Page:Stewart Edward White--The Rose Dawn.djvu/62

50 wing was the cow stable. Its arrangements were slightly different, but it possessed the same ornaments, the same sweet cleanliness, and the same brass plates over the milking stalls showing the names of the cows. The latter were in pasture at this time of day, of course; but the bull was in a small corral built around a tree. That was his habitual abiding place, a fine stocky animal, with a curled front like Jove. He also had a brass plate which was attached to the tree. It bore the name Brigham Young, and the names over the cowstalls were those of the Mormon prophet's favourite wives. This was the Colonel's little joke at which Allie always pretended to be greatly scandalized.

By now the team was hitched and ready. The Colonel lifted the covers of two big wicker hampers in the wagon body, peered within, then mounted the seat and drove off down the palm-bordered road. The Mexicans wished him a vaya con dios. As he passed the kitchen door Sing Toy pretended to empty ashes in order to hurl at him an admonition. Allie waved her handkerchief. The Colonel felt particularly well and happy. It was a fine morning without fog, which of course meant heat later; but now the air was fresh and cool. The horses shied playfully toward each other, pricking their ears.

At the corner where the palm drive turned into the Camino Real, Daphne sat on the top rail of the fence. She was dressed to-day in a plain wash frock of blue and a wide straw hat, but her hair was as unruly and her legs as leggy as ever. At sight of her the Colonel pulled up at once and set the brakes. Every California vehicle of those days, no matter how light, had brakes.

Daphne came between the wheels and extended her hand. "Good morning, Puss!" cried the Colonel, fumbling absent-mindedly in his pocket to produce a peppermint lozenge.

"Now, godpapa! At this time of the morning! Without breakfast!" she reproved him.

"I beg your pardon, my dear. And without doubt you meant to add 'at my age'." He leaned over the back of the seat and raised the cover of the nearest hamper. "By way of amends permit me to offer the very first of my nosegays."

Daphne took the quaint little bouquet.