Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-05
A MIRAGE CT THE MESA.
by Alice D. Baukhage.


A boundless stretch of sand and
sage-brush, an apparently endless
wooden trestle, big and rough ut first
but dwindling as it receded from his
point Of vision into a delicate tracery
of lines, and finally fading away into
nothing in the distance, was the
prospect upon which Kenneth Nc.
Dougal had looked each evening OF
an approximate thousand days, lean.
ing against the door-post of his shan.
ty, pipe in mouth and hands in peck.
cts. as was his post-prandial habit.
On the inside wall of the shanty
were testimonials of former incum.
bents as to the undesirability of the
place as a permanent residence; but
in spite Of these, McDougal had &C.
cepted the post of engineer of the
Coyote Pumping Station for the sake
of the generous salary that went with
it. Ihe thought of certain fair
Helen, who shared his patience if not
his loneliness, did much to make the
succession Of monotonous days and
duties tolernbe, and robbed the scene
he was contemplating Of half its un.
loveliness.
Gazing toward the west he perceiv.
ed two figures coming toward him
across the mesa. Small and shadowy
against the evening sky at first, then
palmer and palmer, until he knew
that they were man and woman; then
that both were young, and that the
woman wore no hat, her fair hair
floating ont behind her as though she
came quickly. Her features he could
not distinguish. As he looked, she
drew away from her companion,
though he held out OBTAINING hand
McDougal glanced backward into
the cabin to see n II were fit for the
advent OF unexpected guests. This oc.
cupied but fraction Of second, vet
when he turned his eyes westward
again, he saw only the mans figure
The woman was gone, vanished in al
moment, as though the ground had
opened and swallowed her.
He was still staring stupidity ahead
when the man came up and nonchal.
antly threw himself on the bench at
the doorway, stretched himself at full
length upon IL, and observed: you'll
excuse me II ] take nap first and
tell you my life's history afterward.
I'm deuced tired-tramped ever since
daylight, and just sighted your place
as ] was about to give out" He
clasped his hands under his tousled
brown head and was asleep before
could reply, natural
slowness to action, coupled with thc
strange circumstances connected with
his guests arrival, depriving the poor
fellow of the power to put into words
the question he longed to ask. He
went into the cabin and started the
preparation Of n meal, and then went|
out, following the pipeline along
which the strangers had come, scan.
ming the prairie in every direction,
and stopping to examine the sandy
path Tor any evidence of footprints.
His search was vain, however, and re.
nembering his duties as host, he
turned homeward.
He was nearing the cabin rapidly.
when suddenly he paused, compelled
BY some force he could not have ex-
blamed. Across his face there seemed
% blow breeze laden with the
'trong, dank smell Of reedy waters,
mingled with the heavy perfume Of
lilies budding, blossoming, and de-
aging in some dark waterway. He
vas almost overcome by II, but with
IN effort he moved on. In an instant
was gone; in yet another he was at
he cabin door. confronting his
Weakened guest.
You look pale" the young man