Show BLACK ROCK A Talc Tale of time the I D By Dy Ralph Connor Chapter VI 1 t Hut But Mr Ml Craig looked at him hun for a u ii I moment and said ald Him that cometh unto Me le I J will wl In 1 no wise cast out and Geordie was silent sien though thought he lit continued doubtful I With all al th these se somewhat fantastic features however there was no mistaking mis taking the earnest spirit of tho the men The he meetings grev larger every night un and the tho Interest became more Intense The singing ln became different The Themen Th Themen men no longer simply shouted butas but butas butas as 11 Mr Mt Crl Craig would call cal attention to tc the sentiment of the hymn the voices would attune themselves to the words words In Instead tead of encouraging anything like I emotional excitement Mr 11 seemed to fear It iL I These rhese chaps are aru cal easily stirred ulie u- u up he lie would say y and antl I 1 am ant anxious that thai I they l CY should know knos' now exactly what they nt arc Icing doing It 1 Is fur far too loo serious llou a a i hu business lo to with sIth with Although ahou h Graeme did didot not ot go bO down down- town 1 to to tn the meetings he lie could coull not i but bui ut feel eel the throb of of the emotion heating healing In lii Iho thu heart of or th the community I It ity I mcd lo to det detail l for his benefit l and sometimes for his Imis ut the Uw Incidents of each nl night h But nut I I never 11 ll felt fel quite easy In dwelling upon UP II the features In Mrs tims h Ma Ma- ois presence although Crl Craig did hl I M to lo mIni mind HH manner maimer with wih I Graeme win vas p perfect Openly anxious I Ito to win him U Lv hl his side he Old hl not Improve c the occasion iol and amid ant vex ex him with wih exhortation He lie would not nol take lake take him im al at a l disadvantage though as I aeh found this lill was vas not net his sole Jle I It method Mm MaYor MaVor reason t aso for his hla too lOt showed ed hI lf In wl o and old tender I light She Sha might have ha been Leen his Iler ls- ls ler so o frank was she he antI and so openly affectionate laughing laughing at his fretfulness fretful fretful- I nC ness 1055 undo antI soothing his weariness Never el were welo u boiler better comrades than we four fOUl und and the bright days day speeding s so o swiftly on drew us nearer to one cue another It I 0 tim c r. r But Bui ul time the bright ht days tar came care to an un end for or when once he was wm able to lo go JO about became anxious to get back to tho cum Cain And so the la hart f day lay came a day I remember well wel ll it I was a bright ht crisp winter da day The air was shimmering In the thc ro roily rosiy IY light The mountains VILIL shining heads piercing through l light hl clouds Into that wonderful blue of th the western vestern sky sl y and their feet fe t II Into nto the pine masses gazed down upon Black Rock with calm kindly 2001 looks on their old oid gray faces How sr on r me n grows grown to lo love lo them steadfast old oll I friends Far Fm up among the pines iines we could ouid see ee the smoke c of or the engine althe at al athe the tho works and so still tl und and so clear was van the mountain air that thal wo vo 0 could tear ear the puff purr of ot the steam leam and froman from flom fromar ar ar an down clown the he river the lie murmur nf or the Iho tw The The majestic silence the tener ten ten- riel er beauty haut the peace the loneliness 10 0 came stealing 1 In upon u us n as we ve l leaving a Mrs lr Mayor Mavor or la behind u us arm anTi In orm arm down cown the street iVe Ve e had not gone gone far for on our or way hon thon Graeme turning tori round stood a looking back bace then wa waved wad d his and land and In Jim farewell Mrs Mavor was wan ater at 11 er 1 window smiling and nud waving waln In plum They Thc had grown to be bc great Jl at 11 the these e two and seemed i to have ed at nt some Con Con- Graeme's manner to lo h her r wn was oh t rh l bur or I w II aU 1 hat u p r f mocking devotion gave place to a earnest carnet almost tender ve- ve very cr new now to him but bul very ry ing As AM he lie stood there waving wC hl his fa ril Come Come- e- e wol voll olI I glanced at ot his face ace and ani aw a aO nr O om a. a moment what I had not seen COI 01 flu years a faint flush on Graeme's mos mo's l heck heek eh and antI a light of simple carne earnest r in hl his oves es It I reminded me of or ormy my ny first look lobI of or him when he lie had mime up for his matriculation to the tho var I ar He ITc stood on ii the campus ii ip up at al th the noble old 01 pie pile nn and here a was vas oho ehe same bright arnest a rn Ht look on op hl his boyish face I know not what hat pos possessed d mo no it Il may have been tho lie pain of oC th the memory y worl working working- In me inc but hut I said hl coarsely enough Its Is no US use Graeme my ny bov boy I would fall fal in love lo with wih her lien myself but there would be no chance chanc even cven ei for foi me The flu flush h slowly Iv darkened as he he turned and arid said deliberately I Its nol noi like hike Ik vou nu OUt Connor Cannon to be an anas as ss 58 of oC that peculiar kind Love Loe not LIe not r She vont Wont fall fail fal in lovo 10 uness unless unless un un- less less- less Anti And he stopped abruptly with wih his yes eyes upon Craig Craig But Craig mot met him with unshrinking II ing gaze quietly remarking Her saze heart meart is under the the pints pInes nines and w we moved on nn ench thinking lug lug- his own thoughts and guessing at the thoughts ht of the time others We Vo C were on our way to Craigs Craig's hack an and as wo we passed parsed the saloon aloon Slavin stepped from om from the door with wih a salutation Graeme paused Helo Hello Slavin Sla ln I got rather time the worst vorst of it It didn't I Slavin camo caine near and ld said earnestly earnesty earnest earnest- ly y It was a dirty altogether r. r You You'll I not mint think it i was as maine moine Mr Ir Graeme No No o no no Slavin You stood up like likeL a u L man said Graeme cheerfully fair an nn bed bedad ad adI tn n you OU bate HIM mu tal It I t was vas a nate one that laid lai me inc out an in there's theres theros thero's no grudge in lii me heart heartt t till ill ve ye v. v i All Al right Slavin Well We'll cl perhaps n tand each better beter after an anIl An An that's for fol yes Cz SO son sor Ill I'll Il see ec that your byes byC dont don't pct t ann army anny more mor than they thoy ask asIc for replied SlaIn Sla Sin In vin in backing away And I hop hopI that wont won't be bu much put in Mr tr Craig but SlaIn Slavin only grinned hen When wy WJ cam came camo to Craigs Craig's shack Graeme was glad lo tu lc rest t in the bl big hn hr Craig made him a n cup of or t ten tea a while much the left deft I J smoked admiring neatness s of 01 the ministers minister's housekeeping housekeep housekeep- ing log and amid thin the pent IP almol motherly mother mother- I he lit had with Graeme ly way hp In our tall talk w we drifted Into the hue fu future fu- fu tr tore ture anti and Craig CraiL let Itt us see tC what were his tiis ambitions The railroad was soon oon lo In come The Thc rc resources were as yet ot unexplored but enough was wal known n nto to In o a a great future for tor British Columbia As hi hi- hI tal talked his enthus- enthus I Ism sm m grew gre rc and carried us awn away avay With lh th Lime Iho eye e of a general he lie surveyed the lit th d the strategic country fixed which the church 1 ru must t upon Eight good gool men would hold the thc countr country coun coun- tr try from Fort Steele Steel Ie to tn the coast and andrioni from na to The church must be he In with the railroad She must have havo a hand In Inthe Inthe intiLe tiLe the the shaping of the tho country countr If I so society society so- so 10 I crystallizes without her lmar ence the lie country countr Is lost lo t and British h Columbia will wl he tie other trapdoor to the bottomless pit What hat do you ou propose I asked Organizing a a. n little congregation hero here in Black Rock hock How man many will 1 you get bet Dont know I no Pretty hopeless business I said taiL hopeless Hope hopeless s he lie cried There wore only onh twI twelve of or orS us S at nt first frt to follow Colow Him and rather a poor lot they wel were But nUl He lie le braced brace thorn up I and they conquered c th the world world Bul rI things ar are different said SId Graeme Things Thing Yes Yost yc yes yet nut But He is 16 the tho thos sammi s lne c. c His face tuce ha had an aim exalted look and his eyes were gazing Into far away places A dozen men mel In Black Ilac itoch with sonic somo real grip of him Him Ulm would make timings things go Well We'll c get et them too ho he went on in growing excitement I believe e In my soul we well we'll get them Look h here le Craig If it I you ol organize Id I'd Id J like hile c to Join cai said Graeme Im tin- I 1 dont don't believe e belc much In lii your OUr creed cleed or your yoU church but bUl Ill I'll Il Lc be Llo cd If 11 I dont don't believe beleve in you you Craig looked at him with wih wistful o eyes es and amid shook hl his hea head II It I wont won't do o ol old chap you low know I 1 cant can't hold you oU Youve You've got gol lo to have ha a. a grip grIm of or seine Mime one cue bottom better etel than thun 1 am and thou then besides I hardly I asking ask ing Ins you IU he now now he d well t to be lie out and his step must b be tic betaken t taken ken not nol for Cor or my sake a c nor item for fur a any mans luaus nn's sake mid and I fancy that thai perhaps you OU feol feci epI 11 like hille pleasing me mc jU just l now HOW a n. little That r F do llo old old fe said Graeme G IJU putting nutting I inS out his hl hand Ill Il l. l be hanged If I wont won't do llo anything yo yoI you say I Thais why 1 I wont ont say tay replied Craig Then Tilen r he hc added adder The I 11 lie n is I not nut mine IIii II I i ij ii m my Masters Master's MasterS When ht are mo you OU going lu lu to begin ask d Gramme We V shah ahall hal i ha hn hail e our nUl 1 communion service he acl In Ii two weeks celts and that will viii willbe wi b be our IC roll mil I How many will vill wi answer ls el I I a-I asked ct doubtfully iou trully II I II I know of three he lie said sid quietly Three Thice There Ther are arc two hundred miners anti and ant one hun hundred re and fifty lumbermen Three and amiI Graeme anc looked at him him In amazement amazement You think It WOth worth while to organize three Well ehi e replied Craig smiling forthe for fOl forthe the first t time the time ol organization wont won't be bo elaborate but bUl U it will wi be effective and ence once beside loal loyalty loyally demands obedi obedi- We e s sat sal l long that thal afternoon talkIng talk alit tal- tal Ing Ins shrinking train from the breaking up tom for fu we e knew that lint we wo were about aboul to turn Iiii 1 down a chapter In Out our lives which we should delight elst to linger over in imi after days And Amid in iii m imi my life there Is but one brighter At U last we said old good bye and drove awa away avay anti and tHu though h man many farewells have come In iii II nn n t that ha t day ilay and th this Is none imone Is so 50 vividly idly present to me as that be bc- u U. U lIl Laree C men Inen Craigs Craig's manner manner man man- ner acm with me inc was solemn enough He n that thal loveth his life lre Good Good- bye bc Dont Don't fool with this was vas what whal he said haid to me rne But when he turned to Graeme hi his allele face lighted lg up He lie took him by b the shoulders and gave him a shake looking into his e eyes es and 8 sayIng say say- In log Ing over O and over In a n. low sweet lo- lo ton You come cume old chap you'll come comae OUi cume still lull me nie you'll come come- ill And 11 r o iri mew I Il I- I reply l but only looked at him Then s SI i I U ti v U N h hs hn t I drove off orr But long after aCer we han had had got over the mountain and amid ant into tm tn winding forest road rad on un tho the wa way ivay to lo the thc l tho k knot kept Pl lug In my youn como come youl comp come and there wui a 3 a hot vain pain aIn li ii limy In my amy throat We said t-ald little during tho thu drive t tc to the lie camp was vas hard hurd and made rondo no answer when J 1 to him two to or three times til tJ we came camo to tho the deep shadows of the tho pints forest rOel when with wih a a. little shiver he lie said It I I is all nI a n tangle tangle-a a hopeless tangle I a n g Ic Meaning what 1 asked aslet This business of oC religion What hut quaint varieties Nelsons Nelson's elsons elson's Geordies Geordie's Billy i lf If he has any then Mrs SIrs Movers Mover's she Mayors lavor's he is a saint of course ouise e an and that fellow fello Craig's Craigs b What a 1 n trump he Is is' is and without his re religion re- re Igloo ligion hed he'd be pretty much like the theresi si re-si eS of or us It I is too much for or me His m mystery ster was not mine Time I mack Black Rock varieties of oC religion 1 were c startling but there here was os absolutely ab ab- ab- ab tho the streak of realty reality through them all nil and that discovery cry I f felt J to tobe tobe tome be me a u distinct gain g ln lEIt VII lI Ilic Tie Fi I t Black JUnek loel Hod Communion on I I 1101 The gleam of the great lire fire rc through the he windows of or the great camp gave a u kindly welcome as asa we a drove into th the clearing in lii which the Iho shanties stood Graeme was greatly greaty touched at hi his enthusiastic welcome by b the lie men min At Atthe Athe Atthe the he supper table he lie made a little speech of thanks for tom helm thell faithfulness faithful faithful- ness during his absence specially commending the thc care and efficiency of or f Mr lr Nelson who had had hall char charge e of or tho Iho camp Tho The men macri cheered wildly Baptiste's shrill shri voice leading all nih al Nelson Nelson Nel Nel- son ion being called upon expressed d In Ina Ina a 1 few words word his pleasure at al seeing lins- lins the boss back and amid thanked the th men for or their support while while- he had been in charge I The Time men were tere for fOI making a night of or it I but fearing the tho effect upon I spoke to Nelson Neison who passau passed pass pas ed au d the word and in a 0 short time the camp mini was quiet ll As we vc sauntered from the grub camp to lo the office rc where was OS 01 our ou bed bel we paused to lo take tala In the but beauty of oC the night night The Tue moon rode node highs high over the peaks leaks of or time the mountains Hooding the the- narrow valle ulle with m mellow lw l light ht Under her hr ma magic i the tho rugged peaks s softened th their lr harsh lines and seemed to lean Icon lovingly to toward to- to ward Uj us The dark pine nine masses stood silently a as in breathless adoration tho thio dazzling snow v lay luy 1 like a garment over all al time the open spaces In soft sor waving way way- log ing folds and anti crowned very every stump with wih a quaintly shaped nl nightcap I hove Above bove tho lie camps the Iho smoke mole curled un UP from the thin camp camp standing like pillars pilar pil pi- pi lars lar of cloud that kept watch vatch while hll the men slept slept And high over all nil the lie deep blue blu night 51 sky Y with wih its Is star jewels lewels sprang J like c the roof of a great I cathedral from range to range rang coverIng coverIng cover- cover Ing log us IL In its ls kindly shelter h ler How Io homelike and safe seemed the aley valley with ith its Us mountain sides its Us sentinel of oC sky tree trel and arching roof jeweled Even the lie night seemed kindly and friendly en 1 the stars and the thc lone cry of oC the wolf wol from rota the time heel deep forest seemed seemed seem seem- ed d like the voice nf or a comrade How beautiful too beautiful said maid Graeme stretching out his arms |