the man from glengarry-第57节

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Kate　nodded。

〃She　wasn't　quite　sure　about　it；　but　I　declare　till　I　die　I　will
never　forget　the　wonder　and　the　delight　in　her　face。　　I　tell　you　I
wept　that　night；　but　not　at　the　play。　　And　how　she　criticised　the
actors；　even　Booth　himself　didn't　escape；〃　continued　Harry；　〃and　so
I　say　it's　a　beastly　shame　that　you　should　spend　your　whole　life　in
the　backwoods　there　and　have　so　little　of　the　other　sort　of　thing。
Why　you　are　made　for　it！〃

〃Harry；〃　answered　Mrs。　Murray；　in　surprise；　〃that　was　my　work；
given　me　to　do。　　Could　I　refuse　it？　　And　besides　after　all；　fun；　as
you　say；　passes；　music　stops；　books　get　done　with；　but　those　other
things；　the　things　that　Ranald　and　I　have　seen；　will　go　on　long
after　my　poor　body　is　laid　away。〃

〃But　still　you　must　get　tired；〃　persisted　Harry。

〃Yes；　I　get　tired；〃　she　replied；　quietly。　　At　the　little　touch　of
weariness　in　the　voice；　Kate；　who　was　looking　at　the　beautiful
face；　so　spiritual；　and　getting；　oh；　so　frail；　felt　a　sudden　rush
of　tears　in　her　eyes。　　But　there　was　no　self…pity　in　that　heroic
soul。　　〃Yes；　I　get　tired；〃　she　repeated；　〃but；　Harry；　what　does
that　matter？　　We　do　our　work　and　then　we　will　rest。　　But　oh；　Harry；
my　boy；　when　I　come　to　your　city　and　see　all　there　is　to　do；　I　wish
I　were　a　girl　again；　and　I　wonder　at　people　thinking　life　is　just
for　fun。〃

Harry；　like　other　young　men；　hated　to　be　lectured；　but　from　his
aunt　he　never　took　anything　amiss。　　He　admired　her　for　her
brilliant　qualities；　and　loved　her　with　a　love　near　to　worship。

〃I　say；　auntie；〃　he　said；　with　a　little　uncertain　laugh；　〃it's　like
going　to　church　to　hear　you；　only　it's　a　deal　more　pleasant。〃

〃But；　Harry；　am　I　not　right？〃　she　replied；　earnestly。　　〃Do　you
think　that　you　will　get　the　best　out　of　your　life　by　just　having
fun？　　Oh；　do　you　know　when　I　went　with　Kate　to　the　Institute　the
other　night　and　saw　those　boys　my　heart　ached。　　I　thought　of　my　own
boys；　and〃　　The　voice　ceased　in　a　pathetic　little　catch；　the
sensitive　lips　trembled；　the　beautiful　gray…brown　eyes　filled　with
sudden　tears。　　For　a　few　moments　there　was　silence；　then；　with　a
wavering　smile；　and　a　gentle；　apologetic　air；　she　said：　　〃But　I
must　not　make　Harry　think　he　is　in　church。〃

〃Dear　Aunt　Murray；〃　cried　Harry；　〃do　lecture　me。　　I'd　enjoy　it；　and
you　can't　make　it　too　strong。　　You　are　just　an　angel。〃　　He　left　his
seat；　and　going　over　to　her　chair；　knelt　down　and　put　his　arms
about　her。

〃Don't　you　all　wish　she　was　your　aunt？〃　he　said；　kissing　her。

〃She　IS　mine；〃　cried　Kate；　smiling　at　her　through　shining　tears。

〃She's　more；〃　said　Ranald；　and　his　voice　was　husky　with　emotion。

But　with　the　bright；　joyous　little　laugh　Ranald　knew　so　well；　she
smoothed　back　Harry's　hair；　and　kissing　him　on　the　forehead；　said：
〃I　am　sure　you　will　do　good　work　some　day。　　But　I　shall　be　quite
spoiled　here；　I　must　really　get　home。〃

As　Ranald　left　the　Raymond　house　he　knew　well　what　he　should　say　to
Mr。　St。　Clair　next　morning。　　He　wondered　at　himself　that　he　had
ever　been　in　doubt。　　He　had　been　for　an　hour　in　another　world　where
the　atmosphere　was　pure　and　the　light　clear。　　Never　till　that　night
had　he　realized　the　full　value　of　that　life　of　patient　self…
sacrifice；　so　unconscious　of　its　heroism。　　He　understood　then；　as
never　before；　the　mysterious　influence　of　that　gentle；　sweet…faced
lady　over　every　one　who　came　to　know　her；　from　the　simple；
uncultured　girls　of　the　Indian　Lands　to　the　young　men　about　town　of
Harry's　type。　　Hers　was　the　power　of　one　who　sees　with　open　eyes
the　unseen；　and　who　loves　to　the　forgetting　of　self　those　for　whom
the　Infinite　love　poured　Itself　out　in　death。

〃Going　home；　Harry？〃　inquired　Ranald。

〃Yes；　right　home；　don't　want　to　go　anywhere　else　to…night。　　I　say；
old　chap；　you're　a　better　and　cleaner　man　than　I　am；　but　it　ain't
your　fault。　　That　woman　ought　to　make　a　saint　out　of　any　man。〃

〃Man；　you　would　say　so　if　you　knew　her；〃　said　Ranald；　with　a　touch
of　impatience；　〃but　then　no　one　does　know　her。　　They　certainly
don't　down　in　the　Indian　Lands；　for　they　don't　know　what　she's
given　up。〃

〃That's　the　beauty　of　it；〃　replied　Harry；　〃she　doesn't　feel　it　that
way。　　Given　up？　not　she！　　She　thinks　she's　got　everything　that's
good！〃

〃Well；〃　said　Ranald；　thoughtfully；　after　a　pause；　〃she　knows；　and
she's　right。〃

When　they　came　to　Harry's　door　Ranald　lingered　just　a　moment。
〃Come　in　a　minute；〃　said　Harry。

〃I　don't　know；　I'm　coming　in　to…morrow。〃

〃Oh；　come　along　just　now。　　Aunt　Frank　is　in　bed；　but　Maimie　will　be
up；〃　said　Harry；　dragging　him　along　to　the　door。

〃No；　I　think　not　to…night。〃　　While　they　were　talking　the　door
opened　and　Maimie　appeared。

〃Ranald；〃　she　cried；　in　an　eager　voice；　〃I　knew　you　would　be　at
Kate's；　and　I　was　pretty　sure　you　would　come　home　with　Harry。
Aren't　you　coming　in？〃

〃Where's　Aunt　Frank？〃　asked　Harry。

〃She's　upstairs；〃　said　Maimie。

〃Thank　the　Lord；　eh？〃　added　Harry；　pushing　in　past　her。

〃Go　away　in　and　talk　to　her；〃　said　Maimie。　　Then　turning　to　Ranald
and　looking　into　his　devouring　eyes；　she　said；　〃Well？　　You　might
say　you're　glad　to　see　me。〃　　She　stood　where　the　full　light　of　the
doorway　revealed　the　perfect　beauty　of　her　face　and　figure。

〃Glad　to　see　you！　　There　is　no　need　of　saying　that；〃　replied　Ranald；
still　gazing　at　her。

〃How　beautiful　you　are；　Maimie；〃　he　added；　bluntly。

〃Thank　you；　and　you　are　really　quite　passable。〃

〃And　I　AM　glad　to　see　you。〃

〃That's　why　you　won't　come　in。〃

〃I　am　coming　to…morrow　night。〃

〃Everybody　will　be　here　to…morrow　night。〃

〃Yes；　that's　certainly　a　drawback。〃

〃And　I　shall　be　very　busy　looking　after　my　guests。　　Still；〃　she
added；　noticing　the　disappointment　in　his　face；　〃it's　quite
possible〃

〃Exactly；〃　his　face　lighting　up　again。

〃Have　you　seen　father's　study？〃　asked　Maimie；　innocently。

〃No；〃　replied　Ranald；　wonderingly。　　〃Is　it　so　beautiful？〃

〃No；　but　it's　upstairs；　andquiet。〃

〃Well？〃　said　Ranald。

〃And　perhaps　you　might　like　to　see　it　to…morrow　night。〃

〃How　stupid　I　am。　　Will　you　show　it　to　me？〃

〃I　will　be　busy；　but　perhaps　Harry〃

〃Will　you？〃　said　Ranald；　coming　close　to　her；　with　the　old
imperative　in　his　voice。

Maimie　drew　back　a　little。

〃Do　you　know　what　you　make　me　think　of？〃　she　asked；　lowering　her
voice。

〃Yes；　I　do。　　I　have　thought　of　it　every　night　since。〃

〃You　were　very　rude；　I　remember。〃

〃You　didn't　think　so　then；〃　said　Ranald；　boldly。

〃I　ought　to　have　been　very　angry；〃　replied　Maimie；　severely。

〃But　you　weren't；　you　know　you　weren't；　and　do　you　remember　what
you　said？〃

〃What　I　said？　　How　awful　of　you；　don't　you　dare！　　How　can　I
remember？〃

〃Yes；　you　do　remember；　and　then　do　you　remember　what　_I_　said？〃

〃What　YOU　said　indeed！　　Such　assurance！〃

〃I　have　kept　my　word；〃　said　Ranald；　〃and　I　am　coming　to…morrow
night。　　Oh；　Maimie；　it　has　been　a　long；　long　time。〃　　He　came　close
to　her　and　caught　her　hand；　the　slumbering　fire　in　his　eyes　blazing
now　in　flame。

〃Don't；　don't；　I'm　sure　there's　Aunt　Frank。　　No；　no；〃　she　pleaded；
in　terror；　〃not　to…night；　Ranald！〃

〃Then　will　you　show　me　the　study　to…morrow　night？〃

〃Oh；　you　are　very　mean。　　Let　me　go！〃

〃Will　you？〃　he　demanded；　still　holding　her　hand。

〃Yes；　yes；　you　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself。　　My　hand　is　quite
sore。　　There；　now；　good　night。　　No；　I　won't　shake　hands！　　Well；
then；　if　you　must　have　it；　good　night。〃



CHAPTER　XXII

FORGET　THAT　I　LOVED　YOU


〃The　night　for　dreaming；　but　the　morn　for　seeing。〃　　And　so　Ranald
found　it；　for　with　the　cold；　calm　light　of　the　morning；　he　found
himself　facing　his　battle　with　small　sense　of　victory　in　his　blood。
He　knew　he　had　to　deal　that　morning　with　the　crisis　of　his　life。
Upon　the　issue　his　whole　future　would　turn；　but　his　heart　without
haste　or　pause　preserved　its　even　beat。　　The　hour　of　indecision　had
passed。　　He　saw　his　way　and　he　meant　to　walk　it。　　What　was　beyond
the　turn　was　hid　from　his　eyes；　but　with　that　he　need　not　concern
himself　now。　　Meantime　he　would　clear　away　some　of　this　accumulated
correspondence　lying　on　his　desk。　　In　the　midst　of　his　work　Harry
came　in　and　laid　a　bundle　of　bills　before　him。

〃Here　you　are；　old　chap；〃　he　said；　quietly。　　〃That's　the　last　of
it。〃

Ranald　counted　the　money。

〃You　are　sure　you　can　spare　all　this？　　There　is　no　hurry；　you　know。〃

〃No；〃　said　Harry；　〃I　can't　spare　it；　but　it's　safer　with　you　than
with　me；　and　besides；　it's　yours。　　And　I　owe　you　more　than　money。〃
He　drew　a　deep　breath　to　steady　himself；　and　then　went　on：　　〃And　I
want　to　say；　Ranald；　that　I　have　bet　my　last　stake。〃

Ranald　pushed　back　his　chair　and　rose　to　his　feet。

〃Now　that's　the　best　thing　I've　heard　for　some　time；〃　he　said；
offering　Harry　his　hand；　〃and　that's　the　last　of　that　business。〃

He　sat　down；　drew　in　his　chair；　and　turning　over　his　papers　with　a
nervousness　that　he　rarely　showed；　he　continued：　　〃And；　Harry；　I
want　you　to　do　something　for　me。　　Before　you　go　home　this　afternoon；
will　you　come　in　here？　　I　may　want　to　send　a　note　to　Maimie　by　you。〃

〃But〃　began　Harry。

〃Wait　a　moment。　　I　want　to　prevent　all　possibility　of　mistake。
There　may　be　a　reply；　and　Harry；　old　chap；　I'd　rather　not　answer
an