The Penn's Grove record., 1896-04-24
THE FATE OF
EVERETTE AUSTIN

whose place Is thisY' l inquired OF
q man who was digging q ditch neal
the water trough.
He stopped his work, and looked up
and pushed his sombrero on the bach
Of his head, giving a sigh and passing
his hand across his brow. at Is the
Circle-A ranch, 1t belongs to Everettc
Austin. Can 1 be of service to your"
"E-eh-well, yes; at least the boss
can. I've famed my horse, and as I'm
a small matter of fifty miles from my
destination 1 can't walk in this wealth.
Sr."
sit is rather warm" he assented.
slightly. Is Mr.. Austin In, or any
where aroundT"
Hes not In, but he's around. I'm
Mr.. Austin"
William r. Brant-Mr. Austin, and
/ must ask you If you can let me put
up my horse until Its foot is rested
or until l find som way of getting to
Miles CityT"
Mr.. Austin stepped forward, lifted
Al iHESCh SOnitbltIOY III put Jul lS
grimy hand. "Im happy to meet you,
Mr.. Brant. l an sorry l can't call a
man to take your mount, but If you
will turn him over to me I'll stable
him and attend to the foot, and you
can go up to the house and ask Mrs.
Austin to make you comfortable. The
pen are all off on the range"
"I1l go with you," l answered, and
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
be SO well installed. l saw In q mo-
ment that my host was accustomed
to being his W veterinary surgeon.
1t puzzled me to reconcile the fact
of his manual labor and ragged work
ing clothes with his large possessions,
his perfectly appointed stable, and his
yet more perfect language, so unmis-
takably British. for l was new TO
Montana and It's people; though not a
tenderfoot, by many years of Arizona
experience.
The doctorlng of my horse finished,
Austin led the way to his house-a
long, low, Imprinted structure, set up
a foot or so from the ground on posts.
There was a wretched attempt at a
bed of flowers lei the door, but the
u and wind gave 1t small chance
of success. A few stunted petuuias,
q struggling line of m~ignonette, and
several bushes of sapless red and pink
geranlums were all that rewarded eEs-
IDENTIFY patient care. My host was not
communicative, nor did he expect NE
to be so. | started to give him a ref
erence, but he cut me off by changing
the subject. In a moment more We
had gone up the steps and stood on
the porch, which boosted of neither
roof nor railing. Austin handed ME a
feather buster. and we brushed the
white dust from our boots. Then We
went in.
"Sit down and l will announce you
to Mrs. Austin" he said, with no ap-
parent perception of the incongruity
of the language and his attire. 1t was
a tidy little drawing-room-as 1 did my
AAoSt nc hoLio w uiAih i I dll tuEuuSh
my vlsit-with some w~ell-chosen col
ored prints from English papers ON
the rough board wall, clean white
curtains, a few cane chairs, and a
box covered with cretonne, which
served al a divan. There were no
new books or papers, but the old and
much used ones were of the best.
There vas a pot of wandering Jew"
in the huge fireplace, which made a
very pretty effect.
1 was just looking at my travel
stained countenance In a small mirror,
when a door opened, and Austin.
holding 1t back, stood aside to admit
bis wife.
ave 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. I am
sorry for the horse. of course, and
for you IL you had need to make
haste, but for ourselves 1t cannot b.
looked upon as a misfortune"
your husband has treated the poor
animal so skillfully that l fancy l
may promise not TO encroach upon
your hospitality 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 amiss, as l know