The Man From Glengarry

at church, nor at Bible class, and although this was not in itself an extraordinary thing, still Mrs

e on the occasion of the minister's visits. "He is busy with the fences and about the stables preparing for the spring's work," she said; "but, indeed, he is very queer whatever, and I cannot make him out at all." Macdona

d his doings. She was more disappointed than she cared to confess, even to herself, that the boy seemed to be qui

ened, and without announcement, in walked Ranald, splashed with hard riding, pale, and dazed. Without a word of reply to the greetings that met him from all at the table, he went straight to the m

him bobbin up and down so he ripped off and in after him. He got him too, but somehow the varmint gripped him round the neck. They went down but we got em out purty quick and the Frenchman come round all right, but somehow Mack wouldn't, choked appearinly by that tarnel little fool who aint worth one of Mack's fingers, and if killin him wud do any good, then he wudn't be livin long. We are all feelin purty bad. We are comin' home on Thursday by Cornwall, eight or ten of us. The rest will go on with the rafts. The Boss says, better have rigs to meet us and Mack. That's all. I haint no good at weepin'

LAT

ut when she came to the words, "Mack Cameron got drownded," she laid the letter down with

t to put Black in the buggy immediately, Jessie," he said, wh

ady in a moment; but, oh

ot go. It will be very tr

she turned to Ranald as the minister left the room

go, and the Campbells, and Farquhar McNaughton's light wagon would b

nking things out an

Mrs. Murray. "Could not we go by the Campbel

tter for me to go, to m

ald," said the minister's wife

e hard on Bella Peter," he said, in a

er? Bella

nd hesitating. "She was Mack's-Ma

ed, "do you say so? A

the shanty would be teasing Mack about it, and one

o her," said

Ranald, much relieved. "And I w

und to where Ranald was standing and said to

indifferent tone, as if unwil

ry fond of him?"

h the ax, and, man, he was the grand fighter-that is," he added, adopting the phrase of the Macdonald gang, "when it was a plain necessity." Then, forgetting himself, he began to tell Maimie how

ng her hand timidly on his arm, said, "I am sorry, Ranald"; and Ranald turned

, "I believe y

es filled sudde

o you think I have no heart at al

id Ranald. "Why should you

how much you thought of him, and-" Maimie checked her rush of words with a sudden

had been scanning her face as if t

lowly, gazing with so searching a loo

. Murray entered r

ny come?"

, and he hurried off to the stable, returnin

uncle, Maimie?" said Mrs. Murray, as

said Maimie. "I will take c

dear," said Mrs.

d Maimie, as he turned

to do anything so extremely unnatural. With the boys in that country such

ing 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 rob

the woods, Mrs. Murray checked her pony, and looking upon the

art was sore at the thought of the pain they were bearing with them. She hesitated a few moments,

silence till they came to the clearing beyond. As they entered the br

ame the long, musical note of the call that brings the cows home f

mber, 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, Blos

It will be her last glad hour," h

d Mrs. Murray; "the Lord help

ly; so bitterly that Mrs. Murray glanced at him

nald," she said, gravely

eart, whatever," ans

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

sure the n

ye sure

time to th

fling by y

nae luck ab

nae lu

le pleesure

gude ma

he boys were at the barn and she

getting your cows home

her blushes only became deeper when she saw Ranald, for she felt q

ald, in a hoarse voice, and Mrs. Murra

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 daughte

g in the yard, waiting

and then, tying up the hor

to get done with his sad task. "There has been an a

boy?" said Peter

t he was dead," said Ranald, hurrying through his tale, for

e old man. "Big M

team," continued Ranald, "

Ranald. Then, lifting his hat from his gray head, he said

from the sight of the old man's agony. Then, turning back to h

fort commanding himself, said, "Now may G

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 i

low voice, to the minister's wife. He mounted the

ake the wagon to

ied Ranald; and then to Mrs. Murray he said, "I wil

im, cried to her: "O

them at home." This Ranald promised to do, and rode away on his woeful journey; and before he reached hom

d there, in the midst of the admiring company, tales would be told of the deeds done and the trials endured, of the adventures on the river and the wonders of the cities where they had been. All were welcome everywhere, and none more than Big Mack Cameron. Brimming with good nature, and with a remarkable turn for stories,

irst to appear was Donald Ross, the elder. For years he had given over the driving of his team to his boys, but to-day he felt that respect to the family demanded his presence on such an errand as this; and besides, he knew well that his son Dannie, Mack's special chum, would expect him to so

ck team and new light wagon. To him was to be given the honor of bearing the bod

d Donald Ross, with the air of one giving solemn ch

imply. But Farquhar McNaught

there is not one with more

h impressed with Ranald's ca

ar," he replied; "Ranal

of this sad news. That his uncle, Macdonald Bhain, should have sent the word to him brought Ranald a sense of responsibility that awakened the man in him, and he knew he would feel hi

gh the swamp, and so onward to the home of the dead. None of the Macdonald gang turned aside to their homes till they had given their comrade over into the keeping of his own people. By the time the Cameron's gate was reached the night had grown thick and black, and t

ster. For a few moments they all remained motionless and silent. The time was too great for words, and these men knew when it was good to hold their peace. At length Macdonald Bhain b

her, gravely and steadily. "Bring him in. It i

ads uncovered, they followed the torches to the door. There they stopped suddenly, for as they reached the threshold, there arose a low, long, heart-smiting cry fro

aid Long John, gravely. "

he is, that he i

th tears streaming down her face. "Come in, Malcolm

m in the "room," and retiring to the

father came out an

him for all, "and I will not be unmindful of your kindness. But now

will neither go to my home nor up into my bed, but I will watch by t

ined firm, taking turns at the watch

t, doing respect to the woman and to her grief. When they were seated again, the minister rose and said: "My friends, this is a night for silenc

simple, and direct, it lifted the hearts of all present up to the throne of God, to the place of strength and of peace. There was no attempt t

ned to him every detail, Macdonald laid his hand on his nephew's shoulder and said, kindly, "It is well done, Ranald. Now you will be going

ing well repaid for his lon