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〃To make you a home with me；〃 said Jack； looking at her with eyes full of longing； 〃and wherever you choose； here or yonder at the Night Hawk Ranch； which is much better；〃at which her tears began to flow。
〃Poor Jack！ Dear Jack！〃 she cried； 〃why did you come？〃
〃You know why；〃 he said。 〃Can you not learn to love me？〃
〃Love you； Jack？ I could not love you more。〃
〃Can you not come to me？〃
〃Dear Jack！ Poor Jack！〃 she said again； and fell to sobbing bitterly till he forgot his own grief in hers。 〃I love my husband still。〃
〃And I too；〃 said Jack； looking pitifully at her。
〃And I must keep my heart for him till I see him again。〃 Her voice sank to a whisper； but she stood bravely looking into his eyes； her two hands holding down her fluttering heart as if in fear that it might escape。
〃And is that the last word？〃 said Jack wearily。
〃Yes； Jack； my brother； my dear； dear brother；〃 she said； 〃it is the last。 And oh； Jack； I have had much sorrow； but none more bitter than this！〃 And sobbing uncontrollably； she laid herself on his breast。
He held her to him； stroking her beautiful hair； his brown hand trembling and his strong face twisting strangely。
〃Don't cry； dear Margaret。 Don't cry like that。 I won't make you weep。 Never mind。 You could not help it。 AndI'llgetover itsomehow。 Only don't cry。〃
Then when she grew quiet again he kissed her and went out； smiling back at her as he went； and for fifteen years never saw her face again。
But month by month there came a letter telling him of her and her work； and this helped him to forget his pain。 But more and more often as the years went on； Jack French and his man Mackenzie sat long nights in the bare ranch house with a bottle between them； till Mackenzie fell under the table and Jack with his hard head and his lonely heart was left by himself； staring at the fire if in winter； or out of the window at the lake if in summer； till the light on the water grew red； to his great hurt in body and in soul。
One spring day in the sixteenth year； in the middle of the month of May； when Jack had driven to the Crossing for supplies； an unexpected letter met him； which gave him much concern and changed forever the even current of his life。 And this was the letter：
'MY DEAR JACK；You have not yet answered my last； you bad boy； but you know I do not wait for answers； or you would seldom hear from me。' 〃And that's true enough；〃 murmured Jack。 'But this is a special letter； and is to ask you to do a great thing for me； a very great thing。 Indeed； you may not be able to do it at all。' 〃Indeed！〃 said Jack。 'And if you cannot do it； I trust you to tell me so。' 〃Trust me！ well rather；〃 said Jack again。
'You know something of my work among the Galicians； but you do not know just how sad it often is。 They are poor ignorant creatures； but really they have kind hearts and have many nice things。' 〃By Jove！ She'd find good points in the very devil himself！〃 'And I know you would pity them if you knew them； especially the women and the children。 The women have to work so hard； and the children are growing up wild； learning little of the good and much of the bad that Winnipeg streets can teach them。' 〃Heaven help them of their school！〃 cried Jack。
'Well； I must tell you what I want。 You remember seeing in the papers that I sent you some years ago； the account of that terrible murder by a Russian Nihilist named Kalmar； and you remember perhaps how he nearly killed a horrid man who had treated him badly； very badly； named Rosenblatt。 Well； perhaps you remember that Kalmar escaped from the penitentiary； and has not been heard of since。 His wife and children have somehow come under the power of this Rosenblatt again。 He has got a mortgage on her house and forces the woman to do his will。 The woman is a poor stupid creature； and she has just slaved away for this man。 The boy is different。 He is a fine handsome little fellow； thirteen or fourteen years old； who makes his living selling newspapers and； I am afraid； is learning a great many things that he would be better without。' 〃Which is true of more than him；〃 growled Jack。 'Of course； he does not like Rosenblatt。 A little while ago there was a dance and； as always at the dances； that awful beer！ The men got drunk and a good deal of fighting took place。 Rosenblatt and a friend of his got abusing the girl。 The boy flew at him and wounded him with a knife。' 〃And served him jolly well right；〃 said Jack with an oath。 'And then Rosenblatt nearly killed him and threw him out in the snow。 There he would have certainly died； had not Dr。 Wright happened along and carried him to the hospital； where he has been ever since。 The doctor had Rosenblatt up before the Court； but he brought a dozen men to swear that the boy was a bad and dangerous boy and that he was only defending himself。 Fancy a great big man against a boy thirteen！ Well； would you believe it； Rosenblatt escaped and laid a charge against the boy； and would actually have had him sent to jail； but I went to the magistrate and offered to take him and find a home for him outside of the city。' 〃Good brave little lady！ I'know you well；〃 cried Jack。
'I thought of you； Jack。' 〃Bless your kind little heart；〃 said Jack。 'And I knew that if you could get him you would make a man of him。' 〃Aha！ You did！〃 exclaimed Jack。 'Here he is getting worse and worse every day。 He is so quick and so clever； he has never been to school； but he reads and speaks English well。 He is very popular with his own people； for he is a wonderful singer； and they like him at their feasts。 And I have heard that he is as fond of beer as any of them。 He was terribly battered； but he is all right again； and has been living with his sister and his step… mother in the house of a friend of his father's。 But I have promised to get him out of the city； and if I do not； I know Rosenblatt will be after him。 Besides this； I am afraid something will happen if he remains。 The boy says quite quietly； but you can't help feeling that he means it； that he will kill Rosenblatt some day。 It is terribly sad； for he is such a nice boy。' 〃Seems considerable of an angel；〃 agreed Jack。 'I am afraid you will have to teach him a good many things； Jack； for he has some bad habits。 But if he is with you and away from the bad people he meets with here； I am sure he will soon forget the bad things he has learned。' 〃Dear lady； God grant you may never know；〃 said Jack ruefully。
'This is a long letter； dear Jack。 How I should like to go up to Night Hawk Ranch and see you； for I know you will not come to Winnipeg； and we do not see enough of each other。 We ought to； for my sake and for Herbert's too。' 〃Ah God！ and what of me？〃 groaned Jack。 'I cannot begin to thank you for all your kindness。 And； Jack； you must stop sending me money； for I do not need it and I will not use it； and I just keep putting what you send me in the bank for you。 The Lord has given me many friends； and He never has allowed me to want。
'I shall wait two weeks； and then send you Kalmanthat is his name； Kalman Kalmar； a nice name； isn't it？ And he is a dear good boy； that is； be might be。' 〃Good h