第 56 节
作者:
笑傲网络 更新:2021-12-13 08:43 字数:9321
position of lumber checker to that of manager; with an offer of a
partnership; nor could he mistake the suggestion in Mr。 St。 Clair's
closing words。 Every interest he had in life would be furthered by
the consummation of the deal; and would be imperiled by his
refusing to adopt Mr。 St。 Clair's suggestion。 Still; argue as he
might; Ranald never had any doubt as to what; as a man of honor; he
ought to do。 Colonel Thorp was entitled to the information that he
and Mr。 St。 Clair alone possessed。 Between his interests and his
conscience the conflict raged。
〃I wish I knew what I ought to do;〃 he groaned; all the time
battling against the conviction that the information he possessed
should by rights be given to Colonel Thorp。 Finally; in despair of
coming to a decision; he seized his hat; saying; 〃I will go and see
Kate;〃 and slipping out of a side door; he set off for the Raymond
home。 〃I will just look up Coley on the way;〃 he said to himself;
and diving down an alley; he entered a low saloon with a billiard
hall attached。 There; as he had expected; acting as marker; he
found Coley。
Mike Cole; or Coley; as his devoted followers called him; was king
of St。 Joseph's ward。 Everywhere in the ward his word ran as law。
About two years ago Coley had deigned to favor the Institute with a
visit; his gang following him。 They were welcomed with
demonstrations of joy; and regaled with cakes and tea; all of which
Coley accepted with lordly condescension。 After consideration;
Coley decided that the night classes might afford a not unpleasant
alternative on cold nights; to alley…ways and saloons; and he
allowed the gang to join。 Thenceforth the successful conduct of
the classes depended upon the ability of the superintendent to
anticipate Coley's varying moods and inclinations; for that young
man claimed and exercised the privilege of introducing features
agreeable to the gang; though not necessarily upon the regular
curriculum of study。 Some time after Ranald's appearance in the
Institute as an assistant; it happened one night that a sudden
illness of the superintendent laid upon his shoulders the
responsibility of government。 The same night it also happened that
Coley saw fit to introduce the enlivening but quite impromptu
feature of a song and dance。 To this Ranald objected; and was
invited to put the gang out if he was man enough。 After the ladies
had withdrawn beyond the reach of missiles; Ranald adopted the
unusual tactics of preventing exit by locking the doors; and then
immediately became involved in a discussion with Coley and his
followers。 It cost the Institute something for furniture and
windows; but thenceforth in Ranald's time there was peace。 Coley
ruled as before; but his sphere of influence was limited; and the
day arrived when it became the ambition of Coley's life to bring
the ward and its denizens into subjection to his own over…lord;
whom he was prepared to follow to the death。 But like any other
work worth doing; this took days and weeks and months。
〃Hello; Coley!〃 said Ranald; as his eyes fell upon his sometime
ally and slave。 〃If you are not too busy I would like you to go
along with me。〃
Coley looked around as if seeking escape。
〃Come along;〃 said Ranald; quietly; and Coley; knowing that
anything but obedience was impossible; dropped his marking and
followed Ranald out of the saloon。
〃Well; Coley; I have had a great summer;〃 began Ranald; 〃and I wish
very much you could have been with me。 It would have built you up
and made a man of you。 Just feel that;〃 and he held out his arm;
which Coley felt with admiring reverence。 〃That's what the canoe
did;〃 and then he proceeded to give a graphic account of his varied
adventures by land and water during the last six months。 As they
neared Mr。 Raymond's house; Ranald turned to Coley and said: 〃Now
I want you to cut back to the Institute and tell Mr。 Locke; if he
is there; that I would like him to call around at my office to…
morrow。 And furthermore; Coley; there's no need of your going back
into that saloon。 I was a little ashamed to see one of my friends
in a place like that。 Now; good night; and be a man; and a clean
man。〃
Coley stood with his head hung in abject self…abasement; and then
ventured to say; 〃I couldn't stand them ducks nohow!〃
〃Who do you mean?〃 said Ranald。
〃Oh; them fellers that runs the Institute now; and so I cut。〃
〃Now look here; Coley;〃 said Ranald; 〃I wouldn't go throwing stones
at better men than yourself; and especially at men who are trying
to do something to help other people and are not so beastly mean as
to think only of their own pleasure。 I didn't expect that of you;
Coley。 Now quit it and start again;〃 and Ranald turned away。
Coley stood looking after him for a few moments in silence; and
then said to himself; in a voice full of emphasis: 〃Well; there's
just one of his kind and there ain't any other。〃 Then he set out
at a run for the Institute。
It was Kate herself who came to answer Ranald's ring。
〃I knew it was you;〃 she cried; with her hand eagerly outstretched
and her face alight with joy。 〃Come in; we are all waiting for
you; and prepare to be surprised。〃 When they came to the drawing…
room she flung open the door and with great ceremony announced 〃The
man from Glengarry; as Harry would say。〃
〃Hello; old chap!〃 cried Harry; springing to his feet; but Ranald
ignored him。 He greeted Kate's mother warmly for she had shown him
a mother's kindness ever since he had come to the city; and they
were great friends; and then he turned to Mrs。 Murray; who was
standing waiting for him; and gave her both his hands。
〃I knew from Kate's letter;〃 he said; 〃that it would be you; and I
cannot tell you how glad I am。〃 His voice grew a little unsteady
and he could say no more。 Mrs。 Murray stood holding his hands and
looking into his face。
〃It cannot be possible;〃 she said; 〃that this is Ranald Macdonald!
How changed you are!〃 She pushed him a little back from her。 〃Let
me look at you; why; I must say it; you are really handsome!〃
〃Now; auntie;〃 cried Harry; reprovingly; 〃don't flatter him。 He
is utterly ruined now by every one; including both Kate and her
mother。〃
〃But really; Harry;〃 continued Mrs。 Murray; in a voice of delighted
surprise; 〃it is certainly wonderful; and I am so glad! And I have
been hearing about your work with the boys at the Institute; and I
cannot tell you the joy it gave me。〃
〃Oh; it is not much that I have done;〃 said Ranald; deprecatingly。
〃Indeed; it is a noble work and worthy of any man;〃 said Mrs。
Murray; earnestly; 〃and I thank God for you。〃
〃Then;〃 said Ranald; firmly; 〃I owe it all to yourself; for it is
you that set me on this way。〃
〃Listen to them admiring each other! It is quite shameless;〃 said
Harry。
Then they began talking about Glengarry; of the old familiar
places; of the woods and the fields; of the boys and girls now
growing into men and women; and of the old people; some of whom
were passed away。 Before long they were talking of the church and
all the varied interests centering in it; but soon they went back
to the theme that Glengarry people everywhere are never long
together without discussingthe great revival。 Harry had heard a
good deal about it before; but to Kate and her mother the story was
mostly new; and they listened with eager interest as Mrs。 Murray
and Ranald recalled those great days。 With eyes shining; and in
tones of humble; grateful wonder they reminded each other of the
various incidents; the terrors; the struggles; the joyful surprises;
the mysterious powers with which they were so familiar during those
eighteen months。 Then Mrs。 Murray told of the permanent results;
how over three counties the influence of the movement was still
felt; and how whole congregations had been built up under its
wonderful power。
〃And did you hear;〃 she said to Ranald; 〃that Donald Stewart was
ordained last May?〃
〃No;〃 replied Ranald; 〃that makes seven; doesn't it?〃
〃Seven what?〃 said Kate。
〃Seven men preaching the Gospel to…day out of our own congregation;〃
replied Mrs。 Murray。
〃But; auntie;〃 cried Harry; 〃I have always thought that all that
must have been awfully hard work。〃
〃It was;〃 said Ranald; emphatically; and he went on to sketch Mrs。
Murray's round of duties in her various classes and meetings
connected with the congregation。
〃Besides what she has to do in the manse!〃 exclaimed Harry; 〃but
it's a mere trifle; of course; to look after her troop of boys。〃
〃How can you do it?〃 said Kate; gazing at her in admiring wonder。
〃It isn't so terrible as Harry thinks。 That's my work; you see;
said Mrs。 Murray; 〃what else would I do? And when it goes well it
is worth while。〃
〃But; auntie; don't you feel sometimes like getting away and having
a little fun? Own up; now。〃
〃Fun?〃 laughed Mrs。 Murray。
〃Well; not fun exactly; but a good time with things you enjoy so
much; music; literature; and that sort of thing。 Do you remember;
Kate; the first time you met auntie; when we took her to Hamlet?〃
Kate nodded。
〃She wasn't quite sure about it; but I declare till I die I will
never