Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-11-20

4NOl III ShS WY ASoSkt >~S S~f-~~
'if my experience goes for anything"
But Lady Charlotte turned her back
upon them and said to me:
"Now, tell me first about Bills en-
counter with that funny little Scotch
man."
Then 1 told her the story Of Bilpi
bluff in my best style. initiating, as
have some small skill in doing, the
manner and speech Of the various act
ors in the scene. She was greatly
amused and interested.
"And Bill has really got his share
readyw she cried. ut is very clever OF
him."
EYES," replied, "but Bill is only the
very humble instrument. The moving
spirit is behind"
"Oh, yes, you mean the little girl that
owns the pony" she said. "Thats an
other thing you must tell me about"
''The Duke knows more than l." 10
piled. shifting the burden to him. my
acquaintance is only Of yesterday; hil
Is lifelong"
"Why have you never told me oi
herr" she demanded, turning to thu
Duke.
Haven't told you of the little Mere
dith girl? Surely I have" said thu
Duke hesitatingly.
"Now, you know quite well you have
not, and that means you are deeply In
terested. Oh, I know you well" sht
said severely.
"He Is the most secretive man." she
went on to mechanically and un
gratefully reserved"
The Duke smiled; then said lazily
"Why, she's just child. Why shoult
you be interested in her? No one was,
he added sadly. "till misfortune distn
guished her."
Her eyes grew soft. and her gay man
ner changed, and she said to the Duke
gently. "Tell me of her now"
1t was evidently an effort, but he be-
gan his story Of Gwen from the time
he saw her first, years ago, playing In
and out of her fathers rambling
shack, shy and wild as young fox.
AS he went on with his tale his voice
dropped into low, musical tone, ana
he seemed AZ If dreaming aloud. Un-
consciously he put into the tale much
of himself, revealing how great an In
fuence the little child had had upon
him and how empty Of love his life
had been in this lonely land. Lady
Charlotte listened with face intent up
on him, and even her blsff husband
was conscious that something more
than usual was happening. He had
never heard the Duke break through
his proud reserve before.
But when the Duke told the story OF
Ovens awful fall, which he did with
great graphic power, little red spot
burned upon the Lady Charlotte's pale
cheek, and as the Duke finished his tale
with the words, 1T was her last ride, "
she covered her face with her hands
and cried:
"Oh, Duke, it is horrible to think Of!
But what splendid courage" :
"Great stuff, eh, Duke?" cried the
Hon. Fred, kicking burning log Wig
orously.
But the Duke made no reply.
"How is she now, Duke?" said Lady
Charlotte.
The Duke looked up as from a
dream. Bright as the morning." he
said. Then, in reply to Lady Char
lotte's look Of wonder, he added:
"The Pilot did it. Connor will tell
you. l don't understand it."
"Nor do 1 either, but I can tell you
only what l saw and heard" I an
swered.
"Tell me-" said Lady Charlotte very
gently.
Then I told her how, one by one, we
had failed to help her, and how the
Pilot had ridden up that morning
through the canyon; and how hSS,I he e had had
by his marvellous pictures Of the flow
ers and ferns and trees and all the
wonderful mysteries of that wonderful
canyon.
"But that wasn't ALL" said the Duke
quickly as stopped.
mo-" said slowly; "that was not
all by a long way, but the rest don't
understand. That's the Pilots secret"
"Tell me what he did," said Lady
Charlotte softly once more. II want to
know"
II don't think I can," replied. "He
simply read out of the Scriptures to
her and talked"
Lady Charlotte looked disappointed.
"Is that all?" she said.
ut is quite enough for Gwen" said
the Duke confidently, "for there she
lies, often suffering, always longing for
the hills and the free air, but with her
face radiant as the flowers Of the be-
loved canyon"
81 must see her." said Lady Char
lotte, land that wonderful Pilot"
you'll be disappointed in him." said
the Duke.
"Oh, I've seen him and heard him
but I don't know him." she replied
There must be something in him that
one does not see at first"
$50 l have discovered" said the
Duke, and with that the subject was
dropped, but not before the Lady
Charlotte made me promise to take hel
to Gwen, the Duke being strangely un
willing to do this for her.
you'll be disappointed" he said
"She is only a simple little child"
TO BE CONTINUED.
Ieuend NJ Eehruary