The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-02-24

uetl out VI tie SIstii oii SaiS SssAAN S'>- -
the chasm rs herself.
but you seem TO have got over she
said bluntly.
"Yes, but il was further up the field.
reckoned that the split might be deeper
but not SO broad in the rock outcrop
over there than in the adobe here.
found it so and jumped it,"
He looked as if he might-alert, intel
ligent and self contained. Yet she said
nothing. He fingered Il moment.
''I'm afraid you must have been badly
shaken and little frightened up there
before the chimneys came down
No" she was glad to say, briefly and
she believed truthfully; Il WASN'T fright
ened. didn't even know it was an
earthquake"
All" he reflected. that was because
you are stranger Its odd-they're
all like that suppose it's because no
body really expects or believes in the
unlocked for thing. and Yet that's the
thing that always happens. And then
Of course that other affair, which really
is serious, startled You the more"
She felt herself ridiculor3ly and an
grily blushins Il don't know what you
mean," she said Jelly. What other af
fair:''
why, the we'll.
1.-THE well:" she repeated vacantly.
"Yes, the artesian we'll has stopped.
Didn't the major tell you:'
No" said the girl. He was away.
haven't seen him yet"
We'll, the flow of water has ceased
completely. That'J what I'm here for.
The major sent for me, and I've been to
examine it."
And Is that stoppase So very impor-
tant:" she said obviously,
1t was his turn to look mt her wonder
ingly If it, lost entirely it means ruin
for the rancho" he SAID seriously. lie
wheeled his horse, nodded gravely and
trotted of.
Maj. Randolph's figure Of the life
blood CT the rancho" flashed across her
suddenly. She knew nothing vi irriga-
ton or the costly appliances by which
the Californian asricGlturist opposed
the long summer drouShts. She only
vaguely guessed that the dreadful earth
quake had struck at the prosperity OF
those people whom only few hours
ago she hlii been prpul To call her
friends, The underlying goodness of
her nature was touched. Should she let
q momeutary tault-f 1t were not really
after all, only a misunderstanding rise
between iier and them u, such a no
ment: She turned and hurried quickly
toward tn house
fastening onward she found time,
however. to wonder also why these com
mon meu-sh. now included even the
young inventor in that category-were
all SD rude and uUCivil to her She had
never before been treated III this way
she hLi always been rather embarrassed
by the almirln, attentions OF young
men-clerks and collrsians in her Al.
lantic home. aal Of professional men,
merchants and >tp.k bco. ,rs in San
Francisco. 1t vlS tcu. thev wers not
as continually devoted To her and 10 the
nice art and etiquette Of plr.lsin; ~
Emile-th"y had other things 10 think
about, being in business AMI not being
gentlemen. but then they were greatly
superior to these clowns. that took no
notice OF her and rode 1T without lin.
gerius or formal leave taking " hen tn ir
selfish affairs were concluded
1t must be the contact of the vulsnr
earth-thls wretchri, cracking material
AMI Yet unsoverHable anl llwless "a III
that 50 dcpravei them. She felt sa,.
would like to say this to some one-upt
her father. for he wouldn't listen 10
her; not to the major, who would laugh
ingly argue with her, but 10 Mrs.. Ran.
dolph, who would understand he--ani
perhaps say it some day in her own
sharp, sneering way to those very
clowns. With these gentle sentiments
irradiating her blue eyes and putin,
pink flush upon her fair cheek Rose
reached the garden with the intention of
rushing alphabetically into Mrs. Ran
dolphs arms.
But 1t suddenly occurred 10 her tina,
she would be obliged to state how she
became aware Of this misfortune. and
with 1t came an instructive aversion to
speak OF her meeting with the inventor.
one would wait until Mrs. Randolph
told her. Bnt although that lady was
engaged in low voiced discussion in
French with Emile and Adele which in.
stantly ceased at her approach there
was no allnsion made to the new calarn.
ity.
''fou need not telegraph 10 your
father, she said. as Rose approached
HE has already telegraphed to You for
news. AS You were out, and the mes
senger was waiting an answer, We
opened the dispatch, and sent one telling
him that you were all right, and that he
need not hurry here on your account
So you are satisfied, hope" A fe-.
hours ago this would have been true
and Rose would have probably seen IN
the action Of her hostess only hattcr.
ing motherly supervision. There WA
in fact, still lingering trace Of that
trust In her mind yet she was conscious
that she would have preferred h. answer
the dispatch herself and 10 hay. lot her
father come.