The Girls of Silver Spur Ranch

by Anot

ki, who reached forward an authoritative hand, sayin

rs. Spooner, catching sight of the newcomer, qu

making a desperate amount of effort without advancing an inch. Then, all at once, she was back to fi

-never raise a fainting pe

r father's elbow, Roy had rushed into the hou

r, confidently. "She's coming round no

you came back so s

ou know," Elizabeth added in a low ton

a careful arm under his wife's shoulders. Ruth and the Babe

r in to the couch, and then I'll count you c

ut to come forward, lift his sister's limp form and assist in carrying her into the house. On the way she regained con

, so it wouldn't have scared mother?

gram out to the ranch, because it was addressed to Silver Spur. You see, I'd got no letters, and didn't know of your moving.

ever, ever go to war again--no matter if that's a telegram from the preside

you are all looking--except mother. We must try and get some roses to grow in her cheeks. Jonah, you old sinner--shake! We'll swap war stories to beat the band, winter evenings ou

Harvey nervously. "In fact, I ju

hard-hearted landlord and turn 'em out, hey?" and he laughed genially. The world seemed bigger and warmer and sweeter to the children, now t

door and coming back during the greetings between the re-united family.

throat nervously. "Your check was all right, of course, but I haven't banked

as trying them for some decent way of explaining his conduct. She remembered his peculiar manner, and parted her lips to speak when some impulse of kindness made

nterest money all right

nis's tanned and bearded fac

ister. "I--there was something connected with that that I had intended explainin

rother-in-law's face. "Make a deed to the ranch? Why, I only s

nding--she'll tell you all about it later, no doubt. I feel myself to blame--that is, I was mistaken

h endeared her to all of them. She marched across

-with a very distinct emphasis--"for if I

's hand with a fervo

ay to dinner. Somebody ought to go for Roy--he went right away, without giving John a chance to meet him--he wanted us

e astonished Spooners, he put his hat on his head and walked away in

heir mother in excusing Grannis's behavior, insisting that it came from an excess of zeal for their welfare. When Harvey and Roy returned together, apparently on t

d's hand. "Only she says that he never can make me know just what yo

didn't tell you a word about their goodness to me, sir," he

pt jumping up from their places to run around and hug the tall soldier father, to be sure that he was real, and not just a beautiful dream. Mrs. Spooner sat at the head of the table, with a color and radiance in her face that ha

him myself--wouldn't let the broncho-bus

to animals, whatever he might be to his fellow-men. They regarded the gift as highly as

son, you know. I expect I'll be mighty glad to have him, because he'll be able to carry me to school. I couldn't go when we were at the ranch befor

ip with the lonely man. Apparently he would be willing to benefit his sister's family in th

th them, leaving Elizabeth to have a little talk with her father. The tall eldest girl followed her mother into the other room, and soon found herself seated between the two peopl

re until he spoke to me one day. You'd sent me a lot of little snap-shots, Elizabeth, and I was showing them to some of the officers and mentioned your name. I saw him turn, and after awhile he came and asked to look at the pictures. I noticed then that he didn't pay much attention to any of them but yours, and when he handed them back he said ha

hand, as though to make sure they were not giving her up. Instinct told her of whom

she hadn't anything either. They came over to America--to Texas--thinking to make a fortune, but found hard times and bad luck instead. His young wife died while they were on their w

lizabeth dropped her head on her mothe

red. "Yet I'm glad too--glad I belong t

then all at once it ceased, and we never heard from him again. It seems he got word that you were dead. Some movers coming through told him of a baby that had died, and they mixed it up some way. He was sick and down o

"I'll always be glad to think of him as brave and kind.

-M-a-u-d-e. A very good name, too. Wha

been so bitterly ashamed and miserable to know that I, who used to really fool myself into think

o--it's too bad to think how you suffered for her mistake." The motherly eyes overflowed, realizing how sen

ars; but he had decided that he must give you up when the fight came on, and the decision was taken out of his bands. The reason he sent for me at the last was that he had, a few weeks before he enlisted, got notice of a small inheritance that had fallen to him in England. It won't be more than twenty-five thousand dollars-

her she had never consciously seen very close to her. It was not as though he took this father's

"But you and mother are the only father and mother

*

things most wonderfully joyous in the Spooner family. It was comical to see how the new state of affairs impressed Maudie Pratt. Grandmother's diamond ring became a small matter indeed compared to the small packet of really excellent old jewelry

before she was tried and proven. When she saw her daughter choose wisely, and behave modestly, and carry her new honors wi

t of generosity on Elizabeth's part with one of his own. There was soon a commodious, well-built house, a beautiful and properly irrigated lawn, with beds of brilliant flowers where once only the cactus could be coaxed to bloom. These out-door luxuries were made possible by that almost unattainable thing in such a country--plenty of water, f

r, preferred to work his way, as many an independent American boy has done before him. He chose an agricultural college, for he believed that the cattle business would gradually diminish, and that all of the ranches would be forced into more or less farming as the

me--as indeed he did, though quite unwittingly. With the lapse of years Harvey has become gentler in his dealings with people, and more amenable. If he ever quarrels--and being Harvey Grannis, of course he

the three who cared to go to an eastern college and take a degree. She was preparing herself for her ch

oks and qualities, and fairly prosperous. She now lives on a ranch of her own, and, with Mary, makes frequent visits to the home folks, whe

ourse of study, Roy felt that he would not be honorable in asking her to consent to an engagement. He told her that he was sure sh

aving chosen this for her profession. She came back to Roy, and to the dear parents w

Roy are married and live still at Silver Spur, perfectly happy with each other, and rad

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