E-text prepared by Roger Frank Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 42287-h.htm or 42287-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42287/42287-h/42287-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42287/42287-h.zip) [Illustration: “Rode down the hill into the valley.”] THE GIRL FROM THE BIG HORN COUNTRY by MARY ELLEN CHASE Illustrated by R. Farrington Elwell The Page Company Boston--MDCCCCXVI Copyright, 1916, by the Page Company All rights reserved First Impression, January, 1916 Second Impression, March, 1916 Third Impression, May, 1916 Fourth Impression, June, 1916 Fifth Impression, August, 1916 Presswork by The Colonial Press C. H. Simonds Company, Boston, U. S. A. TO THE MEMORY OF MY FATHER WHO, PERHAPS, KNOWS, AND IS GLAD CONTENTS CHAPTER I—VIRGINIA'S COUNTRY CHAPTER II—THE LAST NIGHT AT HOME CHAPTER III—THE JOURNEY EAST CHAPTER IV—VERMONT AS VIRGINIA SAW IT CHAPTER V—THE "BROADENING EXPERIENCE" BEGINS CHAPTER VI—ST. HELEN'S AND THE HERMITAGE CHAPTER VII—"PERTAINING ESPECIALLY TO DECORUM" CHAPTER VIII—THE LAST STRAW CHAPTER IX—THE THANKSGIVING ORATION OF LUCILE DU BOSE CHAPTER X—THANKSGIVING AND MISS WALLACE CHAPTER XI—THE DISCIPLINING OF MISS VAN RENSAELAR CHAPTER XII—THE VIGILANTES CHAPTER XIII—THE TEST OF CARVER STANDISH III CHAPTER XIV—WYOMING HOSPITALITY. CHAPTER XV—VESPER SERVICE CHAPTER XVI—A SPRING-TIME ROMANCE CHAPTER XVII—THE VIGILANTES INITIATE CHAPTER XVIII—THE HEART-BROKEN MISS WALLACE CHAPTER XIX—THE SENIOR PAGEANT CHAPTER XX—THE VIGILANTES’ LAST MEETING CHAPTER XXI—HOME ONCE MORE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS “Rode down the hill into the valley.” “Forded the creek in a mad splash of water.” “Jim, scorning assistance, had risen from his chair and stood facing his audience.” “Some rods ahead, Virginia espied a lone figure in a gray shawl.” “Virginia knelt by the altar rail.” “She sat her horse like a knight of old.” “The road lay at the very base of the green foot-hills.” THE GIRL FROM THE BIG HORN COUNTRY CHAPTER I VIRGINIA’S COUNTRY A September afternoon in the Big Horn mountains! The air crystal clear; the sky cloudless; the outlines of the hills distinct! Elk Creek Valley lay golden in the sunshine, silent save for the incessant hum of locust and cricket, the hurrying of the creek waters, and the occasional bellowing of steers on the range beyond the foot-hills; deserted except for the distant cattle, a coyote stealing across the hills, a pheasant scurrying through the buck-brush by the creek, and some cotton-tail rabbits and prairie dogs, who, sure of safety, meant to enjoy the sunshine while they might.