The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-10
LOCHINvAR IN THE WEST
BY JULIA TRUrTT B1sHop.

BY JULIA TRUrTT BISHOP.
 Copyright, 1903, by Daily Story Pub. Co.)
 Stuart Fellows stretched himself in the bed luxuriously and grinned at the walls and ceiling with infinite appreciation be- fore getting up to make his leisurely toilet He could barely believe that it was his lot to sleep in a regular bed' again, and to wash and brush and comb in front of regular mirror. True, the bed was not of the best, and the mirror had little waves across it, as of pond into which a frightened frog has just cast itself; but at any rate, 1t was far ahead of the ranch, and of the plains where he had slept under the stars month in and month out.
 T feels pretty good to get into citizen's clothes again." he mentioned to his re- nection in the wavy mirror. He was filled with the frank delight of a school boy in his first vacation. Everything was to be compared, not with home and society in the east, where he had once danced and fiirted with the best; but with the life he had known during the past five years. In an hour. now, he would be off and away toward home; and he had money in his pocket, and the home folks would be glad to see him; and in short, this was glimpse of para disc. Even the mushroom hotel, with it's wooden frame and board partitions seem- ed like luxury. When he had come this way last the hotel had been a tent, and the partitions were canvas stretched on frames; and all the guests washed their faces at the pump, one working the ham dle while another washed, and all of them had used the same towel Who cared for all that now? Who cared for the discomforts and the long years of work? He almost felt tears in his eyes, In h{a h have fhro,sah and to know that he had money, and his mine was turning out we'll, and he could go home with the certainty of hay ing the respect that the prodigal always wins when he reaches home with his pockets full instead of empty.
 Please Mamma, don't be so hard on mel" cried a voice, so full of anguish that Stuart suddenly stood upright, the towel held motionlSsS in his hands. The voice came from the other side of the wall. The speech was greeted by a scornful and disagreeable laugh.
 Hard on you, indeed!" another voice 4ris6--:he voice that went with the laugh. Heaven Snovss, have had to give up enough for you. It does seem that you might get out and try to do something for yourself, instead of being a drag on us"
 T am willing to go-I will go!" cried the first voice, with a sound of sobbinR T will do house work-I will labor anything rather than be a burden, as you tell me every day. Let me go and try to find something to do!'
 ''Yes-I know you, Miss," retorted the other sneeringly-Stuart's face reddenet angrily beneath the tan-"You think you can get out and attract some man witf your pretty face, I suppose. Let me tel you there isn't the slightest hope for you in that direction. There isn't a man iv. Ing-a decent man--who would even look at you a second time, much less ask tc marry you. There is no chance for you but to go out to service, suppose. 0oo6 Lord, think of being the step-mother o such a piece of tearfulness!"
 Stuart Fellows waited to hear no more In another instant he was out in the hal and laundering at the door of the next room; and after a moments delay it wal opened. He saw a woman and a gir within the room! the woman standing with a frown still marring her white brow, and the girl just raising her head from the chair where she had beer crouching in utter self-abandonment
 q have been unfortunate enough tC hear your remarks he began in thu language of polite society; 'and this tI