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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 while with the other she drew off； one by one； her
slippers from her slim； striped…stockinged feet； shook and blew out
the dust that had penetrated within； and put them on again。 Then；
perceiving a triangular fragment of looking…glass nailed against
the wall； she settled the strings of her bonnet by the aid of its
reflection； patted the fringe of brown hair on her forehead with
her separated five fingers as if playing an imaginary tune on her
brow； and came back with maidenly abstraction to the doorway。
Everything was quiet； and her seclusion seemed unbroken。 A smile
played for an instant in the soft shadows of her eyes and mouth as
she recalled the abrupt withdrawal of the men。 Then her mouth
straightened and her brows slightly bent。 It was certainly very
unmannerly in them to go off in that way。 〃Good heavens！ couldn't
they have stayed around without talking？ Surely it didn't require
four men to go and bring up that wagon！〃 She picked up her parasol
from the bench with an impatient little jerk。 Then she held out
her ungloved hand into the hot sunshine beyond the door with the
gesture she would have used had it been raining； and withdrew it as
quicklyher hand quite scorched in the burning rays。 Nevertheless；
after another impatient pause she desperately put up her parasol
and stepped from the shanty。
Presently she was conscious of a faint sound of hammering not far
away。 Perhaps there was another shed； but hidden； like everything
else； in this monotonous； ridiculous grain。 Some stalks； however；
were trodden down and broken around the shanty； she could move more
easily and see where she was going。 To her delight； a few steps
further brought her into a current of the trade…wind and a cooler
atmosphere。 And a short distance beyond them； certainly； was the
shed from which the hammering proceeded。 She approached it boldly。
It was simply a roof upheld by rude uprights and crossbeams； and
open to the breeze that swept through it。 At one end was a small
blacksmith's forge； some machinery； and what appeared to be part of
a small steam…engine。 Midway of the shed was a closet or cupboard
fastened with a large padlock。 Occupying its whole length on the
other side was a work…bench； and at the further end stood the
workman she had heard。
He was apparently only a year or two older than herself； and clad
in blue jean overalls； blackened and smeared with oil and coal…
dust。 Even his youthful face； which he turned towards her； had a
black smudge running across it and almost obliterating a small
auburn moustache。 The look of surprise that he gave her； however；
quickly passed； he remained patiently and in a half…preoccupied
way； holding his hammer in his hand； as she advanced。 This was
evidently the young fellow who could 〃do anything that could be
done with wood and iron。〃
She was very sorry to disturb him； but could he tell her how long
it would be before the wagon could be brought up and mended？ He
could not say that until he himself saw what was to be done； if it
was only a matter of the wheel he could fix it up in a few moments；
if； as he had been told； it was a case of twisted or bent axle； it
would take longer； but it would be here very soon。 Ah； then； would
he let her wait here； as she was very anxious to know at once； and
it was much cooler than in the shed？ Certainly； he would go over
and bring her a bench。 But here she begged he wouldn't trouble
himself； she could sit anywhere comfortably。
The lower end of the work…bench was covered with clean and odorous
shavings； she lightly brushed them aside and； with a youthful
movement； swung herself to a seat upon it； supporting herself on
one hand as she leaned towards him。 She could thus see that his
eyes were of a light…yellowish brown； like clarified honey； with a
singular look of clear concentration in them； which； however； was
the same whether turned upon his work； the surrounding grain； or
upon her。 This； and his sublime unconsciousness of the smudge
across his face and his blackened hands； made her wonder if the man
who could do everything with wood and iron was above doing anything
with water。 She had half a mind to tell him of it； particularly as
she noticed also that his throat below the line of sunburn
disclosed by his open collar was quite white； and his grimy hands
well made。 She was wondering whether he would be affronted if she
said in her politest way； 〃I beg your pardon； but do you know you
have quite accidentally got something on your face；〃 and offer her
handkerchief； which； of course； he would decline； when her eye fell
on the steam…engine。
〃How odd！ Do you use that on the farm？〃
〃No；〃he smiled here； the smudge accenting it and setting off his
white teeth in a Christy Minstrel fashion that exasperated herno；
although it COULD be used； and had been。 But it was his first
effort； made two years ago； when he was younger and more
inexperienced。 It was a rather rough thing； she could seebut he
had to make it at odd times with what iron he could pick up or pay
for； and at different forges where he worked。
She begged his pardonwhere
WHERE HE WORKED。
Ah； then he was the machinist or engineer here？
No； he worked here just like the others； only he was allowed to put
up a forge while the grain was green； and have his bench in
consideration of the odd jobs he could do in the way of mending
tools； etc。 There was a heap of mending and welding to doshe had
no idea how quickly agricultural machines got out of order！ He had
done much of his work on the steam…engine on moonlit nights。 Yes；
she had no idea how perfectly clear and light it was here in the
valley on such nights； although of course the shadows were very
dark； and when he dropped a screw or a nut it was difficult to
find。 He had worked there because it saved time and because it
didn't cost anything； and he had nobody to look on or interfere
with him。 No； it was not lonely； the coyotes and wild cats
sometimes came very near； but were always more surprised and
frightened than he was； and once a horseman who had strayed off the
distant road yonder mistook him for an animal and shot at him
twice。
He told all this with such freedom from embarrassment and with such
apparent unconsciousness of the blue eyes that were following him；
and the light； graceful figure；which was so near his own that in
some of his gestures his grimy hands almost touched its delicate
garments；that； accustomed as she was to a certain masculine
aberration in her presence； she was greatly amused by his naive
acceptance of her as an equal。 Suddenly； looking frankly in her
face； he said：
〃I'll show you a secret； if you care to see it。〃
Nothing would please her more。
He glanced hurriedly around； took a key from his pocket； and
unlocked the padlock that secured the closet she had noticed。
Then； reaching within； with infinite care he brought out a small
mechanical model。
〃There's an invention of my own。 A reaper and thresher combined。
I'm going to have it patented and have a big one made from this
model。 This will work； as you see。〃
He then explained to her with great precision how as it moved over
the field the double operation was performed by the same motive
power。 That it would be a saving of a certain amount of labor and
time which she could not remember。 She did not understand a word
of his explanations； she saw only a clean and pretty but
complicated toy that under the manipulation of his grimy fingers
rattled a number of frail…like staves and worked a number of wheels
and drums； yet there was no indication of her ignorance in her
sparkling eyes and smiling； breathless attitude。 Perhaps she was
interested in his own absorption； the revelation of his preoccupation
with this model struck her as if he had