Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-02-26

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and the vision We're long with me.
1t was decided that night that Mrs.
Mavor should go the next week. A
miner and his wife We're going east,
and |, too, would join the party.
The camp went into mourning at the
news, but it was understood that any
display of grief before Mrs Mavor
was bad form. She was not to be an
noyed.
But when | suggested that she should
leave quietly and avoid the pain of say
ing goodby she fatty refused
u must say goodby to every man.
They love me, and l love them"
1t was decided too, at first, that
there should be nothing in the way of a
testimonial, but when Craig found out
that the men We're coming to her with
all sorts of extraordinary gifts he
agreed that it would be better that they
should unite in one gift. So it was
agreed that | should buy a ring for
her. And were it not that the contribu-
lions were strictly limited to 81 the
purse that Slavin handed her when
Shaw read the address at the farewell
supper would have been many times
filled with the gold that was pressed
upon the committee. There We're no
speeches at the supper except one by
myself in reply on Mrs. MAYORS behalf.
She had given me the words to say,
and was thoroughly prepared, else I
should not have got through. I began
in the usual way:
"aIr. Cha.-man, ladies and gentle
men, Mrs Mavor is
But got no further for at the men
ton of her name the men stood on the
chairs and yelled until they could yell
no more. There were over go of them.
and the effect was overpowering. But
l got through my speech. l remember
it we'll. II began:
Mrs. Mayor is greatly touched by
this mark Of your love, and she will
Wear your ring always with pride"
And it ended with:
She has one request to make-that
you will be true to the league and that
you stand close about the man who did
most to make it. She wishes me to say
that, however far away she may have
to go, 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 "The Sweet By and
By" but the men would not join in the
refrain, unwilling to lose note of the
glorious voice they loved to hear Be
fore the last verse she beckoned to me.
| went to her standing by Craig's side
as lie played for her
ASK them to sing" she entreated. 81
cannot bear it,"
Mrs. Mavor wishes you to sing in
the refrain" | said, and at once the
men sat up and cleared their Threats.
The singing was not good, but at the
first sound of the hoarse notes of the
men Craigs head went down over the
organ, for he was thinking, 1 suppose,
of the days before them when they
would long in vain for that thrilling
voice that scared high over their own
hoarse tones. And after the voices
died away he kept on playing till, half
turning toward him, she sang alone
once more the refrain in voice low
and sweet and tender, as if for him
alone, and so he took it, for he smiled
up at her his old smile, full of courage
and full of love.
Then for one whole nour she stood
saying goodby to those rough, gentle
hearted men whose inspiration to good
ness she had been for five years It
was very wonderful and very quiet. 1t
was understood that there was to be no
nonsense. and Abe had been heard to
declare that he would throw out any
cotton backed fool'' who couldn't hold
himself down, and. further, he had en-
Joined them to remember that her arm
wasn't a pump handle.
AT last they We're all gone, all but
her guard of honor-Shaw Vernon
Winton, Geordie, Nixon, Abe, Nelson,
Craig and myself
This was the real farewell for,
though in the early light OF the next
morning 200 men stood silent about the
stage and as it moved out waved their
hats and yelled madly, this was the
last touch they had of her hand Her
place was Up on the drivers seat be.
tween Abe and Mr.. Craig, who held
little Marjorie on his knee. The rest
of the guard of honor were to follow
with Graeme's team. 1t was Winton's
fine sense that kept Graeme from fol
lowing them close. LET her so out
alone" he scid, and SO we held back
and watched her go.
She stood with her back toward Abe's
Dlunging four horse team and, steady
ing herself with one hand on Abe's
shoulder, gazed down upon u.s. Her
head was bare her lips parted in
smile, her eyes glowing with their own
deep light and so, facing us, erect and
smiling, she drove away, waving us
farewell till Abe swung his team into
the canyon road and we saw her no
more. A sigh shuddered through the
crowd, and, with sob in his voice,
Winton said. God help us all.'
close my eyes and see it all again
the waving crowd of dark faced men,
the plunging horses, and, high up be-
side the driver, the swaying, smiling,
waving figure, and ABOUT all the noun