Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-11-04
CHAPTER XIII

I
90 that the fight was still TO
come, for deep in Ovens heart were
thoughts whose pain made her forget
all other.
WAS it God let me fanf" she asked
abruptly one day. and the Pilot knew
the fight was on. but he only answered
looking fearlessly into her eyes:
Yes. Gwen, dear"
Why did he let me fallT" And her
voice was very deliberate.
Il don't know. Gwen. dear" said the
Pilot steadily. He knows"
And does he know I shall never ride
asainf Does he know how long the
days are and the night when 1 can't
Sleep Does ne lnowg"
Yes. Gwen. dear" said the Pilot
and the tears We're standing I'm his eyes.
though his voice was still steady
enough.
Are YOU sure he knowsr'' The voice
was painfully intense.
Listen To mc. Gwen" began the
Pilot I'm great distress. but she cut him
short
Are YOU quite sure be knows? An
swer me- size cried with her old i'm
perLoUsness.
les. Gwen. he knows all about YOU"
Then what do you think OF him. Just
because he's big and strong. treating
little girl that way Then she added
viciously. Il hate him. I don't care,
hate him.
But the Pilot did not vince. won
dered how he would solve that problem
that was puzzling not only Gwen but
her father and the Duke and all OF us
the why OF human pain
Gwen" said the Pilot as n changing
the subject. did IL hurt 10 put on the
plaster Jacket"
You just bet,r said Gwen. lapsinE
In her English, as the Duke was not
present 1t was worse than anything
awful. They had 20 straighten me
out YOU know" And she shuddered AT
the memory OF that pain
What pity your father or the Duke
was not hcre-' said the Pilot earnestly.
why, they were both here
What cruel shamer' burst out the
! Pilot. Don't they care for YOU any
moreT"
"Of course they do" said Gwen indig-
nantly.
why didn't they stop the doctors
from hurting YOU SO cruelty
Why, they let the doctors. Ii is 90
inS TO help me 10 sit up and perhaps TO
walk about a little" answered Gwen.
with blue gray eyes open wide.
Oh said the Pilot. 1t was very
mean 10 stand by and see YOU hurt like
that"
Why, you silly" replied Gwen i'm
patiently. they want my back 10 set
straight and strong"
"oh. then they didn't do IL lust for
fun or for nothingF" said the Pilot in
noccnly.
Gwen sazed at him IN amazed and
specifies wrath. and he went on.
Il mean they love You though they
let you be hurt. or rather. they let the
doctors hurt YOU because they loved
you and wanted to make YOU better"
Gwen kept her eyes fixed with curl
Gus earneStness upon his face till the
light began 10 dawn.
DO YOU mean" she began SLOWLY.
that though God let me fall he loves
me-"
The Pilot nodded. BE could not trust
his voice
Il wonder if that can be true" she
said, as If 10 herself. and soon we said
eoOdby and came away-the Pilot limp
and voiceleSs. but I triumphant. for
began 10 see little light for Gwen.
But the fight was by no means over.
Indeed il was hardly well begun. For
when the autumn came. with its misty.
purple days, most glorious of all DAYS
in the cattle country. the old restless
ness came back and the fierce refusal
or her lot. Then came the day OF the
round up. Why should she have 10 stay
while all went after the cattle? The
Duke would have remained. but she
impauenuy sent him away. She was
weary and heartSick. and. worst Of all
she began 10 feel that most terrible OF
burdens. the burden Of her life 10 9th
erS. l was much relieved when the
Pilot came in fresh and bright waving
a bunch Of wild flowers in his hand.
i thought they were all gOne," he
cried. Where do you think / found
them: Right down by the biz elm
root" And. though he saw by the set
tied gloom Of her face that the storm
was coming. he went bravely on pictur-
ing the canyon in all the Splendor OF its
autumn dress. But the spell would not
work. Her heart was out on the sion
ing hills. where the cattle were bunch
ing and crOwding with tossing heads
and rattling horns. and it was in
voice very bitter and impatient that
she cried.
"Oh. I am sick Of all this, want 10
ride, l want TO see the cattle and the
mon and and-and all the things out
side" The Pilot was cowboy enough
10 know the longing that tugged at her
heart for one wild race after the calves
or steers. but he could only say:
Wait. Gwen. Try to be patient"
Il am patient; at least l have been
patient for two whole months. and it's
no use. and don't believe God cares
one bit.'
Yes, he does. Gwen, more than any
of Us" replied the Pilot earnestly.
NO, he does not care" she answered
with angry emphasis. and the Pilot
made no reply
Perhaps" she went on hesitatingly.
hes angry because said didn't care
for him, you remembers That was
very wicked. But don't you think I'm
punished nearly enough now? You
made me very angry, and l didn't real
ly mean IT,"
Poor Gwen, God had grown TO be
very real TO her during these weeks OF