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！
that it lies in years to do。 They had made of the lank； raw；
shanty lad a man； and such a man as a sculptor would have loved to
behold。 Straight as a column he stood two inches over six feet；
but of such proportions that seeing him alone； one would never have
guessed his height。 His head and neck rose above his square
shoulders with perfect symmetry and poise。 His dark face； tanned
now to a bronze； with features clear…cut and strong； was lit by a
pair of dark brown eyes； honest； fearless； and glowing with a
slumbering fire that men would hesitate to stir to flame。 The
lines of his mouth told of self…control； and the cut of his chin
proclaimed a will of iron； and altogether； he bore himself with an
air of such quiet strength and cool self…confidence that men never
feared to follow where he led。 Yet there was a reserve about him
that set him a little apart from men； and a kind of shyness that
saved him from any suspicion of self…assertion。 In vain he tried
to escape from the crowd that gathered about him； and more
especially from the foot…ball men； who utterly adored him。
〃You can't do anything for a fellow that doesn't drink；〃 complained
Starry Hamilton； the big captain of the foot…ball team。
〃Drink！ a nice captain you are； Starry；〃 said Ranald； 〃and
Thanksgiving so near。〃
〃We haven't quite shut down yet；〃 explained the captain。
〃Then I suppose a cigar is permitted；〃 replied Ranald； ordering the
steward to bring his best。 In a few minutes he called for his
mail； and excusing himself； slipped into one of the private rooms。
The manager of the Raymond & St。 Clair Company and prominent
clubman； much sought after in social circles； he was bound to find
letters of importance awaiting him； but hastily shuffling the
bundle； he selected three； and put the rest in his pocket。
〃So she's back；〃 he said to himself； lifting up one in a square
envelope； addressed in large； angular writing。 He turned it over
in his hand； feasting his eyes upon it； as a boy holds a peach；
prolonging the blissful anticipation。 Then he opened it slowly and
read：
MY DEAR RANALD： All the way home I was hoping that on my return；
fresh from the 〃stately homes of England；〃 and from association
with lords and dukes and things； you would be here to receive your
share of the luster and aroma my presence would shed （that's a
little mixed； I fear）； but with a most horrible indifference to
your privileges you are away at the earth's end； no one knows
where。 Father said you were to be home to…day； so though you don't
in the least deserve it； I am writing you a note of forgiveness；
and will you be sure to come to my special party to…morrow night？
I put it off till to…morrow solely on your account； and in spite of
Aunt Frank； and let me tell you that though I have seen such heaps
of nice men； and all properly dear and devoted； still I want to see
you； so you must come。 Everything else will keep。 Yours；
MAIMIE。
Over and over again he read the letter； till the fire in his eyes
began to gleam and his face became radiant with a tender glow。
〃'Yours； Maimie；' eh？ I wonder now what she means；〃 he mused。
〃Seven years and for my life I don't know yet； but to…morrow night
yes； to…morrow night； I will know！〃 He placed the letter in its
envelope and put it carefully in his inside pocket。 〃Now for Kate；
dear old girl； no better anywhere。〃 He opened his letter and read：
DEAR RANALD： What a lot of people will be delighted to see you
back！ First； dear old Dr。 Marshall； who is in despair over the
Institute； of which he declares only a melancholy ruin will be left
if you do not speedily return。 Indeed； it is pretty bad。 The boys
are quite terrible； and even my 〃angels〃 are becoming infected。
Your special pet； Coley； after reducing poor Mr。 Locke to the verge
of nervous prostration； has 〃quit；〃 and though I have sought him in
his haunts； and used my very choicest blandishments； he remains
obdurate。 To my remonstrances； he finally deigned to reply： 〃Naw；
they ain't none of 'em any good no more； them ducks is too pious
for me。〃 I don't know whether you will consider that a compliment
or not。 So the Institute and all its people will welcome you with
acclaims of delight and sighs of relief。 And some one else whom
you adore； and who adores you； will rejoice to see you。 I have
begged her from Maimie for a few precious days。 But that's a
secret； and last of all and least of all； there is
Your friend；
KATE。
P。 S。Of course you will be at the party to…morrow night。 Maimie
looks lovelier than ever； and she will be so glad to see you。
K。
〃What a trump she is；〃 murmured Ranald； 〃unselfish； honest to the
core； and steady as a rock。 'Some one else whom you adore。' Who
can that be？ By Jove； is it possible？ I will go right up to…night。〃
His last letter was from Mr。 St。 Clair； who was the chief executive
of the firm。 He glanced over it hurriedly； then with a curious
blending of surprise； perplexity； and dismay on his face； he read
it again with careful deliberation：
MY DEAR RANALD： Welcome home！ We shall all be delighted to see
you。 Your letter from North Bay； which reached me two days ago；
contained information that places us in rather an awkward position。
Last May； just after you left for the north； Colonel Thorp； of the
British…American Coal and Lumber Company； operating in British
Columbia and Michigan； called to see me； and made an offer of
75；000 for our Bass River limits。 Of course you know we are
rather anxious to unload； and at first I regarded his offer with
favor。 Soon afterwards I received your first report； sent
apparently on your way up。 I thereupon refused Colonel Thorp's
offer。 Then evidently upon the strength of your report； which I
showed him； Colonel Thorp； who by the way is a very fine fellow；
but a very shrewd business man； raised his offer to an even hundred
thousand。 This offer I feel inclined to accept。 To tell you the
truth； we have more standing timber than we can handle； and as you
know； we are really badly crippled for ready money。 It is a little
unfortunate that your last report should be so much less favorable
in regard to the east half of the limits。 However； I don't suppose
there is any need of mentioning that to Colonel Thorp； especially
as his company are getting a good bargain as it is； and one which
of themselves； they could not possibly secure from the government。
I write you this note in case you should run across Colonel Thorp
in town to…morrow； and inadvertently say something that might
complicate matters。 I have no doubt that we shall be able to close
the deal in a few days。
Now I want to say again how delighted we all are to have you back。
We never realized how much we were dependent upon you。 Mr。 Raymond
and I have been talking matters over； and we have agreed that some
changes ought to be made； which I venture to say will not be
altogether disagreeable to you。 I shall see you first thing in the
morning about the matter of the limits。
Maimie has got home； and is； I believe； expecting you at her party
to…morrow night。 Indeed； I understand she was determined that it
should not come off until you had returned； which shows she shares
the opinion of the firm concerning you。
I am yours sincerely；
EUGENE ST。 CLAIR。
Ranald sat staring at the letter for a long time。 He saw with
perfect clearness Mr。 St。 Clair's meaning； and a sense of keen
humiliation possessed him as he realized what it was that he was
expected to do。 But it took some time for the full significance of
the situation to dawn upon him。 None knew better than he how
important it was to the firm that this sale should be effected。
The truth was if the money market should become at all close the
firm would undoubtedly find themselves in serious difficulty。 Ruin
to the company meant not only the blasting of his own prospects；
but misery to her whom he loved better than life； and after all；
what he was asked to do was nothing more than might be done any day
in the world of business。 Every buyer is supposed to know the
value of the thing he buys； and certainly Colonel Thorp should not
commit his company to a deal involving such a large sum of money
without thoroughly informing himself in regard to the value of the
limits in question； and when he； as an employee of the Raymond and
St。 Clair Lumber Company； gave in his report； surely his
responsibility ceased。 He was not asked to present any incorrect
report； he could easily make it convenient to be absent until the
deal was closed。 Furthermore； the chances were that the British…
American Coal and Lumber Company would still have good value for
their money； for the west half of the limits was exceptionally
good； and besides； what right had he to besmirch the honor of his
employer； and to set his judgment above that of a man of much
greater experience？ Ranald understood also Mr。 St。 Clair's
reference to the changes in the firm； and it gave him no small
satisfaction to think that in four years he had risen from the
position of lumber checker to that of manager； with an offer of a
partnership； nor could he mistake the suggestion in