Dust

DUST was piled in thick velvety folds on the weeds and grass of the open Kansas prairie; it lay a thin veil on the scrawny black horses and the sharp-boned cow picketed near a covered wagon; it showered to the ground in little clouds as Mrs. Wade a tall spare woman moved about a camp-fire preparing supper in a sizzling skillet huge iron kettle and blackened coffee-pot. Her husband pale and gaunt the shadow of death in his weary face and the droop of his body sat leaning against one of the wagon wheels trying to quiet a wailing emaciated year-old baby while little tow-headed Nellie a vigorous child of seven frolicked undaunted by the August heat.