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