The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-06-08

CHAPTER Y.
OWENS FIRST PRAYERS

I3I n TT was with hesitation, almost
Xxi Il with fear, that / began with
k6dfTa6l Gwen. But even had l been
G&2YSS able to ~forcsce the endless
series of cNuspcrations through which
she was destined TO conduct me, still
would L have undertaken my task.
For the child, with all her ~wlllfulncss,
her tempers and her pride, made me,
as she did all others, her willing slave.
Her lessons on, brilliantly or
aot at all, according to her ,vcet will.
She learned 10 read with extraordinary
rapidity, for she was eager to know
moro of that great world of which the
Duke had told her such thrilling tales.
Writing she abhorrcd. She had no
one to write to. Why should she
cramp her fingers Yer these crooked
little marks? But she mastered with
hardly n struggle the mysteries of ng-
urcs, for she would have to sell her
cattle, and dad doesn't know when
they arc cheating" Her ideas of cdu-
cation were purely unitarian, and
what did not appear immediately use
full she refused 10 tritic with. And so
all through the following long winter
Sic veXcd my righteous SOU with her
willfulncss and pride. An appeal to
her fathcr was idle. She would wind
her long, thin arms about his neck
and let her waving red hair float over
him until the old man was quite help
less to exert authority. The Duke
could do most with her. TO please
him she would struggle with her crook
ed letters for an hour at Il time, but
even his influence and authority had
It's limits.
"Must IL" she said one day In an
swcr to a demand OF his for more
faithful study; "must IT And,
throwing up her proud little head and
shaking back with n trick she had
her streaming red hair, she looked
straight at him from her blue gray
eyes and asked the monosyllabic ques-
ton, "Why?" And the Duke looked
back ut her with his slight smile for
Il few moments and then said in cold,
even tones:
~ really don't know Why and
turned his back on her. Immediately
she sprang at him, shook him by the
arm and, %quivcring with passion, cried:
"Iou arc not to speak TO me like that,
and you are not to turn your back
that way"
"What a little princess 1t is" he said
admiringly, 'and what u time she will
give herself some day!" Then he added,
smiling sadly: "Was I rude, Gwen2
Then am sorry" Her rage was gone,
and she looked as if she could have
held him by the feet. AS it was, too
proud to show her feelings, she just
looked at him with softening eyes, and
then sat down to the work she had
refused. THIS was after the advent Of
the Pilot at Swan Creek, and, as the
Duke rode home with me that night,
after long musing he snid with heslta-
ton: "Shc ought to have some re-
ligion, poor child; she will grow up q
perfect little devil. The Pilot might
be OF service If you could bring him
up. Women need that sort Of thing.
1t %rcfincs, you know"
"Would she have him?" 1 asked.
Question" he replied doubtfully.
"You might suggest IT,"
Which l did. Introducing somewhat
clumslly, j fear, the Dukes name.
"Thc Duke says he is to make, me
good!' she cried. 81 won't have him.
l hate him, and you too!'' And for
that day she disdained all lessons, and
when the Duke next appeared she
greeted him with the exclamation, 81