Ranching for Sylvia

traveling in haste from Norway, awaited the coming of Mrs. Sylvia Marston in an eagerly expectant mood. It was characteristic of him that his expression conveyed little

and Sylvia, returning to England, had summoned George,

s running back through gradations of softening color into the distance. Inside, a ray of sunlight stretched across the polished floor, and gleams of brightness rested on the rows of books an

ree minutes; he had already been expecting her for a quarter of an hour. This, however, did not surprise hi

s one of innocent candor. The somber garments emphasized the colorless purity of her complexion; her hair was fair, and she had large, pathetic blue eyes. Her beauty was somehow heightened by a hint of fragility: in her

u, George," she said. "

but he was not an effusive per

our note," he answered simply

ed pass in order to save time, and had left a companion, who resented his desertion, in th

orth having, beca

she was unusually gracious it was a sign that she wanted so

e about your stay in Canada," he said by and by. "You nev

s of weariness which she did not remember in his sunburned face. On the whole, however, it was a reposeful face, with something in it that suggested a steadfast disposition. His gray eyes met one calmly and directly; his brown hair was short and stiff; the set

said that we must go to Canada, I felt almost crushed; but I thought he was right." She paused and glanced a

ooked em

said. "I could have spared the m

latter it was a cruel blow to George, for he had never regarded his comrade as a possible rival; but after a few weeks of passionate bitterness, he had quietly acquiesced. He had endeavored to b

prairie, I was almost appalled. Everything was s

red young Englishmen. The colony, however, was not conducted on economic lines; and when it came

nd it difficult. There was always so much to do-cooking, washing, baking-one co

orge, with grave sympathy. "It's

s difficult to imagine Sylvia engaged in laborious domestic toil. It

dy after he lost his first crop by frost. During that long, cruel winter we were both unhappy: I never think without a shudder of the bitter nights we spent sitting beside the stove, silent and anxious

ard, of

was away. It w

old, and I got frightened when he drove off if there was any wind. It was trying to wait in the quiet house, wondering if he could stand the exposure. Then one day something kept him so that he couldn't start for the bluff until noon; and near dusk the wind got up and the

hiver, and George look

team and opened the door. The snow was blinding, but I could dimly see the horses standing in it. I called, but Dick didn't answer, and I ran out and found him lying upon the load of logs. He was very

b broke from her

snow blinded me, and I came back again; and by and by another team arrived. Peterson had got lost driving

moments until George rose and gen

h much, Sylvia, but it'

any prac

e glanced up at hi

yet; but it's a comfort

me for a little

heart, longing for the power to soothe her. She looked so

h. "And you are my trustee. Please bring those papers I

incongruous in Sylvia's considering her material interests in the midst of her grief. Afte

st be done," she said finally; "and I'm a

friends," George rem

here was bitternes

pent some months in Montreal before I could nerve myself to face them." Then her voice s

papers, his cousin and co-trustee came in. Herbert Lansing was a middle-aged business man, and he was inclined to portliness.

e's hand. "I suppose you have grasped the position, even if Sylvia

ness in his tone that e

econd-class wheat-land, with a mortgage on the last quarter, some way

ou value the

e a rough

ive upon, and the interest would hardly cover her dressmaker's bills." He looke

ed to contemplate it by

said

t to be p

oughtful and a little s

rt we

tunate results if your valuation's right; but the second looks more promising. With immigrants pouring into the country, land's bound

be improved; which would m

endence might eat up most of the profit. Wa

ed, and Herbe

ge. Apart from the question of his honesty, he wo

to work from sunrise until dark," said George. "Succes

our hands upon a

th a man of the kind we need in search of a

sell out now for enough to pr

d firmly, "is not

g his time and making a poor use of such abilities as he possessed, it was pleasant to feel that, within certain limits, he could do exactly as he wished. Life in western Canada was strenuous and somewhat primitive; he was conscious of a strong reluctan

I wouldn't need a salary; and Sylvia could trust me to look after her interests. I'd better go o

p to this decision, and he suspected that Sylvia had made similar ef

stion seems a good one; though it's rath

ed," was the

ty to look after your affairs while you are away. There are those Kaffir shares,

ecommended me to buy the

w little about business, in the management of his property, but his advi

takes, and I don't claim exceptional powers of precision. It's r

ded, as if

'd better get off as soon as possible. No