
In the sweeping valleys of Montana, a young man named Gregory Compton balances the weight of his family’s ranch legacy with his own restless ambition. Fresh from a distinguished stint at the School of Mines, he returns home to a marriage that is still finding its footing, while the rugged landscape around him glitters with the promise of untamed horizons.
When a local picnic brings Gregory face‑to‑face with Ida Hook, a spirited dressmaker’s assistant yearning for a brighter future, an unexpected attraction ignites. Their tentative connection unfolds against the backdrop of a community where old‑world traditions and the lure of the West collide, hinting at both personal and cultural tensions. As Gregory navigates his responsibilities, his growing affection for Ida hints at choices that could reshape his life on the ranch and the relationships that anchor him.
Language
en
Duration
~12 hours (719K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: Frederick. A. Stokes Company, 1914.
Credits
D A Alexander, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by University of California libraries) Updated: 2022-12-26.
Release date
2022-11-27
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1857–1948
A bold and bestselling American novelist, essayist, and travel writer, she was known for sharp social observation and a fiercely independent public voice. Her novels ranged from California history to psychological fiction, with works like The Conqueror and Black Oxen helping make her one of the most widely read authors of her day.
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