Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-07-29
mister ?H
prayton laughed.

at the Mill. But when my father die'
and the place was sold, went Lunnol
ways. TO see if could make my fortune
The boy looked in swift surprise at th,
young man beside him. who, after all
was only the son of old Drayton, of The
Mill. who had died bankrupt. and lei
his son legacy 10 his brother, the hus
band OF the widowed mistress oi tho 0al
farm. Sill. despite the memory of his
fathers ruin. the lads glance went
wavering from the glittering watch-ehaiu
suspended from Drayton's waist coat
pocket to the gloves upon hi, hands and
the fine cloth he wore in his coat; the
which this clumsy country lad had never
seen the like on any one. beneath the
rank of the Callhorpe gently, while he
eonieetured inwardly that Drayton must
have made the fortune he went to London
TO win.
You're come down for the wedding,
maybe ?" the lad suggested presently
when. his wonder having hail time to
cool. a sudden surmise struck him that
all Drayton's fine dressing could not be
for ordinary holiday.
"What wedding?" Drayton asked.
while the boy flung back the gate leading
into the yard OF the Oak farm. whc, elm
hens aud ducks aud cackling geese were
staying freely.
They say Nellie Drayton's going to
marry my lords head keeper" the lad
said impressively. delighted that his
gossip had taken his hcarer by surprise.
"Why. Nellie was but mite when l
lefl here nine years ago." Dray,on re
sponded doubtiully.
"She's four Years Older nor me-" the
boy said sturdily. rs though those four
years were ten.
That's a great age, youasster," Dray-
ton laughed, slipping a shilling into the
lads hand, which inspired him with u
still stronger respect for Drayton's riches,
aud the dim and distant glories of London
where fortunes could be made 50 readily.
Then they were at the farmhouse door,
where the portmanieau was deposited
with thud, which brought young girls
face 10 the window, face with bonnie
eyes of blue, the shade of Wilie'S own
and cloud Of light hair, proluse aud
soft, drawn off from rosy cheek and a
forehead OF snowy white
That is not Nell. but Jessie" Will
thought rs the girl withdrew her face
from The window. "She has got the
golden hair, and the laughing lips and
eyes of long ago. when We went nutting
together in the wood. and wadmg alter
slicklebacks in the stream"
Mother. there's some one at the door,
and l think it's cousin Willie" Jessie
Drayton cried from within; and before
Willie had time to push the door open for
himself, it was flung wide. and Mrs.
Drayton was welcoming him back TO
Calthorpe.
"Only for Jess. wouldn't have known
you, Willie, you've grown so tall and
big. and so like town gentleman. Mrs.
Drayton exclaimed. looking up proudly
at her nephew. who had changed from
slim lad, into tall. fine looking young
man, during his nine years OF London
life. "Tve got old and stiff while you've
been away, lad. and the girls have grown
into women; and. suppose. you
wouldn't have knowed any OF us. only
you seen US in the old place"
To which Willie protested he would
have known them anywhere. while he
kissed his cousins flushing cheeks, aud
the younger one looked shyly out OF her
mellow brown eyes. 10 see how one of
the group in the farm house kitchen, not
of their kilh and kin, bore the friendly
greeting; but my lords head keeper
never looked up from the contemplation
of his strong brown hands to see the
kisses given. or TO mark the flush which
the touch of Drayton's lips brought to
Nellie's cheek.
She was the prettiest of the two girls.
this younger one. of whom my lords
head keeper was said to be enamorcd.
Jessie was a comely country lass. fair
haired and rosy. checked; but Nellie's
cheek WAS rounder and more delicately
tinted, and her eyes. less laughing than
the blue eyes Of Jessie, were Of mellow
changing brown; so that Drayton, sitting
in the old farm kitchen and watching the
faces OF the two girls, lighted up by the
glow of the warm wood fire, silently en-
dorsed Mark Wilton's taste in choosing
the delicate prettness of Nellie, rather
than the buXom comeliness OF her elder
sister, while sweet Nellie Drsyton forgot
for the moment the quiet lover sitting by
the ingle nook. in the wandering con.
temptation of Wilie's glittering chain,
the ring upon his finger. and the gloves
he had flung carelessly down upon The
table.
$50, rs ye telled me in ysur letter.
your masters dead, and ye must look for
another place." Mrs. Drayton observed.
meditatiyely, while Willie refreshed him.
self with meat and ale alter his journey.
"Bu:. then. suppose, a good place isn't
easily found, Willie? p
III take fling out of myself before
| try" he answered, putting away his