the man from glengarry-第49节

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good　night　to　De　Lacy　and　a　nod　to　Mr。　Sims；　strode　from　the　room。

〃Great　Caesar's　ghost！〃　exclaimed　the　lieutenant；　〃pardon　me；　but
has　anything　happened？　　That　young　man　now　and　then　gives　me　a
sense　of　tragedy。　　What　HAS　taken　place？〃　he　panted；　weakly。

〃Nonsense；〃　laughed　Maimie；　〃your　nervous　system　is　rather　delicate。〃

〃Ah；　thanks；　no　doubt　that's　it。　　Miss　Kate；　how　do　you　feel？〃

〃I；〃　said　Kate；　waking　suddenly；　〃thank　you；　quite　happy。〃

〃Happy；〃　sighed　De　Lacy。　　〃Ah；　fortunate　young　man！〃

〃Great　chap；　that；〃　cried　Harry；　coming　back　from　seeing　Ranald　to
the　door。

〃Very；〃　said　De　Lacy；　so　emphatically　that　every　one　laughed。

〃Some　one　really　ought　to　dress　him；　though；〃　suggested　Mr。　Sims；
with　a　slight　sneer。

〃Why？〃　said　Kate；　quietly；　facing　him。

〃Oh；　well；　you　know；　Miss　Raymond；〃　stammered　Mr。　Sims；　〃that　sort
of　attire；　you　know；　is　hardly　the　thing　for　the　drawing…room；　you
know。〃

〃He　is　a　shantyman；〃　said　Maimie；　apologetically；　〃and　they　all
dress　like　that。　　I　don't　suppose　that　he　has　any　other　clothes
with　him。〃

〃Oh；　of　course；〃　assented　Mr。　Sims；　retreating　before　this　double
attack。

〃Besides；〃　continued　Kate；　〃it　is　good　taste　to　dress　in　the　garb
of　your　profession；　isn't　it；　Lieutenant　De　Lacy？〃

〃Oh；　come　now；　Miss　Kate；　that's　all　right；〃　said　the　lieutenant；
〃but　you　must　draw　the　line　somewhere；　you　know。　　Those　colors　now
you　must　confess　are　a　little　startling。〃

〃You　didn't　mind　the　colors　when　he　saved　you　the　other　day　from
that　awful　mob！〃

〃One　for　you；　De　Lacy；〃　cried　Harry。

〃Quite　right；〃　answered　the　lieutenant；　〃but　don't　mistake　me。　　I
distinguish　between　a　fellow　and　his　clothes。〃

〃For　my　part；〃　said　Kate；　〃I　don't　care　how　a　man　is　dressed；　if　I
like　him；　I　like　him　should　he　appear　in　a　blanket　and　feathers。〃

〃Don't　speak　of　it；〃　gasped　the　lieutenant。

〃Do　let's　talk　of　something　else；〃　said　Maimie；　impatiently。

〃Delighted；　I　am　sure；〃　said　De　Lacy；　〃and　that　reminds　me　that
madam　was　thinking　of　a　picnic　down　the　river　this　weekjust　a
small　company；　you　know。　　The　man　would　drive　her　down　and　take　the
hamper　and　things；　and　we　would　go　down　by　boat。　　Awful　pull　back；
though；〃　he　added；　regretfully；　〃but　if　it　should　give　any
pleasuredelighted；　you　know；〃　bowing　gallantly　to　the　ladies。

〃Delightful！〃　cried　Maimie。

〃And　Ranald　pulls　splendidly；〃　said　Kate。

Maimie　looked　at　her；　wondering　how　she　knew　that。　　〃I　don't　think
Ranald　can　get　away　every　day。　　I'm　sure　he　can't；　can　he；　Harry？〃
she　said。

〃No；〃　said　Harry；　〃no　more　can　I；　worse　luck！　　The　governor　is
sticking　awfully　close　to　work　just　now。〃

〃And；　of　course；　you　can't　be　spared；〃　said　Kate；　mockingly。
〃But　couldn't　you　both　come　later？　　We　could　wait　tea　for　you。

〃Might；〃　said　Harry。　　〃I　shall　make　my　best　endeavor　for　your
sake；〃　bowing　toward　Kate；　〃but　I　am　doubtful　about　Ranald。
Perhaps　we'd　better　not〃

〃Why；　certainly；　old　chap；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　〃what's　the
matter？〃

〃Well；　the　fact　is；〃　blurted　out　Harry；　desperately；　〃I　don't　want
to　drag　in　Ranald。　　I　like　him　awfully；　but　you　may　feel　as　if　he
were　not　quite　one　of　us。　　You　know　what　I　mean；　your　mother
doesn't　know　him。〃

Harry　felt　extremely　awkward　knowing　that　he　came　perilously　near
to　suspecting　the　lieutenant　of　the　most　despicable　snobbery。

〃Why；　certainly；〃　repeated　the　lieutenant。　　〃That's　all　right。
Bring　your　Glengarry　man　along　if　any　one　wants　him。〃

〃I　do；〃　said　Kate；　decidedly。

〃Kismet；〃　replied　the　lieutenant。　　〃It　is　decreed。　　The　young　man
must　come；　for　I　suspect　he　is　very　much　'one　of　us。'〃　　But　of　this
the　lieutenant　was　not　quite　so　certain　by　the　time　the　day　of　the
picnic　had　arrived。



CHAPTER　XIX

ONE　GAME　AT　A　TIME


The　Glengarry　men　were　on　the　Montreal　boat　leaving　for　home。
Macdonald　Bhain's　farewell　to　his　nephew　was　full　of　sadness；　for
he　knew　that　henceforth　their　ways　would　lie　apart；　and　full　of
solemn　warnings　against　the　dangers　of　the　city　where　Ranald　was
now　to　be。

〃It　is　a　wicked　place；　and　the　pitfalls　are　many；　and　they　are　not
in　the　places　where　the　eyes　will　be　looking　for　them。　　Ye　are
taking　the　way　that　will　be　leading　you　from　us　all；　and　I　will　not
be　keeping　you　back；　nor　will　I　be　laying　any　vows　upon　you。　　You
will　be　a　true　man；　and　you　will　keep　the　fear　of　God　before　your
eyes；　and　you　will　remember　that　a　Macdonald　never　fails　the　man
that　trusts　him。〃　　And　long　after　the　great　man　was　gone　his　last
words　kept　tugging　at　Ranald's　heart：　　〃Ranald；　lad；　remember　us　up
yonder　in　the　Indian　Lands；〃　he　said；　holding　his　hand　with　a　grip
that　squeezed　the　bones　together；　〃we　will　be　always　thinking　of
you；　and　more　than　all；　at　the　Bible　class　and　the　meetings　she
will　be　asking　for　you　and　wondering　how　you　are　doing；　and　by
night　and　by　day　the　door　will　be　on　the　latch　for　your　coming；
for；　laddie；　laddie；　you　are　a　son　to　me　and　more！〃　　The　break　in
the　big　Macdonald's　voice　took　away　from　Ranald　all　power　of
speech；　and　without　a　word　of　reply；　he　had　to　let　his　uncle　go。

Yankee's　good　by　was　characteristic。　　〃Well；　guess　I'll　git　along。
Wish　you　were　comin'　back　with　us；　but　you've　struck　your　gait；　I
guess；　and　you're　goin'　to　make　quite　a　dust。　　Keep　your　wind　till
the　last　quarter；　that's　where　the　money's　lost。　　I　ain't　'fraid　of
you；　you're　green；　but　they　can't　break　you。　　Keep　your　left　eye　on
the　suckers。　　There　ain't　no　danger　from　the　feller　that　rips　and
rares　and　gits　up　on　his　hind　legs；　but　the　feller　that　sidles
raound　and　sorter　chums　it　up　to　you　and　wants　to　pay　fer　your
drinks；　by　Jings；　kick　him。　　And　say；〃　Yankee's　voice　here　grew　low
and　impressive；　〃git　some　close。　　These　here　are　all　right　for　the
woods；　but　with　them　people　close　counts　an　awful　lot。　　It's　the
man　inside　that　wins；　but　the　close　is　outside。　　Git　'em　and　git
'em　good；　none　of　your　second…hand　Jew　outfits。　　It'll　cost；　of
course；　but（here　Yankee　closed　up　to　Ranald）　but　here's　a　wad；
ain't　no　pertickaler　use　to　me。〃

Then　Ranald　smote　him　in　the　chest　and　knocked　him　back　against　a
lumber　pile。

〃I　know　you；〃　he　cried；　〃you　would　be　giving　me　the　coat　off　your
back。　　If　I　would　be　taking　money　from　any　man　I'd　take　it　from
you；　but　let　me　tell　you　I　will　have　no　money　that　I　do　not　earn；〃
then；　seeing　Yankee's　disappointed　face；　he　added；　〃but　indeed；　I
owe　you　for　your　help　to　meandmimine；　when　help　was　needed
sore；　more　than　I　can　ever　pay　back。〃　　Then；　as　they　shook　hands；
Ranald　spoke　again；　and　his　voice　was　none　too　steady。　　〃And　I　have
been　thinking　that　I　would　like　you　to　have　Lisette；　for　it　may　be
a　long　time　before　I　will　be　back　again；　and　I　know　you　will　be
good　to　her；　and　if　ever　I　need　your　help　in　this　way；　I　promise　I
will　come　to　you。〃

Yankee　chewed　his　quid　of　tobacco　hard　and　spat　twice　before　he
could　reply。　　Then　he　answered　slowly：　　〃Now　look…ye…here；　I'll
take　that　little　mare　and　look　after　her；　but　the　mare's　yours　and
ifand　ifwhich　I　don't　think　will　happenif　you　don't　come　back
soon；　whyI　will　send　you　her　equivalent　in　cash；　but　I'd　ruther
seeI'd　ruther　see　you　come　back　for　it！〃

It　was　with　a　very　lonely　heart　that　Ranald　watched　out　of　sight
the　steamboat　that　carried　to　their　homes　in　the　Indian　Lands　the
company　of　men　who　had　been　his　comrades　for　the　long　months　in　the
woods　and　on　the　river；　and　all　the　more　that　he　was　dimly　realizing
that　this　widening　blue　strip　of　flowing　river　was　separating　him
forever　from　the　life　he　so　passionately　loved。　　As　his　eyes
followed　them　he　thought　of　the　home…coming　that　he　would　have
shared；　their　meetings　at　the　church　door；　the　grave　handshakings
from　the　older　folk；　the　saucy　〃horos〃　from　the　half…grown　boys；
the　shy　blushing　glances　from　the　maidens；　and　last　and　dearest　of
all；　the　glad；　proud　welcome　in　the　sweet；　serious　face　with　the
gray…brown　eyes。　　It　was　with　the　memory　of　that　face　in　his　heart
that　he　turned　to　meet　what　might　be　coming　to　him；　with　the　resolve
that　he　would　play　the　man。

〃Hello；　old　chap；　who's　dead？〃　　It　was　Harry's　gay　voice。　　〃You
look　like　a　tomb。〃　　He　put　his　arm　through　Ranald's　and　walked　with
him　up　the　street。

〃Where　are　you　going　now？〃　he　asked；　as　Ranald　walked　along　in
silence。

〃To　get　some　clothes。〃

〃Thank　the　great　powers！〃　ejaculated　Harry　to　himself。

〃What？〃

〃And　where　are　you　going　to　get　them？〃

〃I　do　not　knowsome　store；　I　suppose。〃　　Ranald　had　the　vaguest
notions　not　only　of　where　he　should　go；　but　of　the　clothes　in　which
he　ought　to　array　himself；　but　he　was　not　going　to　acknowledge　this
to　his　friend。

〃You　can't　get　any　clothes　fit　to　wear　in　this　town；〃　said　Harry；
in　high　contempt。　　Ranald's　heart　sank。　　〃But　come　along；　we　will
find　something。〃

As　they　passed　in　front　of　the　little　French　shops；　with　windows
filled　inside　and　out　with　ready…made　garments；　Ranald　paused　to
investigate。

〃Oh！　pshaw；〃　cried　Harry；　〃don't　know　what　you'll　get　here。　　We'll
find　something　better　than　this　cheap　stuff；〃　and　Ranald；　glad
enough　of　guidance；　though　uncertain　as　to　where　it　might　lead　him；
followed　meekly。

〃What　sort　of　a　suit　do　you　want？〃　said　Harr