the man from glengarry-第23节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


there　aint　no　use　goin　on　like　this。　　All　I　say　is；　ther's　a　purty
big　hole　in　the　world　for　us　to…night。　　Boss　says　you'd　better　tell
the　minister。　　He　says　he's　good　stuff　and　he'll　know　what　to　do　at
Mack's　home。　　No　more　at　present。　　Good…bye。　　Yours　truely；

J。　LATHAM。


The　minister's　wife　began　reading　the　letter；　wondering　not　a
little　at　Ranald's　manner；　but　when　she　came　to　the　words；　〃Mack
Cameron　got　drownded；〃　she　laid　the　letter　down　with　a　little　cry。
Her　husband　came　quickly　to　her；　took　up　the　letter；　and　read　it　to
the　end。

〃I　will　go　at　once；〃　he　said；　and　rang　the　bell。　　〃Tell　Lambert　to
put　Black　in　the　buggy　immediately；　Jessie；〃　he　said；　when　the　maid
appeared。　　〃Do　you　think　you　ought　to　go；　my　dear？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　shall　be　ready　in　a　moment；　but；　oh；　what　can　we　do　or
say？〃

〃Perhaps　you　had　better　not　go。　　It　will　be　very　trying；〃　said　the
minister。

〃Oh；　yes；　I　must　go。　　I　must。　　The　poor　mother！〃　　Then　she　turned
to　Ranald　as　the　minister　left　the　room。　　〃You　are　going　home；
Ranald；　I　suppose；〃　she　said。

〃No；　I　was　thinking　I　would　go　to　tell　the　people。　　Donald　Ross
will　go；　and　the　Campbells；　and　Farquhar　McNaughton's　light　wagon
would　be　bestfor　thefor　Mack。　　And　then　I　will　go　round　by　the
McGregors。〃

Ranald　had　been　thinking　things　out　and　making　his　plans。

〃But　that　will　be　a　long　round　for　you；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray。　　〃Could
not　we　go　by　the　Campbells'；　and　they　will　send　word　to　Donald
Ross？〃

〃I　think　it　would　be　better　for　me　to　go；　to　make　sure　of　the
teams。〃

〃Very　well；　then。　　Good　by；　Ranald；〃　said　the　minister's　wife；
holding　out　her　hand　to　him。

But　still　Ranald　lingered。　　〃It　will　be　hard　on　Bella　Peter；〃　he
said；　in　a　low　voice；　looking　out　of　the　window。

〃Bella　Peter？　　Bella　McGregor？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ranald；　embarrassed　and　hesitating。　　〃She　was　Mack's
Mack　was　very　fond　of　her；　whatever。〃

〃Oh；　Ranald！〃　she　cried；　〃do　you　say　so？　　Are　you　sure　of　that？〃

〃Yes；　I　am　sure；〃　said　Ranald；　simply。　　〃The　boys　in　the　shanty
would　be　teasing　Mack　about　it；　and　one　day　Mack　told　me　something；
and　I　know　quite　well。〃

〃I　will　go　to　her；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray。

〃That　will　be　very　good；〃　said　Ranald；　much　relieved。　　〃And　I　will
be　going　with　you　that　way。〃

As　Mrs。　Murray　left　the　room；　Maimie　came　around　to　where　Ranald
was　standing　and　said　to　him；　gently；　〃You　knew　him　well；　didn't
you？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Ranald；　in　an　indifferent　tone；　as　if　unwilling　to
talk　with　her　about　it。

〃And　you　were　very　fond　of　him？〃　went　on　Maimie。

Ranald　caught　the　tremor　in　her　voice　and　looked　at　her。　　〃Yes；〃　he
said；　with　an　effort。　　〃He　was　good　to　me　in　the　camp。　　Many's　the
time　he　made　it　easy　for　me。　　He　was　next　to　Macdonald　Bhain　with
the　ax；　and；　man；　he　was　the　grand　fighterthat　is；〃　he　added；
adopting　the　phrase　of　the　Macdonald　gang；　〃when　it　was　a　plain
necessity。〃　　Then；　forgetting　himself；　he　began　to　tell　Maimie　how
Big　Mack　had　borne　himself　in　the　great　fight　a　few　weeks　before。
But　he　had　hardly　well　begun　when　suddenly　he　stopped　with　a　groan。
〃But　now　he　is　deadhe　is　dead。　　I　will　never　see　him　no　more。〃

He　was　realizing　for　the　first　time　his　loss。　　Maimie　came　nearer
him；　and　laying　her　hand　timidly　on　his　arm；　said；　〃I　am　sorry；
Ranald〃；　and　Ranald　turned　once　more　and　looked　at　her；　as　if
surprised　that　she　should　show　such　feeling。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　believe　you　are　sorry。〃

Her　big　blue　eyes　filled　suddenly　with　tears。

〃Do　you　wonder　that　I　am　sorry？　　Do　you　think　I　have　no　heart　at
all？〃　she　burst　forth；　impetuously。

〃Indeed；　I　don't　know；〃　said　Ranald。　　〃Why　should　you　care？　　You　do
not　know　him。〃

〃But　haven't　you　just　told　me　how　splendid　he　was；　and　how　good　he
was　to　you；　and　how　much　you　thought　of　him；　and〃　　Maimie　checked
her　rush　of　words　with　a　sudden　blush；　and　then　hurried　on　to　say；
〃Besides；　think　of　his　mother；　and　all　of　them。〃

While　Maimie　was　speaking；　Ranald　had　been　scanning　her　face　as　if
trying　to　make　up　his　mind　about　her。

〃I　am　glad　you　are　sorry；〃　he　said；　slowly；　gazing　with　so　searching
a　look　into　her　eyes　that　she　let　them　fall。

At　this　moment　Mrs。　Murray　entered　ready　for　her　ride。

〃Is　the　pony　come？〃　she　asked。

〃Indeed；　it　is　the　slouch　I　am；〃　said　Ranald；　and　he　hurried　off　to
the　stable；　returning　in　a　very　short　time　with　the　pony　saddled。

〃You　would　not　care　to　go　with　your　uncle；　Maimie？〃　said　Mrs。
Murray；　as　Lambert　drove　up　Black　in　the　buggy。

〃No；　auntie；　I　think　not；〃　said　Maimie。　　〃I　will　take　care　of
Hughie　and　the　baby。〃

〃Good　by；　then；　my　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　kissing　her。

〃Good　by；　Ranald；〃　said　Maimie；　as　he　turned　away　to　get　his　colt。

〃Good　by；〃　he　said；　awkwardly。　　He　felt　like　lifting　his　cap；　but
hesitated　to　do　anything　so　extremely　unnatural。　　With　the　boys　in
that　country　such　an　act　of　courtesy　was　regarded　as　a　sign　of
〃pride；〃　if　not　of　weakness。

Their　way　lay　along　the　concession　line　for　a　mile；　and　then
through　the　woods　by　the　bridle…path　to　Peter　McGregor's　clearing。
The　green　grass　ran　everywherealong　the　roadside；　round　the　great
stump　roots；　over　the　rough　pasture…fields；　softening　and　smoothing
wherever　it　went。　　The　woods　were　flushing　purple；　with　just　a
tinge　of　green　from　the　bursting　buds。　　The　balsams　and　spruces
still　stood　dark　in　the　swamps；　but　the　tamaracks　were　shyly
decking　themselves　in　their　exquisite　robes　of　spring；　and　through
all　the　bush　the　air　was　filled　with　soft　sounds　and　scents。　　In
earth　and　air；　in　field　and　forest；　life；　the　new　spring　life；　ran
riot。　　How　strangely　impertinent　death　appeared；　and　how　unlovely
in　such　a　world　of　life！

As　they　left　the　concession　road　and　were　about　to　strike　into
the　woods；　Mrs。　Murray　checked　her　pony；　and　looking　upon　the
loveliness　about　her；　said；　softly；　〃How　beautiful　it　all　is！〃

There　was　no　response　from　Ranald；　and　Mrs。　Murray；　glancing　at　his
gloomy　face；　knew　that　his　heart　was　sore　at　the　thought　of　the
pain　they　were　bearing　with　them。　　She　hesitated　a　few　moments；　and
then　said；　gently：　　〃And　I　saw　a　new　heaven　and　a　new　earth。　　And
there　shall　be　no　more　death。〃

But　still　Ranald　made　no　reply；　and　they　rode　on　through　the　bush
in　silence　till　they　came　to　the　clearing　beyond。　　As　they　entered
the　brule；　Ranald　checked　his　colt；　and　holding　up　his　hand；　said；
〃Listen！〃

Through　the　quiet　evening　air；　sweet　and　clear　as　a　silver　bell；
came　the　long；　musical　note　of　the　call　that　brings　the　cows　home
for　the　milking。　　It　was　Bella's　voice：　　〃Koboss；　koboss；
koboss！〃

Far　across　the　brule　they　could　see　her　standing　on　a　big　pine
stump　near　the　bars；　calling　to　her　cows　that　were　slowly　making
toward　her　through　the　fallen　timber；　pausing　here　and　there　to
crop　an　especially　rich　mouthful；　and　now　and　then　responding　to
her　call　with　soft　lowings。　　Gently　Bella　chid　them。　　〃Come；
Blossom；　come　away　now；　you　are　very　lazy。　　Come；　Lily；　what　are
you　waiting　for？　　You　slow　old　poke！〃　　Then　again　the　long；　musical
note：　　〃Koboss；　koboss；　koboss！〃

Ranald　groaned　aloud；　〃Och…hone！　　It　will　be　her　last　glad　hour；〃
he　said；　〃it　is　a　hard；　hard　thing。〃

〃Poor　child；　poor　child！〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　〃the　Lord　help　her。　　It
will　be　a　cruel　blow。〃

〃That　it　is；　a　cruel　blow；〃　said　Ranald；　bitterly；　so　bitterly　that
Mrs。　Murray　glanced　at　him　in　surprise　and　saw　his　face　set　in
angry　pain。

〃The　Lord　knows　best；　Ranald；〃　she　said；　gravely；　〃and　loves　best；
too。〃

〃It　will　break　her　heart；　whatever；〃　answered　Ranald；　shortly。

〃He　healeth　the　broken　in　heart；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　softly。　　Ranald
made　no　reply；　but　let　the　colt　take　her　way　through　the　brule
toward　the　lane　into　which　Bella　had　now　got　her　cows。　　How　happy
the　girl　was！　　Joy　filled　every　tone　of　her　voice。　　And　why　not？
It　was　the　springtime；　the　time　of　life　and　love。　　Long　winter　was
gone；　and　soon　her　brothers　would　be　back　from　the　shanties。　　〃And
Mack；　too；〃　she　whispered　to　her　happy　heart。


　　　　　〃And　are　ye　sure　the　news　is　true？
　　　　　　　　And　are　ye　sure　he's　weel？
　　　　　　Is　this　a　time　to　think　o'　wark？
　　　　　　　　Ye　jades；　fling　by　your　wheel。

　　　　　〃For　there's　nae　luck　aboot　the　hoose；
　　　　　　　　There's　nae　luck　ava；
　　　　　　There's　little　pleesure　in　the　hoose
　　　　　　　　When　oor　gude　man's　awa。〃


So　she　sang；　not　too　loud；　for　the　boys　were　at　the　barn　and　she
would　never　hear　the　end　of　it。

〃Well；　Bella；　you　are　getting　your　cows　home。　　How　are　you；　my
dear？〃

Bella　turned　with　a　scarlet　face　to　meet　the　minister's　wife；　and
her　blushes　only　became　deeper　when　she　saw　Ranald；　for　she　felt
quite　certain　that　Ranald　would　understand　the　meaning　of　her　song。

〃I　will　go　on　with　the　cows；〃　said　Ranald；　in　a　hoarse　voice；　and
Mrs。　Murray；　alighting；　gave　him　her　pony　to　lead。

Peter　McGregor　was　a　stern　man　to　his　own　family；　and　to　all　the
world；　with　the　single　exception　of　his　only　daughter；　Bella。　　His
six　boys　he　kept　in　order　with　a　firm　hand；　and　not　one　of　them
would　venture　to　take　a　liberty　with　him。　　But　Bella　had　no　fear　of
his　grim　face　and　stern　ways；　and　〃just　twiddled　her　father　round
her　finger；〃　as　her　mother　said；　with　a　great　show　of　impatience。