the man from glengarry-第72节

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the　West　that　he　had　grown　to　love；　stimulated　him　like　a　draught
of　strong　wine。　　In　the　midst　of　his　speech　the　secretary；　who　till
that　moment　had　not　been　present；　came　into　the　room　with　the
evening　paper　in　his　hand。　　He　gave　it　to　the　president；　pointing
out　a　paragraph。　　At　once　the　president；　interrupting　Ranald　in　his
speech；　rose　and　said；　〃Gentlemen；　there　is　an　item　of　news　here
that　I　think　you　will　all　agree　bears　somewhat　directly　upon　this
business。〃　　He　then　read　Sir　John　A。　MacDonald's　famous　telegram　to
the　British　Columbia　government；　promising　that　the　Canadian　Pacific
Railway　should　be　begun　that　fall。　　After　the　cheers　had　died　away；
Ranald　rose　again；　and　said；　〃Mr。　President　and　gentlemen；　there　is
no　need　that　I　should　say　anything　more。　　I　simply　wish　to　add　that
I　return　to　British　Columbia　next　week；　but　whether　as　manager　for
this　company　or　not　that　is　a　matter　of　perfect　indifference　to　me。〃
And　saying　this；　he　left　the　room；　followed　by　Colonel　Thorp。

〃You're　all　right；　pardner；〃　said　the　colonel；　shaking　him
vigorously　by　the　hand；　〃and　if　they　don't　feel　like　playing　up　to
your　lead；　then；　by　the　great　and　everlasting　Sammy；　we　will　make　a
new　deal　and　play　it　alone！〃

〃All　right；　Colonel；〃　said　Ranald；　〃I　almost　think　I'd　rather　play
it　without　them　and　you　can　tell　them　so。〃

〃Where　are　you　going　now？〃　said　the　colonel。

〃I've　got　to　go　to　Toronto　for　a　day；〃　said　Ranald；　〃the　boys　are
foolish　enough　to　get　up　a　kind　of　dinner　at　the　Albert；　and
besides；〃　he　added；　resolutely；　〃I　want　to　see　Kate。〃

〃Right　you　are；〃　said　the　colonel；　〃anything　else　would　be　meaner
than　snakes。〃

But　when　Ranald　reached　Toronto；　he　found　disappointment　awaiting
him。　　The　Alberts　were　ready　to　give　him　an　enthusiastic　reception；
but　to　his　dismay　both　Harry　and　Kate　were　absent。　　Harry　was　in
Quebec　and　Kate　was　with　her　mother　visiting　friends　at　the　Northern
Lake；　so　Ranald　was　forced　to　content　himself　with　a　letter　of
farewell　and　congratulation　upon　her　approaching　marriage。　　In　spite
of　his　disappointment；　Ranald　could　not　help　acknowledging　a　feeling
of　relief。　　It　would　have　been　no　small　ordeal　to　him　to　have　met
Kate；　to　have　told　her　how　she　had　helped　him　during　his　three
years'　absence；　without　letting　her　suspect　how　much　she　had　become
to　him；　and　how　sore　was　his　disappointment　that　she　could　never　be
more　than　friend　to　him；　and　indeed；　not　even　that。　　But　his　letter
was　full　of　warm；　frank；　brotherly　congratulation　and　good　will。

The　dinner　at　the　Albert　was　in　every　way　worthy　of　the　club　and　of
the　occasion；　but　Ranald　was　glad　to　get　it　over。　　He　was　eager　to
get　away　from　the　city　associated　in　his　mind　with　so　much　that　was
painful。

At　length　the　last　speech　was　made；　and　the　last　song　was　sung；　and
the　men　in　a　body　marched　to　the　station　carrying　their　hero　with
them。　　As　they　stood　waiting　for　the　train　to　pull　out；　a　coachman
in　livery　approached　little　Merrill。

〃A　lady　wishes　to　see　Mr。　Macdonald；　sir；〃　he　said；　touching　his
hat。

〃Well；　she's　got　to　be　quick　about　it；〃　said　Merrill。　　〃Here；
Glengarry；〃　he　called　to　Ranald；　〃a　lady　is　waiting　outside　to　see
you；　but　I　say；　old　chap；　you　will　have　to　make　it　short；　I　guess
it　will　be　sweet　enough。〃

〃Where　is　she？〃　said　Ranald　to　the　coachman；

〃In　here；　sir；〃　conducting　him　to　the　ladies'　waiting…room；　and
taking　his　place　at　the　door　outside。　　Ranald　hurried　into　the
room；　and　there　stood　Kate。

〃Dear　Kate！〃　he　cried；　running　toward　her　with　both　hands
outstretched；　〃this　is　more　than　kind　of　you；　and　just　like　your
good　heart。〃

〃I　only　heard　last　night；　Ranald；〃　she　said；　〃from　Maimie；　that　you
were　to　be　here　to…day；　and　I　could　not　let　you　go。〃　　She　stood　up
looking　so　brave　and　proud；　but　in　spite　of　her；　her　lips　quivered。

〃I　have　waited　to　see　you　so　long；〃　she　said；　〃and　now　you　are
going　away　again。〃

〃Don't　speak　like　that；　Kate；〃　said　Ranald；　〃don't　say　those
things。　　I　want　to　tell　you　how　you　have　helped　me　these　three
lonely　years；　but　I　can't；　and　you　will　never　know；　and　now　I　am
going　back。　　I　hardly　dared　to　see　you；　but　I　wish　you　everything
that　is　good。　　I　haven't　seen　Harry　either；　but　you　will　wish　him
joy　for　me。　　He　is　a　very　lucky　fellow。〃

By　this　time　Ranald　had　regained　control　of　himself；　and　was
speaking　in　a　tone　of　frank　and　brotherly　affection。　　Kate　looked
at　him　with　a　slightly　puzzled　air。

〃I've　seen　Maimie；〃　Ranald　went　on；　〃and　she　told　me　all　about　it；
and　I　amyes；　I　am　very　glad。〃　　Still　Kate　looked　a　little
puzzled；　but　the　minutes　were　precious；　and　she　had　much　to　say。

〃Oh；　Ranald！〃　she　cried；　〃I　have　so　much　to　say　to　you。　　You　have
become　a　great　man；　and　you　are　good。　　I　am　so　proud　when　I　hear　of
you；〃　and　lowering　her　voice　almost　to　a　whisper；　〃I　pray　for　you
every　day。〃

As　Ranald　stood　gazing　at　the　beautiful　face；　and　noticed　the
quivering　lips　and　the　dark　eyes　shining　with　tears　she　was　too
brave　to　let　fall；　he　felt　that　he　was　fast　losing　his　grip　of
himself。

〃Oh；　Kate；〃　he　cried；　in　a　low；　tense　voice；　〃I　must　go。　　You　have
been　more　to　me　than　you　will　ever　know。　　May　you　both　be　happy。〃

〃Both？〃　echoed　Kate；　faintly。

〃Yes；〃　cried　Ranald；　hurriedly；　〃Harry　will；　I'm　sure；　for　if　any
one　can　make　him　happy；　you　can。〃

〃I？〃　catching　her　breath；　and　beginning　to　laugh　a　little
hysterically。

〃What's　the　matter；　Kate？　　You　are　looking　white。〃

〃Oh；〃　cried　Kate；　her　voice　broken　between　a　sob　and　a　laugh；
〃won't　Harry　and　Lily　enjoy　this？〃

Ranald　gazed　at　her　in　fear　as　if　she　had　suddenly　gone　mad。

〃Lily？〃　he　gasped。

〃Yes；　Lily；〃　cried　Kate；　〃didn't　you　know　Lily　Langford；　Harry's
dearest　and　most　devoted？〃

〃No；〃　said　Ranald；　〃and　it　is　not　you？〃

〃Not　me；〃　cried　Kate；　〃not　in　the　very　least。〃

〃Oh；　Kate；　tell　me；　is　this　all　true？　　Are　you　still　free？　　And　is
there　any　use？〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　cried　Kate；　dancing　about　in　sheer　joy；　〃you
silly　boy。〃

By　this　time　Ranald　had　got　hold　of　her　hands。

〃Look　here；　old　chap；〃　burst　in　Merrill；　〃your　train's　going。　　Oh；
beg　pardon。〃

〃Take　the　next；　Ranald。〃

〃Merrill；〃　said　Ranald；　solemnly；　〃tell　the　fellows　I'm　not　going
on　this　train。〃

〃Hoorah！〃　cried　little　Merrill；　〃I　guess　I'll　tell　'em　you　are
gone。　　May　I　tell　the　fellows；　Kate？〃

〃What？〃　said　Kate；　blushing　furiously。

〃Yes；　Merrill；〃　cried　Ranald；　in　a　voice　strident　with　ecstasy；
〃you　may　tell　them。　　Tell　the　whole　town。〃

Merrill　rushed　to　the　door。　　〃I　say；　fellows；〃　he　cried；　〃look
here。〃

The　men　came　trooping　at　his　call；　but　only　to　see　Ranald　and　Kate
disappearing　through　the　other　door。

〃He's　not　going；〃　cried　Merrill；　〃he's　gone。　　By　Jove！　　They've
both　gone。〃

〃I　say；　little　man；〃　said　big　Starry　Hamilton；　〃call　yourself
together　if　you　can。　　Who've　both　gone？　　In　short；　who　is　the
lady？〃

〃Why；　Kate　Raymond；　you　blessed　idiot！〃　cried　Merrill；　rushing　for
the　door；　followed　by　the　whole　crowd。

〃Three　cheers　for　Macdonald！〃　cried　Starry　Hamilton；　as　the
carriage　drove　away；　and　after　the　three　cheers　and　the　tiger；
little　Merrill's　voice　led　them　in　the　old　battle…cry；　heard　long
ago　on　the　river；　but　afterward　on　many　a　hard…fought　foot…ball
field；　〃Glengarry　forever！〃







End