The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1899-02-04
A MIRAGE.


sagebrush, an apparently endless
wooden trestle, big and rough at
first, but dwindling as it receded
from his point Of vision into a deli
cate tracery Of lines and finally fad
ing away into nothing in the dis
lance, was the prospect upon which
Kenneth McDougal had looked each
evening of an approximate thousand
days, leaning against the doorpost
Of his shanty, pipe in mouth and
hands In pockets, 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 McDouga1 had ao-
copied the post sof engineer Of the
Coyote pumping station for the sake
of the generous salary that went
with it. The thought of certain
fair Helen, who shared his patience
if not his loneliness, did much to
make the succession of monotonous
days and duties tolerable and rob-
bed the scene he was contemplating
of half its unloveliness.
Gazing toward the west, he per-
ceived 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 out behind her
as though she came quickly. Her
features he could not distinguish.
AS he looked che drew away from
her companion, though he held out
OBTAINING hand.
McDougal glanced backward into
the cabin to see If It were fit for the
advent of unexpected guests. This
occupied but a fraction Of a second,
yet when he turned his eyes west
ward again he saw only the mans
figure. The woman was gone, van
ished In moment as though the
ground had opened and swallowed
her.
He was still staring stupidity ahead
when the man came up and non
chalantly threw himself on the
bench at the doorway stretched him.
self at full length upon it and OBJ
served: you'll excuse me If take
a nap first and tell you my life's his
tory afterward I'm deuced tired
tramped ever since daylight and Just
sighted your place as was about to
give out" He olasped his hands un-
der his tousled brown head and was
asleep before McDougal could reply,
anatural slowness to action, coupled
with the strange circumstance con-
nected with his guests arrival, de-
priving the poor fellow of the power
to put into words the question he
longed to ask. He went into the
cabin md started the preparation of
a meal and then went out, following
the pipe line along which the stran-
gers had come, scanning the prairie
in every direction and STOPPING to
examine the sandy path for any EVIL
dence Of footprints His search was
vain, however, and, remembering
his duties az host, he turned home
ward.
He was nearing the cabin rapidly
when suddenly he paused, compelled
by some force he could not have ex-
planned. Across his face there SEEM
ed to blow a breeze laden with the
strong, dank smell Of reedy waters,
mingled with the heavy perfume of
lilies budding, poisoning and de-
oaying In some dark waterway. He
was almost overcome by it, but,
with an effort, he moved on. In an
instant it was gone, in yet another
he was at the cabin door, confront
ing his awakened guest.
You look pale, the young man
observed easily. II hope my sudden
arrival hasn't put you out" And
he smiled into his hosts puzzled
face.
II do feel little upset." MoDou-
gal replied. 1.-The truth is, ] guess
this long spell of my own society
was about scattering the few wits
was ever blessed with. Now, you
won't believe it, but when you came
up there there was woman with
you, and when took my eyes off you
for moment she vanished. She
isn't on the mesa, for I've looked,
but just as passed the spot where
saw her last seemed to smell water
lilies and rushes and all that sort OF
watery thing"
Rather & strange smell for these