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followed upon a very telling lesson on the parable of the Pharisee
and the Publican。
The chief actors in that wonderful story were transferred to the
Black Rock stage； and were presented in miner's costume。 Abe was
particularly well pleased with the scoring of the 'blanked old
rooster who crowed so blanked high；' and somewhat incensed at the
quiet remark interjected by Geordie； 'that it was nae credit till a
man tae be a sinner'； and when Geordie went on to urge the
importance of right conduct and respectability； Abe was led to pour
forth vials of contemptuous wrath upon the Pharisees and hypocrites
who thought themselves better than other people。 But Geordie was
quite unruffled； and lamented the ignorance of men who； brought up
in 'Epeescopawlyun or Methody' churches； could hardly be expected
to detect the Antinomian or Arminian heresies。
'Aunty Nomyun or Uncle Nomyun；' replied Abe； boiling hot； 'my
mother was a Methodist； and I'll back any blanked Methodist
against any blankety blank long…faced； lantern…jawed； skinflint
Presbyterian；' and this he was eager to maintain to any man's
satisfaction if he would step outside。
Geordie was quite unmoved； but hastened to assure Abe that he meant
no disrespect to his mother； who he had 'nae doot was a clever
enough buddie； tae judge by her son。' Abe was speedily appeased；
and offered to set up the drinks all round。 But Geordie； with
evident reluctance； had to decline； saying； 'Na； na； lad； I'm a
League man ye ken；' and I was sure that Geordie at that moment felt
that membership in the League had its drawbacks。
Nor was Geordie too sure of Craig's orthodoxy； while as to Mrs。
Mavor； whose slave he was； he was in the habit of lamenting her
doctrinal condition
'She's a fine wumman； nae doot； but； puir cratur； she's fair
carried awa wi' the errors o' thae Epeescopawlyuns。'
It fell to Geordie； therefore； as a sacred duty； in view of the
laxity of those who seemed to be the pillars of the Church； to be
all the more watchful and unyielding。 But he was delightfully
inconsistent when confronted with particulars。 In conversation
with him one night after one of the meetings； when he had been
specially hard upon the ignorant and godless； I innocently changed
the subject to Billy Breen； whom Geordie had taken to his shack
since the night of the League。 He was very proud of Billy's
success in the fight against whisky； the credit of which he divided
unevenly between Mrs。 Mavor and himself。
'He's fair daft aboot her；' he explained to me； 'an' I'll no' deny
but she's a great help； ay； a verra conseederable asseestance； but；
man； she doesna ken the whusky； an' the inside o' a man that's
wantin' it。 Ay； puir buddie； she diz her pairt； an' when ye're a
bit restless an thrawn aifter yer day's wark； it's like a walk in a
bonnie glen on a simmer eve； with the birds liltin' aboot； tae sit
in yon roomie and hear her sing； but when the night is on； an' ye
canna sleep； but wauken wi' an' awfu' thurst and wi' dreams o' cosy
firesides； and the bonnie sparklin' glosses； as it is wi' puir
Billy； ay； it's then ye need a man wi' a guid grup beside ye。'
'What do you do then； Geordie？' I asked。
'Oo ay； I juist gang for a bit walk wi' the lad； and then pits the
kettle on an' maks a cup o' tea or coffee； an' aff he gangs tae
sleep like a bairn。'
'Poor Billy；' I said pityingly； 'there's no hope for him in the
future； I fear。'
'Hoot awa； man；' said Geordie quickly。 'Ye wadna keep oot a puir
cratur frae creepin' in； that's daein' his best？'
'But； Geordie；' I remonstrated； 'he doesn't know anything of the
doctrines。 I don't believe he could give us 〃The Chief End of
Man。〃'
'An' wha's tae blame for that？' said Geordie； with fine
indignation。 'An' maybe you remember the prood Pharisee and the
puir wumman that cam' creepin' in ahint the Maister。'
The mingled tenderness and indignation in Geordie's face were
beautiful to see； so I meekly answered； 'Well； I hope Mr。 Craig
won't be too strict with the boys。'
Geordie shot a suspicious glance at me； but I kept my face like a
summer morn； and he replied cautiously
'Ay； he's no' that streect： but he maun exerceese discreemination。'
Geordie was none the less determined； however； that Billy should
'come forrit'； but as to the manager； who was a member of the
English Church； and some others who had been confirmed years ago；
and had forgotten much and denied more； he was extremely doubtful；
and expressed himself in very decided words to the minister
'Ye'll no' be askin' forrit thae Epeescopawlyun buddies。 They
juist ken naething ava。'
But Mr。 Craig looked at him for a moment and said； 〃Him that cometh
unto Me I will in no wise cast out；〃' and Geordie was silent；
though he continued doubtful。
With all these somewhat fantastic features； however； there was no
mistaking the earnest spirit of the men。 The meetings grew larger
every night； and the interest became more intense。 The singing
became different。 The men no longer simply shouted； but as Mr。
Craig would call attention to the sentiment of the hymn； the voices
would attune themselves to the words。 Instead of encouraging
anything like emotional excitement； Mr。 Craig seemed to fear it。
'These chaps are easily stirred up；' he would say； 'and I am
anxious that they should know exactly what they are doing。 It is
far too serious a business to trifle with。'
Although Graeme did not go downstairs to the meetings； he could not
but feel the throb of the emotion beating in the heart of the
community。 I used to detail for his benefit； and sometimes for his
amusement； the incidents of each night。 But I never felt quite
easy in dwelling upon the humorous features in Mrs。 Mavor's
presence； although Craig did not appear to mind。 His manner with
Graeme was perfect。 Openly anxious to win him to his side； he did
not improve the occasion and vex him with exhortation。 He would
not take him at a disadvantage； though； as I afterwards found； this
was not his sole reason for his method。 Mrs。 Mavor； too； showed
herself in wise and tender light。 She might have been his sister；
so frank was she and so openly affectionate； laughing at his
fretfulness and soothing his weariness。
Never were better comrades than we four； and the bright days
speeding so swiftly on drew us nearer to one another。
But the bright days came to an end； for Graeme； when once he was
able to go about； became anxious to get back to the camp。 And so
the last day came； a day I remember well。 It was a bright； crisp
winter day。
The air was shimmering in the frosty light。 The mountains； with
their shining heads piercing through light clouds into that
wonderful blue of the western sky； and their feet pushed into the
pine masses； gazed down upon Black Rock with calm； kindly looks on
their old grey faces。 How one grows to love them； steadfast old
friends！ Far up among the pines we could see the smoke of the
engine at the works； and so still and so clear was the mountain air
that we could hear the puff of the steam； and from far down the
river the murmur of the rapids。 The majestic silence； the tender
beauty； the peace； the loneliness； too； came stealing in upon us；
as we three； leaving Mrs。 Mavor behind us； marched arm…in…arm down
the street。 We had not gone far on our way； when Graeme； turning
round； stood a moment looking back； then waved his hand in
farewell。 Mrs。 Mavor was at her window； smiling and waving in
return。 They had grown to be great friends these two； and seemed
to have arrived at some understanding。 Certainly； Graeme's manner
to her was not that he bore to other women。 His half…quizzical；
somewhat superior air of mocking devotion gave place to a simple；
earnest； almost tender； respect； very new to him； but very winning。
As he stood there waving his farewell； I glanced at his face and
saw for a moment what I had not seen for years； a faint flush on
Graeme's cheek and a light of simple； earnest faith in his eyes。
It reminded me of my first look of him when he had come up for his
matriculation to the 'Varsity。 He stood on the campus looking up at
the noble old pile； and there was the same bright； trustful；
earnest look on his boyish face。
I know not what spirit possessed me； it may have been the pain of
the memory working in me； but I said； coarsely enough； 'It's no
use； Graeme； my boy； I would fall in love with her myself； but
there would be no chance even for me。'
The flush slowly darkened as he turned and said deliberately
'It's not like you； Connor； to be an ass of that peculiar kind。
Love！not exactly！ She won't fall in love unless' and he
stopped abruptly with his eyes upon Craig。
But Craig met him with unshrinking gaze； quietly remarking； 'Her
heart is under the pines'； and we moved on； each thinking his own
thoughts； and guessing at the thoughts of the others。
We were on our way to Craig's shack； and as we passed the saloon
Slavin stepped from the door with a salutation。 Graeme paused。
'Hello； Slavin！ I got rather the worst of it； didn't I？'
Slavin came near； and said earnestly； 'It was a dirty thrick
altogether； you'll not think it was moine； Mr。 Gra