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it not come to be known that young Macdonald was a friend of Captain
De Lacy's of Quebec； don't you know！ and a sport； begad； of the
first water； for the Alberts favored athletics； and loved a true
sport almost as much as they loved a lord。 They never regretted
their generous concession in this instance； for during the three
years of his membership； it was the Glengarry Macdonald that had
brought glory to their club more than any half dozen of their other
champions。 In their finals with the Montrealers two years ago； it
was he； the prince of all Canadian half…backs； as every one
acknowledged； who had snatched victory from the exultant enemy in
the last quarter of an hour。 Then； too； they had never ceased to be
grateful for the way in which he had delivered the name of their
club from the reproach cast upon it by the challenge long flaunted
before their aristocratic noses by the cads of the Athletic； when he
knocked out in a bout with the gloves； the chosen representative of
that ill…favored cluba professional； too； by Jove； as it leaked
out later。
True； there were those who thought him too particular； and
undoubtedly he had peculiar ideas。 He never drank； never played
for money； and he never had occasion to use words in the presence
of men that would be impossible before their mothers and sisters；
and there was a quaint； old…time chivalry about him that made him a
friend of the weak and helpless； and the champion of women； not
only of those whose sheltered lives had kept them fair and pure；
but of those others as well； sad…eyed and soul…stained； the cruel
sport of lustful men。 For his open scorn of their callous lust
some hated him； but all with true men's hearts loved him。
The club…rooms were filling up； the various games were in full
swing。
〃Hello； little Merrill！〃 Young Merrill looked up from his billiards。
〃Glengarry； by all the gods！〃 throwing down his cue； and rushing at
Ranald。 〃Where in this lonely universe have you been these many
months； and how are you； old chap？〃 Merrill was excited。
〃All right； Merrill？〃 inquired the deep voice。
〃Right； so help me〃 exclaimed Merrill； solemnly； lifting up his
hand。 〃He's inquiring after my morals；〃 he explained to the men
who were crowding about； 〃and I don't give a blank blank who knows
it；〃 continued little Merrill； warmly； 〃my present magnificent
manhood；〃 smiting himself on the breast； 〃I owe to that same dear
old solemnity there；〃 pointing to Ranald。
〃Shut up； Merrill； or I'll spank you；〃 said Ranald。
〃You will； eh？〃 cried Merrill； looking at him。 〃Look at him
vaunting his beastly fitness over the frail and weak。 I say； men；
did you ever behold such condition！ See that clear eye； that
velvety skin； thatOh； I say！ pax！ pax！ peccavi！〃
〃There；〃 said Ranald； putting him down from the billiard…table；
〃perhaps you will learn when to be seen。〃
〃Brute；〃 murmured little Merrill； rubbing the sore place； 〃but
ain't he fit？〃 he added； delightedly。 And fit he looked。 Four
years of hard work and clean living had done for him everything
that it lies in years to do。 They had made of the lank； raw；
shanty lad a man； and such a man as a sculptor would have loved to
behold。 Straight as a column he stood two inches over six feet；
but of such proportions that seeing him alone； one would never have
guessed his height。 His head and neck rose above his square
shoulders with perfect symmetry and poise。 His dark face； tanned
now to a bronze； with features clear…cut and strong； was lit by a
pair of dark brown eyes； honest； fearless； and glowing with a
slumbering fire that men would hesitate to stir to flame。 The
lines of his mouth told of self…control； and the cut of his chin
proclaimed a will of iron； and altogether； he bore himself with an
air of such quiet strength and cool self…confidence that men never
feared to follow where he led。 Yet there was a reserve about him
that set him a little apart from men； and a kind of shyness that
saved him from any suspicion of self…assertion。 In vain he tried
to escape from the crowd that gathered about him； and more
especially from the foot…ball men； who utterly adored him。
〃You can't do anything for a fellow that doesn't drink；〃 complained
Starry Hamilton； the big captain of the foot…ball team。
〃Drink！ a nice captain you are； Starry；〃 said Ranald； 〃and
Thanksgiving so near。〃
〃We haven't quite shut down yet；〃 explained the captain。
〃Then I suppose a cigar is permitted；〃 replied Ranald； ordering the
steward to bring his best。 In a few minutes he called for his
mail； and excusing himself； slipped into one of the private rooms。
The manager of the Raymond & St。 Clair Company and prominent
clubman； much sought after in social circles； he was bound to find
letters of importance awaiting him； but hastily shuffling the
bundle； he selected three； and put the rest in his pocket。
〃So she's back；〃 he said to himself； lifting up one in a square
envelope； addressed in large； angular writing。 He turned it over
in his hand； feasting his eyes upon it； as a boy holds a peach；
prolonging the blissful anticipation。 Then he opened it slowly and
read：
MY DEAR RANALD： All the way home I was hoping that on my return；
fresh from the 〃stately homes of England；〃 and from association
with lords and dukes and things； you would be here to receive your
share of the luster and aroma my presence would shed （that's a
little mixed； I fear）； but with a most horrible indifference to
your privileges you are away at the earth's end； no one knows
where。 Father said you were to be home to…day； so though you don't
in the least deserve it； I am writing you a note of forgiveness；
and will you be sure to come to my special party to…morrow night？
I put it off till to…morrow solely on your account； and in spite of
Aunt Frank； and let me tell you that though I have seen such heaps
of nice men； and all properly dear and devoted； still I want to see
you； so you must come。 Everything else will keep。 Yours；
MAIMIE。
Over and over again he read the letter； till the fire in his eyes
began to gleam and his face became radiant with a tender glow。
〃'Yours； Maimie；' eh？ I wonder now what she means；〃 he mused。
〃Seven years and for my life I don't know yet； but to…morrow night
yes； to…morrow night； I will know！〃 He placed the letter in its
envelope and put it carefully in his inside pocket。 〃Now for Kate；
dear old girl； no better anywhere。〃 He opened his letter and read：
DEAR RANALD： What a lot of people will be delighted to see you
back！ First； dear old Dr。 Marshall； who is in despair over the
Institute； of which he declares only a melancholy ruin will be left
if you do not speedily return。 Indeed； it is pretty bad。 The boys
are quite terrible； and even my 〃angels〃 are becoming infected。
Your special pet； Coley； after reducing poor Mr。 Locke to the verge
of nervous prostration； has 〃quit；〃 and though I have sought him in
his haunts； and used my very choicest blandishments； he remains
obdurate。 To my remonstrances； he finally deigned to reply： 〃Naw；
they ain't none of 'em any good no more； them ducks is too pious
for me。〃 I don't