"One day my chance came. They were organizing the Mounted Police. Not exactly soldiers—but soldier-policemen. I joined—and set out to work my way up."
She was silent, enthralled. She knew that a strong man was paying her the greatest tribute in his power—was showing her the most secret places of his heart.
"It was hard work—hard, hard, hard. But I loved it—do still. I had luck, of course. Early this year, they made me Sergeant-Major of my division—after ten years. The next step is either Regimental Sergeant-Major or a Commission. I hope it's a Commission—I'm almost certain it will be. Probably next year. You know what it will mean to me."
She thought she knew—the goal of a lifetime and of innumerable trials and struggles achieved at last, by sheer will-power and stark, unaided effort.
"But that's not all. You know, I couldn't talk to everyone like this, Frances. It sounds—well, I don't know how it sounds. You can see what I mean. Never mind! I'm going to finish. Where was I? Oh, yes—that's not all. Remember, I said just now, I wanted to be not only an officer, but—but a great man! When I get my Commission, my first dream is reached. The other one remains.
"During those years, Frances"—his voice took on a more intense note—"I never—I never thought of—well, love. That is, in a personal way. Somehow, it never entered my head. I was busy—busy all the time. Women are few and far between out there. I suppose I'd have—well, fallen in love, like most people, if I'd met anyone that attracted me—or fitted in with my ideals. But I never did. I suppose I'm hard to please—thank God. I wanted," he was stumbling now, like a man on a rough road, in the dark. "Oh, you know—a woman—well," he laughed, "of course, that was beautiful—but a good woman—strong—and fine as true steel. Well, they're rare—or I'm blind. I began to think—when I thought of it at all—that they didn't exist. But they do!"
Her heart pounded. He had taken her hand in his, in a strong grasp.
"I've found one in particular."
For a moment he was silent.
"Now, with that girl—well, there's nothing I couldn't do—nothing! With her to work for, nothing in the world could hold me back! I want her, because—well, my dream of greatness might never come without her—it wouldn't be worth while even if it did—and the road would be—well, the longest, hardest road that ever man trod. I want that girl's love to help me. Together—but, God knows, I don't want to brag.