black rock-第9章

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river；　talking　I　know　not　what　folly；　till　her　great　eyes　grew
grave；　then　anxious；　and　my　tongue　stammered　and　became　silent。
Then；　laying　her　hand　upon　my　arm；　she　said　with　gentle　sweetness；
〃Tell　me　your　trouble；　Mr。　Craig；〃　and　I　knew　my　agony　had　come；
and　I　burst　out；　〃Oh；　if　it　were　only　mine！〃　　She　turned　quite
white；　and　with　her　deep　eyesyou've　noticed　her　eyesdrawing　the
truth　out　of　mine；　she　said；　〃Is　it　mine；　Mr。　Craig；　and　my
baby's？〃　　I　waited；　thinking　with　what　words　to　begin。　　She　put　one
hand　to　her　heart；　and　with　the　other　caught　a　little　poplar…tree
that　shivered　under　her　grasp；　and　said　with　white　lips；　but　even
more　gently；　〃Tell　me。〃　　I　wondered　at　my　voice　being　so　steady　as
I　said；　〃Mrs。　Mavor；　God　will　help　you　and　your　baby。　　There　has
been　an　accidentand　it　is　all　over。〃

'She　was　a　miner's　wife；　and　there　was　no　need　for　more。　　I　could
see　the　pattern　of　the　sunlight　falling　through　the　trees　upon　the
grass。　　I　could　hear　the　murmur　of　the　river；　and　the　cry　of　the
cat…bird　in　the　bushes；　but　we　seemed　to　be　in　a　strange　and　unreal
world。　　Suddenly　she　stretched　out　her　hands　to　me；　and　with　a
little　moan　said；　〃Take　me　to　him。〃

'〃Sit　down　for　a　moment　or　two；〃　I　entreated。

'〃No；　no！　I　am　quite　ready。　　See；〃　she　added　quietly；　〃I　am　quite
strong。〃

'I　set　off　by　a　short　cut　leading　to　her　home；　hoping　the　men　would
be　there　before　us；　but；　passing　me；　she　walked　swiftly　through　the
trees；　and　I　followed　in　fear。　　As　we　came　near　the　main　path　I
heard　the　sound　of　feet；　and　I　tried　to　stop　her；　but　she；　too；　had
heard　and　knew。　　〃Oh；　let　me　go！〃　she　said　piteously；　〃you　need　not
fear。〃　　And　I　had　not　the　heart　to　stop　her。　　In　a　little　opening
among　the　pines　we　met　the　bearers。　　When　the　men　saw　her；　they
laid　their　burden　gently　down　upon　the　carpet　of　yellow　pine…
needles；　and　then；　for　they　had　the　hearts　of　true　men　in　them；
they　went　away　into　the　bushes　and　left　her　alone　with　her　dead。
She　went　swiftly　to　his　side；　making　no　cry；　but　kneeling　beside
him　she　stroked　his　face　and　hands；　and　touched　his　curls　with　her
fingers；　murmuring　all　the　time　soft　words　of　love。　　〃O　my　darling；
my　bonnie；　bonnie　darling；　speak　to　me！　　Will　ye　not　speak　to　me
just　one　little　word？　　O　my　love；　my　love；　my　heart's　love！
Listen；　my　darling！〃　　And　she　put　her　lips　to　his　ear；　whispering；
and　then　the　awful　stillness。　　Suddenly　she　lifted　her　head　and
scanned　his　face；　and　then；　glancing　round　with　a　wild　surprise　in
her　eyes；　she　cried；　〃He　will　not　speak　to　me！　　Oh；　he　will　not
speak　to　me！〃　　I　signed　to　the　men；　and　as　they　came　forward　I　went
to　her　and　took　her　hands。

'〃Oh；〃　she　said　with　a　wail　in　her　voice；　〃he　will　not　speak　to
me。〃　　The　men　were　sobbing　aloud。　　She　looked　at　them　with　wide…
open　eyes　of　wonder。　　〃Why　are　they　weeping？　　Will　he　never　speak
to　me　again？　　Tell　me；〃　she　insisted　gently。　　The　words　were
running　through　my　head


　　　　　'〃There's　a　land　that　is　fairer　than　day；〃


and　I　said　them　over　to　her；　holding　her　hands　firmly　in　mine。　　She
gazed　at　me　as　if　in　a　dream；　and　the　light　slowly　faded　from　her
eyes　as　she　said；　tearing　her　hands　from　mine　and　waving　them
towards　the　mountains　and　the　woods

'〃But　never　more　here？　　Never　more　here？〃

'I　believe　in　heaven　and　the　other　life；　but　I　confess　that　for　a
moment　it　all　seemed　shadowy　beside　the　reality　of　this　warm；
bright　world；　full　of　life　and　love。　　She　was　very　ill　for　two
nights；　and　when　the　coffin　was　closed　a　new　baby　lay　in　the
father's　arms。

'She　slowly　came　back　to　life；　but　there　were　no　more　songs。　　The
miners　still　come　about　her　shop；　and　talk　to　her　baby；　and　bring
her　their　sorrows　and　troubles；　but　though　she　is　always　gentle；
almost　tender；　with　them；　no　man　ever　says　〃Sing。〃　　And　that　is　why
I　am　glad　she　sang　last　week；　it　will　be　good　for　her　and　good　for
them。'

'Why　does　she　stay？'　I　asked。

'Mavor's　people　wanted　her　to　go　to　them；'　he　replied。

'They　have　moneyshe　told　me　about　it；　but　her　heart　is　in　the
grave　up　there　under　the　pines；　and　besides；　she　hopes　to　do
something　for　the　miners；　and　she　will　not　leave　them。'

I　am　afraid　I　snorted　a　little　impatiently　as　I　said；　'Nonsense！
why；　with　her　face；　and　manner；　and　voice　she　could　be　anything　she
liked　in　Edinburgh　or　in　London。'

'And　why　Edinburgh　or　London？'　he　asked　coolly。

'Why？'　I　repeated　a　little　hotly。　　'You　think　this　is　better？'

'Nazareth　was　good　enough　for　the　Lord　of　glory；'　he　answered；　with
a　smile　none　too　bright；　but　it　drew　my　heart　to　him；　and　my　heat
was　gone。

'How　long　will　she　stay？'　I　asked。

'Till　her　work　is　done；'　he　replied。

'And　when　will　that　be？'　I　asked　impatiently。

'When　God　chooses；'　he　answered　gravely；　'and　don't　you　ever　think
but　that　it　is　worth　while。　　One　value　of　work　is　not　that　crowds
stare　at　it。　　Read　history；　man！'

He　rose　abruptly　and　began　to　walk　about。　　'And　don't　miss　the
whole　meaning　of　the　Life　that　lies　at　the　foundation　of　your
religion。　　Yes；'　he　added　to　himself；　'the　work　is　worth　doing
worth　even　her　doing。'

I　could　not　think　so　then；　but　the　light　of　the　after　years　proved
him　wiser　than　I。　　A　man；　to　see　far；　must　climb　to　some　height；
and　I　was　too　much　upon　the　plain　in　those　days　to　catch　even　a
glimpse　of　distant　sunlit　uplands　of　triumphant　achievement　that
lie　beyond　the　valley　of　self…sacrifice。


CHAPTER　V

THE　MAKING　OF　THE　LEAGUE


Thursday　morning　found　Craig　anxious；　even　gloomy；　but　with　fight
in　every　line　of　his　face。　　I　tried　to　cheer　him　in　my　clumsy　way
by　chaffing　him　about　his　League。　　But　he　did　not　blaze　up　as　he
often　did。　　It　was　a　thing　too　near　his　heart　for　that。　　He　only
shrank　a　little　from　my　stupid　chaff　and　said

'Don't；　old　chap；　this　is　a　good　deal　to　me。　　I've　tried　for　two
years　to　get　this；　and　if　it　falls　through　now；　I　shall　find　it
hard　to　bear。'

Then　I　repented　my　light　words　and　said；　'Why！　the　thing　will　go
sure　enough：　after　that　scene　in　the　church　they　won't　go　back。'

'Poor　fellows！'　he　said　as　if　to　himself；　'whisky　is　about　the　only
excitement　they　have；　and　they　find　it　pretty　tough　to　give　it　up；
and　a　lot　of　the　men　are　against　the　total　abstinence　idea。　　It
seems　rot　to　them。'

'It　is　pretty　steep；'　I　said。　　'Can't　you　do　without　it？'

'No；　I　fear　not。　　There　is　nothing　else　for　it。　　Some　of　them　talk
of　compromise。　　They　want　to　quit　the　saloon　and　drink　quietly　in
their　shacks。　　The　moderate　drinker　may　have　his　place　in　other
countries；　though　I　can't　see　it。　　I　haven't　thought　that　out；　but
here　the　only　safe　man　is　the　man　who　quits　it　dead　and　fights　it
straight；　anything　else　is　sheerest　humbug　and　nonsense。'

I　had　not　gone　in　much　for　total　abstinence　up　to　this　time；
chiefly　because　its　advocates　seemed　for　the　most　part　to　be
somewhat　ill…balanced；　but　as　I　listened　to　Craig；　I　began　to　feel
that　perhaps　there　was　a　total　abstinence　side　to　the　temperance
question；　and　as　to　Black　Rock；　I　could　see　how　it　must　be　one
thing　or　the　other。

We　found　Mrs。　Mavor　brave　and　bright。　　She　shared　Mr。　Craig's
anxiety　but　not　his　gloom。　　Her　courage　was　of　that　serene　kind
that　refuses　to　believe　defeat　possible；　and　lifts　the　spirit　into
the　triumph　of　final　victory。　　Through　the　past　week　she　had　been
carefully　disposing　her　forces　and　winning　recruits。　　And　yet　she
never　seemed　to　urge　or　persuade　the　men；　but　as　evening　after
evening　the　miners　dropped　into　the　cosy　room　downstairs；　with　her
talk　and　her　songs　she　charmed　them　till　they　were　wholly　hers。
She　took　for　granted　their　loyalty；　trusted　them　utterly；　and　so
made　it　difficult　for　them　to　be　other　than　true　men。

That　night　Mrs。　Mavor's　large　storeroom；　which　had　been　fitted　up
with　seats；　was　crowded　with　miners　when　Mr。　Craig　and　I　entered。

After　a　glance　over　the　crowd；　Craig　said；　'There's　the　manager；
that　means　war。'　　And　I　saw　a　tall　man；　very　fair；　whose　chin　fell
away　to　the　vanishing　point；　and　whose　hair　was　parted　in　the
middle；　talking　to　Mrs。　Mavor。　　She　was　dressed　in　some　rich　soft
stuff　that　became　her　well。　　She　was　looking　beautiful　as　ever；　but
there　was　something　quite　new　in　her　manner。　　Her　air　of　good…
fellowship　was　gone；　and　she　was　the　high…bred　lady；　whose　gentle
dignity　and　sweet　grace；　while　very　winning；　made　familiarity
impossible。

The　manager　was　doing　his　best；　and　appeared　to　be　well　pleased
with　himself。　　'She'll　get　him　if　any　one　can。　　I　failed；'　said
Craig。

I　stood　looking　at　the　men；　and　a　fine　lot　of　fellows　they　were。
Free；　easy；　bold　in　their　bearing；　they　gave　no　sign　of　rudeness；
and；　from　their　frequent　glances　toward　Mrs。　Mavor；　I　could　see
they　were　always　conscious　of　her　presence。　　No　men　are　so　truly
gentle　as　are　the　Westerners　in　the　presence　of　a　good　woman。　　They
were　evidently　of　all　classes　and　ranks　originally；　but　now；　and　in
this　country　of　real　measurements；　they　ranked　simply　according　to
the　'man'　in　them。　　'See　that　handsome；　young　chap　of　dissipated
appearance？'　said　Craig；　'that's　Vernon　Winton；　an　Oxford　graduate；
blue　blood；　awfully　plucky；　but　quite　gone。　　When　he　gets
repentant；　instead　of　shooting　himself；　he　comes　to　Mrs。　Mavor。
Fact。'

'From　Oxford　University　to　Black　Rock　mining　camp　is　something　of　a
step；'　I　replied。

'That　queer…looking　little　chap　in　the　corner　is　Billy　Breen。　　How
in　the　world　has　he　got　here？'　went　on　Mr。　Craig。　　Queer…looking　he
was。　　A　little　man；　with　a　small　head　set　on　heavy　square
shoulders；　long　arms；　and　huge　hands　that　sprawled　all　over　his
body；　altogether　a　most　ungainly　specimen　of　humanity。

By　this　time　Mrs。　Mavor　had　finished　with　the　manager；　and　was　in
the　centre　of　a　group　of　miners。　　Her　grand　air　was　all　gone；　and
she　was　their　comrade；　their　friend；　one　of　themselves。　　Nor　did
she　assume　the　role　of　entertainer；　but　rather　did　she；　with　half…
shy　air；　cast　herself　upon　their　chivalry；　and　they　were　too　truly
gentlemen　to　fail　her。　　It　is　hard　to　make　Western　men；　and
especially　old…timers；　talk。　　But　this　gift　was　hers；　and　it
stirred　my　admiration　to　see　her　draw　on　a　grizzled　veteran　to　tell
how；　twenty　years　ago；　he　had　crossed　the　Great　Divide；　and　had
seen　and　done　what　no　longer　fell　to　men　to　see　or　do　in　these　new
days。　　And　so　she　won　the　old…timer。　　But　it　was　beautiful　to　see
the　innocent　guile　with　which　she　caught　Billy　Breen；　and　drew　him
to　her　corner　near　the　organ。　　What　she　was　saying　I　knew　not；　but
poor　Billy　was　protesting；　waving　his　big　hands。

The　meeting　came　to　order；　with　Shaw　in　the　chair；　and　the　handsome
young　Oxford　man　secretary。　　Shaw　stated　the　object　of　the　meeting
in　a　few　halting　words；　but　when　he　came　to　speak　of　the　pleasure
he　and　all　felt　in　being　together　in　that　room；　his　words　flowed　in
a　stream；　warm　and　full。　　Then　there　was　a　pause；　and　Mr。　Craig　was
called。　　But　he　knew　better　than　to　speak　at　that　point。　　Finally
Nixon　rose　hesitatingly；　but；　as　he　caught　a　bright　smile　from　Mrs。
Mavor；　he　straightened　himself　as　if　for　a　fight。

'I　ain't　no　good　at　makin'　speeches；'　he　began；　'but　it　ain't
speeches　we　want。　　We've　got　somethin'　to　do；　and　what　we　want　to
know　is　how　to　do　it。　　A