The Prospector
dow Macgregor's home, while not as pretentious as those of the well-to-do farmers, had been famous as a model of tidy ho
little cottage, which in many eyes was none too desirable. On the walls hung old-fashioned prints of Robbie Burns and his Highland Mary, the Queen and the Prince Consort, one or two quaint family groups, and over the mantel a large portrait of a tall soldier in full Highland dress. Upon a bracket in a corner stood a glass case enclosing a wreath of flowers wrought in worsted, and under it in a frame hung a sampler with the Lord's Prayer similarly wrought. On one side of the room stood a clock
gregor, who sat knitting by the fire. "The ni
knitting. When I'm an old man I only hope I'll have a cozy hearthstone like this to draw up to,
Mrs. Macgregor and Shock had nursed him back from death's door two years ago, was one of the family, and, indeed, he used endearments with the old lady that the und
er, and great it w
pausing now and then in her knitting to ejaculate, "Well-a-well!" "Look at that, now!" "Hear to him!" When Shock had finished, Brown br
lege?" enquired the old lady. "There w
Great West, and a hard time he is having, too, what with the foreign fie
her needles flying fast and
about it. 'I find a good many men,' the old chap said, 'who, after anxiously enquiring as to the work expected of them, remuneration, prospects of advance, etc., always want to lay the matter before the Lord before giving their answer. And I am
gregor a little impatiently, "for there's no want o
ly first-class men-men ready for anything in the way
ing her head grimly; "he will no
u ought to bear him tell of the rivers with sands of
g over her glasses. "Ye're a gay callant,
rue. Ask Sh
aking up from a deep
skatchewan are full of gold, and you kn
Cariboo Cameron and his gold. But not
these men in the mines with their saloons and awful gambling places, and the me
down in her lap she turned to him and said severely, "And what took them out
"but there they are, Mother, there they are, a
, "let them put up with it, as better before them hav
getting them," replied Shock, "and f
nes and things so far from their homes? Why does he not send the men who are wanting places?
let them that's not needed here go out yonder
e of them be mis
t do," said Shock, sh
nce of hearing him yourself to-morrow morning,
ister wouldn't be so ready with his pulpit for every Bill and Bob
ever seen her like this before. This bitter impatience
will be needing money and the people
we will, and, indeed, there are many of them in that Kirk that would be the better of giving a little
said Brown, using his pet name for the woman who had
ng, as well, that someone had set you to your
t I am not promising you I am going to work. My physician warns me
well where to look for him,"
sharp for any of us. Not
e eyes to see some things, a
undly humiliating," he added solemnly, "to see a chit of a girl, just because she has brown curls and
ad at him. "Wait you, my
new railway in that country and I fear that means trouble for him. There are tho
t I'll do what I can to assist the Fates, and I'll begin by bringing both those young ladies to
speak, but seemed to think bette
South country. No, it's little enough the poor things will be getting in yon church of theirs with their read prayers and their bit sairm
don't you know that their minister is just a spl
ch," said the old lady. "
ou can't expect to find men like Candlish, Chal
that I walked with my shoes and stockings in my hand down the glen to hear these men preach. And yon was the preaching. Yon was the preaching. None of your puny, peeping, fifteen-meenute sairmonettes, but preaching, terrible heart-smit
have heard such preaching as would cause your heart to quake within you,
rible preaching, indee
e the Tummel in spate, while visions of the eternal things-the throne of God and the Judgment Day-filled our eyes." She paused a few moments and then sinking back into her chair she went on, "Ay, terrible preaching, yon, like the storm-blast sweeping the hillsides and rending the firs
nce while they waited
time upon the words 'Will ye also go away?'
their sticks hard and the women wiped at their eyes that would never be done running, and that man's voice soughing over them l
Good-night, mother. You're the greatest preacher I know, and I would not mind a whole hour fro
his hand gently. "I doubt, after all, the fault nowaday
straying sheep. But I warn you that after you hear that man
and after the door had closed upon Brown
night, mother," s
ould I be tired? No, n
, mother. But t
at the heart of each. Her mood of impatience had passed. She was once more herself, calm and strong, looking with steadfast eyes into th
e usual company had assembled. The Don was describing the Superintendent's address at
sn't avoid that fiery cross fellow, The Don w
that? Mr. Balfour here would have us believe tha
I know, he makes you see things-the mountains and that foot-hill country, the mining camps and all
e brimstone?"
that old chap suits me. If I were a Th
ountry, with vast opportunities,"
and doubtless any young man who has the necessary enterprise an
What do you mean by t
ght sort of chap, too, apparently-accepted the appointment-everything was arranged-happened, however, he was engaged to a young lady brought up in the lap of luxury, and that sort of thing. When she heard of her young man being appointed to this outlandish place, she promptly collapsed into a faint, sister went into hy
Betty indignantly. "The young lady ought to be c
tainly,
ry as that, or ask her to wait an indefinite number of years till the young man should return? Why it is simply mon
is hand over his heart, "she would be glad to do either. I would simply remark, 'My love,
d be a terrible life for any woman, and a man
uite impossible!" exclaimed Mrs. Fairbanks with
for your Chief, apparently, are hopeless old bachelors or young
s. Fairbanks with
diers and officers who go to India and other outlandish pl
"These men go out to serve their Queen and country, and it is recogn
be at The Don's lips, "I agree with Mr. Brown. If a man's work calls him to Green
ed and duty calls him to a foreign land, he must go. But why should a girl throw away her prospects and condemn herself to a life of
ose duty calls him there," excla
ssionary wanting a helpmeet-that's the proper
ite crossly, "but surely we need no
with enterprise who believe in themselves, and I think no man is throwing his prospects away who identifies himsel
adding wickedly, "just t
r," said Lloyd, "if circumstances
ll?" cried Mrs. Fairbanks, holdin
l microbe," su
rbanks, "for men of high culture and special train
ersity grads, Lords, Dukes, and such, as well as the professional gambler, and other highly technical experts. The Superinten
special training fits him for something quite different, and I think he will not be mad enough to throw away his brilli
handsome, haughty face was set hard and in his eyes burned a
poor old chap. Not much chance, though, ag
Lloyd in his fine tenor voice, wit
t he?" And Helen, nodding intelligently, lingered a moment and then moved to where The Don sat, while Brown went toward the piano. "Must get these youngsters inoculated with the Occidental microbe," he muttered as he took his place beside Mrs. Fairbanks, who was listening with pleased approval to
e eyes of the congregation with all the passionate pride of the patriot. The life of the lonely rancher and of his more lonely wife, the desperate struggle for manhood by the mean of the mine and the railroad and the lumber camp, the magnitude of the issues at stake; the pathos of defeat, the glory of triumph, were all portrayed with a power that c
ere were held fast. "He's got it, too, confound him," he grumbled. "Surely, he wouldn't be beast enough to leave his old mother alone." The mother's
ir wits' end for a nurse, they gladly accepted Mrs. Macgregor's proffered help, and during the long anxious weeks that followed, the whole family came to regard with respect, confidence, and finally warm affection, the dignified old lady who, with such kindly, shrewd, and tender care, nursed the sick girl ba
es one proud to be a Canadian. What a country that must be! If I were only a man!
eagerly, "that I would. But I doub
rmon for a church-those stories of his, I mean, and all those figures about coal beds and g
wdly. "When a man laughs he's nearer to le
ink to hear him there was no place but the West and that eve
d lady in a musing tone, "and yon are ter
everyone
o and not many are fit to go. But those that can-"
rk without giving up everything
hat he hath,'" quoted
not for everybody
ith a stern relentlessness in her tone. "Ay,
nk that every young minister is bound to forsake home an
ication will not be easy for any of us,
cgregor, there are o
will just be working out that first one. Ay, that's it," she said, as if arriving at decis
strong face was working strangely. The tears we
awfully hard doctrine. Do you think God ever wants a
clutching Helen by the arm, "he-will-be-going-away, lassie, he will be going away. He will be leaving me
no need of further words to tell her what the old lady me
Thank God he could. He will not be shaming his blood. But oh! it iss hims
e fast and her hand went to her own heart, "perhaps he
ight, and clearer than ever to-day. He hass heard
s home, where the others stood
see you?" said
th a keen look at her, "you will b
renity of a great decision, in his deep blue eyes the light of a great enterprise. As he said good-bye to Helen, she became aware that his usual hesitatin
Romance
Romance
Romance
Romance
Romance
Romance