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superior condition。
The man's manner at once softened with Western courtesy。 He swung
his broad…brimmed hat from his head； and bent his body with the
ceremoniousness of the country ball…room。 〃I reckon the lady had
better come up to the shanty out o' the dust and sun till we kin
help you get these things fixed；〃 he said to the driver。 〃I'll
send round by the road for your hoss； and have one of mine fetch up
your wagon。〃
〃Is it far？〃 asked the girl； slightly acknowledging his salutation；
without waiting for her companion to reply。
〃Only a step this way；〃 he answered； motioning to the field of
wheat beside her。
〃What in THERE？ I never could go in there；〃 she said； decidedly。
〃It's a heap shorter than by the road； and not so dusty。 I'll go
with you； and pilot you。〃
The young girl cast a vexed look at her companion as the probable
cause of all this trouble； and shook her head。 But at the same
moment one little foot slipped from the adobe into the dust again。
She instantly clambered back with a little feminine shriek； and
ejaculated： 〃Well； of all things！〃 and then； fixing her blue
annoyed eyes on the stranger； asked impatiently； 〃Why couldn't I go
there by the road 'n the wagon？ I could manage to hold on and keep
in。〃
〃Because I reckon you'd find it too pow'ful hot waitin' here till
we got round to ye。〃
There was no doubt it was very hot； the radiation from the baking
roadway beating up under her parasol； and pricking her cheekbones
and eyeballs like needles。 She gave a fastidious little shudder；
furled her parasol； gathered her skirts still tighter； faced about；
and said； 〃Go on； then。〃 The man slipped backwards into the ranks
of stalks； parting them with one hand； and holding out the other as
if to lead her。 But she evaded the invitation by holding her
tightly…drawn skirt with both hands； and bending her head forward
as if she had not noticed it。 The next moment the road； and even
the whole outer world； disappeared behind them； and they seemed
floating in a choking green translucent mist。
But the effect was only momentary； a few steps further she found
that she could walk with little difficulty between the ranks of
stalks； which were regularly spaced； and the resemblance now
changed to that of a long pillared conservatory of greenish glass；
that touched all objects with its pervading hue。 She also found
that the close air above her head was continually freshened by the
interchange of currents of lower temperature from below；as if the
whole vast field had a circulation of its own；and that the adobe
beneath her feet was gratefully cool to her tread。 There was no
dust； as he had said； what had at first half suffocated her seemed
to be some stimulating aroma of creation that filled the narrow
green aisles； and now imparted a strange vigor and excitement to
her as she walked along。 Meantime her guide was not conversationally
idle。 Now； no doubt； she had never seen anything like this before？
It was ordinary wheat； only it was grown on adobe soilthe richest
in the valley。 These stalks； she could see herself； were ten and
twelve feet high。 That was the trouble； they all ran too much to
stalk； though the grain yield was 〃suthen' pow'ful。〃 She could tell
that to her friends； for he reckoned she was the only young lady
that had ever walked under such a growth。 Perhaps she was new to
Californy？ He thought so from the start。 Well； this was Californy；
and this was not the least of the ways it could 〃lay over〃 every
other country on God's yearth。 Many folks thought it was the gold
and the climate； but she could see for herself what it could do with
wheat。 He wondered if her brother had ever told； her of it？ No；
the stranger wasn't her brother。 Nor cousin； nor company？ No； only
the hired driver from a San Jose hotel； who was takin' her over to
Major Randolph's。 Yes； he knew the old major； the ranch was a
pretty place； nigh unto three miles further on。 Now that he knew
the driver was no relation of hers he didn't mind telling her that
the buggy was a 〃rather old consarn；〃 and the driver didn't know his
business。 Yes； it might be fixed up so as to take her over to the
major's； there was one of their own mena young fellowwho could
do anything that COULD be done with wood and iron；a reg'lar
genius！and HE'D tackle it。 It might take an hour； but she'd find
it quite cool waiting in the shanty。 It was a rough place； for they
only camped out there during the season to look after the crop； and
lived at their own homes the rest of the time。 Was she going to
stay long at the major's？ He noticed she had not brought her trunk
with her。 Had she known the major's wife long？ Perhaps she thought
of settling in the neighborhood？
All this naive； good…humored questioningso often cruelly
misunderstood as mere vulgar curiosity； but as often the courteous
instinct of simple unaffected people to entertain the stranger by
inviting him to talk of what concerns himself rather than their own
selveswas nevertheless； I fear； met only by monosyllables from
the young lady or an impatient question in return。 She scarcely
raised her eyes to the broad jean…shirted back that preceded her
through the grain until the man abruptly ceased talking； and his
manner； without losing its half…paternal courtesy； became graver。
She was beginning to be conscious of her incivility； and was trying
to think of something to say； when he exclaimed with a slight air
of relief； 〃Here we are！〃 and the shanty suddenly appeared before
them。
It certainly was very rougha mere shell of unpainted boards that
scarcely rose above the level of the surrounding grain； and a few
yards distant was invisible。 Its slightly sloping roof； already
warped and shrunken into long fissures that permitted glimpses of
the steel…blue sky above； was evidently intended only as a shelter
from the cloudless sun in those two months of rainless days and
dewless nights when it was inhabited。 Through the open doors and
windows she could see a row of 〃bunks；〃 or rude sleeping berths
against the walls； furnished with coarse mattresses and blankets。
As the young girl halted； the man with an instinct of delicacy
hurried forward； entered the shanty； and dragging a rude bench to
the doorway； placed it so that she could sit beneath the shade of
the roof； yet with her back to these domestic revelations。 Two or
three men； who had been apparently lounging there； rose quietly；
and unobtrusively withdrew。 Her guide brought her a tin cup of
deliciously cool water； exchanged a few hurried words with his
companions； and then disappeared with them； leaving her alone。
Her first sense of relief from their company was； I fear； stronger
than any other feeling。 After a hurried glance around the deserted
apartment； she arose； shook out her dress and mantle； and then
going into the darkest corner supported herself with one hand
against the wall