Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-10-28

Gus powers aud presences lay open 10
her imagination and became the home
OF great realities. She was rich in
imagination and. when the Pilot read
Bunyan's immortal poem. her mothers
old "Pilgrim's Progress" she moved
and lived beside the hero OF that tale
backing him UP I'm his fights and con-
sumed with anxiety over his many i'm.
pending pcrils, till she had him safely
across the river and delivered into the
charge Of the shining ones
The Pilot himself, too. was a new
and wholesome experience. He was
the first thing she had yet encountered
that refused submission and the first
human being that had failed to fall
down and worship. There was some
thing in him that would not always
yield. and, indeed. her pride and her
imperious tempers he met with surprise
and sometimes with a pity that verged
toward contempt. With this she was
not well pleased and not infrequentiy
she broke forth upon him. One OF
these outbursts Is stamped upon my
mind. not only because OF its unusual
violence. but chiefly because of the
events which followed. The original
cause OF her rage was some trifiing
misdeed OF the unfortunate Joe; but
when 1 came upon the scene il was
the Pilot who was occupying her at
tention. The expression Of surprise
and pity on his face appeared TO stir
her up.
How dare you look at me like
that;' she cried.
How very extraordinary that YOU
can't keep hold OF yourself better." he
answered.
Il cam" she stamped. And 1 shall
do as / likew
1T is a great pity" he said, with
provoking calm. "and. besides, II Is
weak and silly" His words were IN
fortunate.
Weak she gasped. when her
breath came back TO her. Weak
Yes" he said: very weak and child
ish.-
Then she could have cheerfuIIy put
him to slow and cruel death. When
she had recovered a little she cried
vehemently:
I'm not weak! I'm strong. I'm
stronger than you are, I'm strong as
asa man.
do not suppose she meant the In
situation. At any rate the Pilot ig-
nOred IL and went on.
You're not strong enough to keep
your temper down" And then. as she
had no reply ready. he went on: And
really, Gwen. IL is not right You must
not 20 on in this way"
Again his words were unfortunate.
Must not!' she cried, adding an inch
to her height. Who says soT'
God" was the simple. short answer.
She was greatly taken back. and
gave quick glance over her shoulder
as II 10 see him who would dare TO
say must not TO her; but, recovering.
she answered sullenly:
Il don't carer
Don't care for GOdT' The Pilots
voice was quiet and solemn, but some
thing in his manner sngered her, and
she blazed forth again.
i don't care for any one and I
shall do as I like"
The Pilot looked at her sadly for a
moment, and then said slowly:
Some day, Gwen. you will not be
able 10 do as you like"
remember we'll the settled defiance
in her tone and manner rs she took s
step nearer him anu answered in d
voice trembling With passion:
Listen, l have always done as
Ike, and I shall do as ike till die
And she rushed forth from the house
and down toward the CANYON. hel
refuge from all disturbing things and
chiefly from herself.
I could not shake or the impression
her words made upon me. Pretty di-
rect, that" I said 70 the Pilot as we
rode away. The declaration may be
philosophically correct. but II rings un-
commonly like a challenge 10 the Al
mighty; throws down the gauntlet. so
10 speak"
But the Pilot only said: Don't.
How can youg"
Within week her challenge was &C
cepted. and how fiercely and how gal
lantly did she struggle 10 make IL good.
II was the Duke that brought me the
news, and as he told me the story his
gay. careless self command for once
was gone. For in the gloom OF the can.
yon where he overlook me could see
his face cleaning out ghastly white.
and even his iron nerve could not keep
the tremor from his voice.
I've just sent up the doctor" was
his answer TO my greeting. Il looked
for you last night. couldn't find you and
so rode OF 10 the Fort"
What's upT" l said. with fear in my
heart, for no light thing moved the
Duke.
Haven't you heard? Its Gwen" be
said. and the next minute OF two be
gave 10 lingo. who was INDUCING in q
series OF unexpected plungeS When
lingo was brought down the Duke was
master OF himself and told his tale with
careful self control.
Gwen. on her fathers buckSkin bron-
co, had gone with the Duke to the bis
plain above the cut bank where Joe
was herding the cattle. The day was
HOT. and a storm was in the air They
found Joe riding up and down. singing
10 keep the cattle quiet. but having 4
hard time to hold the bunch from
breaking. While the Duke was riding
around the far side OF the bunch cry
from Gwen arrested his attention. Joe
was In trouble His horse. a half bro
ken cayuSe. had stumbled into Il badger
hole and had bolted. leaving Joe to the
mercy of the cattle. At once they be-
gan 10 sniff suspiciouSly NJ this phe-
nomenOn. man on foot, and 10 follow
cautiously on his track. Joe kept his
head and walked slowly ont till all at