Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-12-27
CHAPTER n.-(Continued.,

the generally European look of every
thing. Once out of the town. the riding
horses broke into Il canter; for the road
WAS so good that the horses in the light
carriage were able to so along mt full
speed. AS they proceeded they passed
many houses or the rich merchants of the
place. and all were charmed with the luz
uriance and beauty of the gardens.
Orange and lemon trees scented the air
with their delicious perfumes: bananas,
tree ferns and palms lowered above thcm:
lovely butterflies of immense size. and
bright .ittle numlnihy birds fitted about
among a countless variety of flowers. The
delight OF Tie young ones WAS unbound
ed. "
Presently t4lry left the mansions and
gardens behind and drove out fpirly into
the country. Upon either side the plains
stretched away as far as the eye could
reach. in some parts under the plow. hut
far more generally carpctcdy with bright
green grass and many-colorcd wild flow
ers. Everywhere could be seen droves
of horses and cattle. while dotted here
and there over The plain We're the cstan-
cias OF the preprietors.
1T was a ihsast delightful ride. Finally
they drew up III their hosts estancia.
Here Mrs. Thompson came out to greet
them. She. had been Il great friend of
Mrs. Hardy in their young days, and
great was their pleasure nj again meeting
after so long ii separation. Mr.. Thomp-
sons e~staIicia was IL large and pictur-
esquc building. II was entirely surround
ed by a wide vcran,la. so that Mt all hours
of the day reinf could he obtained from
the glare of the sun. In front was an
extensive garden. At a short distance
behind the honSe were the houses of the
men, and the %corrals. or Enclosures, for
the cattlc.
The interior was handsomely furnished
in the European style, except that the
floors were interpreted, and were compos-
ed of polished boards. Everywhere We're
signs that the proprietor was a prosper
GUS and wealthy man. MIR. Thompson had
only one son, n lad of about the same
age as Charles Hardy. To his care Mrs.
Thompson now assigned the boys. while
she conducted Mrs. Hardy and her daugh-
tcrs to their rooms.
In half an hour the party rcassembled
at dinner, TO which they all did ample
justice. Jhc conversation of Mr.. Hardy
and his friend turned upon the country,
Its position anu prospects, and upon the
advantage which the various districts Of
fered to newcomers. Presently the dusk
came on. followed rapidly by darkness,
and in half AN hour Ethel came to sum
mon them 10 tea. The boys were full of
delight at the immense herds of cattle
they had seen. AS they sat down to the
tea table covered with delicate English
china, with a kettle over ii spirit lamp
in the center, and lit with the sublued
light of two shaded moderator lamps.
Maud said. 1t is not one bit like what l
expected, papa, after all you nave told us
about haraships and working"
do not he afraid, Maud" her father
said, laughing; 'you won't be cheated out
OF your hardship and your work, l prom
Use you. Mrs. Thompson will tell You
that it was Il very different sort of place
when she first came here"
Yes, indeed" Mrs. Thompson said,
smiling: this was considered a very
lonely place when we first settled here.
We had a little hut with two rooms. and
it was more han six months before L
could get n woman servant to come out.
In time the country became more settled,
and there are stations now sixty or sew
enty miles beyond us"
Nv AANNt WYNN NtS SIPtlil III III ONSI
the estate, which consisted of four square
lcagues-that is TO say. was sin miles
each way-ani in examining the arrange
meats OF HE Enclosures for tho cattle. At
the end d ti.ai time Mr.. Hardy started
on a tour of inspection through the PROV
inccs most likely to suit. provided with
numerous letters of Introduction from his
host. While he was away the boys were
IN u ssict r1t1f1n fh,. nstu.. ,,,J .> ..,.
tom themselves to the work and duties of
the life they We're to lead. Into this they
entered with tAe greatest zest, and were
in the saddle from morning till night. I'M
til, as MIR. Thompson told them. they
looked like two young guachos. The
guachos are the natives of the country.
They are fne-looking men, with Spanish
faces. Their dress is very picturesque.
They wear loose trousers. worked and
frinsed round the bottom. Above this is
q sort of shawl of bright %colors. woven in
stripes. and sometimes of black cloth
edged with scarlet. Above a colored flan-
mel shirt is worn. The boots arc long
and are made of undrcssed leather. They
wear a broad lcathern belt, with pockets
in it; in this a knife. too. is always stuck.
After an absence of Il month MIR. Har-
dy returned with the welcome news that
ne had made his choice. and had bought
at the public auction Il tract of four
square leagues. upon Il river some twenty
miles TO the south of the town of lso-
sario. and consequently only a few days
journey from Bucnos .Ayres. MIR. Thomp-
son looked a little grave when he heard
the location Of the property. but he only
said that he was very sglad that his
friend had fixed upon a spot which would
make it easy for the families to see some
thing of each other.
ut is six miles square, said MIR. Har.
dy, that is, about $4,000 acres. There
IS a. good-sized stream running through
1t; there are n good many trees. consid-
ering that it is out on the Pampas; there
are several elevations which give a fine
view over the plain. and upon ore of
these our future home will stand. A small
stream falls into The larger one. and will.
! think, be useful. There is an album
dance OF game; ducks, geese and swans
swarm upon the river. 1 saw a good
,,,, ,,s -. - 49, -. "