Dot It Down by Alexander Begg

Author:Alexander Begg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
Published: 1973-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XV.

HEN Grace had finished her letter, she called her two brothers, Jack and Tom, and entrusted the precious epistle to their care; at the same time asking them to be sure and wait for an answer.

As soon as the two boys started on their mission, Tom said—

“What is the matter between George and Grace ? There must be something when she is writing to him; she never did that before.”

“I think,” returned Jack, “there is something up, because, did you notice how anxious and careworn Gracie seemed when she gave us the letter! If it’s George’s fault, I think you and I can lick him, eh, Tom?”

“Yes! and what is more, we’ll do it,” replied Tom; “but, perhaps George is not to blame at all, it may be some one else; for I never yet found George Wade doing a mean action.”

“Nor I,” said Jack; “so we won’t condemn him without hearing his story first.”

The two boys were at a loss to conjecture the reason for what appeared to them their extraordinary mission, for they were shrewd enough to see that something unusual had occurred. So the moment they reached the Hudson Bay Company’s store at St. Boniface, they bolted in upon George, and without the slightest hesitation they both blurted forth—

“What’s up, George, between you and Grace?”

George was somewhat unprepared for this sudden outburst; but replied that he hoped there was nothing.

“But there must be something, for Gracie looked so pale and—and—she seemed as if she’d been crying.”

Poor George’s heart sank within him, and he turned away to hide his emotion.

“Come, George,” said Tom, “tell us all that has happened; both Jack and I don’t believe you are to blame.”

“And you are right,” exclaimed Wade; “for I am not to blame, but I have some wicked enemies.”

“Who are they?” asked both boys at once, “and we’ll fix them; just tell us who they are.”

Jack and Tom now remembered for the first time that they had a letter for George. Jack, therefore, took it from his pocket, and handed it to Wade, saying that an answer was expected. George, when he received the letter, asked to be excused, and went into his bedroom to read the contents, fearing to betray any emotion before the boys. Jack and Tom looked at each other, but said nothing. George remained some time in his room; it was a trying moment for him; a fierce battle was going on in his mind. The appeal of Grace went direct to his heart, and there arose a very strong temptation to break his promise, so as to avoid the pang of separation from her at last; however, his better nature prevailed, and he sat down to write his final answer on the subject. He described the painfulness of his position, and how much he felt having to refuse the desired explanations; but he wrote, “You, my own dear Grace, would be the first to condemn me were I to sacrifice my honor in this matter, and I can assure you that I would be doing so were I to break the promise I gave some years ago.

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