Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-16


of her fathers cabin, faded, red sun
bonnet pulled her eyes, started so
at the unexpected greeting that she
most tell off hear seat.
Then as she took fresh hold on the top rail
70 steady herself she looked up in delighted surprise
at little girl before her mounted on pony.
"W'v lane Kooser," she cried, chow ye skeered meP
Didn't l sneak on you, though said Jane She
slipped from the big mans saddle that nearly covered
her tough little pinto and climbed up beside oopnFoa
.eW'at We dom daown here?" asked Sophrona, edg-
ing along the top rail Hospitality to give Jane peny
of ROOM "hit amt mail day"
81 know hit" retorted Jane oftily; "hit amt mail
day er Sunday"
Soobronia saw at once that she was bursting with
some ;mnortant news; but knew that she could not
hold in long, so wisely concluded not to ask any more
questions lane settled herself comfortably and stuck
one hare foot behind the lower rail to keep from IAN
ing off, There long pause
aTb;r,s a woodtick on yer neck" said Jane tnaiy'
Sophronia removed it indifferenty and droppeo i'o
the grass There was another long pause
seW'y daont We ask me wy | Gomez denanueu
lane at last there be, plump in front OF yer house
ayr ,t., "a
chro,;, ouckered I'D her mouth thoughtfully. 1t
s Ave miles TO Ianes over mountain trail that was
on end most of the way, and she knew that 1t was
something very important that could bring jane out
.xceot on mail days and Sundays. She ventureo
guess.
"Thirs goin tub be church"
Mop" answered Jane -
"Mebbe-thr's new teacher COMM
mop" said Jane again.
Sonhronia tried hard to think OF another reason
prt lane could not wait. She got down from the
tnce and stood in front of Sophronia her eyes big
.nd dancing with excitement Guess guess she
;od boooino in and down.
Sonhronia shook her head 81 KANT she SAID;
tell hit" m.
.sufronee" began Jane lowering her voice, "thirs
folks from tn city a.campin at Our ranch
Sopbrona Strengthened up and let her bonnet tall
off,
"Thir's fse nv EN-" Jane went on
"Sala-ra-tusl" gasped Sophronia
"A man an a woman an two boys an girl
aye doan say"
81 do"
"c,n come an see emf" Sophronia asked presently
"W-e-Il," answered Jane Importantly, "ye KANT to
day"
"Termorrer?" persisted Sophronia.
lane ierked up her ponys head put one bare foot
lesurely into the srrup and then half turned Soph-
fonia was watching her eagerly.
ooh termorrer will do" said Jane She swung
herself on by the pomme and headed the pinto down
The valley "Im goin' tub tn Three Mile Place.
So long"
She held her head high as she rode away, Sophronia
booking after her and thinking of the city folks She
was quite excited the news of their coming tor
since her third birthday she had seen but thirty
persons including the four families in the little valley;
ahe mail man, who once week as TAR as the
Three Mile Place; Miss Freeman, the schooteacher,
who spent four months of each year in the twelve
by-hfteen sohool-house; Methodist minister, who
H.. 11d
the schoosuperntendent from Weavervle, the county
seat Now she was to see five more-and all at once'
fresh breeze from off Mt. Shasta, sweeping across
the foothills tumbed her hair, pulled out her apron
and chilled her But still she sat on, picturng the
happiness tomorrow would bring, UNTIL when at last
she climbed down. she was cold and stiff and her mind
was so busy that she dragged her sunbonnet behind her
by one string all the way to the house
She went to bed as soon after supper as she could
for she wanted to cover up her head and have wake
dreams" She even forgot her regular evening task
of driving the turkeys out of the digger pines and
into their coops so that the coyotes might not scare
Them down and eat them She remembered her neglect
when late the evening, she heard her mother shoong
and scoldng
"Thet young UNI" Mrs. Powers saying, zen
think NV nothin, seems like Ev'rythng on tn ranch
I'd jus go tub grass fer all she cares. Went tub
bed 'thout gettin these turks daown."
Then she heard her father from the next room
defending her. He had been i'll with the chlls and
fever "on on for several weeks. He had them every
Summer, though and bothered to take medicine
for them staying in day to Shake" and the next
to Chilli and working whenever he could, just as the
other men in the hills did OF late he had been worse
than ever before and often derious that he talked
great deal His low, weak voice at last ulled Soph-
rona to sleep.
The first two years of Sophronia's life were spent
in Missouri Then the Powers family came to Cali
fornia in praire-schooner drawn by four mules Dur
ing the journey Sophronia spent most of her time on
her back in the wagon looking up at the cover; and
IT seemed to her as if the broad white canvas was
a, big as the rock of a house. To Mrs. Powers it