size, though not
nearly so large as it would be on the coming day, when the great event
was to take place.

Walter was one of the first to greet them, having reached home that
morning and been ever since much excited over the situation of
affairs--the prospect of losing Rosie, his youngest and only single
sister out of the home nest, as a permanent resident there.

"Glad to see you, Vi!" he exclaimed, seizing his sister, Mrs. Raymond,
in a warm embrace. "Glad to see you all--Brother Levis, Lu, Gracie, and
you little folks. Of course you haven't forgotten Uncle Walter in the
long months since we parted in Paradise Valley?"

"No, indeed!" answered several voices.

"And we are all very glad to see you at home among us again--I must not
say little brother, according to former custom, I suppose?" added Violet
in merry accents; "for you have grown into a fine young gentleman."

"Thank you," he returned with a slightly embarrassed laugh. "Well, I
mean to try to be, as well as to seem."

But others were crowding about, and in the exchange of greetings,
questions, and answers, there were time and opportunity for no more.

There was a pleasant bustle, a good deal of mirth and laughter, the
young folks going about from room to room to examine the tasteful
arrangements for the grand affair of the morrow--then, the last one of
those selected to take part in the ceremony having arrived, they went
through their rehearsal; so that even the little flower girls might be
perfect in their parts, knowing just how and when to enter the room,
where to stand and what to do.

They were greatly interested and very anxious to do all in the best
possible manner, that no one might be mortified by their failure and led
to regret that they had been chosen to perform that particular part.
They succeeded admirably, and were delighted with the praise freely
bestowed upon them by one and another of the onlookers, including the
guests and the members of the different families present.

When all seemed perfect in their parts, which no one found very
difficult, some simple refreshments were served, and presently after
Captain Raymond and his family departed for Woodburn, Captain Donald
Keith and Dr. Dick Percival accompanying them.

It was something of a disappointment to both these gentlemen that, very
shortly after arriving there, Captain Raymond advised his daughters to
retire, in order that they might feel entirely rested and refreshed
befor