按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The evening of the reopening of Slavin's saloon； as it was still
called； was long remembered in Black Rock。 It was the occasion of
the first appearance of 'The League Minstrel and Dramatic Troupe；'
in what was described as a 'hair…lifting tragedy with appropriate
musical selections。' Then there was a grand supper and speeches
and great enthusiasm； which reached its climax when Nixon rose to
propose the toast of the evening'Our Saloon。' His speech was
simply a quiet； manly account of his long struggle with the deadly
enemy。 When he came to speak of his recent defeat he said
'And while I am blaming no one but myself； I am glad to…night that
this saloon is on our side； for my own sake and for the sake of
those who have been waiting long to see me。 But before I sit down
I want to say that while I live I shall not forget that I owe my
life to the man that took me that night to his own shack and put me
in his own bed； and met me next morning with an open hand； for I
tell you I had sworn to God that that morning would be my last。'
Geordie's speech was characteristic。 After a brief reference to
the 'mysteerious ways o' Providence；' which he acknowledged he
might sometimes fail to understand； he went on to express his
unqualified approval of the new saloon。
'It's a cosy place； an' there's nae sulphur aboot。 Besides a'
that；' he went on enthusiastically； 'it'll be a terrible savin'。
I've juist been coontin'。'
'You bet！' ejaculated a voice with great emphasis。
'I've juist been coontin'；' went on Geordie； ignoring the remark
and the laugh which followed； 'an' it's an awfu'…like money ye pit
ower wi' the whusky。 Ye see ye canna dae wi' ane bit glass； ye
maun hae twa or three at the verra least； for it's no verra forrit
ye get wi' ane glass。 But wi' yon coffee ye juist get a saxpence…
worth an' ye want nae mair。'
There was another shout of laughter； which puzzled Geordie much。
'I dinna see the jowk； but I've slippit ower in whusky mair nor a
hunner dollars。'
Then he paused； looking hard before him； and twisting his face into
extraordinary shapes till the men looked at him in wonder。
'I'm rale glad o' this saloon； but it's ower late for the lad that
canna be helpit the noo。 He'll not be needin' help o' oors； I
doot； but there are ithers'and he stopped abruptly and sat down；
with no applause following。
But when Slavin； our saloon…keeper； rose to reply； the men jumped
up on the seats and yelled till they could yell no more。 Slavin
stood； evidently in trouble with himself； and finally broke out
'It's spacheless I am entirely。 What's come to me I know not； nor
how it's come。 But I'll do my best for yez。' And then the yelling
broke out again。
I did not yell myself。 I was too busy watching the varying lights
in Mrs。 Mavor's eyes as she looked from Craig to the yelling men on
the benches and tables； and then to Slavin； and I found myself
wondering if she knew what it was that came to Slavin。
CHAPTER XI
THE TWO CALLS
With the call to Mr。 Craig I fancy I had something to do myself。
The call came from a young congregation in an eastern city； and was
based partly upon his college record and more upon the advice of
those among the authorities who knew his work in the mountains。
But I flatter myself that my letters to friends who were of
importance in that congregation were not without influence； for I
was of the mind that the man who could handle Black Rock miners as
he could was ready for something larger than a mountain mission。
That he would refuse I had not imagined； though I ought to have
known him better。 He was but little troubled over it。 He went
with the call and the letters urging his acceptance to Mrs。 Mavor。
I was putting the last touches to some of my work in the room at
the back of Mrs。 Mavor's house when he came in。 She read the
letters and the call quietly； and waited for him to speak。
〃Well？' he said； 'should I go？'
She started； and grew a little pale。 His question suggested a
possibility that had not occurred to her。 That he could leave his
work in Black Rock she had hitherto never imagined； but there was
other work； and he was fit for good work anywhere。 Why should he
not go？ I saw the fear in her face； but I saw more than fear in
her eyes； as for a moment or two she let them rest upon Craig's
face。 I read her story； and I was not sorry for either of them。
But she was too much a woman to show her heart easily to the man
she loved； and her voice was even and calm as she answered his
question。
'Is this a very large congregation？'
'One of the finest in all the East；' I put in for him。 'It will be
a great thing for Craig。'
Craig was studying her curiously。 I think she noticed his eyes
upon her； for she went on even more quietly
'It will be a great chance for work； and you are able for a larger
sphere； you know； than poor Black Rock affords。'
'Who will take Black Rock？' he asked。
'Let some other fellow have a try at it；' I said。 'Why should you
waste your talents here？'
'Waste？' cried Mrs。 Mavor indignantly。
'Well； 〃bury；〃 if you like it better；' I replied。
'It would not take much of a grave for that funeral；' said Craig；
smiling。
'Oh；' said Mrs。 Mavor； 'you will be a great man I know； and perhaps
you ought to go now。'
But he answered coolly： 'There are fifty men wanting that Eastern
charge； and there is only one wanting Black Rock； and I don't think
Black Rock is anxious for a change； so I have determined to stay
where I am yet a while。'
Even my deep disgust and disappointment did not prevent me from
seeing the sudden leap of joy in Mrs。 Mavor's eyes； but she； with a
great effort； answered quietly
'Black Rock will be very glad； and some of us very； very glad。'
Nothing could change his mind。 There was no one he knew who could
take his place just now； and why should he quit his work？ It
annoyed me considerably to feel he was right。 Why is it that the
right things are so frequently unpleasant？
And if I had had any doubt about the matter next Sabbath evening
would have removed it。 For the men came about him after the
service and let him feel in their own way how much they approved
his decision； though the self…sacrifice involved did not appeal to
them。 They were too truly Western to imagine that any inducements
the East could offer could compensate for his loss of the West。 It
was only fitting that the West should have the best； and so the
miners took almost as a matter of course； and certainly as their
right； that the best man they knew should stay with them。 But
there were those who knew how much of what most men consider worth
while he had given up； and they loved him no less for it。
Mrs。 Mavor's call was not so easily disposed of。 It came close
upon the other； and stirred Black Rock as nothing else had ever
stirred it before。
I found her one afternoon gazing vacantly at some legal documents
spread out before her on the table； and evidently overcome by their
contents。 There was first a lawyer's letter informing her that by
the death of her husband's father she had come into the whole of
the Mavor estates； and all the wealth pertaining thereto。 The
letter asked for instructions； and urged an immediate return with a
view to a personal superintendence of the estates。 A letter； too；
from a distant cousin of her husband urged her immediate return for
many reasons； but chiefly on account of the old mother who had been
left alone with none nearer of kin than himself to care for her and
cheer her old age。
With these two came another letter from her mother…in…law herself。
The crabbed； trembling characters were even more eloquent than the
words with which the letter closed。
'I have lost my boy； and now my husband is gone； and I am a lonely
woman。 I have many servants； and some friends； but none near to
me； none so near and dear as my dead son's wife。 My days are not
to be many。 Come to me； my daughter； I want you and Lewis's
child。'
'Must I go？' she asked with white lips。
'Do you know her well？' I asked。
'I only saw her once or twice；' she answered； 'but she has been
very good to me。'
'She can hardly need you。 She has friends。 And surely you are
needed here。'
She looked at me eagerly。
'Do you think so？' she said。
'Ask any man in the campShaw； Nixon； young Winton； Geordie。 Ask
Craig；' I replied。
'Yes； he will tell me；' she said。
Even as she spoke Craig came up the steps。 I passed into my studio
and went on with my work； for my days at Black Rock were getting
few； and many sketches remained to be filled in。
Through my open door I saw Mrs。 Mavor lay her letters before Mr。
Craig； saying； 'I have a call too。' They thought not of me。
He went through the papers； carefully laid them down without a word
while she waited anxiously； almost impatiently； for him to speak。
'Well？' she asked； using his own words to her； 'should I go？'
'I do not know；' he replied； 'that is for you to decideyou know
all the circumstances。'
'The letters tell all。' Her tone carried a feeling of
disappointment。 He did not appear to care。
'The estates are large？' he asked。
'Yes； large eno