Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-02-22
Through Santa CIaraWheat
By FRANCIS BRET HARTE

By FRANCIS BRET HARTH
All this did not, however, abate her
admiration for bQth-perhaps particu-
larly for this picturesquely gentlemanly
young fellow. with his gentle audacities
of compliment, his caressing attentions
and his unfailing and equal address.
And when, discovering that she had
mislaid her fan for the fifth time that
morning, he started up with equal and
undiminished fire to go again and fetch
it, the look of grateful pleasure and plead
ing perplexity in her pretty eyes might
have turned less conceited brain than
his.
But you don't know where it is?"
81 shall find it by instinct"
"You are spelling me-you two" The
parenthesis was hesitating addition,
but she continued with fresh sincerity.
81 shall be quite helpless when leave
here-if l am ever able to so by myself" :"
"Don't ever go, then"
"But just now want my fan-it 10 so
close everywhere today"
81 fly, mademoiselle."
He started to the door.
She called after him, LET mo help
your instinct, then. had it last in the
majors study"
"That was where was going"
He disappeared. Rose got up and
moved uneasily toward tho window.
"How queer and quiet it looks outside.
It's really too bad that he should be sent
after that fan again. He'll never find
it." She resumed her place at the piano,
Adele following her with round expect
ant eyes. After pause she started up
again. "I'il 80 and fetch it myself" she
said, with half embarrassed laugh,
and ran to the door
Scarcely understanding her own nerv-
business, but finding relief in rapid
movement. Rose flew lightly up the
staircase. The majors study, where she
had been writing letters during his alb
sence that morning was at the further
end of long passage and near her own
bedroom, the door of which as she
passed she noticed half abstractedly was
open, but she continued on and hurriedly
entered the study. At the same moment
Emile, with a smile on his face, turned
toward her with the fan in his hand.
"Oh, you've found it." she said with
nervous eagerness. IL was SO afraid
you'd have all your trouble for nothing
With half breathless smile she ex
tended her hand for the fan, but h,
caught her outstretched little palm il
his own and held it,
"Ah, but you are not going to leave
us. are your
In fash of consciousness she under
stood him, and, us it seemed to her. hel
own nervousness and all and every
thing. And with it came a swift appre
citation of all it meant to her and he
future. To be always with him, and
like him, part Of this refntd d and rest
full seclusion--ahin to all that had 81
attracted her in this house: not to b
obliged to educate herself mp 4
it, but TO be in it on equal term
at once; TO know that it was no wild
foolish, youthful fancy, but a wise
thoughtful and prudent resolve tina
her father would understand an
her friends respect-these were tn
thoughts that crowded quickly upon he
more like an explanation Of her feel
ings than revelation-in the brief sec
ond that he held her hand. 1t was no
perhaps love as she had dreamed it, an
even believed it before; she was no
ashamed or embarrassed. she even fel
= with a slight pride that she was no
blushing She raised her eyes frankly
What she would have said she did nc
. know, for the door which he had close
behind her began 10 shake violently.
II was not the fear Of some angry II
. trusion or interference surely that mad
: him drop her hand instantly. II was nc
her second thought-the idea that som
one had fallen in fit against it tha
0 blanched his face with abject and unrei
. soning terror. II must have been som'
/ thing else that caused him 10 utter a
!, inarticulate cry and dash ont Of the roor
and down the stairs like madrnaI
t What had happened:
4 In her own self possession she kne'
70 that AL this was passing rapidly, that
was not the door now that was sti
shaking, for it had swung almost sht
d, again, but ii was the windows, the boo
shelves, the floor beneath her feet thi
:. were all shaking. She heard hurrie
!. scrambling. the trampling Of feet belo
n and the quick rustling Of 4 skirt in Il
- passage as if some one had precipitatel
fed from her room. Yet no one la
called 10 her-eyen he had said nothinI
Whatever had happened they clearl
: had not cared for her 10 know.
: The jaTTing and rattling ceased as su
,, denly, but the house seemed silent an
empty. She w0Ysd- to tbs door. whie