Hope Hathaway

ch she had been born, substituting instead a rare sense of independence, an expansion of her naturally wild spirit. She dispensed also with conventionalities, except such as were ingrained with her

st your own judgment. The only thing I've got to say is this: don't come back here till you've finished your contract up there,

had grown into his life, for the next day after she had left he drove to the

ngs back to where they were. Hope's left home and 's gone to teaching school up in the mountains at Harris'. Now, what in thund

ould do such a thing, on my account-not after I left. And she's gone to Joe Harris' place

old me that she'd promised Harris, and that she was going, anyway, I

s'! There are other people up there, white people, with whom

the girl; but you've got to have an excuse for being there. Your aunt's got to have an excuse, too. These cattle-there's two hundred head of 'em-they're yours-see? I'll have 'em all vented to-morrow, for in case Hope thought they wasn't yours she might catch on. You can ship 'em in the fall for your trouble. She won't think anything of you holding cattle up there, because the range is so good. So you look out for her, see how she is every day, and send me word by McCullen, who I'll send along with you. You can take a cook and another man if you need one. And now don't let her catch on that I had a hand in this! Se

r. Shooting was a gift with her, perfected by daily practice. In one of her rooms at the ranch the girl had such a collection of firearms as would have filled the heart of many an old connoisseur with longing. It was her one passion, perhaps not a more expensive one than most women possess; yet, for a girl, unique. Her father gratified her in this, just as other fathers gratify their girls in their desire for music, art, fine clothes, or all, as the case may be. But the things that most girl

rate eye a rifle did better, more varied work, and answered every purpose of a shotgun. It was said that each bird she marked on the wing dropped at her f

they never understood her. She left, so far along her trail in life, nothing but shattered ideals and delusions, but she had not become cynical or embittered, only wiser. After her first week's stay at Harris' she began to realize that perhaps sh

d ridden past the ranch more than once. Yet she had not forgotten the incident, or what the Harris girls had told her, for daily as she passed the group of lou

xist through Saturday and Sunday, but Saturday morning found her in the saddle, accompa

e me the prairie, smooth and level as far as the eye can reach! There's nothing like it in all the world! The open prairie, a cool, spring day like this, and a horse th

n's place," answered

ned Dave disgustedl

f Livingston. Do you boys know

her. Seen him lots of time

d, an' thinks he can run the whole co

run the whole cou

verybody's range, an' they ain't goi

bout it? Have they aske

er the range-spoiled it, anyhow. No, you

' knots" from her horse's mane, while it climbed a hill at a

kes money to get married and make a home, and to do mostly anything, they say, and so this young man bought sheep, for no one goes into the sheep business or any other kind of business unless they want to make money. They don't generally do it for fun. And, of course, he thought, as they all do, to get rich immediately. He made a great mistake in the beginning, being extremely ignorant. He brought his she

l likelihood a good, honest man, who would not have done them wrong knowingly. They forgot a great many things, and all they could think about night or day was how they could do something to injure his business or himself. They got so after awhile that they talked only in low whispers about him, taking great pains that their families, children, and even their big boys, s

to get rid of him and his sheep, but I know how it had to end

l me-it's him!" exclaimed Dave, pointing toward the

hat?" asked the quick

l that? I suppose that I have ears, too-and I

t's one thing you don't know," declared th

ler like grandmother White

est tepee from the house your o

s a French half-breed," he said, with an u

other half?" she asked. The boy gav

nin' than that! Why, the oth

, Mademoiselle, we, the aristocracy-the great nation of the French?'" Her face sobered. "But this is not the question. I do know how this will end, and I am not a fortune-teller, either. I know that the ones who are in the wrong about this matter will get the worst of it. Sometimes it means states prison, sometimes death-at all events, something not expected. I tell you, boys, I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of this for anything! And do you know,

n' he can go straight to the hot place now, for all o'

hat I knew anything about this thing, he would probably give me

on you," roared Dave. "I'd fill

fail

y, Ned, with quiet assurance that brought a hint of laughter to

don't you worry; we'll all stand b

rigade-all by ourselves. I am commanding officer and you are my faithful scouts. How's

th valley far in advance of her faithful scouts, who y

d Dave. "But on a two hundred yard stretch like this h

t yourn that you lose," s

One's enough fur me. But I can beat her ju

you do beat her," continued the s

d half mile without fallin' dead in his tracks! What'er you a-givin' me, anyhow?" At that in

had traveled it for perhaps fifty yards when they found themselves at a stand-stil

n. They counted them as they passed in twos and threes down the narrow valley. When nearly two hundred had gone by a rider came in sight around the bend of the hill. Hope's horse whinnied, and the man's answe

s eyes were dimmed with tears as he looked from the girl's happy, flushed face to the last of the cattle that were going out of sight around the bend of the gulch. "Where did you come from, Jim, and what brings you up here? Whose c

of a boy. Her cousin rode alongside. She gave one glance at his companion, then whee

ousin. "What are you doing up here so far away fr

when I left, so you couldn't tell him. Well, I am here, as you can see, Sydney-partly because I wanted a change, partly

for fall shipment." He turned to the man at his side, apologizing, then proceed

t Mr. Living

in surprise, looking

s ever been my privilege to enjoy." He spoke easily, yet was much perturbed. Here was his shy Indian maid, a

would have met. There are so few people h

," said the gi

Where are you going, H

y longer. We're off for a

g. We're going to camp ne

row." Old Jim watched her until she was lost to sight in the turn of the gulch. Livingston also watched her until she was out of sight. She rode astride, wearing a neat divided s

a girl one expects to marry,"

ngston's face became thoughtful. "Y

er mother's wish. We have grown up together. Miss Hathaway is my cousin, m

s companion. "And you lov

er, wondering at the other

was quiet and friendly. Carter wished that it might hav

t devoted girl. That is Hope-as changeable as the wind. One never knows what to expect. One

. Carter," said Livingston a little later, as

think of her as an Indian girl! An odd name-Hope. Hope Hath a way