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warms his heart with it in death。 And when a man smiles or sneers
at such love as this； I pity him； and say no word； for my speech
would be in an unknown tongue。 So my heart was sore as I sat
looking up at this woman who stood before me； overflowing with the
joy of her new love； and dully conscious of the coming pain。 But I
soon found it was vain to urge my opinion that she should remain
and share the work and life of the man she loved。 She only
answered
'You will help him all you can； for it will hurt him to have me
go。'
The quiver in her voice took out all the anger from my heart； and
before I knew I had pledged myself to do all I could to help him。
But when I came upon him that night； sitting in the light of his
fire； I saw he must be let alone。 Some battles we fight side by
side； with comrades cheering us and being cheered to victory； but
there are fights we may not share； and these are deadly fights
where lives are lost and won。 So I could only lay my hand upon his
shoulder without a word。 He looked up quickly； read my face； and
said； with a groan
'You know？'
'I could not help it。 But why groan？'
'She will think it right to go；' he said despairingly。
'Then you must think for her； you must bring some common…sense to
bear upon the question。'
'I cannot see clearly yet；' he said； 'the light will come。'
'May I show you how I see it？' I asked。
'Go on；' he said。
For an hour I talked； eloquently； even vehemently urging the reason
and right of my opinion。 She would be doing no more than every
woman does； no more than she did before； her mother…in…law had a
comfortable home； all that wealth could procure； good servants； and
friends； the estates could be managed without her personal
supervision； after a few years' work here they would go east for
little Majorie's education； why should two lives be broken？and so
I went on。
He listened carefully； even eagerly。
'You make a good case；' he said； with a slight smile。 'I will take
time。 Perhaps you are right。 The light will come。 Surely it will
come。 But；' and here he sprang up and stretched his arms to full
length above his head； 'I am not sorry； whatever comes I am not
sorry。 It is great to have her love； but greater to love her as I
do。 Thank God！ nothing can take that away。 I am willing； glad to
suffer for the joy of loving her。'
Next morning； before I was awake； he was gone； leaving a note for
me：
'MY DEAR CONNOR；I am due at the Landing。 When I see you again I
think my way will be clear。 Now all is dark。 At times I am a
coward； and often； as you sometimes kindly inform me； an ass； but I
hope I may never become a mule。
I am willing to be led； or want to be； at any rate。 I must do the
bestnot second bestfor her； for me。 The best only is God's
will。 What else would you have？ Be good to her these days； dear
old fellow。Yours； CRAIG。'
How often those words have braced me he will never know； but I am a
better man for them： 'The best only is God's will。 What else would
you have？' I resolved I would rage and fret no more； and that I
would worry Mrs。 Mavor with no more argument or expostulation； but；
as my friend had asked； 'Be good to her。'
CHAPTER XII
LOVE IS NOT ALL
Those days when we were waiting Craig's return we spent in the
woods or on the mountain sides； or down in the canyon beside the
stream that danced down to meet the Black Rock river； I talking and
sketching and reading； and she listening and dreaming； with often a
happy smile upon her face。 But there were moments when a cloud of
shuddering fear would sweep the smile away； and then I would talk
of Craig till the smile came back again。
But the woods and the mountains and the river were her best； her
wisest； friends during those days。 How sweet the ministry of the
woods to her！ The trees were in their new summer leaves； fresh and
full of life。 They swayed and rustled above us； flinging their
interlacing shadows upon us； and their swaying and their rustling
soothed and comforted like the voice and touch of a mother。 And
the mountains； too； in all the glory of their varying robes of
blues and purples； stood calmly； solemnly about us； uplifting our
souls into regions of rest。 The changing lights and shadows
flitted swiftly over their rugged fronts； but left them ever as
before in their steadfast majesty。 'God's in His heaven。' What
would you have？ And ever the little river sang its cheerful
courage； fearing not the great mountains that threatened to bar its
passage to the sea。 Mrs。 Mavor heard the song and her courage
rose。
'We too shall find our way；' she said； and I believed her。
But through these days I could not make her out； and I found myself
studying her as I might a new acquaintance。 Years had fallen from
her； she was a girl again； full of young warm life。 She was as
sweet as before； but there was a soft shyness over her； a half…
shamed； half…frank consciousness in her face； a glad light in her
eyes that made her all new to me。 Her perfect trust in Craig was
touching to see。
'He will tell me what to do；' she would say； till I began to
realise how impossible it would be for him to betray such trust；
and be anything but true to the best。
So much did I dread Craig's home…coming； that I sent for Graeme and
old man Nelson； who was more and more Graeme's trusted counsellor
and friend。 They were both highly excited by the story I had to
tell； for I thought it best to tell them all； but I was not a
little surprised and disgusted that they did not see the matter in
my light。 In vain I protested against the madness of allowing
anything to send these two from each other。 Graeme summed up the
discussion in his own emphatic way； but with an earnestness in his
words not usual with him。
'Craig will know better than any of us what is right to do； and he
will do that； and no man can turn him from it； and；' he added； 'I
should be sorry to try。'
Then my wrath rose； and I cried
'It's a tremendous shame！ They love each other。 You are talking
sentimental humbug and nonsense！'
'He must do the right；' said Nelson in his deep； quiet voice。
'Right！ Nonsense！ By what right does he send from him the woman
he loves？'
'〃He pleased not Himself；〃' quoted Nelson reverently。
'Nelson is right；' said Graeme。 'I should not like to see him
weaken。'
'Look here；' I stormed； 'I didn't bring you men to back him up in
his nonsense。 I thought you could keep your heads level。'
'Now； Connor；' said Graeme； 'don't rageleave that for the
heathen； it's bad form； and useless besides。 Craig will walk his
way where his light falls； and by all that's holy； I should hate to
see him fail； for if he weakens like the rest of us my North Star
will have dropped from my sky。'
'Nice selfish spirit；' I muttered。
'Entirely so。 I'm not a saint； but I feel like steering by one
when I see him。'
When after a week had gone； Craig rode up one early morning to his
shack door； his face told me that he had fought his fight and had
not been beaten。 He had ridden all night and was ready to drop
with weariness。
'Connor； old boy；' he said； putting out his hand； 'I'm rather
played。 There was a bad row at the Landing。 I have just closed
poor Colley's eyes。 It was awful。 I must get sleep。 Look after
Dandy； will you； like a good chap？'
'Oh； Dandy be hanged；！' I said； for I knew it was not the fight；
nor the watching； nor the long ride that had shaken his iron nerve
and given him that face。 'Go in and lie down I'll bring you
something。'
'Wake me in the afternoon；' he said； 'she is waiting。 Perhaps you
will go to her'his lips quivered'my nerve is rather gone。'
Then with a very wan smile he added； 'I am giving you a lot of
trouble。'
'You go to thunder！' I burst out； for my throat was hot and sore
with grief for him。
'I think I'd rather go to sleep；' he replied； still smiling。 I
could not speak； and was glad of the chance of being alone with
Dandy。
When I came in I found him sitting with his head in his arms upon
the table fast asleep。 I made him tea； forced him to take a warm
bath； and sent him to bed； while I went to Mrs。 Mavor。 I went with
a fearful heart； but that was because I had forgotten the kind of
woman she was。
She was standing in the light of the window waiting for me。 Her
face was pale but steady； there was a proud light in her fathomless
eyes； a slight smile parted her lips； and she carried her head like
a queen。
'Come in；' she said。 'You need not fear to tell me。 I saw him
ride home。 He has not failed； thank God！ I am proud of him； I
knew he would be true。 He loves me'she drew in her breath
sharply； and a faint colour tinged her cheek'but he knows love is
not allah； love is not all！ Oh！ I am glad and proud！'
'Glad！' I gasped； amazed。
'You would not have him prove faithless！' she said with proud
defiance。
'Oh； it is high sentimental nonsense；' I could not help saying。
'You should not say so；' she replied； and her voice rang clear。
'Honour； faith； and duty are sentiments； but they are not
nonsense。'
In spite of my rage I was lost in amazed admiration of the high
spirit of t