Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-10-27

3y RALPH CONNOR

Author OF

| there among lne Hills. SHS SECS III oiie
but himself and Ponka's Blackfoot re-
lations, who treat her like goddess
and help to spoil her utterly. She
knows their lingo and their ways-goes
off with them for week at time
What! With the Blackfeet?'
"Ponka and Joe, Of course, 90 along,
but even without them she Is as safe
as If surrounded by the Coldstream
guards. But she has giver them up
for some time nOw."
"And at home" l asked. Has she
any education? Can she read or
| Write?"
"Not she. She can make her own
dresses, moccasins and leggings. She
can cook and wash-that Is, when she
feels in the mood. And she KNOWS all
about the birds and beasts and flowers
and that sort of thing, but-education!
Why, she is hardly civilized!
What a shamew I said. How old
is she?"
"Oh, q mere child-fourteen or fif-
teen, imagine. but a woman in many
things"
"And what does her father say to
all this? Can he control herr"
"Controlr' said the Duke in utter
astonishment. "Why, bless your soul.
nothing in heaven or earth could con-
troll her. Wait till you see her stand
with her proud little head thrown
back, giving orders to Joe, and you
will never again connect the idea Of
control with Gwen. She might be a
princess for the pride Of her. I've
seen some. too, in my day, but none
to touch her for sheer, imperial pride.
little Lucifer that she Is"
"And how does her father stand her
nonsense? I asked. for confess l
was not much taken with the picture
the Duke had drawn.
"Her father simply follows behind
her and adores. as do all things that
come near her. down. or up, perhaps,
to her two dogs. Wolf and Loo, for
either of which she would readily die
If need be. Still" he added after q
pause. ut Is shame, as you say. She
ought to know something Of the refine
ments OF civilization. to which. after
all, she belongs. and from which none
Of us can hope to escape" The Duke
was silent for few moments and then
added with some hesitation. Then, too.
she Is quite pagan-never saw a
prayer book. you know"
And so it came about, chiefly through
the Dukes influence. l imagine. that
was engaged by the Old Timer to 60
up to his ranch every week and teach
his daughter something Of the ele-
mentaries Of lady's education.
My introduction was ominous Of the
many things l was to suffer OF that
same young maiden before l had fin.
ished my course with her. The Old
Timer had given careful directions as
to the trail that would lead me to the
canyon where he was to meet me. Up
the Swan went the trail. winding ever
downward into deeper and narrower
coulees and up to higher open sunlit
slopes, till suddenly it settled into a
valley which began with great width
and narrowed to canyon whose rocky
sides were dressed out with shrubs and
trailing vines and wet with trickling
rivulets from the numerous springs
that oozed and gushed from the black,
glistening rocks, This canyon was an
eerie place of which ghostly tales were
told from the old Blackfoot times. And
to this day no Blackfoot will dare to
pass through this black walled. oozy.
glistening canyon after the moon has
passed the western lip. But in the
warm light Of broad day the canyon
was a good enough place. cool and
sweet. and fingered through, waiting
for the Old Timer. who failed to ap-
pear till the shadows began to darken
Its western black sides.
Out of the mouth Of the canyon the
trail climbed to wide stretch Of prairie
that swept up over soft hills to the left
and down to the bright cleaning wa
ters of the Devils lake on the right.
In the sunlight the lake lay like gem
radiant with many colors. the far side
black in the shadow Of the crowding
pines. then. in the middle. deep. blue and
purple. and. nearer. many shades OF en-
erald that ran quite to the white sandy
beach. Right in front stood the ranch
buildings. upon slight rising ground
and surrounded by sturdy palisade
Of upright pointed poles. This was the
castle of the princess. | rode up to the
open gate. then turned and stood to
| look down upon the marvellous lake
shining and shimmering with its many
radiant colors. Suddenly there was an
awful roar. my pony shot round upon
his hind legs after his beastly cayuse
manner. deposited me sitting upon the
ground and fed down the trail. pur-
sued by two huge dogs that brushed
past me as I fell. was aroused from
my amazement by peal Of laughter,
shrill. but full of music. Turning, !
saw my pupil. as guessed. standing
at the head Of a most beautiful pinto
(spottedI pony with heavy cattle quirt
in her hand. scrambled to my feet
and said. somewhat angrily. fear:
What ure you laughing at? Why
don't you call back your dogs? They
will chase my pony beyond all reach"