The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-10-18

"Try to coax him to stay, Nellie ?" said
che mother, in tone of more entreaty
han, perhaps she had ever used in her
life before. HE is a good son. and 1
canr get along without him, l think
you can keep him if you will"
This prayer would have been effectual.
but for the memory of that smile which
ranked in the girls's heart. Had she
not given John Holt every encourage
ment, if he had cared about her Had she
not said and done things so affectionate
toward him that she had blushed with
shame thinking of them afterwards
John was no focl 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 John
Holt as he walked up and down the gar.
den. lie stopped, seeing her, and looked
wistfully into her face. Though he had
denied his mother so decidedly her words
had not been without weight. Women
| understood each other. Could it be pos.
sible? and there was Nellie coming
down the walk Her head was erect,
and her face perfectly composed, though
slightly pale.
81 am so sorry" she began. "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 last grasp at
| his self-command, and held it. There
was short formal conversation, both
so engaged in making pretence of be-
ing kind and friendly, and just as usual,
that each could not perceive that the
other was also making pretence; and
four weeks after they parted with
tolerable composure, and John Holt went
to California.
He stayed there Ave years, and sent
his mother her gold spoon. He stayed
three years longer and then came home
| himself. 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
Il; ;ntu hot ha
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 a 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 setting
down when he reached her house, and
as he walked quietly up the path,
slight figure sat in window, looking out,
singing lowly to herself in mournful
reverie. She did not see him, but when
he came nearer he saw her face clearly
.ne round outlines and bright color were
gone, but he was forced to own that she
had grown far more beautiful. The
chastened lustre of the eyes, the frmer
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 blessing 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 less now would kill
him. Hequietly entered the open door
paused on the threshold of the room
where she sat alone. She still sang soft
ly, but, as he looked, stopped, sighed
and became silent
"Nellie - he would have said, but his
voice was only whisper.
lie went forward into the shadowy
room.
''Is it you, James p she said, half
turning, expecting her brother.
John took step nearer, and this time
his voice did not fail.
"Nellie y
She started, half arose, hesitated, then,
as he took one step nearer, sprang with
glad cry into his extended arms.
q thought you never would come,
John !" she sobbed.
"Were you waiting for me? ~ he asked.
"Did you care for me before l went
away%
''Then and always, John. How could
you be so blind ?"
John Holt smoothed her hair tenderly,
for one moment of silence; then ex-
claimed, as though some great truth had
suddenly dawned upon him:
81 deserved it l always thought
them wrono hut thav were right | was.