

〃I　hear　you　are　in　the　Big　Business　up　to　your　neck；〃　said　Larry。　〃There　is　so　much　to　do；　I　can　well　believe　it。　　And　so　your　father　is　going？　　How　splendid　of　him！〃

〃Oh；　every　one　is　doing　what　he　can　do　best。　　Father　will　do　the　ambulance　well。〃

〃And　I　hear　you　are　going　too。〃

〃I　do　not　know　about　that；〃　said　Jane。　　〃Isn't　it　awfully　hard　to　tell　just　what　to　do？　　I　should　love　to　go；　but　that　is　the　very　reason　I　wonder　whether　I　should。　　There　is　so　much　to　do　here；　and　there　will　be　more　and　more　as　we　go　on；　so　many　families　to　look　after；　so　much　work　to　keep　going；　work　for　soldiers；　you　know；　and　for　their　wives　and　children；　and　collecting　money。　　And　it　is　all　so　easy　to　do；　for　every　one　is　eager　to　do　what　he　can。　　I　never　knew　people　could　be　so　splendid；　Larry；　and　especially　those　who　have　lost　some　one。　　There　is　Mrs。　Smart；　for　instance；　and　poor　Scallan's　mother；　and　Scuddy's。〃

〃Jane；〃　said　Larry　abruptly；　〃I　must　see　Helen。　　Can　we　go　at　once　when　we　take　the　others　home？〃

〃I　will　take　you；〃　said　Jane。　　〃I　am　glad　you　can　go。　　Oh；　she　is　lovely；　and　so　sweet；　and　so　brave。〃

Leaving　the　Colonel　in　Dr。　Brown's　care；　they　drove　to　the　home　of　Helen　Brookes。

〃I　dread　seeing　her；〃　said　Larry；　as　they　approached　the　house。

〃Well；　you　need　not　dread　that；〃　said　Jane。

And　after　one　look　at　Helen's　face　Larry　knew　that　Jane　was　right。　The　bright　colour　in　the　face；　the　proud　carriage　of　the　head；　the　saucy　look　in　the　eye；　once　so　characteristic　of　the　〃beauty　queen〃　of　the　'Varsity；　were　all　gone。　　But　the　face　was　no　less　beautiful；　the　head　carried　no　less　proudly；　the　eye　no　less　bright。　　There　was　no　shrinking　in　her　conversation　from　the　tragic　fact　of　her　lover's　death。　　She　spoke　quite　freely　of　Scuddy's　work　in　the　battalion；　of　his　place　with　the　men　and　of　how　they　loved　him；　and　all　with　a　fine；　high　pride　in　him。

〃The　officers；　from　the　Colonel　down；　have　been　so　good　to　me；〃　she　said。　　〃They　have　told　me　so　many　things　about　Harry。　　And　the　Sergeants　and　the　Corporals；　every　one　in　his　company；　have　written　me。　　They　are　beautiful　letters。　　They　make　me　laugh　and　cry；　but　I　love　them。　　Dear　boys；　how　I　love　them；　and　how　I　love　to　work　for　them！〃　　She　showed　Larry　a　thick　bundle　of　letters。　　〃And　they　all　say　he　was　so　jolly。　　I　like　that；　for　you　know；　being　a　Y。　M。　C。　A。　man　in　college　and　always　keen　about　that　sort　of　thingI　am　afraid　I　did　not　help　him　much　in　that　wayhe　was　not　so　fearfully　jolly。　　But　now　I　am　glad　he　was　that　kind　of　a　man；　a　good　man；　I　mean；　in　the　best　way；　and　that　he　was　always　jolly。　　One　boy　says；　'He　always　bucked　me　up　to　do　my　best；'　and　another；　a　Sergeant；　says；　'He　put　the　fear　of　God　into　the　slackers；'　and　the　Colonel　says；　'He　was　a　moral　tonic　in　the　mess；'　and　his　chum　officer　said；　'He　kept　us　all　jolly　and　clean。'　　I　love　that。　　So　you　see　I　simply　have　to　buck　up　and　be　jolly　too。〃

〃Helen；　you　are　wonderful；〃　said　Larry；　who　was　openly　wiping　away　his　tears。　　〃Scuddy　was　a　big　man；　a　better　man　I　never　knew；　and　you　are　worthy　of　him。〃

They　were　passing　out　of　the　room　when　Helen　pulled　Larry　back　again。　　〃Larry；〃　she　said；　her　words　coming　with　breathless　haste；　〃don't　wait；　oh；　don't　wait。　　Marry　Jane　before　you　go。　　That　is　my　great　regret　to…day。　　Harry　wanted　to　be　married　and　I　did　too。　But　father　and　mother　did　not　think　it　wise。　　They　did　not　know。　How　could　they？　　Oh！　Larry；〃　she　suddenly　wrung　her　hands；　〃he　wished　it　so。　　Now　I　know　it　would　have　been　best。　　Don't　make　my　mistake；　don't；　Larry。　　Don't　make　my　mistake。　　Thank　you　for　coming　to　see　me。　　Good…bye；　Larry；　dear。　　You　were　his　best　friend。　　He　loved　you　so。〃　　She　put　her　arms　around　his　neck　and　kissed　him；　hastily　wiped　her　eyes；　and　passed　out　to　Jane　with　a　smiling　face。

They　hurried　away；　for　the　hours　in　Winnipeg　were　short　and　there　was　much　to　do　and　much　to　say。

〃Let　her　go；　Jane；〃　said　Larry。　　〃I　am　in　a　deuce　of　a　hurry。〃

〃Why；　Larry；　what　is　the　rush　about　just　now？〃　said　Jane　in　a　slightly　grieved　voice。

〃I　have　something　I　must　attend　to　at　once；〃　said　Larry。　　〃So　let　her　go。〃　　And　Jane　drove　hard；　for　the　most　part　in　silence；　till　they　reached　home。

Larry　could　hardly　wait　till　she　had　given　her　car　into　the　chauffeur's　charge。　　They　found　Dr。　Brown　and　the　Colonel　in　the　study　smoking。

〃Dr。　Brown；〃　said　Larry；　in　a　quick；　almost　peremptory　voice；　〃may　I　see　you　for　a　moment　or　two　in　your　office？〃

〃Why；　what's　up？　　Not　feeling　well？〃　said　Dr。　Brown；　while　the　others　looked　anxiously　at　him。

〃Oh；　I　am　fit　enough；〃　said　Larry　impatiently；　〃but　I　must　see　you。〃

〃I　am　sure　there　is　something　wrong；〃　said　Jane；　〃he　has　been　acting　so　queer　this　evening。　　He　is　so　abrupt。　　Is　that　the　military　manner？〃

〃Perhaps　so；〃　said　the　Colonel。　　〃Nice　chap；　Larryhard　worker　good　soldierawfully　keen　in　his　workmaking　good　toobest　officer　I've　got。　　Tell　you　a　secret；　Janeexpect　promotion　for　him　any　time　now。〃

Meantime　Larry　was　facing　Dr。　Brown　in　his　office。　　〃Doctor；〃　he　said；　〃I　want　to　marry　Jane。〃

〃Good　heavens；　when　did　this　strike　you？〃

〃This　evening。　　I　want　to　marry　her　right　away。〃

〃Right　away？　　When？〃

〃Right　away；　before　I　go。　　To…night；　to…morrow。〃

〃Are　you　mad？　　You　cannot　do　things　like　that；　you　know。　　Marry　Jane！　　Do　you　know　what　you　are　asking？〃

〃Yes；　Doctor；　I　know。　　But　I　have　just　seen　Helen　Brookes。　　She　is　perfectly　amazing；　perfectly　fine　in　her　courage　and　all　that；　and　she　told　me　about　Scuddy's　death　without　a　tear。　　But；　Doctor；　there　was　a　point　at　which　she　broke　all　up。　　Do　you　know　when？　When　she　told　me　of　her　chief　regret；　and　that　was　that　she　and　Scuddy　had　not　been　married。　　They　both　w