Litchfield enquirer., 1876-08-24
WHOLE NO. 2621..

. s4 aud her face perfectly composed, though slightly pale. F. snast 1'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. "=ai , S,s1
 That was all. He gave last grasp at his self command, and held 1t. There 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 othE CT was also making a pretense; and four 1 weeks after they parted with tolerable composure, and John Holt went to Cali fornia. Il Easss w ,33 z9a isag.. He stayed there five years. and. sent his mother her gold spoon. He stayed three years longer, and them came home him. self Nellie was Nellie Cramer still, they told him, and was much. sobered. Some way she hadn't 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. ,i  | took his hat and went ont for Q walk. No one but his own family as yet knew of his return, and he was resolved to see him. self the effect of his coming on Nellie. The soft spring twilight was setting down when he reached her house, and as he walked quietly up the path,a slight figure sat in the window, looking out, singing lowly to herself ina mournful reverie. She did not see him, but when he came nearer he saw her face clearly. The round out lines and bright color were gone, but he was forced to own that she had grown far more beautiful. The chastened iuster of the eyes, the 6rmer. sweeter closing of the mouth, the purer and more perfect out | lines-aH belonged to one who had eaten of the bread of sorrow, and had found a blessing in it's bitterness. i}
 Something swept over his heart with passionate force-some regret, some long
 ing, he scarce knew what.I If he had suf- fered 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, and became silent E
 sNellie!" hewould have said, but his VOlce was only a whisper. .r
 He went forward into the shadowy room '.i
 ''Is that you, James?" she said, half turning, expecting her brother.
 4 John took step nearer, and this time his voice did not fail, r...a. .... '-' +'
 s'Nellie!'' if..
 She started. half rose, hesitated, then, as he took one step nearer, sprung with glad cry into his extended arms.
 II thought, you never would come, Johnr' she sobbed.
 'sWere you waiting for me'?" he asked. "Did you care for me before went away?" }ax.5a.s s.I ..:r ..;s3. -'
 '..Then and always, John. How could you be so blind?' %, '1 acs*e. | John Holt smoothed her hair tenderly, for one moment of silence; then exclaim- ed, as though some great truth had sud- denly dawned upon him. Y P. 1a"I deserved it! I always thought them wrong, but they were right. I was, indeed. great fool!'' .trsr.. .s -l...... .,..
 Aie%NPieaI M0foG nn %ho rakino 0f