Fred Fearnot's New Ranch

velyn, but she suggested to them to wait until she first found out

u comfort, I will notify you, without del

ng pace. Terry had hired a splendid team, and the dri

iful suburban residences during the first three or four miles, after which they pas

wo trunks be sent down by freight.

s to be greener and richer down thro

oad runs right along beside us, and the depot is on our side of the track. Jack's ranch borders the road on the other side. The company has laid side tracks for each ranch, and built a good depot. I think, in the

ou have told me

wn there near the spring in order that we may have the u

there any buil

t a particle of swamp about it; but there is plenty of good solid earth all around it. Of course, we can cut a splendid road from the depot down to it. We will build stables and all the necessary out-houses down there,

ie land presenting scenery that Evelyn loved and admired very much. The splen

ing up out there?" said Terry

es

is building for his mother and his wi

he want with such a big hous

ife's and mother's friends to come down and stay as long as they please, as it will cost h

must not indulge in a

agance?" The driver had never been out there befor

ointed to the house which he and Fred had furnishe

return. They reached the house about the time that the carriage did, and of course, as Fred lifted her out of th

, but I am glad to se

, Jack," s

und at the wild prairies on eit

ve fixed up for you," and he led her up on the little piazz

cause she had chosen it herself up in Cr

such furniture in a ranch house! I dare say there is not anoth

her house in all Texas with such a

eemed pleased wit

throw off her hat and

see the kitchen a

and seemed equally pleased with its furnishings and then she looked

lace which Jack had been using. The carpenters had built a splendid closet for all the cooking utensils. There were all the

s this water come from?" she

way, and thus provided for a supply of water for household purposes as well as a bathroom. Those are New York ideas which he brought out here with him, and people who have visited the premises wondered

and patting Jack o

r mother or of Katy when you we

comforts as any other woman. She does her own cooking, and I

an't find artesian water somewhere on the premises,

tells me that you have pigs and chickens and milch

to the big stable, saw the saddle and carriage horses that

and I say belong to you and Mary, and we hope you will love

me, but I am glad of it. H

hey are kind and gentle and very

ion fence, and saw a big flock of chickens. There were about one hundred of the little t

s of delight at seeing a splendi

any turkeys

f and find such an abundant supply of things to eat that they can't be kept

here Evelyn saw a row of cow-sheds, and a

ever saw such fat, beauti

und their necks, patted their faces and noses, and

id you and brother find Jer

cow; so when we offered them a price that seemed the least bit extravagant, they readily parted with them. We are going to get more of them, for milk and butter sell readily all along the line of t

uttermilk in the dair

yman who had charge of the cows and the dairy house and found out th

several bucketfuls ou

little pigs came running up to the gate, crying like little pigs do when they smell food, and the gate was opened to let them get at it, and every one, of

She picked up several of the little fellows, who seemed to be used

exclaimed. "How I do w

, too," a

very fond of pigs and c

the lot where the sows were, and then the big pans were shoved in so that the sows

and graze? Don't you know that ducks and ge

to turn them out to go where they please. Then, the coyotes, too, are very fond of ducks and geese. A chicken can rise on the wing and get away, but fat ducks and geese c

an experienced dairyman, and was large enough to manage the products of fifty cows if nece

o keep a half dozen, for they can feed on the grass all day long, and at the present season the grass is very full of

ss in the winter? Does it dry up and

expect to cut several hundred tons of hay while it is yet young and fresh and full of milk, and feed that to the mil

n, "for by that means you will have the abun

particularly the arrangement for keep

ouse, when Fred invited he

!" she exclaimed. "Have

road is the store, and it does a particularly good b

! What do you kee

he dry goods are only such as ranchmen and farmers' wives need. If you want silks and fancy ribbons you would have to drive to Crabtree. Drummers come along nearl

e was a single man, so he stared at her in open-eyed wonder, as she was perhaps the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. She fo

e store. The wagon was driven by an old farmer, who had with him his wife and two

t you have come. My sister arrived to-day, and

going to live he

abtree for a change. But she is of a domestic turn, and as we intend to have every

as well as the two daughters, so he led the women int

ectively, and as Evelyn shook hands with them and welcomed t

ic life. They have a big flock of chickens, ducks and geese and a splendid dairy-house, where they make fine butter and give the buttermilk to the pigs. I have just been over the place to see them, and I am as happy as the youngest p

g to the mother, "how far is i

t to make of your brother and Mr. Fearnot raising pigs and chickens and making butt

k a living on the big ranch. There are now a thousand beef cattle on th

rd of chickens and geese and ducks and

cows soon, for it doesn't cost any more to ke