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tell me how deep and how constant it was。 And I take some credit
to myself； that in my reply I gave her no bidding to join our band；
but rather praised the work she was doing in her place； telling her
how I had heard of it from Craig。
The summer found me religiously doing Paris and Vienna； gaining a
more perfect acquaintance with the extent and variety of my own
ignorance； and so fully occupied in this interesting and wholesome
occupation that I fell out with all my correspondents； with the
result of weeks of silence between us。
Two letters among the heap waiting on my table in London made my
heart beat quick； but with how different feelings： one from Graeme
telling me that Craig had been very ill； and that he was to take
him home as soon as he could be moved。 Mrs。 Mavor's letter told me
of the death of the old lady； who had been her care for the past
two years； and of her intention to spend some months in her old
home in Edinburgh。 And this letter it is that accounts for my
presence in a miserable； dingy； dirty little hall running off a
close in the historic Cowgate； redolent of the glories of the
splendid past； and of the various odours of the evil…smelling
present。 I was there to hear Mrs。 Mavor sing to the crowd of
gamins that thronged the closes in the neighbourhood； and that had
been gathered into a club by 'a fine leddie frae the West End；' for
the love of Christ and His lost。 This was an 'At Home' night； and
the mothers and fathers； sisters and brothers； of all ages and
sizes were present。 Of all the sad faces I had ever seen； those
mothers carried the saddest and most woe…stricken。 'Heaven pity
us！' I found myself saying； 'is this the beautiful； the cultured；
the heaven…exalted city of Edinburgh？ Will it not； for this； be
cast down into hell some day； if it repent not of its closes and
their dens of defilement？ Oh！ the utter weariness； the dazed
hopelessness of the ghastly faces！ Do not the kindly； gentle
church…going folk of the crescents and the gardens see them in
their dreams； or are their dreams too heavenly for these ghastly
faces to appear？'
I cannot recall the programme of the evening； but in my memory…
gallery is a vivid picture of that face； sweet； sad； beautiful；
alight with the deep glow of her eyes； as she stood and sang to
that dingy crowd。 As I sat upon the window…ledge listening to the
voice with its flowing song； my thoughts were far away； and I was
looking down once more upon the eager； coal…grimed faces in the
rude little church in Black Rock。 I was brought back to find
myself swallowing hard by an audible whisper from a wee lassie to
her mother
'Mither！ See till yon man。 He's greetin'。'
When I came to myself she was singing 'The Land o' the Leal；' the
Scotch 'Jerusalem the Golden；' immortal； perfect。 It needed
experience of the hunger…haunted Cowgate closes； chill with the
black mist of an eastern haar； to feel the full bliss of the vision
in the words
'There's nae sorrow there； Jean；
There's neither cauld nor care； Jean；
The day is aye fair in
The Land o' the Leal。'
A land of fair； warm days； untouched by sorrow and care； would be
heaven indeed to the dwellers of the Cowgate。
The rest of that evening is hazy enough to me now； till I find
myself opposite Mrs。 Mavor at her fire； reading Graeme's letter；
then all is vivid again。
I could not keep the truth from her。 I knew it would be folly to
try。 So I read straight on till I came to the words
'He has had mountain fever； whatever that may be； and he will not
pull up again。 If I can； I shall take him home to my mother'when
she suddenly stretched out her hand； saying； 'Oh； let me read！' and
I gave her the letter。 In a minute she had read it； and began
almost breathlessly
'Listen！ my life is much changed。 My mother…in…law is gone； she
needs me no longer。 My solicitor tells me； too； that owing to
unfortunate investments there is need of money； so great need； that
it is possible that either the estates or the works must go。 My
cousin has his all in the worksiron works； you know。 It would be
wrong to have him suffer。 I shall give up the estatesthat is
best。' She paused。
'And come with me；' I cried。
'When do you sail？'
'Next week；' I answered eagerly。
She looked at me a few moments； and into her eyes there came a
light soft and tender； as she said
'I shall go with you。'
And so she did； and no old Roman in all the glory of a Triumph
carried a prouder heart than I； as I bore her and her little one
from the train to Graeme's carriage； crying
'I've got her。'
But his was the better sense； for he stood waving his hat and
shouting
'He's all right；' at which Mrs。 Mavor grew white； but when she
shook hands with him； the red was in her cheek again。
'It was the cable did it；' went on Graeme。 'Connor's a great
doctor！ His first case will make him famous。 Good prescription
after mountain fever try a cablegram！' And the red grew deeper in
the beautiful face beside us。
Never did the country look so lovely。 The woods were in their
gayest autumn dress； the brown fields were bathed in a purple haze；
the air was sweet and fresh with a suspicion of the coming frosts
of winter。 But in spite of all the road seemed long； and it was as
if hours had gone before our eyes fell upon the white manse
standing among the golden leaves。
'Let them go；' I cried； as Graeme paused to take in the view； and
down the sloping dusty road we flew on the dead run。
'Reminds one a little of Abe's curves；' said Graeme； as we drew up
at the gate。 But I answered him not； for I was introducing to each
other the two best women in the world。 As I was about to rush into
the house； Graeme seized me by the collar； saying
'Hold on； Connor！ you forget your place； you're next。'
'Why； certainly；' I cried； thankfully enough； 'what an ass I am！'
'Quite true；' said Graeme solemnly。
'Where is he？' I asked。
'At this present moment？' he asked； in a shocked voice。 'Why；
Connor； you surprise me。'
'Oh； I see！'
'Yes；' he went on gravely； 'you may trust my mother to be
discreetly attending to her domestic duties； she is a great woman；
my mother。'
I had no doubt of it； for at that moment she came out to us with
little Marjorie in her arms。
'You have shown Mrs。 Mavor to her room； mother； I hope；' said
Graeme； but she only smiled and said
'Run away with your horses； you silly boy；' at which he solemnly
shook his head。 'Ah； mother； you are deepwho would have thought
it of you？'
That evening the manse overflowed with joy； and the days that
followed were like dreams set to sweet music。
But for sheer wild delight； nothing in my memory can quite come up
to the demonstration organised by Graeme； with assistance from
Nixon； Shaw； Sandy； Abe； Geordie； and Baptiste； in honour of the
arrival in camp of Mr。 and Mrs。 Craig。 And； in my opinion； it
added something to the occasion； that after all the cheers for Mr。
and Mrs。 Craig had died away； and after all the hats had come down；
Baptiste； who had never taken his eyes from that radiant face；
should suddenly have swept the crowd into a perfect storm of cheers
by excitedly seizing his tuque； and calling out in his shrill
voice
'By gar！ Tree cheer for Mrs。 Mavor。'
And for many a day the men of Black Rock would easily fall into the
old and well…loved name； but up and down the line of construction；
in all the camps beyond the Great Divide； the new name became as
dear as the old had ever been in Black Rock。
Those old wild days are long since gone into the dim distance of
the past。 They will not come again； for we have fallen into quiet
times； but often in my quietest hours I feel my heart pause in its
beat to hear again that strong； clear voice； like the sound of a
trumpet； bidding us to be men； and I think of them allGraeme；
their chief； Sandy； Baptiste； Geordie； Abe； the Campbells； Nixon；
Shaw； all stronger； better for their knowing of him； and then I
think of Billy asleep under the pines； and of old man Nelson with
the long grass waving over him in the quiet churchyard； and all my
nonsense leaves me； and I bless the Lor