Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-11-19

piled, shifting the burden to him. "My
acquaintance is only of yesterday; his
Is lifelong"
"Why have you never told me of
her" she demanded, turning to the
Duke.
Haven't told you of the little Mere
dith girl? Surely / have" said the
Duke hesltatlngly.
Now, you know quite well you have
not, and that means you are deeply in
terostcd OH | know you WELL she
said severely.
'Ile is the most secretive man." she
went on to me hamefully and UNI
gratefully reserved"
The Duke smiled; then said lazlly:
"Why, she's Just child. Why should
you be Interested in her? No one was"
he added sadly, "till misfortune distin-
gushcd her"
Her eyes grew soft and her gay man
Ter 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 ont of her fathers rambling
shack, shy and wild as II young fox.
As he went on with his tale his voice
dropped into a low, musical tone, and
he seemed rs If dreaming aloud. Tn
consciously he put into the tale much
of himself revealing how great an in
tiuencc tine 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 bluff husband
WAS conscious that something moro
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, Il little red spot
burned upon the Lady Charlotte's pale
cheek. and as the Duke finished his Ia L.
with the words. 1T WIS her last ride. -
she covered her face with her hands
and cried
"Oh, Duke. ii is horrible TO think of.
But what splendid courage.'
"t1rcat stuff, ell. Duke?" cried the
Hon. Fred, kicking burning log Wig
Orously.
But the Duke made no reply.
GLOW is she now, Duke" said Lady
Charlotte.
The Duke looked up as from n
dream. bright as the morning" he
said Then in reply to Lady Char
lottcs look OF wonder. he added:
"The Pilot did it. Conner will tel
you. ! don't understand It,"
Nor do ! either. hut I can tell you
only what | saw and heard" l an
swcrcd.
"Tell me-" said Lady Charlotte very
gently.
Then told her how one by one. We
had failed to help her. and how tn,
Pilot had ridden up that morning
through the canyon, and how he hat
by his marvellous pictures of the flow
crs and ferns and trees and all tho
wonderful mysteries of that wonderful
canyon.
But that wasn't ALL" said the Duke
quickly as | stopped.
NO" ] said slowly; that was MOI
all by long way but the rest I don
| understand. That's the Pilots secret.
"Tell me what he did" said Lady
| Charlotte softly once more. Il want Il
| know"
II don't think can" replied. "IT'
simply read out of the Scriptures tC
! her and talked"
Lady Charlotte looked disappointed.
as that ALL" she said.
| at is quite enough for Gwen" saiC
| the Duke confidently. "for there she
lies, often suffering, always longing fo
the hills and the free air, but with he
/ face radiant AS the flowers OF the be
/ loved canyon"
II must see her" said Lady Char
lotte. "and that wonderful Pilot"
You'll be disappointed in him." sale
the Duke.
"Oh I've seen him and heard him
but | don't know him." she replied
There must be something in him tina
one does not see at first"
so | have discovered" said tn
Duke. and with that the subject wa
dropped, but not before the Lad.
Charlotte made me promise to take he
to Gwen, the Duke being strangely III
willing to do this for her
You'll he disappointed. he said
"She is only a simple little child"