The Girl of the Golden West

the Girl had started for home-a bit of shelter in the middle of a great silence, a little fortres

bordered the trail, grow year by year as she herself had grown, until now the whispering of the mountain's night winds spoke a language as familiar as her own; but never before had she climbed up into the clean, wide, free sweep of this

the, girlish figure, paused, and swinging her lantern high above her head so that its light was reflected in the room, she

thal, there was a certain attractiveness about this log-built, low, square room, half-papered wit

l an old, patchwork, silk quilt. Dainty white curtains in all their crispness were at the windows, and upon the walls were many rare and weird trophies of the chase, not to mention the innumerable pictures that had been taken from "Godey's Lady Book" and other periodicals of that time. A little book-shelf, that had been fashioned out of

dyed, unsuccessfully, with indigo blue, and had across its back a knitted tidy with a large, upstanding, satin bow; the other was a homemade, pine wardrobe that had been rudely decorated by one of the boys of the camp and in whic

disarray, were various articles generally included in a woman's toilet, not to mention the numberless strings of coloured beads and other bits of feminine adornment. A table standing in the centre of the room was covered with a small, white cloth, while falling in folds from beneath this was a faded, red cotton cover. The table was laid for one, the charlotte "rusks" and "lemming" turn-over-each on a separate plate-which Nick had been commissioned to

the grate and the strong odour of steaming coffee, the roo

countenance, a multitude of possibilities thrilled within her bosom. But however much she would have liked to analyse these stran

ting his finger through the centre of one of them when Wowkle-the Indian woman-of-all-work of the cabin, who sat upon the floor before the fire

o rest'rant-not take,"

t he was furious at interference from

wled fiercely, flashin

syllabic observation del

oor and in which had been wrapped the charlotte russes; he went over to it quickly, picke

ext instant, however, he slumped down beside her upon the floor, where both the man

s me marry you-huh?" he said,

glued to the fire;

on't

a silence,

fully. A moment later, however, he added: "M

g eyes to his and told him

e don'

darkened. He ponde

when at last he ventured: "Me give fatha four dolla"-and here he indicated the number with

s eyes

t-baby cold," was h

her his pipe, and while she puffed steadily away he fondled

or get thos

ly, beginning almost insta

are as

it's fac

rowled in r

p close to him and togethe

um fade

nds sweep o'

sh in u

t the same time taking his pipe away from her, "to

answer, once more a

king the words, and rising quickly started for the door. At the table, howeve

ed slowly towards him. Half-way over she stopp

stay marry to

queried Jackrabbi

me laconically

ted by her answer,

come

ging up close to him she promised to come

dian, his coal-black eyes g

ng up her lantern on a peg on the outer door, brok

her. Wowkle was the first to regain her composure,

it!" greeted the Girl,

," he g

he Girl in the same happy tone th

he two women, though for different reasons, watc

l, turning to her with a sm

hes twinkled up

uh

ep

s narrowed t

ore come anotha," was h

e twitching of an eyelid; and then as she hung up her cape

ike one in a dream; whereupon the Girl, exasperated beyond measure at the other's placidity, rushed over

tracted to a pair of stockings hanging upon the wall; quickly she released her hold on t

, Wowkle?" she asked a trifle impat

, and pointed to a co

tol out of her pocket, which she laid on the edge of the bureau. "No offence, Wowkle," she went on thoughtfully, a moment later, "but I want you to put y

ent over to the cupboard and took down two cups, which she placed on the fireplace base. It was while

illy Jackrabbit rea

p Jackrabbit's promised

bureau drawer; at last she brought forth an orange-coloured satin ribbon, w

an have that to fix

glowed with

oceeded to wind the ribbon ab

Girl took out a small parcel done up

ou when you took up with Billy Jackrabbit?" suddenly she asked with a happy little smile. "What for? sez I. Well, p'r'aps you was right. P'r'aps it's nice to have someone you really care for-who belongs to you. P'r'aps they ain't so much in the saloon business for a woman after all, a

her so frightfully that she immediately sank down upon the floor and proceeded to pat and rub and cod

ith the intention of concealing herself behind the curtain at the foot of the bed; while Wowkle, with un

way across the room, however,

I-" came in low

cried, turning and seeing his

t lowed up here nohow," humbly apo

e Girl turned upon him

it, I t

"The boys are back-they missed that road agent Ramerrez and now they

ped. The next instant she orde

d on me, Miss," w

shed him a s

that's a cheat an' a thief, an' you're it," said the Girl, laying great s

" interrupt

rl, tugging away at the slippers; i

the winder! Clo

d her intercession on his behalf and could not

e retorted furiously,

le, resentfully, he

y for his words, but either the Girl did not hear him, or if she did she

ral ouches and moans that, finally, she stood upon her feet. "Say, Wowkle, how do you think he'

n general and those of her mistress in particular, she was not permitted to make it, for th

t a lace shawl of bold design, she drew it over her shoulders with the grace and ease of one who makes it an everyday affair rather than an occasional undertaking; then she took from a sweet-grass basket a vividly-embroidered handkerchief and sa

ment that a knock came upon the door. "Two plates,"

tomaton from her waist-line to her stockings. Suddenly another knock, this time more vigorous, more ins