The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-21

true, and Rose would have probably seen
in the action Of her hostess only a fiatter-
ing motherly supervision. There was, in
fact, still lingering trace of that trust in
her mind, yet she was conscious that she
would have preferred to answer the dis
patch herself and to have let her father
come.
To girl brought up with belief in the
right ofindividuAl Independence Of thought
and action there was something in Mrs.
Randolph's practical ignoring of that right
which startled her In spite Of her new con-
servatism; while as the daughter Of a bust
ness man her instincts revolted against
Mrs. RSndolph's unbusinesslike action
with the telegram, however vulgar and
unrehned she may have begun to consider
a life of business and its connections. The
result was a certain constraint and embar-
-assment in her manner, which, however,
had the laudable effect Of limiting Emiles
attentions to significant glances, and was
no doubt variously Interpreted by the 9th
ers. But she satisfied her conscience by
determining to make a confidence Of her
sympathy to the major on the first oppor
tunity.
This she presently found when the others
with a somewhat careworn face, but
voice whose habitual kindness was I'M
changed. When he had condoled with her
on the terrifying phenomenon that had
marred her visit to the rancho-and she
could not help impatiently noticing that
he, too, seemed to have accepted his wifes
theory that she had been half deliriously
frightened-he regretted that her father
Al IL
rancho, as his practical advice would have
been invaluable in this emergency. She
was about to eagerly explain why, when it
occurred to her that Mrs. Randolph had
only given him a suppressed version of the
telegram, and that she would be betraying
her or again taking sides in this partisan
divided home. With some hesitation she
at last alluded to the accident to the ar
tesian well
The major did not ask her how she had
heard of it; it was a bad business, he
thought, but it might not be total loss.
The water may have been only diverted by
the shock, and might be found again at a
lower level or in some lateral fssure He
had sent hurTfedly for Tom Bent-that
clever young engineer at the wheat ranch
who was always studying up these things
with his inventions-and that was his
opinion. No, Tom was not a well digger,
but it was generally known that he had
located" one or two, and had long ago ad-
vised the tapping of that flow by a second
boring in case of just such an emergency
He was coming again tomorrow. By the
way, he had asked how the young lady
visitor was, and hoped she had not been
alarmed by the earthquake.
Rose felt herself again blushing-and
what was more singular, with an uneX-
pected and, it reemed to her, ridiculous
pleasure; although outwardly she appeared
to ignore the civility completely. And
she had no intention of being so easily
placated. If this young man thought by
mere perfunctory civilities to her host to
make up for his clownishness to her he
was mistaken. She would let him see it
when he called tomorrow. She quickly
turned the subject by assuring the major
of her sympathy and her intention of send
ing for her father. For the rest of the
afternoon and during their al fresco dinner
she solved the difficulty of her strained re-
lations with Mrs. Randolph and Emile by
conversing chiefly with the major, tacitly
avoiding, however any allusiOn to this
Mr.. Bent. But Mrs Randolph was less
careful.
"You don't really mean to say, major"
she began in her dryest, grittiest manner,
that instead of sending to San Francisco
for some skilled master mechanic you are
going to listen TO the vagaries Of a con-
ceited, half educated farm labOrcr and EN-
ploy him? You might as well call in some
of those wizards or water witches at once"
But the major, like many other well man
aged husbands who are good humOredly
content to suffer in the sunshine of pros
perity, had no idea of doing so in adver
sity, and at the prospect of being obliged
to go back TO youthful struggle had re-
called some of the independence of that
period He looked up and quietly said:
IF his conclusions are rs clear and salts
factory tomorrow as they were today
shall certainly try to secure his services"
Then | can only say would prefer the
water witch He at least would not repre-
sent a class of neighbors who have made
themselves systematically uncivil and dis
agreeable to us"
Il am afraid, Josephine, we have not
tried to make ourselves particularly agree
able to them" said the major.
IF that can only be done by admitting
uncivil. Only let it be understood. major,
that if you choose to take this Tom, the
plowboy, TO mend your well you will at
least keep him there while he is on the
property"
With what retort the major would have
kept up this conjugal discussion, already
beginning to be awkward to the discreet
visitor, is not known, as it was suddenly
stopped by bullet from the rosebud lips
Of the ingenious Adele.
"Why, he's very handsome when his face
is clean, and his hands are small and not
at all hard. nd he doesn't talk the least
bit queer or csEmon.'
There was "a dead silence. "And pray
where did you see him, and what do you
know about mis- hands, asked Mrs. Ran |
dolph, in her most desiCcated voice. 'Or 1
has the major already presented you to F.
him' | shouldn't be surprised.
NO, but" hesitsted the young girl, /
with a certain mouse like audacity, when /.
YOU sent me 70 look after Miss Mallory | I.
came up to him just after he had spoken /
70 her. and he stopped II ask me how we /.
all were. and If Miss Mallory were really /
frightened by the earthquake. and he shook I
hands for good afternoon-thst's all.
And who taught you 70 converse with /
common strangers and shake hands with 4
them" continued Mrs. Randolph with mar /
rowing lips.
Nobody, mamma, but thought If Miss 4
Mallory, who is a young lady. could speak 4
to him SO could l, who am not out vet
We won't discuss this any further at 4
present" said Mrs. Randolph stihiy, as the .
major smiled grimly al Rose. The earth 4
quake seems 70 have shaken down in this