the major- 第14部分

A　breeze　from　the　west　and　the　arrival　of　the　High　School　team；　resplendent　in　their　new　baseball　uniforms；　brought　to　the　limp　loiterers　under　the　trees　a　reviving　life　and　interest　in　the　day's　doings。

It　was　due　to　Jane　that　Sam　got　into　the　game；　for　when　young　Frank　Smart　was　searching　for　a　suitable　left　fielder　to　complete　the　All　Comers　team；　he　spied　seated　among　the　boys　the　little　girl。

〃Hello；　Jane；　in　your　usual　place；　I　see！〃　he　called　out　to　her　as　he　passed。

〃Hello；　Frank！〃　she　called　to　him　brightly。　　〃Frank！　Frank！〃　she　cried；　after　the　young　man　had　passed；　springing　up　and　running　after　him。

〃I　am　in　a　hurry；　Jane；　I　must　get　a　man　for　left　field。〃

〃But；　Frank；〃　she　said；　catching　his　arm；　for　young　Smart　was　a　great　friend　of　hers　and　of　her　father's。　　〃I　want　to　tell　you。　You　see　that　funny　boy　under　the　tree；〃　she　continued；　lowering　her　voice。　　〃Well；　he's　a　splendid　player。　　Tom　doesn't　want　him　to　play；　and　I　don't　either；　because　I　want　the　High　School　to　beat。　But　it　would　not　be　fair　not　to　tell　you；　would　it？〃

Young　Smart　looked　at　her　curiously。　　〃Say；　little　girl；　you're　a　sport。　　And　is　he　a　good　player？〃

〃Oh；　he's　splendid；　but　he's　queerI　mean　he　looks　queer。　　He's　awfully　funny。　　But　that　doesn't　matter；　does　it？〃

〃Not　a　hair；　if　he　can　play　ball。　　What's　his　name？〃

〃Samsomething。〃

〃Sam　Something？　　That　is　a　funny　name。〃

〃Oh；　you　know；　Sam。　　I　don't　know　his　other　name。〃

〃Well；　I'll　try　him；　Jane；〃　said　young　Smart；　moving　toward　the　boy　and　followed　by　the　eager　eyes　of　the　little　girl。

〃I　say；　Sam；〃　said　Smart；　〃we　want　a　man　for　left　field。　　Will　you　take　a　go　at　it？〃

〃Too　hot；〃　grunted　Sam。

〃Oh；　you　won't　find　it　too　hot　when　you　get　started。　　Rip　off　your　coat　and　get　into　the　game。　　You　can　play；　can't　you？〃

〃Aw；　what　yer　givin'　us。　　I　guess　I　can　give　them　ginks　a　few　pointers。〃

〃Well；　come　on。〃

〃Too　hot；〃　said　Sam。

Jane　pulled　young　Smart　by　the　sleeve。　　〃Tell　him　you　will　give　him　a　jersey；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice。　　〃His　shirt　is　torn。〃

Again　young　Smart　looked　at　Jane　with　scrutinising　eyes。　　〃You're　a　wonder；〃　he　said。

〃Come　along；　Sam。　　You　haven't　got　your　sweater　with　you；　but　I　will　get　one　for　you。　　Get　into　the　bush　there　and　change。〃

With　apparent　reluctance；　but　with　a　gleam　in　his　little　red　eyes；　Sam　slouched　into　the　woods　to　make　the　change；　and　in　a　few　moments　came　forth　and　ran　to　take　his　position　at　left　field。

The　baseball　match　turned　out　to　be　a　mere　setting　for　the　display　of　the　eccentricities　and　superior　baseball　qualities　of　Sam；　which　apparently　quite　outclassed　those　of　his　teammates　in　the　match。　After　three　disastrous　innings；　Sam　caused　himself　to　be　moved　first　to　the　position　of　short　stop；　and　later　to　the　pitcher's　box；　to　the　immense　advantage　of　his　side。　　But　although；　owing　to　the　lead　obtained　by　the　enemy；　his　prowess　was　unable　to　ward　off　defeat　from　All　Comers；　yet　under　his　inspiration　and　skilful　generalship；　the　team　made　such　a　brilliant　recovery　of　form　and　came　so　near　victory　that　Sam　was　carried　from　the　field　in　triumph　shoulder　high　and　departed　with　his　new　and　enthusiastically　grateful　comrades　to　a　celebration。

Larry；　however；　was　much　too　miserable　and　much　too　unhappy　for　anything　like　a　celebration。　　The　boy　was　oppressed　with　a　feeling　of　loneliness；　and　was　conscious　chiefly　of　a　desire　to　reach　his　car　and　crawl　into　his　bed　there　among　the　straw。　　Stumbling　blindly　along　the　dusty　road；　a　cheery　voice　hailed　him。

〃Hello；　Larry！〃　　It　was　Jane　seated　beside　her　father　in　his　car。

〃Hello！〃　he　answered　faintly　and　just　glanced　at　her　as　the　car　passed。

But　soon　the　car　pulled　up。　　〃Come　on；　Larry；　we'll　take　you　home；〃　said　Jane。

〃Oh；　I'm　all　right；〃　said　Larry；　forcing　his　lips　into　his　old　smile　and　resolutely　plodding　on。

〃Better　come　up；　my　boy；〃　said　the　doctor。

〃I　don't　mind　walking；　sir；〃　replied　Larry；　stubbornly　determined　to　go　his　lonely　way。

〃Come　here；　boy；〃　said　the　doctor；　regarding　him　keenly。　　Larry　came　over　to　the　wheel。　　〃Why；　boy；　what　is　the　matter？〃　　The　doctor　took　hold　of　his　hand。

Larry　gripped　the　wheel　hard。　　He　was　feeling　desperately　ill　and　unsteady　on　his　legs；　but　still　his　lips　twisted　themselves　into　a　smile。　　〃I'm　all　right；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃I've　got　a　headache　and　it　was　pretty　hot　out　there。〃

But　even　as　he　spoke　his　face　grew　white　and　he　swayed　on　his　feet。　In　an　instant　the　doctor　was　out　of　his　car。　　〃Get　in；　lad；〃　he　said　briefly；　and　Larry；　surrendering；　climbed　into　the　back　seat；　fighting　fiercely　meanwhile　to　prevent　the　tears　from　showing　in　his　eyes。　　Keeping　up　a　brisk　and　cheerful　conversation　with　Jane　in　regard　to　the　game；　the　doctor　drove　rapidly　toward　his　home。

〃You　will　come　in　with　us；　my　boy；〃　said　the　doctor　as　they　reached　his　door。

By　this　time　Larry　was　past　all　power　of　resistance　and　yielded　himself　to　the　authority　of　the　doctor；　who　had　him　upstairs　and　into　bed　within　a　few　minutes　of　his　arrival。　　A　single　word　Larry　uttered　during　this　process；　〃Tell　my　mother；〃　and　then　sank　into　a　long　nightmare；　through　which　there　mingled　dim　shapes　and　quiet　voices；　followed　by　dreamless　sleep；　and　an　awakening　to　weakness　that　made　the　lifting　of　his　eyelids　an　effort　and　the　movement　of　his　hand　a　weariness。　　The　first　object　that　loomed　intelligible　through　the　fog　in　which　he　seemed　to　move　was　a　little　plain　face　with　great　blue　eyes　carrying　in　them　a　cloud　of　maternal　anxiety。　Suddenly　the　cloud　broke　and　the　sun　burst　through　in　a　joyous　riot；　for　in　a　voice　that　seemed　to　him　unfamiliar　and　remote　Larry　uttered　the　single　word；　〃Jane。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　the　little　girl　rapturously。　　〃Oh；　Larry；　wait。〃　　She　slipped　from　the　room　and　returned　in　a　moment　with　his　mother；　who　quickly　came　to　his　side。

〃You　are　rested；　dear；〃　she　said；　putting　her　hand　under　his　head。　〃Drink　this。　　No；　don't　lift　your　head。　　Now　then；　go　to　sleep　again；　darling；〃　and；　stooping　down；　she　kissed　him　softly。

〃Whyareyoucrying？〃　he　asked　faintly。　　〃What's　thematter？〃

〃Nothing；　darling；　you　are　better。　　Just　sleep。〃

〃Better？HaveIbeensick？〃

〃Yes；　you　have　been　sick；〃　said　his　mother。

〃Awfully　sick；　〃　said　Jane　solemnly。　　〃A　whole　week　sick。　　But　you　are　all　right　now；〃　she　added　brightly；　〃and　so　is　Joe；　and　Sam；　and　Rover　and　Rosie。　　I　saw　them　all　this　morning　and　you　know　we　have　been　praying　and　praying　and〃

〃Now　he　will　sleep；　Jane；〃　said　his　mother；　gently　touching　the　little　girl's　brown　tangle　of　hair。

〃Yes；　he　will　sleep；　oh；　I'm　just　awful　thankful；〃　said　Jane；　suddenly　rushing　out　of　the　room。

〃Dear　little　girl；〃　said　the　mother。　　〃She　has　been　so　anxious　and　so　helpfula　wonderful　little　nurse。〃

But　Larry　was　fast　asleep；　and　before　he　was　interested　enough　to　make　inquiry　about　his　comrades　in　travel　the　car　in　charge　of　Joe　and　Sam；　with　Mr。　Gwynne　in　the　caboose；　was　far　on　its　way　to　Alberta。　　After　some　days　Jane　was　allowed　to　entertain　the　sick　boy；　as　was　her　custom　with　her　father；　by　giving　an　account　of　her　day's　doings。　　These　were　happy　days　for　them　both。　　Between　the　boy　and　the　girl　the　beginnings　of　a　great　friendship　sprang　up。

〃Larry；　I　think　you　are　queer；〃　said　Jane　to　him　gravely　one　day。　〃You　are　not　a　bit　like　you　were　in　the　car。〃

A　quick　flush　appeared　on　the　boy's　face。　　〃I　guess　I　was　queer　that　day；　Jane；〃　he　said。　　〃I　know　I　felt　queer。〃

〃Yes；　that's　it；〃　said　Jane；　delighted　by　some　sudden　recollection。　〃You　were　queer　then；　and　now　you're　just　ornary。　　My；　you　were　sick　and　you　were　cross；　too；　awful　cross　that　day。　　I　guess　it　was　the　headick。　　I　get　awfully　cross；　too；　when　I　have　the　headick。　　I　don't　think　you　will　be　cross　again　ever；　will　you；　Larry？〃

Larry；　smiling　at　her；　replied；　〃I'll　never　be　cross　with　you；　Jane；　anyway；　never　again。〃



CHAPTER　VII

THE　GIRL　OF　THE　WOOD　LOT


June；　and　the　sun　flooding　with　a　golden　shimmer　a　land　of　tawny　prairie；　billowy　hills；　wooded　valleys　and　mountain　peaks　white　with　eternal　snows；　touching　with　silver　a　stream　which；　glacier…　born；　hurled　itself　down　mountain　sides　in　fairy　films　of　mist；　rushed　through　canyons　in　a　mad　torrent；　hurried　between　hills　in　a　swollen　flood；　meandered　along　wide　valleys　in　a　full…lipped　tide；　lingered　in　a　placid　lake　in　a　bit　of　lowland　banked　with　poplar　bluffs；　and　so　onward　past　ranch…stead　and　homestead　to　the　great　Saskatchewan　and　Father　Ocean；　prairie　and　hills；　valleys　and　mountains；　river　and　lake；　making　a　wonder　world　of　light　and　warmth　and　colour　and　joyous　life。

Two　riders　on　rangey　bronchos；　followed　by　two　Russian　boarhounds；　climbed　the　trail　that　went　winding　up　among　the　hills　towards　a　height　which　broke　abruptly　into　a　ridge　of　bare　rock。　　Upon　the　ridge　they　paused。

〃There！　　Can　you　beat　that？　　If　so；　where？〃　　The　lady　swept　her　gauntletted　hand　toward　the　scene　below。　　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　was　tall；　strongly　made；　handsome　with　that　comeliness　which　perfect　health　and　out…of…doors　life　combine　to　give；　her　dark　hair；　dark　flashing　eyes；　straight　nose；　wide；　full…lipped　curving　mouth；　and　a　chin　whose　chiselled　firmness　was　softened　but　not　weakened　by　a　dimple；　making　a　picture　good　to　look　upon。

〃There！〃　she　cried　again；　〃tell　me；　can　you　beat　it？〃

〃Glorious！　　Sybil；　utterly　and　splendidly　glorious！〃　said　her　brother；　his　eyes　sweeping　the　picture　below。　　〃And　you　too；　Sybil；〃　he　said；　turning　his　eyes　upon　her。　　〃This　country　has　done　you　well。　　By　jove；　what　a　transformation　from　the　white…faced；　willowy〃

〃Weedy；〃　said　she。

〃Well；　as　it's　no　longer　true；　weedywoman　that　faded　out　of　London；　how　manyeight　years　ago！〃

〃Ten　years；　ten　long；　glorious；　splendid　years。〃

〃Ten　years！　　Surely　not　ten！〃

〃Yes；　ten　beautiful　years。〃

〃I　wish　to　God　I　had　come　with　you　then。　　I　might　have　beenwell；　I　should　have　been　saved　some　bumps　and　a　ghastly　cropper　at　last。〃

〃'Cut　it　out；'　Jack；　as　the　boys　say　here。　　En　avant！　　We　never　look　back　in　this　land；　but　ever　forward。　　Oh；　now　isn't　this　worth　while？〃　　Again　she　swept　her　hand　toward　the　scene　below　her。　〃Look　at　that　waving　line　in　the　east；　that　broad　sweep；　and　here　at　our　left；　those　great；　majestic　things。　　I　love　them。　　I　l