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_In The Van_
[Illustration: "The wolf's teeth clutched the young man's leg"
_Page 116_]
_In The Van_
_Or_
_"The Builders"_
_BY_
_PRICE-BROWN_
_(ERIC BOHN)_
_Author of "How Hartman Won," Etc._
_Illustrated by_
_F. H. BRIGDEN, O.S.A._
[Illustration]
_Toronto_
_McLeod & Allen_
_Publishers_
Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in
the year one thousand nine hundred and six, at
the Department of Agriculture, by
PRICE-BROWN,
Toronto.
[Illustration]
The Hunter, Rose Company, Limited, Toronto
ILLUSTRATIONS
"The wolf's teeth clutched the young man's leg" _Frontispiece_
"Thank you very much!" exclaimed Harold _opp. page_ 80
"Strangers and yet not strangers" " 192
"That'll be our new home, sweetheart" " 272
IN THE VAN
CHAPTER I.
Ye Builders, true on land and lake
To name and Nation's glory,
Though time has left you in its wake,
Your stress must tell its story.
"Harold Manning: wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live
together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt
thou love her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health; and
forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her as long as ye both shall
live?" rang out in clear, solemn tones throughout the little chapel of
the Abbey on that still November morning.
"I will," came the answer. The few who were present heard the words with
a thrill. They knew in his case how much they meant.
"Helen Brandon: Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live
together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt
thou obey him and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and
in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as
ye both shall live?"
"I will," was again the response, issuing sweetly but firmly from lips
that would not tremble, although the tone brought tears to more than one
pair of eyes fixed upon her as she spoke.
The ceremony and congratulations were soon over. Then the bride, on the
arm of her husband, led the way down the aisle, while the tones of the
Wedding March filled Grand Old Westminster to its furthest limits.
November days in London have not changed much in a century of years,
although perhaps the opacity of the air was more penetrating in 1813
than it is to-day; for when the bridal party passed through the Abbey
archway to the street, the mist of the early morning had developed into
a dense fog, rapidly closing over the city. Hence, the coachmen had to
pilot the way to almost invisible carriages, and then lead their horses
in a tramp of several miles over the return journey, through almost
deserted streets.
"My darling, mine at last," whispered the young man as he clasped his
bride in his arms under cover of the closed carriage and dense
atmosphere.
"Yes, Harold, yours forever," was the response; and with their first
long kiss they sealed their marriage vows.
"Too bad to need such a wedding-day as this!" he exclaimed, looking
fondly into her eyes, and then through the carriage window into the
opaque street.
"And yet how fortunate that it is so," she answered with a little
ripple of laughter.
"My sweet philosopher! Once in the Abbey, I never thought of it again."
"But I did. I looked all round and there was not a single visitor, only
our own party, the clergyman, the organist, and the little,
old-fashioned clerk."
"'Pon my word, Helen, I don't believe I saw anyone but you, from the
moment we went in until we came out again."
"You dear old boy! I suppose it was love that kept my eyes open to other
things. Do you know I was actually glad to see the mist to-day, much as
I dislike it."
"Yes, and after all it has been our friend. Everything seems to have
favored us. Even the fog helped to keep our secret."
"Where did you say you had the Banns published, Harold?" she asked,
leaning her head against his shoulder.
"At a little village ten miles out of London, a place I never heard of
before."
"All the better for us. But now that we are actually married you won't
need to keep the secret much longer, will you, dearest?" she asked,
casting a glance from her big brown eyes up to his face.
"Not a moment longer than I can help, darling. You know Sir George Head
is my new commanding officer; and I want him to hear the news first from
me."
"And what will he say?"
"As I told you before, Helen, he won't like it. There may be no written
law, but there's an unwritten one in the army, that no officer can marry
without his superior officer's consent, particularly if he has been off
duty as long as I have. Still, that terrible wound I got at Badajos is
in my favor; and he can't turn me off, whatever else he does."
"But he might make it very uncomfortable for you, Harold."
"Yes, and he can refuse to sanction your going with me to Canada."
"That's the worst part of it, dearest! How can a wife love, honor and
serve her husband, and keep him in sickness and in health, if she can't
live with him?" she exclaimed, while blushes danced playfully over the
dark beauty of her face.
"You are the dearest girl that ever lived," he cried, throwing his arms
around her and pressing her again to his heart. "I shall do my best with
the Colonel; and will see him as soon as I can. Perhaps I should have
spoken to him first; but if I had he would have forbidden our wedding,
and to have married after that would have been direct insubordination."
"Won't he think so as it is?"
"Perhaps. Still I am willing to run the risk; and I wanted to have you
as my wife, whether I could take you or not. I'm afraid I'm a selfish
fellow, Helen, and not by any means worthy of you."
"Why, Harold! What a way of speaking--just after our marriage, too!"
"Forgive me, dearest! I didn't mean anything, but that I love you so
much, that I almost tremble at the responsibility we have undertaken."
"Is that a brave front for a soldier?" exclaimed Helen, with flashing
eye.
"I would dare anything for myself, Helen; but it is of you I was
thinking. To leave you behind with no one but your uncle and aunt to
care for you when we sail, and perhaps not come back for years, seems
more than I can bear."
"If we have to we must, though," she exclaimed, cuddling closer. "Then I
will stay home and wait and watch and pray for the dearest one in all
the world to me; and think of Penetang. Isn't that the name of the
place? and long for the day that I can be with my husband again."
"What a noble girl you are!"
"I'm a soldier's daughter"; and she looked up proudly, although a tear
was in her eye.
"Yes, and your brave father was shot in the heart while leading his men
to victory."
"And come what will, his daughter shall never disgrace his name. Victory
will yet be ours!" she said courageously.
"God grant it," was his response.
For some moments both had solemn faces, while with gentle pressure they
held each other's hands.
"I am not without hope," Harold continued at last. "Sir George may be
angry at first, and I can't blame him for that. He'll raise a row, of
course--perhaps send me to Hades--but he may give in before the ship
sails. It will be jolly happy for us if he does."
While he was speaking a critical look came into Helen's face.
"Do you know," she exclaimed with sudden earnestness, "I really believe
I can help you!"
"My darling! How in the world can you? You do not even know Sir George
or one of the officers."
"That may be," she replied, holding his hand in both of hers. "But see,
the carriage is stopping. I cannot tell you now. Just leave it to me,"
and at once the expression upon her face inspired him with renewed
confidence.
Just then they arrived at a little villa on G----e street, and the
whole party alighted.