Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-26

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seemed in no hurry to fulfill his promise
of writing. When the letter did come, it
was breezy one, telling of their happy,
unconventional life, but contained no word
about himself. 1t closed with these signifi-
cant words
you need mention me TO none of my
friends. l have done with civilization
You may be sure that Allison lost no
time in replying. The envelope in which
he inclosed both his reply and the dainty
letter of the unknown, bore across one end
the words: "If not called for in ten days
; return to Robert Allison, Attorney at Law,
- Park Row, New York"
CHAPTER II.
A bright, beautiful May day was drawing
to a close rs travelling carriage drew up
before the hospitable door OF John Milford
stock farmer, California. The occupants
were a portly middle-aged Englishman,
wrapped in various top coats" and shawls
and young man, who seemed to be in
great pain, and was evidently unable to
alight.
"'Ello, ere, cahn't you lend US a and ?"
shouted the portly individual to the herds
man who stood near looking curiously at
the stranger. Ere's a young man that
as broke is leg. Cahn't you give i'm
lift ?"
John Milford himself heard the sum-
mons, and, appearing, babe 'the boysn
bring the stranger in. The elder gentle
man, who gave his names Holiver 'Aw-
thorne, of Hwy Lodge, Ertfordshire, Hen
gland, made all due explanations.
You see e would go leaping over the
beck and fell in. E couldn't get up; so
Tummas ere, and /, we 'elped i'm into the
phaeton. Then we came ERE, for we
couldn't 20 on wi the poor man groanin.'
and we not KNOWN but ed broke both is
legs, you know. Ell ave to ave doc
tor
Doctors are not so easy to get in these
diggin's," said bystander, but here's
old Peter; he's material bone-setter. He'll
| fix i'm up all right"
| Old Peter, rough as he looked. proved
| both skillful and gentle. He said that the
! injury was severe sprain, not serious but
it might prove tedious, and require abso-
lutte rest for weeks. Mr.. Hawthorne did
not hear this statement with equanimity.
Now, / cahn't stand that, you know.
We've only time to reach San Francisco be-
| fore the steamer sails say, why don't you
| give i'm some brahndy or gin. Talk about
the grandeur of q blahsted country where
there's no doctors, and you cahn't get de-
| cent drink of ale. No, Meacham, if you're
not able to go day after tomorrow, I'll ave
to go without you. That's all there is
about that"
"But, Mr.. Hawthorne expostulated the
young man, I" you can't go alone"
Up exclaimed the irate old man.
You think you're the only chap that can
endure living with crusty old curmudg-
con that's travelling for is eth. But 'ere's
what I'll alleviate the anguish of Twin with
me, SIR And ne slapped his poeket-book
resoundingly.
In this dilemma old Peter came to the
front
"There's the old mans nevy," said he to
young Meacham. He hain't been here
long, but mebbe he'd go with the old Teller.
He might find him sort O muslin. He'd |
be as good as circus to me-"
Henry Milford would not have been re- |
cognized by his New York friends. He was |
sunburnt and rough-looking. He wore a |
SLOUGH hat and his trousers were tucked |
into his boots. But there was that in his |
bearing that told Meacham that he was not
as rude as his exterior.
The young fellow preached the subject of
Henry's taking his place. Mr.. Haw-
thorne's not disagreeable to live with he
pays we'll He busters sometimes, but he
soon blows himself out. Come. say you
will take my place"
The proposition was unexpected, but its
very novelty had charm for Henry; and,
after some discussion OF the matter with his
uncle, he offered himself to Mr.. Hawthorne,
and was accepted as his travelling compan-
ion.
Several days after their departure a letter
reached the Milford ranch addressed to
Henry. His uncle turned it over with a
perplexed face.
" I'm sure don't know what to do with
it." he said. "Ill ask Meacham."
The young man knew the route that Mr..
Hawthorne had proposed to take
He intended sailing at once for Yoko-
hama. l believe I'd forward the letter
there. Just write on it, Care of the Eng
fish or the American Consul "
! Poor Clara's much Travelled letter reached
| Yokohama in due season, and was sent to
the English Consul.
After remaining some days in his hands
uncalled for, it was passed on to the Amer
lean Consul, where it remained month,
and was then returned to Allison, at New
York. Great was his surprise to receive his
| letter again, bearing the post-mark Yoko-
hama" He could also see that it had been
| to California, There was nothing to do
now but TO wait until Henry himself re-
ported
Several weeks later letter came to ALI
son post-marked Vienna, Austria" As
it seemed to be the continuation of a former
| SVo4 y AiiiSoiI Soii0iuueu tiat the previous
letters from Henry must have miscarried.
1t closed with these words
! Mr.. Hawthorne didn't like Japan so we did
not stop on those f1owery shores Our stay here
promises to be prolonged; so write me, care
! United States Consul. When l shall return TO
my native land is problem | do not try to
| solve. So long as and my agreeable employer
are as "'appy as we are at present" as he would
| saw, we shall probably remain in partnership.
| He has q formidable tour marked out st. Pc
| tersburg. Copenhagen, Rome. Moscow, Paris,
the Alhambra, and the Holy and, in about this
| order, | believe. So you see we have years of
| travel before u.s. Will write you when leisure
and inclination coincide.
Allison answered this letter at once; and
without opening the former one, which he
had laid away in his desk, inclosed it and
its inclosure in larger envelope, that also
bore his name on the end.
|