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time devotion； he had to adjust his mind to the new conditions。
But before the evening was half done Ranald had won him once more。
His tales of the West； and of how it was making and marring men； of
the nation that was being built up； and his picture of the future
that he saw for the great Dominion； unconsciously revealed the
strong manhood and the high ideals in the speaker； and Hughie found
himself slipping into the old attitude of devotion to his friend。
But it struck Ranald to the heart to see the marks of many a long
day's work upon the face of the woman who had done more for him
than all the rest of the world。 Her flock of little children had
laid upon her a load of care and toil； which added to the burden
she was already trying to carry； was proving more than her delicate
frame could bear。 There were lines upon her face that only
weariness often repeated cuts deep； but there were other lines
there； and these were lines of heart pain； and as Ranald watched
her closely； with his heart running over with love and pity and
indignation for her； he caught her frequent glances toward her
first born that spoke of anxiety and fear。
〃Can it be the young rascal is bringing her anything but perfect
satisfaction and joy in return for the sacrifice of her splendid
life？〃 he said to himself。 But no word fell from her to show him
the secret of her pain； it was Hughie's own lips that revealed him；
and as the lad talked of his present and his future； his impatience
of control； his lack of sympathy to all higher ideals； his
determination to please himself to the forgetting of all else； his
seeming unconsciousness of the debt he owed to his mother； all
these became easily apparent。 With difficulty Ranald restrained
his indignation。 He let him talk for some time and then opened out
upon him。 He read him no long lecture； but his words came forth
with such fiery heat that they burned their way clear through all
the faults and flimsy selfishness of the younger man till they
reached the true heart of him。 His last words Hughie never forgot。
〃Do you know； Hughie；〃 he said； and the fire in his eyes seemed to
burn into Hughie's； 〃do you know what sort of woman you have for a
mother？ And do you know that if you should live to be a hundred
years； and devoted every day of your life to the doing of her
pleasure； you could not repay the debt you owe her？ Be a man；
Hughie。 Thank God for her； and for the opportunity of loving and
caring for her。〃
The night of his first visit to the manse Ranald had no opportunity
for any further talk with the minister's wife； but he came away
with the resolve that before his week's visit was over； he would
see her alone。 On his return home； however； he found waiting him a
telegram from Colonel Thorp； mailed from Alexandria； announcing an
early date for the meeting of shareholders at Bay City； so that he
found it necessary to leave immediately after the next day； which
was the Sabbath。 It was no small disappointment to him that he was
to have no opportunity of opening his heart to his friend。 But as
he sat in his uncle's seat at the side of the pulpit； from which he
could catch sight of the minister's pew； and watched the look of
peace and quiet courage grow upon her face till all the lines of
pain and care were quite smoothed out； he felt his heart fill up
with a sense of shame for all his weakness； and his soul knit
itself into the resolve that if he should have to walk his way；
bearing his cross alone； he would seek the same high spirit of
faith and patience and courage that he saw shining in her gray…
brown eyes。
After the service he walked home with the minister's wife； seeking
opportunity for a few last words with her。 He had meant to tell
her something of his heart's sorrow and disappointment； for he
guessed that knowing and loving Kate as she did； she would
understand its depth and bitterness。 But when he told her of his
early departure； and of the fear that for many years he could not
return； his heart was smitten with a great pity for her。 The look
of disappointment and almost of dismay he could not understand
until； with difficulty； she told him how she had hoped that he was
to spend some weeks at home and that Hughie might be much with him。
〃I wish he could know you better； Ranald。 There is no one about
here to whom he can look up； and some of his companions are not of
the best。〃 The look of beseeching pain in her eyes was almost more
than Ranald could bear。
〃I would give my life to help you；〃 he said； in a voice hoarse and
husky。
〃I know；〃 she said； simply； 〃you have been a great joy to me；
Ranald； and it will always comfort me to think of you； and of your
work； and I like to remember； too； how you helped Harry。 He told
me much about you； and I am so glad； especially as he is now to be
married。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 replied Ranald； hurriedly； 〃that will be a great thing
for him。〃 Then； after a pause； he added： 〃Mrs。 Murray； the West
is a hard country for young men who are notnot very firmly
anchored； but if at any time you think I could help Hughie and you
feel like sending him to me； I will gladly do for him all that one
man can do for another。 And all that I can do will be a very poor
return for what you have done for me。〃
〃It's little I have done； Ranald；〃 she said； 〃and that little has
been repaid a thousand…fold； for there is no greater joy than that
of seeing my boys grow into good and great men and that joy you
have brought me。〃 Then she said good by； holding his hand long； as
if hating to let him go。
〃I will remember your promise； Ranald；〃 she said； 〃for it may be
that some day I shall need you。〃 And when the chance came to
Ranald before many years had gone； he proved himself not unworthy
of her trust。
* * * * *
At the meeting of share…holders of the British…American Coal and
Lumber Company； held in Bay City； the feeling uppermost in the
minds of those present was one of wrath and indignation at Colonel
Thorp； for he still clung to the idea that it would be unwise to
wind up the British Columbia end of the business。 The colonel's
speech in reply was a triumph of diplomacy。 He began by giving a
detailed and graphic account of his trip through the province；
lighting up the narrative with incidents of adventure； both tragic
and comic； to such good purpose that before he had finished his
hearers had forgotten all their anger。 Then he told of what he had
seen of Ranald's work； emphasizing the largeness of the results he
had obtained with his very imperfect equipment。 He spoke of the
high place their manager held in the esteem of the community as
witness his visit to Ottawa as representative； and lastly he
touched upon his work for the men by means of the libraries and
reading…room。 Here he was interrupted by an impatient exclamation
on the part of one of the share…holders。 The colonel paused； and
fastening his eye upon the impatient share…holder； he said； in
tones cool and deliberate： 〃A gentleman says； 'Nonsense！' I
confess that before my visit to the West I should have said the
same； but I want to say right