The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-06-12
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But Mr.. Craig looked at him for {
moment and said. "'Him that cometl
unto me l will in nowise cast OUT :
and Geordie was silent. though he con
tinued doubtful.
With all these somewhat fantastic
features, however, there was no mis-
taking the earnest spirit Of the men
The meetings grew larger every night
and the interest became more intense
The singing became different. The mer
no longer simply shouted, but az Mr.
Craig would call attention to the senti
ment Of the hymn the voices would at
tune themselves to the words. Instead
OF encouraging anything like emotional
excitement Mr. Craig seemed to fear IL
"These chaps are easily stirred up
he would say, 'and am anxious that
they should know exactly what they
are doing. II is far too serious a bust.
ness to trifle with"
Although Graeme did not go down
stairs to the meetings, he could not but
feel the throb of the emotion beating
In the heart of the community. l used
TO detail for his benefit and sometimes
! for his amusement the incidents of
each night, but never felt quite easy
in dwelling upon the humorous fea-
lures In Mrs. Mavors presence, al
though Craig did not appear to mind.
His manner with Graeme was perfect.
| Openly anxious to win him to his side,
he did not improve the occasion and
rex him with eXhortation. He would
not take him at disadvantage.
though as | afterward found, this was
not his sole reason for his method
Mrs. Mavor, too, showed herself in n
wise and tender light She might have
been his sister. so frank was she and
so openly alfcctionate, laughing at his
irettulncSs and soothing his WEAKNESS.
Never were better comrades than we
four, and the bright days speeding SO
swiftly on drew us nearer to one an
other. But the bright days came to
an end, for Gracme, when once he was
able to 20 about, became anxious to
get back to the camp. And so the last
day came, n day | remember well. 1t
was bright, crisp winter day.
The air was shmmering In the frosty
hight. The mountains, with their shin
ing heads piercing through the light
clouds into that wonderful blue of the
western sky and their feet pushed into
the pine masses, gaZed down upon
Black Rock with calm, kindly looks on
their old gray faces. How one grows
TO love them, steadfast old friends,
Far up among the pines we could see
the smoke of the engine at the works,
and so still and so clear was the noun
tain air that we could hear the puff Of
the steam and from far down the river
the murmur Of the rapids, The males
tic silence, the tender beauty, the
peace, the loneliness. too, came steal
ing In upon us as we three, leaving
Mrs. Mavor behind us, marched arm
In arm down the street. We had not
gone far on our way when Graeme,
turning round, stood a moment looking
back, then waved his hand in farewell.
Mrs. Mavor was at her window, smil-
ing and waving In return. They had
grown TO be great friends, these two,
and seemed to have arrived at some
understanding. Certainly Graeme's
manner to her was not that he bore to
other women. His half quizzical, some.
what superior, air Of mocking devotion
gave place to a simple, earnest, almost
tender, respect, very new to him, but
very winning.
AS he stood there waving his fare
well glanced at his face and saw for
Il moment what | had not seen for
years, faint flush on Graeme's cheek
and light of simple, earnest faith in
his eyes. 1t reminded me of my first
look Of him when he had come up for
his nmtricuIation TO the varsity. He
stood on tn" campus looking up Mt the
noble old pile, and there was the same
bright. truStfuI, earnest look on his
boyiSh face.
| Know not what spirit possessed me
1T may have been the pain of the
memory working in me-but | said
coarSrly enough:
Its no use, Gracme, my boy. I
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, Connor, 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 Craigs
shack, and as we passed the saloon
Slavin stepped from the door with a
Graeme paused.
Hello. SIavin. got rather the
worst OF It, didn't II"
Siavin came near and said earnestly:
1T was dirty trick altogether.
You'll not think II was mine, Mr..
Gracme."
mo, no, Slavin. You stood I'D like a