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persuade you to sell。〃 （Cries of 〃He hasn't got money enough。
Don't fool yourself。〃） 〃But I want to say that this young man of
mine；〃 pointing to Ranald； 〃has given you good talk； and if you
want him to go East； why； I'll let him off for a spell。〃 （Loud
cheers for the colonel and for Macdonald。）
A week later a great meeting in Victoria indorsed the New Westminster
resolutions with the added demand that the railway should be
continued to Esquinalt according to the original agreement。 Another
delegate was appointed to represent the wishes of the islanders； and
before Ranald had fully realized what had happened he found himself
a famous man； and on the way to the East with the jubilant colonel。
〃What was the great idea； Colonel； that struck you at Yale？〃
inquired Ranald； as they were fairly steaming out of the Esquinalt
harbor。
〃This is it； my boy！〃 exclaimed the colonel； slapping him on the
back。 〃This here trip East。 Now we've got 'em over the ropes； by
the great and everlasting Sammy！〃 the form of oath indicating a
climax in the colonel's emotion。
〃Got who？〃 inquired Ranald； mystified。
〃Them gol…blamed； cross…road hayseeds down East。〃 And with this
the colonel became discreetly silent。 He knew too well the
sensitive pride of the man with whom he had to deal； and he was
chiefly anxious now that Ranald should know as little as possible
of the real object of his going to British Columbia。
〃We've got to make the British…American Coal and Lumber Company
know the time of day。 It's gittin'…up time out in this country。
They were talkin' a little of drawin' out。〃 Ranald gasped。 〃Some
of them only；〃 the colonel hastened to add； 〃but I want you to talk
like you did the other night； and I'll tell my little tale； and if
that don't fetch 'em then I'm a Turk。〃
〃Well； Colonel； here's my word；〃 said Ranald； deliberately； 〃if the
company wish to withdraw they may do so； but my future is bound up
with that of the West； and I have no fear that it will fail me。 I
stake my all upon the West。〃
CHAPTER XXV
GLENGARRY FOREVER
The colonel was an experienced traveler； and believed in making
himself comfortable。 Ranald looked on with some amusement； and a
little wonder； while the colonel arranged his things about the
stateroom。
〃May as well make things comfortable while we can；〃 said the
colonel； 〃we have the better part of three days before us on this
boat； and if it gets rough； it is better to have things neat。 Now
you go ahead；〃 he added； 〃and get your things out。〃
〃I think you are right； Colonel。 I am not much used to travel； but
I shall take your advice on this。〃
〃Well； I have traveled considerable these last twenty years；〃
replied the colonel。 〃I say； would you mind leaving those out？〃
〃What？〃
〃Those photos。 They're the two you had up by the glass in your
room； aren't they？〃 Ranald flushed a little。
〃Of course it ain't for every one to see； and I would not ask you；
but those two ain't like any other two that I have seen； and I have
seen a good many in forty years。〃 Ranald said nothing； but set the
photographs on a little bracket on the wall。
〃There； that makes this room feel better；〃 said the colonel。 〃That
there is the finest； sweetest； truest girl that walks this sphere；〃
he said； pointing at Kate's photograph； 〃and the other； I guess you
know all about her。〃
〃Yes； I know about her；〃 said Ranald； looking at the photograph；
〃it is to her I owe everything I have that is any good。 And
Colonel；〃 he added； with an unusual burst of confidence； 〃when my
life was broken off short； that woman put me in the way of getting
hold of it again。〃
〃Well； they both think a pile of you；〃 was the colonel's reply。
〃Yes； I think they do；〃 said Ranald。 〃They are not the kind to
forget a man when he is out of sight； and it is worth traveling two
thousand miles to see them again。〃
〃Ain't it queer； now； how the world is run？〃 said the colonel。
〃There's two women； now； the very best； one has been buried all her
life in a little hole in the woods； and the other is giving herself
to a fellow that ain't fit to carry her boots。〃
〃What！〃 said Ranald； sharply； 〃Kate？〃
〃Yes； they say she is going to throw herself away on young St。
Clair。 He is all right； I suppose； but he ain't fit for her。〃
Ranald suddenly stooped over his valise and began pulling out his
things。
〃I didn't hear of that；〃 he said。
〃I did；〃 said the colonel； 〃you see he is always there； and acting
as if he owned her。 He stuck to her for a long time； and I guess
she got tired holding out。〃
〃Harry is a very decent fellow；〃 said Ranald； rising up from his
unpacking； 〃I say； this boat's close。 Let us go up on deck。〃
〃Wait；〃 said the colonel； 〃I want to talk over our plans； and we
can talk better here。〃
〃No；〃 said Ranald； 〃I want some fresh air。 Let us go up。〃 And
without further words； he hurried up the gangway。 It was some
time before Colonel Thorp found him in the bow of the boat； and
immediately began to talk over their plans。
〃You spoke of going to Toronto first thing；〃 he said to Ranald。
〃Yes；〃 said Ranald； 〃but I think I ought to go to Ottawa at once；
and then I shall see my people in Glengarry for a few days。 Then I
will be ready for the meeting at Bay City any time after the second
week。〃
〃But you have not put Toronto in there；〃 said the colonel； 〃you are
not going to disappoint that little girl？ She would take it pretty
hard。 Mind you； she wants to see you。〃
〃Oh； of course I shall run in for a day。〃
〃Well；〃 said the colonel； 〃I want to give you plenty of time。 I
will arrange that meeting for a month from to…day。〃
〃No； no；〃 said Ranald； impatiently； 〃I must get back to the West。
Two weeks will do me。〃
〃Well； we will make it three；〃 said the colonel。 He could not
understand Ranald's sudden eagerness to set out for the West again。
He had spoken with such enthusiastic delight of his visit to
Toronto； and now he was only going to run in for a day or so。 And
if Ranald himself were asked； he would have found it difficult to
explain his sudden lack of interest； not only in Toronto； but in
everything that lay in the East。 He was conscious of a deep； dull
ache in his heart； and he could not quite explain it。
After the colonel had gone down for the night； Ranald walked the
deck alone and resolutely faced himself。 His first frank look
within revealed to him the fact that his pain had come upon him
with the colonel's information that Kate had given herself to
Harry。 It was right that he should be disappointed。 Harry； though
a decent enough fellow； did not begin to be worthy of her； and
indeed no one that he knew was worthy of her。 But why should he
feel so sorely about it？ For years Harry had been her devoted
slave。 He would give her the love of an honest man； and would
surround her with all the comforts and luxuries that wealth could
bring。 She would be very happy。 He had no right to grieve about
it。 And yet he did grieve。 The whole sky over the landscape of
his life had suddenly become cold and gray。 During these years
Kate had grown to be much to him。 She had in many ways helped h