The Dickinson press., 1892-07-02
XVII.

Naturally they we're astonished
when they heard had been in the
State a couple OF months. When |
told them l had come there to seek
my fortune, and was farming IN the
south, where / hoped they would
come and stay during the winter,
Brace said:
"Well, l hear there's a livin' to be
made ranchin', but it's a p1aguey long
row, they do say. Hows'ever, it
won't be none too long for me to hoe
along of you, and SO be you're agreea-
BILE to havin' our company, it amt
likely I'll hold Off"
Lola's eyes dilated with eager de-
light. l fancy her Imagination
pictured a return of the Transvaal
times, the happiest she had known,
when rude necessity knit US together
in close companionship. did not
think it necessary to undeceive them
then, and the next day l took them
with me to San Diego. The sun was
shining when we got there, and the air
was soft and warm; it was like an
early day of English summer.
The effect on Lola was miraculous:
she seemed inspired with new life. !
had never seen her SO animated and
gay. p,
Her c~ountenance fell as we passed
through the beautiful plantations,
and entered therichly furnished house.
1t was an unhappy d%isillusion for
her. Brace, who " let anything
in the world surprise him, stroked his
| chin rehectively as he looked around
him, and said:
"This is your lot, is it, Gentleman
Thorne?"
81 shall be better able to call it
mine when 1 have paid up the capital
invested in it. AS you know l had no
money of my own. have borrowed
heavily, and until the loan is paid
l shrugged my shoulders.
"Until it's paid" said Brace, con-
tinuing my sentence you've got to
go to bed late, and get up airly, and
be thankful hef you kin sleep sound
in betwixt. l reckon it'll take you a
pretty considerable long time afore
you feel you don't know what to do
with yourself"
ga long while!" l said gravely.
Chow long," asked Lola quickly,
under her breath.
ooh, many. many years, perhaps
l replied. She did not attempt to
conceal her satisfaction.
1 gave the girl a wiry little horse
she sat it for the first lime with tn,
grace and mastery OF a trained horse
woman.
EverymorningIro rode round thepia2
tation; sometimes business tookme tt
the city,-shenever failed to be by m!
side on these occasions. But when
had work to do, 1t was anothert thing
She hated work, and dreaded tran
quillity; she iouno an escape iron
both in a wild gallop among the foot
hills. She became coquettish wit,
regard to her appearance. When sh
could coax a dollar out of her father
she would gallop off to San Diego t.
buy some trif1e for the adornment {
her pretty little person. If, by m
manner, she fancied l approved tn
new addition, she it till sh
could replace it with something els'
but, if failed to notice it, or sh
thought it was not to my taste, sh
would fling it away before it was
day Old. She abandoned herse
to the enjoyment of the new life tina
came to her, and for some time sh
seemed neither to remember the pas
not think OF the future.
Under these conditions, all trace {
illness disappeared, and with healt
returned something of her old mutir
GUS independence; paternal authorit
once more sank into insignificance.
Brace quickly found occupation
i and, after a time, rendered me invalr
able assistance in the management {
the business. One day. as we were r,
turning from the packing sheds, b
said:
ave looked round this consar
: pretty careful, and I see, sir, tina
you're goin' to do a great big thin
here. You've. found out Jest wher