The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-04-17

bonnet pulled her eyes. started
at the unexpected greeting that she
most tell off hear seat.
Then as she took fresh hold the top rail
10 steady herself, she looked up in delighted surprise
st little girl before her mounted on pony.
"Wy Jane Kooser," she cried. "how ye skeered mel"
Didn't I sneak you, though" said Jane. She
slipped from the big. mans saddle that nearly covered
her tough little pinto and climbed beside Sophronia
wat ye dom daown here?" asked Sophrona, edg-
ing along the top rail Hospitality to give Jane plenty
Of room "hit amt mail day"
Il know hit" retored Jane loftily; hit amt mail
day Sunday.
Sona1rona saw at once that she bursting with
some important news; but knew that she could not
hold in long, so wisely concluded not to ask any more
questions Jane settled herself comfortably and stuck
one bare foot behind the lower rail to keep from fall
] ing of. There long pause
"Thirs , woodtick on yer neck, said Jane hnaiiy.
Sophrona removed it ndiHerenty and dropped it into
che grass. There another long pause
"Wy daont We ask wy Gomez" demanded
lane at last "here be, plump in front of house
ian wy!"
Sophronia puckered up her mouth thoughtfully 1t
Vas FIVE miles to James, mountain trail that was
nm end most of the way, and she knew that it
son,ehing very important that could bring Jane out
exceot on mail days and Sundays. She ventured
guess.
"Thir's goin' tub be church."
|, Mop" answered Jane
III "Meb5e-thirs new teacher comm,
T. Mop" said Jane again.
{ Soohronia tried hard to think of another reason
But Jane could not wait. She got down from the
fence and stood in front Of Sophronia. her eyes big
and dancing with excitement. Guess, guess, she
cried. hopping up and down
Sophronia shook her head II KANT" she said;
tell hit"
"suffronee" began Jane, lowering her voice. "thir's
H. ia, AZ nurr
Sophronia Strengthened up and let her bonnet tall
off.
"Thir's fve Nv 'en," Jane went on.
"sal-a-ra-tusr gasped sophronia
"A man an a woman an two boys an a girl"
"Ye doan' sayv
II do"
@Cn come an see emf" sophronia asked presently
sW-e-u" answered Jane Importantly. I'VE KANT to-
day"
"Termorrer?" persisted Sophrona.
Jane jerked up her pony's head, put one bare foot
leisurey the strrup and then half turned Soph-
fonia was watching her eagerly.
"Oh termorrer will do" said Jane She swung
herself on by the pomel and headed the pinto down
the valley. I'm goin' tub tn Three Mile Place..
she added, 'tuh drive up fer the strangers
So long"
She held her head high as she rode away Sophronia
hooking after her and thinking of the city folks She
was quite excited the Of their coming for
since hef tn1rO DlItnOdy, sue nau ScSH oul lHty
persons including the four families in the little valley
the mail man. who came once week far as the
Three Mile Place; Miss Freeman, the schoolteachcr
who spent four months of each year in the twelve
by-hfteen school-house; Methodist minister. who
preached month in Summer; the assessor; and
the superintendent from Weaverve the county
seat Now she was to see five more-and all at once!
fresh breeze from off Mt. Shasta, sweeping
che foothills tumbed her hair pulled her apron
and chilled her. But stin she sat pcturing the
happiness would bring. until when at last
she climbed down. she cold and stiff and her mind
busy that she dragged her sunbonnet behind her
BY one string ali the way to the house.
She went to bed as soon after supper she could.
Hpr she wanted to 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 that the coyotes might not
them down and them. She remembered her neglect
when late in the evening" she heard her mother shooting
and scoding.
tibet young 'un'." Mrs. Powers was saying "c'n
lehink nothn', like. Ev'rything tn ranch
sd JUS 60 tub grass fer all she cares. Went tuh
bed thout gettn' these turks daown"
Then she heard her father from the next room
defending her. He had been i'll with the chills 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
10 Chill" and working whenever he could just the
other in the hills did OF late he had been worse
than before and often deirous so that he talked
great deal His low, weak voice at last lued Soph-
Sonia to sleep.
The first two years of Sophronias life were spent
In Missouri. Then the Powers family came to Cali
iorna in prairie 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
L seemed to her if the broad. white canvas was
.. big as the rock of house. To Mrs. Powers it