Hillsboro independent., October 10, 1902, Image 4

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Br RALPH CONNOR
( CoiiHiiukI from Fiittt l'iitf
draw on a grizzled veteruo t tell bow
twenty year ago, he hud crossed tue
' Great Divide and had aeen ami done
what no longer fell to uien to see or
do tu these uew day. And no she won
the old timer.: But It was beautiful to
W9 the Innocent gull with which she
caught Itllly Hreen and drew him to
her corner uear the organ. What she
wni saying I knew not, hut poor Itllly
w protesting, waving bis bljf hands.
Tbe meeting came to order, with
6 haw lu the chair and the haudsouie
young Oxford man secretary. Shaw
tntcd the object of the meeting In
few halting words, but when he came
'.to (iwtik of the pleasure be and all
felt lu being together In that room hi
words flowed In a stream, warm aud
full. Then there was n pause, and M
Craig was culled, but he knew better
than to speak at that point. Finally
Nixon rose hesitatingly, bnt as ho
.caught a bright smile from Mrs. Ma
vor be straightened himself as If for
tight
"I ain't no (rood at mnkin' speeches,
be Began, "bnt It alu t speeches w
want. We'vo got souictliln' to do, and
what we want to know Is how to do It.
And. to be right plain, we want to
know bow to drive this cursed whisky
out of Black Rock. You all know what
It's dolu' for us. at least for some of us.
and it's time to stop It now, or fur
some of us It'll mighty soon be too
late, fcnd the only way to stop Its work
Is to quit drlnkiu' It and help others to
quit.. I bear some talk of a league, and
what I say Is if It's a league out and
out against whisky, a total abstinence
right to the ground, then I'm with It.
That's my talk. I move we make that
kind of a league."
Nixou sat down amid cheers and
chorus of remarks: "Good nmnT
'That's the talk!" "Stay with it!" But
he waited for the smile and the glance
that came to him from the beautiful
face in the corner, and with that he
seemed content.
Again there was silence. Then the
secretary rose, with a slight flush upon
bis handsome, delicate face, and sec
onded the motion. If they would par
dou a personal reference, be would
give thein bis reason. He had come
to this country tu make bis fortune.
Now he was anxious to make enough
to enable bim to go home with some
degree of honor. His borne held every.
thing that was dear to bim. Between
bim and that home, between bim and
all that war good aud beautiful and
honorable, stood whisky. "I'm asham
ed to confess," and the Hush deepened
on his check anil his lips grew thin
ner, "that I feel the need of some such
league." Ills handsome face, bis per
fect style of address, learned possibly
In tho L'uloti, but. more than ail, his
show of nerve, for these men knew
bow to value that, made a strong I in
presslou on his audience, but there
were no following cheers.
Mr. Craig appeared boieful, but on
Mrs. Ma vol's face there was a look of
wistful, tender pity, for she knew bow
much the words hud cost the lad.
Then tip rose a sturdy, hard featured
man, with n bur In bis voice that pro
claimed bis birth. His name was
George Crawford, t afterward learned,
but every ouo called him Geordie. He
was a character In his way, fond of
bis glass; but, though he was never
known to refuse a drink, he was never
known to be drunk. He took bis drink,
for the moHt pint, with bread and
cheeso lu his own shack or with
friend or two In a sober, respectable
way, but never could be Induced to
join tbe wild carousal In HlaVln's sa
loon. Ho made the highest wages, but
was far too true a Scot to spend bis
money recklessly. Every one waited
eagerly to bear Geordle's mind. He
spoke solemnly, as Itcfltted a Scotsman
expressing a deliberate opinion, and
carefully, as If choosing his best Eng
lish, for when Gcordio became excit
ed no one lu Black Itock could under
stand bim.
"Mulster Chairmen." said Geordie,
"I'm aye for temperance In a' things.'
X here was a shout of laughter, at
which Geordie gazed round in pained
surprise. "I'll no deny," be went ou
In an explanatory tone, "that I tak ma
niornln''an' maybe a nip at noon an' a
wee drnp sifter walk tu the evenln'
an' whiles a sip o" toddy wl' a freen
tbe could nlchts, bnt I'm no' a gmv
rler, on' I dlnnn gang In wl' tbe loons
fliiigln' nboot guM money."
"And that's tliruo for ye, me bye," In
tenuptcd a rich Irish brogue, to the
deiight of the crowd and tbe amaxe
ment of Geordie, who went calmly on:
"An' I canna bide yon saloon wbaur
they sell sic awfu'-like stuff It's mulr
like lye nor guld whisky an whimr
ye re never sure o' yer rlcht change.
It's an, nwfu'-llke place. .Man," and
Geordie began to warm Hp, "ye can
julst smell the sulphur when ye gang
In. But I dlnnn care a boot the tem
perance sococltics, wl' their pledges an'
haver, an', I . canna sre what hulrm
can come till man by takin' a bottle
o' guld Glenllvct bame wl" him. 1 can
un bide the teetotal buddies."
Geordle's speech was followed, by
lend applause, partly appreciative ot
Geordie himself, but largely sympa
- Ihetlc with Ma position. .
Two or three men followed In the
same strain, advocating a league for
mutual Improvement and social pur
poses, but without the teetotal pledge.
Tbey were against tbe saloon, but did
not see why they should not take a
drink now nod then.
Finally the manager rose to support
Us "friend, Mlstah-ah-Cwafoad," rid
iculing tbe Idea of a total abstinence
pledge as fanatical and Indeed "ab
nad." He was opposed to tbe saloon
and would like to see a club formed,
With a comfortable clubroom, books,
ma ga lines, pictures, games, anything,
'donteberknow, to mskejhe time pass
pleasantly," but it was "abauad to ask
men to abstain fwaa a pwopah use of
aw nou wishing dwiuks" because
some men made beasts of themselves,
lie concluded by offering u0 toward
the support of such a club.
The current of feeling was setting
strongly against the total abstinence
Idea, and Craig's face wis bard, and
bis eye gleamed like coals. Then be
did a bit of generalship. He proposed
that since they bad the two plana
clearly before them tbey should take
a few minutes' Intermission in which
to make up their minds, and be was
sure tbey would be glad to have Mrs.
Mavorslng. In the interval the men
talked lu groups, eagerly, eveu fiercely,
hampered seriously In tbe forceful ex
pression of tbeir opinions by the pres
ence of Mrs. Ma vor, who glided from
group to group, dropping a word here
and a smile there. 8hc reminded me of
a general riding along the ranks, brac
ing bis men for tbe coming battle. She
paused beside Geordie, spoke enroestly
for a few moments, while Geordie
gated solemnly at ber, aud tbeu abe
came back to Billy lu tbe corner near
me. What she was saying I could not
heur, but poor Billy was protesting,
spreading bis bands out aimlessly be
fore bim, but gaxlug at ber tbe while
In dumb admiration. Then she came to
me.
Toor Billy I ne was good to my
husband," she said softly, "and be hai
a good heart"
"He's not much to look at," I couk)
not help saying.
"Tbe oyster bides Its pearl," abe an
swered, a little reproachfully.
"Tbe shell la apparent enongh," I re
plied, for tbe mischief was In me.
. "Ah, yes," she replied softly, "but It
Is the pearl we lvve.'
I moved over beside Billy, whose
eyes were following Mrs. Mavor as she
wet it to speak to Mr. Craig.
"Well," I said,. "you all seem to have
a high opinion of her.
"An 'igb bopinlonr be replied In
deep scorn, "An Igh hoplnlon, you
calls It!"
"What would you call It?" I asked,
wishing to draw bim out." .
"tH don't call it nothluk," he replied.
spreading out his rough bands.
- "She seems very nice," I said indif
ferently. t ,
He drew his eyes away from Mrs:
Mavor and gave attention to me fo
Ihe first tlrao.
"Nice!" be repeated, with flue con
tempt, and then he added Impressive
ly, "Them as don't know shouldn't ay
nothJnk."
You are right," I answered earnest
ly, "and I am quite of your opinion." .
Ho gave me a quick gin nee out of bis
little, deepset, dark blue eyes aud open
ed bla heart to me. He told me in bis
quaint speech how again and again
she bad taken bim in and nursed htm
and encouraged bim and sent him out
With a new heart. for bis buttle until,
for very shame's sake at bis own mis
erable weakness, he hud kept out of
her way for many months, going stead
ily down. ' .. ., i
Now, Ol hain't got no grip, but when
she suys to me tonight, says she, Ob,
Billy" she calls me Hilly to myself
(this with a touch of pride) " 'oh.
Billy,' says she, 'we must 'ave a total
habstlnenee league tonight, and Ol
want yon to'elpl'and she keep's a-look-
ln' at me with those beyes o' hern till,
if you believe me, sir," lowering bis
voice to an emphatic whisper, "though
Ol knowed Ol couldn't 'clp none, afore
Ol knowod Ol promised 'er Ol would.
It's 'er beyes. When them heyos says
'do,' hup you steps and 'does.' "
I remember my first look into her
eyes, aud I could quite understand
Billy's submission. Just as she begun
to sing I wcut over to Geordie and took
my scut liesldo hi i n. Nlio begun with
an English similiter song, "Sleep, Un
by, Sleep," one of Barry Cornwall's, I
think, and then sang a love song with
the refrain, "Love once aguln," but no
thrills came to me, nnd I begun to won
der if her sell over me was broken.
Geordie, who had been listening solno-
whnt Indifferently, encouraged me,
however, by saying: "She's just pittln'
ii (T timo with the feckless sungs. Man,
there's iuc grup till them." But when,
after a few minutes' pause, she begun
My Aln Fireside" Geordie gave a
sigh of sat Isf net Ion, "Aye, Hint's some-
thin' like," and when she finished the
first verse he gnve me a dig In the rllii
with his elbow that took my brenth
awny, suylng In a wh1scr. "Mun. hear
till yon, wnll ye?" And again 1 found
the smII upon me. It -was not the
voice, after-nil. hut the great soul be--biud,
that thrilled and Compelled. She
was seeing, feeling, living, what she
sang, and her voice showed us her
heart. The coxy fireside, witli Its bon
ny, blithe blink, where no care could
abide, but only hiico and love, was
vividly rcscnt to ber, and as she sang
we saw It too. Wbeu she came to the
Inst verse:
"W"hn I ilrsw In my stool
On my cosy hmrthstHiie.
My tirart lours sa llcht
1 scares ken' l for my aln,"
there was a feeling of teurs in the flow-
ng song, and we knew the words had
ro:iht her a plctnre cf t'.fc fireside
that would always seem empty. 1 felt
he tears in my eyes, and, wondering
at myself, I cast a stealthy glance at
the men altnnt me. and I saw that Ihey,
oo. were looking through their hearts'
windows upon fl realties and ingle nooki
that gleamed from fur.
And the.il sho sung "Tho Auid Hoose,"
and Geordie. glUng me another poke,
said. "That's my Bin sang." and when
ask eil hi in what he meant he whis
pered fiercely. "Whersht. mon!" nnd I
did. for h's face looked dangerous. I
In a pause between the verses I heard
Geordie saying to himself. "Aye. I mann
gle It up. I (loot."
"What?" I ventured.
"N'nethin' nvn." And then ho added
mpntleinly. "Mon. but ye're an in-
qiioesltlve huddle." after which I antv
Ided Into silence.
nimeillutcly upon 0 c meeting being
called to order Mr. Craig made his
speech, and It was a flno bit of work. I
Beginning with a clear statement of
he oMeet In view,
he set 111 eontrsat'
the two klmls of leagues prnsrl -one
league of men who would take whls-
ky in moderation, the btber a league of, f
men who were pledged to drink none!
honorable way others from drinking.'
There wa no long argument, but be
spoke at white bent, and a be appeal-!
ed to tbe 'men to think, each not of
himself alone, but of tbe others as welt,'
tbe yearulng tsn of bis b-ng months ?
of desire and toll vllat.-d lu bis voice
nd reached to tbe heart. Manv mea
,
loukt'd mii-uiuf.irtable mid uncertain,
and even ilie iiuiimga-r looked none too
i f i.l. ' ' '
"Af lliis critical nioiiiml the crowd g"t
a slHM-k. Jiillr Brum KliulHi-d out to
i he from and. in tolr-e slinking with
iicruiiMiicu aud dilution, began to
spnik. his large, coarse bauds wander
ing tremulously alsnl:
OI luilti'i no lilo-Hiiln temperance
horuior. nnd mayhap M hain't no right
to speak Vre: but ol got sowetbln to
aalgh. utid ttl'iu a-goin' touilgb it.
"Parson, "e says. ! It wlsky or no
wlsky In this Vre clubf If ye bask
me. with y don't, then no wlsky, says
id. and If ye busk why. look at me!
Once Ot could mine more coal tban
hany man In tbe camp; now Ol hain't
tit to be a sorter. Oiks Ol 'ad some
rrlde' and tuiuihitlou: now Ol 'anga
riund a-wsltiu' for someone to salgh,
"Ere, Billy, 'ove summat.' Once Ol
made good palgb attd sent It 'out reg
ular to my poor old mother. She's In
Ihe wukus now, she is. Ot baiu't sent
'er hany for a yeur and a 'a If. Ouce
Billy was u good fellow and 'ad plenty
o' friends; now Sluvln 'Isrn-lf kicks un
bout, .'e docs. Why? Why?" HI
vob-e rose to a shriek. "Because when
Billy 'ad money tu 'is ocket bevery
mun lu this hloomlu camp as meets
un at bevery corner says, ' 'Ella, Hilly,
wat'll ye 'nvef And there's wlsky t
flavin',' and there's wlsky In tbe
shucks, and liever 'olldiiy and bevery
holiday there's wisky, uud w'eu ye.
feci bad It's wlsky, aud w'en ye feel
good it's wisky, and heverywhere and
uulwaya It's wlsky, wlsky, wlsky I And
now ye're goln' to atop It, and Wt
Tho manager, 'e suys plctcrs and luug
rtx'ues. 'E takes 'Is wine nnd 'Is beer
like a geiitleuiun, 'e dis s, and 'e don't
'ave no use for Billy Breeu. Billy,
Vs a beast, and the manager, 'e kicks
uir hout. But supiiosln' Billy wants
to stop beln' a beust and starts a trylt1
to be a man aguln, and w'eu 'e get
good an' dry along cornea some u
aud says, ,'i;ilo, Billy, 'ave a amlle?" it
hain't picters nor magazines 'ud stop
un th1i. I'ietcr and magazines!
Gawd 'clp the man as hain't npthiuk
but picters nnd uingiixlnes to 'clp un
w'en 'e's got a devil hlnsldc and a dev
il boutttldo a-wliovln' nnd a drawln' of
un down to VII. ' And that's w'ere Ol'm
a-goln' straight, and yer - blooinin
league, wlsky or uo wlsky, can't 'elp
me. But." and he lifted Ills trembling
bauds above bis head, "If ye stop the
wlsky a-flowiti' round this camp ye'll
stop some o' these tails that's follow.
In' me 'urd. Yes, you,-aud .you, and
you!" And bis voice rose to a wild
scream us he shook a trembling finger
at one and another.
"Mon. It's fair grewsome tae hear
him," sold Geordie.- "He's no' canny."
And. reaching out for Billy at be went
stumbling i ust. ha pulled him down to
a scat beside him. sayln: "Hit doou,
lad: ait disin. We ll nink a mon o ye
yet." Then he rose and. using many
r's. said, "M sister Cbnlrmou, a' doot
we'll julst hue to gle It up,"
"Give It up " culled out N'lxon. "Give
up the league?" ' !
"Na, nn, lad, but julst tbe wee drap
whusky. it's uue that guld onyway,
ami It's a terrible price. Mon, gin ye
gang tae !It-ndcrsoii'a In Buchanan
street. In Gleska, ye ken, ye'll get malr
for three an' saxpence than ye wull at
Simla's for f5, an' it'll no' pit ye mad
like yon stuff, but It gangs doon smooth
an' saft-like. But," regretfully, "ye'll
no' can get It here, an' I'm tblnkin' I'll
julst sign yon teetotal thing." ' And up
he strode to the table and put bis name
down In the book Craig had ready.
Then to Billy he said! "Come iwi, lad
Pit yer name doon, an' we'll atan' by
ye." " : -
Poor Billy looked around helplessly,
bis nerve all gone, and aat still. There
was a awlft rustle of garments, and
Mrs. Mavor was beside bim and. In
voice that only Billy and I could hear.
mi Id:
"You'll sign with me, Rlfly?"
Billy gazed at her with a hopeless
look In his eyes and shook bis little
head. She leaned slightly toward him,
smiling brightly, and, touching hi arm
gently, said:
"Come. Billy; there's jio fear," and in
a lower voice, "God will help you."
As Billy went up, following Mrs. Ma
vor close, a hush fell on tbe men until
he- had put his name to the pledge.
1 hen tbey came np, man hf man, and
signed. But Craig sat with bis head
down till I touched his shoulder. He
took my hand nnd held It fast, sayiug
over aud over, under his breath: "
"Thank God! Thank Cod!"
And so the league was made.
CHAPTER VI. .
BLACK KOCK REMOIO.
HEX f grow weary with the
conventions of religion and
sick In my soul from feeding
UHn husks that the churches
too often offer me In the shae of elab
orate service and eloquent discourses,
so that In my sickness I doubt and
doubt, then I go back to the commun
ion In Block Bock and the days pre
ceding It, .and the fever and tbe weari
ness leave me, and I grow humble and
strong. The simplicity and rugged
grandeur or the faith, the humble grat
itude of the rough men I see about the
table and the calm radiance of ouJ
saintly face rest aud recall me.
Not Its most enthusiastic apologist
would call Black Itock a religious com
munity, bjt It possessed in a marked
degree that eminent Christian virtue
of tolerance. All creeds, all shades of
religious opinion, were allowed, and It
was generally conceded that one was
as good as another. It Is fair to say,
however, that Black Rock's catholicity
was negativo rather than positive. The
only religion objectionable was that In
sisted upon as a necessity. ' It never
occurred to any one to consider reli
gion other than as a respectable ttntit
ornament! addition to. life In older
lands.
During the weeks following the mak
ing of tbe league, however, this nega
tive attitude towanl things religious
rnve Mace to one of krnn lnrpM.rfliUn I
.. .1 1. 1 .i r-- - . . 1
-""1"'"'- i iiKiinereuce passed
i away, ami with It in a Urge measure '
,h ,,'-n- r. Crslu was resion-
" , ... .WT 01 XDenc CI,'nK'.
"nr"'f a ""'" n " Held
nTpiii.i.c iur nie inner. . II any on
""oiner ws to D blaaied
w "7 r 01 ""oierance in tbe vll-
v.l'' Jcordi Crawforil
"! "i1hJ- f.ron tb
i"hfd K,rk ot when Mr.
' imention or bar-
,B l'" ru,"'"t ot the Lord- supper
V,u,e laoea hi line
and banded them In.. At no. oth.ee nua'
w
m
fa the' village wksetulpe4 with like
spiritual credentials. Geordie constitut
ea himself a kind of kirk session.
charged wltU the double duty of guard
ing the entrance to the LonTa table
ud of keeping aa eye apoa the taw
logical opinloA of tbe community a ad
more particularly npoa such members
or It aa gave evidence of possessing
any opinions definite enough for state
ment.
It cam to bo Mr. Craig habit to
drop Into the leaguerooin and toward
tbe close of the evenfbg to have i short
Scripture lesson from the - gospels.
Geordie' opportunity came after tbe
.meeting was over and Mr. Craig bad
gone away. The wen would hang
about and talk Uo lesson over, ex
pressing opinion favorable or unfa
vorable, a appeared tu them good,
Then it waa that all sorts of view, re
ligion and otherwise, were aired and
examined. Tbe originality ot the Ideas,
the absolute disregard of tbe authority
or church or creei, tbe frankness with
which opinions were stated aud the
forcefuluesa of the language In which
I hey were expressed combined to make
Ihe dlscusuioua altogether marvelous.
Tbe passage lietween Abe Maker, the
stage driver, aud Geordie was partlcu
Kiriy ricu. u followed upon a very
telling lesson on the parable of tbe
Pharisee and tbe publican.
Tbe chief actors In thai wonderful
story were transfcuid to the Black
Rock stage and were presented In- min
er costume. Abe was iwirtlcularlv
well pleased with the scoring of the
"blanked old rooster who crowed so
blanked high" and somewhat Incensed
at tbe quiet remark Interjected by
Geordie that "It was nse credit till
mon tae I a sinner," and wbeu Geor
die went on to urge the Importance of
right conduct and respectability Abe
was led to jmur forth vials of con-
teinptHons wrath Usm the Pharisees
and hypocrites who thought themselves
better tuaJi other Jieople. But Geordlel
was quite unruflled nnd lamented the
igiioiiince of men who. brought up In the
"EH-es-o aw lyiiii or Methody" church,
could hardly be expected to detect the
Antinouilau or Arniinlun heresies.
,, "Aunty N'omyun or f tide N'omrun.'
replied Abe, boiling hot, "my mother
was a Methodist, and I'll back any
blanked Methodist against any blank
ety blank long fuccd, lantern jawed,
skinflint .Presbyterian!" Aud this be
wus eager to muliitnlii to any than'
satisfaction if be would step aside.
Geordie was quite unmoved, but has
tened to assure A lie that be meant no
disrespect to hi mother, who, be had
"nae doot, waa a clever enough bod
die, tae judge by her son." Abe wa
spec. lily appeased and offered to set
up tbe drinks all round, but Geordie,
with evident reluctance, had to de
cline, saying, "Na, na, lad; I'm a league
man, ye keu." And I waa sure that
Geordie at.tliat moment felt that mem
bership in the league bad It draw
back. '
Nor waa Geordie too sure of Craig
orthodoxy, while, a to Mrs. Mavor,
whose slave be was, be wa In the
habit of lamenting ber doctrinal con
dition: . ;
"She' a One wuminan, uue doot;
but, pulr cratur. abe' fair carried
wa' wi' tbe errors o' the' Epeesco-
pawlyun."
It fell to Geordie, therefore, a a sa
cred duty, in view of the laxity of
those who seemed to be the pillars of
the church, to bo all tbe more watch
ful and unyielding, but be wa delight
fully Inconsistent when confronted
with particular. In conversation wltb
him oue night after one of the meet
Ing. when be had been specially hard J
upon the Ignorant and godless, I Innc
ceutly changed tbe subject to Billy
Breeu. whom Geordie had taken to hi
shack since the night of the league.
Ho was very proud of Billy's success
In tbe fight against whisky, the credit
of which be divided evenly, betwseo
Mrs. Mbvor and himself.
"He's fair daft about her,"- be ex
plained to me, "an' Ml no deny but
he a great help aye, a verra con
eederable asaeeetance but, mon, ah
doesna ken tbe wbusky an' the Inside
o' amon that's wantln' It. Ave. mill
huddle, she dig ber palrt, an' when
ye re a bit restless an' thrawn alftet
yer day's wark It' Ilk a walk In a
bonny glen on a simmer eve, with the
birds liltln' About, tae alt In yon roomlc
an' bear ber slug. But when tbe clghl
I on an' ye canna sleep, but wauken
wl' an' awfu' tuurst an' wl' dream o'
cozy firesides an' the bonny sparklia'
glosses, as It I wl' pulr Billy-ay. It'
then ye iieed a mon wi' a guld grip be
side ye. . I
What do you do then, OeordieV I
asked.' ... I
1 o, aye, I Julst gang for a bit walk
wr tbe lad an tbea pita the kettle on
an makes a cup o tea or coffee, an'
aff ho gangs tae sleep like a bairn."
Toor Billy r I said pltylugly. "There
I no hope for bliu lu tbe future. I
fear." ' . - .-
Moot aw a, mon!" said Ueordic
quickly. "Ye wadna keep oot a pull
crater fine creepln' In that's dueln' bif
best "
But, Geordie.' I remonstrated, "be
doesn't know anything of the doctrines
I don't le lie ve be could give us the
chief end of hiait"'
An' wlia s tae blame for that?" said
Geordie. wltb flue Indignation. k "An'
maybe you remember tbe prood Fbarl
ee an' the- pulr wuiumaa that cam'
creepin' lu abiul the Maister."
The mingled tenderness and Indlgna
tlon In Geordie' face were beautiful tc
sec. so I meekly answered: "
"Well, I boiie Mr. Craig Won't be tou
strict with the boy."
Geordie shot a suspicious glance af
nic, but I kept my face like a siiuiniet
niorn, and be replied cautiously:
Aye, he's no' that, atrecet, hut h
mann exercecse diacreeinlnatloa."
Geordie wa none th less determin
ed, however, that Billy should "come
forrlt," bnt as to the manager, who
wa a member of the English church.
nd some other who had been con
firmed year ago ami bad forgotten
much and denied more, he wss ex-
treitiplw 1.ililfnl mnA ilniM1 ktnS
"7 --'""" - " "
,M'lf '" TPr' "W "l "'
later:
"Ve'll no be asklo' forrlt the Epee
Copawlyun buddies. Taey julst ken
nacthlu' ava."
But Mr. Craig tonked at him for
moment ami said, "Him that eomet
nnto me I will in nowise cast ont.'"
and Geordie wa client, though he con
tinued dnnlitful.
With all these eonvewbst fantastic
features, however, there wa no mis
taking the earnest spirit of th men.
Th5 !P'''IC grew birger every nlgbt.
it
XVtfietabae Preparaiionfor As
similating the Food andBeguIa
bng tte Sboacbs anlBuwels of
Promotes Dige9tion.Cherful-neasandRest-Contains
neither
Uptunt.Murptuiitf norliuerat
Not Nahc otic.
p-i,,i Vfsas '
5Sa5jIritBT(WBB
Aperfrcl Remedy forCortsUpjt-j
Hun, Sour Stomach. DiarrhoeaJ
worms Aonvuisions .reverisr
ness andLoas or Sleep.
facsimile Signature of
" NEW YORK.
exact copy or wrapper.
PAPIK AND WASHINGTON, PORTIAND, OREGON -,
. The school where thorough work ii done; where the reason la
always given; where-confidence is developed; where bookkeeping
is taught exactly as books arc kept in business; where shorthand is
made easy ; where penmanship is- at its best; where hundreds of
bookkeepers and stenographers 'have been educated for success in
life; where thousands more will be.
."".'A. P. ARMSTRONG,
and tbe Interest became uiorelnteiise.
Tbe si Dicing became different. Tho men
no longer simply shouted, but a Mr.
Craig would call attention to tbe senti
ment of tbe hymn tbe voices would' at
tuue themselves to tbe word. Instead
of encouraging anything like emotional
excitement Mr. Craig teemed to fear it.
"These chap are easily atlrred up,"
be would say, "and I aw anxious that
tbey should know exactly what tbey
r il. ilnir ' I f ! fnw 4.ia ha.lAu. l.nul.
fces to trifle with "'
. AltuoUKh arapme ,fld not go down
stairs to tbe meetings, be could not but
feel tbe throb of tbe emotion beating
In the heart of tbe community. I used
to detail for hi benefit and sometimes
for hi amusement tbe Incidents of
each night, but I never felt quite easy
In dwelling upon the humorous fea
tures In Mrs. Mavor' presence, al
though fraig did not appear to mind.
Ill manner wltb Qraeme was perfect.
Openly anxious to win him to bis side,
he did. not Improve tbe occasion and
vex him with exhortation. Me would
not tak ' him at a disadvantage,
though, a I afterward found, this wa
not hi sole reason for bis method.
Mr. Mavor, too, showed herself In a
wise and tender light. She might have
been hi sister, so frank wa she and
so openly affectionate, laughing at hi
fretfulness end soothing his weariness.
- Never were better comrades tban we
four, and tbe bright day speeding so
wlftiy on drew u nearer to' oue an
other. But the bright day came to
an end, for Graeme, when once be waa
able to go about; became anxlou to
get back to tbe camp. And so tbe last
day came,- a day I remember well. It
wa a bright, crisp winter day.
The air waa sblibiuerlug in tbe frosty
light. The mountains, wltb tbeir shin
ing heads piercing through tbe light
clouds Into that wonderful blue of the
western sky aud their feet pushed Into
tbe pine masses, gaxed down uton
Black Rock with calm, kindly looks on
their old gray face. How one grows
to love them, steadfast old friends!
Far up among the pine we could see
the smoke of the engine at the works,
and so still and so clear was the moun
tain air that we could hear tbe puff of
the steam and from far down the river
the murmur of the rapids. Tbe majes
tic silence, tbe tender beauty, tbe
lieace, the loneliness, too, came steal
ing In iihmi us s we three, leaving!
Mrs. Minor" behind us, marched arm
In arm down the street. We bad not
gone far on our way when Graeme,
turning ron ml, stood a moment looking
back, then waved bis band In farewell.
Mrs. Mavor wa at ber window, smil
ing and waving In return. Tbey bad
grown to lie great friends, these. two,
and seemed to have arrived at some
understanding. Certainly Graeme's
inn niter to tier wss not that he bore to
other women. Ills half tiulxr.lcal, some
what superior, air of moi-klng devotion
gave place to a simple, earnest, almost
tender, reiect, very new to him, but
very winning.
A he stood there waving his fare
well I glanced at bis fa and saw for
a moment what I had not seen fir
years, a faint flush on Oraeine'a cheek
and a light of simple, esrnest faith in
bis eyes. It reminded me of my first
look of bim when he bad come np for
his matriculation to the varsity. He
stood on the campus looking np at the
noble old pile, and there was tbe kaM
lirlght, trustful, earnest look on bis
boyish face.
- 1 kaow not what spirit possessed me
It may have been the pain of tbe
memory working In me but I said
in
For Infants and Children.
The Kind You Have
Always Bought
Bears
Signati
In
Use
For Over
Thirty Years
MIA
THK CIMTA BtMMNT. KCW TOMH CITY.
Open all the year. Catalogue fir,
L.L. B., PRINCIPAL
B. P. CORNELIUS, '
Auctioneer, Hillabom Ore yon
I offer my wrvlfi's to cilii'im ot
'Ilia county In Ml ifimhIx, ini'ictmiuli-c
ami clmtte's at public vi-miiic.
I will hticni) all xalcn at limes nnd
lull's npicillid ' iiptin recMvinf re
(.'rucM to tin si. C'lirrKM reiinlilt.
Coarsely enon ii:
"It's nn use, Gr a me. r-y I i.y. I
would fall in l-.ivi' with ber 1.1..M !i. but
there would lie u cliamv even fur
me."
The fliiKh slowly 'darkened lis be
turned and said ili lilierati-ly:
"It's not like yen. Connor, tu be on
ass of that, peculiar kind. I.i.vc! Xot
exactly! Slip wni'l full In l.ive un
less" And be a topped abruptly, with
bis eyes uiion CruUr. ,
Hut Craig met bim with iinxlirinking
Jfaxe, quietly reii'i! rl: inj.-. "II, r heart i
1 under the pines." And v.c ni:vcd on.
each thinking bis own thoughts and
guessing at the tl.ouiliia of the others.
We were 011 our way to Craig's
aback, and ns we parsed the saloon
-Sluvln stepped from the door with a
salutatlou. Graeme paused.
"Heilm Plsviii! I pot rather the
worst of it, didn't I V"
SiHvin came nerr mid rnlJ cannitly:
"It was a dirty trick altogether.
You'll 11 lit think It was mine. Mr.
Graeme."
"No, 110. Plnvin. You atom! tip like a
man." said Graeme chi-i i-fnlly.
"And yon beat me fair, 11 ml. Iiedad, It
wa a neat one that In til me wit. nnd
lliere's no grudge In my heart till you."
"All right. Sluvln. We'll pei-hapa mi
ileratuud each .other better lif ter till."
"And that's true for yon, sir. nnd I'll
see that your boys don't get any more
than they ask for," replied Kl.-ivln,
bucking nwny.
"And I hope that won't be much,"
put In Mr. Craig, but Flavin only grin
ned. When we camo bnck to Craig's
shack,. Graeme was ghid to rest In tlie
big chair.
Craig made hitn n cup of tea. while I
smoked, aduilrlnt; much the deft neat
ness of the minister's housekeeping
nd the gentle, nlinnst motherly, way
be hud with Graeme.
- In our talk we drifted Into the future,
and Craig let us see what wero Ids am
bitious. The railway was soon to come.
The resource were as yet unexplored,
but enough wo known to assure a
great future for .Brit lnh Columbia. Ai
he talked hi entlniftlasit) grew and car
ried ns away. Wllh the eye of a gen
eral be surveyed the ciun(r.v, fixed the
trategic (mints which the church iiiimt
eize upon. I:i-lit gsn men would bold
tlie country from Kort Steele to the
cosst and front Kootenai to Curilion.
i of AW
Mir
"The church miu,t be 111 with the rail-(,,f ,r , """""
ay. She must have a. hand in tlifl 1 ,,",,"',, " " '"" J'i'BM Jrotn a
way,
shaping of the cuuiitry. if siM-lety crys
tallizes without her Iii1iii-;i.-c, the coun
try is lost, and Iiritlsli Columbia will
le another trapdoor to the bottomlesi
pit."
"What do you propose?" I asked.
"Organizing a little congregation here
in Black Bock."
"How many will you get?"
"Iton't know."
INTERESTING
FACTn-
When H'ftplo arts riiiiU-tupluling a trir
. )-tl, r mi lniMm-.x luuMiie, tbt-y
unlili'.illy m h lit li.e id.t ervlto oh
i. ui.jI.U- mi inr as -erl, iiiitort ami
sjilriv i-i i-ntirt-riK-il.' r'ir.lovca i
tin Ui-A-oiu-in Ci-nital I. inn mo psi.l
t.i h i le thp ( ul.lu-mill our luiiin r
"pclAUsI Stl iiA 1.1 lll.lke -t4 -.HIIIUi'-
lion witli divereing lines t all jun.-t-i"li
poihti,
I'nllinaii 1'iilai-c lecpiiic and Omit Cars
on t liftman trains.
I ttti t at Oar MMvii-e nnexii'lieil. Men'
scrveil a In t'artiC
In order l ol'tjin tlii fir-t tlas cervi4
ask the lickei sircnt to m-ll uti
ticket over
THE WISCONSIN "cfNTkAL LINES.
Iirert cojinections at I'Mmn tni Mil,
nuke? (or all KimiiM-H puinl. . , ' .
Kr full infnriiiatinn call uirju'ir inniwi
ticket at-t ut, or wile ...
Jas. V. I'iimi, or J. A. ( i.ik ,
icn. rue. Act., tirllrrni AxPIlt,
, Miltrsiikre.VViH. Klii Mark
White Collar Line.
PORTLAND-ASTORIA Route.
Str. "BAILEY GATZERT"
Daily l.'onihl Trips ticiy t Suinlny
TIME CARD
U-ave I'ortlaiiil.
I:ive A-lii i.i . .
..is. m.
..7 p. m.
THE DAI.I.HS TOUT
LAND ROUTE
STR "TAHOMA"
AX1
"METLAKO"
Ketnerii I'ortlnnit, 1 luv Dulles and
IVay I'oints.
Dally Trips i:xrprt Suinlay.
TIME CARD
Mr. I'uliems"
I.V. rorlliiml Moll. Will. Kri.7 .
I.v. Dalles Tues..Tlinr. Hat
m.
in.
Sir. "Ilonila"
I.v. Poitlaii.1 Toes. Tlinr. Sat. ..
I.v. Dalloa Mini. N e.l. l'ri
in.
in.
3f This r.ouie lias tin' (iranili-st
Kceuiis Attractions ou Kiirlli.
MEALS THE VERY BEST
1 jiii ding ami Olllo: Kin it Alder Htreet.
Iiiilli I'li.ine, Mailt S."il
roKT'.AXD, ORKGON.
J. W. CKI ri'll I OX, aBt The Dulles
4.. I, Tt VMM', agt Astoria.
' J. V, W YAVT, nj.it Vancouver,
UOI IOItllA: M Vl ltS, iigta n Lite
Salmon.
A ft. 1 1 I.I Kit ngU IliKhl
.' Kiver.
UI. Ill' I I.KK,
joiin .ii, ion o.v.
l'.iilli-r.
WumIi.
Mevenxon,
WsmIi.
IIKXKY Dl MS KID, Carson, Wanh
K. W. t Hit II I O.V, ngt I'orlland
"Pretty hiipi-lesa business," I said.
"Hopeless! Hopeless! be cried.
"There were only twelve of us nt first
to follow I1I111, and rather a poor lot
they were. Ittit be braced them up, and
they conquered the world."
"lint surely things lire different," said
Graeme.
"Things? Yes, yes, but he Is the
same."
iiis face had u exalted look, and bis
eyes were ga.iiiK4uto faraway places.
"A dozen men In I'.iuck Hock, with
winie real grip of hlui, would make
.things j.-o. We'll get them, too," he
went 011 (ngrou ing excitement. "I be
lieve in my soul we'll get them."
"Look here, Craig. If you organize.
I'd like to Join," said Graeme Impul
sively. "I don't believe itim-b in your
creed or your church, but I'll lie blow
cd if I don't believe lu you."
Craig looked at I1I111 with wistful
eyes and shook his head.
"It won't do, old clinii. you know. I
can't liiild yim. You've got to have a.
' grip of some one better tlinn I am. and
then, bcslilfg. I hurdly like Hiking you
now." He hesitated. "Well, to be out
and out. tliU step must be taken not
for my sake or for any man's sake, and
I fancy that pci-liaM you feel like
plcusing me Just mnvn little."
"That I do. old fellow," said Graeme,
putting out his hand. "I'll be hanged If
I won't do anything you sny."
"That's why J won't say." replied
Crntg. Then reverently be added; "The
organization Is not mine. It Is my Mus
ter's." "When nre you gnlng to beoln?"
asked Graeme.
"We shall have our communion serv-
In two weeks, nnd that will lie our
toll call."
"How many will answer?" I asked
doubt fully.
VJknow of three," he said quietly.
to na coNTtftuxa
Shot la III tejr.
Kor si kind 1 iif eorps, burn,
bruises (,r other wnttmls, HeU'jll's
Wilch Ilsr.i-1 Halvi la 9 sure cure.
Skin f list h--s jlel, to i( t onPB
Never fails in inwl i,f piles, (fil
ing and lii'iiliinf. Mono ceniilno but
1).. ill's.
l!.. ..... ,.t .. ,.
jsire inii.Hki l-y h g"Uii sbitt wouiel in
my left by," an) A. H. Fuller, V.ng.
li-b, Iml. J'H .m.M tiol heal and
r-hvp rii much trouble. J use,! all
kinds of remeiliei In no purposo mi
till I Iricil I)m Wilt's Witch IJawf
flv. A few Is-ixe 11.111pl.lely
cured inc." I. Its dm., store.