The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-14

and this was not the Least of tn,
ways 1t could "lay over" every othe
country on Gods yeaFth. Many folk
thought it was the gold and the climate
but she could see for hsrsef what it could
do with wheat He wondered IL her brother
had ever told her of 1t. MOI The ssrangel
wasn't her brother-nor cousin-nor com
pany-no, only the hired driver from SaI
Jose hotel, who was sakin' her over to Maj
Randolphs. Yes, he knew the old major
the ranch was a pretty place, nigh onto
three miles further on. Now that he knew
the driver was no relation Of hers, he didn I
mind telling her that the buggy was Z
rather old oonsarn" and the driver didn' I
know his business. Yes, it might be fixed
up SO as to take her over % the majors
There was one of their own men-a young
fellow-who could do anything that could
be done with wood and iron-a regular
genius-and he'd tackle it. 1t might take
an hour, but she'd find it quite cool wait
| ing in the shanty. 1t was a rough place
for they only camped out there during the
season to look after the CROP and lived at
! their own homes the rest of the time Was
she going to stay long at the major's' He
noticed she had not brought her trunk
with her. Had she known the majors
wife longS Perhaps she thought of settling
| in the nsighborhOodI
All this naive, good humored question
ing-so often cruelty misunderstood as
mere vulgar curiosity, but as often the
courteous instinct of simple, unaffected
people to entertain the stranger by invit-
ing him to talk of what concerns himself
rather than their ownselves-was never
theleSs, fear, met only by monosyllables
from the young lady or an impatient ques-
ton in return. She scarcely raised her
eyes to the broad, jean shirted back that
preceded her through the grain until the
man abruptly ceased talking, and his man
ner, without losing its half paternal cour-
tesy, became graver. She was beginning
to be conscious Of her incivility, and was
idly trying to think of something to say,
when he exclaimed, with a slight air of re-
lief, Here we are" and the shanty sud
denly appeared before them.
It certainly was very rough-a mere
shell of implanted boards that scarcely
rose above the level of the surrounding
grain, and a few yards distant was invisi-
bic. Its slightly sloping roof, already
warped and shrunken into long assures
that permitted glimpses Of the steel blue
sky above, was evidently intended only as
a shelter from the cloudless sun in those
two months of rainless days and devices
nights when it was inhabited. Through
the open doors and windows she could see
a row of hunks" or rude sleeping berths,
against the walls, furnished with coarse
mattresses and blankets As the young
girl halted, the man, with an instinct OF
Ak
shanty, and dragging rude bench to the
doorway, placed it so that she could sit be-
meath the shade of the roof, yet with her
back TO these domestic revelations. Two
or three men who had been apparently
lounging there rose quickly and unobtru-
sively withdrew. Her guide brought her a
tin cup of deliciously cool water, exchang-
ed a few hurried words with his compan-
ions, and then disappeared with them,
leaving her alone.
Her first sense Of relief from their COM
pany was, | fear, stronger than any other
feeling After a hurried glance around
the deserted apartment she arose, shook
out her dress and MANTLE and then going
into the darkest corner supported herself
with one hand against the wall, while with
the other she drew OFF one by one her slip
pers from her slim, striped stockinged feet,
shook and blew out the dust that had pen
etrated within and put them on again.
Then perceiving a triangular fragment of
looking glass nailed against the wall she
settled the strings of her bonnet by the aid
of its reflection, patted the fringe of brown
hair on her forehead with her separated
five fingers, as if playing an imaginary
tune on her brow, and came back with
maidenly abstraction to the doorway
Everything was quiet and her seclusion
seemed unbroken. A smile played for an
instant in the soft shadows of her eyes and
mouth as she recalled the abrupt with
drawal of the men. Then her mouth
and her brows slightly bent.
1t was certainly very unmannerly in them
to go of in that way Good heavens!
couldn't they have stayed around-with-
out talking? Surely it didn t require four
men to go and bring up that wagon" She
picked up her parasol from the bench with
an impatient little jerk. Then she held
out her ungloved hand into the hot sun
shine beyond the door with the gesture
she would have used had it been raining,
and withdrew it IS quickly-her hand
quite scorcbed in the burning rays Never
after another impatient pause she
put up her parasol and stepped
from the shanty.
Presently she was conscious Of a faint
sound of hammering not fer away.
Perhaps there was another shed, bat
hidden like everything else in this monot-
onous, ridiculous grain. Some stalks,
however, were trodden down aud broken
around the shanty; she could move more |
EASILY and see where she wGs going. To |
her delight, few steps further brought /
her into a current Of the trade wind and |
/ cooler atmosphere. And a short dis !
lance beyond there certainly was the |
lhed from which the hammering pro- |
,eeded. She approached 1t boldly.
1t was simply roof upheld by rude |
lprights ana cross beams and open to |
he breeze that swept through it At /
me end WAS a small blacAsmith's forge, /
,ome machinery and what appeared to |
De part of a small steam engine. Midway |
# the shed was closet or cupboard fast
med with large paddock. Occupying its |
whole length on the other side WAS work
,ench, and at the turtle end stood the 1
workman she had heard.
He was apparently olly year or two
Dlisr than herself. and clad IN blue jean
,veralls, blsckened and sne2red with oil
md coal dust. Even his youthful face,
which he turned toward her. had = black
nudge running across IL, and almost OBJ
iteratinG small auburn nustsohe. The
ook of surprise that he gave her, however,
quickly passed. He remained patiently and
n half preoccupisd way holding MS ham
ner in his hand ~ shc advanced. This was
the young fellow who could do
nyJhing that could be done with wood
md iron"
She was very sorry TO disturb him, but
ould he tall her how long IL would re be