, 1906-02-07

lltD Ntlt AObnB anu Dltll
returning to the west for their summer
vacations.
Once more in the privacy of her state
room and looking out at the landscape
Keeling past, Ann sank back in her seat
wholly dismayed. "What in the world
can | do out theref' she asked herself
most %poignantly. "Of course they don't
play golf or tennis, and | can't ride,
and, besides, whom could | play with?
Jeanette is not Il bit athletic And
again the small round of her interests
she had no gayetics-Was borne in
upon her. 81 shall die of inactivity"
Louis excused himself quite formally
and went back into the smoking COM
partment to sit with the men. while
Ann, left alone, gave herself up to q
close, half ironic study of the absurdity
of her position. With Il dozen most de
sirable invitations to distinguished Lon
con homes. with everything before her
that a girl of her age and tastes could
desire, she had turned away to face the
crude conditions of a western state in
a warm glow of sisterlv affection.
She took IN the little red book, in
which she had taken only n languid in
terest before, and, turning the leaves
at random, fell upon bits of description
thai stirred her u~naccountably. Now
that she was about to enter this land
of her fathers delight, the words took
on passion and power.
They arrived in Chicago behind their
schedule time and had but a few mln-
utes in which to make their transfer,
and so they saw little of the great cen
trail metropolis. To them it was only
a gloomy, dangerous shed fitted with
long strings of railway coaches all
marked with strange nameS-nameS
which meant little to her, but which ex-
cited Louis almost to tears. See" he
cried, there is a car from Oregon and
one from Wyoming!" The people who
filled the coaches were nOt markedly
different at first glance from those she
had been travelling with, but Louis,
more keenly discerning, began to dis
tinguish types at once, and when one
or two big men came in wearing wid
hats and chin boards he trembled with
joy. There are some cattlemen-Im
sure of it, he whispered hoarsely.
Louis did not return to the Pullman
till after the train had left the city, and
she was just beginning to wonder there
at when he came in with eyes ablaze.
1--WE struck ZEN at last!" he fairly
shouted in her ear. They're all up in
the reclining chairs, chin bearders,
spitters and all. I'm just crazy to
sketch two or three of them. 1t doesn't
pay to ride in a stateroom if you want
to see types" he added in conclusive
discomfort.
As that day and the next Wore on the
boy began to burn with a new phase of
his fever. He commenced to count the
hours till he might be able to discern
Mogalyon, the great peak Of the Ram
part range, whose fame is worldwide.
Ann experienced her first decided flush
of interest rs the swinging, reeling
rush of the train brought the great
peak into view, a dim, blue dome
against the western sky.
At last, just as the red was paling
out of the sky, the train swung to the
left on its southerly course, and the
whole Rampant range began to stretch
and wind away to northward and south
ward, while between the plain and the
foothills rolled n tawny sea of sod,
deeply marked with ravines II dot
ted with pine clad buttes. The range
grew DINNER as they gazed, and at last
ven Louis was content to sink back
in his seat and wait.
at isn't a bit as | expected it to be"
he said, ''but it is glorious. That pur-
pie green was wonderful. I'm going to
try to get that some time. 1t isn't as
precipitous as the Alps, but it's superb
just the same, and just think how much
wilder it was when father came here!'
I'm glad you were not disappointed,
boy she replied, laying her hand on
his shoulder and caressing his cheek,
but you need rest. You're seeing too
much"
The train was now winding down to-
ward Valley Springs, and only the
splendid sky line of the range could be
distinguished as the lights of the town
began to sparkle out of he obscure
murk.
The porter, with brush in hand, came
down the aisle. This is Valley Springs,
miss"
They were met at the car door by a
big, smiling man in modish summer
dress, while behind him stood a pale,
sweet faced woman in blue.
Hello, Don't" shouted Louis.
Hello, laddie. How do you do,