the foreigner-第17章

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　His　sure　vengeance　upon　him。　　Let　him　go　into　the　hands　of　God。〃

〃Let　him　go？〃　said　Kalmar；　his　breath　hissing　through　his　shut　teeth。　　〃Listen；　and　tell　me　if　I　should　let　him　go。　　Many　years　ago；　when　a　student　in　the　University；　I　fell　under　suspicion；　and　without　trial　was　sent　to　prison　by　a　tyrannical　Government。　Released；　I　found　it　difficult　to　make　a　living。　　I　was　under　the　curse　of　Government　suspicion。　　In　spite　of　that　I　succeeded。　　I　married　a　noble　lady　and　for　a　time　prospered。　　I　joined　a　Secret　Society。　　I　had　a　friend。　　He　was　the　rejected　suitor　of　my　wife。　He；　too；　was　an　enthusiast　for　the　cause　of　freedom。　　He　became　a　member　of　my　Society　and　served　so　well　that　he　was　trusted　with　their　most　secret　plans。　　He　sold　them　to　the　Government；　seeking　my　ruin。　　The　Society　was　broken　up　and　scattered；　the　members；　my　friend　included；　arrested　and　sent　to　prison；　exile　and　death。　Soon　he　was　liberated。　　I　escaped。　　In　a　distant　border　town　I　took　up　my　residence；　determined；　when　opportunity　offered；　to　flee　the　country　with　my　wife　and　two　infant　children；　one　a　babe　in　his　mother's　arms。　　At　this　time　my　friend　discovered　me。　　I　had　no　suspicion　of　him。　　I　told　him　my　plans。　　He　offered　to　aid　me。　　I　gave　him　the　money　where　with　to　bribe　the　patrol。　　Once　more　he　betrayed　me。　　Our　road　lay　through　a　thick　forest。　　As　we　drove　along；　a　soldier　hailed　us。　　I　killed　him　and　we　dashed　forward；　only　to　find　another　soldier　waiting。　　We　abandoned　our　sleigh　and　took　to　a　woodcutter's　track　through　the　forest。　　We　had　only　a　mile　to　go。　　There　were　many　tracks。　　The　soldier　pursued　us　through　the　deep　snow；　firing　at　random。　　A　bullet　found　a　place　in　my　wife's　heart。　　Ah！　　My　God！　　She　fell　to　the　snow；　her　babe　in　her　arms。　　I　threw　myself　at　her　side。　　She　looked　up　into　my　face　and　smiled。　　'I　am　free　at　last；'　she　said。　　'Farewell；　dear　heart。　The　childrenleave　mecarry　them　to　freedom。'　　I　closed　her　eyes；　covered　her　with　snow　and　fled　on　through　the　forest；　and　half　frozen　made　my　way　across　the　border　and　was　safe。　　My　children　I　left　with　friends　and　went　back　to　bring　my　wife。　　I　found　blood　tracks　on　the　snow；　and　bones。〃　　He　put　his　hands　over　his　face　as　if　to　shut　out　the　horrid　picture；　then　flinging　them　down；　he　turned　fiercely　upon　Simon。　　〃What　do　you　say？　　Shall　I　let　him　go？〃

〃No；〃　said　Simon；　reaching　out　both　his　hands。　　〃By　the　Lord　God　Almighty！　　No！　　He　shall　die！〃

Kalmar　tore　open　his　shirt；　pulled　out　a　crucifix。

〃Will　you　swear　by　God　and　all　the　saints　that　if　I　fail　you　will　take　my　place？〃

Simon　hesitated。　　The　boy　sprang　forward；　snatched　the　crucifix　from　his　father's　hand；　pressed　his　lips　against　it　and　said　in　a　loud　voice；　〃I　swear；　by　God　and　all　the　saints。〃

The　father　started　back；　and　for　a　few　moments　silently　contemplated　his　boy。　　〃What；　boy？　　You？　　You　know　not　what　you　say。〃

〃I　do　know；　father。　　It　was　my　mother　you　left　there　in　the　snow。　Some　day　I　will　kill　him。〃

〃No；　no；　my　boy；〃　said　the　father；　clasping　him　in　his　arms。　　〃You　are　your　father's　son；　your　mother's　son；〃　he　cried。　　〃You　have　the　heart；　the　spirit；　but　this　oath　I　shall　not　lay　upon　you。　　No；　by　my　hand　he　shall　die；　or　let　him　go。〃　　He　stood　for　some　moments　silent；　his　head　leaning　forward　upon　his　breast。　　〃No；〃　he　said　again；　〃Simon　is　right。　　This　is　a　new　land；　a　new　life。　　Let　the　past　die　with　me。　　With　this　quarrel　you　have　nothing　to　do。　　It　is　not　yours。〃

〃I　will　kill　him；〃　said　the　boy　stubbornly；　〃I　have　sworn　the　oath。　It　was　my　mother　you　left　in　the　snow。　　Some　day　I　will　kill　him。〃

〃Aha！　boy；〃　said　the　father；　drawing　him　close　to　his　side；　〃my　quarrel　is　yours。　　Good！　　But　first　he　is　mine。　　When　my　hand　lies　still　in　death；　you　may　take　up　the　cause；　but　not　till　then。　　You　hear　me？〃

〃Yes；　father；〃　said　the　boy。

〃And　you　promise？〃

〃I　promise。〃

〃Now　farewell；　my　son。　　A　bitter　fate　is　ours。　　A　bitter　heritage　I　leave　you！〃　　He　sank　down　upon　the　bench；　drew　his　boy　toward　him　and　said　brokenly；　〃Nay；　nay；　it　shall　not　be　yours。　　I　shall　free　you　from　it。　　In　this　new　land；　let　life　be　new　with　you。　　Let　not　the　shadow　of　the　old　rest　upon　you。〃　　He　gathered　the　boy　up　in　his　strong　arms　and　strained　him　to　his　breast。　　〃Now　farewell；　my　son。　　Ah！　God　in　Heaven！〃　he　cried；　his　tears　raining　down　upon　the　boy's　face；　〃must　I　give　up　this　too！　　Ah；　those　eyes　are　her　eyes；　that　face　her　face！　　Is　this　the　last？　　Is　this　all？　　How　bitter　is　life！〃　　He　rocked　back　and　forward　on　the　bench；　his　boy's　arms　tight　about　his　neck。　　〃My　boy；　my　boy！　the　last　of　life　I　give　up　here！　　Keep　faith。　　This；〃　pulling　out　the　miniature；　〃I　would　give　you　now；　but　it　is　all　I　have　left。　　When　I　die　I　will　send　it　to　you。　　Your　sister　I　give　to　your　charge。　　When　you　are　a　man　guard　her。　　Now　go。　　Farewell。〃

The　guard　appeared　at　the　door。

〃Come；　you　must　go。　　Time's　up；〃　he　said　roughly。

〃Time　is　up；〃　cried　the　father；　〃and　all　time　henceforth　is　useless　to　me。　　Farewell；　my　son！〃　kissing　him。　　〃You　must　go　from　me。　Don抰　be　ashamed　of　your　father；　though　he　may　die　a　prisoner　or　wander　an　exile。〃

The　boy　clung　fast　to　his　father抯　neck；　drawing　deep　sobbing　breaths。

〃Boy；　boy；〃　said　the　father；　mingling　his　sobs　with　those　of　his　son；　〃help　me　to　bear　it！〃

It　was　a　piteous　appeal；　and　it　reached　the　boy抯　heart。　　At　once　he　loosened　one　hand　from　its　hold；　put　it　up　and　stroked　his　father抯　face　as　his　sobs　grew　quiet。　　At　the　touch　upon　his　face；　the　father　straightened　himself　up；　gently　removed　his　son's　clinging　arm　from　his　neck。

〃My　son；〃　he　said　quietly；〃　we　must　be　men。　　The　men　of　our　blood　meet　not　death　so。〃

Immediately　the　boy　slipped　from　his　father's　arms　and　stood　erect　and　quiet；　looking　up　into　the　dark　face　above　him　watchful　for　the　next　word　or　sign。　　The　father　waved　his　hand　toward　the　door。

〃We　now　say　farewell；〃　he　said　quietly。　　He　stooped　down；　kissed　his　son　gravely　and　tenderly　first　upon　the　lips；　then　upon　the　brow；　walked　with　him　to　the　barred　door。

〃We　are　ready；〃　he　said　quietly　to　the　guard　who　stood　near　by。

The　boy　passed　out；　and　gave　his　hand　to　Paulina；　who　stood　waiting　for　him。

〃Simon　Ketzel；〃　said　Kalmar；　as　he　bade　him　farewell；　〃you　will　befriend　my　boy？〃

〃Master；　brother；〃　said　Simon；　〃I　will　serve　your　children　with　my　life。〃　　He　knelt；　kissed　the　prisoner's　hand；　and　went　out。

That　afternoon；　the　name　of　Michael　Kalmar　was　entered　upon　the　roll　of　the　Provincial　Penitentiary；　and　he　took　up　his　burden　of　life；　no　longer　a　man；　but　a　mere　human　animal　driven　at　the　will　of　some　petty　tyrant；　doomed　to　toil　without　reward；　to　isolation　from　all　that　makes　life　dear；　to　deprivation　of　the　freedom　of　God's　sweet　light　and　air；　to　degradation　without　hope　of　recovery。　Before　him　stretched　fourteen　long　years　of　slow　agony；　with　cruel　abundance　of　leisure　to　feed　his　soul　with　maddening　memories　of　defeated　vengeance；　with　fearful　anxieties　for　the　future　of　those　dear　as　life；　with　feelings　of　despair　over　a　cause　for　which　he　had　sacrificed　his　all。



CHAPTER　IX

BROTHER　AND　SISTER


Before　summer　had　gone；　Winnipeg　was　reminded　of　the　existence　of　the　foreign　colony　by　the　escape　from　the　Provincial　Penitentiary　of　the　Russian　prisoner　Kalmar。　　The　man　who　could　not　be　held　by　Siberian　bars　and　guards　found　escape　from　a　Canadian　prison　easy。　That　he　had　accomplices　was　evident；　but　who　they　were　could　not　be　discovered。　　Suspicion　naturally　fell　upon　Simon　Ketzel　and　Joseph　Pinkas；　but　after　the　most　searching　investigation　they　were　released　and　Winnipeg　went　back　to　its　ways　and　forgot。　　The　big　business　men　rebuilding　fortunes　shattered　by　the　boom；　the　little　business　men　laying　foundations　for　fortunes　to　be；　the　women　within　the　charmed　circle　of　Society　bound　to　the　whirling　wheel　of　social　functions；　other　women　outside　and　striving　to　beg；　or　buy；　or　break　their　way　into　the　circle；　and　still　other　women　who　cared　not　a　pin's　head　whether　they　were　within　or　without；　being　sufficient　for　themselves；　the　busy　people　of　the　churches　with　their　philanthropies；　their　religious　activities；　striving　to　gather　into　their　several　folds　the　waifs　and　strays　that　came　stumbling　into　their　city　from　all　landsall　alike；　unaware　of　the　growing　danger　area　in　their　young　city；　forgot　the　foreign　colony；　its　problems　and　its　needs。

Meantime；　summer　followed　winter；　and　winter　summer；　the　months　and　years　went　on　while　the　foreign　colony　grew　in　numbers　and　more　slowly　in　wealth。　　More　slowly　in　wealth；　because　as　an　individual　member　grew　in　wealth　he　departed　from　the　colony　and　went　out　to　make　an　independent　home　for　himself　in　one　of　the　farming　colonies　which　the　Government　was　establishing　in　some　of　the　more　barren　and　forbidding　sections　of　the　country；　or　it　may　be；　loving　the　city　and　its　ways　of　business；　he　rapidly　sloughed　off　with　his　foreign　clothes　his　foreign　speech　and　manner　of　life；　and　his　foreign　ideals　as　well；　and　became　a　Canadian　citizen；　distinguished　from　his　cosmopolitan　fellow　citizen　only　by　the　slight　difficulty　he　displayed　with　some　of　the　consonants　of　the　language。

Such　a　man　was　Simon　Ketzel。　　Simon　was　by　trade　a　carpenter；　but　he　had　received　in　the　old　land　a　good　educational　foundation；　he　had；　moreover；　a　shrewd　head　for　affairs；　and　so　he　turned　his　energies　to　business；　and　with　conspicuous　success。　　For　in　addition　to　all　his　excellent　qualities；　Simon　possessed　as　the　most　valuable　part　of　his　equipment　a　tidy；　thrifty　wife；　who　saved　what　her　husband　earned　and　kept　guard　over　him　on　feast　days；　saved　and　kept　guard　so　faithfully　that　before　long　Simon　came　to　see　the　wisdom　of　her　policy　and　became　himself　a　shrewd　and　sober　and　well…doing　Canadian；　able　to　hold　his　own　with　the　best　of　them。

His　sobriety　and　steadiness　Simon　owed　mostly　to　his　thrifty　wife；　but　his　rapid　transformation　into　Canadian　citizenship　he　owed　chiefly　to　his　little　daughter　Margaret。　　It　was　Margaret　that　taught　him　his　English；　as　she　conned　over　her　lessons　with　him　in　the　evenings。　　It　was　Margaret　who　carried　home　from　the　little　Methodist　mission　near　by；　the　illustrated　paper　and　the　library　book；　and　thus　set　him　a…reading。　　It　was　Margaret　that　brought　both　Simon　and　Lena；　his　wife；　to　the　social　gathering　of　the　Sunday　School　and　of　the　church。　　It　was　thus　to　little　Margaret　that　the　Ketzels　owed　their　introduction　to　Canadian　life　and　manners；　and　to　the　finer　sides　of　Canadian　religion。　　And　through　little　Margaret　it　was　that　those　greatest　of　all　Canadianising　influences；　the　school　and　the　mission；　made　their　impact　upon　the　hearts　and　the　home　of　the　Ketzel　family。　　And　as　time　went　on　it　came　to　pass　that　from　the　Ketzel　home；　clean；　orderly；　and　Canadian；　there　went　out　into　the　foul　wastes　about；　streams　of　healing　and　cleansing　that　did　their　beneficent　work　where　they　went。

One　of　these　streams　reached　the　home　of　Paulina；　to　the　great　good　of　herself　and　her　family。　　Here；　again；　it　was　chiefly　little　Margaret　who　became　the　channel　of　the　new　life；　for　with　Paulina　both　Simon　and　Lena　had　utterly　failed。　　She　was　too　dull；　too　apathetic；　too　hopeless　and　too　suspicious　even　of　her　own　kind　to　allow　the　Ketzels　an　entrance　to　her