The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-03-11
faltllessr' she said, with proud de-


dance.
"Oh. 1t is high sentimental non
sense!' ! could not help saying.
"You should not say So" she replied,
and her voice rang clear. Honor,
faith and duty are sentiments. but
they are not NONSENSE"
In spite of my rage l was lost in
amazed admiration of the high spirit
of the woman who stood up SO straight
before me, but as l told how worn
and broken he was she listened with
changing color and swelling bosom,
her proud courage all gone and only
love, anxious and plying. In her eyes.
Shall I go to him2" she asked, with
timid eagerncss and deepening color.
III Is sleeping. He said he would
come to YOU" | replied.
81 shall wait for him." she said soft
ly, and the tenderness in her tone went
straight to my heart, and 1t seemed to
me a man might suffer much to be
loved with love such as this.
In the early afternoon Graeme came
to her. She met him with both hands
outstretched, saying in a low voice:
81 am very happy"
"Are you sure?" he asked anxiously.
"Oh, yes" she said, but her voice
was like a sob, quite, quite sure"
They talked long together till l saw
that Craig must soon be coming, and I
called Gracme away. He held her
hands, looking steadily into her eyes,,
and said:
"You are better even than / thought.
Pm poinu tp no n hotfor ,,opU
Her eyes filled with tears, but her
smile did not fade as she answered:
eyes, you will be n good man, and
God will give you work to do"
He bent his head over her hands and
stepped back from her as from
queen, but he spoke no word till we
came to Craig's door. Then he said.
with humility that seemed strange In
him:
"Connor, that is great-to conquer
oneself. 1t is worth while. 1 am 60
Ing to try"
l would not have missed his meeting
with Craig. Nelson was busy with tea.
Craig was writing near the window.
Exc looked up as Graeme came in and
HONNNU oh StoS SoOu SNShlhBt peI
Graemc strobe to him and, putting one
hand on his shoulder, held out his 9th.
er for Craig to take.
After q moments surprise Craig rose
to his feet and, facing him squarely,
took the offered hand in both of his
and held 1t fast without n word.
Graeme was the first to speak, and his
voice was deep with emotion.
You are a great man, a good man.
I'd give something to have your grit"
Poor Craig stood looking at him, not
daring to speak For some moments.
Then he said quietly:
Not good or great, but, thank God,
not quite q traitor"
Good man!' went on Graeme, pat
ting him on the shoulder. "Good man!
But it's tough"
Craig sat down quickly, saying,
Don't do that, old chap!'
L went up with Craig to Mrs. Ma
yor's door. She did not hear us COM
Ing, but stood near the window gazing
up at the mountains. She was dressed
In some rich soft stuff and wore at her
breast n bunch of wild flowers. I had
never seen her SO beautiful. I did not
ond that Craig paused with his
foot upon the threshold to look at her.
She turned and saw us. With a glad
cry, ooh, my darling, you have come
to me!' she came with outstretcbed
arms. turned and fled, but the cry
and the vision were long with me.
1t was decided that night that Mrs.
Mayor should go the next week. A
miner and his wife were going east,
n l. too, would join the party.
The camp went into mourning at the
news, but 1t was understood that any
display Of grief before Mrs. Mayor
was bad form. She was not to- be an
noyed.
But when l suggested that she should
leave quietly and avoid the pain Of say
Ing goodby she fatty refused.
81 must say goodby to every man.
They love me, and I love them"
1t was decided, too, at first, that
there should be nothing in the way OF q
testimonial, but when Craig found out
that the men were coming to her with
all sorts Of extraordinary gifts no
agreed that 1t would be better that they
should unite in one gift. So 1t was
agreed that I should buy q ring for
her. And were it not that the contribu-
tons were strictly limited to 81 the
purse that Slavln handed her when
Shaw read the address at the farewell
supper would have been many times
flied with the gold that was pressed
upon the committee. There were no
speeches at the supper except ono by
myself in reply on Mrs. MAYORS behalf.
She had given me the words to say,
and l was thoroughly prepared, else I
should not have got through. I began
in the usual way:
"Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentle.
men, Mrs. Mayor is"-
But I got no further, for ut the men,
ton of her name the men stood on the
chairs and yelled until they could yell
no moro. There were over ESQ of them,
and tho effect was overpowering. But
l got through my speech. l remember
1t well. 1t began:
Mrs. Mayor is greatly touched by
this mark Of your love, and she will
wear your ring always with pride"
And 1t ended with:
"She has n request to make-that
you will be true to the league and that
you stand close about the nan who did
most to make 1t. She wishes me to say
that, however far away she may have
to &C, she is leaving her heart in Black
Rock and she can think of no greater
JOY than to come back to you again"
Then they had 1.-THE Sweet BY and