country。 We were all proud of Stephen； every man of us。〃
〃I know that； sir； and he often wrote the wife about you； sir；
which we don't forget； sir。 Of course； it's hard on her and the
boysjust coming up to be somethin' at the school。〃
〃By the way； Wickes； how are they doing？ Two of them； aren't
there？ Let's seethere's Steve； he's the eldest〃
〃No； sir； he's the youngest； sir。 Robert is the eldestfourteen；
and quite clever at his books。 Pity he's got to quit just now。〃
〃Quit？ Not a bit of it。 We must see to that。 And little Steve
how is the back？〃
〃He's twelve。 The back hurts a lot； but he is happy enough； if you
give him a pencil。 They're all with us now。〃
〃Ah； well； well。 I think you have made something out of it after
all； Wickes。 And we must see about Robert。〃
Thirty…one years at the desk！ And to show for it a home for his
wife and himself； a daughter in a home of her own； a son dead for
his country； leaving behind him a wife and two lads to carry the
namewas it worth while？ Yes； by Jove； it was worth it all to be
able to give a man like Stephen Wickes to his country。 For Stephen
Wickes was a fine stalwart lad； a good soldier； steady as a rock；
with a patient； cheery courage that nothing could daunt or break。
But for a man's self was it worth while？
Jack had no thought of wife and family。 There was Adrien。 She had
been a great pal before the war； but since his return she had
seemed different。 Everyone seemed different。 The war had left
many gaps； former pals had formed other ties； many had gone from
the town。 Even Adrien had drifted away from the old currents of
life。 She seemed to have taken up with young Stillwell； whom Jack
couldn't abide。 Stillwell had been turned down by the Recruiting
Officer during the warflat feet； or something。 True； he had done
great service in Red Cross； Patriotic Fund； Victory Loan work； and
that sort of thing； and apparently stood high in the Community。
His father had doubled the size of his store and had been a great
force in all public war work。 He had spared neither himself nor
his son。 The elder Stillwell； high up in the Provincial Political
world； saw to it that his son was on all the big Provincial War
Committees。 Rupert had all the shrewd foresight and business
ability of his father； which was saying a good deal。 He began to
assume the role of a promising young capitalist。 The sources of
his income no one knewfortunate investments； people said。 And
his Hudson Six stood at the Rectory gate every day。 Well； not even
for Adrien would Jack have changed places with Rupert Stillwell。
For Jack Maitland held the extreme and； in certain circles；
unpopular creed that the citizen who came richer out of a war which
had left his country submerged in debt； and which had drained away
its best blood and left it poorer in its manhood by well…nigh
seventy thousand of its noblest youth left upon the battlefields of
the various war fronts and by the hundreds of thousands who would
go through life a burden to themselves and to those to whom they
should have been a supportthat citizen was accursed。 If Adrien
chose to be a friend of such a man； by that choice she classified
herself as impossible of friendship for Jack。 It had hurt a bit。
But what was one hurt more or less to one whom the war had left
numb in heart and bereft of ambition？ He was not going to pity
himself。 He was lucky indeed to have his body and nerve still
sound and whole； but they need not expect him to show any great
keenness in the chase for a few more thousands that would only rank
him among those for whom the war had not done so badly。 Meantime；
for his father's sake； who； thank God； had given his best； his
heart's best and the best of his brain and of his splendid business
genius to his country； he would carry on； with no other reward than
that of service rendered。
CHAPTER III
THE HEATHEN QUEST
They stood together by the open fire in the study； Jack and his
father； alike in many ways yet producing effects very different。
The younger man had the physical makeup of the older； though of a
slighter mould。 They had the same high； proud look of conscious
strength； of cool fearlessness that nothing could fluster。 But the
soul that looked out of the grey eyes of the son was quite another
from that which looked out of the deep blue eyes of the father
yet； after all； the difference may not have been in essence but
only that the older man's soul had learned in life's experience to
look out only through a veil。
The soul of the youth was eager； adventurous； still believing； yet
with a certain questioning and a touch of weariness； a result of
the aftermath of peace following three years of war。 There was
still； however； the out…looking for far horizons； the outreaching
imagination； the Heaven given expectation of the Infinite。 In the
older man's eye dwelt chiefly reserve。 The veil was always there
except when he found it wise and useful to draw it aside。 If ever
the inner light flamed forth it was when the man so chose。 Self…
mastery； shrewdness； power； knowledge； lay in the dark blue eyes；
and all at the soul's command。
But to…night as the father's eyes rested upon his son who stood
gazing into and through the blazing fire there were to be seen only
pride and wistful love。 But as the son turned his eyes toward his
father the veil fell and the eyes that answered were quiet； shrewd；
keen and chiefly kind。
The talk had passed beyond the commonplace of the day's doings。
They were among the big things； the fateful thingLife and Its
Worth； Work and Its Wages； Creative Industry and Its Product；
Capital and Its Price； Man and His Rights。
They were frank with each other。 The war had done that for them。
For ever since the night when his eighteen…year…old boy had walked
into his den and said； 〃Father； I am eighteen；〃 and stood looking
into his eyes and waiting for the word that came straight and
unhesitating； 〃I know； boy； you are my son and you must go； for I
cannot；〃 ever since that night； which seemed now to belong to
another age； these two had faced each other as men。 Now they were
talking about the young man's life work。
〃Frankly； I don't like it； Dad；〃 said the son。
〃Easy to see that； Jack。〃
〃I'm really sorry。 I'm afraid anyone can see it。 But somehow I
can't put much pep into it。〃
〃Why？〃 asked the father； with curt abruptness。
〃Why？ Well； I hardly know。 Somehow it hardly seems worth while。
It is not the grind of the office； though that is considerable。 I
could stick that； but； after all； what's the use？〃
〃What would you rather do； Jack？〃 enquired his father patiently； as
if talking to a child。 〃You tried for the medical profession； you
know； and〃
〃I know； I know； you are quite right about it。 You may think it
pure laziness。 Maybe it is； but I hardly think so。 Perhaps I went
back to lectures too soon after the war。 I was hardly fit； I
guess； and the whole thing； the inside life； the infernal grind of
lectures； the idiotic serious mummery of the youngsters； those
blessed kids who should have been spanked by their mothersthe
whole thing sickened me in three months。 If I had waited perhaps I
might have done better at the thing。 I don't knowhard to tell。〃
The boy paused； looking into the fire。
〃It was my fault； boy；〃 said the father hastily。 〃I ought to have
figured the thing out differently。 But； you see； I had no
knowledge of what you had gone through and of its effect upon you。
I know better now。 I thought that the harder you went into the
work the better it would be for you。 I made a mistake。〃
〃Well； you couldn't tell； Dad。 How could you？ But everything was
so different when I came back。 Mere kids were carrying on where we
had been； and doing it well； too； by Jove； and we didn't seem to be
needed。〃
〃Needed； boy？〃 The father's voice was thick。
〃Yes； but I didn't see that then。 Selfish； I fear。 Then； you
know； home was not the same〃
The older man choked back a groan and leaned hard against the
mantel。
〃I know； Dad； I can see now I was selfish〃
〃Selfish？ Don't say that； my lad。 Selfish？ After all you had
gone through？ No； I shall never apply that word to you； but you
you don't seem to realise〃 The father hesitated a few moments；
then； as if taking a plunge：
〃You don't realise just how big a thinghow big an investment
there is in that business down there。〃 His hand swept toward the
window through which could be seen the lights of that part of the
town which clustered about the various mills and factories of which
he was owner。
〃I know there is a lot； Dad； but how much I don't know。〃
〃There's 250；000 in plant alone； boy； but there's more than money；
a lot more than money〃 Then； after a pause； as if to himself； 〃A
lot more than moneythere's brain sweat and heart agony and
prayers and tearsand； yes； life； boy； your mother's life and
mine。 We worked and saved and prayed and planned〃
He stepped quickly toward the window； drew aside the curtain and
pointed to a dark mass of headland beyond the twinkling lights。
〃You see the Bluff there。 Fifty years ago I stood with my father
on that Bluff and watched the logs come down the river to the
sawmillhis sawmill； into which he had put his total capital； five
hundred dollars。 I remember well his words； 'My son； if you live
out your life you will see on that flat a town where thousands of
men and women will find homes and； please God； happiness。' Your
mother and I watched that town grow for forty years； and we tried
to make people happyat least； if they were not it was no fault of
hers。 Of course； other hands have been at the work since then； but
her hands and mine more than any other； and more than all others
together were in it； and her heart； too； was in it all。〃
The boy turned from the window and sat down heavily in a deep
armchair； his hands covering his face。 His heart was still sick
with the ache that had smitten it that day in front of Amiens when
the Colonel； his father's friend； had sent for him and read him the
wire which had brought the terrible message of his mother's death。
The long months of days and night