The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-08-30

hfc- IlUIL LUyh ItAEA-tt anu uIttA a
ing over some little awe which. 10
spite of her talk. she felt for her sou,
spoke Oh:
John, has that Cramer Tilted
you -
"Jilted mel he said, flushing as
much with anger as with surprise.
What do YOU mean, mother! We
have always been good friends, but
nothing more. | never gave her
the chance 70 jilt me
"Theu, why don't you give her the
chauce2" persisted his mother, who
did not choose to give up, now that
the ice was broken Nell is good
girl if she does lirt 4 little. I al
ways thought that she liked you,
only that you were too slow to see it.
Then, Fell has got a little sum OF
money Of her own that wouldn't be
amiss"
"You are entirely mistaken, moth
err" he said decisively. Don't let
Us say any more about it.
30, you great fool" muttered the
mother looking after him as be went
out WAS there ever man 50
blind" lie is no more fit to live in
the world than an angel out of Heav-
en is"
Then, seeing Nellie Cramer passing
the street, she lifted her voice and
called her in.
The girl came in, wondering at
snch peremptory summons.
Come and sit by me-" command
ed the mstron, and Nellie obeyed.
Mrs. Holt scanned her from head
to foot; the neat, trim figure, in its
snugly-ftting palet0t Of dark gray,
the green bonnet, that brought out
her fresh, clear color with a new lus-
tre, and the fair, bright face
Did you know that our John is
going to California;" asked Mrs
Holt, abruptly, her keen eyes on the
girls face.
Ali the color faded out Of it in an
instant. and Nellie Cramer dropped
into a chair as suddenly as if she had
been shot. She sat there and looked
at the other with her strained eyes,
but said 20 word.
Yes" said Mrs Holt, unable to
repress a slight smile of satisfaction
ct this proof OF the correctness Of her
surmise, yes, he's set on going in
spite Of all that | can say. He IS
going 10 a month or six weeks. Let
me see; this is the middle of April.
He says he shall start by the first Of
June at farthest
That smile of Mrs. Hollis was an
unfortunate one. Nellie had always
feared those sharp eyes and now the
thought flashed into her mind that
Johns mother was trying to expose
and moFtify her \ woman's pride
viii do a good deal for her, even
when her heart is breaking. It
brought the color to her face again.
and strengthened her trembling limbs.
1t steadied her voice and her ewes.
Mrs. Holt was puzzled and discou-
certed bY the sudden change.
Il am so sorry. Nellie said, in a
tone of fearless regret. We can
scarcely get along without John. He
seems such a standby. But men
ought not to be tied at nome, think.
If they choose to go, they should be
allowed their own way. There he is
now in the garden. 1 am going out
10 speak to MIN of ii"
Try te coax him 10 stay, Nellie."
said the mother, in a tone of more
entreaty than, perhaps, she had ever
used in her life before He is
good son, and | can't get along with
out him. ! think you can keep him
if you will"
This prayer would have been elfec-
tual but for the memory Of that smile
which ranked in the girls heart
Had she not given John Holt every
encouragement, if he had cared about
bery Had she not said aad done
things so alfectiCnate toward him that
she had blusbed with shame thinking
of them afterwardg John was no
fool, and if he had cared for her, be
might have understood. lie had
probably been trying to put her back
With these thoughts burning in her
heart. Nellie Cramer went directly to
John Holt as be walked up and down
the garden. He stopped, seeing her,
and looked wistfully into her face
Though he had denied bis mother so
decidedly her words had not been
without weight. Women understood
each other. Could il be possible?
and there was Nellie coming down
the walk. Her head was erect, aud
her face perfectly composed, though
slightly pale
Il am so sorry" {" she began. Your
mother has been telling me Of ) our
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 last grasp
ct his self command, and held it
There was short formal converse
ton, both so engaged 10 making a
pretence Of being Find and friendly,
and just as usual, that each could not
perceive that the other was also max
ing a pretence; and four weeks after
Lhey parted with tolerable composure,
and John Holt went to California.
He stayed there FIVE years, and /
sent bis mother her gold spoon. He .
stayed three years longer aDd then /
came home himself Nellie was Nel- /
lie Cramer still, they told him, and 4
was much sObered. Some way she 1
hadn't seemed to care Luch about I
iiriing for several years. Her faith
II and mother were dead. and she
vas keeping house for an unmarried
brother. There were hints that the
lew minister went to see her very
,ften, bat Mrs. Hot didn't believe
hat Nellie would look at him.
John listened. and when evening
;ame took his hat and went out for a
walk. No one but his own family as
yet knew Of his return, and he was
esolged TO see himself the effect of
lis coming on Nellie The soft spring
wiiiOhf was se.finr dnwn ~ hon he