For hours
they could do nothing but discuss the situation, and watch for some one
to come with news. Several times during the morning Elta put on her
water-proof and went down to the mill. There, she would gaze with
troubled eyes at the ever-rising waters, until reminded that her mother
needed comforting, when she would return to the house.
On one of these occasions the girl was surprised to see a saddle-horse,
bearing evidences of a hard journey, standing at the hitching-post near
the front door. But this first surprise was as nothing to the
amazement with which she beheld her mother clasped in the arms of a
strange young man who was so bespattered with mud that his features
were hardly recognizable. Mrs. Caspar was laughing and crying at the
same time, while both she and the young man were talking at once. Near
them, and regarding this tableau with the utmost gravity, was a
powerful-looking bull-dog, who would evidently be pure white when
washed.
For a full minute Elta stood in the doorway gazing wonderingly at this
strange scene. Then her mother caught sight of the girl's wide-eyed
bewilderment, and burst into a fit of laughter that was almost
hysterical.
"It's your uncle William!" she cried, as soon as she could command her
voice. "My little brother Billy, whom I haven't seen for twelve years,
and he has just come from California.
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