The San Francisco call., 1906-05-20

the next station, which happened to be
Ogden. 1 said, I will adopt in part.
at least, the costume of the States. ;
Don't you like it?''
'Tt is utterly incongruous." she COM
'mented. And yet it doesn't seem so,
on YOU"
''whew, how dusty I ami he cried,
giving himself a shake.
ITS the sagebrush." she replied. ut
covers every one. It's a sort of initiation,
Clement You'll never be the same
again. You'll always be 'sagebrushy'
from now on-at least while you're here"
While she spoke she was leading him
along hall lined, like the rest of the
interior with cheesecloth upon which
wallpaper had been pasted. Through
open doors Vaughan obtained glimpse
of long room containing hlaf dozen
tables covered with red cloths and set
with great cups and plates Of thick white
china.
How is Frank doing with his board
ng-house?' he asked
Mary shook her head "Only half the
mines are running and those may shut
down. The superintendent promises
Frank his pay. but one cannot tell. Frank
says he can't refuse to feed the men.
Here's your room" She opened door
into a box of place, containing cot,
a washstand and one chair.
Its nothing but a bunk, Clement, but
of course, my sitting-room is yours
Come there when you are ready. 1t is at
the end of the hall"
Left to himself, Vaughan took on his
coat and shook it. A cloud of fine aro-
matte powder filed the room, but ap-
parently there was no diminution of the
stuff which had turned his black broad
cloth to a rusty gray. He glanced rue
fully down at his trousers: they were
gray, too. He took look at himself In
the small looking glass. His hair and
beard were tinged with the same i'm
palpable dust No amount or brusnlng
and shaking removed 1t. AS Mary had
said. he had become "sage-brushy' and
would so remain.
.I don't object to 1t, though he told
her, when he had joined her in the pretty
sitting-room so like her dear feminine,
bookish self with its tides and ottomans.
its piano and pictures Of Goethe and
Shakespeare and Longfelow, and the
shelf of well-chosen volumes-the Brown
ing he had given her among them. Il
believe 1 rather Ike it, he added, smiling
at his sleeve.
You will like II, more and more"
said Mary gravely. TT penetrates and
fiavors every part of you, 1t claims you
and you surrender.
How big and rough and shaggy the
bushes growi he exclaimed. There
were some five feet high, I'm sure
Eyes, that's true" she returned. ''They
are like the life here, large and coarse,
strong, vital, full of oil, and full Of
bitterness"
"Suppers ready interposed Frank,
opening the door. "You shall have
hen"
"That will be 'sagebrushy,' too said
Mary with a little laugh "Ah there's
Sonial Come, baby" she opened her
arms to receive a violet-eyed wean
brought in by a young woman of perhaps
twenty. "Our niece, Minnie Hollaway."
Mary explained. There go the men to
the stoop for a smoke. You'll find some
of them study, Clement"
No less did the men find the newcomer
deserving of critical attention and COM
ment, growing freer as he left them and
retired to his room.
TOO damn fresh," said Martin Young
the cattle-owner, as he and Will Dover,
who worked in the Galena mine, saun-
tered down the canyon. Talks too
much"