black rock-第23章

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the　table　fast　asleep。　　I　made　him　tea；　forced　him　to　take　a　warm
bath；　and　sent　him　to　bed；　while　I　went　to　Mrs。　Mavor。　　I　went　with
a　fearful　heart；　but　that　was　because　I　had　forgotten　the　kind　of
woman　she　was。

She　was　standing　in　the　light　of　the　window　waiting　for　me。　　Her
face　was　pale　but　steady；　there　was　a　proud　light　in　her　fathomless
eyes；　a　slight　smile　parted　her　lips；　and　she　carried　her　head　like
a　queen。

'Come　in；'　she　said。　　'You　need　not　fear　to　tell　me。　　I　saw　him
ride　home。　　He　has　not　failed；　thank　God！　　I　am　proud　of　him；　I
knew　he　would　be　true。　　He　loves　me'she　drew　in　her　breath
sharply；　and　a　faint　colour　tinged　her　cheek'but　he　knows　love　is
not　allah；　love　is　not　all！　　Oh！　　I　am　glad　and　proud！'

'Glad！'　I　gasped；　amazed。

'You　would　not　have　him　prove　faithless！'　she　said　with　proud
defiance。

'Oh；　it　is　high　sentimental　nonsense；'　I　could　not　help　saying。

'You　should　not　say　so；'　she　replied；　and　her　voice　rang　clear。
'Honour；　faith；　and　duty　are　sentiments；　but　they　are　not
nonsense。'

In　spite　of　my　rage　I　was　lost　in　amazed　admiration　of　the　high
spirit　of　the　woman　who　stood　up　so　straight　before　me。　　But；　as　I
told　how　worn　and　broken　he　was；　she　listened　with　changing　colour
and　swelling　bosom；　her　proud　courage　all　gone；　and　only　love；
anxious　and　pitying；　in　her　eyes。

'Shall　I　go　to　him？'　she　asked　with　timid　eagerness　and　deepening
colour。

'He　is　sleeping。　　He　said　he　would　come　to　you；'　I　replied。

'I　shall　wait　for　him；'　she　said　softly；　and　the　tenderness　in　her
tone　went　straight　to　my　heart；　and　it　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

'I　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　I　saw　that　Craig　must　soon　be
coming；　and　I　called　Graeme　away。　　He　held　her　hands；　looking
steadily　into　her　eyes　and　said

'You　are　better　even　than　I　thought；　I'm　going　to　be　a　better　man。'

Her　eyes　filled　with　tears；　but　her　smile　did　not　fade　as　she
answered

'Yes！　you　will　be　a　good　man；　and　God　will　give　you　work　to　do。'

He　bent　his　head　over　her　hands　and　stepped　back　from　her　as　from　a
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。　　It　is　worth　while。　　I　am　going　to　try。'

I　would　not　have　missed　his　meeting　with　Craig。　　Nelson　was　busy
with　tea。　　Craig　was　writing　near　the　window。　　He　looked　up　as
Graeme　came　in；　and　nodded　an　easy　good…evening；　but　Graeme　strode
to　him　and；　putting　one　hand　on　his　shoulder；　held　out　his　other
for　Craig　to　take。

After　a　moment's　surprise；　Craig　rose　to　his　feet；　and；　facing　him
squarely；　took　the　offered　hand　in　both　of　his　and　held　it　fast
without　a　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　nor　great；　but；　thank　God；　not　quite　a　traitor。'

'Good　man！'　went　on　Graeme；　patting　him　on　the　shoulder。　　'Good
man！　　But　it's　tough。'

Craig　sat　down　quickly；　saying；　'Don't　do　that；　old　chap！'

I　went　up　with　Craig　to　Mrs。　Mavor's　door。　　She　did　not　hear　us
coming；　but　stood　near　the　window　gazing　up　at　the　mountains。　　She
was　dressed　in　some　rich　soft　stuff；　and　wore　at　her　breast　a　bunch
of　wild…flowers。　　I　had　never　seen　her　so　beautiful。　　I　did　not
wonder　that　Craig　paused　with　his　foot　upon　the　threshold　to　look
at　her。　　She　turned　and　saw　us。　　With　a　glad　cry；　'Oh！　my　darling；
you　have　come　to　me；'　she　came　with　outstretched　arms。　　I　turned
and　fled；　but　the　cry　and　the　vision　were　long　with　me。

It　was　decided　that　night　that　Mrs。　Mavor　should　go　the　next　week。
A　miner　and　his　wife　were　going　east；　and　I　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　annoyed。

But　when　I　suggested　that　she　should　leave　quietly；　and　avoid　the
pain　of　saying　good…bye；　she　flatly　refused

'I　must　say　good…bye　to　every　man。　　They　love　me　and　I　love　them。'

It　was　decided；　too；　at　first；　that　there　should　be　nothing　in　the
way　of　a　testimonial；　but　when　Craig　found　out　that　the　men　were
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　I　should　buy　a　ring　for　her。　　And　were　it　not　that　the
contributions　were　strictly　limited　to　one　dollar；　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　were　no　speeches　at　the　supper；　except
one　by　myself　in　reply　on　Mrs。　Mavor's　behalf。　　She　had　given　me
the　words　to　say；　and　I　was　thoroughly　prepared；　else　I　should　not
have　got　through。　　I　began　in　the　usual　way：　'Mr。　Chairman；　ladies
and　gentlemen；　Mrs。　Mavor　is'　but　I　got　no　further；　for　at　the
mention　of　her　name　the　men　stood　on　the　chairs　and　yelled　until
they　could　yell　no　more。　　There　were　over　two　hundred　and　fifty　of
them；　and　the　effect　was　overpowering。　　But　I　got　through　my
speech。　　I　remember　it　well。　　It　began

'Mrs。　Mavor　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　a　note　of　the　glorious　voice　they
loved　to　hear。　　Before　the　last　verse　she　beckoned　to　me。　　I　went
to　her　standing　by　Craig's　side　as　he　played　for　her。　　'Ask　them　to
sing；'　she　entreated；　'I　cannot　bear　it。'

'Mrs。　Mavor　wishes　you　to　sing　in　the　refrain；'　I　said；　and　at　once
the　men　sat　up　and　cleared　their　throats。　　The　singing　was　not
good；　but　at　the　first　sound　of　the　hoarse　notes　of　the　men　Craig's
head　went　down　over　the　organ；　for　he　was　thinking　I　suppose　of　the
days　before　them　when　they　would　long　in　vain　for　that　thrilling
voice　that　soared　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　a　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　hour　she　stood　saying　good…bye　to　those　rough；
gentle…hearted　men　whose　inspiration　to　goodness　she　had　been　for
five　years。　　It　was　very　wonderful　and　very　quiet。　　It　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　enjoined　them　to
remember　that　'her　arm　wasn't　a　pump…handle。'

At　last　they　were　all　gone；　all　but　her　guard　of　honourShaw；
Vernon　Winton；　Geordie；　Nixon；　Abe；　Nelson；　Craig；　and　myself。

This　was　the　real　farewell；　for；　though　in　the　early　light　of　the
next　morning　two　hundred　men　stood　silent　about　the　stage；　and　then
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　driver's
seat　between　Abe　and　Mr。　Craig；　who　held　little　Marjorie　on　his
knee。　　The　rest　of　the　guard　of　honour　were　to　follow　with　Graeme's
team。　　It　was　Winton's　fine　sense　that　kept　Graeme　from　following
them　close。　　'Let　her　go　out　alone；'　he　said；　and　so　we　held　back
and　watched　her　go。

She　stood　with　her　back　towards　Abe's　plunging　four…horse　team；　and
steadying　herself　with　one　hand　on　Abe's　shoulder；　gazed　down　upon
us。　　Her　head　was　bare；　her　lips　parted　in　a　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　a　sob　in　his　voice；　Winton　said：　'God
help　us　all。'

I　close　my　eyes　and　see　it　all　again。　　The　waving　crowd　of　dark…
faced　men；　the　plunging　horses；　and；　high　up　beside　the　driver；　the
swaying；　smiling；　waving　figure；　and　about　all　the　mountains；
framing　the　picture　with　their　dark　sides　and　white　peaks　tipped
with　the　gold　of　the　rising　sun。　　It　is　a　picture　I　love　to　look
upon；　albeit　it　calls　up　another　that　I　can　never　see　but　through
tears。

I　look　across　a　strip　of　ever…widening　water；　at　a　group　of　men
upon　the　wharf；　standing　with　heads　uncovered；　every　man　a　hero；
though　not　a　man　of　them　suspects　it；　least　of　all　the　man　who
stands　in　front；　strong；　resolute；　self…conquered。　　And；　gazing
long；　I　think　I　see　him　turn　again　to　his　place　among　the　men　of
the　mountains；　not　forgetting；　but　every　day　remembering　the　great
love　that　came　to　him；　and　remembering；　too；　that　love　is　not　all。
It　is　then　the　tears　come。

But　for　that　picture　two　of　us　at　least　are　better　men　to…day。


CHAPTER　XIII

HOW　NELSON　CAME　HOME


Through　the　long　summer　the　mountains　and　the　pines　were　with　me。
And　through　the　winter；　too；　busy　as　I　was　filling　in　my　Black　Rock
sketches　for　the　railway　people　who　would　still　persist　in　ordering
them　by　the　dozen；　the　memory　of　that　stirring　life　would　come　over
me；　and　once　more　I　would　be　among　the　silent　pines　and　the　mighty
snow…peaked　mountains。　　And　before　me　would　appear　the　red…shirted
shantymen　or　dark…faced　miners；　great；　free；　bold　fellows；　driving
me　almost　mad　with　the　desire　to　seize　and　fix　those　swiftly
changing　groups　of　picturesque　figures。　　At　such　times　I　would　drop
my　sketch；　and　with　eager　brush　seize　a　group；　a　face；　a　figure；
and　that　is　how　my　studio　comes　to　be　filled　with　the　men　of　Black
Rock。　　There　they　are　all　about　me。　　Graeme　and　the　men　from　the
woods；　Sandy；　Baptiste；　the　Campbells；　and　in　many　attitudes　and
groups　old　man　Nelson；　Craig；　too；　and　his　miners；　Shaw；　Geordie；
Nixon；　and　poor　old　Billy　and　the　keeper　of　the　League　saloon。

It　seemed　as　if　I　lived　among　them；　and　the　illusion　was　greatly
helped　by　the　vivid　letters　Graeme　sent　me　from　time　to　time。
Brief　notes　came　now　and　then　from　Craig　too；　to　whom　I　had　sent　a
faithful　account　of　how　I　had　brought　Mrs。　Mavor　to　her　ship；　and
of　how　I　had　watched　her　sail　away　with　none　too　brave　a　face；　as
she　held　up　her　hand　that　bore　the　miners'　ring；　and　smiled　with
that　deep　light　in　her　eyes。　　Ah！　those　eyes　have　driven　me　to
despair　and　made　me　fear　that　I　am　no　great　painter　after　all；　in
spite　of　what　my　friends　tell　me　who　come　in　to　smoke　my　good
cigars　and　praise　my　brush。　　I　can　get　the　brow　and　hair；　and　mouth
and　pose；　but　the　eyes！　the　eyes　elude　meand　the　faces