Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-12


i-sZs.O 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 / tlatter myself that my letters to
friends who were of Importance in that
congregation were not without innu-
ence, for l was of the mind that the
man who could handle Black Rock
miners as he could was ready for some
thing larger than n mountain mission.
That he would refuse l had not i'm
agined 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. | was putting the last touches
to some Of my work in the room at the
back OF Mrs. MAYORS house when he
came in. She read the letters and the
call quietly and waited for him to
speak.
We'll" he said, Should go?"
She started and grew little pale.
His question suggested q 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? | saw the fear in her face. but
I saw more than fear in her eyes as
for moment or two she let them rest
upon Craig's face. l read her story,
and / was not sorry for either OF them.
But she was too much woman to
show her heart easily TO the man she
loved, and her voice was even and
calm as she answered his question.
rs this a very large congregation"
zone Of the finest in all the east"
put in for him. 1T will be a great
thing for Craig"
Craig was studying her curously. I
think she noticed his eyes upon her, for
she went on even more quietly:
ut will be a great chance for work,
and YOU are able for larger sphere,
You know, than poor Black Rock af-
fordH"
who will take Black Rock z" he ask
ed.
Let some other fellow have a try at
it," l said. why should you waste
your talents here:'
WASTE" cried Mrs. Mavor indlg-
nantly.
well, bury if you like it better" 1
replied.
1T would not take much Of grave
for that funeral said Craig, smiling.
oh" said Mrs. Mavor. YOU will be
great man, | know, and perhaps you
ought to so now"
But he answered coolly: There are
fifty men wanting that eastern charge,
and there is only one wanting Black
Rock, and | don't think Black Rock
is anxious for Il change, so | have de-
tcrmined to stay where l am yet
awhile"
Even my deep disgust and dsappoint.
mcnt did not prevent me from sueug
the sudden leap Of JOY in Mrs. MAYORS
eyes, but she, with great effort, an
svered 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? 1t annoyed me consd-
eraby to feel he was right. Why is it
that the right things are so frequently
unpleasant:
And il 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 We're roo truly western to
ina Ginc that any inducements the east
could offer could compensate for his
loss of the west. II was only fitting
that the west should have the best,
and so the miners took almost as mat
ter 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 il.
Mrs MAYORS call was not so easily
Of 1t came close upon the
other and stirred Black Rock as moth
ing else had ever stirred it before.
| found her one afternoon gazing va
cantly at some legal documents spread
out before her on the table and evil
IDENTIFY overcome By their contents.
There was first a lawyers letter in
forming her that by the death Of her
husbands 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
superintendent OF the es-
tates. A letter, too, from a distant
cousin of her husband urged her immc-
date 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 axe.
With these two came another letter
from her mOther-in-law herself. The
trembling characters were
even more eloquent than the words
with which the letter closed:
IL have lost my boy, and now my
husband is gone, and | am lonely wo-
man. l have many servants and some
friends, but none near TO me, none SO
near and dear as my dead sons wife.
H..