The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-08-24

thu tOSScu III u WY
would have unseated any but n most
skilful rider. Every plunge Of the ex-
cited horse brought it against tho
horns again and goaded 1t to fresh
madness. 1t was all the girl could do
to keep herself in the saddle, yet q slip
would mean Il terrible death under the
loofs Of the unwieldy and terrified AMI
mails. Unaccustomed to sudden emer-
gencics, her head began to swim, and
her grip upon the bride to relax.
Chokcd by the rising cloud of dust and
by the steam from the struggling crea-
lures, she might have abandoned her
efforts in despair, but for kindly voice
ut her elbow which assured her of u.s.
sistancc. At the same moment a sin
envy brown hand caught the frightened
horse by the curb, and forcing n way
conditions In Hong Kong, according to
the outskirts.
You're not hurt, hope, missY" said
her pvescrvet, respectfully,
She looked up ut his dark. fierce face,
and laughted saucily. I'm awful fright
cncd," she said. naivcly; 'whQever
would have thought that Poncho would
have been SO scared by lot of cows?"
'.Thank God you kept your seat" the
other said. earnestly. He was a tall.
strengthening young fellow, mounted
on q powerful roam horse, and clad in
the rough dress of Il hunter, with long
rifle slung over his shoulders. II guess
you are the daughter Of joan Ferrier,"
he remarked. II saw you ride down
from his house. When you see him, ask
him IL he remembers the Jefferson
Hopes Of st. Louis. If he's the same
Ferrier, my father and he were pretty
thick"
Hadn't you better come and ask
yourself?" she asked, demurely.
The young fellow seemed pleased ut
the suggestion, and his dark eyes spark
led with pleasure. ''I'll do go" he said;
''we've been in the mountains for two
months, and are not over and above in
visiting condition. He must Take us
as he finds u.s.
"IIe has good deal to thank you for,
and SO have l." she answered.; ''he's
awful fond of me. II those cows had
jumped on me he'd never got over
it."
"Neithcr would l." said her COM
panion.
"You! Well. 1 don't see that 1t would
make much matter to you, anyhow.
You amt even q friend Of ours"
The young hunters face grew SO
gloomy over this remark that Lucy
Fcrrier laughed aloud.
'There. didn't mean that" she said;
'of course. you are friend now. You
must come and see us. Now I must
push along, or father won't trust me
with his business any more. Goodbye
"Good-by," he answered, raising his
broad s0Mbrero and bending over the
little hand. She wheeled her mustang
round. gave 1t cut with her riding
whip. and dartel away down the
broad road IN q rolling cloud Of dust.
Young Jefferson Hope rode on with
his companions, gloomy and taciturn.
He and they had been among the Ne
vada Mountains prospecting for silver,
and were returning to Salt Lake City
in the hope Of raising capital enough
, to work some 1odes which they had
discovered. He had been as keen as
any Of them upon the business until
this sudden incident had drawn his
: thoughts into another channel. The
sight of the fair young girl, as frank
and wholesome as the Sierra breczcs,
had stirred his volcanic, untancd
heart to its very depths. when she
had vanished from his sight, he real
lied that a crisis had come in his life,
and that neither silver speculatiOls
| nor any other questions could ever be
Of Auch Importance to him as this new
and all-absorbing one. The love which
had sprung up in his heart was not the
sudden. changeable fancy of O boy,
Int thor t1,o wild <}oroo v,ncoSov. - =
man OF strong will and imperious tenn
per. He had been accustomed to sue
coed in oil that he undertook. lie
swore In his heart that he would not
fail In this II human effort aud human
perseverance could render his suit
successful.
He called on John Ferrier that night
and many times again until his face
was IL familiar one at the farmhouse.
John, cooped up in the valley and alb
{, s0rl,ed in his work. had little chance
of learning the news of the outside
world during the last twelve years.
All this Jefferson Hope was able to
: tell him, and in style which interest
cd Lucy as well as her father. He
had been q pioneer in California, and
could narrate many a strange tale Of
fortunes made and fortunes lost In
those wild, halcyop days. He had been
scout, TOO, and a trapper, q silver ex.
plorer, and ranchman. Wherever
stirring adventures were to be had,
Jefferson Hope had been there ID
search of them. He soon became a
favorite with the old farmer, who
spoke eloquentiy Of his virtues. On
such occasions Lucy was silent, but
her bluslljng cheek and her bright,
happy eyes showed 9ply too clearly
that her young heart was no longer
her own. Her honest father may moi
have observed these symphonic, but
they were asuredly not thrown away
upon the man who had won her a&teo
lions.
1t was summer evening when he
came galloping down the road md
pulled up at the gate. She was at the
doorway and came down to meet him
He threw the bride over the fence
and strobe up the pathway.
Il am OF, Lucy" he said, taking hel
two hands in his and gazing tenderly
down into her face; II won't ask you t
come with me poW. but will you b.
ready to come hen I am here again 2
"And when viii that beas she asked
! blushing and laughing.
A couple of months at the outside
win come and claim you then, m,
darling. There's no one who can staut
between U.S." .g