black rock-第14节

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followed　upon　a　very　telling　lesson　on　the　parable　of　the　Pharisee
and　the　Publican。

The　chief　actors　in　that　wonderful　story　were　transferred　to　the
Black　Rock　stage；　and　were　presented　in　miner's　costume。　　Abe　was
particularly　well　pleased　with　the　scoring　of　the　'blanked　old
rooster　who　crowed　so　blanked　high；'　and　somewhat　incensed　at　the
quiet　remark　interjected　by　Geordie；　'that　it　was　nae　credit　till　a
man　tae　be　a　sinner'；　and　when　Geordie　went　on　to　urge　the
importance　of　right　conduct　and　respectability；　Abe　was　led　to　pour
forth　vials　of　contemptuous　wrath　upon　the　Pharisees　and　hypocrites
who　thought　themselves　better　than　other　people。　　But　Geordie　was
quite　unruffled；　and　lamented　the　ignorance　of　men　who；　brought　up
in　'Epeescopawlyun　or　Methody'　churches；　could　hardly　be　expected
to　detect　the　Antinomian　or　Arminian　heresies。

'Aunty　Nomyun　or　Uncle　Nomyun；'　replied　Abe；　boiling　hot；　'my
mother　was　a　Methodist；　and　I'll　back　any　blanked　Methodist
against　any　blankety　blank　long…faced；　lantern…jawed；　skinflint
Presbyterian；'　and　this　he　was　eager　to　maintain　to　any　man's
satisfaction　if　he　would　step　outside。

Geordie　was　quite　unmoved；　but　hastened　to　assure　Abe　that　he　meant
no　disrespect　to　his　mother；　who　he　had　'nae　doot　was　a　clever
enough　buddie；　tae　judge　by　her　son。'　　Abe　was　speedily　appeased；
and　offered　to　set　up　the　drinks　all　round。　　But　Geordie；　with
evident　reluctance；　had　to　decline；　saying；　'Na；　na；　lad；　I'm　a
League　man　ye　ken；'　and　I　was　sure　that　Geordie　at　that　moment　felt
that　membership　in　the　League　had　its　drawbacks。

Nor　was　Geordie　too　sure　of　Craig's　orthodoxy；　while　as　to　Mrs。
Mavor；　whose　slave　he　was；　he　was　in　the　habit　of　lamenting　her
doctrinal　condition

'She's　a　fine　wumman；　nae　doot；　but；　puir　cratur；　she's　fair
carried　awa　wi'　the　errors　o'　thae　Epeescopawlyuns。'

It　fell　to　Geordie；　therefore；　as　a　sacred　duty；　in　view　of　the
laxity　of　those　who　seemed　to　be　the　pillars　of　the　Church；　to　be
all　the　more　watchful　and　unyielding。　　But　he　was　delightfully
inconsistent　when　confronted　with　particulars。　　In　conversation
with　him　one　night　after　one　of　the　meetings；　when　he　had　been
specially　hard　upon　the　ignorant　and　godless；　I　innocently　changed
the　subject　to　Billy　Breen；　whom　Geordie　had　taken　to　his　shack
since　the　night　of　the　League。　　He　was　very　proud　of　Billy's
success　in　the　fight　against　whisky；　the　credit　of　which　he　divided
unevenly　between　Mrs。　Mavor　and　himself。

'He's　fair　daft　aboot　her；'　he　explained　to　me；　'an'　I'll　no'　deny
but　she's　a　great　help；　ay；　a　verra　conseederable　asseestance；　but；
man；　she　doesna　ken　the　whusky；　an'　the　inside　o'　a　man　that's
wantin'　it。　　Ay；　puir　buddie；　she　diz　her　pairt；　an'　when　ye're　a
bit　restless　an　thrawn　aifter　yer　day's　wark；　it's　like　a　walk　in　a
bonnie　glen　on　a　simmer　eve；　with　the　birds　liltin'　aboot；　tae　sit
in　yon　roomie　and　hear　her　sing；　but　when　the　night　is　on；　an'　ye
canna　sleep；　but　wauken　wi'　an'　awfu'　thurst　and　wi'　dreams　o'　cosy
firesides；　and　the　bonnie　sparklin'　glosses；　as　it　is　wi'　puir
Billy；　ay；　it's　then　ye　need　a　man　wi'　a　guid　grup　beside　ye。'

'What　do　you　do　then；　Geordie？'　I　asked。

'Oo　ay；　I　juist　gang　for　a　bit　walk　wi'　the　lad；　and　then　pits　the
kettle　on　an'　maks　a　cup　o'　tea　or　coffee；　an'　aff　he　gangs　tae
sleep　like　a　bairn。'

'Poor　Billy；'　I　said　pityingly；　'there's　no　hope　for　him　in　the
future；　I　fear。'

'Hoot　awa；　man；'　said　Geordie　quickly。　　'Ye　wadna　keep　oot　a　puir
cratur　frae　creepin'　in；　that's　daein'　his　best？'

'But；　Geordie；'　I　remonstrated；　'he　doesn't　know　anything　of　the
doctrines。　　I　don't　believe　he　could　give　us　〃The　Chief　End　of
Man。〃'

'An'　wha's　tae　blame　for　that？'　said　Geordie；　with　fine
indignation。　　'An'　maybe　you　remember　the　prood　Pharisee　and　the
puir　wumman　that　cam'　creepin'　in　ahint　the　Maister。'

The　mingled　tenderness　and　indignation　in　Geordie's　face　were
beautiful　to　see；　so　I　meekly　answered；　'Well；　I　hope　Mr。　Craig
won't　be　too　strict　with　the　boys。'

Geordie　shot　a　suspicious　glance　at　me；　but　I　kept　my　face　like　a
summer　morn；　and　he　replied　cautiously

'Ay；　he's　no'　that　streect：　but　he　maun　exerceese　discreemination。'

Geordie　was　none　the　less　determined；　however；　that　Billy　should
'come　forrit'；　but　as　to　the　manager；　who　was　a　member　of　the
English　Church；　and　some　others　who　had　been　confirmed　years　ago；
and　had　forgotten　much　and　denied　more；　he　was　extremely　doubtful；
and　expressed　himself　in　very　decided　words　to　the　minister

'Ye'll　no'　be　askin'　forrit　thae　Epeescopawlyun　buddies。　　They
juist　ken　naething　ava。'

But　Mr。　Craig　looked　at　him　for　a　moment　and　said；　〃Him　that　cometh
unto　Me　I　will　in　no　wise　cast　out；〃'　and　Geordie　was　silent；
though　he　continued　doubtful。

With　all　these　somewhat　fantastic　features；　however；　there　was　no
mistaking　the　earnest　spirit　of　the　men。　　The　meetings　grew　larger
every　night；　and　the　interest　became　more　intense。　　The　singing
became　different。　　The　men　no　longer　simply　shouted；　but　as　Mr。
Craig　would　call　attention　to　the　sentiment　of　the　hymn；　the　voices
would　attune　themselves　to　the　words。　　Instead　of　encouraging
anything　like　emotional　excitement；　Mr。　Craig　seemed　to　fear　it。

'These　chaps　are　easily　stirred　up；'　he　would　say；　'and　I　am
anxious　that　they　should　know　exactly　what　they　are　doing。　　It　is
far　too　serious　a　business　to　trifle　with。'

Although　Graeme　did　not　go　downstairs　to　the　meetings；　he　could　not
but　feel　the　throb　of　the　emotion　beating　in　the　heart　of　the
community。　　I　used　to　detail　for　his　benefit；　and　sometimes　for　his
amusement；　the　incidents　of　each　night。　　But　I　never　felt　quite
easy　in　dwelling　upon　the　humorous　features　in　Mrs。　Mavor's
presence；　although　Craig　did　not　appear　to　mind。　　His　manner　with
Graeme　was　perfect。　　Openly　anxious　to　win　him　to　his　side；　he　did
not　improve　the　occasion　and　vex　him　with　exhortation。　　He　would
not　take　him　at　a　disadvantage；　though；　as　I　afterwards　found；　this
was　not　his　sole　reason　for　his　method。　　Mrs。　Mavor；　too；　showed
herself　in　wise　and　tender　light。　　She　might　have　been　his　sister；
so　frank　was　she　and　so　openly　affectionate；　laughing　at　his
fretfulness　and　soothing　his　weariness。

Never　were　better　comrades　than　we　four；　and　the　bright　days
speeding　so　swiftly　on　drew　us　nearer　to　one　another。

But　the　bright　days　came　to　an　end；　for　Graeme；　when　once　he　was
able　to　go　about；　became　anxious　to　get　back　to　the　camp。　　And　so
the　last　day　came；　a　day　I　remember　well。　　It　was　a　bright；　crisp
winter　day。

The　air　was　shimmering　in　the　frosty　light。　　The　mountains；　with
their　shining　heads　piercing　through　light　clouds　into　that
wonderful　blue　of　the　western　sky；　and　their　feet　pushed　into　the
pine　masses；　gazed　down　upon　Black　Rock　with　calm；　kindly　looks　on
their　old　grey　faces。　　How　one　grows　to　love　them；　steadfast　old
friends！　　Far　up　among　the　pines　we　could　see　the　smoke　of　the
engine　at　the　works；　and　so　still　and　so　clear　was　the　mountain　air
that　we　could　hear　the　puff　of　the　steam；　and　from　far　down　the
river　the　murmur　of　the　rapids。　　The　majestic　silence；　the　tender
beauty；　the　peace；　the　loneliness；　too；　came　stealing　in　upon　us；
as　we　three；　leaving　Mrs。　Mavor　behind　us；　marched　arm…in…arm　down
the　street。　　We　had　not　gone　far　on　our　way；　when　Graeme；　turning
round；　stood　a　moment　looking　back；　then　waved　his　hand　in
farewell。　　Mrs。　Mavor　was　at　her　window；　smiling　and　waving　in
return。　　They　had　grown　to　be　great　friends　these　two；　and　seemed
to　have　arrived　at　some　understanding。　　Certainly；　Graeme's　manner
to　her　was　not　that　he　bore　to　other　women。　　His　half…quizzical；
somewhat　superior　air　of　mocking　devotion　gave　place　to　a　simple；
earnest；　almost　tender；　respect；　very　new　to　him；　but　very　winning。

As　he　stood　there　waving　his　farewell；　I　glanced　at　his　face　and
saw　for　a　moment　what　I　had　not　seen　for　years；　a　faint　flush　on
Graeme's　cheek　and　a　light　of　simple；　earnest　faith　in　his　eyes。
It　reminded　me　of　my　first　look　of　him　when　he　had　come　up　for　his
matriculation　to　the　'Varsity。　　He　stood　on　the　campus　looking　up　at
the　noble　old　pile；　and　there　was　the　same　bright；　trustful；
earnest　look　on　his　boyish　face。

I　know　not　what　spirit　possessed　me；　it　may　have　been　the　pain　of
the　memory　working　in　me；　but　I　said；　coarsely　enough；　'It's　no
use；　Graeme；　my　boy；　I　would　fall　in　love　with　her　myself；　but
there　would　be　no　chance　even　for　me。'

The　flush　slowly　darkened　as　he　turned　and　said　deliberately

'It's　not　like　you；　Connor；　to　be　an　ass　of　that　peculiar　kind。
Love！not　exactly！　　She　won't　fall　in　love　unless'　and　he
stopped　abruptly　with　his　eyes　upon　Craig。

But　Craig　met　him　with　unshrinking　gaze；　quietly　remarking；　'Her
heart　is　under　the　pines'；　and　we　moved　on；　each　thinking　his　own
thoughts；　and　guessing　at　the　thoughts　of　the　others。

We　were　on　our　way　to　Craig's　shack；　and　as　we　passed　the　saloon
Slavin　stepped　from　the　door　with　a　salutation。　　Graeme　paused。
'Hello；　Slavin！　　I　got　rather　the　worst　of　it；　didn't　I？'

Slavin　came　near；　and　said　earnestly；　'It　was　a　dirty　thrick
altogether；　you'll　not　think　it　was　moine；　Mr。　Gra