some
understanding. Certainly, Graeme's manner to her was not that he bore
to other women. His half-quizzical, somewhat superior air of mocking
devotion gave place to a simple, earnest, almost tender, respect, very
new to him, but very winning.

As he stood there waving his farewell, I glanced at his face and saw for
a moment what I had not seen for years, a faint flush on Graeme's cheek
and a light of simple, earnest faith in his eyes. It reminded me of
my first look of him when he had come up for his matriculation to the
'Varsity. He stood on the campus looking up at the noble old pile, and
there was the same bright, trustful, earnest look on his boyish face.

I know not what spirit possessed me; it may have been the pain of the
memory working in me, but I said, coarsely enough, 'It's no use, Graeme,
my boy; I would fall in love with her myself, but there would be no
chance even for me.'

The flush slowly darkened as he turned and said deliberately--

'It's not like you, Connor, to be an ass of that peculiar kind.
Love!--not exactly! She won't fall in love unless--' and he stopped
abruptly with his eyes upon Craig.

But Craig met him with unshrinking gaze, quietly remarking, 'Her heart
is under the pines'; and we moved on, each thinking his own thoughts,
and guessing at the thoughts of the others.

We were on our way to Craig's shack, and as we passed the saloon Slavin
stepped from the door with a salutation. Graeme paused. 'Hello, Slavin!
I got rather the worst of it, didn't I?'

Slavin came near, and said earnestly, 'It was a dirty thrick altogether;
you'll not think it was moine, Mr. Graeme.'

'No, no, Slavin! you stood up like a man,' said Graeme cheerfully.

'And you bate me fair; an' bedad it was a nate one that laid me out; an'
there's no grudge in me heart till ye.'

'All right, Slavin; we'll perhaps understand each other better after
this.'

'An' that's thrue for yez, sor; an' I'll see that your byes don't get
any more than they ask for,' replied Slavin, backing away.

'And I hope that won't be much,' put in Mr. Craig; but Slavin only
grinned.

When we came to Craig's shack Graeme was glad to rest in the big chair.

Craig made him a cup of tea, while I smoked, admiring much the deft
neatness of the minister's housekeeping, and the gentle, almost
motherly, way he had with Graeme.

In our talk we drifted into the future, and Craig let us see what were
his ambitions. The railway was soon to co