ecognised this swaying of his wife's ringlets as a sign of
deep emotion, which only served to increase his surprise.

"But, Marthy, how's it to be managed?" he inquired in a gentle,
deprecating tone. "Surely yer wouldn't go back East to set the folks
there to makin' fun of us, would yer, arter what they said agin our
comin' so far away?"

"Who spoke of East or West or any other p'ints of the cumpis, I should
like to know?" asked Mrs. Parkenson, in a tone that indicated the
uselessness of reply. "Ef you think I'd be satisfied jest to settle down
here and cook for the fellers in this camp for the rest of my natural
existence, you don't know the stuff Martha Gummidge Parkenson is made
of."

Nathaniel gazed at his wife with admiration and pride, while she laid
before him, in her peculiarly convincing manner, the project that had
long occupied her thoughts. This was that he should obtain the agency
for a stage company; and, encouraged by the expression of his
countenance, she explained how she had already begun negotiations which
it would be easy for him to complete.

And this is how it came about that Nathaniel Parkenson purchased the
establishment in Nevada City which he called "The Pioneer Home." It did
not take long for travellers to find out that here pies, biscuits,
corn-bread, and Indian pudding of a superior order were to be had; for
Mrs. Parkenson had profited by her New England training, and cooking was
in her eyes a fine art not to be despised. Besides, she was ably
assisted in her labors by Mary Jane, a niece who had joined the
Parkensons shortly after their removal to Nevada City. Mary Jane was a
dark-haired, brown-eyed, well-grown Yankee girl, who delighted in
styling herself "Aunt Marthy's right bower," which she did with an air
of unmistakable appreciation of her own importance.

The dining-room was Mary Jane's special charge; and as the
stage-drivers, accompanied by the passengers they had brought, filed in
with an expectant air (for they knew what good cheer was sure to await
them at this station), the girl received each with a friendly nod, some
cheerful remark, or other token of kindly recognition. It is needless to
state that she had her favorites amongst those whom she knew best, for,
being a woman and young, she had dreamed of her beau ideal in the
opposite sex. Ample opportunity was at hand to study the male character
in certain circumstances, and Mary Jane did not neglect it.

The bar-room was