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confess that before my visit to the West I should have said the
same； but I want to say right here and now； that I have come to the
opinion that it pays to look after your mensoul； mind； and body。
You'll cut more lumber； get better contracts； and increase your
dividends。 There ain't no manner of doubt about that。 Now；〃
concluded the colonel； 〃you may still want to close up that
business； but before you do so； I want you to hear Mr。 Macdonald。〃
After some hesitation； Ranald was allowed to speak for a few
minutes。 He began by expressing his amazement that there should
be any thought on the part of the company of withdrawing from the
province at the very time when other firms were seeking to find
entrance。 He acknowledged that the result for the last years did
not warrant any great confidence in the future of their business；
but a brighter day had dawned； the railroad was coming； and he had
in his pocket three contracts that it would require the company's
whole force for six months to fulfill； and these contracts would be
concluded the day the first rail was laid。
〃And when will that be？〃 interrupted a shareholder； scornfully。
〃I have every assurance；〃 said Ranald； quietly； 〃from the premier
himself； that the building of the railroad will be started this
fall。〃
〃Did Sir John A。 MacDonald give you a definite promise？〃 asked the
man； in surprise。
〃Not exactly a promise；〃 said Ranald。
A chorus of scornful 〃Ohs〃 greeted this admission。
〃But the premier assured me that all his influence would be thrown
in favor of immediate construction。〃
〃For my part；〃 replied the share…holder； 〃I place not the slightest
confidence in any such promise as that。〃
〃And I；〃 said Ranald； calmly； 〃have every confidence that work on
the line will be started this fall。〃 And then he went on to speak
of the future that he saw stretching out before the province and
the whole Dominion。 The feeling of opposition in the air roused
him like a call to battle； and the thought that he was pleading for
the West that he had grown to love； stimulated him like a draught
of strong wine。 In the midst of his speech the secretary； who till
that moment had not been present； came into the room with the
evening paper in his hand。 He gave it to the president； pointing
out a paragraph。 At once the president； interrupting Ranald in his
speech； rose and said； 〃Gentlemen； there is an item of news here
that I think you will all agree bears somewhat directly upon this
business。〃 He then read Sir John A。 MacDonald's famous telegram to
the British Columbia government； promising that the Canadian Pacific
Railway should be begun that fall。 After the cheers had died away；
Ranald rose again； and said； 〃Mr。 President and gentlemen； there is
no need that I should say anything more。 I simply wish to add that
I return to British Columbia next week； but whether as manager for
this company or not that is a matter of perfect indifference to me。〃
And saying this； he left the room； followed by Colonel Thorp。
〃You're all right； pardner；〃 said the colonel； shaking him
vigorously by the hand； 〃and if they don't feel like playing up to
your lead； then； by the great and everlasting Sammy； we will make a
new deal and play it alone！〃
〃All right； Colonel；〃 said Ranald； 〃I almost think I'd rather play
it without them and you can tell them so。〃
〃Where are you going now？〃 said the colonel。
〃I've got to go to Toronto for a day；〃 said Ranald； 〃the boys are
foolish enough to get up a kind of dinner at the Albert； and
besides；〃 he added； resolutely； 〃I want to see Kate。〃
〃Right you are；〃 said the colonel； 〃anything else would be meaner
than snakes。〃
But when Ranald reached Toronto； he found disappointment awaiting
him。 The Alberts were ready to give him an enthusiastic reception；
but to his dismay both Harry and Kate were absent。 Harry was in
Quebec and Kate was with her mother visiting friends at the Northern
Lake； so Ranald was forced to content himself with a letter of
farewell and congratulation upon her approaching marriage。 In spite
of his disappointment； Ranald could not help acknowledging a feeling
of relief。 It would have been no small ordeal to him to have met
Kate； to have told her how she had helped him during his three
years' absence； without letting her suspect how much she had become
to him； and how sore was his disappointment that she could never be
more than friend to him； and indeed； not even that。 But his letter
was full of warm； frank； brotherly congratulation and good will。
The dinner at the Albert was in every way worthy of the club and of
the occasion； but Ranald was glad to get it over。 He was eager to
get away from the city associated in his mind with so much that was
painful。
At length the last speech was made； and the last song was sung； and
the men in a body marched to the station carrying their hero with
them。 As they stood waiting for the train to pull out； a coachman
in livery approached little Merrill。
〃A lady wishes to see Mr。 Macdonald； sir；〃 he said； touching his
hat。
〃Well； she's got to be quick about it；〃 said Merrill。 〃Here；
Glengarry；〃 he called to Ranald； 〃a lady is waiting outside to see
you； but I say； old chap； you will have to make it short； I guess
it will be sweet enough。〃
〃Where is she？〃 said Ranald to the coachman；
〃In here； sir；〃 conducting him to the ladies' waiting…room； and
taking his place at the door outside。 Ranald hurried into the
room； and there stood Kate。
〃Dear Kate！〃 he cried； running toward her with both hands
outstretched； 〃this is more than kind of you； and just like your
good heart。〃
〃I only heard last night； Ranald；〃 she said； 〃from Maimie； that you
were to be here to…day； and I could not let you go。〃 She stood up
looking so brave and proud； but in spite of her； her lips quivered。
〃I have waited to see you so long；〃 she said； 〃and now you are
going away again。〃
〃Don't speak like that； Kate；〃 said Ranald； 〃don't say those
things。 I want to tell you how you have helped me these three
lonely years； but I can't； and you will never know； and now I am
going back。 I hardly dared to see you； but I wish you everything
that is good。 I haven't seen Harry either； but you will wish him
joy for me。 He is a very lucky fellow。〃
By this time Ranald had regained control of himself； and was
speaking in a tone of frank and brotherly affection。 Kate looked
at him with a slightly puzzled air。
〃I've seen Maimie；〃 Ranald went on； 〃and she told me all about it；
and I amyes； I am very glad。〃 Still Kate looked a little
puzzled； but the minutes were precious； and she had much to say。
〃Oh； Ranald！〃 she cried； 〃I have so much to say to you。 You have
become a great man； and you are good。 I am so proud when I hear of
you；〃 and lowering her voice almost to a whisper； 〃I pray for you
every day。〃
As Ranald stood gazing at the beautiful face； and noticed the
quivering lips and the dark eyes shining with tears she was too
brave to let fall； he felt that he was fast losing his grip of
himself。
〃Oh； Kate；〃 he cried； in a low； tense voice； 〃I must go。 You have
been more to me than you w