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correct citizen。 Stonewall he could understand and appreciate。 He
was six feet three； and had an eye of unpleasant penetration。 But
this new feeling in the community for respectability he could
neither understand nor endure。 The League became the object of his
indignant aversion； and the League men of his contempt。 He had
many sympathisers； and frequent were the assaults upon the newly…
born sobriety of Billy Breen and others of the League。 But
Geordie's watchful care and Mrs。 Mavor's steady influence； together
with the loyal co…operation of the League men； kept Billy safe so
far。 Nixon； too； was a marked man。 It may be that he carried
himself with unnecessary jauntiness toward Slavin and Idaho；
saluting the former with； 'Awful dry weather！ eh； Slavin？' and the
latter with； 'Hello； old sport！ how's times？' causing them to swear
deeply； and； as it turned out； to do more than swear。
But on the whole the anti…League men were in favour of a respectable
ball； and most of the League men determined to show their
appreciation of the concession of the committee to the principles of
the League in the important matter of refreshments by attending in
force。
Nixon would not go。 However jauntily he might talk； he could not
trust himself； as he said； where whisky was flowing； for it got
into his nose 'like a fish…hook into a salmon。' He was from
Nova Scotia。 For like reason； Vernon Winton； the young Oxford
fellow； would not go。 When they chaffed； his lips grew a little
thinner； and the colour deepened in his handsome face； but he went
on his way。 Geordie despised the 'hale hypothick' as a 'daft
ploy；' and the spending of five dollars upon a ticket he considered
a 'sinfu' waste o' guid siller'； and he warned Billy against
'coontenancin' ony sic redeeklus nonsense。'
But no one expected Billy to go； although the last two months he
had done wonders for his personal appearance； and for his position
in the social scale as well。 They all knew what a fight he was
making； and esteemed him accordingly。 How well I remember the
pleased pride in his face when he told me in the afternoon of the
committee's urgent request that he should join the orchestra with
his 'cello！ It was not simply that his 'cello was his joy and
pride； but he felt it to be a recognition of his return to
respectability。
I have often wondered how things combine at times to a man's
destruction。
Had Mr。 Craig not been away at the Landing that week； had Geordie
not been on the night…shift； had Mrs。 Mavor not been so occupied
with the care of her sick child； it may be Billy might have been
saved his fall。
The anticipation of the ball stirred Black Rock and the camps with
a thrill of expectant delight。 Nowadays； when I find myself forced
to leave my quiet smoke in my studio after dinner at the call of
some social engagement which I have failed to elude； I groan at my
hard lot； and I wonder as I look back and remember the pleasurable
anticipation with which I viewed the approaching ball。 But I do
not wonder now any more than I did then at the eager delight of the
men who for seven days in the week swung their picks up in the dark
breasts of the mines； or who chopped and sawed among the solitary
silences of the great forests。 Any break in the long and weary
monotony was welcome； what mattered the cost or consequence！ To
the rudest and least cultured of them the sameness of the life must
have been hard to bear； but what it was to men who had seen life in
its most cultured and attractive forms I fail to imagine。 From the
mine； black and foul； to the shack； bare； cheerless； and sometimes
hideously repulsive； life swung in heart…grinding monotony till the
longing for a 'big drink' or some other 'big break' became too
great to bear。
It was well on towards evening when Sandy's four horse team； with a
load of men from the woods； came swinging round the curves of the
mountain…road and down the street。 A gay crowd they were with
their bright； brown faces and hearty voices； and in ten minutes the
whole street seemed alive with lumbermenthey had a faculty of
spreading themselves so。 After night fell the miners came down
'done up slick；' for this was a great occasion； and they must be up
to it。 The manager appeared in evening dress； but this was voted
'too giddy' by the majority。
As Graeme and I passed up to the Black Rock Hotel； in the large
store…room of which the ball was to be held； we met old man Nelson
looking very grave。
'Going； Nelson； aren't you？' I said。
'Yes；' he answered slowly； 'I'll drop in； though I don't like the
look of things much。'
'What's the matter； Nelson？' asked Graeme cheerily。 'There's no
funeral on。'
'Perhaps not；' replied Nelson； 'but I wish Mr。 Craig were home。'
And then he added； 'There's Idaho and Slavin together； and you may
bet the devil isn't far off。'
But Graeme laughed at his suspicion； and we passed on。 The
orchestra was tuning up。 There were two violins； a concertina； and
the 'cello。 Billy Breen was lovingly fingering his instrument； now
and then indulging himself in a little snatch of some air that came
to him out of his happier past。 He looked perfectly delighted； and
as I paused to listen he gave me a proud glance out of his deep；
little； blue eyes； and went on playing softly to himself。
Presently Shaw came along。
'That's good； Billy；' he called out。 'You've got the trick yet； I
see。〃
But Billy only nodded and went on playing。
'Where's Nixon？' I asked。
'Gone to bed；' said Shaw； 'and I am glad of it。 He finds that the
safest place on pay…day afternoon。 The boys don't bother him
there。'
The dancing…room was lined on two sides with beer…barrels and
whisky…kegs； at one end the orchestra sat； at the other was a table
with refreshments； where the 'soft drinks' might be had。 Those who
wanted anything else might pass through a short passage into the
bar just behind。
This was evidently a superior kind of ball； for the men kept on
their coats； and went through the various figures with faces of
unnatural solemnity。 But the strain upon their feelings was quite
apparent； and it became a question how long it could be maintained。
As the trips through the passage…way became more frequent the
dancing grew in vigour and hilarity； until by the time supper was
announced the stiffness had sufficiently vanished to give no
further anxiety to the committee。
But the committee had other cause for concern； inasmuch as after
supper certain of the miners appeared with their coats off； and
proceeded to 'knock the knots out of the floor' in break…down
dances of extraordinary energy。 These； however； were beguiled into
the bar…room and 'filled up' for safety； for the committee were
determined that the respectability of the ball should be preserved
to the end。 Their reputation was at stake； not in Black Rock only；
but at the Landing as well； from which most of the ladies had come；
and to be shamed in the presence of the Landing people could not be
borne。 Their difficulties seemed to be increasing； for at this
point something seemed to go wrong with the orchestra。 The 'cello
appeared to be wandering aimlessly up and down the scale；
occasionally picking up the tune with animation； and then dropping
it。 As Billy saw me approaching； he drew himself up with great
solemnity； gravely winked at me； and said
'Shlipped a cog； Mishter Connor！ Mosh hunfortunate！ Beauchiful
hinstrument； but shlips a cog。 Mosh hunfortunate！'
And he wagged his little head sagely； playing all the while for
dear life； now second and now lead。
Poor Billy！ I pitied him； but I thought chiefly of the beautiful；
eager face that leaned towards him the night the League was made；
and of the bright voice that said； 'You'll sign with me； Billy？'
and it seemed to me a cruel deed to make him lose his grip of life
and hope； for this is what the pledge meant to him。
While I was trying to get Billy away to some safe place； I heard a
great shouting in the direction of the bar； followed by trampling
and scuffling of feet in the passage…way。 Suddenly a man burst
through； crying
'Let me go！ Stand back！ I know what I'm about！'
It was Nixon； dressed in his best； black clothes； blue shirt； red
tie； looking handsome enough； but half…drunk and wildly excited。
The highland Fling competition was on at the moment； and Angus
Campbell； Lachlan's brother； was representing the lumber camps in
the contest。 Nixon looked on approvingly for a few moments； then
with a quick movement he seized the little Highlander； swung him in
his powerful arms clean off the floor； and deposited him gently
upon a beer…barrel。 Then he stepped into the centre of the room；
bowed to the judges； and began a sailor's hornpipe。
The committee were perplexed； but after deliberation they decided
to humour the new competitor； especially as they knew that Nixon
with whisky in him was unpleasant to cross。
Lightly and gracefully he went through his steps； the men crowding
in from the bar to admire； for Nixon was famed for his hornpipe。
But when； after the hornpipe； he proceeded to execute a clog…dance；
garnished with acrobatic feats； the committee inte