The sun was near its setting when they reached Ion, where they found a
gathering of friends and relatives unusual in its 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