the man from glengarry-第69章

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！


〃but　I　should　think　not。〃　　Miss　St。　Clair　was　enjoying　herself。　　It
did　her　good　to　see　this　insolent；　square…jawed　young　man　standing
helpless　before　her。

〃It　is　important　that　I　should　see　her；〃　said　Ranald；　after　a　few
moments'　thought。　　〃I　shall　wait。〃　　Had　Miss　St。　Clair　known　him
better　she　would　have　noticed　with　some　concern　the　slow　fires
kindling　in　his　eyes。　　As　it　was　she　became　indignant。

〃That；　Mr。　Macdonald；　you　shall　not；　and　allow　me　to　say　frankly
that　your　boldnessyour　insolenceI　may　say；　is　beyond　all
bounds。〃

〃Insolence；　and　when？〃　　Ranald　was　very　quiet。

〃You　come　to　the　house　of　your　employer；　whom　you　have　insulted；
and　demand　to　see　his　daughter。〃

〃I　have　a　right　to　see　her。〃

〃Right？　　What　right　have　you；　pray？〃

Then　Ranald　stood　up　and　looked　Miss　St。　Clair　full　in　the　face
with　eyes　fairly　alight。

〃Miss　St。　Clair；　have　you　ever　known　what　it　is　to　love　with　all
your　soul　and　heart？〃　　Miss　St。　Clair　gasped。　　〃Because　if　not；　you
will　not　understand　me；　if　you　have　you　will　know　why　I　must　see
Maimie。　　It　is　seven　years　now　since　I　began　to　love　her。　　I
remember　the　spot　in　the　woods；　I　see　the　big　tree　there　behind　her
and　the　rising　ground　stretching　away　to　the　right。　　I　see　the
place　where　I　pulled　her　out　of　the　fire。　　Every　morning　since　that
time　I　have　waked　with　the　thought　of　her；　every　night　my　eyes　have
closed　with　a　vision　of　her　before　me。　　It　is　for　her　I　have　lived
and　worked。　　I　tell　you　she　is　mine！　　I　love　her！　　I　love　her；　and
she　loves　me。　　I　know　it。〃　　His　words　came　low；　fierce；　and　swift。

Miss　St。　Clair　stood　breathless。　　What　a　man　he　looked　and　how
handsome　he　was！

With　but　a　moment's　pause　Ranald　went　on；　but　his　voice　took　a
gentler　tone。　　〃Miss　St。　Clair；　do　you　understand　me？　　Yes；　I　know
you　do。〃　　The　blood　came　flowing　suddenly　to　her　thin　cheeks。　　〃You
say　she　is　out　with　Captain　De　Lacy；　and　you　mean　me　to　think　that
she　is　to　give　herself　to　him。　　He　loves　her；　I　know；　but　I　say　she
is　mine！　　Her　eyes　have　told　me　that。　　She　is　mine；　I　tell　you；　and
no　man　living　will　take　her　from　me。〃　　The　fire　that　always
slumbered　in　his　eyes　was　now　blazing　in　full　fury。　　The　great
passion　of　his　life　was　raging　through　his　soul；　vibrating　in　his
voice；　and　glowing　in　his　dark　face。　　Miss　St。　Clair　sat　silent；
and　then　motioned　him　to　a　seat。

〃Mr。　Macdonald；〃　she　said；　with　grave　courtesy；　〃you　are　too　late；
I　fear。　　I　did　not　realizeMaimie　will　never　be　yours。　　I　know　my
niece。〃　　At　the　sad　earnestness　of　her　voice；　Ranald's　face　began
to　grow　pale。

〃I　will　wait　for　her；〃　he　said；　quietly。

〃I　beg　you　will　not。〃

〃I　will　wait；〃　he　repeated；　with　lips　tight　pressed。

〃It　is　vain；　Mr。　Macdonald；　I　assure　you。　　Spare　yourself　and　her。
I　know　whatI　could　have〃　　Her　voice　grew　husky。

〃I　will　wait；〃　once　more　replied　Ranald；　the　lines　of　his　face
growing　tense。

Miss　St。　Clair　rose　and　gave　him　her　hand。　　〃I　will　send　a　friend
to　you；　and　I　beg　you　to　excuse　me；〃　Ranald　bowed　gravely；　〃and　to
forgive　me；〃　and　she　left　the　room。　　Ranald　heard　her　pass　through
the　hall　and　up　the　stairs　and　then　a　door　closed　behind　her。
Before　he　had　time　to　gather　his　thoughts　together　he　heard　a　voice
outside　that　made　his　heart　stand　still。　　Then　the　front　door
opened　quickly　and　Maimie　and　De　Lacy　stood　in　the　hall。　　She　was
gayly　talking。　　Ranald　rose　and　stood　with　his　back　to　the　door。
Before　him　was　a　large　mirror　which　reflected　the　hall　through　the
open　door。　　He　stood　waiting　for　them　to　enter。

〃Hang　up　your　hat；　Captain　De　Lacy；　then　go　in　and　find　a　chair
while　I　run　upstairs；〃　cried　Maimie；　gayly。　　〃You　must　learn　your
way　about　here　now。〃

〃No；〃　said　De　Lacy；　in　a　low；　distinct　voice。　　〃I　can　wait　no
longer；　Maimie。〃

She　looked　at　him　a　moment　as　if　in　fear。

〃Come；〃　he　said；　holding　out　his　hands　to　her。　　〃There　was　no
chance　in　the　park；　and　I　can　wait　no　longer。〃　　Slowly　she　came
near。　　〃My　darling；　my　sweetheart；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　voice　full　of
intense　passion。　　Then；　while　she　lay　in　his　arms；　he　kissed　her　on
the　lips　twice。　　Ranald　stood　gazing　in　the　mirror　as　if　fascinated。
As　their　lips　met　a　low　groan　burst　from　him。　　He　faced　about；　and
with　a　single　step；　stood　in　the　doorway。　　Shriek　after　shriek
echoed　through　the　house　as　Maimie　sprang　from　De　Lacy's　arms　and
shrank　back　to　the　wall。

〃Great　heavens；〃　cried　De　Lacy；　〃why　it's　Macdonald！　　What　the
deuce　do　you　mean　coming　in　on　people　like　that？〃

〃What　is　it；　Maimie；〃　cried　her　Aunt　Frank；　hurrying　down　stairs。

Then　she　saw　Ranald　standing　in　the　doorway；　with　face　bloodless；
ghastly；　livid。　　Quickly　she　went　up　to　him；　and　said；　in　a　voice
trembling　and　not　ungentle：　　〃Oh；　why　did　you　wait；　Mr。　Macdonald；
go　away　now；　go　away。〃

Ranald　turned　and　looked　at　her　with　a　curious　uncomprehending
gaze；　and　then　said；　〃Yes；　I　will　go　away。〃　　He　took　a　step　toward
Maimie；　his　eyes　like　lurid　flames。　　She　shrank　from　him；　while　De
Lacy　stepped　in　his　path。　　With　a　sweep　of　his　arm　he　brushed　De
Lacy　aside；　hurling　him　crashing　against　the　wall；　and　stood　before
the　shrinking　girl。

〃Good　by；　Maimie；　forget　that　I　loved　you　once。〃

The　words　came　slowly　from　his　pallid　lips。　　For　some　moments　he
stood　with　his　burning　eyes　fastened　upon　her　face。　　Then　he　turned
slowly　from　her　and　groped　blindly　for　his　hat。　　Miss　St。　Clair
hurried　toward　him；　found　his　hat；　and　putting　it　in　his　hand；
said；　in　a　broken　voice；　while　tears　poured　down　her　cheeks：　　〃Here
it　is；　good　by；　good　by。〃

He　looked　at　her　a　moment　as　if　in　surprise；　and　then；　with　a　smile
of　rare　sweetness　on　his　white　lips；　he　said；　〃I　thank　you；〃　and
passed　out；　going　feebly　like　a　man　who　has　got　a　death　wound。



CHAPTER　XXIII

A　GOOD　TRUE　FRIEND


It　was　springtime　and　the　parks　and　avenues　were　in　all　the　dainty
splendor　of　their　new　leaves。　　The　afternoon　May　sun　was　flooding
the　city　with　gold　and　silver　light；　and　all　the　air　was　tremulous
with　the　singing　of　birds。　　A　good　day　it　was　to　live　if　one　could
only　live　in　the　sunny　air　within　sight　of　the　green　leaves　and
within　sound　of　the　singing　birds。　　A　day　for　life　and　love　it　was；
at　least　so　Kate　thought　as　she　drew　up　her　prancing　team　at　the
St。　Clair　house　where　Harry　stood　waiting　for　her。

〃DEAR　Kate；〃　he　cried；　〃how　stunning　you　are！　　I　love　you！〃

〃Come；　Harry；　jump　up！　　Breton　is　getting　excited。〃

〃Stony…hearted　wretch；〃　grumbled　Harry。　　〃Did　you　hear　me　tell　you
I　love　you？〃

〃Nonsense；　Harry；　jump　in；　I'll　report　to　Lily　Langford。〃

〃Don't　tell；〃　pleaded　Harry；　〃and　do　keep　Breton　on　all　fours。
This　isn't　a　circus。　　You　terrify　me。〃

〃We　have　only　time　to　make　the　train；　hurry　up！〃　cried　Kate。
〃Steady；　my　boys。〃

〃Some　day；　Kate；　those　'boys'　of　yours　will　be　your　death　or　the
death　of　some　of　your　friends；〃　said　Harry；　as　he　sprang　in　and
took　his　place　beside　Kate。　　〃That　Breton　ought　to　be　shot。　　It
really　affects　my　heart　to　drive　with　you。〃

〃You　haven't　any；　Harry；　you　know　that　right　well；　so　don't　be
alarmed。〃

〃Quite　true；〃　said　Harry；　sentimentally；　〃not　since　that　night；
don't　you　remember；　Kate；　when　you〃

〃Now；　Harry；　I　only　remind　you　that　I　always　tell　my　girl　friends
everything　you　say。　　It　is　this　wedding　that's　got　into　your
blood。〃

〃I　suppose　so；〃　murmured　Harry；　pensively；　〃wish　it　would　get　into
yours。　　Now　seriously；　Kate；　at　your　years　you　ought〃

〃Harry；〃　said　Kate；　indignantly；　〃I　really　don't　need　you　at　the
station。　　I　can　meet　your　aunt　quite　well　without　you。　　Shall　I　set
you　down　here；　or　drive　you　to　the　office？〃

〃Oh；　not　to　the　office；　I　entreat！　　I　entreat！　　Anything　but　that！
Surely　I　may　be　allowed　this　day！　　I　shall　be　careful　of　your
sensitive　points；　but　I　do　hope　this　wedding　of　Maimie's　will　give
you　serious　thoughts。〃

Kate　was　silent；　giving　her　attention　doubtless　to　her　team。　　Then；
with　seeming　irrelevance；　she　said：　　〃Didn't　I　see　Colonel　Thorp
yesterday　in　town？〃

〃Yes；　the　old　heathen！　　I　haven't　forgiven　him　for　taking　off
Ranald　as　he　did。〃

〃He　didn't　take　off　Ranald。　　Ranald　was　going　off　anyway。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃　said　Harry。

〃I　know；〃　re