Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-06-28

L1Sre, the CampbellS and, In many atti-
tudes and groups, old man Nelson;
Craig, too, and his miners, Shaw, Geor,
die, Nixon, poor old Billy and the keep
er of the league saloon.
1t seemed as if I lived among them,
and the illusion was greatly helped by
the vivid letters Graeme sent me from
time to time. Brief notes came now
and then from Craig, too, to whom
had sent faithful account of how
| had brought Mrs. Mavor to her ship
and of how l had watched her sail
away with none too brave a face as
she held up her hand that bore the
miners ring and smiled with that deep
light in her eyes. All, those eyes have
| driven me to despair and made me
fear that | am nc great painter after
| all, in spite of what my friends tell
| me who come in to smoke my good
cigars and praise my brush! 1 can get
| the brow and hair and mouth and
pose, but the eyes-the eyes elude me.
| And the faces of Mrs. Mavor on my
wall, that the men praise and rave
over, are not such as l could show to
any of the men from the mountains.
Graeme's letters tell me chiefly about
Craig and his doings and about old
man Nelson, while from Craig 1 hear
about Graeme and how he and Nelson
are standing at his back and doing
what they can to fill the gap that new
er can be filed. The three are much
together, | can see, and 1 am glad for
them all, but chiefly for Craig, whose
face, grief stricken, but resolute and
often gentle as a woman's, will not
leave me or let ne rest in peace.
The note Of thanks he sent me was
entirely characteristic. There were no
heroics, much less pining or self pity.
1t was simple and manly, not ignoring
the pain, but making much Of the joy.
And then they had their work to do.
That note, so clear, so manly, so nobly
sensible, stiffens my back yet at times.
In the spring came the startling news
that Black Rock would soon be no
more. The mines were to close down
on April l. The company, having al
lured the confding public with entic-
ing descriptions Of marvellous drifts,
veins, assays and prospects and having
expended vast sums Of the public'S
money in developing the mines till the
assurance Of their reliability was alb
s0lutely final, calmly shut down and
vanished. With their vanishing van
ishes Black Rock, not without loss and
much deep cursing on the part Of the
men brought some hundreds of miles
to aid the company in its eXtraOrdina-
~ and wholly ineXplicabIe game.
Personally it grieyed me to think
that my plan Of returning to Black
Rock could never be carried out. 1t
was a great compensation, however, |
that the three men most representative |
to me Of that life were soon to visit |
me actually in my own home and den.
Graemes letter said that in one month |
they might be expected to appear. At |
least he and Nelson were soon to come, |
and Craig would soon follow.
On receiving the great news | at once
looked up young Nelson and his sister,
and we proceeded to celebrate the JOY.
full prospect with specially good din.
picturing the JOY and pride of the old
man in his children, whom he had not
seen for fifteen or sixteen years. The
mother bad died some FIVE years be-
fore. Then the farm was sold, and the
brother and sister came into the city,
md any father might be proud Of them.
The son was a we'll made young fellow,
P,1I
ooking. The girl reminded me of her
'ather. The same resolution was seen
n mouth and jaw, and the same pas
;iOn slumbered in the dark gray eyes.
She was not beautiful, but she carried
herself well, and one would always
ook at her twice. 1t would be worth
something to see the meeting between
'ather and daughter.
But fate, the greatest artist of us all,
axes little count of the careful draw
ng and the bright cOlOring of our fan
Us PICTURES but with rude hand de-
anges all and with one swift sweep |
paints out the bright and paints in the
lark, and this trick he served me when
me June night, after long and anxious
Waiting for some word from the west,
ny door suddenly opened and Graeme
walked in upon me like a specter, gray
nd voiceless. My shout of welcome
vas choked back by the look in his
ace, and 1 could only gaze at him and
Wait for his word. He gripped my
land, tried to speak, but failed to make
words come.
"Sit down, old man." l said, pushing
i'm into my chair, land take your
ime" 1
He obeyed, looking up at me with
urning, sleepless eyes. My heart was [
ore for his misery, and l said: Don't
mind, old chap. 1t can't be so awfully
ad. You're here safe and sound at s
ny rate" And so l went on to give
i'm time, but he shuddered and looked
Ound and groaned- [
"Now, look here, Graeme, let's have
:. When did you land here? Where '
!; Nelson? Why didn't you bring him
pw
Gle is at the station in his coffin" l