The Northern Pacific farmer., 1883-08-23
logs. while she prepared something hot

!
with you!" And he gave an amuse
glance at his companion, as though be
ing lost was rather comical situation.
II should think SOP exclaimed Storey
"1f you had not come along just then
should most likely have spent the nigh
on the plains. could not see any trai
the storm was so binding. 1t wa
worse than folly, my leaving Bozema1
for ridge on such an afternoon.
might have known it would storm! Blu
IL only threatened when set out"
| Are you acquainted much with tn
country about here?" asked Mr.. Josslyn
II ought to be-" said Storey, smiling
II hunt in these parts every fall"
YOU don't say sol Come way t
Montana to hunt! You must be YER,
fond for the sport!'
"Very. Montana is q good countr,
for hunting, too, I guess that's all Mis-
Josslyn would admit it was good for,
added the y6ung man again smiling. a.
he recalled Zara's pensiye young face.
"She hates it; I can see: that" MI
Josslyn said, in confidential tone: "bu
she knows We have got to to stay here
Tor the present, anyway; SO she make
the best Of it.. Our ranch is not yer,
comfortable-not as comfortable as
would wish for Zar,ls sake; but we ar,
trying to get away from this wilderness
so lay by all we make. Pm sorry
haven't better shelter to offer you, afte
urging you to come with me, though
he added.
II am very grateful for your hospital
ity," Storey fastened to say. II all
more thankful to you for taking me ir
at all and have spent many a nigh
on ranches far less comfortable than thi
| one."
Then Zara appeared and said simply
"We use our kitchen for dining
room. Will you come to supper, ,please?'
Storey rose Immediately, and with hi
host followed the young girl into a low
| ceilcd but exquisitely neat room.
Hara presided at the head of the small
round dining-table, and poured tragran
coffee into quaint, real china cups.
These came from home," she said
proudly, as she handed William Storey
one of the blue and white treasures.
The evening was spent in pleasant
chatt NJ, and passed so delightfully."- tc
the young Pill 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 shed.
bedroom, opening, as Zara's did, out o
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 after breakf fast,
glancing out the window as he spoke.
II should like to-" said Storey, "but
I think / ought to 60 back to Bozeman.
My rOOm-mate(another eastern man,
Miss Josslyn)will be looking for me. If
you will let me, | Will ride out in a day
or two and see you again, for next week
| 90 home."
Zara gave a little longing sigh at his
last words. He was going homie. 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 lara received him with evil
dent pleasure.
"Father has gone to look after the
Sheep" she said, "but he will be home
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
ite seat, the foot-bench by the fire.
II go home Tomorrow" said Storey
Ego home mean to your dear East"
smiingly.
$50 soon!" cried the young girl,
II am coming back next fall-for
another hunt. May come and see you
then?"
"You will never come," said lara sim
ly.
Il will never come! Why?" asked the
young man in surprise.
"Suppose l don't forget, will you be
glac to see me when Gomez" inquired
Storey with sudden eagerness, and lean
ing toward Zara so as to get better
view of her half-averted face.
eyes, shall be glad to see you"
The answer sounded a little cold, but
''Then shall surely come,' he said.
Presently he went on: "You don't
know how 1 appreciate your taking me
mem er your Kindness"
"Please don't say any more about it, -
said Zara quickly, 'for your coming gave
us much pleasure. You did not seem
like stranger to US. Father said he
felt as though he had always known you.
| suppose your coming from the east
bad something to do with it"
"Haven't you met eastern people In
P11o~orOD ocEoI Gtoro%y
"Oh yes-several. But the majority
of people we have found in Montana
seem to be from Missouri. l don't call
that east, although they call it so here!"
little comtemptuousy.
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, land Zara fingered
long in the doorway ( watching him.
The short Montana summer was
barely over-the cotton wood trees
we're still yellow-and the air Was vet
quite warm and pleasant, when one at
ternoon, toward sunset, lara looked up
f"om her sewing and saw tall, hand
some man coming towards the house on
horseback.
Miss Josslynv cried a well-remem-
bered voice.
lara rose, trembling little, from the
door-steps where she had been sitting
She wore quite joyous expression,
Storey thought, secretly pleased, as he
left his horse to Craze by the gate and
fastened toward the young girl.
Are you glad to see me?" be in
quired eagerly, taking Zara's hand.
"You know lam glad" she exclaimed,
her face flushing under his earnest
gaze. "Father and I have talked of you
so often," she went on; "you know our
life is so quiet and monotonous here,
that your coming to us last fall was quite
an event."
II am very glad. My coming to you
In all my ramblings since [ left you
during the gay season at the seaside this
summer, event. could not get this
lonely little ranch out of my head,
somehow. Your wistful face haunted
me-indeed it did! 1 grew unreason-
ably impatient to see-well, Montana
again. l tried to reason with myself;
you had forgotten me, most likely,
thought, but in vain! 1 pictured you
about your everyday llfe-cou]d see
the shadows deepening in your eyes
and one day I cried aloud, It's shame
for an vOuno q creature tn he hnriedp ~