The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-06-12

the country from Fort Steele to tn,
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. II society crys
tallizes without her influence, the coun
try is lost, AID British Columbia will
be another trapdoor TO the bottomless
pit"
What do you propose?" asked.
"Organizing little congregation here
In Black Rock"
"HOw many will you getT
"Don't know"
"Pretty hopeless business" said.
Hopeless! Hopelessr' he cried
'There were only twelve of us at first
to follow him, and rather n 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 20. Well get them, too" he
went on in growing excitement. II be
lieve in my soul Wen get them"
Look here, Craig. If you organize
I'd like to join" said Graeme impul.
| sively. IL don't believe much in your
creed or your church, but I'll be blow
ed if don't believe in YOU"
Craig looked at him with wistful
eyes and shook his head.
1T won't do, old chap you know.
can't hold you. You've got to have
grip of some one better than | am, and
then, besides, | hardly like asking you
now.' He hesitated. "WCll, 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 like
pleasing me just now a little"
THAT do, old fellow" said Graeme,
putting out his hand. "I'll be hanged if
l won't do anything you say"
That's why l 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 call"
"How many will answcr?' ! asked
doubtfuly.
IL know Of three" he said quietly.
"Three! There are 200 miners and
$50 lumbermen. Three And Graema
looked at him in amazement. "You
think 1t worth while to organize
three"
"Well," replied Craig, smiling for the
first time, 'the organization won't be
elaborate, but 1t 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 farewels have come
In between that day and this, none is
so vividly present to me as that be-
tween us three men. Craigs manner
with ne was solemn enough.
"'IIe that loveth his life'-goodby.
Don't fool with this" was what he
said TO me, but when he turned to
Graeme his whole face lighted up. He
took him by the shoulders and gave
him 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 mt 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 hot pain in my throat. |
We said little during the drive to the !
N"h'p' pihtiilc W dS tlIllhlllS ndEu anu
made no answer when | spoke to him
two or three times till we came to the
deep shadows Of the pine forest, when.
with a little shiver, he said:
ut is all tangle, hopeless tan
GLE"
Meaning whatT / asked.
"This business of religion. What |
quaint NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Geordie'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. 1t
is too 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 I felt to be a
distinct gain.
10 BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.
As was to have been expected, the |
charge made by Rev. J. l.. Withrow.