The Prospector

se the tumult of emotion filling her heart. Amazement, s

oken words, "He will be going away, lassie," and her cheek flamed hot again. "It is all nonsense," she repeated angrily, and there being no one to contradict her, she said it again with even greater emphasis. But suddenly she sat down, and before long she found herself smiling at the memo

lass, "and I'd go with him to-morrow. But"-a

is own great amazement and ov

imself to the far West awakened

ad striven with might and main to turn Shock from his purpose, using any and every argument, fair or unfair, to persuade him that his work lay where it had been begun, in the city wards. He was the

at these two are to each other, and yet there they are, both of t

r alone!" exclaimed Mrs

ck for me I am turned out of my quarters, and she is to take me in, and while I can't fill Shock's p

s," said Lloyd, who, after long indecision and much consultation with various friend

id Brown to Helen, "I

. Fairbanks, looking haughtil

rested, and who are extremely sane and reasonable persons, have come to an agreement upon a questio

never admired him so much as now. You know he may ne

o Helen, who, blushing vividly, replied in like

ne of blind stupidity! If some one would dig him

decision involved, he made a point to insert among his m

u," said Brown, who was describing

lava within, stood up looking at each other a minute or two wit

ratulated upon your

of fact tone, 'he will be

r mutual sacrifice has

His own, but it iss all w

his voice burred like a buzz saw as he answ

wass no

get a son who for the Cause can forsake such a mother, and

nce when he heard I was Shock's friend, and nearly jerked me off my feet,-and wi

ear!" exclaimed Be

n't think so. She's as proud of him as she can be,

ner struck Brown

any girl, much less a girl like that, looking at him, and even if he did come to see it he would not think of asking her to share the life he'

sary. On the morning of Shock's departure it was she who declared that someone should

and, Helen, perhaps you had better come with

she knew would be a sacred hour to mother and son. But when Mrs. Fairbank

l go, mother,

you may go along," and so the three ladies pr

, they each knew the other to be keeping the watch of love and agony; yet, each alone, they drank the cup of sacrifice. It was only when the morning w

have you not been sle

his head to her bosom in a close e

g like this," sobbed Shock, "o

r head lie there. Whist! lad, och-hone. It iss twenty-four years since first you lay there, lad, and though grief hass come to me many's th

!" cried Shoc

given to me this night, that

annot bear it," and poor Shock buried his face in

ie! There now. I

rd, and He gave you to me for these few happy y

ard her again and laid hi

that day, and that covenant you will keep now

tight. "But it is only for two years, and then I will

will not be taking back with the one hand what we give with the other. I had minded to give

let their tears freely mingle. In all his life Shock had never seen

to us, and before long I will get a little place for you yonder. Why sho

nor you. And yet it may be the Lord's will. But go away now and lie you

her boy, and now, even in the midst of her own gr

. And so in each other's arms they lay, and

the bed and before dressing lighted the kitchen fire, put on the kettle for the tea and the pot for the porridge. Th

rong, and even bright, that sh

f the bed, "this is really too bad, and I me

t much," she cried with a

d Shock severely, "but wait until I

mother brightly, "it w

be sore enough with all the help that hope could bring. And so the morning passed in last preparations for Shock's going, and t

have Brown with you. He will need your care, you know," he hastened to add, knowing well that

he replied, "and indeed," she added w

now and then, so they said," and Shock bent lo

ed his mother hearti

hey kept at arm's length the heart's sorrow

to "the Company," or the half-breed runner to whom it was native land, or the more adventurous land-hungry settler, or the reckless gold-fevered miner. Only under some great passion did men leave home and those dearer than life, and casting aside dreams of social, commercial, or other greatness, devote themselves to life on that rude frontier. But such a p

fer overflowing sympathy to the old lady "deserted" by her "fanatical" son, was somewhat taken aback by the quiet dignity and perfect control that distinguished the lady's voice and manner. After the first effusive kiss, which Mrs. Fairbanks hurried to bestow and which Mrs.

you to the station to see your son off," said Mrs. Fairbanks, who

egor, "but Hamish will be walking, I dou

wounded to hide in some sh

, Mrs. Macgregor, if I can be of an

; everything is done, and

, as if it came from a heart

rateful," said Shock, feeling that his

to look at Helen with kindly eyes. "You will not be thinking me ungrateful," she added with a susp

he next hour would be for himself and for his mother, and he knew, too, that they could not indulge themselves in the lux

ill have riding over the claims with those jolly cowboys, not to speak of the claims he will be staking, and the gold he will be washing out of those parish streams of his. D

t, before breakfast and no gallivanting at night. I will h

better of your help," replied Mrs. M

wn to Betty, adding ruefully to

urvive,"

the door. At the same instant Helen rose hurriedly an

will be going," said Mrs. Fairbanks; "but we woul

stify her visit to he

cried Brown, "that is, if

se," cri

glad," said Shock, seeing it

d Betty. "I suppose we

er hand to the old lady, who was standing erect, white but c

sing the white cheek, and trying t

acgregor and put her arms around her and kissed her good-bye. When she was nearing the do

first dawning of day, till the whole face and neck were in a hot flame of colour. Yet the grey, lustrous eyes never wavered, but, unshrinking, answered the old lady's se

too! Yes, yes, you m

secret had been read were more than Helen could bear.

e back into the room and stood with Shock and the

rs. Macgregor was saying, "never

n?" Mrs. Fairbanks' voice was haughty

with quiet dignity, "what neit

speak

t with blushes, and stood looking straight into her

t this means?" s

Shock, gazing helplessly at the ha

ed to speak t

n, in an agony of morti

control of herself, "throwing yourself at the head of a man so fa

ne your child. Whist,"-checking the other's speech-"the blood in the veins of Hector Macgregor yonder" (point

is?" answered Mrs. Fairbanks angri

y awakening to an understanding of

ing quickly now for his mother, for himself, but most of all for the girl he lov

ever be, not by reason of any difference in blood,-for there is no difference,-but because of what she is herself, so far above me. I have never spoken with my lips of love, and yet for many and many a day I have feared that my eyes, and all else that could speak, must have to

began to dawn, then grew till it seemed to overflow in waves across her beautiful face. And as Shock continued his calm, manly words

t Shock's words and at the look of joy a

and forever. I forbid absolutely anything in the way of-of engagement or unders

dvantage of your daughter in any way, and I say to you here that she is as free now as when she came into this room. I shall not ask her to bind herself to me, bu

s he spoke the last words t

u will," said hi

her excitement had drawn close to him. Betty respond

pregnant with

, came and stood by his side. For the first time Shock lost control of himself. He flushed hotly

ipped to the outer door. "That is," he contin

is arm about the girl, and putting his hand upon her shoulde

as ever you were. I have no claim upon you, but don't for

weet tone, lifting her face to him. "I wil

k, and while his great frame tremb

t grey eyes quenched in a quick rush of tears. "You know

" he cried aloud, "you will not forget, than

her eyes, and as she lay limp and clinging in his arms he kissed

"take her, be good to h

his mother, kissed he

et that train,

aid Mrs. Fairbanks sho

!" said Betty, cat

tation

hand and crushing it ecstatically, "may I e

ve had as much of that sort of thi

had a thrill approaching that since the McGill match, and even t

what to think. It's s

Betty, you don't mean to say you haven't s

uly I h

e you have been so occupi

y, with a sudden flame of colour i

s and agonies I've endured this last few days lest that old blockhead should take himself off without saying or doing anything, no

useless," said Betty, looking at that

red Brown, "are you u

uired the astonished coa

nonsense," cried Bet

id Brown, seizing Betty's hand again, a

in. You'll miss your train. Here, you old bloke, come along, don't ga

isper, "mind, don't say a word to him

in a matter of fact tone. "

st word to be said,

o him, as he stepped upon his trai

l. It was just dawning upon him that he had some fur