The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-12-04
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Observation-Disclosures
CHAPTER ~.
THE Pilots MEASURE.

| KNYWT was Hi Kendall that an
1Mt nounced the arrival of the
RSSz@sss missionary. l was standing
&S9s&J at the door of my school,
watching the children ride off home 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 dead stop in single bound
hes lit"
Lit? Where? What?" said |, look
/ ing round for an eagle or some other
! flying thing.
''Your blanked 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.
whats the matter with him, HIP
"Why. he amt no parson! / don't
90 much on parsons, but when | calls
~ one don't want no bantam chick
y No Stree, horse. / don't want
~ 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 tall
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 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 face that might
do for an angel except for the touch of
humor in it, but which seemed strange
~ out of place among the rough, hard
faces that were to be seen in the Swan
Creek country. 1t was not weak face,
however. The forehead was high and
square, the mouth firm, and the eyes
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 missionary's
head appeared to me one of those ex-
traordinary wastes of which nature is
sometimes guilty.
He was gazing far away into space
infinitely beyond the foothills and the
blue line of the mountains behind them.
He turned to me as drew near with
eyes alight and face glowing.
ut is gloriousT' he almost painted.
"You see this every day!' 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 great thing! l
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 l can preach
very we'll / am going to visit your
school. Have you many scholars? Do
you know, / think it's splendid!
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-
assn, his Difference to my opinion. his
charm of manner, his beautiful face,
his luminous eyes, made him perfectly
irresistible and before was aware
was listening to his plans for working
his mission with eager interest. So
eager was my interest indeed, that be-
fore l was aware found myself ask
ing him to tea with me in my shack
But he declined, saying:
I'D like to awfully; but. do yon
know, think Latour expects me-.
This consideration of Latour's feel
ings almost upset me.
You come with me-" he added, and
/ went.
Latour welcomed us with his grim
old face wreathed in unusual smiles.
The Pilot has been talking to him too
1--WE got it, Latour." he cried out as
he entered. Here you are" And he
broke into the beautiful French Cana
dian chanson "A In Claire Fontaine,"
to the old half breeds almost fearful
delight.
DO you know" he went on, Il heard
that first down the Mattawa." and
away he went into story of an eX-
perience with French Canadian RATS
men, mixing up his French and Eng
fish in so charming a manner that La
tour, who in his younger days long ago
had been a shantyman himself, could
hardly know whether he was standing
on his head or on his heels
After tea l proposed ride out to see
the sunset from the nearest rising
ground. Latour, with unexampled
generosity, offered his own cayuse
Louis.
81 can't ride WELL" protested the
Pilot
"Ah, OATS good ponce, LOUIS urged
Latour He's quiet lax wan leetle
mouse; he's ride lak-what you call?
/ wan horse on de rock" Under
which persuasion the pony was ac-
cepted.
L !. 4 -