Morris tribune., 1883-08-25

| tlLle! aSheu CIoioy p1eSiASiyS NV Aho"
ing what else to say.
1--WE hope to; but we can't set no def
mite time for our return. 1t all depends
| on the Sheep" said lara, naively.
AS she spoke her father opened the
front door and came in, we'll whitened
| by the storm.
lara fastened to help him off with
his.,great, shaggy buffalo-skin coat, anG
then drew another chair to the fire for
him.
Almost her first words were: "Fath.
er, Mr.. Storey has been to Laurell"
| Mr.. Josslyn laughed.
"You couldn't have been to better
! place, according TO this foolish child"
he said, addressing his guest.
Then lara slipped away leaving The
two men 10 enjoy the cracking pine
logs. while she prepared something ho
| for supper.
well" observed Mr.. Josslyn, after
his daughter had gone, "you were about
lost-completely lost!-when ! came uE
with youw And he gave an amused
| glance at his companion, as though be-
| ing lost was rather comical situation.
II should think sop exclaimed Storey,
"If you had not come along just then |
should most likely have spent the night
on the plains. I could not see any trail
the storm was so binding. 1t was
worse than folly, my leaving Bozeman
for ridge on such an afternoon.
might have known it would storm! But
ii only threatened when l set out"
Are you acquainted much with the
country about here?" asked Mr.. Josslyn.
81 ought to be-" said Storey, smiling;
II hunt in these parts every fall"
You don't say so! Come way to
Montana to hunt! You must be very
fond for the SPORT"
Very. Montana is good country
for hunting, too, guess that's all Miss
JCsslyn would admit it was good for, "
added the young man, again smiling, as
he recalled Zara's pensive young face:
''She hates it; | can see that" Mr..
JOsslyn said, in confidential tone: "but
she knows we have got to to stay here,
for the present, anyway; SO she makes
the best of it. Our ranch is not very
comfortable-not as comfortable as
would wish for Zara's sake; but we are
trying to get away from this wilderness.
SO lay by all we make. Pm sorry
haven't better shelter to offer you, after
urging you to come with me, though"
he added.
Il am very grateful for your hospital
ity," Storey fastened to say. 81 am
more thankful to you for taking me in
at all, and | have spent many night
OH ranches far less comfortable than this
one"
Then lara appeared and said simply:
''We use our kitchen for dining
room. Will you come to supper, please?'
Storey rose Immediately, and with his
host followed the young girl into low
ceiled but eXquisitely neat room.
lara presided at the head of the small
round dining-table, and poured fragrant
coffee into quaint, real china cups.
These came from home" she said
proudly, is she handed William Storey
one of the blue and white treasures.
The evening was spent in pleasant
chatting, and passed so delightfully."- to
the young girl that she fairly stared
at the little clock when it struck eleven.
A bed was made up IN the "best
room" as Mr.. Josslyn's cramped she'd
bedroom, opening, as Zara's did, out of
the kitchen, was not deemed sufficient
ly comfortable for the guest. And when
William Storey fell asleep that night he
dreamed of the little red-curtained room
in which he lay, and saw Zara's pretty,
girlish face with the fre-glow upon it,
Just as he had seen it when awake.
The next morning the sun shone
brightly, but all about the ranch lay the
SNOW in cleaning white drifts.
You had better remain with US to-
day." said Mr.. Josslyn latter breakfast,
gancing out the window as he spoke.
81 should like to-" said Storey, "but
| think l ought to 60 back to Bozeman.
NV room inmate anotner eastern man,
Miss Josslyn)will be looking for me. If
you will let me, viii ride out in a day
or two and see you again, for next week
| 90 home"
cara gave little longing sigh at his
last words. He was going home. How
she wished she could go!
Later she stood with her father in the
doorway and watched their guest depart.
The sunlight fell upon her wistful young
face, and Storey thought how very pref
ty she was as he rode away.
In few days he returned, as he said
he would. cara received him with evil
dent pleasure.
Father has gone to look after the
sheep" she said, ''but he will be homo
to dinner. He will be very glad to see
you | know"
Storey sat down on the rude, home
made lounge, and lara took her favor
tie seat, the foot-bench by the fire.
II 90 home Tomorrow" said Storey
Ego home mean to your dear East"
smilingly.
$50 soonw cried the young girl,
81 am coming back next fall-for
another hunt. May come and see you
then?'
"You will never come," said lara SIM
ly.
II will never come! Why?" asked the
young man in surprise.
Suppose | don't forget, will you be
giaG to see me when | Gomez" inquired
Storey with sudden eagerness, and lean
ing toward lara so as to get better
view of her half-averted face.
Eyes, l shall be glad to see you"
The answer sounded little cold, but
Storey was not dissatisfied, somehow.
''Then l shall surely come" he said.
Presently he went on: "YOu don't
know how [ appreciate your taking me
in the other night. shall always re-
mem"er your kindness"
"Please don't say any more about it,"
said cara quickly, ''for your coming gave
us much pleasure. You did not seem
like stranger to u.s. Father said he
felt as though he had always known You.
l suppose your coming from the east
had something to do with il"
Haven't you met eastern people in
Bozeman?" asked Storey.
ooh yes-several. But the majority
of people we have found in Montana
seem to be from Missouri. | don't call
that east, although they call it so here"
a little contemporary.
Storey laughed. Have you ever no
ticed how all the Missouri people seem
to think they have made this territory"
he inquired. But for them Montana
would never have been inhabitedw
They are welcome to this glorious
country, they and-the Indians!" she
exclaimed.
1t was late in the day-not until after
dinner, some time, that the young man
took his departure. He rode away with
no little reluctance, ..and lara fingered
long in the doorway watching him.
= +
The short Montana summer was
barely over-the cottonwood trees
were still yellow-and the air was yet
quite warm and pleasant, when one af-