Morris tribune., 1883-08-25
BY CLAUDE WILLIAM SMITH.

E@dASt lAIISh AupIC HA1AS lOSS Oll lllG uIt ;,
drew to2eth 7 the red chintz curtains at
the small window of her ''best room, -
and tried TO make things trife cozer
in the ranch cabin.
Father will soon be home" she said
she had fallen into the habit of talk
ing to herself on: in this lonely country,
this new, far west" He will put the
sheep in the corral early to-night-it is
so stormy"
A small clock on shelf, which served
rs mantel, ana which was draped with
some simple but pretty chiltz, like the
curtains, struck four. cara sighed lit
tie as she heard It. How many times
had she listened to that same silvery
chime-it was q 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. lara
could almost smell the great creamy
roses that climbed over the front porch.
She could see the tasteful little home
parlor, so different from the meagrely-
furnished room she now sat in, with its
poor little attempts at Cheerfulness.
She could fancy herself, as of old, sitting
before her sweet-tOned piano, singing
all the odd tunes she could call to
mind ito please tather;' or she could
picture the long, happy summer days
spent under the large naples in the gar
den, lying idly in a hammock, drinking
in the sweet air, and dreaming as girls
will dream.
How her dreams had turned out!
When her father came to her one fall
day and said very gravely, "Zara, I have
lost money. This place must be sold. l
shall go West" her heart had Ieaped
with foolish joy, She had dreamed so
often Of the West; she knew it was a
paradise, so 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: II am so glad we are
going West! We shall make our for
tunes there. l know"
She was younger then-barely II. She
was % now-had been 'roughing it"
five years. She was wiser.
The lovely New England home had
been sold, ali debts paid-for lara Joss
lyn's father was strictly honorable-and
father and daughter had sought the west
the great undeveloped territory of
Montana. Mr.. Josslyn's remaining cap
ital, which was not large, had been in
vested in sheep.
eve shall have to be content to wait,
Fart, child, while our little flock grows"
Mr.. Josslyn had said, and at the same
time had cast a rueful glance around
the small Lighthouse they were to call
home" for the years to come. But
cara was young and hopeful.
we shall be rich before we know itw
she had cried gayly, and went on tack
ing muslin on the cabin walls, in lieu of
plastering.
The years came and Went-the little
flock of sheep grew larger and money
came i'll little more plentifully; but
Mr.. Josslyn had not made fortune"
yet, and life on ranch was not easy.
lara pined, secretly, for the east. She
hated those desoIate plains, the barren
foot hills" the deeply furrowed snowy
mountains, so different from the wooded
New England hills! The sun blinded
her-it shOne in such a glarlng way
tOn-WOod' trees she detested; she
lOnged for naples, elnis, and oaks. 81
want real trees Or none" she would say.
A few vines, in summer, were trained
about the Cabin-dOOr and windows, and
some wild, pale, pink sWeetbrler roses
grew near the house. But lara had not
the heart to cultivate flowers, besides,
her time was well taken up IN other
ways, Her days, though monotonous,
were busy ones. She did not dream
often now, unless Of the past, and life
was wholly practical to her.
Again the little gilt clock chimed-
this time, Eve.
81 wonder father does not comeW ex-
claimed 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 vainly
tried to peer through the darkness. The
wind moaned and walled, the snow
shiversd and drew back. AS she did so
she caught the sound of voices. Lamp
in hand she hurried to the door.
$50 right in." she heard her father
say; don't wait for me. Just tell her
YOU are from the east-that will be sutti-
cient recommendation
Then cara saw her father turn toward
the barn leading another horse beside
his own, and tall man, well muffled,
came striding up the path from the gate
way.
May come IMP" asked the stranger,
pausing for moment at the door and
raising fur cap.
Certainly" replied lara, and re-
treated into the warm, ire-lit room.
The tall man followed, and quickly di-
vesting himself of his snow-covsred out
er wrappings, drew near the blazing
fire.
"My name is Storey-William Storey"
10 fofh Cd
vises me to tell you that I am from the
East
Zara smiled also. Father knows how
glad | am always to see any one from
home," she said.
Il have been in Montana, however,
all this fall" Mr.. Storey went ON to say,
land | come here nearly every fall to
hunt. Montana is good hunting ground.
But l have fingered little too along
among the Rockies this time; winter has
overtaken mep
sit is our first real snow storm, but it
makes one feel it ought to be in January
instead of only NovemberP' lara
said with sigh, as a gust of
wind beat wildly against the ranch
cabin.
"You do not like the West?" asked
her companion, glancing up at the young
girls somewhat sad face.
She was leaning against the mantel-
shelf, unconsciously watching William
Storey as he warmed his chilled hands
before the blaze.
mo, thought I should like it, but it
is very disappointing" Then suddenly,
her face kindling: "Have you ever
been in Maine? Havs you ever passed
through little town called Laurelp" she
asked eagerly.
Eyes, to both questions" replied Sto-
rey, again smiling. ''I stopped over
night once at Laurel, on my way to
Mount Desert one summer. 1t is a love-
" little nook"
ooh, is it notP" cried the young girl
with almost culver in her voice. "I
lived there once. / was 80 happy
therep