black rock-第31节

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of　attempting　to　do　anything　but　walk　carefully　down　a　hill；　at
least　for　two…thirds　of　the　way。　　Through　the　village；　in　a　cloud
of　dust；　we　swept；　catching　a　glimpse　of　a　well…known　face　here　and
there；　and　flinging　a　salutation　as　we　passed；　leaving　the　owner　of
the　face　rooted　to　his　place　in　astonishment　at　the　sight　of　Graeme
whirling　on　in　his　old…time；　well…known　reckless　manner。　　Only　old
Dunc。　M'Leod　was　equal　to　the　moment；　for　as　Graeme　called　out；
'Hello；　Dunc。！'　the　old　man　lifted　up　his　hands；　and　called　back　in
an　awed　voice：　'Bless　my　soul！　is　it　yourself？'

'Stands　his　whisky　well；　poor　old　chap！'　was　Graeme's　comment。

As　we　neared　the　church　he　pulled　up　his　team；　and　we　went　quietly
past　the　sleepers　there；　then　again　on　the　full　run　down　the　gentle
slope；　over　the　little　brook；　and　up　to　the　gate。　　He　had　hardly
got　his　team　pulled　up　before；　flinging　me　the　lines；　he　was　out
over　the　wheel；　for　coming　down　the　walk；　with　her　hands　lifted
high；　was　a　dainty　little　lady；　with　the　face　of　an　angel。　　In　a
moment　Graeme　had　her　in　his　arms。　　I　heard　the　faint　cry；　'My　boy；
my　boy；'　and　got　down　on　the　other　side　to　attend　to　my　off　horse；
surprised　to　find　my　hands　trembling　and　my　eyes　full　of　tears。
Back　upon　the　steps　stood　an　old　gentleman；　with　white　hair　and
flowing　beard；　handsome；　straight；　and　statelyGraeme's　father；
waiting　his　turn。

'Welcome　home；　my　lad；'　was　his　greeting；　as　he　kissed　his　son；　and
the　tremor　of　his　voice；　and　the　sight　of　the　two　men　kissing　each
other；　like　women；　sent　me　again　to　my　horses'　heads。

'There's　Connor；　mother！'　shouted　out　Graeme；　and　the　dainty　little
lady；　in　her　black　silk　and　white　lace；　came　out　to　me　quickly；
with　outstretched　hands。

'You；　too；　are　welcome　home；'　she　said；　and　kissed　me。

I　stood　with　my　hat　off；　saying　something　about　being　glad　to　come；
but　wishing　that　I　could　get　away　before　I　should　make　quite　a　fool
of　myself。　　For　as　I　looked　down　upon　that　beautiful　face；　pale；
except　for　a　faint　flush　upon　each　faded　cheek；　and　read　the　story
of　pain　endured　and　conquered；　and　as　I　thought　of　all　the　long
years　of　waiting　and　of　vain　hoping；　I　found　my　throat　dry　and
sore；　and　the　words　would　not　come。　　But　her　quick　sense　needed　no
words；　and　she　came　to　my　help。

'You　will　find　Jack　at　the　stable；'　she　said；　smiling；　'he　ought　to
have　been　here。'

The　stable！　　Why　had　I　not　thought　of　that　before？　　Thankfully　now
my　words　came

'Yes；　certainly；　I'll　find　him；　Mrs。　Graeme。　　I　suppose　he's　as
much　of　a　scapegrace　as　ever；　and　off　I　went　to　look　up　Graeme's
young　brother；　who　had　given　every　promise　in　the　old　days　of
developing　into　as　stirring　a　rascal　as　one　could　desire；　but　who；
as　I　found　out　later；　had　not　lived　these　years　in　his　mother's
home　for　nothing。

'Oh；　Jack's　a　good　boy；'　she　answered；　smiling　again；　as　she　turned
toward　the　other　two；　now　waiting　for　her　upon　the　walk。

The　week　that　followed　was　a　happy　one　for　us　all；　but　for　the
mother　it　was　full　to　the　brim　with　joy。　　Her　sweet　face　was　full
of　content；　and　in　her　eyes　rested　a　great　peace。　　Our　days　were
spent　driving　about　among　the　hills；　or　strolling　through　the　maple
woods；　or　down　into　the　tamarack　swamp；　where　the　pitcher　plants
and　the　swamp　lilies　and　the　marigold　waved　above　the　deep　moss。
In　the　evenings　we　sat　under　the　trees　on　the　lawn　till　the　stars
came　out　and　the　night　dews　drove　us　in。　　Like　two　lovers；　Graeme
and　his　mother　would　wander　off　together；　leaving　Jack　and　me　to
each　other。　　Jack　was　reading　for　divinity；　and　was　really　a　fine；
manly　fellow；　with　all　his　brother's　turn　for　rugby；　and　I　took　to
him　amazingly；　but　after　the　day　was　over　we　would　gather　about　the
supper　table；　and　the　talk　would　be　of　all　things　under　heaven
art；　football；　theology。　　The　mother　would　lead　in　all。　　How　quick
she　was；　how　bright　her　fancy；　how　subtle　her　intellect；　and
through　all　a　gentle　grace；　very　winning　and　beautiful　to　see！

Do　what　I　would；　Graeme　would　talk　little　of　the　mountains　and　his
life　there。

'My　lion　will　not　roar；　Mrs。　Graeme；'　I　complained；　'he　simply　will
not。'

'You　should　twist　his　tail；'　said　Jack。

'That　seems　to　be　the　difficulty；　Jack；'　said　his　mother；　'to　get
hold　of　his　tale。'

'Oh；　mother；'　groaned　Jack；　'you　never　did　such　a　thing　before！
How　could　you？　　Is　it　this　baleful　Western　influence？'

'I　shall　reform；　Jack；'　she　replied　brightly。

'But；　seriously；　Graeme；'　I　remonstrated；　'you　ought　to　tell　your
people　of　your　lifethat　free；　glorious　life　in　the　mountains。'

'Free！　　Glorious！　　To　some　men；　perhaps！'　said　Graeme；　and　then　fell
into　silence。

But　I　saw　Graeme　as　a　new　man　the　night　he　talked　theology　with　his
father。　　The　old　minister　was　a　splendid　Calvinist；　of　heroic　type；
and　as　he　discoursed　of　God's　sovereignty　and　election；　his　face
glowed　and　his　voice　rang　out。

Graeme　listened　intently；　now　and　then　putting　in　a　question；　as
one　would　a　keen　knife…thrust　into　a　foe。　　But　the　old　man　knew　his
ground；　and　moved　easily　among　his　ideas；　demolishing　the　enemy　as
he　appeared；　with　jaunty　grace。　　In　the　full　flow　of　his　triumphant
argument；　Graeme　turned　to　him　with　sudden　seriousness。

'Look　here；　father！　　I　was　born　a　Calvinist；　and　I　can't　see　how
any　one　with　a　level　head　can　hold　anything　else；　than　that　the
Almighty　has　some　idea　as　to　how　He　wants　to　run　His　universe；　and
He　means　to　carry　out　His　idea；　and　is　carrying　it　out；　but　what
would　you　do　in　a　case　like　this？'　　Then　he　told　him　the　story　of
poor　Billy　Breen；　his　fight　and　his　defeat。

'Would　you　preach　election　to　that　chap？'

The　mother's　eyes　were　shining　with　tears。

The　old　gentleman　blew　his　nose　like　a　trumpet；　and　then　said
gravely

'No；　my　boy；　you　don't　feed　babes　with　meat。　　But　what　came　to
him？'

Then　Graeme　asked　me　to　finish　the　tale。　　After　I　had　finished　the
story　of　Billy's　final　triumph　and　of　Craig's　part　in　it；　they　sat
long　silent；　till　the　minister；　clearing　his　throat　hard　and
blowing　his　nose　more　like　a　trumpet　than　ever；　said　with　great
emphasis

'Thank　God　for　such　a　man　in　such　a　place！　　I　wish　there　were　more
of　us　like　him。'

'I　should　like　to　see　you　out　there；　sir；'　said　Graeme　admiringly；
'you'd　get　them；　but　you　wouldn't　have　time　for　election。'

'Yes；　yes！'　said　his　father　warmly；　'I　should　love　to　have　a　chance
just　to　preach　election　to　these　poor　lads。　　Would　I　were　twenty
years　younger！'

'It　is　worth　a　man's　life；'　said　Graeme　earnestly。　　His　younger
brother　turned　his　face　eagerly　toward　the　mother。　　For　answer　she
slipped　her　hand　into　his　and　said　softly；　while　her　eyes　shone
like　stars

'Some　day；　Jack；　perhaps！　　God　knows。'　　But　Jack　only　looked
steadily　at　her；　smiling　a　little　and　patting　her　hand。

'You'd　shine　there；　mother；'　said　Graeme；　smiling　upon　her；　'you'd
better　come　with　me。'　　She　started；　and　said　faintly

'With　you？'　　It　was　the　first　hint　he　had　given　of　his　purpose。
'You　are　going　back？'

'What！　as　a　missionary？'　said　Jack。

'Not　to　preach；　Jack；　I'm　not　orthodox　enough；'　looking　at　his
father　and　shaking　his　head；　'but　to　build　railroads　and　lend　a
hand　to　some　poor　chap；　if　I　can。'

'Could　you　not　find　work　nearer　home；　my　boy？'　asked　the　father；
'there　is　plenty　of　both　kinds　near　us　here；　surely。'

'Lots　of　work；　but　not　mine；　I　fear；'　answered　Graeme；　keeping　his
eyes　away　from　his　mother's　face。　　'A　man　must　do　his　own　work。'

His　voice　was　quiet　and　resolute；　and　glancing　at　the　beautiful
face　at　the　end　of　the　table；　I　saw　in　the　pale　lips　and　yearning
eyes　that　the　mother　was　offering　up　her　firstborn；　that　ancient
sacrifice。　　But　not　all　the　agony　of　sacrifice　could　wring　from　her
entreaty　or　complaint　in　the　hearing　of　her　sons。　　That　was　for
other　ears　and　for　the　silent　hours　of　the　night。　　And　next　morning
when　she　came　down　to　meet　us　her　face　was　wan　and　weary；　but　it
wore　the　peace　of　victory　and　a　glory　not　of　earth。　　Her　greeting
was　full　of　dignity；　sweet　and　gentle；　but　when　she　came　to　Graeme
she　lingered　over　him　and　kissed　him　twice。　　And　that　was　all　that
any　of　us　ever　saw　of　that　sore　fight。

At　the　end　of　the　week　I　took　leave　of　them；　and　last　of　all　of　the
mother。

She　hesitated　just　a　moment；　then　suddenly　put　her　hands　upon　my
shoulders　and　kissed　me；　saying　softly；　'You　are　his　friend；　you
will　sometimes　come　to　me？'

'Gladly；　if　I　may；'　I　hastened　to　answer；　for　the　sweet；　brave　face
was　too　much　to　bear；　and；　till　she　left　us　for　that　world　of　which
she　was　a　part；　I　kept　my　word；　to　my　own　great　and　lasting　good。
When　Graeme　met　me　in　the　city　at　the　end　of　the　summer；　he　brought
me　her　love；　and　then　burst　forth

'Connor；　do　you　know；　I　have　just　discovered　my　mother！　　I　have
never　known　her　till　this　summer。'

'More　fool　you；'　I　answered；　for　often　had　I；　who　had　never　known　a
mother；　envied　him　his。

'Yes；　that　is　true；'　he　answered　slowly；　'but　you　cannot　see　until
you　have　eyes。'

Before　he　set　out　again　for　the　west　I　gave　him　a　supper；　asking
the　men　who　had　been　with　us　in　the　old　'Varsity　days。　　I　was
doubtful　as　to　the　wisdom　of　this；　and　was　persuaded　only　by
G