The Sky Pilot

series of exasperations through which she was destined to conduct me, still would I have undertaken my task. For

tered with hardly a struggle the mysteries of figures, for she would have to sell her cattle, and "dad doesn't know when they are cheating." Her ideas of education were purely utilitarian, and what did not appear immediately useful she refused to trifle with. And so all through the following long winter she vexed my righteous soul with her wilfulness and

and shaking back with a trick she had her streaming red hair, she looked straight at him from her blue-gray eyes and asked the mono

on her. Immediately she sprang at him, shook hi

like that, and you are not

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,

have him?

ied, doubtfully. "Y

ng somewhat clumsily,

disdained all lessons, and when The Duke next appeared she greeted him with the exclamation, "I won't have your o

know? I ne

at him to d

I hasten to assure, you that I have cha

s horse," she sa

s on now," replied The D

t on, "he's just a

" acknowledged The Duke, "but in

r of finality, "he i

er her own escort, one t

ounced, with defiant shamefacedness

e said, apologetically, "for Loui

u would have been down into the canyon

," he added, unwilling to give up his con

it was i

as in flood, hi

the banks

he hes

been drowned but for my lar

doubtfull

iat, and again they fought out the possibilities of drowning and of escape till Gwen almost lost her temper, and was appeased only by the most profuse expressions of gratitude on the part of The Pilot for her timely assi

. But the half-hearted invitation acted like a

aid; "and besides," she added, triu

earnest prayers of the Old Tim

he swift-running water struck him, and over he went on his side, throwing his rider into the water. But The Pilot kept his head, and, holding by the stirrups, paddled along by Louis' side. When they were

g pony down the stream till opposite a shelf of rock level with the high water. Then she threw her lariat, and, catching Louis ab

, almost tearfully. "You se

his feet, took a step

lew to him, and turned him over on his back. In a few

id, with his face towa

"but you must come in, the

lot seemed

g across," he

greatly d

id, cleverly changing her gro

stay till the storm was past. So, with a final loo

, that had stood for ten years closed and silent, opened it and began to play. As he played and sang song after song, the Old Timer's eyes began to glisten

ass to the old hymn, "Nearer, My God, to Thee," and then The Pilot said simply, "May we

es he sa

man's face grow slowly red u

ears, and the worse for us." He rose slowly, wen

runk the day I laid her out yonder under the pines." The Pilot, without lookin

but for her-" He paused. "Y

ted her, we needed her." The O

shoulder as if he had been his father, and said in h

umb agony beside the bed on which her mother lay white and still; nor would he heed her till, climbing up, she tried to make her mother waken and hear her cries. Then he had caught her up in hi

s he making you cry?" She lo

the old man, hastily,

ove ineffable. And, as the words fell like sweet music upon our ears, the old man s

lot paused. "It isn't true, is it?" and her voice

," said he, brokenl

t, quickly. "I'll read it all to you

ht. Read it now! Go on!" she said, s

ise at her, and then tur

all

ied: "Is THAT true, too? Is it ALL true?" made it impossible for me to hesitate in my answer. And I was glad to find it easy to give my firm adherence to the truth of all that tale of wonder. And, as more and more it grew upon The Pilot that the story he was reading, so old to him and to all he had ever met, was new to one in that listening group, his

hany. And He lifted up His hands and blessed them. And it came to pass as He blessed them He was parted f

did H

," answered The

," she said to her fath

asked. The old man

id The Pilot, "and she

he cried, "isn

y hid his face in h

He sees us, too, and hears us

r again. It gave me a queer feeling to see her, when we three kneeled to pray, stand helplessly looking on, not knowing what to do, then sink beside her father, and, wind

her heart; but the day was to come, and all too soon, when she should have to pour out her soul w