The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-02-12

to see Lady Charlotte ride up to the
door of our shack in the early morn
ing.
| "You see, l am not going to let you
off," she said as l greeted her. "And
the day is so very fine for ride"
fastened to apologize for not going
to her, and then to get out of my diff
Guilty rather meanly turned toward the
Pilot and said:
"The Pilot doesn't approve of our
visit"
"And why not, may / ask?' sai6
Lady Charlotte, lifting her eyebrows.
The Pilots face burned, partly with
wrath at me and partly with embar
rassment, for Lady Charlotte had put
on her grand air. But he stood to his
guns.
II was saying, Lady Charlotte he
said, looking straight into her eyes.
"that you and Gwen have little in com
mon-and- He hesitated.
Little in common said Lady Char
lotte quietly "She has suffered great
ly."
The Pilot was quick to catch the
note of sadness in her voice.
eyes, he said, wondering at her
tone. 'She has suffered greatly
"And," continued Lady Charlotte.
"she is bright as the morning, the
Duke says" There was look of pain
In her face.
The Pilots face lit up, and he came
nearer and laid his hand caressingly
upon her beautiful horse.
"Yes, thank God,'' he said quickly;
"bright as the morning"
"How can that beY she asked, look
ing down into his face perhaps she
would tell me-"
LADY Charlotte" said the Pilot,
with sudden flush, 81 must ask your
pardon. l was wrong. 1 thought
you"-he paused-"but go to Gwen.
She will tell you, and you will do her
good"
"Thank you,'' said Lady Charlotte,
putting out her hand, land perhaps you
will come and see me too"
The Pilot promised, and stood looking
after us as we rode up the trail.
"There is something more in your
Pilot than at first appears" she said.
'"The Duke was quite right"
"He is a great man." / said, with en-
thusiasm; 'tender as woman and
with the heart of hero"
"You and Bill and the Duke seem to
agree about him." she said, smiling.
Then l told her tales of the Pilot and
Of his ways with the men till her blue
f1xl
face lost its proud look.
at is perfectly amazing" l said, fin
ishing my story, chow these devil may
care rough fellows respect him and
come to him in all sorts of trouble.
can't understand it, and yet he is just
boy
mo; not amazing" said Lady Char
lotte slowly. 81 think l understand it.
He has true mans heart and holds
great purpose in it. I've seen men like
that-not clergymen, l mean, but men
with a great purpose"
Then, after moments thought, she
added: But you ought to care for him
better He does not look strong"
"Strongp' l exclaimed quickly, with
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-
pudiation of her suggestion l 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 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 interlacing boughs and SHIN
mering leaves, all glowing in yellow
light, then Lady Charlotte broke the
silence in tones soft and reverent as if
she stood in great cathedral.
"And this is Owens canyonT
"Yes. but she never sees it now" l
said, for I could never ride through
without thinking of the child to whose
heart this was so dear, but whose eyes
never rested upon it. Lady Charlotte
made no reply. and we took the trail
that wound down into this maze of
mingling colors and lights and shad
ows. Everywhere lay the fallen leaves,
brown and yellow and gold = every
where on our trail, on the green MOSES
and among the dead ferns.
AS we began to climb up into the open
l glanced into my companions face.
The canyon had done its work with her
as with all who loved it. The touch of
pride that was the habit of her face
was gone, and in it's place rested the
earnest wonder of 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, Pm so glad! You have seen it
and l know you love it! My canyon,
you known 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, II love it." But
she could get no further, for her eyes
were full Of tears Gwen pazed nm info