The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-07-16

more that he loved her.
There was no turning back now; but
her awful inconsistencies toward the end
of her journey was partly relieved by
the grandeur and magnificence of the
scenery.
She did not wish to think of those she
had left behind so she went out upon
the platform at the railroad stations
and peered up at the peaks, that seemed
to touch the clouds themselves, and
gazed down precipes that yawned far
more dismally than the past she had
left behind her.
81 have made a mistake" she admit
| ted to herself.
She feigned the greatest interest in
everything about her, although her
heart almost failed her when at last
she alighted from the stage, which had
carried her fifty miles from the line of
| the railway, and saw the little seven-
| by-nine hut that formed the entire set
| tlement of Deep Water, and which Mt
| that moment was surrounded by paint
ed savages, several half breeds, a mi
nority of detected looking white men,
and half-dozen of Uncle Sans SOL
diery, who had ridden over from the
| fort near by for the evening mail.
"Can it be that Ida lives in such a
place as this?" she thought.
| And then, half fearfully. she asked
squaw close by her for the ranch OF
William Bancroft.
l,t I, Ii a
reply that she could get from this illit-
crate daughter of the plains.
"Did you ask for Bill Bancroft"
asked white man she had not noticed
before, who otiiciated as postmaster at
Deep Water
"Yes," replied Tullia. "W'here does
he live?"
"Jest mile and half west O. here,
along that trail. Say, ma'am. If you're
goin' there had you jest as soon take
along Bills mail?"
Among the various packages with
which he entrusted her, she saw her
own letter that she had written to Ida
month before.
Il shall be surprise then,' she
thought. | hope | shall be welcome!'
And with another qualm of home
sickness she set off through most ro-
mantle rift in the rocks, through which
the trail lead.
The flowers were so thick about her
feet that she could scarcely avoid
crushing them at every step. and she
forced back her homesick feeling to ad-
mire them.
Suddenly she emerged from the
shadow of a great rock which had been
confronting her for some time, and saw.
just across beautiful grassy lake.
neat homestead surrounded by small
pine trees, while several huge sequoias
loomed up in the background.
Not far from the out-buildlngs, SEEM
ingly right in the side of the rock which
was Tapped by the little lake, huge
bonfire was burning
THAT must be the naphtha spring
that Ida wrote me about" she thought,
as she followed along the footpath
which finally led her over a bridge of
stepping stones and up to the front door
of the rural dwelling, where, sitting in
big armchair, absorbed in a maga-
zine, was Ida.
"Ida-ho" cried Tullia, using an ex-
preston common to them when Mrs.
Bancroft and her husband We're think
ing of going West to make home.
"Why, Tullia Jensey!"
Tullia made a low courtesy.
.r1n6 I tn
said "And so you've really come at
last! All, l see! You and Mr.. Den
thorne have come out here on your
bridal trip"
Oh, dear! Even in far-off Idaho
everybody expected to see her with
Burse Denthorne.
mo, indeed! Mr.. Denthorne and I
have parted forever, and l have come
out here to seek my fortune in Idaho"
she resolutely replied.
1t was hard to have to say it, but
she thought it best to have the worst
over at once.
"Welcome, then, my dearest!"
laughed Ida. escorting Tullia into the
sitting room and helping her with her
wraps. "It is much better as 1t is.
There is regiment quartered near
here, and Will has dozen friends
among them who have asked me to
choose them an Eastern wife. You can
have the flower of the regiment have
no doubt"
81 am nat fond of nosegays!'
laughed Tullia.
And so her Western visit began.
Tullia had to endure an amount or
counting which would have spoiled an
ordinary girl for the rest of her Ire;
but she would n OF ''reciprocate worth a
picayune," as Captain Yund confided
to Colonel Peters, and so the brave de-
fender of the frontier gave up the siege,
and the regiment removing to another
outpost, Tullia enjoyed the quiet Tor
! which she longed so earnestly.
One evening she walked over to the
hn hoard n rnmOr