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nonsense。'
In spite of my rage I was lost in amazed admiration of the high
spirit of the woman who stood up so straight before me。 But； as I
told how worn and broken he was； she listened with changing colour
and swelling bosom； her proud courage all gone； and only love；
anxious and pitying； in her eyes。
'Shall I go to him？' she asked with timid eagerness and deepening
colour。
'He is sleeping。 He said he would come to you；' I replied。
'I shall wait for him；' she said softly； and the tenderness in her
tone went straight to my heart； and it seemed to me a man might
suffer much to be loved with love such as this。
In the early afternoon Graeme came to her。 She met him with both
hands outstretched； saying in a low voice
'I am very happy。'
'Are you sure？' he asked anxiously。
'Oh； yes；' she said； but her voice was like a sob； 'quite； quite
sure。'
They talked long together till I saw that Craig must soon be
coming； and I called Graeme away。 He held her hands； looking
steadily into her eyes and said
'You are better even than I thought； I'm going to be a better man。'
Her eyes filled with tears； but her smile did not fade as she
answered
'Yes！ you will be a good man； and God will give you work to do。'
He bent his head over her hands and stepped back from her as from a
queen； but he spoke no word till we came to Craig's door。 Then he
said with humility that seemed strange in him； 'Connor； that is
great； to conquer oneself。 It is worth while。 I am going to try。'
I would not have missed his meeting with Craig。 Nelson was busy
with tea。 Craig was writing near the window。 He looked up as
Graeme came in； and nodded an easy good…evening； but Graeme strode
to him and； putting one hand on his shoulder； held out his other
for Craig to take。
After a moment's surprise； Craig rose to his feet； and； facing him
squarely； took the offered hand in both of his and held it fast
without a word。 Graeme was the first to speak； and his voice was
deep with emotion
'You are a great man； a good man。 I'd give something to have your
grit。'
Poor Craig stood looking at him； not daring to speak for some
moments； then he said quietly
'Not good nor great； but； thank God； not quite a traitor。'
'Good man！' went on Graeme； patting him on the shoulder。 'Good
man！ But it's tough。'
Craig sat down quickly； saying； 'Don't do that； old chap！'
I went up with Craig to Mrs。 Mavor's door。 She did not hear us
coming； but stood near the window gazing up at the mountains。 She
was dressed in some rich soft stuff； and wore at her breast a bunch
of wild…flowers。 I had never seen her so beautiful。 I did not
wonder that Craig paused with his foot upon the threshold to look
at her。 She turned and saw us。 With a glad cry； 'Oh！ my darling；
you have come to me；' she came with outstretched arms。 I turned
and fled； but the cry and the vision were long with me。
It was decided that night that Mrs。 Mavor should go the next week。
A miner and his wife were going east； and I too would join the
party。
The camp went into mourning at the news； but it was understood that
any display of grief before Mrs。 Mavor was bad form。 She was not
to be annoyed。
But when I suggested that she should leave quietly； and avoid the
pain of saying good…bye； she flatly refused
'I must say good…bye to every man。 They love me and I love them。'
It was decided； too； at first； that there should be nothing in the
way of a testimonial； but when Craig found out that the men were
coming to her with all sorts of extraordinary gifts； he agreed that
it would be better that they should unite in one gift。 So it was
agreed that I should buy a ring for her。 And were it not that the
contributions were strictly limited to one dollar； the purse that
Slavin handed her when Shaw read the address at the farewell supper
would have been many times filled with the gold that was pressed
upon the committee。 There were no speeches at the supper； except
one by myself in reply on Mrs。 Mavor's behalf。 She had given me
the words to say； and I was thoroughly prepared； else I should not
have got through。 I began in the usual way： 'Mr。 Chairman； ladies
and gentlemen； Mrs。 Mavor is' but I got no further； for at the
mention of her name the men stood on the chairs and yelled until
they could yell no more。 There were over two hundred and fifty of
them； and the effect was overpowering。 But I got through my
speech。 I remember it well。 It began
'Mrs。 Mavor is greatly touched by this mark of your love； and she
will wear your ring always with pride。' And it ended with
'She has one request to make； that you will be true to the League；
and that you stand close about the man who did most to make it。
She wishes me to say that however far away she may have to go； she
is leaving her heart in Black Rock； and she can think of no greater
joy than to come back to you again。'
Then they had 'The Sweet By and By；' but the men would not join in
the refrain； unwilling to lose a note of the glorious voice they
loved to hear。 Before the last verse she beckoned to me。 I went
to her standing by Craig's side as he played for her。 'Ask them to
sing；' she entreated； 'I cannot bear it。'
'Mrs。 Mavor wishes you to sing in the refrain；' I said； and at once
the men sat up and cleared their throats。 The singing was not
good； but at the first sound of the hoarse notes of the men Craig's
head went down over the organ； for he was thinking I suppose of the
days before them when they would long in vain for that thrilling
voice that soared high over their own hoarse tones。 And after the
voices died away he kept on playing till； half turning toward him；
she sang alone once more the refrain in a voice low and sweet and
tender； as if for him alone。 And so he took it； for he smiled up
at her his old smile full of courage and full of love。
Then for one whole hour she stood saying good…bye to those rough；
gentle…hearted men whose inspiration to goodness she had been for
five years。 It was very wonderful and very quiet。 It was
understood that there was to be no nonsense； and Abe had been heard
to declare that he would 'throw out any cotton…backed fool who
couldn't hold himself down；' and further； he had enjoined them to
remember that 'her arm wasn't a pump…handle。'
At last they were all gone； all but her guard of honourShaw；
Vernon Winton； Geordie； Nixon； Abe； Nelson； Craig； and myself。
This was the real farewell； for； though in the early light of the
next morning two hundred men stood silent about the stage； and then
as it moved out waved their hats and yelled madly； this was the
last touch they had of her hand。 Her place was up on the driver's
seat between Abe and Mr。 Craig； who held little Marjorie on his
knee。 The rest of the guard of honour were to follow with Graeme's
team。 It was Winton's fine sense that kept Graeme from following
them close。 'Let her go out alone；' he said； and so we held back
and watched her go。
She stood with her back towards Abe's plunging four…horse team； and
steadying herself with one hand on Abe's shoulder； gazed down upon
us。 Her head was bare； her lips parted in a smile； her eyes
glowing with their own deep light； and so； facing us； erect and
smiling； she drove away； waving us farewell till Abe swung his team
into the canyon road and we saw her no more。 A sigh shuddered
through the crowd； and； with a sob in his voice； Winton said： 'God
help us all。'
I close my eyes and see it all again。 The waving crowd of dark…
faced men； the plunging horses； and； high up beside the driver； the
swaying； smiling； waving figure； and about all the mountains；
framing the picture with their dark sides and white peaks tipped
with the gold of the rising sun。 It is a picture I love to look
upon； albeit it calls up another that I can never see but through
tears。
I look across a strip of ever…widening water； at a group of men
upon the wharf； standing with heads uncovered； every man a hero；
though not a man of them suspects it； least of all the man who
stands in front； strong； resolute； self…conquered。 And； gazing
long； I think I see him turn again to his place among the men of
the mountains； not forgetting； but every day remembering the great
love that came to him； and remembering； too； that love is not all。
It is then the tears come。
But for that picture two of us at least are better men to…day。
CHAPTER XIII
HOW NELSON CAME HOME
Through the long summer the mountains and the pines were with me。
And through the winter； too； busy as I was filling in my Black Rock
sketches for the railway people who would still persist in ordering
them by the dozen； the memory of that stirring life would come over
me； and once more I would be among the silent pines and the mighty
snow…peaked mountains。 And before me would appear the red…shirted
shantymen or dark…faced miners； great； free； bold fellows； driving
me almost mad with the desire to seize and fix those swiftly
changing groups of picturesque figures。 At such times I would drop
my sketch； and with eager brush seize a group； a face； a figure；
and that is how my studio comes to be filled with