The sun was just far enough in the west to send shadows. In the centre of a small field, and in the shade of a haystack which was there, a girl lay sleeping. She had slept long and soundly, when something awoke her as suddenly as if it had been a blow. She opened her eyes and stared a moment up in the cloudless sky. She yawned and stretched her long brown legs and arms, lazily. Then she arose, never minding the bits of straw that clung to her black hair, to her red bodice, and the blue cotonade skirt that did not reach her naked ankles.  
The log cabin in which she dwelt with her parents was just outside the enclosure in which she had been sleeping. Beyond was a small clearing that did duty as a cotton field. All else was wood, except the long stretch that curved round the brow of the hill, 174and in which glittered the steel rails of the Texas and Pacific road.
 
When Caline emerged from the shadow she saw a long train of passenger coaches in view, where they must have stopped . It was that sudden stopping which had her; for such a thing had not happened before within her recollection, and she looked stupid, at first, with . There seemed to be something wrong with the engine; and some of the passengers who dismounted went forward to investigate the trouble. Others came strolling along in the direction of the cabin, where Caline stood under an old gnarled mulberry tree, staring. Her father had halted his at the end of the cotton row, and stood staring also, leaning upon his .
 
There were ladies in the party. They walked awkwardly in their high-heeled boots over the rough, ground, and held up their skirts . They twirled parasols over their shoulders, and laughed immoderately at the funny things which their masculine companions were saying.
 
175They tried to talk to Caline, but could not understand the French with which she answered them.
 
One of the men—a pleasant-faced youngster—drew a book from his pocket and began to make a picture of the girl. She stayed motionless, her hands behind her, and her wide eyes earnestly upon him.
 
Before he had finished there was a summons from the train; and all went hurriedly away. The engine , it sent a few lazy into the still air, and in another moment or two had vanished, bearing its human with it.
&nbs............