Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-04-01
and revealed the family grouped within the

daughters between Cne ages OF elgnIeen anu
twelve, and an orphan niece of fourteen who
lived with them. Much kissing and hand
shaking now ensued, and this being over,
Joseph proceeded to introduce his fellow
traveller, who hung modestly back.
"Father, this gentleman had missed his
road, and was waiting in the station, so
asked him to come and spend the night
with u.s."
"You are right welcome, sir" said Mr..
Baker Hospitality. "We've always a spare
bed and enough to eat. Come, reckon
you're both hungry, and cold as we'll, eh ?
Come into the sitting-room and warm up a
bit, while the old lady gets your supper
ready. Henry, put on fresh log. Girls,
YOU can pull in the shutters now, and let
the ecurtains down. It's cold, bleak night"
Supper was soon ready, and they gather
ed round the we'll filled board, where abun-
dance reigned if elegance was wanting. AS
they drew up their chairs, Mr.. Baker re-
marked, "By-the-by, Joe, you haven't told
US your friends name."
Joseph colored, and glanced toward their
visitor, who had not enlightened him on
the point in question.
81 haven't yet learned it myself, sir" he
replied.
"My name ?" said the stranger, seeming
ly little confused. ut -ah-it is-Clar-
ence DAILY. Yes, Clarence DAILY, of Ant
werp." 49,.
"Antwerp?" Then you're a foreigner?"
said Baker, senior, interrogatively.
"Oh no. I was merely educated abroad,
and resided there for some time afterwards" ="
"Oh, I see," said Mr.. Baker. swell, Mr..
Daily, hope you'll make yourself at home.
Jane, give Mr.. DAILY, hot biscuit. Joe,
pass the ham,"
These kind people did their best, certain
ly, to put their guest at his ease and make
him comfortable; but it did not seem his
nature to be comfortable. He ate in a ner-
vous manner, occasionally glancing about
him in an apprehensive way, and starting at
any unexpected movement or remark and
once, when door slammed in the passage,
he dropped the spoon which he was con-
veying to his lips, and spilled his coffee on
the table, while half starting from his seat.
"Dislike noise, sir?" asked his host with
an amused look. "I'm afraid you'll get
considerable of it here; we're noisy set,
usually. The doors are always banging,
too, some way. But I reckon that's the
winds fault as much as ours"
"It's the fault of those who leave them
open," said Lou, the eldest girl.
Ell confess to being little nervous"
said Mr.. Daily in an apologetic tone. II
+ &c oh ri h1f 7
won't mind. can't help it,"
"Been sick, may be? You look delicate,
if you'll excuse the remark"
"Yes, I have been ill-very i'll. And my
nerves have been dreadfully shaken. Even
now, they are quite unstrung. But don't
let US dwell on this subject, please. 1t is
painful one to me; very painful" He
quite trembled with the earnestness of his
appeal as he looked around. Mr.. Baker,
beside whom he sat at table, slapped him
on the shoulder with the remark that coun-
try air would do him good"
"It's the best tonic in the world, sir, for
the nerves. There's no medicine equal
to it in my judgment. Plenty of whole
some fresh air and new milk-I can as
ours for miles around. The old lady shall
give you all you can drink. And you
won't be in hurry to leave us, 1 hope !;
stay right along here until you get toned
up Bit Well make him welcome, won't
we, Bess?"
"That we WILL" said Mrs. Baker kindly.
"I'm real glad you happened along, MIR.
Daily. 1t seems quite providential that
our Joe met you, for you don't look fit to
travel farther just yet"
Mr.. DAILY, thus cordially encouraged, ex-
pressed his thanks in his faltering way, but
with evident and sincere appreciation of the
hospitality pressed upon him. Before he
was shown to his room, he had promised to
make an indefinite stay at the ranch, in
order to try its curative powers. When he
was out of hearing, the family naturally
began to discuss him, and they agreed that
he seemed "little queer" Mrs. Baker
thought that sickness had probably shaken
his mind, but that rest and change of
scene would make him all right. Joe an
nounced his belief that is was stocks that
had upset him. The stock fever was rum
ming very high at that time, and he had
been much impressed during his stay in
the city by the universal excitement which
it produced, and by the immense failures
and successes resulting from speculations in
the stock-market
"And those brokers, tell you they are
sharp lot! You can't trust one of them,
SIR" he said to his father. "Any green
horn that falls into their hands is bound to
suffer. And this DAILY, he don't look very
we'll able to take care of himself. I'd be
willing to bet twenty-five dollars that he's
been taken in-pinched in some wildcat or
other"
"Wild-cat! do they have wildcats in
San Francisco ?" asked Mamie, the young
est girl. Her brother laughed, and explain
ed that the term was applied to a bogus
mine. With natural satisfaction arising
from the consciousness of superior knowl-
edge acquired during his late trip, he con-
tinued to entertain his admiring family
with an account of his experiences, until the
clock warned them that it was time for all
to be in bed.
The household at the ranch were early
risers. But early as they were, the first one
up on the following morning found that Mr..
Daily had risen earlier still. Henry, going
after the COWS with lantern to guide his
steps, was amazed at encountering dark
figure wandering in his pathway, and still
more amazed to discover that the said figure
was none other than that Of their guest.
''Why, isanything the matter?" he asked,
in a tone that betrayed his surprise.