LARKSPUR. 



I think one of the pleasantest short trips from San Fran- 

 cisco is the one to the Geysers. It was my pleasure to go on the 

 beautiful narrow-gauge railroad as far as Clovedale. The rest 

 of the trip was made by stages. 



While waiting for the second coach I looked at the little 

 town and thought its situation very beautiful. So pleased was 

 I with it I forgot to demand, as my companions had done, the 

 "best seat." 



"Well, ma'am, will you take this seat? It ain't noways 

 pleasant, but as you ain't said nothing about no seat, maybe you're 

 not particular." 



I looked up and saw a small space left between two women 

 whose weight had already tested the springs, and being neither 

 thin nor delicate myself, I hesitated. 



" It'll be awful hot," said one of the women. 



" And dusty," said the second. 



" Yes, and crowded," said I. 



" If you ain't pressed for time I'd wait and engage the front 

 seat on to-morrow's coach," said the polite agent standing near me. 



" I will be glad to do so," I said, much relieved, for the 

 very thought of crowding in a seat between two women had 

 made me feel warm and fatigued. 



We reached Clovedale (which is so prettily and appro- 

 priately named) about noon. After a good luncheon, I walked 



