The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-06-07


ils-i-.+... ~ +. 44l4. l.m that cometh
unto me viii Ia nowise cast out
and .crAe gae 1..;. ties ~r S9n-
tlnutd cor'.swl
With All these scmcwha, sdn.Asac
feat.res hcwc8cr, t.lrre
tak.n4 the earaesf spirit 0l tAe men.
The meetings grew lsreer every night.
and the Interest became mere intense.
The singing became different The men
no longer simply shouted. but as Mr..
Craig would call attention 20 the senti-
ment az the hymn the voices would at
tune themselves - the words, Instead
OF encouraging anything like emotional
excitement Mr. Craig seemed to fear It.
"These chaps are easily stirred up"
he would say. "and am anxious that
they should know exactly what they
are doing. 1t is far too serious bust
ness to tI'flc with"
Although Graeme did not so down
stairs 60 the meetings, he could not but
feel the throb of the emotion beating
in the heart OF the community. ! used
10 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. Mayors presence al
though Craig did not appear to mind.
His manner with Graeme was perfect.
Openly anxious 20 win him TO his side.
he did not improve the occasion and
vex him with exhortation. He would
not take him at a disadvantage,
though. as afterward found. this was
not his sole reason for his method.
Mrs. Mavor too showed herself In a
wise and tender light. She might have
been his sister. so frank was she and
so openly affectonate, laughing at his
fretfulness and soothing bis WEAKNESS.
Never were better comrades than we
four, and the bright days speeding so
swiftly on drew VS. nearer TO one an
other. But the bright days came to
an end. for Graeme. when once he was
able 10 90 about. became anxious 10
get back 10 the camp. And so the last
| day came. a day l remember well. II
! was bright. crisp winter day
/ The air was shlmmcring IN the frosty
light. The mountains. with their shin
ing heads piercing through the light
/ NAOnAtN ilAO AiiuA NVHANAAAi bAAiN VI Aht
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 &c grows
TO love them, steadfast' old friendsl
Far up among the pines we lould see
the smoke OF the engine AT tlle works.
and so still and so clear was tte noun
tain air that we could hear thh puff OF
the steam and from far down Ne river
the murmur OF the rapids. The'maJes-
tie silence. the tender beauty, the
peace, the loneliness. too, came steal
ing I'm upon MS as we three, leaving
Mrs. Mayor behind us. marched arm
In arm down the street. We had not
gone far on our way when Graeme.
turning round, stood moment looking
back then waved his hand IN farewell.
Mrs. Mavor was at her window. smil-
ing and waving In return. They had
grown 70 be great friends, these two,
and seemed to have arrived at some
understanding Certainly Graeme's
manner TO her was not that be bore to
other women. His half quizzical, some
what superior, air OF hooking 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
moment what | had not seen for
years. a faint flush on Gracme'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 matriculation to the varsity He
stood on the campus looking up at the
noble old pile, and there was the same
bright trustful. earnest look on his
boyish face.
know not what spirit possessed me
Iii may have been the pain OF the
mcmory working IN me-but | said
coarsely enough
ITS no use, Graeme, my boy
would fall la 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, Conner, 20 be an
ass OF that peculiar kind. Love! Not
exactly she won't fall in love UNI
Less And he stopped abruptly. with
his eyes upon Craig
But Craig met him with unshrlnklng
gaze. quietly remarking. "IIer heart is
under the pines" And we moved on.
each thinking his own thoughts and
guessing nc the thoughts OF the others.
We were on our way Co Craig's
shack. and rs we passed the saloon
Slavn stepped from the door with
salutation. Graeme paused.
"Hello, Slavin! | got rather the
worst OF II. didn't ~
Siavin came near and said earnestly:
1T was dirty trick altogether.
You'll not think Il was mine. MIR.
Gracme"
mo, no, Slavin. You stood up like a
man." said Graeme cheerfully.
a.