Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-06-16
put in Mr.. Craig, but Slavin only grin.

ness of the minister's housekeeping |
and the gentle. almost motherly. way
he had with Graeme
In our talk we drifted into the future,
and Craig let US see what were his am
billions. The railway was soon to come |
The resources were as yet unexplored, |
but enough was known to assure
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.
1.-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
pitt
what do you proposeY' 1 asked.
"Organizing a little congregation here
in Black Rock
"How many will you get?"
Don't know
pretty hopeless business" said.
Hopeless! Hopelessv' he cried.
''There were only twelve of us at first
to follow him, and rather 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. witt
some real grip of him, would MAKE
things 60 Well get them, too,' hs
went on in growing excitement. Il be
lieve in my soul Wen get them"
Look here, Craig. If you organize
I'd like to join" said Graeme impul
sively. II don't believe much in yom
creed or your church. but III be blow
ed if l don't believe in you"
Craig looked at him with wistful
eyes and shook his head.
ut won't do, old chap, you know. l
can't hold YOU You've got to have
grip of some one better than am, ans
then, besides, | hardly like asking yoz
now" He hesitated. "Well. to be oc1.
and out, this step must be taken No.
for my sake or for any mans sake, aoc
1 fancy that perhaps you feel Liz
pleasing me just now little"
'That do. old fellow" said G-aens>
putting out his hand. I'll be hanged if
l won't do anything you say"
That's why | won't say" replied
Craig Then reverently he added: "The
organization is not mine 1t is my Mas
ter's"
"When are you going to begin?'
asked Graeme.
I'VE shall have our communion Serv'
ice in two weeks, and that will be our
roll CALI
"How many will answer" I asked
doubtfully.
81 know of three" he said quietly.
Three. There are 200 miners and
$50 lumbermen. Three!' And Graeme
looked at him in amaZement. "You
think it worth while to organize
three?''
first time ''the organization won't bt
elaborate, but it will be effective, and
besides, loyalty demands obedience"
We sat long that afternoon talking
shrinking from the breaking up, for W.
knew that we were about to turn dowl
chapter in our lives which we Shoult
delight to lnger over in after days, AM
in my life there is but one brighter. A
last we said goodby and drove away
and, though many farewells have com
in between that day and this, none i
so wildly present to me as that be
tween us three men. Craig's name
with me was solemn enough.
''He that loveth his life'-goodby
: Dent fool with this" was what b
said to me, but when he turned t
: Graeme his whole face lighted up. H
took him by the shoulders and CAV
him a little shake, looking into hi
+ eyes and saying over and over in low
: sweet tone:
you'll come, old chap, you'll com,
e you'll come. Tell me you'll come"
And Graeme could say nothing in r.
ply, but only looked at him. The
E they silently shook hands, and W
e drove off. but long after we had 60
d over the mountain and into the wine
ing forest road on the way to the lun
Der camp the voice kept vibrating
I my heart, you'll come, you'll come
r and there was hot pain in my throa
We said little during the drive to tt
c camp. Graeme was thinking hard ar
made no answer when | spoke to hi
n two or three times till we came to I'll
IT deep shadows of the pine forest, whe
/ with little SILVER, he said:
b at is all tangle. a hopeless ia
gle.''
G Meaning what?" | asked.
is ''This business of religion. VIII
q, quaint NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Geordie
d Billy Breen's-if he has any-then MI
J. Mavor's-she is a saint, of course
S and that fellow Craig'S! What trun