The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-03-24
Through Santa ClalaWheat
By FRANCIS BRET HARTR

L
white teeth and fixed. mirthless smile.
$50 it is claim for property, eh? You're
wanting money-you? Tres bien. You
forget we are in California, where ono
does not own slave. And You have a
fine story there. my poor friend Very
pretty, but very hard to prove, m'sieu.
And these peasants are in It, ell? Work
ing it on shares like the farm, eh.''
Well" said Dawson, slightly chang
ing his position and passing his hand
ever the horses neck with half wearied
contempt, lone of these men is from
Plaquemine and the other from Coupee.
They know all the l. Hommadieu's his
tory. And they know Il streak Of the tar
brush when they see it. They took your
measure when they came here last year
and sized you up fairly. So had |, for
the matter of that, when first saw you
And we compared notes. But the major
is a square man. for all he is your hus-
band, and We reckoned he had a big
enough contract on his hands to take
care of you and L'Hommadieus half
breeds. and so"--he tossed the reins con-
temptuously aside-''we kept this to our,
| selves"
''And now YOU want what, eh?"
I'VE want an end to this foolery," he
broke out roughly. stepping back FROM
the vehicle and facing her suddenly
with his first angry gesture. I'VE want
an end to these airs and grimaces and
all this dandy Niger business We
want an end to this cake walking
through the wheat and floating Of the
honest labor Of your betters. We want
you and your de Fontases' to climb
down! And we want an end to this
ropin' in of white folks to suit your little
game. We want an end to your trying to
mix your niger blood with any one
here, and we intend to stop it, We draw
| the line at the major"
Lashed as she had been by those words,
apparently out Of all semblance of her
former social arrogance, a lower and
more stubborn resistance seemed TO
have sprung up in her as she sat side
ways watching him with her set smile
and contracting eyes.
''Ah," she said dryly, 80 she is here.
thought so. Which Of you is it, Ell?
It's good spec; Mallory's rich man.
She's not particular.
The man had stopped as il listening,
his head turned toward the road Then
he turned carelessly and facing her
again waved his hand with a gesture of
tired dismissal and said: go. You'll
find your driver over there by the tool
shed: He has heard nothing yet, but
I've given you fair warning. Co..
He walked slowly back toward the
shed as the woman, snatching up the
reins, drove violently off in the direc-
ton where the men had disappeared.
But she turned aside, ignoring her wait
ing driver in her wild and reckless
abandonment of all her old conventional
attitudes, and lashins her horse forward
with the same set smile on her face, the
same odd relaxation Of figure and the
same squaring of her elbows
Avoiding the main road she pushed
into narrow track that intersected an
other nearer the scene Of the accident to
Roses buggy three weeks before. She
had nearly passed it when she was hailed
by strange voice, and looking up per-
celved horseman houndering in the
mazes Of the wheat to one side Of the
track. Whatever mean thought Of her
past life she was flying from, whatever
mean purpose she was flying to, she
pulled up suddenly and as suddenly re-
sumed her erect, aggressive stiffness
The stranger was middle aged man. in
dress and appearance a dweller Of cities
III. lifted his hat h. ~.
cupant Of the wagon to be lady.
Il beg your pardon. but fear I've
lost my way in trying to make short
cut to the Excelsiors company rancho"
You are in it now" said Mrs. Ran
dolph quickly.
Thank you. but where can find the
farm house,
There is none" she returned with
her old superciliousness, unless you
choose to give that name to the shanties
and sheds where the laborers and serv-
ants live, near the road"
The stranger looked puzzled. I'm
looking for Mr.. Dawson" he said re-
fectively, but | may have made some
mistake. Do you know Maj. Randolph's
house hereabouts:"
Il do. | am Mrs. Randolph" she
said stiffly.
The strangers brow cleared and he
smiled pleasantly. Then this is a for
tunate meeting" he said, raising his hat
again as he refined in his horse beside the
wagon, 'for l am Mr.. Mallory, and was
looking forward to the pleasure Of pre-
senting myself to you an hour or two
later. The fact is, an old acquaintance,
Mr.. Dawson, telegraphed me yesterday
to meet him here on urgent business and
felt obliged to go there first"
Mrs. Randolph's eyes sparkled with
sudden gratified intelligence, but her
manner seemed rather to increase than
abate its grim precision.
Our meeting this morning, Mr.. NAL
lory, is both fortunate and unfortunate.
for | regret to say that your daughter.
who has not been quite herself since the
earthquake, was missing this morning
and has not yet been found-though we
have searched everywhere. Understand
me, she said, as the stranger started, II
have no fear for her personal safety
am only concerned for any indiscretion
that she may commit in the presence Of
these strangers, whose company she
would seem to prefer to ours"
But don't understand you, madam"
said Mallory sternly. You are speak
ing Of my daughter and
Excuse me. Mr.. Mallory" said Mrs.
Randolph, lifting her hand with hef dry
est depreciation and her most desiccating
smile, Tim not passing judgment or
criticism. am Of a foreign race, and