The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-03-11

IL A YlITH the call to Mr.. Craig I
wv fancy I had something to do
R@SSSSSsa myself. The call came from
GN&O q young congregation In an
eastern city and was based partly upon
his college record and more upon the
advice of those among the authorities
who knew his work In the mountains.
But I fatter myself that my letters to
friends who were of Importance In thpt
congregation were not without jnau-
ence, for I was Of the mind that the
man who could handle Black Rock
miners as he could was ready for some
thing larger than a mountain mission.
That he would refuse I had not I'M
agined, though l ought to have known
him better. He was but little troubled
over 1t. He went with the call and the
letters urging his acceptance to Mrs.
Mayor. 1 was putting the last touches
to some of my work In the at the
back Of Mrs. MAYORS house when he
came in. She read the letters and the
call quietly and waited for him to
speak.
"Well," he said. Should I goT"
She started and grew d little pale.
His question suggested g possibility
that had not occurred to her. That he
could leave his work In Black Rock she
had hitherto never imagined, but there
was other work, and he was At for
good work anywhere. Why should he
not go? I saw the fear in her face, but
l saw more than fear In her eyes az
for a moment or two she let them rest
upon Craig's face. I read her story.
and I was not sorry for either OF them.
But she was too much a woman to
show her heart easily to the man she
loved, and her voice was even and
calm as she answered his question.
"Is this a very large congregational"
zone of the finest In all the east" I
put in for him. cit VIII be q great
thing for Craig"
Craig was studying her c%uriously. I
think she noticed his eyes upon her, for
she went on even more quietly:
ut will be q great chance for work,
and you are able for a larger sphere,
you know, than poor Black Rock az
fords."
"Who will take Black RockP' he ask
ed.
"Let some other fellow have o try at
It," 1 said. "Why should you waste
your talents hereT"
"WasteT' cried Mrs. Mavor indig-
nantly.
"Well, bury IL you like 1t better" I
replied.
ut would not take much OF a grave
for that funeral" said Craig, smiling.
"Oh," said Mrs. MavOr, you will be
a great man, 1 know, and perhaps you
ought to go now"
fifty men wanting that eastern charge,
and there is only one wanting Black
Rock, and 1 don't think Black Rock
Is anxious for a change, so / have de-
termined to stay where I am yet
awhile"
Even my deep disgust and disappoint-
ment did not proven. me from seeing
the sudden leap Of joy in Mrs. MAYORS
eyes, but she. with a great effort, an
swered quietly:
"BIack Rock will be very glad and
some Of us very, very glad"
Nothing could change his mind. There
was no n he knew who could take
his place just now, and why should he
quit his work. 1t annoyed me consid-
erably to feel he was right. Why Is IL
that the right things are so frequently
unpleasant?
And If 1 had had any doubt about the
matter next Sabbath evening would
have removed it, for the men came
about him after the service and let
him feel In their w way how much
they approved his decision, though the
self sacrifice involved did not appeal I'd
them. They were too truly western to
imagine that any Inducements the east
could offer could compensate for bis
loss Of the west. 1t was only fitting
that the west should have the best,
and so the miners took almost as q mat
ter Of course and certainly as their
right that the best man they knew
should stay with them. But thereNwere
those who knew how much of Sghat
most men consider worth while he had
given up, and they loved him no less
for 1t.
Mrs. Mavor's call was not 30 easily
disposed Of. 1t came close upon the
other and stirred Black Rock as moth
ing else had ever stirred 1t before.
found her n afternoon gazing va
cantly at some legal documents spread
on before her on the table and evil
IDENTIFY overcome by their contents.
There was first O lawyers letter tn.
forming her that by the death Of her
husbands father she had come into
the whole of the Mavor estates and ali
the wealth pertaining thereto. The
letter asked for instructions and urged
an immediate return with q view to 0
personal superintendent Of the es-
tates. A letter, too. from q Distant
cousin of her husband urged her jmfoe.
date return for many son but
chiefly on account OF the old mother,
who had been left alone, with none
nearer of kin than himself to care for
her and cheer her old age.
With these two came another letter
from her mother-in-law hesgelf. The
grabbed, trembling characters were
even more eloquent than the words
with which the letter closed:
II have lost my boy, and now my
husband Is gone, and I am a lonely wo.
man. I have many servants and some
friends, but none near to me, none so
near and dear as my dead sons wife
My days are not to be many. Come to
me, my daughter. I want you and
Lewis child"
Must I gop she asked, with white
lips.
ID you know her Welt" I asked.
II saw her only once or twice." che
answered, s'but she has been very good