The Girl from Montana

re exactly, at least not just now, and so I came out here to see if I belonged anywhere else. I concluded yesterday that I didn't. At least,

im. She felt he was telling her the truth, but it seemed to

a woman? How could a woman

look of amusement

e said. "Her words are dart

woman! Does

an auto

laugh again; and he looked down, and perceived that he was talking fa

lady to this wild creature who almost seemed of an

es about without horses," he answered

better than machines. I saw a machine once. It was to cut w

, faster than any horses And

ked around a

ange horses with you. You must ride to the nearest bench and over, and then turn backw

il the tears rolled down his cheeks; and the girl, offended, rod

out of the bitterness of my soul at the picture you put before me. Although I am running away

you! And yet you

," he said. "You s

s silent. After a full minute she rode quite close to his

y," she sa

sure I don't know why I told yo

to have forgotten her as he rode with his eyes upon

e were rendering return for the confid

es courteously, quest

er. I hate him. He wants me, and I ran away from him. But he is a cowar

the extraordinary story which the girl

our family and friends? Why d

aid the prayer over them. Mother always wanted it when we died. There wasn't anybody left but me. I said it, and then I came

s as if demanding an answer. The color came up to his cheek

he stammered. "Of course it will,"

ver say th

e I have," he answere

good?" She hung

ng is always a good thing. The fact is, it's a long t

ness. The man had never thought about prayer for so many minutes consecutively in the whole

about the lady?" ask

t is, I never

lieve it will

suppose i

ybe it will help us both. Do you know it all through? Can't you s

l put him in a very bad light. He couldn't shoot; an

help," he answered uneasily. "But what if th

ny good, or you wouldn't say tha

it; but, if you say so, we'll stop right here." He sprang to the ground, and offere

er hands as a little child migh

ling words halted after hers. He was reflecting upon the curious tableau they would make to the chance passer-by on the desert if there were any passer

t slowly; but, when it was finished, the girl spran

th a winning smile. "Don't y

hea

'our F

rimental knowledge in this line, but I dare say it'll do some good some where. Now do

and were soon beside the st

all night?"

ance of catching you, lest I should be hopelessly lost. You see, I went out with a party hunting, and I sulked behind. They went off up a steep climb,

idedly. "You can't keep going like that. It'll kill you. You lie d

he let her spread the old coat down for him while he gathered some wood for a fire, and then

bird the girl had shot, and his prayer as he knelt in the sand was drawing her, while overhead the air was full of a wild, sweet music from strange birds that mocked and called and trilled.

or of the roasted bird. The girl was standing on the other side of the fire, grave

ke out of the corn-meal,

n for starting. He tried to get her to take a rest also, and let him watch; but she insisted that they must g

e man who might be pursuing, an

ate features and clear, lovely profile of the girl

rant mother. How could she have escaped being coarsened amid such surroundings. How was it, with such brothers as she had, that she had come forth as lovely and unhurt as she seemed? He somehow began to feel a great anxiety for her l

, but to face wild animals and drunken brigands in a strange, wild plain with no help near was anything but an enlivening prospect. He could not understand why they had not come upon some human habitation by this time. He had never realized how vast this country was before. When he came westward on the train he did not remember to have traversed such long stretches of country without a sign of civilization, though of course a train went so much

eel her pursuit more as the darkness crept

she said as she watched the

hey had started on their way again the moon spread a path of silver before them, and they went forward fe

was handsome and dark and strong, with a scarlet kerchief knotted at his throat; and he rode slowly, cautiously, looking furtively abou

led him again as he rounded the trail to the cabin, and for an instant he stopped and drew his dagger, thinking the ghost he feared was walking thus early. A draught from the bottle he carried in his pocket steadied his nerves, and he went on, bu

a wager as to who could win her, and they had come to try; but she was not here. The door was fastened. They had forced it. There was no sign of her about. The other two had gone down to the place where her brother

ad a right to her. He demanded that the other come with him to the grave, and see what had b

the girl had given him the slip. Amid much argument as to whose she was and where she was, they rode on cursing through God's beauty. They passed the

and with oaths, and coarse jests, and drinking, they started down t