She stopped, holding out her hands with an excited cry:
"The rain, Craig; the rain!"
Her hands felt wet, something drummed upon her broad straw hat, and the dust leaped up from the grass; then the quick patter ceased, and there was stillness again. It lasted for several minutes while both stood tense and still, scarcely venturing to hope. Then there was a roar in the distance and a puff of cool wind, and Harding, touching the girl's arm, hurried her forward.
"It's coming!" he said hoarsely. "Coming in earnest!"
"Oh, let's stay!" cried Beatrice. "I want to feel it's true!"
Harding laughed, but led her on, and presently they met the advancing rain. It beat, wonderfully refreshing, on their hot faces, and soon Beatrice's thin dress was soaked. Steam rose from the parched earth; there was a hothouse smell, a dull roar, and a rustle among the beaten grass, and the fading light was shut off by a curtain of falling water. Alternating between happy laughter and silence, during which their thankfulness became too deep for speech, they hurried toward Harding's farm, and Beatrice threw her arms round Hester's neck when she met her at the door.
"Oh!" she cried. "Our troubles are over! The rain! The rain!"
CHAPTER XXX
THE INHERITANCE
The rain lasted several days and saved the crops: the wheat, although somewhat damaged, was ripening fast.