Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-08-26
GUuDHALL, VT SATURDAY, AUGUST 26

given John Holt every encouragement,
if he had cared about hers Had she
not said and done things so affectionate
toward him that she had blushed with
shame thinking cf them afterward?
John was no fool, and if he had cared
for her, he might have understood.
he had probably been trying to put her
back.
With these thoughts burning in her
heart, Nellie Cramer went directly to
the garden. He stopped, seeing her,
and looked wistfully into her face.
Though he had denied his mother so
decidedly, her words had not been with
out weight. Women understood each
other. Could it be possible ? and
there was Nellie coming down the walk.
Her head was erect, and her face per-
fectly composed, though slightly pale.
"I am so sorry" she begun. "Your
mother has been telling me of your
plans. Of course, you know best what
is good for you, and have been telling
her to let you have your own way. But
we shall all be sorry to lose you, john"
That was all. He gave a last grasp at
LILO duIl uolu LhSIO
was short, formal conversation, both so
engaged in making pretense of being
kind and friendly, and just as usual,
that each could not perceive that the
other was also making pretense and
four weeks after they parted with toler-
able composure, and John Holt went to
California.
He stayed there five years, and sent
his mother her gold spoon. He stayed
three years longer, and them came home
himself. Nellie was Nellie Cramer still,
they told him, and was much sobered.
Some way she hadn' seemed to care much
about flirting for several years. Her
father and mother were dead, and she
was keeping house for an unmarried
brother. There were hints that the new
minister went to see her very often, but
Mrs. Holt didn't believe that Nellie
would look at him.
John listened, and when evening came
took his hat and went out for walk.
No one but his own family as yet knew
of his return, and he was resolved to see
himself the effect of his coming on Mel
lie, The soft spring twilight was set
tling down when he reached her house,
and as he walked quietly up the path, a
slight figure sat in a window, looking
out, singing lowly to herself in a mourn
full reverie. She did not see him, but
when he came nearer he saw her face
clearly. The round outlines and bright
color were gone, but he was forced to
own that she had grown farmore beauti-
ful. The chastened luster Of the eyes,
the firmer. sweeter closing of the mouth,
the purer and more perfect outlines-all
belonged to one who had eaten Of the
bread of sorrow, and had found bless
ing in its bitterness.
Something swept over his heart with
passionate force-some regret, some
longing, he scarce knew what. If he
had suffered at losing her eight years
before, he felt that such loss now
would kill him. He quietly entered the
open door, paused on the threshold of
the room where she sat alone. She
still sung softly, but as, he looked,
stopped, sighed, aud became silent.
" Nellie - he would have said, but
his voice was only whisper.
He went forward into the shadowy
room.
els it you, James9" she said, half
turning, expecting her brother.
John took a step nearer, and this time
his voice did not fail.
"Nellie /" ..
She started, half rose, hesitated, then,
as he took one step nearer, sprung with
Il glad cry into his extended arms.
81 thought you never would come,
John !" she sobbed.
"Were you waiting for me'2' he ask
ed. "Did you care for mo before l
went away?"
"Then and always, John. How could
you be so blindg"
John Holt smoothed her hair tender
ly, for one moment of silence; then ex-
claimed, as though some great truth
had suddenly dawned upon him.
81 deserved it I always thought
them wrong, but they were right,
[ was, indeed, great fool |"