Old Caravan Days | Page 4

Reynoldsburgers
know the stage was coming. The stage, billowing on springs, was

paneled with glittering pictures, gilded on every part, and evidently
lined with velvet. Travellers inside looked through the open windows
with what aunt Corinne considered an air of opulent pride. She had
always longed to explore the interior of a stage, and envied any child
who had been shut in by the mysterious click and turn of the
door-handle. The top was crowded with gentlemen looking only less
important than the luxurious passengers inside: and behind on a vast
rack was such a mountain of-baggage swaying with the stage, but
corded firmly to place, and topped with bandboxes, that aunt Corinne
believed their moving wagon would not have contained it all. Yet the
stage swept past like a flash. All its details had to be gathered by a
quick eye. The leaders flew over the smooth thoroughfare, holding up
their heads like horse princes; and Bobaday knew what a bustle
Reynoldsburg would be in during the few minutes that the stage halted.
After viewing this sumptuous pageant the little caravan moved briskly
on toward Columbus. Zene kept some distance ahead, yet always in
sight. And in due time the city began to grow around them. The 'pike
never lost its individuality among the streets of the capital. They saw
the great penitentiary surrounded by stone walls as thick as the length
of a short boy. They saw trains of cars trailing in and out;
manufactories, and vistas of fine streets full of stores. They even saw
the capitol building standing high up on its shaded grounds, many steps
and massive pillars giving entrance to the structure which grandma
Padgett said was one of the finest in the United States. It was not very
long before they reached the western side of the city and were crossing
the Scioto River in a long bridge and entering what was then a shabby
suburb called Frankfort. At this point aunt Corinne and her nephew
entered unbroken ground.

CHAPTER II.
THE LITTLE-OLD MAN WITH A BAG ON HIS BACK.
Grandma Padgett had prepared the noon lunch that very day, but
scarcely expected to make use of it. On the western borders of

Columbus lived a cousin Padgett in such a country place as had long
been the talk of the entire family connection. Cousin Padgett was a
mighty man in the city, and his wife and daughters had unheard-of
advantages. He had kept up a formal but very pleasant intercourse with
grandma's branch; and when he learned at the State Fair, the year
previous, her son Tip's design to cast their future lots in the West, he
said he should take it very ill if they did not spend the first night of
their journey with him. Grandma Padgett decided that relationship must
claim her for at least one meal.
Bobaday and Corinne saw Zene pause at the arched gates of this
modern castle, according to his morning's instructions. Corinne's. heart
thumped apprehensively. It was a formidable thing to be going to
cousin Padgett's. He lived in such overwhelming grandeur. She knew,
although she had never seen his grounds, that he kept two gardeners on
purpose to take care of them. His parlors were covered with carpets in
which immense bouquets of flowers were wrought, and he had
furniture not only of horsehair, but of flowered red velvet also. I
suppose in these days cousin Padgett's house would be considered the
extreme of expensive ugliness, and a violation of all laws of beauty.
But it was the best money could buy then, and that was considered
enough. Robert was not affected by the fluttering care of his young aunt.
He wanted to see this seat of grandeur. And when Zene walked back
down the avenue from making inquiries, and announced that the entire
family were away from home, Bobaday felt a shock of disappointment.
Cousin Padgett did not know the exact date of the removal, and people
wrote few letters in those days. So he could not be blamed for his
absence when they came by. Zene limped up to his seat in front of the
wagon, and they moved forward along the 'pike.
"Good!" breathed aunt Corinne, settling back.
"'Tisn't good a bit!" said Bobaday.
And whom should they meet in a few miles but cousin Padgett himself,
riding horseback and leading a cream-colored horse which he had been
into the country to purchase. This was almost as trying as taking dinner

at his house. He insisted that the party should turn back. His wife and
daughters had only driven into the city that morning. Cousin Padgett
was a charming, hearty man, with a ring of black whiskers extending
under his face from ear to ear, and the more he talked the less