The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1903-09-25

Watching lHe ClllureU rue OIL nome on
their ponies, when Hi came Looping
along on his bronco in the loose jointed
cowboy style.
"Well," he drawled out, bringing his
bronco to a dead stop in a single bound,
"hes lit"
ing round for an eagle or some other
flying thing.
"Your BANKED Sky Pilot, and he's
beauty, pretty kid-looks too tender
for this climate. Better not let him
out on the range" Hi was quite dis
gusted evidently.
"What's the matter with him. Hi"
"Why, he amt no parson! 1 don't
go much on parsons, but when 1 calls
for one 1 don't want no bantam chick
en-. No, Stree, horse. l don't want
no blankety-blank pink and white
Completed nursery kid foolin' round
my graveyard. If you're goin' to
bring along a parson, why, bring him
with his eyeteeth cut and his tail
feathers on"
That Hi was deeply disappointed was
quite clear from the selection of the
profanity with which he adorned this
lengthy address. 1t was never the ex-
tent of his profanity, but the choice,
that indicated His interest in any SUBJ
ject.
Altogether the outlook for the mis-
sionary was not encouraging. With
the single exception of the Muirs, who
really counted for little, nobody want
ed him. To most of the reckless young
bloods of the Company of the Noble
Seven his presence was an offense, to
others simply a nuisance, while the
Old Timer regarded his advent with
something like dismay, and now His
impression of his personal appearance
was not cheering.
My first sight of him did not reassure
me. He was very slight, very young,
very innocent with a face that might
do for an angel, except for the touch of
humor in it, but which seemed strange
ly out of place among the rough, hard
faces that were to be seen in the Swan
Creek country. Ii was not weak face,
however. The forehead was high and
were luminous, of some dark color
violet if there is such color in eyes
dreamy or sparkling, according to his
mood; eyes for which a woman might
find use, but which in a missionary's
head appeared to me one of those ex-
traordinary wastes of which nature is
sometimes guilty.
No 1,roe 70 orov ina
infinitely beyond the foothills and the
blue line of the mountains behind them. !
He turned to me as l drew near with
eyes alight and face glowing.
at is glorious! he almost painted
"You see this every dayw Then, re-
calling himself, he came eagerly to-
ward me, stretching out his hand.
you are the schoolmaster l know.
Do you know, it's a great thing!
wanted to be one but never could get
the boys on. They always got me tell
ing them tales. l was awfully disap-
pointed. l am trying the next best
thing. You see, l won't have to keep
order, but l don't think can preach
very well. l am going to visit your
school. Have you many scholars? Do
you know, l think it's splendid! l
wish could do it."
l had intended to be somewhat stiff
with him, but his evident admiration
Of me made me quite forget this lauda-
Bile intention, and as he talked on with
out waiting for an answer his enthusi-
asm, his Difference to my opinion, his
charm of manner, his beautiful face,
his luminous eyes, made him perfectly
irresistible, and before l was aware l
was listening to his plans for working
his mission with eager interest. So
Eager was my interest, indeed, that be- ,
'ore l was aware l found myself ask :
ng him to tea with me in my shack. ,,
But he declined, saying:
I'D like to awfully; but, do you ,
Know, think Latour expects me-"
This consideration of Latour's feel :
ngs almost upset me.
You come with me-" he added. and :
went. =
Latour welcomed us with his grim
Id face wreathed in unusual smiles. r
The Pilot has been talking to him too. =
1--WE got it, Latourr' he cried out as :
lie entered. Here you are" And he y
roke into the beautiful French Cana '
ian chanson "a la Claire Fontaine,"
0 the old half breeds almost fearful :.
eight.
"Do you know" he went on, 81 heard :
hat first down the Mattawa," and :
way he went into a story of an ex- -
erience with French Canadian RATS
len, mixing up his French and Eng =
sh in so charming a manner that La -
our, who in his younger days long ago =
ad been a shantyman himself, could 4
ardly know whether he was standing -
n his head or on his heels. ~
After tea l proposed a ride out to see
lie sunset from the nearest rising
round. Latour, with unexampled
enerosity, offered his own cayuse,
outs.
Il can't ride WELL" protested the IN n
lot sa
"Ah, OATS good ponce, Louis" urged wi
atour. Hes quiet LAX wan leetle no
ouse; he's ride lak-what you call? hi nj
wan horse on de rock" Under he
hich persuasion the pony was &C pl'
pied. an an
That evening 1 saw the Swan Creek So'
untry with new eyes-through the fol