The banner-enterprise. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1883-18??, 1883-08-16
ON THE SHEEP RANCH.
A MONTANA SKETCH.

A MONTANA SKETCH.
A driving, binding snow, the sky
lark and sullen, wild wind sweeping
over the plains, the mountains quite
hidden from view by the storm.
Zara threw more pine logs on the
fre, drew together the red chintz cur
Gains at the small window of her " best
room," and tried to make things tri-
tle cozier in the ranch cabin.
"Father will soon be home" she
said she had fallen into the habit of
talking to hers If out in this lonely
country, tbs new, far-We t." "He
will put the sheep in the corral early
to-night--it is so stormy
A small CLOCK on shelf. which
served as a mantel, and which was
draped with some simple but pretty
chintz, like the curtain, struck four.
cara sighed a little as she heard it.
How many times had she listened to
that same sil> cry chime was a
pretty little French clock-in happier
days in the dear East . Its musical
sound recalled SO much = brought
back the pretty, old fashioned New
England home SO plainly.
How her dreams had turned out!
When her father cane to her one fall
day and said very gravely, "Zara, l
have lost money. This place must be
sold. shall go West" her heart had
leap>d with foolish JOY. She hal
dreamed so often of the West; she
knew it was a paradise, 50 free and
wild. "Roughing it would be so
very pleasant Had she not read in
books about it? So she had only
smiled at her fathers grave face and
exclaimed: 81 am so glad we are going
West We shall make our fortune
there, l know"
She was younger then barely sew
enteen. She was twenty-five now
had been "roughing it five years.
She was wiser.
The lovely New England home had
been sod, all debts paid for cara
Josslyn's father was strictly honorable
and father and daughter had sought
the West the great, undeyeloped ter
ritory of Montana. Mr.. .Josslyn's re-
naming capital, which was not large,
had been invested In sheep.
The years came and went-the little
flock of sheep grew larger, and
money came in little more plentifully;
but Mr.. Josslyn had not made "a for
tune yet, and life on ranch was not
easy. Zara pined, secretly, for the
East. She hated these desolate plains,
the barren foothills" the deeply-fur-
rowed, snowy mountains, so different
from the wooded New England hills.
Again the little gilt clock chimed-
this time, five.
IL wonder father does not come !"
exclaimed cara, rising from low
foot-bench by the fire, where she had
been sitting thinking for the last hour.
She went to the window, and parting
the curtains yainly tried to peer
through the darkness. The wind
moaned and walled, the snow blew
against the window-pane. Zara shiv-
cred and drew back AS she did so
she caught thesound of voices. Lamp
in hand she hurried to the door.
"Go right in she heard her father
say "don't wait for me. Just tell
her you are from the East that will
be sufficient recommendation ~
Then Zara saw her father turn
toward the barn leading another horse
beside his own, and II tall man, well
mullled, came striding up the path
from the gateway.
"May come in?' asked the stran-
ger, pausing for a moment at the door
and raising fur cap.
Certainly" replied Zara and re-
treated into the warm, lire-l,t room.
The tall man followed, ard quickly
divesting himself of his nowcovered
outer wrappings, drew near the b.az-
ing fire.
My name is Storey-William Sto-
rev." he said, smiling; land your faith
er advises me to tell you that l am
from the East.
Zara smiled also. "Father knows
how glad | am always to see any enc
from home,' she said
81 have been in Montana, however,
all this fall" Mr.. Storey went on to
say, "and come here nearly every fall
to hunt. Montana is gooi hunting
ground. But have fingered a little
too long among the Rockies this time ;
winter has oyertaken me J!
1T is our first real snowstorm, but
it makes one feel it ought to be Janu-
ary instead of November !" Zara said,
with a sigh, as a gust of wind beat
wildly against the ranch cabin.
"You do not like the West" asked
her companion, glalcing up at the
young girls somewhat sad face.
"No; thought | should like 1t, but
it is very Disappointing" Then sud
denly, her face kindling: Have you
ever been in Maine2 Have you ever
passed through a little town called
Laurel?' she asked eagerly.
"Yes, to both questions" replied
Storey, again smiling. "I stopped
over night once at Laurel, on my way
TO Mount Desert one summer. 1t is a
ovely little nook
"0h, is it not y cried the youn
girl. with almost a quiver in her voice.
!" lived there once. was so happy
therep
As she spoke her father threw open
the front door and came in, well
whitened by the storm.
Zara hastened to help him off with
his great, shaggy, bufTalo-skin coat, and