The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-09-07
THE GRANDFATHER'S WILL.

"Little Blossom, you make it so hard
for me to say good-by to you"
"When 7"
The innocent, surprised, inquiring
REORGANIZATION was, indeed, difficult
pie in her cheek, and then curl of her
hair, as he might have touched flowers
on grave, perhaps.
She shook back the silky ripples i'm
patiently.
"When, John Z"
He looked at her for moment with
out smile, pretty as she was.
"Nelly, sit down here moment"
They sat down on the pretty crimson
couch before the fire. Seeing trouble in
his face, she put her hand in his, and he
smoothed out the little rose-leaf member
upon his broad palm, more than ever
confident, as he looked at it, that he was
right.
NELLY, you know I love you"
"Yes," with blush, for he had never
said it before.
"And am very sorry"
"Why ~ after pause of Dewilder-
ment.
"Because you are delicate little
flower, needing care and nursing to keep
your bloom bright; and am going to
hard, rough life, among privations, fe-
yer and malaria, which will try even my
powerful constitution, and where you
must not co.
"You are going to the Far West ?"
eyes. My mother must have home
in her old age. She is strong now, but
time is telling on her. You know all
that she has been to me?"
"Yes; she has been good mother.
But you shall take me too, john"
She won her way into his arms against
his will.
"You will take me, too?"
"No. Did 1 not tell you that you
made it so hard for me to say goodbye
to you"
John, what could / do without
you?"
He took the little, caressing hand
down from his face.
"Don't make me so weak, Nelly. Do
you think that it is nothing to me to
leave my little violet-the only woman
ever loved-for hard, cold life, and
unceasing toll cannot marry for ten
years, Nelly"
"And then I shall be thirty years
DID,"
"Yes, married and with little child
rem seeing at last that your old lover,
John Burrows, was right"
He rose to his feet.
"John !" in terror.
"Yes, I am going, Nelly. Little one
you look so much a woman now,
with your steadfast eyes-hear me;
did not foresee that you would love me
that I should love you. You were a
little schoolgirl when l saved you from
drowning last summer, and your satchel
of books Hoated away down the river
and was lost. came here to see Grego-
ry, not you. I could not help loving
you; but did not think until tonight
that you cared so much for me, Nelly.
But, child, you will surely forget me in
time"
"Neverp
He went on: Nelly, 1 shall hunger
for you day and night, more and more.
as the time goes on, and 1 get older,
lonelier, more weary. But shall never
your hand" ..
She gave him both. He raised them
to his lips, but before she could speak
sgain, he was gone.
Shivering violently, she went so the
fire, and stood there, trying to warm her
self. She understood it all now-his
strangely elaborate arrangements for a
trip TO New York. He had known that
he was not coming back when she had
begged him to bring her his photograph
from the great metropolis, but was go
ing on-on-into the dim distance. That
was why he had not promised.
1t was getting late-she was SO cold
she had better go to bed. She would
not go into the parlor to bid her father,
and aunt and Gregory, goodnight; 80
she crept silently up to her own room.
There the very weight of grief upon her
lulled her to sleep.
But when she woke, her grief sprang
upon her like some hidden monster who
had lain in wait for her all night. Her
misery terrified her. Why should she
not die2 Why should she ever rise from
that bed