The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-08-09

Then Sara saw her father turn toward
the barn leading another horse beside
his own, and a tall man, well muff1ed,
came stridmg up the path from the
gateway.
"May 1 comein?" asked the stranger,
pausing for a moment at the door and
raising a fur cap.
Certainly" replied lara, and re-
treated into the warm, fire-lit room.
The tall man followed, and quickly
divesting himself of his snow-covered
outer wrappings, drew near the blazing
fire.
my name is Storey-William Stor-
ey," he said, smiling, land your father
advises me to tell you that I ana from
the East"
Tara smiled also. "Father knows
how glad 1 am always to see any one
from home," she said.
" have been in Montana, however,
all this fall" Mr. Storey went On to say,
s'and l come here nearly every fall to
hunt, Montana is good hunting ground.
But Z have fingered a little toe long
among the Rockies this time; winter has
overtaken mel"
ut is our first real snow storm, but
it makes n feel it ought to be January
instead of only Novemberr' cara said,
with a sigh, as a gust of wind beat
wildly against the ranch cabin, .
"You do not like the Weste' 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.
"No; 1 thought 1 should like it, but
it is very Disappointing" Then sud-
denly, her face kindling: 'Have you
yer been IL Maine? Have you ever
passed through a little town called
Laurel?" she asked eagerly.
"Yes, to both questions" replied
Storey, again smiling. 81 stopped over
night once>at Laurel, on my way to
Mount Desert one summer. 1t is a love-
ly little nook"
so, is it mott" cried the young girl,
with almost a culver in her voice. 81
lived there once. I was so happy there!'
''Shall you not return there some
timer" asked Storey, pityingly, not
knowing what else to say.
Eve hope to; but we a set no defin'
1GG-t1mG IOT our TebuEu. u ali uOpOuue
on the Sheep" said lara, naively.
As she spoke her father threw open
the front door and came in, well whit.
ened by the storm.
lara fastened to help him off with
his great, shaggy, buffalo-skin coat, and
then drew another chair to the lire fol
him.
Almost her first words were: ''Fath.
er, Mr. Storey has been to Laurel!"
Mr.. Josslyn laughed.
"You couldn't have been to a better
place, according to this foolish Child
he said, addressing his guest.
Then lara slipped away, leaving the
two men to enjoy the cracking pine
logs, while she prepared something hot
for supper.
''Well," observed Mr. Josslyn, after
his daughter had gone, ''you were
about lost-completely lost!-when
come up with you'll And he gave al
amused glance at his companion, as
though being lost was rather a comical
situation.
81 should think SOL" exclaimed
Story. '.If you had not come along
just then 1 should most likely have
spent the night on the plains. I could
not see which way to turn-in fact, ]
could not see any trail-the storm was
SO binding! 1t was worse than folly,
my leaving Bozeman for a ride on such
an afternoon. 1 might have known il
would storm! But it only threatened
when I set out"
care you acquainted much with the
country about herep" asked MI. JOSS
lyn.
'I ought to be-" said Storey, smil
ing; 'tIhunt in these parts every fall
"You don't say sol Come way t.
Montana to hunt! You must be very
fond of the SPORT"
Every. Montana is a good country
for hunting, too 1 guess that's all Mis-!
Josslyn would admit it was good for
added the young man, again smiling
as he recalled Zara's p~ensive young face
''She hates it; I can see that" Mr.
Josslyn said, in a confidential tone
''but she knows we have got to stay
here for the present, anyway; so she
makes the best of it. Our ranch is no
very comfortable-not as comfortable
as 1 could wish for Zara's sake; but we
are trying to get away from this wilder
ness, so lay by all we make. I'm sorry
1 haven't better shelter to offer you
after urging you to come home with me
thought he added.
81 am very grateful for your hospi
tality," Storey ~hastenedto say. 81 an
more thankful to you for taking me il
at all, and 1 have spent many a nigh
on ranches far less comfortable thai
this one"
Then lara appeared and said simply
"We use u kitchen for a dining
room. viii you come to supper
pleaseP"
Storey rose Immediately, and witt
his host followed the young girl into
~low-ceiled but exquisitely neat room.
lara presided at the head of tn,
small round dining-table, and poure'
fragrant coffee into quaint, real chin
cups.
s.These came from home,'' she said
proudly, as she handed William Store,
one of the dainty blue and white treas
ures.
The evening was spent in pleasan
chatting, and passed so delightfully."- t.
the young girl that she fairly stared a
the little clock when it struck eleven
A bed was made up in the .'bes
room," as Mr.. Josslyn's cramped shed
bedroom, opening, as Zara's did, on
of the kitchen, was not deemed sufi
GENTLY comfortable for the guest. An
when William Storey fell asleep tha
night he dreamed of the little red-cul
tanned IN which he lay, and sa,
Zara's pretty, girlish face with the fire
glow upon it, just as he had seen
when awake.
The next morning the sun shon
brightly, but all about the ranch lay tn
snow in cleaning white drifts.
"You had better remain with us tt
day." said Mr.. Josslyn after breakfas
glancing out the window as he spoke
81 should like to-" said Storey, ..br
I think I ought to go back to Bozemar
My roommate (another Eastern maj
Miss Josslyn) will be looking for m,
If you will let me, 1 will ride out in
day or two and see you again, for ne,
week 1 go home"
lara gave a little longing sigh at b