Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-01

seemed to affect the young man. be rose
and paced the floor. Mr.. Boutwell, sat re-
flecting suddenly he burst forth, I" You
have not any fixed plan for the present
young people never have. The London
season is over. Come home with me for
month to Nunham Priors. It's an old
fashioned English home; just the resting
place for you, after your long wandering
about. Come, now, no objections. Never
mind what my family will say ; 1 am
master in my own house, and anyone l
bring is welcome. Besides, you are just
the man to be liked for yourself you don't
need papa's recommendation. Well, its
decided. At Dover get your baggage
checked for Nunham Priors.
What reception they received Such
a crowd stood waiting at the station that
Wyndham thought most of the passengers
would get off here. There were about
fifty persons and long line of vehicles.
To his surprise he discovered that all came
to meet his friend. Mr.. Boutwell, stood
upon the steps of the coach and dozen
arms were extended to assist him. Wynd-
ham was go confused at the sight of so
many heads and hands that he quite forgot
his valise. Mingled cries of Father,
"Grandps," "Uncle," Papa" and
"Grandad almost deafened him.
"Won't you let me get OFF, growled
the old gentleman in a manner anything
but severe. " Be still, and let me intro
duce my young friend, Mr.. Llewellyn
Wyndham, the son of my old friend. Dear.
but l am glad to see you, everyone, and
have brought you all something. How is
everybody at home? Where's Polly?"
Wyndham wondered how he could miss
one out of such number. a tall girl who
appeared to be the eldest among the young
people, answered concisely: Polly has
swollen cheek Aunt Eliza has sprained
her foot; Edward fell from his horse and
scratched himself badly on the holly bush.
Every one is we'll"
Good, we don't mind such trihes among
such host"
After every servant and youngster had
been greeted, the crowd then dispersed of
themselves in the vehicles. > the carriage
with grandpa and Wyndham were two
young ladies. One was the speaker ct the
station, who, as the eldest, appeared to
command the respect of the younger ones
she was about 20. The other girl was
about is ; with her bright brown hair, that
shone like red gold in the sunshine her
blue eyes, deep and tender, small mouth
| and delicate complexion, she was fair rep.
resentative of English beauty. Tall and
slender, she struck Wyndham as the beauty
of the family. Mr. Boutwell, never spoke
to her as he did to the others. For her he
had no gruff jokes-only soft tones and
gentle words.
In short time Wyndham was quite well
! l.
for Gipsy, or Herbert for Tom; but
Esther" was inseparable in his mind
from the red.goli hair and gentle eyes of
their owner. As they rode along, grand.
pas critical eye noted the changes, and
discussed with Mary, whose clear, sensible
answers showed her to be grandpas right
hand in business matters. They now
passed along well-kept gravel walk, I'm.
der fine old oak trees, that were the de-
| light of their owners heart. Wyndham
| expected to see the house every moment,
but they had been riding twenty minutes
and it was not in sight Esther started
suddenly Grandpa, there is mamma,
coming to meet us !" A middle aged lady
came slowly up the walk and paused at the
side of the carriage. Mr.. Boutwell,, bend
ing out, greeted her with hearty kiss, and
| a tender My dear child !" He introduced
Wyndham, and said to Esther "My
child, get out and make room for mamma"
Wyndham alighted to assist Esther and
offer himself as escort for the short walk
! What could be more natural ? Two of the
little cousins also got out and walked
along, all chatting gaily. How pleasant it
was there in the cool shadows of the mighty
oaks, whose knotty limbs and gnarled
trunks the soft green moss almost hid from
view ! Esther was silent, while the boys
piled Wyndham with questions. " How
long are you going TO stay? ?" "Are you
good at archery" Like cricket ?" "And
hunting and football?" Gust hear Esther,
he does them all. On, won't we have
jolly times !"
Wyndham remarked that Mr. Boutwell,
had large number of visitors. This was
greeted by the boys with shout of
laughter &" You are the only visitor,
said Herbert grandpa doesn't allow US
to have visitors when he is away. We
have to keep quiet then. "
"Who, then, said Wyndham, care all
the young people who met US at the sta.
tion?" The boys looked at each other
and burst out laughing again. Esther
looked up shyly, and spoke with an effort
Those boys laugh because, like all chill
dren, they imagine stranger must know
all about US. There was really no one to
meet you but grandpa's children and grand
children"
How pleasant her voice was And that
shyness made her doubly charming. He
would ask questions just to hear her talk.
80 Then Mr.. Bothwelrs children do not
leave their fathers home when they marry"
he ventured.
son, yes, said she, laughing now her.
self. But, you see, grandpa has fifteen
children seven live at home and five are
here on visit and ! have two uncles and
one aunt in London. Two of the daugh-
ters-my mother and Aunt Eliza-are
widows. That's all, believe"
She glanced at him, and then both
laughed heartily at the enormous swarm Of
relatives gathered at Nunham Priors.
Now they were at the end OF the avenue,
and the mansion stood up before them,
handsome and spacious, with generous
wings and high turrets-a noble old pile.
This is the dear old place, my home,
said she with gentle pride. They found
nearly all of the household assembled in
the large sitting-room. Wyndham was
introduced to the aunt with the sprained
foot, and to the nephew with the scratched
face, and then to every one else except
Polly, who had not appeared, and OF whom
grandpa said some bird must have told her
that a handsome young gentleman was
with him, for she never before hesitated to
see "grandad for any such tri6e as a
swollen face.
In few days Wyndham was perfectly
at home. In such large establishment,
one might expect some confusion, but
everything was regular as clockwork. Be.
fore | in the morning the lessons and
tasks of the day were done. Then every
one came pUnctually to breakfast, after
which they dispersed to execute plans of
business or pleasure. At S o'clock in the
evening they met at dinner. After that,
there were excursions on the water, par
ties, concerts, etc. This routine of real
home was extremely grateful to the young
man, who had so long been a wanderer.
His frank nature made him a universal
favorits. Mr.. Boutwell, claimed his morn
ings; then no game was complete without
him, the boys thought He read to the
elder ladies and practsed music with the
younger. No wonder that time flew, so
that not only the week, which he had re-
luctantly consented TO spend with his kind