Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-12-01


not quite understand the gloomy 81.
lence. 1t was something unprecedent.
ed in a country where men laughed all
care to scorn and saluted death with
a nod. But they were quick to read
signs, and, with characteristic courtesy,
they fell in with the mood they could
not understand. There is no man liv.
ing so quick to feel your mood and 20
ready to adapt himself to it as is the
true weSterner.
This was the day Of the cowboys
grief. To the rest Of the community
the Pilot was preacher; to them he was
comrade and friend. They had been
slow to admit him to their confidence,
but steadily he had won his place with
them till within the last few months
they had come to count him as OF
themselves. He had ridden the range
with them. he had slept in their shacks
and cooked his meals on their tin
stoves. and. besides, he was Bills
chum. Th: alone WAS enough to give
him a right to all they owned. He was
theirs. and hey were only beginning 10
take full pride in him when he passed
out from them. leaving an emptiness In
their life new and unexplained.
No man in that country had ever
shown concern for them. nor had 1t oc-
Cured to them that any man could till
the Pilot came. 1t took them long %
believe that the interest he showed n
them was genuine and not simply pro
fessional. hen. too. from a preacher
they had expected chiefly pity. warn.
Ing, rebuke. The Pilot aston:shed them
by giving them respect. admiration and
open hearted affection. 1t was months
before they could get over their sus'
picion that he was humbugging them.
When once they did they gave him
back without knowing it all the trust
and love Of their big. generous hearts.
He had made this world new to some
Of them, and to all had given glimpses
of the next. 1t was no wonde- that
they stood in dumb groups about the
house where the man who had done
all this for them and had been all this
to them lay dead.
There was no demonstration Of grief.
The Duke was in command, and his
quiet, firm voice. giving directions,
helped all to self control. The women
who were gathered in the middle room
were weeping quietly. Bill was no
where to be seen, but near the inner
door sat Gwen in her chair. with Lady
Charlotte beside her holding her hand.
Her face, worn with long suffering,
was pale, but serene as the morning
sky. and with not trace Of tears. As
my eye caught hers she beckoned me
to her.
"Where's BIll?" she said. Bring him
in"
found him at the back Of the house.
Aren't you coming in, BillT" l said.
"No; guess there's plenty without
me-" he said in his slow way.
You'd better come in; the service Is
going to begin," urged.
Don't seem as If cared for to hear
anythin' much. I amt much used to
preachin', anyway" said Bill, with
careful Indifference, but he added to
himself, except his, Of course"
"Come in, Bill" l urged. 1T will
look queer. you know" but Bill re-
piled:
Il guess III not bother" adding after
pause, "You see, there's them VIM
min turnin' OH the water works, and
like as not they'd swamp me sure"
"That's so." said Hi, who was stand
Ing near, in silent sympathy with his
friends grief.
l reported to Gwen, who answered
in her old imperious way. Tell him I
want him" took Bill the message.
why didn't you say so before?" he
said. and. starting up, he passed into
the house and took up bis position be-
hind Ovens chair. Opposite, and lean
ing against the door. stood the Duke,
with q look Of quiet earnestness on his
handsome face At his side stood the
Hon. Fred Ashley and behind him the
Old Timer. looking bewildered and
woe stricken. The Pilot had filled q
large place in the old mans life: The
rest of the men stood about the room
and filled the kitchen beyond. all quiet.
solemn. sad.
In Ovens room, the one farthest in.
lay the Pilot. stately and beautiful un!
der the magic touch Of death. And as
I stood and looked down upon the
quiet face l saw why Gwen shed no
tear, but carried look Of serene trl-
umph. She had read the face Alright.
The lines Of WEAKNESS that had been
growing so painfully clear the last few
months were smoothed. out, the look
of care was gone and in place Of wea-
riness and care was the proud smile Of
victory and peace. He had met his
foe and was surprised to find his terror
gone.
The service was beautiful in its sim
plicity. The minister. the Pilots chief.
had come out from town to take
charge. He was rather a little man.
but sturdy and we'll set. His face was
burned and scared with the suns and
frosts he had brayed for years. Still
in the prime Of his manhood. his hair
and beard were grizzled and his face
deep lined, for the tolls and cares Of a
pioneer missionary's life are neither
few nor light. But out Of his kindly
blue eye looked the heart Of hero.
and as he spoke to US we felt the
prophets touch and caught gleam Of
the prophets fire.
81 have fought the fight" he read.
The ring in his voice lifted up all our