St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1896-04-25
FATE OF THE AUsTINs.
BY GwENDoLEN ovERToN.

1
Whose place is this % / inquired O.
man who was digging ditch near thu
water trough.
He stopped his work, and looked uT
and pushed his sombrero on the back Of
his head, giving sigh and passing hi.
hand across his brow. at is the Circle
A ranch. 1t belongs to Everette Austin
| Can be of service to you?"
"E-eh-well, yes; at least the boss
can. I've laned my horse, and as Tn
| small matter of so miles from my
destination, / can't walk 1t in this
weather."
"1t is rather warm" he assented.
slightly. Is Mr.. Austin in, or any.
where around?'
"He's not in, but he's around. Tn
Mr.. Austin"
"Oh! indeed. Well, am Mr.. Brant-
William Il. Brant-Mr. Austin, and ]
must ask you if you can let me put
up my horse until it's foot is rested, or
until find some way Of getting to
Miles City?"
Mr.. Austin stepped forward, lifted
the ragged sombrero, and put out his
gfinly hand. ''I'n happy to meet you,
Mr. Brant. I am sorry ! can't call n
man to take your mount, but if you will
turn him over to me, I'll stable him and
attend to his foot, and you can go up to
the house and ask Mrs. Austin to make
you comfortable. The men are all off
On the range"
we set off to the barns.
They were beautifully kept, as few
but Englishmen keep their stables, and
| was glad that my weary steed should
he SO well installed. / saw in a moment
that my host was accustomed to being
his own veterinary surgeon. 1t puz-
zlcd me to reconcile the fact of his man
nal labor and ragged working clothes
with his large possessions, his perfectly
appointed stable, and his yet more pei.
feet language, SO Enthusiastically British,
for was new to Montana and it's peo-
pie; though not tenderfoot, by many
years of Arizona experience.
The doctoring of my horse finished,
Austin led the way to his house-a long,
low, unpainted board structure, set up
q foot or SO from the ground ON posts.
There was wretched attempt at bed
OF flowers near the door, but the sun and
wind gave it small chance of success.
A few stunted petunias, a struggling
line of mignonette, and several bushes
Of sapless red and pink geraniums were
all that rewarded evident patient care.
My host was not communicative, nor
did he expect me to be so. I started to
givS. him a reference, but he cut me off
by changing the subject. In a moment
more weaad gone up the steps and stood
on the poSch, which boasted OF neither
roof nor raSc1ing. Austin handed me
feather duster, and we brushed the
white dust from our boots. Then we
went in.
"Sit down and I will announce you to
Mrs. Austin,' he said, with no ar--.,-ent
perception of the ir.c-.sngfuity Of the
language pa MS attire. 1t was tidy
u, i',-~.s drawing -room-sas / did my host
the honor of calling 1t all through my
yisit-Hith some well chosen col5red
prints from English papers oh the Fotigll
beard wa1ls riean white curtains, few
cane chairs, and q box covered with
cretonne, which served as divan.
There were no new books or papers, but
the old and much-used ones We're of the
best There was . pot OF "wandering
Jew" In the huge fireplace, which made
Ii very pretty effect.
/ was just looking at my travel
stained eountenance in small mirror,
when door opened, and Austin, hold
ing 1t back, stood aside to admit his
wife.
eve are very glad to see you, Mr..
Brant," she said, with the most delight
full of well-bred English accents. "Mr.
Austin told me of your accident. am
sorry for the horse, of course, and for
you if you had need to make haste, but
for ourselves it cannot be looked upon
as misfortune"
Your husband has treated the poor
animal so skillful1y that fancy may
promise not to encroach upon your hos
pitality very long,
Please put aside the idea that you are
not, or may not be, welcome. We are
most happy to have YOU"
"Now, Brant," said my entertainer,
Mrs. Austin will give you your room.
We cannot do much for you, but there is
plenty of water. both hot and cold, and
that will not be aniss, as know by ex-
perience, after midsummer ride in
this country. ] will see you at tea.''
He went back to his digging, and Mrs.
Austin conducted me to my room. The
ceiling and floor were of solid boards,
like the rest of the house, but the par
titions were of white manta, and every
sound in the place was perfectly audi
BILE. However, it was clean and dark
ened and cool, and there were no flies,
which took as the crownmg blessing
of Providence. / sat upon the chintz-
covered potato box, whichserved for my
chair, and gazed at myself in the mirror
again. and wondered, profanely, what
the woman must think of me. 1 sighed
for my calling suit, which was safe in
Miles City, and considered my surround
ings; my hostess, in chief. In absolute
regularity of features. she was not q
beauty; but she had the fine gray eyes,
finer brown. soft hair, strong chin, SEN
sitive mouth, and dignified carriage of
the best examples of the women of her
nation, and, above all, ain air of grave
sweetness which is peculiarly and dis
tinctively English. 4