“I think you know. Because I wanted to stand by you.”
Red turned again, and began to go on down the trail. But at the bottom he once more stopped short.
“Lad,” he said, with some diffidence, “there’s a story in that Book of yours—the other part of it—that always interested me, only I didn’t think there were many examples of that sort of standing by in present days. I begin to think there may be one or two.”
“Which story is that?” Black asked, eagerly—though he concealed the eagerness.
“That—I’ll have to leave you to guess!” said the other man—and said not another word all the way home. He sent the car at its swiftest pace along the road, took Black to his own door, held his hand for an instant in a hard grip, said “Good-night!” in his very gruffest tone, and left him.
But Black had guessed. And he had won his friend—for good and all, now—he was sure of that. How could it be otherwise?
CHAPTER XIV
SOMETHING TO REMEMBER
My dear Robert Black:—
Where do you suppose your letter reached me, telling me of your rapidly maturing plans to go to France? At a place not fifty miles away from you, where I have taken a small seaside cottage for the summer! Yes, I did it deliberately, hoping it might mean that I should see you often—for I have missed you more than I quite venture to tell you. And now—I am not to see you after all, for you are to be off at almost any time. My disappointment is as great as my pride in you—and my joy that you are responding to this greatest need of our time. I know you will fully understand this seeming paradox.
Since I have no son to send—and you no mother to send you—and since, as you well know, you have come to seem more like a son to me than I could have thought possible after the loss of my own—won’t you spend at least a day with me—right away, lest your summons to join your regiment arrive sooner than you expect? Please wire or telephone me—as soon as you receive this, won’t you?—that you are coming. I have my faithful Sarah with me, so you are assured of certain good things to eat for which I recall your fondness. But I am very sure that I do not have to bribe you to do this kind thing for an old woman who cares for you very much. I know that Scotch heart of yours—cool enough on the outside to deceive the very elect, but warm within with a great friendliness for all who need you.