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The green grass ran everywherealong the roadside； round the great
stump roots； over the rough pasture…fields； softening and smoothing
wherever it went。 The woods were flushing purple； with just a
tinge of green from the bursting buds。 The balsams and spruces
still stood dark in the swamps； but the tamaracks were shyly
decking themselves in their exquisite robes of spring； and through
all the bush the air was filled with soft sounds and scents。 In
earth and air； in field and forest； life； the new spring life； ran
riot。 How strangely impertinent death appeared； and how unlovely
in such a world of life！
As they left the concession road and were about to strike into
the woods； Mrs。 Murray checked her pony； and looking upon the
loveliness about her； said； softly； 〃How beautiful it all is！〃
There was no response from Ranald； and Mrs。 Murray； glancing at his
gloomy face； knew that his heart was sore at the thought of the
pain they were bearing with them。 She hesitated a few moments； and
then said； gently： 〃And I saw a new heaven and a new earth。 And
there shall be no more death。〃
But still Ranald made no reply； and they rode on through the bush
in silence till they came to the clearing beyond。 As they entered
the brule； Ranald checked his colt； and holding up his hand； said；
〃Listen！〃
Through the quiet evening air； sweet and clear as a silver bell；
came the long； musical note of the call that brings the cows home
for the milking。 It was Bella's voice： 〃Koboss； koboss；
koboss！〃
Far across the brule they could see her standing on a big pine
stump near the bars； calling to her cows that were slowly making
toward her through the fallen timber； pausing here and there to
crop an especially rich mouthful； and now and then responding to
her call with soft lowings。 Gently Bella chid them。 〃Come；
Blossom； come away now； you are very lazy。 Come； Lily； what are
you waiting for？ You slow old poke！〃 Then again the long； musical
note： 〃Koboss； koboss； koboss！〃
Ranald groaned aloud； 〃Och…hone！ It will be her last glad hour；〃
he said； 〃it is a hard； hard thing。〃
〃Poor child； poor child！〃 said Mrs。 Murray； 〃the Lord help her。 It
will be a cruel blow。〃
〃That it is； a cruel blow；〃 said Ranald； bitterly； so bitterly that
Mrs。 Murray glanced at him in surprise and saw his face set in
angry pain。
〃The Lord knows best； Ranald；〃 she said； gravely； 〃and loves best；
too。〃
〃It will break her heart； whatever；〃 answered Ranald； shortly。
〃He healeth the broken in heart；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； softly。 Ranald
made no reply； but let the colt take her way through the brule
toward the lane into which Bella had now got her cows。 How happy
the girl was！ Joy filled every tone of her voice。 And why not？
It was the springtime； the time of life and love。 Long winter was
gone； and soon her brothers would be back from the shanties。 〃And
Mack； too；〃 she whispered to her happy heart。
〃And are ye sure the news is true？
And are ye sure he's weel？
Is this a time to think o' wark？
Ye jades； fling by your wheel。
〃For there's nae luck aboot the hoose；
There's nae luck ava；
There's little pleesure in the hoose
When oor gude man's awa。〃
So she sang； not too loud； for the boys were at the barn and she
would never hear the end of it。
〃Well； Bella； you are getting your cows home。 How are you； my
dear？〃
Bella turned with a scarlet face to meet the minister's wife； and
her blushes only became deeper when she saw Ranald； for she felt
quite certain that Ranald would understand the meaning of her song。
〃I will go on with the cows；〃 said Ranald； in a hoarse voice； and
Mrs。 Murray； alighting； gave him her pony to lead。
Peter McGregor was a stern man to his own family； and to all the
world； with the single exception of his only daughter； Bella。 His
six boys he kept in order with a firm hand； and not one of them
would venture to take a liberty with him。 But Bella had no fear of
his grim face and stern ways； and 〃just twiddled her father round
her finger；〃 as her mother said； with a great show of impatience。
But； in spite of all her petting from her big brothers and her
father； Bella remained quite unspoiled； the light of her home and
the joy of her father's heart。 It had not escaped the father's
jealous eye that Big Mack Cameron found occasion for many a visit
to the boys on an evening when the day's work was done； and that
from the meetings he found his shortest way home round by the
McGregor's。 At first the old man was very gruff with him； and was
for sending him about his business； but his daughter's happy face；
and the light in her eyes； that could mean only one thing； made him
pause； and after a long and sleepless night； he surprised his
daughter the next morning with a word of gentle greeting and an
unusual caress； and thenceforth took Big Mack to his heart。 Not
that any word or explanation passed between them； it had not come
to that as yet； but Big Mack felt the change； and gave him
thenceforth the obedience and affection of a son。
The old man was standing in the yard； waiting to help with the
milking。
Ranald drove the cows in； and then； tying up the horses； went
straight to him。
〃I bring bad news； Mr。 McGregor；〃 he said； anxious to get done with
his sad task。 〃There has been an accident on the river； and Mack
Cameron is drowned。〃
〃What do you say； boy？〃 said Peter； in a harsh voice。
〃He was trying to save a Frenchman； and when they got him out he
was dead；〃 said Ranald； hurrying through his tale； for he saw the
two figures coming up the lane and drawing nearer。
〃Dead！〃 echoed the old man。 〃Big Mack！ God help me。〃
〃And they will be wanting a team；〃 continued Ranald； 〃to go to
Cornwall to…morrow。〃
The old man stood for a few moments； looking stupidly at Ranald。
Then； lifting his hat from his gray head； he said； brokenly： 〃My
poor girl！ Would God I had died for him。〃
Ranald turned away and stood looking down the lane； shrinking from
the sight of the old man's agony。 Then； turning back to him； he
said： 〃The minister's wife is coming yonder with Bella。〃
The old man started； and with a mighty effort commanding himself；
said； 〃Now may God help me！〃 and went to meet his daughter。
Through the gloom of the falling night Ranald could see the
frightened white face and the staring； tearless eyes。 They came
quite near before Bella caught sight of her father。 For a moment
she hesitated； till the old man； without a word； beckoned her to
him。 With a quick little run she was in his arms； where she lay
moaning； as if in sore bodily pain。 Her father held her close to
him； murmuring over her fond Gaelic words； while Ranald and Mrs。
Murray went over to the horses and stood waiting there。
〃I will go now to Donald Ross；〃 Ranald said； in a low voice； to the
minister's wife。 He mounted the colt and was riding off； when
Peter called him back。
〃The boys will take the wagon to…morrow；〃 he said。
〃They will meet at the Sixteenth at daylight；〃 replied Ranald； and
then to Mrs。 Murray he said； 〃I will come back this way for you。
It will soon be da