Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-11-12
"Of course they do" said Gwen indig-

"Of course they do said Gwen indg-
nantly.
why didn't they stop the doctors
from hurting you so cruellyi"
"Why. they let the doctors. It is go
ing to help me TO sit up and perhaps 10
walk about little" answered Gwen,
with blue gray eyes open wide.
oh said the Pilot. at was very
mean to stand by and see you hurt like
that"
why, you silly" replied Gwen i'm
straight and strong"
"Oh, then they didn't do II just for
fun or for nothing?' said the Pilot in
nocently.
Gwen gazed at him in amazed and
speechless wrath. and he went on:
81 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 TO dawn.
DO you mean" she began slowly,
that though God let me fall he loves
meT
The Pilot nodded. He could not trust
his voice.
II wonder If that can be true" she
said, as If to herself, and soon we said
goodhy and came away-the Pilot limp
and voiceless. hut I triumphant. for l
began to see n little light for Gwen
But the fight was by no means over.
Indeed it was hardly we'll 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
of her lot. Then came tho day OF the
round up. Why should she have to stay
while all went after the cattle? The
Duke would have remained, but she
impatiently sent him away. She was
weary and heartsick. and, worst Of all.
she began TO feel that most terrible Of
burdens the burden of her life to 9th
ers. | was much relieved when the
Pilot came in fresh and bright waving
a bunch of wild flowers in his hand
II thought they were all gone" no
cried. "Whorc do you think | found
them? Right down Ivy the big elm
root" And, though he saw BIZ the set
tied gloom Of her face that the storm
was coming, he went hravelv on pictur-
ing the canyon in all the splendor Of its
autumn dress But the spell would not
work. Iysr heart was ont on the sop-
ing hills, whore the Caitle were bunch
ing and crowding with tossing heads
ard rattling horns. and It was in
voice very bitter and impatient that
she cried:
"Oh, | am sick Of all this I want 10
ride. ! want 10 see the cattle and tie
men and and and all the things ont
side" The Pilot was cowboy enough
to know the longing that tuggod at her
heart for one wild race tfter the calves
or steers, but he could only say:
"Wait, Gwen. Try to be patient"
II am patient: at least I have been
patient for two whole months and it's
no use. and don't believe God cares
ore bit"
Yes, he does. Gwen. more than any
Of US, replied the Pilot earnestly
mo, 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 remember? That was
very wicked. But don't you think I'm
punished nearly enough ncwi You
made me very angry, aud didn't real
ly mean IT.
Poor Gwen! God had grown 70 be
very real te her Curing hose weeks Of
pain, and very terrible. The Pilot look
ed dowp a moment into the blue gray
eyes grown so big and so pitiful. and
hurriedly dropping on his knees beside
the bed. he said in very unsteady
voice:
ooh. Gwen. Gwen. mes not like that!
Don't you remember how Jesus was
with the poor sick people? That's what
he's like"
Gould Jesus make me wcll?"
eyes, Gwen"
"Then why doesn't hep she asked
and there was no impatiencc now, but
only trembling anxiety Ms she went on
in tmd voice: II asked him TO- over
and over. and said | would wait two
months, and now it's more than three
Are you quite sure be hears now 2"
She raised herself on her elbow and
gaHcd searchingly into the Pilots face.
| Vas glad II was not into mine. AS
she uttered the words. Are you quite
surc?' one felt that things were in the
balance, | could not holm looking at
the Pilot with intense anxiety. What
would he answer? The Pilot eazed out
of the window upon the hills for a few
moments how long the silence seem
ed,-then. turning. looked into the eyes
that searched his SO steadily and an
swored simply:
YES Gwen. am quite sure" Then,
with quick inspiration, he got her
mothers Pibe and said Now. Gwen.
try 10 see il as | read" But before he
read with the true artists instinct he
created the proper atmosphere BY a
few vivid words he made us feel the
pathetic loneliness of the Man of Sor-
rows in his last snd days. Then he
read that masterpiece of all tragic pic
turing, the story of Gethsemane, And
ms he read we saw il all tho garden
and the trees and the sorrow stricken
Man alone with his mysterious agony.
We hoard tho DruVpr so pa tletically