The Girl from Montana

s the cabin floor as the girl stole around th

he shaded her eyes with her hand from the glare of the sun, set a firm foot upon the threshold, and, with one wild glance ar

et her eye as she looked about upon the signs of the primitive, unh

, dry lids hard with her cold fingers; but the

careless father sitting at the head of the rude home-made coffin, sober for the moment; and her tired, disheartened mother, f

e in his mother's arms. But those, too, seemed long ago to the girl as she stood in the empty cabin and looked fearfully about her. They seemed almost blotted out by the last three that had crowded so close within the year. Th

, and, when there was none, by the trembling, determined, untaught lips of the white-faced mother. The mother had always insis

! Don't forget!" and was gone from her life of burden and disappointment forever, the girl had prepared the funeral with the assistance of the one brother left. The girl's voice had uttered the pray

possible the wayward brother to his work and home. But within the last few weeks he had more and more left her alone, for a day, and sometimes more, and had come home in a sad condition and with bold, merry companions who made her life a co

ng in order about him to give the last look; but, when the sister tried to utter the prayer she knew her mother would have spoken, her throat refused to make a sound, and her tongue cleaved to the roof

okes with which they would have taken the awesomeness from the occasion for themselves, and for the most part kept the way silently and gravely, now and then looking back with admiration to th

hing she would like to have done; but she answered him coldly with a "No!" that cut him to the quick. It had been a good deal for him to do

earth and watched them, as a statue of Misery might look down upon the world. They could not make her out, this silent, marble girl. They hoped now she would change. It was over. They felt an untold relief themselves from the fact that their reckless, g

out her hands like one who would like to bless but dared not, and said clearly, "I thank you-all!" There had been just a slight hesitation before that last word "all," as if she were not quite su

watched her go in silence. Then the words that broke upon the air were not all pleasant to hear; and, if the gir

tle apart from the rest, and walked on more rapidly. When he came to the place where they had left their horses, he took his and went on toward the cabin wi

traightened the furniture around fiercely, as if by erasing every sign she would force from memory the thought of the scenes that had just passed. She took her bro

. Looking up, she saw the man she b

to see if I could

out and tell him what she thought, but she dared not. She did not even dare let her thought appear in her eyes. The dul

e said, trying to speak in the same ton

man insinuatingly; she felt a menace i

tively she glanced to the cupboard door behind

k so when she would have liked to dash on him, and call down curses for the death of her brother;

ose about her? The brother was not so, not so much so; the mother had been plain and quiet. He had not known her father, for he had lately come to this State in hiding from another. He wondered, wit

esides, you need cheering up, little girl." He came closer. "I love you, Bess, yo

nothing on earth or in heaven to save her? Mother! Father! Brother! All gone! Ah! Could she but have known that the quarrel whic

ung life into one effort, and schooled herself to be calm. She controlled her involuntary shrinking from th

attitude was almost a condemnation to the guilty man before her. He drew back as if the sheriff had entered the room, and l

k courage. She had held him for a m

e out. You must leave me alone for a little while. I cannot talk and think now. We must respect the dead, you know." She loo

her brother's eyes just before he shot him. Then there was promise in this wooing. She was no girl to be lightly won, after all. She cou

as gaining, and he

smile. "Go! For-a little while,"

kiss her; but she drew back suddenly, and spr

now. Go! Go! or I will

feel a power that he must obey. Half

way back here to take care of you. I tell you I love you, and I'm goin

must have some time to mourn. It is only decent." She was standing now with her back to the li

r breath, and putting her hand to her eyes. "I don't

by her sign of tears. It was a new phase of her

t I stay away

She was desperate enough to try her chances at shooting him if she but had the pistols, and was sure they

robbing temples, and tried to t

ee d

ed at what it would be to be in his power forever. How he would play with her and toss her aside! Or kill h

er, and she felt sh

ng up, she

t. Go!" With wonderful control she smiled at him, one frantic, brilliant smile; and t

kiss you b

her hands in protest again. "Not to-night

him. He must not come in. She had gained in sending him out, if she could but close the door fast. It was in the doorway that she faced hi

e all alone

t the spirit of a man-" she stopped; she had almost said "a man who has been murdered"-"c

trembled, and looke

night with me," he said,

said imperiously; and reluctantly the man mounted h

s slouch-hat and muscular shoulders as he turned now and then and saw her standing still alone at her cabin door. Why he was goi

ning, looked up, and there rode the white