black rock-第34章

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startling　echo；　the　mound　is　heaped　and　shaped　by　kindly　friends；
sharing　with　one　another　the　task；　the　long　rough　sods　are　laid
over　and　patted　into　place；　the　old　minister　takes　farewell　in　a
few　words　of　gentle　sympathy；　the　brother　and　sister；　with
lingering　looks　at　the　two　graves　side　by　side；　the　old　and　the
new；　step　into　the　farmer's　carriage；　and　drive　away；　the　sexton
locks　the　gate　and　goes　home；　and　we　are　left　outside　alone。

Then　we　went　back　and　stood　by　Nelson's　grave。

After　a　long　silence　Graeme　spoke。

'Connor；　he　did　not　grudge　his　life　to　meand　I　think'and　here
the　words　came　slowly'I　understand　now　what　that　means；　〃Who
loved　me　and　gave　Himself　for　me。〃'

Then　taking　off　his　hat；　he　said　reverently；　'By　God's　help
Nelson's　life　shall　not　end；　but　shall　go　on。　　Yes；　old　man！'
looking　down　upon　the　grave；　'I'm　with　you'；　and　lifting　up　his
face　to　the　calm　sky；　'God　help　me　to　be　true。'

Then　he　turned　and　walked　briskly　away；　as　one　might　who　had
pressing　business；　or　as　soldiers　march　from　a　comrade's　grave　to　a
merry　tune；　not　that　they　have　forgotten；　but　they　have　still　to
fight。

And　this　was　the　way　old　man　Nelson　came　home。


CHAPTERS　XIV。

GRAEME'S　NEW　BIRTH


There　was　more　left　in　that　grave　than　old　man　Nelson's　dead　body。
It　seemed　to　me　that　Graeme　left　part；　at　least；　of　his　old　self
there；　with　his　dead　friend　and　comrade；　in　the　quiet　country
churchyard。　　I　waited　long　for　the　old　careless；　reckless　spirit
to　appear；　but　he　was　never　the　same　again。　　The　change　was
unmistakable；　but　hard　to　define。　　He　seemed　to　have　resolved　his
life　into　a　definite　purpose。　　He　was　hardly　so　comfortable　a
fellow　to　be　with；　he　made　me　feel　even　more　lazy　and　useless　than
was　my　wont；　but　I　respected　him　more；　and　liked　him　none　the　less。
As　a　lion　he　was　not　a　success。　　He　would　not　roar。　　This　was
disappointing　to　me；　and　to　his　friends　and　mine；　who　had　been
waiting　his　return　with　eager　expectation　of　tales　of　thrilling　and
bloodthirsty　adventure。

His　first　days　were　spent　in　making　right；　or　as　nearly　right　as　he
could；　the　break　that　drove　him　to　the　west。　　His　old　firm　（and　I
have　had　more　respect　for　the　humanity　of　lawyers　ever　since）
behaved　really　well。　　They　proved　the　restoration　of　their
confidence　in　his　integrity　and　ability　by　offering　him　a　place　in
the　firm；　which；　however；　he　would　not　accept。　　Then；　when　he　felt
clean；　as　he　said；　he　posted　off　home；　taking　me　with　him。　　During
the　railway　journey　of　four　hours　he　hardly　spoke；　but　when　we　had
left　the　town　behind；　and　had　fairly　got　upon　the　country　road　that
led　toward　the　home　ten　miles　away；　his　speech　came　to　him　in　a
great　flow。　　His　spirits　ran　over。　　He　was　like　a　boy　returning
from　his　first　college　term。　　His　very　face　wore　the　boy's　open；
innocent；　earnest　look　that　used　to　attract　men　to　him　in　his　first
college　year。　　His　delight　in　the　fields　and　woods；　in　the　sweet
country　air　and　the　sunlight；　was　without　bound。　　How　often　had　we
driven　this　road　together　in　the　old　days！

Every　turn　was　familiar。　　The　swamp　where　the　tamaracks　stood
straight　and　slim　out　of　their　beds　of　moss；　the　brule；　as　we　used
to　call　it；　where　the　pine…stumps；　huge　and　blackened；　were　half…
hidden　by　the　new　growth　of　poplars　and　soft　maples；　the　big　hill；
where　we　used　to　get　out　and　walk　when　the　roads　were　bad；　the
orchards；　where　the　harvest　apples　were　best　and　most　accessible
all　had　their　memories。

It　was　one　of　those　perfect　afternoons　that　so　often　come　in　the
early　Canadian　summer；　before　Nature　grows　weary　with　the　heat。
The　white　gravel　road　was　trimmed　on　either　side　with　turf　of
living　green；　close　cropped　by　the　sheep　that　wandered　in　flocks
along　its　whole　length。　　Beyond　the　picturesque　snake…fences
stretched　the　fields　of　springing　grain；　of　varying　shades　of
green；　with　here　and　there　a　dark　brown　patch；　marking　a　turnip
field　or　summer　fallow；　and　far　back　were　the　woods　of　maple　and
beech　and　elm；　with　here　and　there　the　tufted　top　of　a　mighty　pine；
the　lonely　representative　of　a　vanished　race；　standing　clear　above
the　humbler　trees。

As　we　drove　through　the　big　swamp；　where　the　yawning；　haunted　gully
plunges　down　to　its　gloomy　depths；　Graeme　reminded　me　of　that　night
when　our　horse　saw　something　in　that　same　gully；　and　refused　to　go
past；　and　I　felt　again；　though　it　was　broad　daylight；　something　of
the　grue　that　shivered　down　my　back；　as　I　saw　in　the　moonlight　the
gleam　of　a　white　thing　far　through　the　pine　trunks。

As　we　came　nearer　home　the　houses　became　familiar。　　Every　house　had
its　tale：　we　had　eaten　or　slept　in　most　of　them；　we　had　sampled
apples；　and　cherries；　and　plums　from　their　orchards；　openly　as
guests；　or　secretly　as　marauders；　under　cover　of　nightthe　more
delightful　way；　I　fear。　　Ah！　happy　days；　with　these　innocent　crimes
and　fleeting　remorses；　how　bravely　we　faced　them；　and　how　gaily　we
lived　them；　and　how　yearningly　we　look　back　at　them　now！　　The　sun
was　just　dipping　into　the　tree…tops　of　the　distant　woods　behind　as
we　came　to　the　top　of　the　last　hill　that　overlooked　the　valley；　in
which　lay　the　village　of　Riverdale。　　Wooded　hills　stood　about　it　on
three　sides；　and；　where　the　hills　faded　out；　there　lay　the　mill…
pond　sleeping　and　smiling　in　the　sun。　　Through　the　village　ran　the
white　road；　up　past　the　old　frame　church；　and　on　to　the　white　manse
standing　among　the　trees。　　That　was　Graeme's　home；　and　mine　too；
for　I　had　never　known　another　worthy　of　the　name。　　We　held　up　our
team　to　look　down　over　the　valley；　with　its　rampart　of　wooded
hills；　its　shining　pond；　and　its　nestling　village；　and　on　past　to
the　church　and　the　white　manse；　hiding　among　the　trees。　　The
beauty；　the　peace；　the　warm；　loving　homeliness　of　the　scene　came
about　our　hearts；　but；　being　men；　we　could　find　no　words。

'Let's　go；'　cried　Graeme；　and　down　the　hill　we　tore　and　rocked　and
swayed　to　the　amazement　of　the　steady　team；　whose　education　from
the　earliest　years　had　impressed　upon　their　minds　the　criminality
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