The Cecil Whig., 1886-01-30

| looked at my watch. 1t was ate
Il o clock.
Are We almost to the dinner stat
ion? | asked, putting my head out O
the window and speaking to the stag
driver.
"Yes, he replied, ''it's only bout ;
mile furder on. I'm little late to-
day, the roads IS so bad, but Sue Hod
son'll dish yoa mp mighty good din
ner when you git down there. We
stop forty minutes fer dinner at Hod.
sons it's the best eating house in this
country, and Sue Hodson's one of the
smlrtest wimmen. She kin talk till
your head swims
The clouds were clearing away; the
rain had ceased rays of sunshine came
slanting down the valleys and gave the
vapory mists a golden hue the purple
SUBMITS of the mountains were being
revealed against bits of blue sky in the
west
climbed up by the drivers side,
n:y tavorite seat on a stage coach.
"Hodson's is right over yander,
where you see that bit of blue smoke
comm up from the pines" said the
driver. cts mighty poplar place,
but | heeru Yesterday that Hodson had
sold out to some strangers, and | don t
blame him if he has. He sold an in
terest in mine two weeks ago for
$4,000, an keepin' dinner station is
purity hard work. But folkS'll miss Sue
Hodson's cookin' an her talk, an her
two little shavers that are as sharp as
tacks. Hodson's mighty poplar, too"
In fifteen minutes we were at Hod-
son S. The place consisted of long,
low house of hewn logs, with many out
buildings for the stage horses and Hod-
sons stock.
The cabin door was open, and from
it came savory odor. could see a
rag carpet on the floor of the cabin; a
glowing fire Of logs in great fire. place
with old fashioned, cushioned rocking
chairs before it. \ sewing machine
stood by window. There were PIC
lures on the white washed walls and
cans and pots of blooming plants in the
white -curtained windows.
\ tall, slender woman with an honest,
kindly face, came hurriedly to the door.
Behind her were the two lite "shavers,"
Of whom the driver had spoken. One
was pretty boy of about years, and
the other fair faced little girl of T..
They had bright and sunny faces, and
were, no doubt, "as sharp as tacks."
"a light load to-day, John," said the
woman, in a strong, cherry voice.
"Yes," said John, the driver. "But
what they is of us is mighty hungry.
There's a lady inside"
Mrs. Hodson was at the stage door
in a moment.
''Iet me help you out. madame, you
mist be most awful tired It's one of
the worst roads in the mountains. Come
right in. We've got plenty Of soap
and towels and the best water on earth
here, if we do live in a poor sort of
way. And I'll take dinner right up"
| stayed outside for few moments
to finish my cigar, and when | went
into the house Mr.. Hudson and Mrs.
Dluson were both talking at "head-
swimming" rate. One would have
supposed that they had known each
other for years.
Mrs. Hodson was much younger
woman than Amanda Dauson-younger
and fairer a prettier woman than Mrs.
Dauson had ever been. Now that her
bonnet aud shawl were removed could
see that Mrs. Dauson looked very old
and careworn and her eyes more eagar
and alert than ever. Her hands were
hard and the fingers bent. She told
me that she had always been very poor
and had worked ''like a slave"
Her thin lips seemed to be in con-
slant quiver, and | felt that there were
greater depths of tenderness, Of pas
sionate love and longing IN her nature
than l had imagined there could be
in one who talked SO calmly and can
didly of the greatest sorrow of her life.
$50 you're from Iowa originally,
Mrs. Hodson was saying when | went
into the cabin. Il amt never beer
that far East. Pm a real Westerner
born in Calaforny. But | think I've
heard Hodson say that he was in Iowa
once, and I've always heard it was {
good State. But | don't think much
Of Kansas. We're goin' East soon
but I've no idee we'll stay. Hodsor
likes Calaforny best, and now that the
mines turned out so we'll we can live
where we please.
"But Hodson has always said that
he'd take me East some time to see
the country. I've always wanted to 60
the worst way, and the children vii
enjoy it, young as they are. Vel
likely settle in San Francisco. There S
good schools there, and Hodson grea,
idea is to educate our boy up to the
highest notch. He sets the greatest
store by these two younsters Of ours
the little nuisanC IS ~
But Mrs. Hodson stopped and drew
the ''little nuisances' toward her and
kissed both their pretty faces in way
that told how great a "Store' she, too,
''set by them"
''He don't favor his pa bit she