Ranching for Sylvia

upon the prospect, because he was afraid to let them dwell upon his companion. In front, across the dim white road, a cornfield ran down to the river, and on one side of it a wood towered in

m, it was very still; and the air was

. He had congenial friends, and occupations in which he took pleasure-sport, experiments in farming, and stock-raising. It would

cerned, and she had made the most of her somber garb. As he looked at her a strong temptation shook the man. He might still discover some excuse for remaining to watch over Sylvia, and seize each opportunity for gaining her esteem. Then he remembered that this would entail the sacrifice of her property

; you must feel go

mitted; "I feel

who would have gone-I feel self

ink you cou

the future. I have friends, but the tinge of contempt which would creep into their pity would be hard

od it as long as you did,"

ith me then." Sylvia paused and shud

proved and ver

raid I forgot; but the

to imagine your livin

na

o be looked after and waited on; to have somebody to keep unpleasant things away. That's dread

te ready

esolute and matter-of-fact. You wouldn't let troubles daunt you-per

e could feel things keenly, and he

r if you ever felt

ietly. "I think I

it seems that Dick knew you better than I did. When he made yo

rept into G

k I blamed either of you. You had promised me nothing; Dick was a brillian

ed for a f

little too diffident. You plodders who go straight on, sto

. It looked as if she

you undertake will be thoroughly carried out. I wish I hadn't been

her always-it was not very long since the Canadian tragedy-b

e others will wonder where

been deeply stirred, but he had preserved an unmoved appearance when he might have expressed some sympathy of tendern

ome to the station to-morrow, I must say good-by now," she

confidence," George said, sm

eches don't appeal to us. But there's one thing I must tel

elligence, but he would entertain no doubts or misgivings. Th

arly breakfast in the morning. Then he was driven to the station, where E

ent jarring, and George hurriedly swung himself down from his upper berth. He had some difficulty in getting into his jacket and putting on his boots, but he pushed t

ned, dead and blackened, athwart each other. Beneath them, shallow pools gleamed in the hollows of the rocks, which rose in rounded masses here and there, and the gravel of the graded track was seamed by water

stood on the margin with a shanty, in which George imagined a telegraph operator was stationed, at its foot. Ahead, the great locomoti

g for? Has anything

ahead," explained the engineer. "Took the fireman with her; bu

m, and then he went back until he met Ed

rs. "Look at that-the rail's only held down by a spike or two; we fa

ar them. She was, he imagined, about twenty-four years of age, and was dressed in some thin white material, the narrow skirt scarcely reaching to the tops of her remarkably neat shoes. Her arms were un

across leagues of new country and make a start with the traffic. They haven't t

r children's clothes. It was, he thought, rather a striking scene-the great train standing in the rugged wilderness, the wide stretch of gleaming water running back among

nd an old wide-brimmed hat, sauntered up with the girl G

e remarked. "If they keep on coming in as they're do

old fellow who smokes the vile leaf tobacco; he drove me out of the car once o

at those worn-out women, almost too limp to move. It's hot an

who're in them; they're not

, a whistle blast rang out, and George hurried toward the engine. It was beginning to move when he reached it but, grasping a hand-rail, he clambered up. The cab was already full of passengers, but

to come," he called.

smiled at him when he

said. "I was n

where there'll be more room," George sugg

front, and stood beneath the big head-lamp with the triangular frame of the pilot running down to the rails at their feet. The ledge along the top of it was narrow, and when

tucking the thin fabric beneath her

situation; but George found the latter pleasant. His companion was pretty, the swift motion had brought a fine warmth into her cheeks, and a sparkl

was, because my fellow passengers didn't seem to mind if they pushed

nsideringly and answered, th

e, if you'll sto

"I've been in Canada only three days, but I've several times heard m

't been provoking peopl

ut I don't see why I should be ve

ood-humoredly, and

. This is deligh

of gleaming water sped past, The rails ahead came flying back to them. The sun was on the firs, and the wind that lashed George's face was filled with their fragrance. On

ankment. A long row of freight-cars stood near a break in the track into

as nearly forty feet in depth, for the embankment, softened by heavy rain, had slipped into the lake. In the bottom a huge locomotive lay shattered and over

l, isn't it?"

had come with the

em asked. "He was too late when

. "See, they're trying to

man?" George asked, looking a

y pinned down among the wreck. They'll find

an elbow hard into his ribs; but it was too late.

ath the engine? Don'

id it's t

?" she cried with a shudde

accident. He hastily helped her up and turned away with her, bu

acle, and all the time there was a man crushed to death." Then she recovered her c

ed to silence had turned upon hi

quick. Think I'm going to have a blam

, with a twinge of somewhat natural une

he way you look at it! But if you're not in

d him for, anyway

d my energy," Edgar explained. "The fellow has no sense, but tha

as if a light had su

why you

attack a man of nearly twice

llow l

hat. You're all right

isn't Percy. Couldn't you think of

it with them to help the men below. It was some time later when he rejoined the girl, who was then g

ate man. It was very sad," she said.

avel. Then I assisted in jack

d you en

t, after all, they led to no tangible results, and in this respect his recent task was different-one, as he thought of it, could see

nded. "I enjoye

d him with a tra

e work of the ki

. I once spent three years in manual labor; and now w

as if she

lk back?" sh

th a steam plow mounted at one end of it, and a crowd of men riding on the open cars; but when it had passed there was nothing to break the deep

back with a row of freightcars, and during the afternoon the western