The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-14
Through Santa Clara Wheat
By FRANCIS FRET EARTE
Copyright All rights reserved.l
CHAPTER l.

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he told all this Nth sesch freedom
1t was an enormous wheat field in the
Santa Clara valley, stretching TO the hori
EOn line unbroken. The meridian sur
shone upon it without CLINT or shadow, but
at times when stronger gust Of the trade
winds passed over it there was a quick
slenting depression Of the whole surface
that was, however, as unlike biIlow as it
self was unlike sea. Even when lighter
zephyr played down it's long level the aRi-
tation was superficial, as2d seemed only TO
momentarily lift a veil Of greenish mist
that hung above it's immovable depths.
Occasional puffs Of dust alternately rose
and fell along an imaginary line across the
field, as if a current of air were passing
through it, but were otherwise inexplic-
able.
Suddenly a faint shout, apparently some
where IN the vicinity of the line, brought
out a perfectly clear response, followed by
the audible murmur Of voices, which it was
impossible to localise, Yet the whole field
was 50 devoid of any suggestion of human
life or motion that it seemed rather as if
the vast expanse itself had become sudden
ly articulate and Ineligible
"Wot sayf'
Wheel off"
Wharf"
an the road"
One OF the voices here indicated itself In
the direction Of the line Of dust and said
Comm" and a man stepped out from
the wheat into broad and dusty avenue
With his presence three things became
apparent. First, that the pufTs of dust had
indicated the existence Of the Invisible ave-
nue. through the unlimited and unfenced
field Of grain; second that the stalks of
wheat on either side of it were 80 tall as to
actually hide a passing vehicle, and third
that a vehicle had just passed, had lost a
wheel and been dragged partly into the
grain by its frightened horse, which a
dusty man was trying to restrain and
pacify.
The horse, given up TO equine mysteries,
and evidently convinced that the ordinary
buggy behind him had been changed into
some dangerous and appalling creation,
Still plunged and kicked violently TO rid
himself of it, The man who had stepped
1ut of the depths CT the wheat quickly
crossed the road, unhitcned the traces,
drew back the vehicle and CHANGING at the
travellers dusty and disordered clothes said
With curt sympathy:
Split, too-but not hurt-eh2"
mo, neither of Us. Invent over with the
buggy when the wheel cramped, but she
jumped clear"
He had made a gesture indicating the
presence of another. The man turned
quickly. There was second figure-a
young girl standing beside the grain from
which be had emerged, embracing few
stalks of wheat with one arm and hand
IN which she still held her parasol. while
she grasped her gathered skirts with the
other, and trying to find a secure foothold
for her two neat, narrow slippers on
crumbling cake of adobe above the fathom-
less dust of the roadway Her face, al
though annoyed and disconnected, was
pretty, and her light dress and slim figure
we're suggestive of a certain superior con-
dition.
The mans manner at once softened with
western courtesy. He swung his broad
brimmed hat from his head and bent his
body with the ceremoniousnesso Of the coun-
try ball room. II reckon the lady had better
come Up TO the shanty, out o. the dust and
sun, till we kin help you get these things
fixed, he said 10 the driver. I'm send
round by the road for your boss, and have
pnc Of mine fetch up your wagon"
rs It far?' asked the girl, slightly 40
knowledging his saluta<ion, without wait
ing for ner companion to reply.
Only step this way" he answered,
motioning TO the field of wheat beside her.
What! IN there2 ! never could 90 in
there, she SAID decidedly.
It's heap shorter than by the road
and not so dusty. I'll 20 with you and
pilot YOU
The young girl cast a vexed look at her
as the probable cause Of all
this trouble and SHOOK her head But at
the same moment one litcie foot slipped
from tho adobe into the dust again. She
clamberod back with little fem
mine shrek, ejacIlatcd, well, of all
thingsl' and then fixing ner annoyed blue
eyes on the stranger asked impatiently:
why couldn't / 20 there by the road in
he wagon? / could manage to hold on
and keep in.
Because reckon you'd find it too pow
full hot waitin' here till we got round /.
10 We"
There was no doubt it was very hot. the /
from the baking roadway beat 1
ng up under her para,ol and priokinG her
meek bones aud eyehalis like needles. She
gave a fastidioas little shudder, furled her
Darasol. gathered her skirts still tighter,
AGED about and said, Go on then" The
nan slipped backward into the ranks of
stalks, parting them with one hand and
holding out the other as if to lead her But
he evaded the invitation by holding her
lightly drawn skirt with both hands and
pending her head forward a. il she had not
Noticed il. The next momeat the road.
md even the whole outer world. disap-
,eared behind them. and they seemed float
ng in a choking, green, translucent mist.
But the effect was only momentary; a
ew steps further she found that she could
walk with little difficulty between the
auks Of stalks, which were regularly
paced. Gnd the resemblance now changed
O that OF long pillGred conservatory Of /
,reeuish glass that touched all objects
With its Dervading hue. She also found
hat TIE closs air above her head was con
inuslly freshened by the interchange Of
urrent OF lower temperature from below,
Is If the whole vast field had circulation
II its own, and that the adobe beneath her
eet was gratefully cool to her tread. There
vas no dust, - he had said; what had at
inst hall sutfocated her seemed to be some
aroma of creation that filled
he narTow green aisieS. and now impaired
strange N1gor aud excitement 20 her as
he walked sioDC Meantime her guide
vas not conversstionany idle. Now. no
ouht she had never seen anything like
his before' Il was the ordinary wheat,
My 1t was grown on adobe soil-the rich
81 il the valley. These stalks. she could
zee herself, were ten and twelve feet high.
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