The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-06-15
CHAPTER XII.
cwrN'S CANYON

NO''"S o'h oNhShN oioAiNN WV 40 q
candle, leaving noisome darkness to
settle down in that sick room, from the
day OF the doctors consultation.
The verdict was clear and final. The
old doctor, who loved Gwen as his
own, was inclined to hope against
hope, but Fawcett, the clever young
doctor from the distant town, was
positive in his opinion. The scene is
clear to me now, after many years.
We three stood in the outer room, the
Duke and her father were with Gwen.
So earnest was the discussion that
non of us heard the door open just as
young Fawcett was saying in incisive
tones:
"No. l can see no hope. The child
can never walk again"
There was Il cry behind us.
what! Never walk again? It's a
uc.' There stood the Old Timer, white,
fierce, shaking.
flush" said the old doctor, point
Ing at the open door. he was too
late. Even as he spoke there came
from the inner room Il wild, uncarthly
cry as of some dying thing, and, as
We stood gazing at one another with
w stricken faces, we heard Ovens
voice rs IN quick, sharp pain.
Daddy! Daddy! Come! What do
they say? Toll me, daddy. 1t is not
true! 1t is not true! Look at me,
daddyw
She pulled up her fathers haggard
face from the bed.
ooh, daddy, daddy, you knob it's
true. Never walk again"
She turned with Il pitiful cry to the
Duke, who stood white and stiff, with
arms drawn tight across his breast, on
the other side of the bed.
ooh, Duke, did YOU hear them? You
told me to he brave, md 1 tried not to
cry when they hurt me. But I can't
be brave! Can L, Duke? oh, Duke!
Never to ride again."
She stretched out her hands to him.
But the Duke, leaning over her and
holding her hands fast in his, could
only say Drokenly over and over:
Don't, Gwen! Don't, Gwen, dear!"
But the pitiful, pleading voice went
on:
"Oh, Duke! Must / always lie heref
Must II Why must II"
anyway NlSu III iuhS
bitterly, under his breath, II don't!"
She caught at the word.
docs he2" she cried eagerly. Then
gate paused suddenly, turned to me and
kadd, ID you remember he said some
day 1 could not do as 1 likcd?"
l was puzzled.
1.-THE Pilot she cried impatiently.
Don't YOU remember? And said 1
should do as l liked till / died."
1 nodded my head and said, But you
know you didn't mean it,"
But did, and I do she cried, with
passionate yehemcncc, "and will do
as l like! l will not lie here. will
ride! / Will! l Will. / will.' md she
struggled up, clinchcd her fists and
sank back faint and weak. 1t was not
a pleasant sight, but grcwsomc. Her
rage against that Unseen Omnipotcnce
was SO defiant and so helpless.
Ihosc were dreadful weeks to Gwen
and TO all about her. The constant
pain could not break her proud spirit;
she Shed no tears. but she frcttcd and
clafed and grew more impcriously ex-
acting every day. POnka md Joe she
drove like a slave master, and even her
father, when lie could no understand
her wishes, she impaticntly banishcd
from her room. Only the Duke could
please or bring her any cheer. and even
the Duke began to feel thai the day
was not fur off when he, too, would
fall, and the thought made him despair.
Her pain was hard to bear, but harder
than the pain vas her longing for the
open air and the free. flower strewH,
breeze swept prairie. But most pitiful
Of ali were the days when In her utter
WEAKNESS and uncomfortable unrest
h would pray to be taken down Into
the canyon.
"Oh, 1t Is so cool and shady" she
| would plead, "and the flowers M in the
rocks and the vines and things are all
30 lovely. j am always better there. I
know I should be better" till the Duke
would be distracted and would come to
me and wonder what the end would be.
One day. when the strain had been
more terrible than usual, the Duke
rode down to me and said:
Look here. This thing can't 60 on.
Where is the Pilot gomez Why doesn't
he stay where he belongs? I wish to
heaven he would get through with his
absurd rambling"
Hes gone where lie was sent" I re-
piled shortly. you don't set much
store by him when he does come round.
He is gone on an exploring trip through
the Dog lake country. He'll be back
by the end of next week.
II say. bring him up, for heavens
sake!' said the Duke. "He may be of
some use, and anyway 1t will be a new
face for her, poor child" Then he
added, rather p%enitcntly: "I fear this
thing is getting on to my nerves. She
almost drove me out today. Don't lay
1t up against me, old chap"
1t was n new thing to hear the Duke
confess Ills need Of any man, much less
penitence for n fault. I felt my eyes
growing dim, but 1 said roughly:
You be hanged!~Im bring the Pilot
up when he comes"
1t was wonderful how we had all
come to confide in the Pilot during his
year of missionary work among us.
Somehow the cowboys name Of "sky
Pilot" seemed to express better than
anything else the place he held with
us. Certain 1t is that when, in their
dark hours, any Of the fellows felt in
need of help to strike the upward
trail' they went to the Pilot, and 80
the name first given In chaff came to
be the name that expressed most truly
the deep and tender feeling these
rough, big hearted men cherished for