In the High Valley / Being the fifth and last volume of the Katy Did series

ages, the alkaline dust most trying, and they had had a brief experience of a sand-storm on the plains, which gave her a new idea as to what wind and grit can accomplish in the way of

as darkly blue from the shadows of a heavy thunder gust which was slowly rolling away southward. The plains between were of tawny yellow, but the belts of mesa above showed the richest green, except where the l

g me out to live in the wilderness. What made you

fine new houses on Monument Avenue, by Jove, and any number off there toward the north. You'v

hy on earth did you let me bring out all those pin

packing. Never a bit would you listen to me, and here is the result," pulling out a baggage memorandum as h

My gracious! why, that's nearly three pounds!

'll want your pins yet. You mustn't confound this place wi

stopping of the train. In another momen

ands warmly, "how are you? Welcome to Colorado. I

that ends well. We'll cool her off in the valley. How is everything going on there? Mrs. Templestowe all right, and Mrs. Page, and the children?

helped Imogen, and proceeded to settle her wraps and bags in various seat boxes and pockets with which the carriage

iced tea, which I ordered as I came down, and then be off. You'll find a cold chicken in that basket, Lion. C

t a queer idea

ummer. Would you rather have some hot? I didn't fancy that you would care

ion, but when she tried it she found herself, to her own surprise, liking it very much. "Only, why do they call it tea," sh

, interested Imogen so much that for a time she forgot her fatigue. Then an irresistible drowsiness seized her; the talk going on between Geoffrey Templestowe and her brother, about cows and feed and the prospect of the autumn sales, became an indistinguish

, wake up! W

ed to her confused senses a large party. There was Elsie in a fresh white dress with pale green ribbons, Clarence Page, Phil Carr, little Philippa in her nurse's arms, small

the circumstances. Clover and Elsie kept themselves neat and pretty from habit and instinct, but the muslin

er, Mrs. Page. Please take her directly to her room, Elsie, while I order up some hot water. She'll be glad of that

peak of the ceiling, giving a tent-like effect. Most of the furnishings were home-made. The divan was nothing more or less than a big packing-box nicely stuffed and upholstered; the dressing-table, a construction of pine boards covered and frilled with cretonne. Clover had plaited the chintz round the looking-glass and on the edges of

n, I'm sure. It's very nice, and really in very good taste, but it must have cost a great deal. The Americans don't t

coming down. We will send you up some dinner," Clover ha

heroically put on her heavy tweed travelling-dress again, and descended the stairs, to find a bright little fire of pi

shment. "Melting with heat at three, and here at a quarter past se

sensation in our good old Devonshire, would it not? You see it comes from the high elevation. We are nearly eight thous

room, which was looking its best, with the pink light of the shaded candles falling on the white-spread table, and the flickeri

merrily. "We will let you into our secrets gradually. Ah, here

n, a startling vision to Imogen, who had

an aside to Lionel. "He looks like an abso

his cabin, and very likely a prayer-wheel; but he's a capital cook. I wis

n't feel that it is right to employ such people in a C

you know about their n

ice. "Geoff, Miss Young will sit next to yo

and quite as long as was desirable, or in fact possible, and gladly

to find every one scattered to their different tasks and avocations, except Elsie, who was waiting to pour her coffee. Cl

er of Elsie's. She set it down to a proper sense of decorum and retenue. "So different from the usual American gush and making believe to be at ease always with everybody," she thought; and she made herself as agreeable as possible to Elsie, whom she considered much prettier t

icably up the v

in sight of the just finished cabin. "Didn't Lionel choose

e the look of it? It's a decent little place, isn't it? We must get Mrs. Templestowe to put us up to some of her nice little dodges about furniture and so on, such as they have at

're much obliged to you, Mrs. Templestowe. I fear

enough, but the tone w

ousekeepers to discuss their plans in peace. Dinner at six to-night, Lionel; and please send old José down if you need anything. Don't stay too long or get too tired, Miss Young. W

rdingly. When they were out

that girl di

you mean? Nobody ever disliked

an't think what it is. It doesn't really matter, and very likely she'll get over it presently; but I'm sor

pathetic. Clover was

g! I suppose an Indian could be found who for a consideration would undertake to scalp Miss Imogen Young, and if she doesn't behave herself he shall be found. But you're all mistaken, Cl

nd pleasanter to imagine Imogen tired than

at my back; but she, poor thing, has no one but Lionel to stand up for her. I am on my own ground," drawing up her figure with a pretty movement of pride, "and she is a stranger in a strange land. So we won't mi

t of sight Lionel had turned upon

o you mean by speaking

hat did I say?"

the spot. Here she, and all of them, have been doing all they can to make ready for us, giving us such a warm welcome too, treating us as if we were their own kith and k

k to me so, Lionel, and tell me I am rude, just because I don't gush and go about making cordial spe

in this little valley, with the Templestowes and Pages for our only neighbors. They can be excellent friends, as I've found, and they are prepared to be equally friendly to you; but if you're going to start with a little grudge against Mrs. Geoff,-who's the best little woman going, by Jove, and

rs. Geoff never did anything to displease me, and certainly I haven't a grudge against

een his sister cry before, and felt t

there, dear-don't cry. Of course you're ti

suffered herself to be comforted, dried her eyes, grew cheerful, and the two proceeded to make an investigation of the premises, deciding what should go t

tted her back, and told her she really was quite a little brick when she wasn'

t day to order out stores and what Lionel called "a f

is always a stranger in the land till one has a place of one's own. Geoff and his wife are very kind and polite, but it's much

ang as soon as it can be managed. You'll feel twice as much at home when you have a house of your own. I'll g

a Christian servant, whatever you do, Lion.

oubtful tone; "but you'll come to pig-tails yet

ev

leasant impression of the morning. The little party round the dinner-table waxed merry, especially when Imogen, under the effect

on't they?" she remarked. Then when some one laughed s

did hear any one say it exc

, if she knew that a Chinese can make English puddings as

nearly every one on board was hurt,-catawampously chawed up in fact, as yo

towe when he recovered from his amusement, while Lionel, utterly overcome with

the native dialect to make a favorable impression in a new count