The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-02
By Amy Cameron Fariss

III ~ 20 use looking for anything
- new IN these hills. i think.
Gene. sod nseaut this place
WIS. he &promised summer
md winter, spring-t3tnc and harvest
Tor that's all we ever have -
s.wa-ll, amt that enough?"
no, sometimes wish He'd forget
to send one, Of the seasons-its doesn't
rake ,any. difference which @one-just
% break the moaotouy. Of our lives"
Don't say that. Selma. He might
leave out the spring. He might make
it winter ali the time" =
Selma Weddings eyes. followed her
hand as it wandered aimlessly over q
patch or barley as high as her waist
Selecting one. head of Srsin,s she Wig
orously strapped. it off and tore itsto
sareds. when the last bearded blade
isy at her feet she looked again at tina
hills.
The sun touched fields OF grain
waved in golden pillows The ground
fer miles rose TO a smooth, round
crest TO sink away and rise again.
Stirred by tho fresh breeze, the far
reaching expsnsc became a sea Of
gold: the rise and fall of mother earth
suggested laigbty swells; the SHIN
mering, yellow grain swaying IN long,
broken lines. was as water rushing
onward. The wind signing over the
vast harvest was like the moan Of the
sea.
did you sec Pied's new calf, Sell
MAJ
.No. I didn't see Pied's new calf
she's a fine critter. stra ight-limbed
and strong, with just q spot Of white
on her face. What shall we name
here
I don't know. I'm sure was her
Indifferent reply.
What's the matter with You lately?
Nothing seems to interest you no
more. Selma"
Nothing does that happens, here"
the girl answered YEARLY.
So Selma Weddings life was to be
like that of other girls reared in that
wide, free country. Was it always
thus2 Did all young women yearn for
more than could be found among these
blessed hills2 Gene Unger stood up
and looked afar. In the distance the
Sacramento's yellow current glistened
Ia tawny serpent, winding between
banks Of living green. What glory,
What beauty, What wide full lives
could be lived here, Down yonder on
the plains il was different: those folks
might find the days long, but here in
the very midst OF Gods own fields,
where one could look over such a
length OF earth. where one could feel
the strength, the freshness, the gold
en- splendor of, il all, how could one
wish for more?
Gene looked from the fields of grain
20 the girl beside him. He saw the
wistfuI eyes, understood the nervous,
restless movement Of the small brown
hands as they snapped off head after
head Of the barley that grew close to
the road where he and she had strayed.
He had known her ever. since the time,
years before. when he, tossing great
forks OF hay, had thrown her from her
resting place at the top of the stack
down into the wagon standing to re-
ceiVe the efforts Of his labor.
They had been good friends since
then, but Of late something had crept
into the lives Of both. He felt that
the old free days were over He had
noticed with ever growing unhappineSs
the rapidity with which she was as
Stunning the manners of a young lady
II was not probable that she would ride
on the wagons Of hay any more, or
These amusements she had discontinued
months ago. Not after her last visit
20 town had she ,,rompeds
He wished thai lie shsd- not STAYED
here at the ranch. Perhaps if. he had
gone to tlle.cits. By noNr he <xyould- have
made something OF himself : He llad
intended going That first summer
when he asked M. N-oodling for work
IN the field lie thought only to tide
over a dun season. TO. lay up a few
dollars to-get a-start somewhere; but
Il had been easy to stay and hard to
go. The ranch was nofnelike and he
was tired-tirsd TO death of hotels,
tired Of the dusty streets the factories
where he had workedss for wears. IT
seemed at Asst that llecould not. fiji
his great lungs with the fTesh air and.
now, after years. he enjoyed. each 5rea tn
OF the pure atmosphere. There were
many chances for nlonesmaking in this
big country. but financial success alone
was not what he ,craved.
Today, thinking it all over. Gene;
heartily wished that lie had made
more of his youth and splendid
strength. 80
taken UP a profession | could haN e.
studied nights. Many nsen get Oh in
that way
What are yoF talking about. Gene?''
He had forgottefT that .he. vas not
alone. As hez1pet her esses the color
showed In his forehead where his hat
now thrown back, protected hfs face
from the beat al nd wind.
''Nothing-fllat is. ! was wishing
was something besides -susts a. ranch
hand That Amt: no kind OF profession
or trade orsnotbi2g.
Selma regarded him prorc closely,
then. suddenly. she came nearer seized
his arm and said
Gene. You're Keeping sonsstbing
from me. can sec il in Your eyes and
in the way tfat streak of white on
your forehead. turned rcd. = Tell NE
what it is Perhaps 1t VIII lis-ep inc
Up. I'm bored TO death. - s -
His forehead went retider his eyes
whose chief cha rpnf lay in their frank
look, shifted uneasify and he moved
from one foot 10 the other. She
watched him closely; the discomfort
that was written on her face a moment
ago was gone: her eyes. which had
looked wistfully far=awaa. now sparkled
with mischieVous joy. her lips which
had dropped At the corners in an IN
happy, pensivc line, now tilted upward,
twinkling. BewitchinglN.
She was small and slim. with a
piQuant face and large brown cScs and
q mass of he;r that refused to remain
confined. Iier cn-n was perhaps too
sharp. and certainly her tanned skin
was not beautifuL neither was her tilt