The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-02-25

49, wv ~
Craig came I'm, and / saw that he was
not the man of the night before. His
courage had come back; his face was
quiet and his-eye clear. He was his
own mar again.
"Geordie has been outa all night, but
has failed to find Billy" he announced
quietly.
We did not talk much. Graeme and
l worried with our broken bones, and
the others suffered from a general
morning depression. But after break
fast, as the men were beginning to
move, Craig took down his Bible, and,
saying, "Wait n few minutes, men,"
he read slowly, in his beautiful, clear
voice, that psalm for all fighters,
GOD is our refuge and strength
and so on to the noble words:
1.-THE Lord OF Hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge"
How the mighty words pulled us to-
gether, lifted us till we grew ashamed
of u ignoble rage and of our ignoble
depression!
And then Craig prayed in simple,
straightgoing words. There was ac-
acknowledgement OF failure, but 1 knew
he was thinking chiefly Of himself;
there was gratitude, and that was for
the men about him, and l felt my face
burn with shame; there was q petition
for help, and we all thought of Nixon
and Billy and the men Weakening from
their debauch at Slavin's this pure,
bright morning. Then he asked hat
we might be made faithful and worthy
of God, whose battle it was. Then we
all stood up and shook hsnds with him
in silence, and every maNknew n COW
enant was being made. But none saw
his meeting with Nixon. He sent us all
away before that.
Nothing was heard OF the destruction
of the hotel stock in trade. Unpleasant
questions would certainly be asked,
and the proprietor decided to let bad
alone. On the point Of responsibility
the success of the ball was not con
spicuous, but the antileague men were
content if not jubilant.
Billy Breen was found by Geordie
late in the afternoon in his own old
and deserted shack, breathing heavily,
covered up In his filthy, moldering bed
clothes, with a half empty bottle Of
whisky at his side. Geordie's grief and
rage were beyond even his Scotch con
troll. He spoke few words, but these
were of such concentrated vehemcnce
that no one felt the need of Abe's as.
sistance in vocabulary.
Poor Billy! We carried him to Mrs.
Mavor's home, put him in n warm
bath, rolled him in blankets and gave
him little sips of hot water, then Of
hot milk and coffee, as had seen a
clever doctor in the hospital treat n
similar case of nerve and heart de-
preston. But the already weakened
system could not recover from the aw.
full shock of the exposure following the
debauch, and OIL Sunday afternoon we
saw that his heart was failing fast.
All day the miners had been dropping
In to inquire after him, for Billy had
been q great favoritc in other days,
and the attention OF the town had been
admiringly conferred upon his fight of
these last weeks. 1t was with no ordi
nary sorrow that h news of his con.
dition was received. AS Mrs. Mnvor
sang to him his large, coarse hands
moved in time to the music, but he did
not open his eyes till he heard MIR.
Craig's voice in the next room. Then
he spoke his name, and MI. Craig was
knccling beside him in a moment. The
words came Slowly:
"Oi tried-to fight hit hout-but-Oi
got beaten. Hit 'urts to think 'e's
ashamed o. me. Ord like TIA lone bet
tCr-Oi would"
ASHAMED of you, Billy!' said Craig
in Il voice that broke. Not hc.'
".And-ye hall-'clpcd me so.' he went
OH. "Oi wish Ord n done bettcr-Oi
do" And his eyes sought Gcordic and
then rested OH Mrs. Mavor, who smiled
back nj him with q world of love in
her eyes. You hain't hashamcd O. me
-yore lieyes saigh So" she said, look.
ing at her.
mo, Billy" she said, and l wonder.
ed ut her steady voice, "not n bit.
Why, Billy, | am proud Of YOU"
He gaZed UP at her with wonder and
incffablc love in his little eyes, then
lifted his hand slightly toward her.
She kncit quickly and took it in both
of hers. strohing it and kissing it.
"Oi Taught ia done better. Oi'm
lawful sorry Oh went back on i'm. Hit
was the lemonade. The boys didn't
mean no arm, but hit started the ell
hinsidc.'
GeOrdie hurled out some bitter words.
Don't be ard on 'em, Geordic. They
didn't mean nc ARM he said, and his
eyes kept waiting till Geordic said hur-
riedly:
INA, ma, lad! III just leave them till
the ALMIGHTY"
Then Mrs. Mavor sang softly, smooth
ing his hand. "Just MS l AM" and Billy
dozed quietly for half an hour.
When he awoke again, his eyes turn
ed to Mr.. Craig, and they were trou-
bled and anxious.
"Oi tried lard. Oh wanted to win,"
he struggled to say.
BY this time Craig was master Of
himself, and he answered IN a clear,
distinct voice:
"Listen, Billy. You made a great
fight, ana you are going to win yet.
And, besides, do you remember the
sheep that got lost over the noun
tainsW This parable was I9Iilly's spe-
cial delight. Gle didn't beat it when
he got 1T, did he? He took 1t I'm his
arms and carried it home, and so he
will YOU"
And Billy, keeping his eyes fastened
on Mr.. Craig, simply said:
"Will 'eT"
"Sure!" said Craig.
"Will 'eT" he repeated, turning his
eyes upon Mrs. Mavor.