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！
before I could draw my gun； his partner had me by the arms。 What
followed I hardly know。 While I was struggling to get free； I saw
him reach for his weapon； but； as he drew it； Nelson sprang across
the table； and bore him down。 When the row was ever； three men lay
on the floor。 One was Nelson； he took the shot meant for me。'
Again the story paused。
'And the man that shot him？'
I started at the intense fierceness in the voice； and； looking upon
the girl； saw her eyes blazing with a terrible light。
'He is dead；' answered Graeme indifferently。
'You killed him？' she asked eagerly。
Graeme looked at her curiously； and answered slowly
'I did not mean to。 He came at me。 I struck him harder than I
knew。 He never moved。'
She drew a sigh of satisfaction； and waited。
'I got him to a private ward； had the best doctor in the city； and
sent for Craig to Victoria。 For three days we thought he would
livehe was keen to get home； but by the time Craig came we had
given up hope。 Oh； but I was thankful to see Craig come in； and
the joy in the old man's eyes was beautiful to see。 There was no
pain at last； and no fear。 He would not allow me to reproach
myself； saying over and over； 〃You would have done the same for
me〃as I would； fast enough〃and it is better me than you。 I am
old and done； you will do much good yet for the boys。〃 And he kept
looking at me till I could only promise to do my best。
'But I am glad I told him how much good he had done me during the
last year； for he seemed to think that too good to be true。 And
when Craig told him how he had helped the boys in the camp； and how
Sandy and Baptiste and the Campbells would always be better men for
his life among them； the old man's face actually shone； as if light
were coming through。 And with surprise and joy he kept on saying；
〃Do you think so？ Do you think so？ Perhaps so； perhaps so。〃 At
the last he talked of Christmas night at the camp。 You were there；
you remember。 Craig had been holding a service； and something
happened； I don't know what； but they both knew。'
'I know；' I said； and I saw again the picture of the old man under
the pine； upon his knees in the snow； with his face turned up to
the stars。
'Whatever it was； it was in his mind at the very last； and I can
never forget his face as he turned it to Craig。 One hears of such
things： I had often； but had never put much faith in them； but joy；
rapture； triumph； these are what were in his face； as he said； his
breath coming short； 〃You saidHe wouldn'tfail meyou were
rightnot oncenot onceHe stuck to meI'm glad he told me
thank Godfor youyou showedmeI'll see Himandtell Him'
And Craig； kneeling beside him so steadyI was behaving like a
foolsmiled down through his streaming tears into the dim eyes so
brightly； till they could see no more。 Thank him for that！ He
helped the old man through； and he helped me too； that night； thank
God！' And Graeme's voice； hard till now； broke in a sob。
He had forgotten us； and was back beside his passing friend； and
all his self…control could not keep back the flowing tears。
'It was his life for mine；' he said huskily。
The brother and sister were quietly weeping； but spoke no word；
though I knew Graeme was waiting for them。
I took up the word； and told of what I had known of Nelson； and his
influence upon the men of Black Rock。 They listened eagerly
enough； but still without speaking。 There seemed nothing to say；
till I suggested to Graeme that he must get some rest。 Then the
girl turned to him； and； impulsively putting out her hand； said
'Oh； it is all so sad； but how can we ever thank you？'
'Thank me！' gasped Graeme。 'Can you forgive me？ I brought him to
his death。'
'No； no！ You must not say so；' she answered hurriedly。 'You would
have done the same for him。'
'God knows I would；' said Graeme earnestly； 'and God bless you for
your words！' And I was thankful to see the tears start in his dry；
burning eyes。
We carried him to the old home in the country； that he might lie by
the side of the wife he had loved and wronged。 A few friends met
us at the wayside station； and followed in sad procession along the
country road； that wound past farms and through woods； and at last
up to the ascent where the quaint； old wooden church； black with
the rains and snows of many years； stood among its silent graves。
The little graveyard sloped gently towards the setting sun； and
from it one could see； far on every side； the fields of grain and
meadowland that wandered off over softly undulating hills to meet
the maple woods at the horizon； dark； green； and cool。 Here and
there white farmhouses； with great barns standing near； looked out
from clustering orchards。
Up the grass…grown walk； and through the crowding mounds； over
which waves； uncut； the long； tangling grass； we bear our friend；
and let him gently down into the kindly bosom of mother earth；
dark； moist； and warm。 The sound of a distant cowbell mingles with
the voice of the last prayer； the clods drop heavily with heart…
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