Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-06-09
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= By RALPH Common =.
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By RALPH Common
CHAPTER V.
THE MAKING OF THE LEAGUE.

pbout his league, but he did not blaze
np, as he often did. 1t was thing too
hear his heart for that He only shrank |
b little from my stupid chaff and said:
"Don't, old chap. This is good dea :
10 me. I've tried for two years to gel
this, and if II falls through now l shall
find it hard to bear"
Then / repented my light words and
said: "Why, the thing will go sure
enough. After that scene in the church
they won't go back"
poor fellows!" he said, as if to him
self whisky is about the only excite
ment they have, and they find it pretty
tough to give it up, and lot of the
men are against the total abstinence
idea. 1t seems rot to them"
at is pretty Steep" 1 said. "Cant
you do without it?''
"No; fear not. There is nothing else
for it. Some of them talk of compro
mise. They want to quit the saloon
and drink quietly in their shacks. The
/ moderate drinker may have his place
in other countries though l can't see
it. 1 haven't thought that out, but here
i the only safe man is the man who quits
it dead and fights it straight. Anything
else is sheerest humbug and nonsense
l had not gone in much for total alb
stinence up to this time, chiefly because
its advocates seemed for the most part
to be somewhat i'll balanced, but as
listened to Craig l began to feel thai
perhaps there was a total abstinence
side to the temperance question, and
as to Black Rock, l could see how ii
must be one thing or the other.
We found Mrs. Mavor brave and
bright. She shared Mr.. Craig's ankle
ty, but not his gloom. Her courage
was Of that serene kind that refuses
to believe defeat possible and lifts the
spirit into the triumph of final victory
Through the past week she had beer
carefully disposing her forces and win
ming recruits, and yet she never seemed
to urge or persuade the men. But as
evening after evening the miners drop
ped into the cozy room down stairs
with her talk and her songs she charm.
ed them till they were wholly hers.
She took for granted their loyalty.
trusted them utterly and so made il
difficult for them to be other than true
men.
That night Mrs. MAYORS large store
room, which had been fitted up with
seats, was crowded with miners wher
Mr.. Craig and l entered.
After a glance over the crowd Crais
said: There's the manager. Tha
means war" And l saw tall man
Ct. II. c,II - ~
vanishing point and whose hair was
parted in the middle. talking to Mrs
Mavor. She was dressed in some rich
soft stuff that became her well. Sh,
was looking beautiful as ever, blu
there was something quite new in he
manner. Her air of good fellowship
was gone, and she was the high bret
lady, whose gentle dignity and swee
grace, while very winning, made ia
miliarity impossible.
The manager was doing his best ant
appeared to be well pleased with him
self.
"She'll get him If any one can.
failed" said Craig.
stood looking at the men, and fin
lot of fellows they were. Free. easy
bold in their bearing, they gave n
sign Of rudeness, and from their FIRE
quent glances toward Mrs. Mavor
could see they were always consciou
of her presence. No men are so trul
gentle as are the westerners in tn
presence of good woman. They wer
evidently of all classes and ranks oris
inally, but now and in this country @
real measurements they ranked sin
ply according to the imam" in them.
"See that handsome young chap O
dissipated appearanceY said Crais
THAT'S Vernon Winton, an Oxfor
graduate, blue blood, awfully plucky
but quite gone. When he gets repen
ant, instead of shooting himself b
comes to Mrs. Mavor. Fact"
"From oxford university to Blac
Rock mining camp is something of
step" 1 replied.
"That queer looking little chap in til
corner is Billy Breen. How in tn
world has he got here?" went on Nj
Craig.
Queer looking he was-a little maj
with small head set on heavy. squar
shoulders long arms, and huge hand
that sprawled all over his body; alt,
gether a most ungainly specimen of hl
manity.
BY this time Mrs. Mavor had finishe
with the manager and was in the Gel
ter of group of miners. Her gran
Rir was all gone, and she was the
fomrade, their friend, one of then
selves. Nor did she assume the 70
pr entertainer, but rather did she. wit
half shy air, cast herself upon the
ihivalry, and they were too truly gel
lemen to fail her. 1t is hard to NAL
western men, and especially old tin
Prs, talk. But this gift was hers, ar
stirred my admiration to see h'
RAW on a grizzled veteran to tell hoy
wenty years ago, he had crossed Il
Great Divide and had seen and dol
what no lOpOpr foil m r,,or, m COO .