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

S.uc Se.
What do you do then, Geordie?" l
asked.
90, aye, just gang for a bit walk
Wi the lad an then pits the kettle on
an makes a cup O. tea or coffee, an
aft he gangs tae sleep like BARN"
Poor Billy I said pityingly. There
is no hope for him in the future, l
fear"
"IIoot ava, monr' said Geordie
quickly. aye wadna keep cot O puir
crater frae creepin' in that's daein' bis
best?"
sBut, Geordie," l demonstrated, "he
doesn't know anything Of the doctrines.
don't believe he could give US the
chief end Of man."
"An' wha's tae blame for that?" said
Geordie, with fine indignation. can
maybe you remember the prood Phari.
see an the puir wumman that cam
creepin' in ahint the Master"
The mingled tenderness and lndigna'
ton in Geordie's face were beautiful to
see, so meekly answered.:
'Well. hope Mr.. Craig wont be too
strict with the boys"
Geordie shot a suspicious glance at
me, but l kept my face like summer
morn, and he replied cautiously:
"Aye, he's no. that street, but be
maan eNereeese~discreeminaion."
Geordie was none the less determin-
ed, however, that Billy should come
forrit," but as to the manager, who
was a member Of the English church,
and some others who had been con-
firned years ago and had forgotten
much and denied more, he was ex-
t-emely doubtful and expressed him
self in very decided words to the min
lister:
::Ye'l no be askin' forrie the Epees-
buddies. They juist ken
naethin' ava"
But Mr.. Craig looked at him for q
moment and said, "'Him that cometh
unto me I will in nowise cast out ="
and Geordie was silent, though he con-
tinued doubtful.
With ell these somewhat fantastic
features, however, there was no mis-
taking the earnest spirit Of the men.
The meetings grew larger every night,
and the interest became more intense.
The singing, became different. The men
no longer simply shouted, but as Mr..
Craig would call attention to the senti-
ment Of the hymn the voices would at
tune themselves to the words. Instead
of encouraging anything like emotional
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 buSi-
ness to trifle WITH
Although Graeme did not go down
stairs to the meetings, he could not but
feel the throb of the emotion beating
in the heart Of the community. I used
to 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. MavorS presence, al
though Craig did not appear to mind.
His manner with Graeme was perfect.
Openly anxious to win him to his side,
he did not improve the occasion and
vex him with eXhortation. He would
not take him at 4 disadvantage,
though, as I 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 wss she and
so openly affectionate, laughing at his
fretfulness and soothing his WEAKNESS.
Never were better comrades than we
four, and the bright days speeding so
swiftly on drew us nearer to one an
other. But the bright days came to
an end, for Graeme, when once he was
able to so about, became anxious to
get back to the camp. And so the last
day came, a day remember well. 1t
was bright, crisp winter day.
The air was shimmerins in the frosty
light. The mountains. with their shin
ing heads piercing through the light
clouds into that wonderful blue Of the
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 one grows
to love them, steadfast old friends!
Far up among the pines we could see
the smoke Of the engine at the works,
and so still and so clear was the noun
tain air that we could hear the puff of
the steam and from far down the river
the murmur of the rapids. The majes-
tic silence, the tender beauty, the
peace, the loneliness, too, came steal
ing in upon US as we three, leaving
Mrs. Mavor behind US, marched arm
in ann 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. Alavor was at her window, smil-
ing and waving in return. They had
grown to be great friends, these two.
and seemed to have arrived at some
understanding. Certainly Graeme's
manner to her was not that he bore to
other women. His half quizzical, some
what superior, air Of mocking devotion
gave place to a simple, earnest, almost
tender, respect, very new to him, but
very winning.
AS he stood there waving his fare
we'll I glanced at his face and saw for
a moment what 7 had not seen for
years, q faint flush on Graeme's cheek
and light Of simple, earnest faith in
his eyes. It 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.
I know not what spirit possessed me
it may have been the pain Of the
working in me-but said
coarsely enough:
"Its no use, Graeme, my boy. I
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