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in their past。
'And to see the mother and her baby handle the miners！
'Oh； it was all beautiful beyond words！ I shall never forget the
shock I got one night when I found 〃Old Ricketts〃 nursing the baby。
A drunken old beast he was； but there he was sitting； sober enough；
making extraordinary faces at the baby； who was grabbing at his
nose and whiskers and cooing in blissful delight。 Poor 〃Old
Ricketts〃 looked as if he had been caught stealing； and muttering
something about having to go； gazed wildly round for some place in
which to lay the baby； when in came the mother； saying in her own
sweet； frank way： 〃O Mr。 Ricketts〃 （she didn't find out till
afterwards his name was Shaw）； 〃would you mind keeping her just a
little longer？I shall be back in a few minutes。〃 And 〃Old
Ricketts〃 guessed he could wait。
'But in six months mother and baby； between them； transformed 〃Old
Ricketts〃 into Mr。 Shaw； fire…boss of the mines。 And then in the
evenings； when she would be singing her baby to sleep； the little
shop would be full of miners； listening in dead silence to the
baby…songs； and the English songs； and the Scotch songs she poured
forth without stint； for she sang more for them than for her baby。
No wonder they adored her。 She was so bright； so gay； she brought
light with her when she went into the camp； into the pitsfor she
went down to see the men workor into a sick miner's shack； and
many a man； lonely and sick for home or wife； or baby or mother；
found in that back room cheer and comfort and courage； and to many
a poor broken wretch that room became； as one miner put it； 〃the
anteroom to heaven。〃'
Mr。 Craig paused； and I waited。 Then he went on slowly
'For a year and a half that was the happiest home in all the world；
till one day'
He put his face in his hands； and shuddered。
'I don't think I can ever forget the awful horror of that bright
fall afternoon； when 〃Old Ricketts〃 came breathless to me and
gasped； 〃Come！ for the dear Lord's sake；〃 and I rushed after him。
At the mouth of the shaft lay three men dead。 One was Lewis Mavor。
He had gone down to superintend the running of a new drift； the two
men； half drunk with Slavin's whisky； set off a shot prematurely；
to their own and Mavor's destruction。 They were badly burned； but
his face was untouched。 A miner was sponging off the bloody froth
oozing from his lips。 The others were standing about waiting for
me to speak。 But I could find no word； for my heart was sick；
thinking； as they were； of the young mother and her baby waiting at
home。 So I stood； looking stupidly from one to the other； trying
to find some reasoncoward that I waswhy another should bear the
news rather than I。 And while we stood there； looking at one
another in fear； there broke upon us the sound of a voice mounting
high above the birch tops； singing
〃Will ye no' come back again？
Will ye no' come back again？
Better lo'ed ye canna be；
Will ye no' come back again？〃
'A strange terror seized us。 Instinctively the men closed up in
front of the body； and stood in silence。 Nearer and nearer came
the clear； sweet voice； ringing like a silver bell up the steep
〃Sweet the lav'rock's note and lang；
Liltin' wildly up the glen；
But aye tae me he sings ae sang；
Will ye no' come back again？〃
'Before the verse was finished 〃Old Ricketts〃 had dropped on his
knees； sobbing out brokenly； 〃O God！ O God！ have pity； have pity；
have pity！〃and every man took off his hat。 And still the voice
came nearer； singing so brightly the refrain；
'〃Will ye no' come back again？'
'It became unbearable。 〃Old Ricketts〃 sprang suddenly to his feet；
and； gripping me by the arm； said piteously； 〃Oh； go to her！ for
Heaven's sake； go to her！〃 I next remember standing in her path
and seeing her holding out her hands full of red lilies； crying
out； 〃Are they not lovely？ Lewis is so fond of them！〃 With the
promise of much finer ones I turned her down a path toward the
river； talking I know not what folly； till her great eyes grew
grave； then anxious； and my tongue stammered and became silent。
Then； laying her hand upon my arm； she said with gentle sweetness；
〃Tell me your trouble； Mr。 Craig；〃 and I knew my agony had come；
and I burst out； 〃Oh； if it were only mine！〃 She turned quite
white； and with her deep eyesyou've noticed her eyesdrawing the
truth out of mine； she said； 〃Is it mine； Mr。 Craig； and my
baby's？〃 I waited； thinking with what words to begin。 She put one
hand to her heart； and with the other caught a little poplar…tree
that shivered under her grasp； and said with white lips； but even
more gently； 〃Tell me。〃 I wondered at my voice being so steady as
I said； 〃Mrs。 Mavor； God will help you and your baby。 There has
been an accidentand it is all over。〃
'She was a miner's wife； and there was no need for more。 I could
see the pattern of the sunlight falling through the trees upon the
grass。 I could hear the murmur of the river； and the cry of the
cat…bird in the bushes； but we seemed to be in a strange and unreal
world。 Suddenly she stretched out her hands to me； and with a
little moan said； 〃Take me to him。〃
'〃Sit down for a moment or two；〃 I entreated。
'〃No； no！ I am quite ready。 See；〃 she added quietly； 〃I am quite
strong。〃
'I set off by a short cut leading to her home； hoping the men would
be there before us； but； passing me； she walked swiftly through the
trees； and I followed in fear。 As we came near the main path I
heard the sound of feet； and I tried to stop her； but she； too； had
heard and knew。 〃Oh； let me go！〃 she said piteously； 〃you need not
fear。〃 And I had not the heart to stop her。 In a little opening
among the pines we met the bearers。 When the men saw her； they
laid their burden gently down upon the carpet of yellow pine…
needles； and then； for they had the hearts of true men in them；
they went away into the bushes and left her alone with her dead。
She went swiftly to his side； making no cry； but kneeling beside
him she stroked his face and hands； and touched his curls with her
fingers； murmuring all the time soft words of love。 〃O my darling；
my bonnie； bonnie darling； speak to me！ Will ye not speak to me
just one little word？ O my love； my love； my heart's love！
Listen； my darling！〃 And she put her lips to his ear； whispering；
and then the awful stillness。 Suddenly she lifted her head and
scanned his face； and then； glancing round with a wild surprise in
her eyes； she cried； 〃He will not speak to me！ Oh； he will not
speak to me！〃 I signed to the men； and as they came forward I went
to her and took her hands。
'〃Oh；〃 she said with a wail in her voice； 〃he will not speak to
me。〃 The men were sobbing aloud。 She looked at them with wide…
open eyes of wonder。 〃Why are they weeping？ Will he never speak
to me again？ Tell me；〃 she insisted gently。 The words were
running through my head
'〃There's a land that is fairer than day；〃
and I said them over to her； holding her hands firmly in mine。 She
gazed at me as if in a dream； and the light slowly faded from her
eyes as