The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-05-29

A cold, clear day, with the wintry sun gilt
tering on the hedgexr0ws and on the iigh
snow lying upon the highway after the fal
OF night, along which the rumbiins Cal
thorpe omnibus left the track Of its rolling
wheels.
II vas the afternoon of Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve two years ago-when the ON.
nibus which piled daily to and from Cal.
thorpe and the Malston railway station,
came rafting along the road to CAlthorpe
village, with much chatter Of hoofs and jing.
ling Of harness, it being an idea Of the hon.
eat countrym who drove the half-trained
team that the more noise he made with horse
and harness, the more imposing became the
effect Of his approach. So the omnibus
came Gathering on within q mile OF Cal.
thorpe, when it pulled up with suddenness
which almost threw the horses on their
launches. while the driver shouted out:
The gentleman "a was for the Oak Farm
gets OH, here" adding, as q good looking
young fellow, with pleasant blue eyes and
curly chestnut hair, descended from the
crazy old conveyance with q portnanteau in
his hands, eff We get over the stile there,
and cut across the ieldt to your left, you're all
right for the farm!"
The Young man answered by : nod, and
the omnibus rolled on, leaving him standing
on the snowy highway, with his luggage at
his feet
"He's London bred, s'pose," the driver
observed in the ear of q passenger who
shared the front seat with him, ''and the
town life has made him too conceited to car
ny his own box"-tke word 'box" describ-
ing Will Drayton's leather portmanteau.
But Drayton, untouched by and uncon-
scious Of the drivers continuous whisper
and look back, stood in the open road in the
teeth OF q cutting north wind, waiting until
chance threw some one in his way willing to
carry his luggage to his aunt's farmhouse,
which he was too proud to shoulder and
trudge under himself
Presently lad came along the highway,
singing some lusty melody As he tramped
upon his way, who was glad enough to
break the thread Of his song, and carry Will
Drsyton's chaitels, for the sake OF the re-
ward promised at his journeys end.
"rhe old way il open yet, by Mason's
field, and over the stile through the coppice
rttu, a. Tic IIu llttcu
the pOrtmanteau from the ground.
The boy nodded and walked on in silence
through the turns,ile, and across the field
path, until his curiosity overcoming his
shyness hazarded a, last:
"You've been here before, l s'pose, mis-
Ter ?"
Dayton laughed.
ayes, I've been here before, no doubt"
he said, seeing was born down yonder at
The Mill. But when my father died and the
place was sold, went to LunnOn ways, to
zee if could make my fortune"
The boy looked in swift surprise at the
Young ulan beside him, who, after all, was
only the son Of old Drayton. ofthe Mil, who
had died bankrupt, and left his son q leg.
ICY TO his brother, the husband of the Wild
,wed mistress OF Oak farm. Still, despite
he memory Of his fathers ruin, the lads
lance went wavering from the glittering
watch chain suspended from Drayton's waist
,O.t pocket to the gloves upon his hands and
md the fine cloth he wOse in his coat; the
which this clumsy country lad had never
zen the like on any one, beneath the rank
# the Calthorpe gentry, while he conjec,ur-
d inwardly that DrayiOn must have made
iIs hC WtHt W " WILL
"IOure come down for the wedding, may
'e?' the lad suggested presently, when. his
Wonder having had time to cool, sudden
urmise struck him that all DraytOn's fine
lressing could not he for ordinary holiday.
"what weddins?" Drayton asked, while
he boy flung back the gate leading into the
ard OF the Oak farm, wherein hens and
ticks and cackling geese were straying free
''They say Nelly Drayton's going to marry
ny lords head keeper" the lad said impres.
lively, delighted that his gossip had taken
lis nearer by surprise.
"Why, Nellie was but mite when left |
ere, nine years ago." Drayton responded
Oubtfully.
''She's four years older nor me-" the boy
aid sturdily, as though those four years
'ere ten.
"That's great age, youngster." Drayton |
,ushed slipping shilling into the lads
and, which inspired him with q still |
ronser respect for Drsyton's riches, and the
i'm and distant glories of London, where
,rtunes could be made so readily.
Then they were at the farmhouse door,
here the pOrtmanteau was deposited with
tbud, which brought a girls face to the
indow-a face with bonnie eyes of blue, the
,ade Of Willie's own, and cloud OF Fight
air, prOfuse and soft, drawn off from rosy
neck and forehead.
"That is not Nell, bu. Jessie" Will
fought as the girl withdrew her face from
lie window. "She has got the golden hair
I'd the laughing lips and eyes of long ago,
hen We went nutting together in the woods,
I'd wadins after stickle-backs in the stream"
''Mo;her, there's some one at the door,
I'd think it is cousin Willie" Jessie
rayton cried from within; and before
lille had lime to push the door open for
mseif, it was flung wide, and Mrs. Dray-
n was welcoming him back to Calthorpe
SONY for Jessie, wouldn't have known
III, Willie, wou've grown so tall and big,
I'd go like town gentleman" Mrs. Dray-
n exclaimed, looking proudly up at her
'phew. who mad changed from a slim lad
to tall, tine-looking young man, during
3 nine wears of London life. "Pve got
d and stiff while you've been away, lad.
d the girls have grown into women; and,
pPose, you wouldn't have known any of
, only you seen us in the old place."
To which Willie protested he wOnld have
|
usins' flushing cheeks, and the younger
e looked slyly ont of her yellow brown {
es, to see how one of the group in the {
m house kitchen, not Of their kilh an kin,
re the friendly greeting, bat my lords I
ad keeper never looked up from the con- s
nplstion of his strong brown hands TO see a
. kisses given, or to mark the flush which t
, touch Of Drayton's lips brought to Mel
. cheek
She was the prettiest of the two girls, this g
nnger one, Of whom my lords head keep
was said to be enamored. Jessie was a a
nelly country lass. fair haired and rosy e
eeked; but Nellie's cheek was rounder and
re delicately tinted, and her eyes less n
Iehing than the blue eyes Of Jessie, we're
4 mellow changing brown 40 that Drayton, Ii
ing in the old farm kitchen, and watch y
the faces of the two girls lighted up by
glow Of the warm wood FIRE, silently en-
ned Mark Wil,On's taste in choosing the b
icate prettiness of Nellie, rather than the v
xom COMBINES of her elder sister, while
ret Nellie Dray,on forgo; for the moment Il
quiet lover sitting by the iDgle nook, in "
wondering contemplation of Willie's
ltering chain, the ring upon his finger, p
the gloves he had flung upon the table. fo
so, a. We told me in your letter, your
ster's 6ead, and ye must look for another
CO." Mrs. Dravton observed, meditative- b,
while he refreshed himself with meatland
after his journey. "But, then, suppose. y,
pod place isn't easily found, Willie?' it
I'D take fling out of myself before / "
j" he answered, putting away his plate;
n V,tI NJ. HnI II bard 70 o,.i, ,nvaof Poe