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

in Mrs. Randolphs practical ignoring oi
that right which startled her in spite OF
her new conservatism; while us thu
daughter of a business man her instincts
revolted against Mrs. Randolph's I'M
businesslike action with the telegram,
however vulgar and unreined she may
have begun to consider life of business
and its connections. The result was n
certain constraint and embarrassment.
in her manner which, however, had the
laudable effect of limiting Einiles at.
tentons to significant glances, and was
no doubt variously interpreted by the
others. But she satisfied her conscience
by determining to make confidence OF
her sympathy to the major on the first
opportunity.
This she presently found when the
Others were preoccupied, the major
greeting her with somewhat careworn
face. but q voice whose habitual kind
ness was unchanged. When no had con-
doled with her on the terrifying phe-
nomenon that had marred her visit to the
rancho-and she could not help impa-
tlently noticing that he, too, seemed to
have accepted his wife's theory that she
had been half deliriously frightened
he regretted that her father had not con-
cluded to Come down to the rancho, as
his practical advice would have been
Invaluable in this emergency. She was
about to eagerly explain why, when h
occurred to her that Mrs. Randolph had
only given him suppressed version of
fAt . t,aS r.. 1. 4
traying her or again taking sides in this
partisan divided home. With some
hesitation she at last alluded to the ac-
cident to the artesian well.
The major did not ask her how she had
heard of it; it was 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 lower level or in some lateral ifs
sure. He had sent hurriedly 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
awell digger, but it was generally known
that he had located" one or two. and
had long ago advised the tapping of that
flow by second boring in case of Just
such an emergency. He was coming
again tomorrow BY the wav. he had
asked how the young lady visitor was,
and hoped she had not been alarmed by
the earthquake.
hose felt herself again blushing-and
what was more singular, with an unex.
pected and. it seemed to her, ridiculous
pleasure; although outwardly she ap-
Feared to ignore the civihty completely.
And she hal no intention of being So
easily placated. Ii this young man
thought by mere perfunctorv civilities In
her host TO make mp for his clownishness
TO her he was mistaken. She would Let
MIN See II when he called Tomorrow
She quickly turned the subject bv assur
ing the major Of her sympathy and her
intention of sending for her father. For
the rest of the afternoon and during their
ii fresco dinner she solved the difficulty
Of her strained relations with Mrs. Ran |
iolph and Emile by conversins chief,
With the major, tacitly avoiding. how
ever, any alluslOn to this Mr.. Bent. But
Mrs. Randolph was less careful.
"lou don't really mean to say, major"
NE began IN her dryest. grittiest man
Ter, that instead of sending to San
francisco for some skilled master me-
manic you are going to listen to the va.
'aries OF conceited. half educated farm
aborer and erp1loy him. You might as
veil call IN some Of those wizards o.
water witches at once But the major,
Ike many other well managed husbands
Who are good humoredly content to suf.
er in the sunshine of prosperity, had no
dea OF doing so in adversely, and at the
respect Of being obliged to go back to
outhful struggle had recalled some OF
he independence of that period. He
ooked up quietly and said:
IF his conclusions are as clear and
tomorrow as they were to-
ay | shall certainly try to secure his
srvices."
Then can only say would prefer
ne water witch. He at least would not
epresent a class of neighbors who have
iade themselves systematically unciyil
nd disagreeable to us"
Il am afraid, Josephine, we have not
led to make ourselves particularly
sreeable to them said the major.
III that can only be done BY admit.
ng their equality prefer they should
main uncivil. Only let it be under.
God, major, that if you choose to take
us Tom, the plowboy. to mend your
ell you will at least keep him there
bile he is on the property"
With what retort the major wonld
I'VE kept up this conjugal discussion.
ready beginning to be awkward to the
screet visitor, is not knows as it was /,
ddenly stopped by bullet from the
sebud lips of the ingenious Adele.
why, he's very handsome when his q
ce is clean, and his hands are small b
I'd not at all hard. And he doesn't talk ;
g least bit queer or common"
There was dead silence. and prav
here did you see him, and what do Won
low about his hands" asked Mrs. Ran !,
lph in her most desiccated voice. "Or i
IS the major already presented You to b
10! l shouldn't be surprised" O
NO, but, hesitated the young girl, a
tn certain mouse like audacity. a
Vhen you sent me to look after Miss G.
ailory l came up to him Just after he g
d spoken to her, and he stopped to ask q =
how we all were, and if Miss Mallory o.
ne really frightened by the earth o,
axe, and he shook hands for good af. fl
ALL" a,
And who taught You to converse
tn common strangers and shake hands
tn them" continued Mrs. Randolph
tn narrowing lips. W
Nobody, mamma, but thought if nj
~ Mallory. who il a youno LADY pt