Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-29

- But all this CHEEKY hope ant
courage and patience snuffed out as
( candle leaving noisome darkness Il
settle down in that sick room, from the
day of the doctors consultation.
The verdict was clear and final. The
old doctor. who loved Gwen as his
own, was inclined to hope against
hope, but Fawcett the clever young
doctor from the distant town, was
positive in his opinion. The scene is
clear to mo now. after many years
We three stood in the outer room the
Duke and her father We're with Gwen
So earnest was the discussion that
mono of us heard the door open just as
young Fawcett was saying in incisive
tones:
NO. l can see no hope. The child
can never walk again
There was cry behind us.
What! Never walk again? It's a
liem There stood the Old Timer, white,
fierce, shaking.
Hush said the old doctor, point
ing ut the open door He was too
late. Even as he spoke there came
from the inner room wild, unearthly
cry as Of some dying thing, and, as
we stood gazing at one another with
awe stricken faces we heard Ovens
voice as in quick, sharp pain.
Daddy! Daddy! Come! What do
they say? Tell me. daddy. 1t is not
true, 1t is not true! Look at me,
daddy"
She pulled up her fathers haggard
face from the bed.
ooh, daddy, daddy, you know it's
true Never walk again"
She turned with pitiful cry to the
Duke, who stood white and stiff. with
arms drawn tight across his breast, on
the other side of the bed.
"Oh, Duke. did you hear them? You
told me to be brave. and l tried not to
cry when they hurt me. But l can't
be brave. Can 1. Duke? oh, Duke!
Never to ride again.
She stretched out her hands to him.
But the Duke, leaning over her and
holding her hands fast in his, could
only say brokenly over and over:
Don't. Gwen! Don't, Gwen, dear"
But the pitiful, pleading voice went
on:
ooh, Duke! Must l always lie here?
Must L? Why must 2"
God Knows answered the Duke
bitterly, under his breath, Il don't.r'
She caught at the word
docs hei" she cried eagerly. Then
she paused suddenly. turned to me and
said do you remember he said some
day l could not do as l liked?'
was puzzled
THE Pilot she cried impatiently.
Don't you remember? And said l
should do as 1 liked till died"
nodded my head and said, But you
know you didn't mean it,
But did. and do" she cried, with
passionate vehemence, land l will do
as l like. l will not lie here! will
ride! l will! will! l will!' and she
up, clinched her fists and
sank back faint and weak. 1t was not
a pleasant sight. but grewsome. Her
rage against that Unseen Omnipotence
was so defiant and so helpless.
Those We're dreadful weeks to Gwen
and 10 all about her. The constant
pain could not break her proud spirit;
she shed no tears, but she fretted and
chafed and grew more imperiously ex-
acting every day. Ponka and Joe she
1rove like slave master, and even her
father. when he could not understand
her wishes. she impatientIy banished
from her room. Only the Duke could
please or bring her any cheer, and even
he Duke began to feel that the day
vas not far of when he, too, would
all. and the thought made him despair.
Her pain was hard to bear, but harder
han the pain was her longing for the
,pen air and the free, flower strewn,
)reeZe swept prairie. But most pidful |
II all were the days when In her utter
yearincss and uncomfortable unrest |
The would pray to be taken down into
he canyon.
'Oh. 1t is so cool and shady" she |
would plead, land the flowers up In the |
ocks and the vines and things are all |
o lovely l am always better there. |
now should be better" till the Duke
would he distracted and would come to
ne and wonder what the end would be.
One day, when the strain had been
more terrible than usual, the Duke
ode down to me and said:
Look here This thing can't so on
Where is the Pilot gone? Why doesn't
e stay where he belongs? l wish to
eaven he would get through with his
bsurd rambling"
He's gone where he was sent" re-
lied shortly. You don't set much
tore by him when he does come round.
lie is gone on an exploring trip through
he Dog lake country. He'll be back
Y the end OF next week"
Il say, bring him up. for heavens
lkew said the Duke. HE may be Of
ome use. and anyway it will be new
ace for her. poor child Then he
dded. rather penitently: II fear this
aing is getting on to my nerves. She
lmost drove me out today. Don't lay
up against me, old chap"
1t was a new thing TO hear the Duke
onfess his need of any man, much less
enitence for fault. l felt my eyes
rowing dim, but I said roughly:
"You be hanged! I'll bring the Pilot
p when he comes"
It was wonderful how we had all
,me to confide In the Pilot during his
anr Of missionary wnrL, Among us