The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-10-22

big chair.
Craig made him q cup Of tea, while !
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 drifted into the future,
and Craig let US see what were his am
bitions. The railway was soon to come.
The resources were as yet unexplored,
but enough was known to assure o
great future for British Columbia. As
he talked his enthusiasm grew and car
ried US away. With the eye of a gen.
eral be 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 hand in the
shaping Of the country. If society crys-
taliizes without her influence, the coun-
try is lost, and British Columbia will
be another trapdoor to the bottomless
pit"
what do you propose:' asked.
Organizing little congregation here
in Black Rock"
ssHow many will you get:"
Don't know"
"Pretty hopeless business" / said.
Hopeless! Horelessr' he cried.
'There were only twelve of US at first
to follow him, and rather q 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 so. Well get them. too," he
went on in growing excitement. Il be-
lieve in my soul we'Il 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 I don't believe in you"
Craig looked at him with wistfui
eyes and shook his head.
"It won't do, old chap, you know.
can't hold you. You've got to have q
grip Of some one better than I am, and
then, besides, I 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 ike
pleasing me just now little"
"That 1 do, old fellow" said Graene,
putting out his hand. "I'll be hanged If
won't do anything you say"
That's why I won't say" replied
Craig. Then reterently he added: The
/ organization is not mine. It is my Mas
ter's."
"when are you going to begin?'
asked Graeme.
I'VE shall have our communion ser7-
ice in two weeks, and that will be our
roll CALL"
"How many will answer?' I asked
doubtfully.
CT know Of three be said quietly.
s'Three! There are 200 miners and
$50 lumbermen. Three!' And Graeme
looked at him in amazement You
think it worth while to organize
threeW
"Well," replied Craig, smiling for the
first time, "the organization won't be
elaborate, but it will be effective, and,
besides, loyalty demands obedience"
We sat long that afternoon talking,
shrinking from the breaking up, for we
knew that we were about to turn down
a chapter in our lives which we should
delight to linger over in after days, and
in my life there is. but one brighter. At
last we said goodby and drove away,
and, though many farewells have come
in between that day and this, none is
so wildly present to me as that be-
tween US three men. Craig's manner
with me was solemn enough.
"'He that loveth his life'-goodby.
| Don't fool with this" was what be
said to me, but when he turned to
Graeme his whole face lighted up. He
took him by the shoulders and gave
him q little shake, looking into his
eyes and saying over and over in low,
sweet tone:
you'll come, old chap, you'll come,
you'll come. Tell me you'll come"
And Graeme could say nothing in re-
ply, but only looked at him. Then
they silently shook hands, and we
drove off, but long after we had got
over the mountain and into the wind
ing forest road on the way to the lum-
Der camp the voice kept vibrating in
my heart, you'll come, you'll come, -
and there was a hot pain in my throat.
We said little during tie drive to the
camp. Graeme was thinking hard and
made no answer when spoke to him
two or three times till we came to the
deep shadows of the pine forest, when,
with q little shiver, he said:
'It is all a tangle. a hopeless tan
gle"
meaning what?" 1 asked.
''This business Of religion. What
quaint varieties-Nelson's, Georde's,
Billy Breen's-if he has any-then Mrs.
Mavor's-she is saint. Of course
and that fellow Craig's! What trump
he is! And without his religion he'd
be pretty much like the rest Of US. It
is tco much for me-"
His mystery was not mine. Black
Rock varieties of religion were certain
ly startling, but there was undoubt-
edly the streak of reality through them
all, and that discovery 7 felt TO be q
distinct gain.
CHAPTER VII.
THE FIRST BLACK ROCK coMMUNIoN.
IN HE gleam of the great fire
II 4 through the windows of the
ESWsSs great camp gave a kindly