The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-09-13


and waited, looking down on her.
"You see, john" she begun, "I'v'
had an offer"
John Holt was tanned that summer
but through the brownness one nigh
have seen q faint blush run over hi
face. Nellie didn't see it, for she wa
looking down and rolling her apron tas
sells, a very bright color in her OWL
face.
There was moments silence afte!
this announcement, and seeing that he
was expected to say something, Johr
presently said eyes"
Nellie gave her shoulders an impa
tient shrug, and looked up. Its {
very good offer" she went on. ~ sup
pose you will guess from whom. 1t il
James Lee. told him I would thinl
about it, and tell him my decision to
morrow. Now, he's very well off, yor
know, and when his father dies he vii
be rich. But then, of course, there'E
no hurry about that. But the trouble
is this, James will live all his days il
Riceville, I am positive; and that ii
dreadful. You know I want to live in 6
city, and want my husband to make
figure in the world. And James, why
James is almost as much OF deacon as
you are."
"You are complimentary" observed
John Holt, with certain quiet dignity,
The blush had quite gone from his
face, and some of the BROWNIES seemed
to have gone, too; for he looked slight
ly pale.
cross fellow Nellie said, hastily
You know I think you are. splen'
did"
"I am much obliged to you," he
said, with q stiffness which was quite
new to his manner.
"Oh, if you don't want to advise me,
I won't trouble you," the girl flung
out, rising in a pet.
"Come back, Nellie" he said, kindly.
ct am not cross. Only tell me what
you want"
She seated herself again with little
culver in her lip.
"I want you to tell me whatyou think
of James Lee. Tell me if you think
I'd better marry him. Tell me if you
think he cares enough for me to 60 just
where say, and live where I wish.
The color wavered again in John
Holt's face, and he drew quick breath.
Some impulse to speak seemed to come
upon MIN. Glancing up for his answer,
Nellie saw the change, and added q
word:
"You see, John, I like Albert Leigh
ton better than I do James"
The color and light dropped out OF
his face again, and rim of even white
teeth pressed for an instant his under
lip. -:
"Then why don't you marry Albert
Leighton9" he asked, looking up into
the tree that spread over his head, and
reaching to break a slender twig.
HE never asked me to, she answer
ed, demurely. 49,.
ssI suppose he means to, doesn't hea"
asked John, lookingat her with glance
that might be called almost naughty.
"How can I tell 2" Nellie pouted.
"Men are 80 queer. The most of them
would rather wait to be asked, think. "
eff you want my advice, I will give
it," John said, twisting and finging
away the little twig in his hand. If
you like Albert, don't keep James in sus-
pense. You have no right to do it. You
can't seriously think of marrying one
man when you prefer another. If Albert
likes you, as I believe he does, take him.
He's good fellow"
"You think so2" the girl said, look
ing up suddenly.
II think so," he repeated, turning
away. CHOW let's goup to the house. "
She rose and walked quietly by his
side, her fair, girlish face little pale,
her eyes downcast. At the gate she
stopped:
II will not go in now," she said, in a
low tone. "I will go home"
He merely bowed, and looking back
after few steps, she saw that he had
not entered the house, but was stealing
of toward the barn. .,--
The next week James Lee commenced
a violent Irritation with Bessie Holt,
Johns sister, and in month the two
were engaged. Nellie laughed, and
turned the light of her smiles upon Al
bert Leighton, handsome, dashy fel-
low, who bad been crazy about Lee for
the last six months. John Holt said
nothing, but was rather cool about his
sisters engagement.
"You see, suspense would have killed
Him." Nellie whispered, mischievously.
81 hope be isn't marrying my sister
out of pique toward you," John said,
c>ldly. "If I didn't think Bessie loved
him too we'll to give him up, would tell
her."
"And betray my confidence, John
Holt" Nellie exclaimed. ~ tell you,
lie is like most of you men-purely sell
fish. He iidn't care fig about me. I
think he seems to like Bessie.
"When are you going to be mar
cied :" he asked, abruptly.
The question came so suddenly that
for once the girl lost her oomposure. A
crimson blush swept over her face, and
she dropped her eyes without being able
to speak word.
She recovered herself in a minute, and
protested that she had no thought Of
marrying. But the blush had convicted
her in John Hollis eyes. and he sea- cely
heard word that she said.
1t was winter, and while they talked
they we're waiting, with half dozen
others, for large sleigh that was COM
ing to take them out to party given by
a friend seven or eight miles off in the
country. Even before Nellie's blush
had faded, the trampling and jinging at
the gate attracted their attention, and
Albert Leighton put his head in at the
door to call them. Bessie and hel lover
come forth from an adjoining room, an. .
other group came up from distant win
dow, and they all ran gayly out and bun
died into their places.
The party passed off as such things
usually do. All seemed to enjoy them
selves; Nellie was lovely as pink and
full OF mischief, Leighton was attentive,
and John Holt was cheerful and kind to
everybody. He was fully as quiet as
usual, to be sure, and rather avoided
Nellie Cramer, but it is doubtful if any
one but herself noticed that.
1t was twelve o'clock when they start
ed to go home, and the moon had set.
At first their gayety held out, but after
a mile or so fatigue and want of sleep
begun to tell on them, and one by one
they fell into silence.
"John," Nellie said, "there is just
room for me on the seat with you. May
I come there2 1t is cold here"