The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-05-07

ing the merchant pack some boxes of
| provisions to take out to the settle
ment.
He told them very cordially that
they were more than welcome to ride
out to Abners ranch with him. and he
directed them to sit down on case of
overshoes until he was ready to start.
which would be in a few minutes.
The two women obeyed watching
the packing of the boxes with wonder.
| Surely a curious collection of things to
be taken to a farming district, as they
termed the settlement--such quantities
of fruit and vegetablesl When Klon-
dixie had finished putting up a large
box of condensed milk and cream,
Olives curiosity overcame her diff
fidence.
Are there no cows in Little Medl-
cine?" she asked.
| "Yes'm." answered KlondilSe, re-
spectfully. as he fitted lid on the box,
there's slobs and gobs of cows, but
We amt much struck on roundin' 'em
up nights"
| The sisters. not understanding Klon-
dikes phraseology. looked at each
other in silent perplexity and in some
dismay. But when they were once out
on the vast praries their spirits rose.
Looking back they fancied the crest of
white on Elk mountain resembled a
stately marble palace, with turrets,
towers ard corinthian pillars.
| They saw herds of antelopes feeding,
and then, whisk! puff! the creatures
vanished in the open like a Whit of
smoke. At intervals they came upon
bleached skulls. the only reminders of
the vast herds of buffalo that once fed
on the table-lands; or the desiccated
carcases of sheep. which had perished
miserably in the storms of winter.
Looking backward, Klondike. with
his whip. pointed out some of the sur
rounding towns. marked by puffs of
blush vapor lowering in the clear.
| dazzling atmosphere. The column of
black at the right was Carbon, that
next to 1t was Hanna. while far down
at the left the tiny ring of smoke. like
that from mans pipe was Larimie.
Before them the wonderful prospec-
| tive held still greater surprises. A
| small white sunbonnet outlined against
| the blue became gradually transformed
| into sheep wagon: in the remote dis
| tance they deserted a wasp and two
| black ants, which on nearer acquaint-
| ance proved to be n man on horseback
| and two dogs.
We'll" sighed Elizabeth, at last,
with tone of one who admits
| damaging truth, there's more sky in
Wyoming than there is in Connecti-
cut"
And more land added olive 81
believe we shall always go on like this
| and never get anywhere. 1t is an un-
| changing earth and an unchanging
sky" she continued, in an awed voice,
'and feel like little worthless atom
| sandwiched between the two"
There is certainly something in
this country calculated to take the
conceit out of one" said her sister
Olive, overcome with drowsiness in
cidental to the high altitude, finally
crept into the back of the wagon.
where she slept with her head on a
| sack of dried apples. When she awoke.
she was sure they had stopped all the
| time to rest the horses, for nothing
was at all changed. The mountains,
the plains. the sage, everything re-
| mained the same, while the gray bron-
cos pushed forward tirelessly on their
quick, round trot.
1t was between six and seven o'clock
in the evening when the two women
arrived before the door of Abner's two
roomed log cabin. Elizabeth knocked.
AS there was no reply, she ventured to
lift the latch.
'Ab can't be very far off, for the
doors unlocked" said Olive, as Klon-
dixie drove away.
He's probably working in the-in
the fields" remarked Elizabeth,
doubtfully, glancing vaguely over the
eXpanse of sage brush. There
doesn't seem to be any garden" she
added gravely. NOR sign of anything
planted. | hope Abner isn't getting
shiftless."
well have supper ready, anyway"
said Olive, I'm simply famished."
Soon they built q fire. and set the
table with fried bacon, tea, and baked
dish known in New England vernacu-
lar as "johnny-cake." Not knowing
when their brother would arrive. they
decided to sit down at once, and were
about to do so when they were fright
ened almost to fainting. Tom leaped
through the open window.
They had seen wildcats in cages and
in pictures. This one bore in his hor-
rid mouth a struggling mountain-rat.
Elizabeth screamed, but Olive scram-
bled up short ladder leading to the
loft, where Abner kept his shotguns,
ammunition and fishing-tackel She
was speedily followed by her sister,.
and together they drew up the ladder.
Tom. meanwhile. sat down and
watched the erratic movements of his