The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1896-04-25

there were not more than 20 people III
the station, Saumarez gave Il moe light
riding picnic at an old tomb six miles
away near the bed Of the river. 1t was a
"Noah's ark" picnic, and there was to
be the usual arrangement of quarter
mile intervals between each couple on
account of tho dust. Six couples came
altogether, including chaperons. Moon
light picnics are useful just at the very
end of the season before all tho girls go
away to the hills. They lead TO under
standings and should DO encouraged by
chaperons, especially those whose girls
look sweetest in riding habits. l knew a
case once, But that is another story.
That picnic was called the great pop
picnic" because every one knew Sau-
marez would propose then to the eldest
Miss Copleigh, and besides his affair
there was another which might possibly
come to happiness. The social atmos-
phere was heavily charged and wanted
clearing.
We met at the parade ground at 10.
The night was fearfully hot. The horses
sweated even at walking pace, but any
thing was better than sitting still in our
own dark houses. When we moved off
under the full moon, we were four
couples, one triplet. Mr.. Saumarez rode
with tho Copleigh girls. and l loitered
at the tail of the procession wondering
with whom Saumarez would ride home.
Every one was happy and contented, but
we all felt that things were going to
happen. We rode slowly, and it was
nearly midnight before we reached the
old tomb facing the ruined tank i'll the
decayed gardens where we were going
to eat and drink. ! was late in coming
up, and before l went into the garden /
saw that the horizon to the north car
ried a faint, dun .colored feather. But
no one would have thanked me for spoil
ing so we'll managed an entertainment
az this picnic, and a dust storm more or
less does no great HARM s
We gathered by the tank. Some n
had brought ont a banjo, which is q
most sentimental instrument, and three
or four Of us sang. You must not laugh
ut this. Our amusements in out of the
way stations are very few indeed. Then.
we talked in groups or together, lying
under the trees with the sun baked roses
dropping their petals on our feet until
supper was ready. 1t was a beautiful
supper, as cold and as iced as you could
wish, and we staid long over it.
/ had felt that the air was growing
hotter and hotter. but nobody seemed to
notice it until the moon went out and a
burning hot wind began lashing the
orange trees with q sound like the noise
Of the sea. Before we knew where we
were the dust storm was on Ms, and
everything was roaring, whirling dark
ness. The supper table was blown bodi-
" into the tank. We were afraid Of
staying anywhere near the old tomb for
fear il. might be blown down. So we
felt our way to the orange trees where
the horses were picketed and waited for
the storm to blow over. Then the little
light that was left vanished, and You
could not see your hand before your
face. The air was heavy with dust and
sand from the bed of the river that filled
boots and pockets and drifted down
necks and coated eyebrows and mus
taches. 1t was one Of the worst dust
storms of the year. We were all huddled
together close to the trembling horses,
with the thunder chattering overhead
and the lightning squirting like water
Continued on nert pdga) n =