Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-11-25

"He is great man." said. with en-
thusiasm; tender as q woman and
with the heart OF hero"
You and Bill and the Duke seem to
agree about him." she said. smiling.
Then told her tales OF the Pilot and
OF his ways with the men tin her blue
eyes grew bright and her beautiful
face lost its proud look.
"It is perfectly amazing" said, fin
ishing my story, "how these devil may
care rough fellows respect him and
come TO him I'm all sorts OF trouble.
can't understand II, and yet he is just a
boy"
mo: not amazing" said Lady Char
lotte slowly. Il think I understand IL.
He has a true mans heart and holds a
great purpose in IT, I've seen men like
that-not clergymen, 1 mean. but men
with a great purpose"
Then. after a moments thought, she
added: But You ought 10 care for him
better. He does not look strong"
''Strongw 1 exclaimed quickly. with a
queer feeling OF resentment at my
heart. He can do as much riding as
any OF u.s."
STILL" she replied, there's some
thing in his face that would make his
mother anxious" In spite Of my re-
pvdiation OF her suggestion I found
myself for the next few minutes think
Ing OF how he would come exhausted
and faint from his long rides. and re-
solved that he must have a rest and
change.
BY the time we reached the canyon
the sun was riding high and pouring
its rays full into all the deep hooks
where the shadows mostly lay.
Down in the bottom stood the cedars
and the balsams. still green. We stood
some moments silently gazing into this
tangle Of fnterlacing bOugbs and SHIN
mering leaves. all glowing In yellow
light, then Lady Charlotte broke the
silence in tones soft and reverent as II
she stood in n great cathedral.
And this is Ovens canyOnT'
''Yes. but she never sees IL now" I
said. for | could never ride through
without thinking OF the child 10 whose
heart this was so dear. but whose eyes
never rested upon IL. Lady Charlotte
made no reply. and we took the trail
that wound down into this maze OF
mingliDg colors and lights and shad-
ows. Everywhere lay the fallen leaves.
brown and yellow and gold - every
where on our trail. on the green mosses
and among the dead ferns
As we began TO climb up into the open
1 glanced into my companions face.
The canyon had done its work with her
as with all who loved il. The touch OF
pride that was the habit OF her face
was gone and I'm fits place rested the
earnest wonder OF n little child. while
In her eyes lay the canyons tender
glow. And with this face she looked in
upon Gwen.
And Gwen, who had been waiting for
her, forgot all her nervous fear. and
with hands outstretched, cried out in
welcome:
"Oh. I'm so glad, You have seen 1t
and l know you love Il. My canyon.
you know she went on. answering
Lady Charlotte's mystified look.
Yes. dear child said Lady Char
lotte. bending over the pale face with
its halo OF golden hair. Il love it," But
she could get no further, for her eyes
were full OF tears. Gwen gazed up into
the beautiful face. wondering at her ST.
lence, and then said gently:
Tell me how Il looks today, The
Pilot always shows II to me. DO you
know" she added thoughtfully. "the
! Pilot looks like il himself. He makes
me think OF IL. and-and"-she went
on shyly, you do. too"
BY this time Lady Charlotte was
kneeling by the couch. smoothing the
beautiful hair and gently touching the
face SO pale and lined with pain.
That is a great honor. truly" she
said brightly through her tears-"to be
like your canyon and like your Pilot
too"
Gwen nodded. but she was not to be
denied.
Tell me how it looks today" she
said. Il want to see it. oh, l want TO
see it!'
Lady Charlotte was greatly moved by
the yearning in the voice, but, control
ling herself, she said gayly:
"Oh, l can't show il to you as your
Pilot can, but I'll tell you what l saw"
Turn me where / can see" said
| Gwen 10 me, and / wheeled her toward
the window and raised her up so that
she could look down the trail toward
the canyons mouth.
Now she said after the pain of the
| lifting had passed, tell me, please
Then Lady Charlotte set the canyon
before her in rich and radiant colorinS,
while Gwen listened, gazing down upon
the trail To where the elm tops could be
seen. rusty and scar.
''Oh, il is lovely" said Gwen. And
/ see il SO well. 1t is all there before
me when look through my window"
But Lady Charlotte looked at her.
wondering 10 see her bright smile, and
at last she could not help the question:
But don't you weary TO see it with
your own eyesy'
Yes" said Gwen gently; often 1
want and want it. oh, so muchr'
And then, Gwen. dear, how can You
bear it," Her voice wae- @ager and
earnest Tell me, Gwen. l have
heard all about your canyon flowers,
but ! can't understand how the fret
ting and the Jain went away"
Gwen looked at her first in amaze
ment and then in dawning understand
ing.
''IIave you a canyon, too?' she asked
gravely.
Lady Charlotte paused moment,
then nodded. 1t did appear strange TO
me that she should break down her
proud reserve and open her heart TO
this child.
And there are no flowers, Gwen; not
| 81 40