The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-08-24

|AaE-T
rey, again smiling. II stopped over
night once at Laurel, on my way to
Mount Desert n summer. It is a love-
ly little nook"
"Oh, is it notr' cried the young girl
with almost a culver in her voice. "I
lived there once. l was 80 happy
therei'
"Shall you not return there some
timer asked Storey pityingly, not know
ing what else to say.
I'VE hope to; but W. can't set no def
mite time for our return. 1t all depends
on the sheep" said Tara, naively.
AS she spoke her father opened the
front door and came in, well whitened
by the storm.
Tara fastened to help him of with
his,,great, shaggy butfalo-skin coat, and
then drew another chair to the fire for
him.
Almost her first words were: Gath
er, Mr.. Storey has been to LAUREL"
Nh. Josslyn laughed.
"You couldn't have been to a better
place, according to this foolish child,n
he said, addressing his guest.
Then Tara slipped away leaving lhe
two men to enjoy the cracking pine
logs. while she prepared something hot
for supper.
"Well," observed Mr.. Josslyn, after
his daughter had gone, "yeu were about
lost--completely lost!-when l came up
with you'll" And he gave an amused
glance at his companion, as though be.
ing lost was rather a comical situation.
Il should think sop exclaimed Storey,
If you had not come along Just then 1
should most likely have spent the night
on the plains. l could not see any trail
tho storm was SO binding. 1t was
worse than folly, my leaving Bozeman
for q ridge on such an afternoon. l
might have known it would storm! But
IL only threatened when I set out"
Are you acquainted much with the
country about here2" asked Mr.. Josslyn.
Z ought to be-" said Storey, smiling;
hunt in these parts every fall"
You don't say 80! Come way to
Montana to hunt! You must be very
fond for the sport!'
Very. Montana is a good country
for hunting, too, l guess that's all Miss
Josslyn would admit it was good for
added the young man, again smiling, as
ne recalled Zara's pensive young face.
'She hates it; | can see that" Mr.,
Josslyn said, in aconfidential tone: sbut
she knows we have got to to stay here,
Tor the present, anyway; SO she makes
h best oft 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,
80 lay by all we make. I'm sorry !
haven't better shelter to offer you, after
urging you to come with me, though
he added.
y am very grateful for your hospital,
ity," Storey FASTENED to say. II an
more thankful to you for taking me in
at all, n l have spent many a night
OIL ranches far less comfortable than this
one"
Then lara appeared and said simply
I'VE use our kitchen for a dining.
room. Will you come to supper, please?'
Storey rose Immediately, and with his
host followed the young girl into a 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, as she handed William Storey
one of the blue and white treasures.
The evening was spent in pleasant
chatting, and passed so delightfully."- tc
the young girl that she fairly stared
at the little clock when it struck eleven
A bed was made up in the ''bes,
room, as MIR. J~osslyn's cramped shed.
bedroom, opening, as Iara's did, out o.
the kitchen, WAS not deemed sufficient,
ly comfortable for the guest. And wber
William Storey fell asleep that night he
dreamed of the little red-curiained room
in which he lay, mi saw Zara's pretty
girlish face with the fire-glow upon it
just us 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 breakfast
glancing out the window as he spoke.
81 should like to-" said Storey, "but
l think l ought to go back to Bozeman
My room-mate{another eastern man
Miss J%osslyn)will be looking for me. Il
YOU will let me, | will ride out in a day
/ go home"
cara gave q 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 a few days he returned, as he said
he would. lara received him with evi.
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 Tara took her favor.
lite seat, the %foot-bench by the fire.
81 60 home tomorrow" said Storey
-"go home | mean to your dear East"
smilingly.
$50 soon!" cried the young girl,
u am coming back next fall-fol
another hunt. May come and see you
them"
"You will nsver come said Tara sim.
81 will never comei Why?" asked the
young man in surprise.
Suppose l don't forget, will you be
GLAD to see me when l Gomez" inquired
Storey with sudden eagerness, and lean
ing toward lara so as to get a better
view of her h%alf-averted face.
Eyes, | shall be glad to see you"
The answer sounded a little cold, but
Storey was not dissatisfied, somehow.
Then l shall surely come" he said
Presently he went on: "You don't
know how l q appreciate your taking me
in the other night. I shall always re-
mem er your kindness"
Please don't say any more about it,
said Iars quickly, 'sfor your coming gave
US much pleasure. You did not seem
IKE a stranger to US. Father said b,
felt as though he had always known you,
l suppose your coming from the east
had something to do with it"
Haven't you met eastern people in
Bozeman?" asked Storey.
"Oh y~es-seyeral. But the majority
ofpeople 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