The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-08-15
On THE SHEEP RANCH.
A MONTANA SKETCH.

dark and sullen, a wild wind sweeping
over Che plains, the mountains quite
Sidden from view by the storm.
Lara threw more pine logs on the
hre, drew together the red chintz cur
tains at the small window of her best
toom," and tried tomake things tri-
de cozier in the ranch cabin.
Father will soon be home" she
sald-she had fallen into the habit of
talking 20 hers If cut in this lonely
country, tn s "new, far-We,t." "He
viii put the sheep in the corral early
:o-night-it is so stormy"
A small CLOCK on a shelf, which
served az mantel and which was
draped WITH some simple but pretty
ehlntz, like the curtain, struck four.
lara sighed little as she heard it.
How many times had she listened to
that same sih cry chime it was
pretty little French clock-in happier
lays in the dear East It's musical
found recalled so much - brought
back the pretty, old fashioned New
England home SO plainly
How her dreams had turned out!
When her father cam to her one fall
.aay and said very gravely, "Zara, |
tave lost money This place must be
sold. l Shall go West" her heart had
leaped with foolish Joy. She hal
dreamed so often of the West; she
Knew it was paradise, 50 free and
wild. "Rcughing it" would be so
very pleasant Had she not real in
books about itP So she had only
smiled at her fathers grave face and
exclaimed: 81 am SO glad we are going
West We shall make our fortune
there, l knows
She was hger then barely sew
enteen. Vas twenty-five now
had been coughing it" five years.
She vase 8er.
The lovely New England home had
Oeen sod. all debts paid for Zara
Jcsslyn's father was strictly honorable
land father and daughter had sought
the West-the great, undeveloped ter.
titory of Montana. Mr.. Josslyn's re-
Amainlng capital, which was not large,
~ been invested in sheep,
&e years came and went-the little
flock of sheep grew larger, and
money came in little more plentifully;
but Mr.. Josslyn had not made "a for
tune yet, and life on ranch was not
easy. Zara pined, secretly, for the
= East. She hated these desolate plains,
the barren foothills" the deeply fur
rowed, snowy mountains, so different
from tie wooded New England hills.
AganHthe little gilt clock chimed-
this time, five.
II wonder father does not come y
exclaimed cara, rising from a low
foot-bench by the fire, where she had
been sitting thinking for the last hour.
She went to the window, and parting
the curtains vainly tried to peer
through the darkness. The wind
moaned and walled, the snow blew
against the window-pane. Zara shiv-
cred 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 sufficient Recommendation p
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 gateway.
"May come in ?" asked the stran-
ger, pausing for moment at the door
and raising a fur cap.
Certainly" replied Zara and re-
treated into the warm, fre-llt room.
The tall man followed, and quickly
divesting himself Of his snow-covered
outer wrappings, drew near the blaz.
ing fire.
MY name is Storey-William Sto.
rey," he said, smiling; "and your faith.
er advises me to tell you that l am
from the East"
lara smiled also. "Father knows
how glad am always to see any one
from home," she said
81 have been in Montana, however
all this fall" Mr.. Storey went on tC
say, "and l come here nearly every fal
to hunt. Montana is good hunting
ground. But L have fingered little
too long among the Rockies this time
winter has Overtallen me p
1T is our first real snowstorm, bu
it makes one feel it ought to be Janu
ary instead Of November !" Zara said
with u sigh, as gust Of wind bea
wildly against the ranch cabin.
YOu do not like the West?" asked
her companion, glancing up at tn,
young girls somewhat sad face.
mo; l THOUGHT 1 should like it, bu
it is very disaI, Pinting." Then sud
denly, her face n tndling: Have yol
ever been in Maine? Have you eve
passed through little town callet
Laurel Z" she asked eagerly.
"Nes, to both questions" replies
Storey again smincrL 81 stoppel
over night once at Ilhe. + N my wa,
hok,