Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-07-19


is great thing even to come up to other
peoples expectations, as q rule, to say
nothing Of going beyond" " He added,
with abrupt irrelevancy, as though OF a
sudden guessing that she was hot quite
pleased with his careless joking, "By
the way, from the top of the next rise
we shall see Cameron's place-the
house, that is. Of course all this land
is part of the ranch.
$50 scon?' with frank surprise. "1t
has not seemed like three miles!' There
was flash in the gray eyes that might
have meant masculine vanity well
pleased, and she hastened to add, her
face warming with a sudden, unreason-
ing flush, "And is this place a sort Of
inn?'
about as near an approach to such
an institution as you will be likely to
find in this part of the country" he re.
piled, as if greatly amused at the sug-
gestion. "They don't hang out any sign,
but they are always ready to take in
whoever comes along and offer the best
they have"
1.-THE lady of the house-Mrs. Gamer.
on, I suppose be model sort of
housekeeper to be always prepared for
company in place where there appear
to be 10 markets around the corner, Z"
the girl went on carelessly, merely to
say something.
Mrs. Cameron!' with an accent Of
surprise, almost of embarrassment.
"Oh, the family don't live here, you
know. They make their headquarters at
Cheyenne. Mr.. Cameron is down off
and on, but he don't happen to be here
just now."
But who does live here, then?" Miss
Ellery indifferently demanded, looking
ahead. 1t did not occur to her 10 feel
any particular concern as to who her
hostess might be so long as it appeared
unquestionable that she was to be prop
erly entertained.
"There is the place' exclaimed her
companion as if he had not heard the
query, indicating with his whip a
group of low buildings scattered in dark
silhouette in the valley ahead, where a
water course was plainly indicated by all
irregular line of trees. "That is the
house-the frame building, with the red
roof, near the windmill. The great sod
house at the right was built when the
ranch was first taken up, but it is al
most in ruins and is only used as barn
now. The new house is not much to
look at outside, but it is comfortable,
and the part reserved for the family is
even fitted up quite handsomely. Occa-
sionally Mrs. Cameron comes down and
fills the house with great party of her
friends, for the roundups, or perhaps
for hunt, and the rooms are always
kept in readiness for her.. O."
There seems to be almost small
village" remarked Edith, curiously
studying the cluster of dark blotches on
the twilight grayness of the landscape.
"Some of the objects that look like
houses at this distance are only the sod
walls of corrals, and others are mostly
sheds, toolhouses and the like" he ex-
planned, his attention occupied with
holding back the horses, rendered fret
full by the evident nearness of their
goal.
''And who did you say lives here?"
"Oh, there are only the foreman, Mr..
Blythe, and six boys-cow punchers,
you know-besides the cook and myself,
stopping here at present." he returned
unconcernedly, halting the team before
a last gate.
Miss Ellery gazed at him in blank
surprise, too much overcome with dis
may to think of accepting the reins he
half offered. And is there nobody else?"
she faltered incredulously.
Nobody, barring the stranger with
in our gates, with a friendly little
smile which seemed to bid her welcome
as he returned to the wagon after he
had led the horses through the gate.
"And is the cook a-cowboy, too?"
she demanded, eying him severely, as
though she would call him to account
for condition of things which began
to appear so wholly Objectionable, not
to say terrifying.
"Well, by brevet rank, l fancy, he
counts himself one, smiling amusedly;
then, with a quick change of expression
as he caught sight of the cold discomfort
so sharply expressed upon her face:
Butch, I say, it is all right, you
know. Of course I should not have
brought you otherwise. You will have
the family quarters quite to yourself,
which you may find bit dull and lone
ly, Notwithstanding, with frankly
mortified face, 'you will be at least
comfortable and-perfectly safe. ;"
Miss Ellery smiled prefunctorily,
shivoring slightly as she looked ahead.
The place, unrelieved by any light,
seemed to wear All air of eerie desola-
ton in the gathering shadows, and the
winds, which in Wyoming are never
wholly silenced, sighed depressingly,
sweeping across the barren hills. The
buoyant courage which generally sus-
tanned her seemed strangely faltering as
she looked, and with swift feminine
impulse she asked herself if the instinc-
tive distrust of the place which seemed
to possess her were not a warning it
were well she should heed. 1t seemed so
wholly out of the world, so beyond the
pale of human protection, place where
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