The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-05-04
"MEsoUITE."
BY IDAn M. srRoBRIDoe.
'399e'@s12 e3's3'ae s'eq13sa'

lFl IdHcl mousse pluLIds hnhulnR ner
eyes from the white glare OF the sun
by holding above them-in beautiful,
beringed fngers-the last number of
Boston magazine. IL was all very
new and delightful TO her, this
strange, unfinished country; and each
day developed fresh charm. As n
spectacle it was perfect-the very
desolation and silence of the desert
stirred something within her that the
Back bay had never remotely reused
Viewed from the front row of the
dress circle, nothing could be more
fascinating to her art-loving sense.
than this simple, wholesome life lived
out as nature teaches. and TO feel
that, for the time, the big, conven-
tional world OF wise insincerities was
completely shut away behind those
far, purple mountains out of which
rose the morning desert sun.
AS for becoming an integral part
OF all this ones self-Ah, that was
different matter! The very thought
of her cousin Blanche and her hus-
band, Roy Madison, deliberately turn
ing their backs on the refinements OF
higher civilization, and accepting
the daily drudgery and routine OF
life on a cattle ranch, filled her with
wondering amazement. When she fell
20 specializing on what their future
years might be, she shuddered. From
the followed sole of her modishly
booted foot TO the crown of her sleek
and perfectly poised little head Miss
Glendower was Bostonian.
But for the short space of time
that she waited Lawrence Irving's
coming, the life here was full OF
charm for her--its ways were allur-
ing; and not the least among it's
Vaccinations was Mesquite" She
smiled amusedly at the tall cowboys
utter Inconsistencies in there being
any social difference between them;
at his simple deception of her notice.
Miss Glendower was finding vast en-
tertainment in his honest-hearted, I'M
disguised alteration. She had come
west for experiences, and one of the
frst-and decidedly the most exciting
and interesting-had been found In
Mesquite. Besides, IL gave her some
thing 10 write OF when she sent her
weekly letter TO Lawrence Irving. She
sometimes found writing TO him bit
OF a bore when topics were wanting.
But Mesquitel The boy was
revelation OF surprises every day.
There was no boredom where he was.
Amusing; yes, that was the word.
There he was now, crossing the bare
and hard-beaten square OF gray earth
that lay between the ranch house and
the corrals. Though he was looking
beyond the piazza to where the other
boys were driving a "bunch" of bel
lowing, dust-stirring cattle into an
Enclosure, yet she felt IL was she
whom his eyes saw. He was coming
straight toward the house-and her.
knew many things.-learned in the
varied experience of her eight-and-
twenty years. Her worldly wisdom
was more-much more-than his
would be at double his age. Mesquite
was 20.
He looked up with unconcealed
pleasure in her presence as he seated
himself on the piazza-sw swinging his
spurred heels against each other,
while he leaned his head back against
one of the pillars. Miss Glendower's
eyes rested on the burned, boyish
face with delight. There was some
thing so naive, so sweetly childish
about him. IL was simply delicious
TO hear his Eyes, ma'am," or his
"which?" Just now his yellow hair
lay In little damp rings on his fore
head, like baby's just Weakened from
sleep. lie sat with his big sombrero
showed back from forehead guiltless
of tan or freckles as the petals of
white rose. But the lower part OF
his face was roughened by wind and
burned by the sun to an Indian-red,
making his blue eyes the bluer-thosc
great, babyish eyes that looked out
with n belying innocence from under
their marvellous fringes OF up-curling
lashes. The blue eyes were well used
20 looking upon sights that would
have shocked Miss Glendower's New
England training; and the babyish
lips were quite familiar with language
that would have made her pale with
horror and disgust TO hear. But, then,
she didn't know. Neither could he
have understood her standpoint.
He was only the product OF his en-
vironment. and one of the best things
81 had taught him was 20 have no dis
guises. So he sat to-day, looking up
at his lady with all his love showing
in his face. And so he rode beside her
that night, as the days red ball OF
burning wrath dropped down behind
the western desert rim of their little
world; across sand hills that opened
sweet flowers TO the night winds
touch; and across barren alkali flats
60 tho post Office, half n dozen miles
away.
There was only one letter for Miss
Glendower that night. IL began:
IT will be with you. my darling. ~ hours
after you get this. Just one day more
love, and I'll hold you In my arms again!
lust one more week. and Won will be my