登陆注册
5446900000091

第91章 CHAPTER XXI(2)

The manager of the Raymond & St. Clair Company and prominent clubman, much sought after in social circles, he was bound to find letters of importance awaiting him, but hastily shuffling the bundle, he selected three, and put the rest in his pocket.

"So she's back," he said to himself, lifting up one in a square envelope, addressed in large, angular writing. He turned it over in his hand, feasting his eyes upon it, as a boy holds a peach, prolonging the blissful anticipation. Then he opened it slowly and read:

MY DEAR RANALD: All the way home I was hoping that on my return, fresh from the "stately homes of England," and from association with lords and dukes and things, you would be here to receive your share of the luster and aroma my presence would shed (that's a little mixed, I fear); but with a most horrible indifference to your privileges you are away at the earth's end, no one knows where. Father said you were to be home to-day, so though you don't in the least deserve it, I am writing you a note of forgiveness;and will you be sure to come to my special party to-morrow night?

I put it off till to-morrow solely on your account, and in spite of Aunt Frank, and let me tell you that though I have seen such heaps of nice men, and all properly dear and devoted, still I want to see you, so you must come. Everything else will keep. Yours, MAIMIE.

Over and over again he read the letter, till the fire in his eyes began to gleam and his face became radiant with a tender glow.

"'Yours, Maimie,' eh? I wonder now what she means," he mused.

"Seven years and for my life I don't know yet, but to-morrow night--yes, to-morrow night, I will know!" He placed the letter in its envelope and put it carefully in his inside pocket. "Now for Kate, dear old girl, no better anywhere." He opened his letter and read:

DEAR RANALD: What a lot of people will be delighted to see you back! First, dear old Dr. Marshall, who is in despair over the Institute, of which he declares only a melancholy ruin will be left if you do not speedily return. Indeed, it is pretty bad. The boys are quite terrible, and even my "angels" are becoming infected.

Your special pet, Coley, after reducing poor Mr. Locke to the verge of nervous prostration, has "quit," and though I have sought him in his haunts, and used my very choicest blandishments, he remains obdurate. To my remonstrances, he finally deigned to reply: "Naw, they ain't none of 'em any good no more; them ducks is too pious for me." I don't know whether you will consider that a compliment or not. So the Institute and all its people will welcome you with acclaims of delight and sighs of relief. And some one else whom you adore, and who adores you, will rejoice to see you. I have begged her from Maimie for a few precious days. But that's a secret, and last of all and least of all, there is Your friend, KATE.

P. S.--Of course you will be at the party to-morrow night. Maimie looks lovelier than ever, and she will be so glad to see you.

K.

"What a trump she is," murmured Ranald; "unselfish, honest to the core, and steady as a rock. 'Some one else whom you adore.' Who can that be? By Jove, is it possible? I will go right up to-night."His last letter was from Mr. St. Clair, who was the chief executive of the firm. He glanced over it hurriedly, then with a curious blending of surprise, perplexity, and dismay on his face, he read it again with careful deliberation:

MY DEAR RANALD: Welcome home! We shall all be delighted to see you. Your letter from North Bay, which reached me two days ago, contained information that places us in rather an awkward position.

Last May, just after you left for the north, Colonel Thorp, of the British-American Coal and Lumber Company, operating in British Columbia and Michigan, called to see me, and made an offer of $75,000 for our Bass River limits. Of course you know we are rather anxious to unload, and at first I regarded his offer with favor. Soon afterwards I received your first report, sent apparently on your way up. I thereupon refused Colonel Thorp's offer. Then evidently upon the strength of your report, which Ishowed him, Colonel Thorp, who by the way is a very fine fellow, but a very shrewd business man, raised his offer to an even hundred thousand. This offer I feel inclined to accept. To tell you the truth, we have more standing timber than we can handle, and as you know, we are really badly crippled for ready money. It is a little unfortunate that your last report should be so much less favorable in regard to the east half of the limits. However, I don't suppose there is any need of mentioning that to Colonel Thorp, especially as his company are getting a good bargain as it is, and one which of themselves, they could not possibly secure from the government.

I write you this note in case you should run across Colonel Thorp in town to-morrow, and inadvertently say something that might complicate matters. I have no doubt that we shall be able to close the deal in a few days.

Now I want to say again how delighted we all are to have you back.

We never realized how much we were dependent upon you. Mr. Raymond and I have been talking matters over, and we have agreed that some changes ought to be made, which I venture to say will not be altogether disagreeable to you. I shall see you first thing in the morning about the matter of the limits.

Maimie has got home, and is, I believe, expecting you at her party to-morrow night. Indeed, I understand she was determined that it should not come off until you had returned, which shows she shares the opinion of the firm concerning you.

I am yours sincerely, EUGENE ST. CLAIR.

Ranald sat staring at the letter for a long time. He saw with perfect clearness Mr. St. Clair's meaning, and a sense of keen humiliation possessed him as he realized what it was that he was expected to do. But it took some time for the full significance of the situation to dawn upon him. None knew better than he how important it was to the firm that this sale should be effected.

同类推荐
  • Meno

    Meno

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明伦汇编交谊典主司门生部

    明伦汇编交谊典主司门生部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 湘妃

    湘妃

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛为海龙王说法印经

    佛为海龙王说法印经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 手杖论

    手杖论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 她不是真心的

    她不是真心的

    虚伪和欲望用艺术包装,真诚和勇敢在世界冒险!叶子啊,给你的爱只有这么多,够吗?叶子摇摇头,不够,你明明还有,我要的,是全部。修改待更新ing。
  • 女法医穿越之夫君欠调教

    女法医穿越之夫君欠调教

    <本文一女多男,男主多样,择优上岗。>最强人类学法医一朝穿越,变成了程府最不受宠的小小庶女。爹爹不亲,嫡母陷害,长姐污蔑,姨娘软弱,穿越第二天便被这些人联手安上了一条“故意伤人罪”,连夜送到了乡下庄园,美其名曰——静养。医学狂人陈默挑眉,只要能继续工作就行!于是,陈大法医破天荒的情商爆表,勾搭美男神探,小惑天下名捕,破案也能惹桃花!凭着人情上位,靠着实力让人臣服。等她重回上京都,爹爹谄媚,嫡母委蛇,长姐暗妒,各类牛鬼蛇神纷纷涌了上来,今天一出阴谋,明天一出诡计,明明是励志女强文的性格,却安排了宫斗宅斗的戏码,真当我陈默好相与?!陈默拿着森冷的手术刀,一脸面瘫的斜睨向作者。作者:陈大大大大女王,小的马上让道,呵呵呵,马上立刻现在,就让您出场。陈默满意地收回手术刀。小剧场一:“小默,我喜欢你。”某美男一脸含羞带怯地向陈默表白。“哦。”陈默继续面瘫,眼神直勾勾地盯着桌上的裸男。“你!你到底有没有听到啊?干什么要盯着别的男人看!你眼里还有没有我!”某美男等了半天没等到陈默的反映,开始狂暴掀桌。陈默抬头:“那你也脱光了躺在这里,我也这么专注地看你。”某美男顿时脸色惨白遁走。陈默收回目光,继续解剖尸体。小剧场二:一向淡然的柳乘风俊脸上露出了惶急的神态,偷偷看了一眼没有什么表情的陈默,心中舒了一口气,看来她还没有发现(人家这是面瘫好吗!),看着前方的岔路口,想了半天才抬步往左边那条路走去。陈默的面瘫脸终于忍不住崩溃:“柳乘风!这条路我们已经走了三次了!”柳乘风:我,我,我想和你多走一会儿。想了半天,向来以聪慧无双著称于世的柳乘风却只想了这么一个烂理。陈默向天翻了个白眼:你这个理由已经用了108次了!快点走,要不然等我们到了尸体都要烂了!说完便大踏步地向前,不理那个呆立在一旁的俊美男子。“哎,等等我!”柳乘风赶紧追上——这要是让他一个人走,可不知道要走到何年何月了。————————————————————————————异世励志女强文,女主面瘫,寡淡,冷清但不冷血。请大家大胆跳坑,青夙努力更文!关于验尸术语等均来自百度君,若有指教,欢迎前来。每日一更,若有事情,会提前通知。鞠躬。
  • 消失的世界和神秘的文明:努比亚(谷臻小简·AI导读版)

    消失的世界和神秘的文明:努比亚(谷臻小简·AI导读版)

    在广袤无垠的非洲北部,在孕育生命的尼罗河畔,红海之滨,除了众所周知的古埃及文明外,还隐藏着神秘的、令人神往的、拥有丰富而又璀璨文明历史的被遗弃的伊甸园努比亚。努比亚的历史可以追溯到公元前3500年以前,它是世界上已知古老的黑人国家,世世代代在文化与经济上绽放着自己的光芒。然而它却突然谜样地没落然后被遗忘,无人问津。
  • 永恒之心

    永恒之心

    外门弟子陈宇,体内融入了一颗神魔心脏。心脏,乃生命中枢,人体致命的要害。而对陈宇来说,心脏却是防御最强的一点,并让他拥有赶超妖兽、神兽的无限潜力。自此,他踏上一段波澜壮阔、荡气回肠的玄奇之旅。天才如云之,天骄盖世。宗门林立之,我主沉浮。万族辉煌之,跨界大战。太古悬谜之,神话争锋。我心唯有,永恒!——新书,迫切需要推荐、收藏。已完本作品《主宰之王》、《仙河风暴》、《仙鸿路》等。可以交流意见,获取更多独家资讯。
  • 仙缘红尘修

    仙缘红尘修

    一场宫变,她掉落凡尘,恰巧被他捡到,便死乞白赖的缠上了他。某天一早她醒来,看见他的美色可耻的起了色心。某男:“男女授受不亲,我会对你负责的!”某女:“不不不,是我色心大发,是我对你负责才对!”某男嘴角微扬:“哦,那这样也不是不可以……”“那以后……以后你就是我小相公!"“嗯,媳妇儿”
  • 溯源历史

    溯源历史

    本书主要介绍了新中国成立之前的古代社会,让你从头回顾中国历史,让你了解中国是怎样一步步的走到今天。中华人民共和国成立之时,标志着帝国主义、封建主义和官僚资本主义在中国反动统治的彻底结束。
  • 中场斗士与优雅大师

    中场斗士与优雅大师

    长发随风飘舞,跳起最优美华尔兹,他过一个,他又过一个,他过去第三个。连续被过三次,皇马队长塞尔吉奥·拉莫斯恼羞成怒:“我们一定要买下他!”他说。这是一个拥有——写轮眼——的家伙的豪门之旅,有一天,他感到厌倦,他走到那里,那里便是豪门,一个新的挑战开始了……
  • 漫威之召唤梦魇骑士

    漫威之召唤梦魇骑士

    等等,离我远点,你们是什么人?都是一个人?别开玩笑明明这么不一样……还说我是你们的契约者?但我只是个无名无姓的小小的三好学生,根本不是什么开挂主角?啥?相信自己……不了不了我觉得我现在挺好的……被倒吊在树上的秦云霄:等等我刚才什么都没说我接受这个契约只求几位救我下来!!!这是一个普通学生阴差阳错下带着七名梦魇蝙蝠拯救世界的故事,也是在抛却搞笑外壳下努力做到保护,找回曾经情感的故事。ps梦魇蝙蝠就是获得了对应正义联盟力量的七个黑暗维度的蝙蝠侠
  • 生活在南宁(活色生香话南宁)(南瓜屋故事)

    生活在南宁(活色生香话南宁)(南瓜屋故事)

    从出生到结婚生子,都在一个城市打转到底是一种什么体验?南瓜屋故事作者【猫的吃吃爱】,以其在南宁生活了近40年的经历,用美食故事,呈现了不移民也精彩的城市生活体验,也可以把它作为你游走南宁的特别指南。
  • 贤王,别无赖

    贤王,别无赖

    世人都道贤王为公子世无双的典范。只有程雪宜这个穿越女才知道,商景昀真正无双的是他的脸皮“王爷,500两您已经收了。您看……”“银子清了,恩还未清。滴水之恩当涌泉相报,更何况,你对本王有救命之恩。”“王爷,一命抵一命,这回可以两清了吧?”“恩情可以清,本王的清白呢?你总得负责吧!”“……”宫中居果是真大易,要不怎么能练出商景昀的脸皮来呢。