Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-08

defnable setness which lets you recognize
even a mans back as middle.aged. His
forehead was q little bald, as is often the
case with middle-aged men who wear great
boards, as though the hair that fell from
the forehead stuck upon the cheeks
and chin and took new growth there
But the old cousin Gabriel of Thurley and
of Heidelberg stood revealed in him in
spite of changes. Nothing in the way of
beard, mustache, and wrinkles could hide
the impudent smile in his eyes, and if he
had greeted his younger cousin in much
unlikelier place than the old sitting-room
he would have been known without Sec
ond's hesitation.
MRS. Guest, l presume ," said the un-
shy Gabriel, apparently as much at home
az if he had never left his native parish.
"Ah and SO you married Jenny Hart
| land, as you always said you would. A
faithful lover, Mrs. Guest, in the old
Heidelberg days, though l dare say you
don't believe it. And how are you, old
boy? 1t warns my heart to see you. It's
more than eight.and. twenty years since
walked off with your last thaler. I've al.
ways been sorry, and I'll pay you now if
you're mean enough to take the money.
Shake hands again. God bless you.
never thought should be as happy to
see anybody as l am to see you.
"But what, in the name of all that's
wonderful" asked the younger Gabriel,
"have you been doing with yourself all
these years? Where do you come from?"
Last from Heidelberg" returned the
wanderer. "Saw old Bayer. You re-
member Bayer? Reintroduced myself to
him as the young scoundrel who kissed the
Fraulein Minna-she's fat now-struck up
an acquaintance with him, received his
blessing and came on to England. He
saws that you and he correspond. That's
so? He's in the middle of the third vol
ume, and has hopes of finishing his book,
if he can only discover the elixir vitae in a
year or two. Why, Gabriel. old lad,
you're middle.aged.'
$50 are you, for that matter" said the
other. Its of no use to tell you that
you're welcome, for if you don't know it
without being told, you're not fit to be
here. But how is it we never heard of
you through all these years ?"
"Well, hardly know, " said the wan.
derer 81 heard enough of my father to
learn that he had sworn to cut me off with
a shilling. | never knew him to break his
word, unless he had made promise whose
fulfllment was likely to be agreeable, and
the shilling seemed hardly worth while
coming home for So / wandered about
and had ups and downs until l married ten
years ago"
Married ?" cried the younger Gabriel
cheerfully.
Yes, married, said the other "Why
not? And married money in the bargain.
Leaving out of the question" he added,
seeing shade of disapproval on James
face" leaving out of the question the I'M
doubted fact that l have the best wife in
the world. Present company is always
excepted, as you know, sister. in-law."
land where is your wife," asked Ga.
briel the younger.
"She's an American by birth" said the
unshy Gabriel, !" and an Englishwoman by
descent. Has relatives in Liverpool and
stopped behind to see EN-, while ran down
here. And so you're settled, Gabriel, and
looking happy and contented. And | am
settled, and am happy and contented.
Singular how the gayest dogs drop into
contentment with the kennel. En-, sister.
in. law"
Thus the unshy Gabriel ratified along
in quite the old manner. He was
caught-luckily by his cousin, and not
by his cousins wife, in whose mind
the discovery might have created preju-
dice-in the act of kissing female SER
want in darkened corner of the stairs
before he had been in the house an hour.
Gabriel" said the lawyer severely,
"this will not do"
"You're right" said the wanderer.
"Tm getting middle.aged, and l ought to
know better. But think its an hereditary
instinct"
81 dare say" said the lawyer dryly,
g but it must be resisted here
The elder Gabriel, with no aspect of
penitence, feigned great regret, and made
devout promises.
81 will struggle with the old Adam, he
declared "But," he added, with wrinkle
of the eyes, and sigh together, g l prefer
to struggle with the young Eve.
You are incorrigible, said the younger
Gabriel.
perhaps I am" said the elder. "But
promise-I will be a good boy here. l
shouldn't like to shock your wife.
There was a family gathering that eve-
ming, in preparation for the large gathering
of the morrow. and Uncle Gabriel was
formally introduced to his nephews and
nieces. He shook hands with the boys
with admirable cordiality, but he kissed
the girls with gusto.
81 never hoped" he said, "to. derive
such satisfaction as | feel at this moment
from the possession of nieces. An uncle
is happy object. An uncle of nieces is
twice blessed"
He hailed the news of the approaching
celebration with boyish glee, and made
speech about it. He pleased everybody,
and was regarded as mighty accession to
the festivities.
The morrow dawned, and Mrs. Guest
was occupied the ive-long day with the
cook and housemaids. Gabriel the elder
strolled about the town and recognized
few of his old acquaintance, none of whom
he claimed, reserviDg himself as bonnie
bouche for the evening. He visited the
Kings Arms, and smoked cigar there,
ingratiating himself by the old means with
the prettiest of the barmaids, and when
time drew near he went back to his cousins
house. Gabriel the younger, about whom
there had fingered subdued tenderness of
manner all day long, shook hands with him
anew on his arrival, and the two sat down
in the lawyers private room for few min.
utes quiet chat before dressing for dinner.
1t was half an hour at least before the ear
lest of the invited guests could be reason
ably expected, when loud treble rap was
heard at the front door,
"The Reverend Mr.. Carroll. said one
of the servant girls, appearing at the study
door, "on important business"
son business of importance hardly to
be exaggerated" said the clerical gentle
man with the laxative face, appearing at
the doorway.
" Indeed ~ said the lawyer, rising.