The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-01-20

rixon line unbroken. The meridian sun
shons upon it without CLINT or shadow,
but at times when y stronger gust Of the
trade winds passed over it there was
quick. slanting depression Of the whole
surface that was, however, as unlike
billow rs itself was unlike sea. Even
when lighter zephyr played down its
long level the agitation was superficial.
and seemed only to momentarily lift
veil Of greenish mist that hung above its
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 inexpicable.
Suddenly a faint shout, apparently
somewhere in the vicinity Of tho line.
brought out a perfectly clear response,
followed by the audible murmur Of
voices, which it was impossible to local
ize. Yet the whole field was so devoid
Of any suggestion Of human life or
motion that it seemed rather as if the
vast expanse itself had become sud
denly articulate and intelligible.
"Wot say"
Wheel off"
"Whar:"
IN 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 a broad and dusty
avenue.
With his presence three things became
apparent. First, that the puts Of dust
had indicated the existence of the in
visible avenue though the unlimited
and unfenced field of grain: second
that the stalks Of wheat on either side
Of it were SO tall as TO actually hide
passing vehicle. and third that vehicle
had just passed. had lost a wheel and
been dragged partly into the grain by
its frightened horse. which dusty man
was trying to restrain and pacify.
The horse, given up to equine hyster-
les, and evidently convinced that the or
binary buggy behind him had been
changed into some dangerous and appall-
ing creation. still plunged and kicked
violently To rid himself of it. The man
who had stepped out Of the depths Of the
wheat quickly crossed the road, uu-
hitched the traces, drew back the vehicle,
and glancing at the travellers dusty and
disordered clothes said with curt SYM
pathy:
Split. too-but not hurt-eh:'
NO. neither Of u.s. went over with
the buggy when the wheel cramped, but
she jumped clear"
He had made u gesture Indicating the
presence Of another The man turned
quickly. There was second tigure-a
young girl standing beside the grain
from which he had emerged, embracing
few stalks of wheat with one arm and
a hand in which she still held her para
sol, while she grasped her gather-
skirts with the other. and trying To tind
a secure foothold for her two neat. mar
row slippers on a crumblinS cake of
adobe above the fathomless dust Of the
roadway. Her face. although annoyed
and discontented, was pretty. and her
light dress and slim figure were sus-
gestive of certain superior condition.
The mans manner at once softened
with western courtesy. He swung his
broad brimmed hat from his head and
bent his body with the ceremoniousness
/ VI thC Tbtkbfl the
lady had better come up to the shanty,
out o tine dust and san. till We kin help
| you get these things fixed," he said to
the driver. I'm send round by the road
for your boss. and have one of mine fetch
mp your wagon
is it far" asked the girl. slightly ac-
knowledging his salutation, without wait
ing for her companion To reply.
only step this way" he answered
motioning to the field Of wheat beside
her.
What, In there: never could 60
in there she said decidedly.
Its heap shorter than by the road
and not so dusty. I'll go with You and
pilot you"
The young girl cast a vexed look az
her companion rs the probable cause Of
all this trouble and shook her head
| But at the same moment one little foot
! slipped from the adobe into the dust
again. She instantly clambered back
with a little feminine shrek, ejacu-
lated, We'll. Of all things" and then
fixing her annoyed blue eyes on the
stranger asked impatiently: Why
couldn't go there by the road in the
wagon. could manage to hold on and
keep in
Because I reckon you'd find it too
pow1ful hot waitin' here till We got
round to ye."
There was no doubt it was very hot
the radiation from the baking roadway
beating up Under her parasol and prick
| ing he. cheek bones and eyeballs like
needles. She gave fastidious little
shudder. furled her parasol, gathered
her skirts still tighter. faced about and
said, "Go OIL then" The man slipped
backward into the ranks Of stalks, part
ing them with one hand and holding out
! the other az if to lead her. But she
! evaded the invitation by holding her
/ tightly drawn skirt with both hands and
bending her head forward "a il she had
not noticed IL. This next moment thu
road. and even the whole outer world,
disappeared behind them, and they seem.
ed floating in a choking green trans
lucent mist.
But the effect was only momentary; a
few steps further she found that she
could walk with little difficulty between
/ the ranks Of stalks, which were regu.
larly spaced, and the resemblance now
changed TO that Of long pillared con-