The Girl from Montana

ad such a kitchen to work in, and such a pleasant, happy home, she might have been living yet. There was a pleasant-faced, sweet-voiced woman with gray hair whom the men called "mother." Sh

r, but was too weary with the long r

nd dreamless sleep, wherein seemed peace

e was already stirring. There was breakfast to get for the

dearie?" asked the woman as sh

said t

d, "then you and he's goin'

scarlet cheeks, thinking o

s too bad. Ain't he any kind of relation to

N

n' he's a fine man. But harm's come to more'n one. Where'd you take up with each other? Be he a ne

shed her eye

that got lost. We were both lost on the prairie in the night; and he's from the East, and got lost from his party of hunters.

n looked

'lone? What your folks thinkin' 'b

d the girl with gre

women near by here. You could help me and be comp'ny. The men would like to have a girl round. There's

t impossibility for her to stay. She must go on. She had a pleasant ride before her, and delightful companionship; and she was going to school. The world was wide, an

t a man. I have just run away from a man, a dreadful one. I am going to sch

y? I don't like to see you go off with that man. It ain't the proper thing. He knows it himself. I'm afraid he's deceivin' you. I can see by his clo'es he's one of the fine young fellows that does as they please. He won't think any go

t my brother called 'a white man all through.' Besides, he's got a lady, a beautiful lady, in the Eas

as if she were bu

find his fine lady wouldn't go jantin' round the world 'lone with him unless she's married. I've lived

s glad when the man suggested that they hurry their breakfast and get away as quickly as possible. She did not smile when the old woman ca

read the trust and haughty anger in the beautiful younger face, and then smiled down on the old wo

od care of her, and perhaps she'll write you a letter so

im her name and address; and he wrot

this ranch where they had spent the night was on the direct trail from Malta to another small town. It might be that the pursuers would g

used to ride a hundred miles just to see a fight or have a good time. She felt sure the m

hat. He felt a great responsibility for the girl since

th, and did little talking. The girl was turning over in her mind the words the woman had

respect her? Was she overstepping some unwritten law of which she

waiting for her to awake the first morning they had met? Had he not had opportunity again and again to show her dishonor by word or look?

alone. Was it true? Would he not like to have the lady ride alone with him when she was not his relative in any way? Then was there a difference between his

hen she had shot the bird. Now she recognized that there was a fine something, higher than shooting or prowess of any kind, which would comma

y him as if she had never existed. He was unconsciously absorbed in the study of eye and lip and brow. His eye

here they might look over the way they had come and be warned against pursuers. About three o'clock they

"sister" to rest for a while. "She is my little sister," he told himself in excuse for the word. "She is my

he thought of a sister pleased him. The old woman at the ranch ha

c., in the neighboring locality, and sent a telegram to the friends with whom he had been hunting when he got lost. He said he would be at the next town about twenty

Am taking a trip for my he

le about her made her uneasy. She feared again there would be objection to their further progress together. Somehow the old woman's words had grown into a shadow which hovered over her. She mounted her horse gladly, and t

w he could receive word by morning from a place that it had taken them nearly two days to leave behind, and how had he sent a message over a wire? Yes, she had heard of telegrams, but had never been quite sure they were true. When he saw that she was interested, he went on to tell her of other wonde

re of this young friend of his overnight, saying that she was going on to the town in the morning, and was in

er. "Come; I'll take you where you can wash your

traveller had grown wary. She did not intend to talk about the relationship between herself and her travelling companion. There was a charm in Myrtle's company which

e outside world of friends, people who did not know or care what these two had been through together, and who would not hesitate to separate them with a firm hand. Neither put this thought

journeying together, and never reaching any troublesome fu

before the daily train had passed through. They went straight to the station, and found that the train was an hour late; but a telegr

e saw a deathly pallor overspread his face, and a look of anguish as if an arrow had pierced his heart. She felt as if the arrow had gone on

mmediately. Will send your baggage on m

taking his hunting-trip, and who was bound by bu

and happy. He must go to her at once, of course; but what should he do with the girl who had within the last two days

ace pale under the tan, and stepp