Morris tribune., 1883-08-25

William Storey had spoken with no
little eagerness and excitement, and as
lara sat beside him on the steps, and
listened, her cheeks had grown
deeper crimson.
She did not speak at first when he
had finished, out continued looking off,
across the plains at the fast sinking sun.
At last she said, her voice little I'M
steady: II am so glad you did come
back"
"Zara!" cried her comps. nion impetu-
ous!y, 81 came back to tell you l love
you! | think l must have loved you be-
fore left you last fall, but 1 had always
scorned the very idea even of love at
twice. But when once away from you
separated from you, with thousands of
miles between us-I became impat lent
to see YOU. Your "dear east" had no
charm for me. | ionged for your lonely
ranch; l reasoned with myself many
times, but it was OF no uSe-I realized
that / loved you; was foolish enough
Tara, to think could teach you to love
me-"
The sun had quite gone now, the
mountains shone darkly purple against
the clear amber of the sky, the air was
fresh and just little chill. cara shiv-
cred; from excitement though, more
than cold.
"Have you nothing to say to me? Is
my case then so hopeless a one?' asked
William Storey, taking one of the young
girls hands in his and looking gravely in
her face.
"Will you not be sworn some dav for
this? Are YOU quite sure it is love, not
pity YOU feel for me? lara VEN
tured tremuously.
81 shall never be sorry-I love you!
Pity would not cause me to ask you to
be my wife! All | want to make me as
perfectly happy as one can be in this
world is your love. Can you-will you
learn to love me, Zarap'
do love you'll"
The sunset glow faded; the stars
cleaned out; a great yellow moon rose
over the eastern hills, and flooded the
valley with brilliant light.
When Mr.. Jossyln returned home he
was considerably surprised. There was
no supper ready; the fire in the best
room" was not lit, as it was wont to be
these cool fall evenings; the front door
stood wide open, and Zara-usually pru-
dent Zara--Was sitting on the steps bare
headed, utterly regardless Of the night
air, talking very earenestly to William
Storey!
Only one short year, yet whata change
it had made in Zara's young life! No
longer, when she looked from her win
dow, did she see desolate, bleak, sage
grown plains, belted by snow-crowned
mountains. A most lovely flower gar
den, framed in by meadow-lands, yell
low with golden rod, through which ran
a clear little brook, and bounded by
blue, wooded hills in the distance, met
her delighted eye.
How very happy she was!
Almost year had she been William
Storey'sswife, almost year since The
quiet little wedding at Bozeman had ia
ken place, and she had left the great
territory-the wild new far Vest
forever She was in Laurel now, in her
old home, bought for her by her hus-
band shortly after their arrival East.
She had been welcomed cordially by
William Storey's people, and had spent
many pleasant weeks with them in the |
quaint graystone homestead on the Hui
son.
But in Laurel she was the happiest.
She did not care to leave it even for a !
day. For hours she would lie in the |
hammock simply gazing up at the naples
and elms above her, so thankful to see |
trees once more!
William Storey was mexpressibly |
touched by her childish joy over things
that he had hardly given thought to |
during his entire lifetime. Through |
her he learned to notice much that |
was beautiful which had hitherto been |
unheeded.
Soon Zara's father was coming to her;
that was another pleasure in store for |
her. The sheep-Quite numerous
flock nowhere to be lett with |
competent herder, Mr.. Josslyn hay
ing everything arranged to his salts
faction.
The fortune predicted by cara in her
girlish enthusiasm had not quite been
realized as yet, but Mr.. Josslyn was by
no means poor man any longer, and
was heard often to assert triumphantly,
that "a sheep ranch is certainly a paying
investment if we'll managedP-EThe
Continent.