St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-10-15


understanding. Certainly Graeme's
manner to her was not that he bore to
other women. His half quizzical, some
what superior, air of hooking devotion
gave place to simple, earnest, almost
tender, respect, very new to him, but
very winning.
| AS he stood there waving his fare
we'll l glanced at his face and saw for
a moment what | had not seen for
years, faint flush on Graemes cheek
and a light of simple, earnest faith in
his eyes. 1t reminded me of my first
look of him when he had come up for
his matriculatiOn to the varsity. He
stood on the campus looking up at the
noble old pile, and there was the same
bright trustful, earnest look on his
boyish face.
know not what spirit possessed me
it may have been the pain Of the
memory working in me-but l said
coarsely enough
cts no use, Graeme, my boy. l
would fall in love with her myself, but
there would be no chance even for
me-"
The flush slowly darkened as he
turned and said deliberately:
"Its not like you, Conner, to be an
ass of that peculiar kind. Love! Not
exactly! She won't fall in love un-
less And he stopped abruptly, with
his eyes upon Craig.
But Craig met him with unshrinking
gaze, quietly remarking, Her heart is
under the pines" And we moved on,
each thinking his own thoughts and
guessing at the thoughts of the others.
We were on our way to Craig's
shack, and as we passed the saloon
Slavin stepped from the door with a
salutation. Graeme paused.
Hello, Sayin! I got rather the
worst of it, didn't n"
Slavin came near and said earnestly:
ut was dirty trick altogether
You'll not think it was mine, Mr..
Graeme."
"No, no, Slavin. You stood up like a
man." said Graeme cheerfully.
"And you beat me fair, and, bedad, it
was neat one that laid me out, and
there's no grudge in my heart till you"
"All right Slavin, Well perhaps I'M
derstand each other better after this"
"And that's true for you, sir, and I'll
see that your boys don't get any more
than they ask for" replied Slavin,
backing away.
"And l hope that won't be much"
put in Mr.. Craig, but Slavin only grin
ned.
When we came back to Craig's
shack. Graeme was glad to rest in the
big chair.
Craig made him cup of tea, while I
smoked, admiring much the deft neat
ness of the minister's housekeeping
and the gentle, almost motherly, way
he had with Graeme.
In our talk we drfted into the future
and Craig let US see what were his am
billions. The railway was soon to come
The resources were as yet UNEMPLOYED
DuI CLOuSn was hlIOM ii W dSSuTt u
great future for British Columbia. AS
he talked his enthusiasm grew and car
ried us away. With the eye of gen.
eral he surveyed the country, fixed the
strategic points which the church must
seize upon. Eight good men would hold
the country from Fort Steele to the
coast and from Kootenai to Caribou.
'"The church must be in with the rail-
way, She must have a hand in the
shaping of the country. If society crys-
talliZes without her influence, the coun-
try is lost, and British Columbia will
be another trapdoor to the bottomless
pit"
what do you propose?' l asked.
"Organizing little congregation here
in Black Rock"
How many will you get?"
Don't know"
pretty hopeless business" I said.
"Hopeless Hopeless" he cried.
'There were only twelve of us at first
to follow him, and rather a poor lot
they were. But he braced them up, and
they conquered the world"
But surely things are different" said
Graeme.
Things? Yes, yes, but he is the
same"
His face had an exalted look, and his
eyes were gazing into faraway places
"a dozen men in Black Rock, with
some real grip of him, would make
things go. Well get them, too" he
went on in growing excitement. II be-
lieve in my soul We'll get them"
Look here, Craig. If you organize,
I'd like to join" said Graeme impul-
sively. 81 don't believe much in your
creed or your church, but I'll be blow
ed if | don't believe in you"
Craig looked at him with wistful
eyes and shook his head.
at won't do, old chap, you know. |
can't hold you. You've got to have q
grip of some one better than | am, and
then, BESIDES l hardly like asking you
now" He hesitated. 'Well, to be out
and out this step must be taken not
for my sake or for any mans sake, and |
| fancy that perhaps you feel like
pleasing me just now little"
THAT do, old fellow" said Graeme,
putting out his hand. ''I'll be hanged if |
won't do anything you say"
THAT'S why | won't say" replied
Craig. Then reverently he added: "The