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！
of attempting to do anything but walk carefully down a hill； at
least for two…thirds of the way。 Through the village； in a cloud
of dust； we swept； catching a glimpse of a well…known face here and
there； and flinging a salutation as we passed； leaving the owner of
the face rooted to his place in astonishment at the sight of Graeme
whirling on in his old…time； well…known reckless manner。 Only old
Dunc。 M'Leod was equal to the moment； for as Graeme called out；
'Hello； Dunc。！' the old man lifted up his hands； and called back in
an awed voice： 'Bless my soul！ is it yourself？'
'Stands his whisky well； poor old chap！' was Graeme's comment。
As we neared the church he pulled up his team； and we went quietly
past the sleepers there； then again on the full run down the gentle
slope； over the little brook； and up to the gate。 He had hardly
got his team pulled up before； flinging me the lines； he was out
over the wheel； for coming down the walk； with her hands lifted
high； was a dainty little lady； with the face of an angel。 In a
moment Graeme had her in his arms。 I heard the faint cry； 'My boy；
my boy；' and got down on the other side to attend to my off horse；
surprised to find my hands trembling and my eyes full of tears。
Back upon the steps stood an old gentleman； with white hair and
flowing beard； handsome； straight； and statelyGraeme's father；
waiting his turn。
'Welcome home； my lad；' was his greeting； as he kissed his son； and
the tremor of his voice； and the sight of the two men kissing each
other； like women； sent me again to my horses' heads。
'There's Connor； mother！' shouted out Graeme； and the dainty little
lady； in her black silk and white lace； came out to me quickly；
with outstretched hands。
'You； too； are welcome home；' she said； and kissed me。
I stood with my hat off； saying something about being glad to come；
but wishing that I could get away before I should make quite a fool
of myself。 For as I looked down upon that beautiful face； pale；
except for a faint flush upon each faded cheek； and read the story
of pain endured and conquered； and as I thought of all the long
years of waiting and of vain hoping； I found my throat dry and
sore； and the words would not come。 But her quick sense needed no
words； and she came to my help。
'You will find Jack at the stable；' she said； smiling； 'he ought to
have been here。'
The stable！ Why had I not thought of that before？ Thankfully now
my words came
'Yes； certainly； I'll find him； Mrs。 Graeme。 I suppose he's as
much of a scapegrace as ever； and off I went to look up Graeme's
young brother； who had given every promise in the old days of
developing into as stirring a rascal as one could desire； but who；
as I found out later； had not lived these years in his mother's
home for nothing。
'Oh； Jack's a good boy；' she answered； smiling again； as she turned
toward the other two； now waiting for her upon the walk。
The week that followed was a happy one for us all； but for the
mother it was full to the brim with joy。 Her sweet face was full
of content； and in her eyes rested a great peace。 Our days were
spent driving about among the hills； or strolling through the maple
woods； or down into the tamarack swamp； where the pitcher plants
and the swamp lilies and the marigold waved above the deep moss。
In the evenings we sat under the trees on the lawn till the stars
came out and the night dews drove us in。 Like two lovers； Graeme
and his mother would wander off together； leaving Jack and me to
each other。 Jack was reading for divinity； and was really a fine；
manly fellow； with all his brother's turn for rugby； and I took to
him amazingly； but after the day was over we would gather about the
supper table； and the talk would be of all things under heaven
art； football； theology。 The mother would lead in all。 How quick
she was； how bright her fancy； how subtle her intellect； and
through all a gentle grace； very winning and beautiful to see！
Do what I would； Graeme would talk little of the mountains and his
life there。
'My lion will not roar； Mrs。 Graeme；' I complained； 'he simply will
not。'
'You should twist his tail；' said Jack。
'That seems to be the difficulty； Jack；' said his mother； 'to get
hold of his tale。'
'Oh； mother；' groaned Jack； 'you never did such a thing before！
How could you？ Is it this baleful Western influence？'
'I shall reform； Jack；' she replied brightly。
'But； seriously； Graeme；' I remonstrated； 'you ought to tell your
people of your lifethat free； glorious life in the mountains。'
'Free！ Glorious！ To some men； perhaps！' said Graeme； and then fell
into silence。
But I saw Graeme as a new man the night he talked theology with his
father。 The old minister was a splendid Calvinist； of heroic type；
and as he discoursed of God's sovereignty and election； his face
glowed and his voice rang out。
Graeme listened intently； now and then putting in a question； as
one would a keen knife…thrust into a foe。 But the old man knew his
ground； and moved easily among his ideas； demolishing the enemy as
he appeared； with jaunty grace。 In the full flow of his triumphant
argument； Graeme turned to him with sudden seriousness。
'Look here； father！ I was born a Calvinist； and I can't see how
any one with a level head can hold anything else； than that the
Almighty has some idea as to how He wants to run His universe； and
He means to carry out His idea； and is carrying it out； but what
would you do in a case like this？' Then he told him the story of
poor Billy Breen； his fight and his defeat。
'Would you preach election to that chap？'
The mother's eyes were shining with tears。
The old gentleman blew his nose like a trumpet； and then said
gravely
'No； my boy； you don't feed babes with meat。 But what came to
him？'
Then Graeme asked me to finish the tale。 After I had finished the
story of Billy's final triumph and of Craig's part in it； they sat
long silent； till the minister； clearing his throat hard and
blowing his nose more like a trumpet than ever； said with great
emphasis
'Thank God for such a man in such a place！ I wish there were more
of us like him。'
'I should like to see you out there； sir；' said Graeme admiringly；
'you'd get them； but you wouldn't have time for election。'
'Yes； yes！' said his father warmly； 'I should love to have a chance
just to preach election to these poor lads。 Would I were twenty
years younger！'
'It is worth a man's life；' said Graeme earnestly。 His younger
brother turned his face eagerly toward the mother。 For answer she
slipped her hand into his and said softly； while her eyes shone
like stars
'Some day； Jack； perhaps！ God knows。' But Jack only looked
steadily at her； smiling a little and patting her hand。
'You'd shine there； mother；' said Graeme； smiling upon her； 'you'd
better come with me。' She started； and said faintly
'With you？' It was the first hint he had given of his purpose。
'You are going back？'
'What！ as a missionary？' said Jack。
'Not to preach； Jack； I'm not orthodox enough；' looking at his
father and shaking his head； 'but to build railroads and lend a
hand to some poor chap； if I can。'
'Could you not find work nearer home； my boy？' asked the father；
'there is plenty of both kinds near us here； surely。'
'Lots of work； but not mine； I fear；' answered Graeme； keeping his
eyes away from his mother's face。 'A man must do his own work。'
His voice was quiet and resolute； and glancing at the beautiful
face at the end of the table； I saw in the pale lips and yearning
eyes that the mother was offering up her firstborn； that ancient
sacrifice。 But not all the agony of sacrifice could wring from her
entreaty or complaint in the hearing of her sons。 That was for
other ears and for the silent hours of the night。 And next morning
when she came down to meet us her face was wan and weary； but it
wore the peace of victory and a glory not of earth。 Her greeting
was full of dignity； sweet and gentle； but when she came to Graeme
she lingered over him and kissed him twice。 And that was all that
any of us ever saw of that sore fight。
At the end of the week I took leave of them； and last of all of the
mother。
She hesitated just a moment； then suddenly put her hands upon my
shoulders and kissed me； saying softly； 'You are his friend； you
will sometimes come to me？'
'Gladly； if I may；' I hastened to answer； for the sweet； brave face
was too much to bear； and； till she left us for that world of which
she was a part； I kept my word； to my own great and lasting good。
When Graeme met me in the city at the end of the summer； he brought
me her love； and then burst forth
'Connor； do you know； I have just discovered my mother！ I have
never known her till this summer。'
'More fool you；' I answered； for often had I； who had never known a
mother； envied him his。
'Yes； that is true；' he answered slowly； 'but you cannot see until
you have eyes。'
Before he set out again for the west I gave him a supper； asking
the men who had been with us in the old 'Varsity days。 I was
doubtful as to the wisdom of this； and was persuaded only by
G