The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-07
THE AUSTINS' FATE.

4 ILL "A Oo Il I1NO u n i u.
Whose place is this?' inquired Of a
man who was digging ditch near tho
water trough.
He stopped his work and looked ND and
pushed his sombroro on tho back of his
head. giving sigh and passing his hand
across his brow. 1T Is the Circle A
ranch 1t belongs to ,Everette Austin.
Can DO OF service to your"
"E-ch-well, yes; at least the boss can.
Two famed my horse, and as I'm n small
matter of 90 miles from my destination I
can't walk 1t in this weather."
at is rather warm" he assented.
Slightly. Is Mr.. Austin in or any
where around?'
Hes not in, but he's around. I'm
Mr.. Austin.'
"Oh, indeed. Well, am Mr.. Brant-
William r. Brant-Mr. Austin, and 1
must ask you if you can lot mo put up my
horse until its foot Is rested or until 1
find some way OF getting to Milos City,"
Mr.. Austin stepped forward, lifted the
ragged sombrcro and put out his grimy
hand. I'm happy to meet you, Mr..
Brant. am sorry can't call a man to
take your mount, but If you will turn him
over to me II stable him and attend to
tho foot, and you can go to the house and
ask Mrs. Austin To mako you comfortable.
Tho men aro all Off on tho range"
I'm go with you," 1 answered. and wo
set Off to tho barns
They were beautifully kept, as few but
Englishmcn keep their stables, and was
glad that my weary stcod should be so
well installed. 1 SAW In u momont that
my host was accustomed to being his own
veterinary surgeon 1t puzzled mo to
reconcile the fact of his manual labor and
ragged working clothes with his largo pos
sessions, his perfectly appointed stable and
his yet more perfect language, so unmis-
takably British, for was new to Montana
and It's people, though not tenderfoot by
many years OF Arizona experience.
Tho doctoring OF my horse finished,
Austin led the way to his house, a long
low, implanted board structure, set up
foot or so from the ground on posts There
WAS wretched attempt at a bed OF flowers
near the door, but tho sun and wind gave
1t small chance OF success A few stunted
petunias, a struggling limo Of mignonette
and several bushes OF sapless red and pink
geraniums were all that rewarded evident
patient caro-. Ny host was not oommuni-
cstive, nor did he expect mo to be so. I
started to give him a reference, but he cut
u
moment moro We had gone up tho steps
and stood on the porch, which bsasted OF
neither roof nor railing. Austin handed
me feather duster, and VIC brushed the
white dust from our boots. Then we went
In.
sit down, and will announce you TO
Mrs. Austin, he said, with no apparent
perception Of the incongruity of the Ian
guage and his attire. 1t was tidy little
drawing room-as did my host the hon
or of calling 1t all through my visit-with
some well chosen colored prints from
English papers on the rough board wall,
clean white curtains, a few cane chairs, and
box covered with cretonne, which served
as q divan. There were no new books or
papers, but the old and much used ones
wcrc of tho best. There WAS "a pot OF
Wandering jew" in the hugo fireplace,
which made "A very pretty effect.
was just looking at my travel stained
countcnanco in small mirror, when "a
door opened, and Austin, holding it back,
stood aside to admit his wife
''Wo are very glad to SEQ you, Mr..
Brant," she said, with tho most delightful
OF we'll bred English accents. "Mr. \ us
tin told me of your accident. 1 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 a misfortune.
Your husband hns treated tho poor
animal SO slillfully that l fancy nny
promise not To cncroach upon your hospi-
tality very long"
please put aside tho idea that you nre
not Or mny not be welcome We are most
happy to have you"
Now, Brant" said my entertainer,
Mrs. Austin will give you your room.
Il.
plenty of water, both hot and cold, and
that will not be- amiss, MS l know by OK
perience, after q midsummer ride in this
country. l will sec you at tea
Ho went bach. to his digging and Mrs
Austin conducted mo to my ROOM The
ceiling md tho floor We're OF solid boards,
like tho rest Of the house, but tho parti-
tons were of white manta and every sound
in tho place was perfectly audible. How.
ever IL was clean and darkenod and cool
and there were no flies, which / took rs
the browning blessing of Providence. 1
Eat upon the chintz covered potato box,
which served for my chair, and gaZed mt
myself III the mirror again and wondered
profaneiy what tho woman must think of
me. l sighed for my calling suit, which
was safe In Miles City, and considered my
surroundings my hostess in chief. In alb
soluto regularity of features she was not q
beauty, but she had tho fino gray eyes,
liner brown soft hair, strong chin, sensi-
tive mouth and digniilcd carriage of tho
best examples OF the women OF her nation,
and above all an air of grave sweetness
which is peculiarly and distinctively Eng
fish. Her ngure was indifferent and her
gown had not and never had had any style
of cut, which also gave evidence OF her
English birth, but It was pleasing and