The Girl from Montana

treets were empty. On the edge of the town she crossed another trail running back the way that they had come; bu

e trails before the four men rode across from the other direction

? Shall we risk the ri

over to the ranch and ask. Ef she's been hereabouts, s

Lord did not stand within the crossing

olate she dared not look behind her. She had been strong enough as she smiled her farewell; but, when the train had dwindled into a mere speck in the distance,

a tree, and tried to eat some dinner. The tears came again as she opened the pack which the man's strong hands

w how good a friend could be. Almost it would have been better if he had never found her, never saved her from the serpent, never ridden beside her and talked of wonderful n

to the charm of his society; for he belonged to the lady, and was

possible, and thus be able the sooner to return it all to him. Some she must use, she supposed, to buy food; but she would do with as little as she could. She might sometimes shoot a bird, or catch a fish; or there might be berries fit for food by the way. Nights she must stop by

led them out. It did not look like his writing. She had watched him as he wrote the old woman's address in his little red book. He wrote small, round letters, slanting b

erfume from something he carried in his pocket, some flower his lady had once given him? But this was not a pleasan

other's that she had brought from home,

ed with awe; but the others had been kept in a box that was never opened by the

"herebys" and "whereases" and "agreements" in it. She put it back into the wrapper as of little acc

e log home had stood, and upon the extreme edge of which the g

never seen the card before-her father's mother. She looked at the card in wonder. It was almost like a distant view of the lady in question. What kind of a place might Ri

and that was a letter written

hought an angle pointing to heaven was nice. We wish you was here. We miss you very much. I hope your husband is good to you. Why don't you write to us? You haven't wrote since your little girl was born. I s'pose you call her Bessie like you. If anything ever happens to yo

loving

BETH

lled on the outside in her mother's cramped school-girl hand. It was dim b

ed to the lady. But perhaps, if she went to school and learned very fast, she might sometime meet him at church-he went to church, she was sure-and then he might smile, and not be ashamed of his friend who had saved

longings for taking up the journey, she knelt down. She would say the praye

ing from that terrible machine he was riding on. Hitherto in her mind prayers had been only for the dead, but now they seemed also to belong to all who were in danger or trou

her horse, and

broad rivers that had few bridges. The rivers twice led her further south than she meant to go, in her ignorance.

some poorer and more forlorn than others; and d

s stretched like barriers between, she grew less and less to dread her pursuers, and mo

hen for weeks, and thought she must be almost there. But he said "Philadelphia? O, Phi

op at a number of places they passed, and remain for life, what there was left of it; but he obediently walked on over any kind of an old road that came in his way, and solaced himsel

It was bad for the horse too. So, the night being Saturday, Elizabeth remained with the woman over the Sabbath, and heard read aloud the fourteenth chapter of John. It was a wonderful revelation to her. She did not altog

ished she might have the book. She remembered the name of it, Bible, the Book of

days when the road was rough or a storm came up and she was compelled to seek shelter by the roadside under a haystack or in a friendly but deserted shack. She thought of it the day there was no shelter

e, once for herself and once for the friend who had gone

lroads were things belonging to the East and civilization. But the way was lonely still for days, and then she crossed more r

becoming so dirty and ragged that she felt ashamed to go to nice-looking places lest they should turn her out; so she sought s

en she reached her first great city, the only on

cowboys in her journeying; why should she mind Chicago? Miles and miles of houses and people. There seemed to be no end t

of cords. Elizabeth drew her horse to the side of the road, and watched a few minutes. One girl was skilful, and hit the ball back every time. Elizabeth almost exclaimed out

her school. She would go in at once before she

nt slowly, shyly up the steps into the charmed circles of learning. She knew she was shab

em; but they did not return the salutation, and their actions made her more shy. At last she stepped into the open door

gravely, smiling. "I w

can't see her,"

ready. I've come a great man

k silk and gold-rimmed glasses approached threateningly. This was

want?" she as

but I've had to come all the way from Montana on horseback. If you could let me go

ed the girl

s large, and frightened Elizabeth. "You have come all

y," said Elizabeth. "I j

ed people. It was nothing but an annoyance to herself. "My dear girl,"-her tone wa

e some money. I could give you ten dollars right now; and,

laughed di

chool for young ladies. You will have to inquire further," and the woman swept away to laugh with her colleagues over the queer character, the new

school grounds wistfully. She did not notice the passers-by, nor know that they were commenting upon her appearance. She made a striking picture in her rough garments, with her wealt

, watched her, and followed, pondering. At last she called, "My dear, my dear, wait a minute." She had to sp

and disappointed. Don't you want to come

"but I am afraid I must go

wheedling tones. "You look so tired, and I've some girls of

ride had been stung to the quick by the haughty woman i

r from here?" a

along by the sidewalk, and we can talk. Where are yo

"from Montana. I am going to

here than in Philadelphia. If you like to come and stay at m

ools?" asked the girl wonderingly. "I t

ut I think I know a school where I can get you

id Elizabeth, "and I ha

you can study if you like. But you're quite big to go to school. It seems to me you could have a good time without that. You are a very prett

hes; and, if I could earn them, that would be all the better."

miles of them just alike. She tied her horse in front of the door, and went in with the woman. The woman told her to sit down a minute until she called the lady of the house, who would tell her more about the scho

d to her. This was the school, and the woman had not li

chool?" she

et with a shout of

prettiest one. "School for

er mouth, and bright scarlet spots in her cheeks. She came over to Elizabeth, and w

ut found it fastened. Then she turned as if s