"Then I understand you to say that as a preacher he was passable, as a pastor and as a man all that could be desired?""Oh, yes, certainly.But he was--well, if you have met him you must know what I mean.In short, he was uncouth and boorish in his manners."The Superintendent drew himself up, and his voice began to burr in a way that his friends would have recognized as dangerous.
"Boorish, Mr.Macfarren? Let me tell you, sir, that he is a Highland gentleman, the son of a Highland gentlewoman, and boorishness is impossible to him.""Well, that may be too strong, Doctor, but you do not understand our society here.We have a large number of people of good family from the old country and from the East, and in order to reach them we require a man who has moved in good society.""Well, sir," said the Superintendent, "Jesus Christ would not have suited your society here, for He was a man of very humble birth, and moved in very low circles." And without further word he turned from Macfarren to greet Father Mike, who had entered the store.
"Delighted to see you again, Bishop," said Father Mike."We are always glad to see you even though you are outside the pale.""Depends upon which pale you mean, Father Mike," said the Superintendent, shaking him warmly by the hand.
"True, sir.And I, for one, refuse to narrow its limits to those of any existing organization.""Your principles do you credit, sir," said the Superintendent, giving his hand an extra shake."They are truly Scriptural, truly modern, and truly Western.""But, Doctor, I want to ask you, if I may without impertinence, why did you do so great an injury to our community as to remove your missionary from us?""Ah, you consider that a loss, Father Mike?""Undoubtedly, sir.A great and serious loss.He was a high type of a man.I will quote as expressing my opinions, the words of a gentleman whose judgment would, I suppose, be considered in this community as final on all such matters--General Brady, sir.I think you know him.This is what I heard him say.'He is an able preacher and a Christian gentleman.'""Thank you, sir.Thank you, sir," said the Superintendent."I thank you for your warm appreciation of one whom, after short acquaintance, I regard as you do."It was Father Mike who drove the Superintendent to Loon Lake next day, only to find Shock away from home.
"We will inquire at the stopping-place," said Father Mike.
"Let us see," said the Superintendent, who never forgot a name or a face, "does Carroll keep that still? He did five years ago.""Yes, and here he is," said Father Mike."Hello, Carroll.Can you tell me where your minister is?""By japers, it's a search warrant you'll need for him I'm thinkin'.
Ask Perault there.Perault, do you know where the preacher is?""Oui.He's go 'way for prospect sure."
"Prospecting?" inquired Father Mike.
"Oui," grinned Perault, "dat's heem, one prospector.Every day, every day he's pass on de trial, over de hill, down de coulee, all over.""He does, eh?" said Father Mike, delighted at the description of his friend."What is he after? Coal?""Coal!" echoed Perault with contempt."Not mouche.He's go for find de peep.He's dig 'em up on de church, by gar.""You see, Doctor," said Father Mike, "no one has any chance here with your fellow.There's Carroll, now, and Perault, they are properly Roman Catholic, but now they are good Presbyterians.""Bon, for sure.Eh, Carroll, mon garcon?""Bedad, an' it's thrue for ye," said Carroll.
It was no small tribute to Shock's influence that the ancient feud between these two had been laid to rest.
"Well, do you know when he will be home?" asked Father Mike.
"I go for fin' out," said Perault, running into his house, and returning almost immediately."Tomorrow for sure.Mebbe to-night.""Well, Carroll, this is your minister's bishop.I suppose you can look after him till Mr.Macgregor comes home.""An' that we can, sir.Come right in," said Carroll readily."Anny friend of the Prospector, as we call him, is welcome to all in me house, an' that he is."That afternoon and evening the Superintendent spent listening in the pauses of his letter writing to the praises of the missionary, and to a description, with all possible elaboration and ornament, of the saving of little Patsey's life, in which even the doctor's skill played a very subordinate part.
"An' there's Patsey himself, the craythur," said Mrs.Carroll, "an'
will he luk at his father or meself when his riverince is by? An'
he'll follie him out an' beyant on that little pony of his."The Superintendent made no remark, but he kept quietly gathering information.In Perault's house it was the same.Perault, Josie, and Marion sang in harmony the praises of Shock.
Late at night Shock returned bringing the doctor with him, both weary and spent with the long, hard day's work.From Perault, who was watching for his return, he heard of the arrival of the Superintendent.He was much surprised and mortified that his Superintendent should have arrived in his absence, and should have found no one to welcome him.
"Tell Josie and Marion," he said to Perault, "to get my room ready,"and, weary as he was, he went to greet his chief.
He found him, as men were accustomed to find him, busy with his correspondence.The Superintendent rose up eagerly to meet his missionary.
"How do you do, sir, how do you do? I am very glad to see you," and he gripped Shock's hand with a downward pull that almost threw him off his balance.
"I wish to assure you," said the Superintendent, when the greetings were over, "I wish to assure you," and his voice took its deepest tone, "of my sincere sympathy with you in your great loss.It was my privilege to be present at your mother's funeral, and to say a few words.You have a great and noble heritage in your mother's memory.
