Litchfield enquirer., 1876-08-24

would follow hlm 1hLO .tn0 garden AHOI fields, hang on to his arm, with her curls i blowing across his breast, looking up smil- l ing and chatting into hls face, so soft and sweet as kitten; then suddenly, if chanc- ed to press those wandering cprls against q his breast, or to bend too near her lovely upturned face, or breathe word of ten l derness, of she went with toss of the
 head and acur1 of the lip. and as likely as not, some such speech as ;.I do wish yon Ewonld not be SO foolish. John Holt
 He never got angry with her. How could he :? But sometimes shadow
 Nonld drop over his face. and he wouldn't
 have much to say to her for time. Then
 when she went to him with her coaxlng Iways. and laid her little hand on his arm.
 N hispering
 B Now, don t be vexed. John j; I like you 50 much. but I don't want you to talk nonsense" he would look down and smile,
 though not very brightly and promise to Itry to avoid nonsense for the future, end- ing his promise with sigh. .4.sya l Dear me wish you wouldn't sigh so,
 John, the girl would say pettishly. "It makes me feel melancholy to hear you.
 One would think I had done something dreadful to you" .2-% aa-es
 Then John Holt would smile again, still less brightly, and promise to try not to sigh any more. f- ....4
 Such little scenes as this were mere asides, however Nellie usually pad but little attention to John. being chiefly occupied in dancing, flirting, and quar- I reling. with his more showy brotEer Frank or with any other gay fellow who was go
 unfortunate as to be taken with her pret-
 ty face. For Nellie was an incorrigible fiirt. 1t was only when she had no one else to talk to, or wanted to pique some l other lvver or when she wanted some real service. that she went to John, who was sometimes pleased. and sometimes hurt
 to see that she came to him only when she wanted help or advice. .e9 e1a s. "You are sort of grandfather, you know" she said one day giving his arm squeeze "I have an idea that you are about seventy-five years old. How old are you, John?" .f.., 7@a@ z "I am just one-third of that" he said. smiling. II am only month past twenty l five. ? '5fa1 .aF5Ai ts@ @~t aa 7
 ..Possible.l, we'll you must have been. l very old when you were born. Besides, twenty five is old to me am only nine teen. Now, you come and hear my story and tell me what to do. I came over here on purpose to see you. l John followed her obediently through the garden. and down to 8 bench under | the shadow of the beach grove on the lawn and when she took her seat there | he leaned against the trunk of 8 tree and waited, looking down on her. ,,....,...
 You see, John" she begun, "Ive had an offer.''
 John Holt, was tanned that summer, but through the browness one might have | seen faint blush run over his face. Nellie didn't see it, for she was looking down and rolling her apron tassels, very bright color in her own face.
 There was a moments pause after this announcement, and seeing he was expected to say something, John presently said, 'Yes.''
 Nellie gave her shoulders an impatient shrug, and looked up. ''It's very good offer" she went on. "I suppose you will guess froms whom. It is James Lee. I told him I would think of it and tell him my decision tomorrow. Now, he's very we'll of. you know, and when his father dies, he will be rich. But then of course, there's no hurry about that. But the l trouble is this, James will live all his days in Ricevllle. am positive sand that is dreadful. You know I want to ilF0 HI u ClIy, tuu Wdub lily uuSOdHu CO make figure in the world. And James, l 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. 1 and some of the brOwnness seemed to have gone, too for he looked slightly pale. @
 ''Oh, I don't mean any harm, you cross fellow" Nellie said hastily. "You know l think you are splendid"
 "I am much obliged to you, he said, with stiffness, which was quite new to his manner. *tsF | 'sOh, if you don't want to advise me, won't trouble you," the girl flung out, rising in pet. a.lA
 .'Cone back, Nellie," he said, kindly. am not cross. Only tell ne what you | want"
 She seated herself again with little 1 qniver in her lip. 8 ED
 5'I want you to tell me what you think l of James Lee. Tell me if you think I'd better marry him. Tell me if you think he cares enough for me to go just where | I say and live where wish. ]" e.
 The color wavered again in John Holt's face, and he drew quick breath. Some impulse to speak seemed to come upon him. Glancing mp for hls answer. Nellie saw the change. and added a word: . ''You see, John, like Albert Leighton better than do James" a.fz 5 l. The color and light dropped out of his I face again, and rim of even white teeth 1 pressed for an instant his under lip.
 s.Then why don't you. marry Albert Leighton? he asked, looking up into the tree that spread oyer his head, and
 reaching to break slender twlg. 5f. | '.He never asked me to" she answered, demurely. a
 '.I suppose he means to, doesn't he Y' asked John, looking at her with glance that might be called almost naughty.
 ..How can tell ?" Nellie pouted. ..Men are so queer.4 The most of them :, would rather wait to be asked, I think " l elf you want my advice. will give it, !" John said, twisting and hinging away l the little twig in his hand. "If you like Albert, don't keep James in suspense.
 You have no right to do; it. You can't 1 seriously think. of marrying one. man when you prefer another. If Albert likes you. .as think he does. take him. He's a good fellow, ..9s 5.s.5s, .ua 5
 '.,Yon think SOP" the girl said, looking up suddenly"
 | f.I think 50, :. he repeated, turning Iaway. Now let's go. mp to the honse. ;, She rose and walked quietly by his side, l her fair, girlish face little pale. her l eyes downcast At tine gate she stopped. "I will not go in now, she said, in Q low tone. s'I will go home"
 . He merely bowed, and looking back af- ter 2 few steps, she saw that he had not l entered the house. but was stealing off towards the barn.
 The next week James Lee commenced a violent filtration with Bessie Holt, Johns sister, and in month the two were en- gagged. Nellie laughed, and turned the I light of her smiles upon Albert Leigh. l ton, handsemk, dashy fellow. who had
 been crazy about Lee for the last SIX
 months. John Holt said nothing, but was
 rather cool about his sisters engage ment.l &t
 .You see, suspense would have killed t Mall. ell