Every one looked up in surprise as he stood silently gazing at the mother.
The next instant she sprang up with a joyful cry and threw herself into his outstretched arms, weeping hysterically.
"Don!" was the simultaneous exclamation from the others, and they gathered about him laughing and crying in joyous excitement.
Yes, it was Don, and no other—Don who went away a smooth-faced boy, and had come back a bearded man.
With what a rapture of delight they embraced and welcomed him; yet delight mingled with grief, for how could they forget that two had gone out from them, and but one had returned? Celestia Ann stood outside of the circle, leaning her back against the wall and gazing at Don, the big tears streaming down her homely but kindly face; at length, stepping forward, she caught his hand in a vise-like grasp, saying, "It's Mister Don, sure enough, though I wouldn't a knowed him by his looks. They've all been a-huggin' and kissin' of you, and now it's my turn," catching him round the neck and giving him a resounding kiss. "You'll not mind, will you? seein' as I've know'd ye ever since you was a little feller—a mere baby, as one may say."
"I am very glad to find you here still, Celestia Ann," Don said, with a good-humored laugh; "and I don't object to the heartiness of your welcome; for I haven't had a kiss from a woman since I left home, until to-day."
"Well, no; I reckon not; I shouldn't never b'lieve you was the kind of a feller to be a-kissin' strange women folks. But now why on airth don't ye all set down and eat? Mr. Don must be awful hungry a-comin' all the way from Californy here."
"Most assuredly, if he has had nothing to eat since he started," laughed the doctor, resuming his place at the table, all the others doing likewise.
Then they remembered to introduce the returned wanderer to Flora, who had been a silent but not unmoved spectator of the little scene.