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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 of Mrs。
Mavor on my wall； that the men praise and rave over； are not such
as I could show to any of the men from the mountains。
Graeme's letters tell me chiefly about Craig and his doings； and
about old man Nelson； while from Craig I hear about Graeme； and how
he and Nelson are standing at his back； and doing what they can to
fill the gap that never can be filled。 The three are much
together； I can see； and I am glad for them all； but chiefly for
Craig； whose face； grief…stricken but resolute； and often gentle as
a woman's； will not leave me nor let me rest in peace。
The note of thanks he sent me was entirely characteristic。 There
were no heroics； much less pining or self…pity。 It was simple and
manly； not ignoring the pain but making much of the joy。 And then
they had their work to do。 That note； so clear； so manly； so nobly
sensible； stiffens my back yet at times。
In the spring came the startling news that Black Rock would soon be
no more。 The mines were to close down on April 1。 The company；
having allured the confiding public with enticing descriptions of
marvellous drifts； veins； assays； and prospects； and having
expended vast sums of the public's money in developing the mines
till the assurance of their reliability was absolutely final；
calmly shut down and vanished。 With their vanishing vanishes Black
Rock； not without loss and much deep cursing on the part of the men
brought some hundreds of miles to aid the company in its
extraordinary and wholly inexplicable game。
Personally it grieved me to think that my plan of returning to
Black Rock could never be carried out。 It was a great compensation；
however； that the three men most representative to me of that life
were soon to visit me actually in my own home and den。 Graeme's
letter said that in one month they might be expected to appear。 At
least he and Nelson were soon to come； and Craig would soon follow。
On receiving the great news； I at once looked up young Nelson and
his sister； and we proceeded to celebrate the joyful prospect with
a specially good dinner。 I found the greatest delight in picturing
the joy and pride of the old man in his children； whom he had not
seen for fifteen or sixteen years。 The mother had died some five
years before； then the farm was sold； and the brother and sister
came into the city； and any father might be proud of them。 The son
was a well…made young fellow； handsome enough； thoughtful； and
solid…looking。 The girl reminded me of her father。 The same
resolution was seen in mouth and jaw； and the same passion
slumbered in the dark grey eyes。 She was not beautiful； but she
carried herself well； and one would always look at her twice。 It
would be worth something to see the meeting between father and
daughter。
But fate； the greatest artist of us all； takes little count of the
careful drawing and the bright colouring of our fancy's pictures；
but with rude hand deranges all； and with one swift sweep paints
out the bright and paints in the dark。 And this trick he served me
when； one Jun