The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-11-12

amazed admiration Of the high spirit
Of the woman who stood up so straight
before me, but as l told how worn
and broken he was she listened with
changing color and swelling bosom,
her proud courage all gone and only
love. anxious and pitying, in her eyes.
Shall l 90 to him?" she asked, with
timid cagerness and deepening color.
HE is sleeping. He said he would
come to YOU" replied.
81 shall wait for him." she said soft
ly, and the tenderness in her tone went
straight to my heart, and it seemed to
ne q man might suffer much to be
loved with love such rs this.
In the early afternoon Graeme came
to her. She met him with both hands
outstretched, saying in low voice:
81 am very happy
Are you sure?" be asked anxiously.
"Oh, yes" she said, but her voice
was like a sob, "Quite, quite sure!'
They talked long together till saw
that Craig must soon be coming, and
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 better man."
Her eyes filed with tears, but her
smile did not fade as she answered.
"Yes, you will be good man, and
God will give you work to do"
He bent his head over her hands and
stepped back from her as from q
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 ara go
ing to try"
would not have missed his meeting
with Craig. Nelson was busy with tea.
Craig was writing near the window.
He locked up as Graeme came in and
nodded an easy good evening, but
Graeme strobe to him and, putting one
hand on his shoulder, held out his 9TH
er for Craig to take.
After moments surprise Craig rose
to his feet and, facing him squarely,
took the offered hand III both Of his
and held it fast without word.
Graeme was the first to speak, and his
voice was deep with emotion.
'You are q great man, good man.
I'd give something to have your grit"
Poor Craig stood looking at him, not
daring to speak for some moments.
Then be said quietly:
mot good or great, but, thank God.
not quite traitor"
Good man, went on Graeme, pat
ting him on the shoulder. "Good man!
But it's tough"
Craig sat down quickly, saying.
Don't 90 that, old chap!'
I went up with Craig to Mrs. Ma
vor's door. She did not hear US COM
ins, but stood near the window gazing
up at the mountains. She was dressed
in some rich soft stuff and wore at her
breast q bunch of wild flowers. 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 mer' she came with ou5Stretched
arms. I turned and fed, but the cry
and the vision were long With me.
1t was decided that night that Mrs.
Mavor should go the next week. A
miner and his wife were going east,
and l, too, would join the party.
The camp went into mougling at the
news, but it was understood that any
display CT grief before Mrs. Mavor
was bad form. She was not to be an
noyed.
But when l suggested that she should
leave quietly and avoid the pain Of say
ing goodby she fatty refused.
81 must say goodby 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
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 q ring for
her. And were it not that the contribu-
tions were strictly limited to 81 the
purse that Slavin handed her when
Shaw read the address at the farewell
supper would have been many times
filed 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 was thoroughly prepared, else
should not have got through. / began
in the usual way:
"Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentle
men, Mrs. Mavor is'-
But got no further, for at the men
ton of her name the men stood on the
chairs and yelled until they could yell
no more. There were over 250 Of them,
and the effect was overpowering. But
1 got through my speech. remember
it we'll. 1t 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 90, 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 note Of the
glorious voice they loved to hear. Be-
fore 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. Il
cannot bear it."
''Alrs. Mavor wishes you to sing IN