The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-02-06
GWAY, ELK COUNTY, Pa THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6,

Tilted me |" he said, flushed az much
with anger as with surprise. What
do you mean, mother? We have always
been good friends, but never any more.
l never gave her the chance to jilt me.
"Then, why don't you give her the
chance2" persisted his mother, who did
not choose to give up, now that the ice
was broken. "Nell is a good girl, il
she does firt little. I always thought
that she liked you, only that you were
too slow to see it. Then, Nell has got
a little money OF her own that wouldn't
be amiss."
"You are entirely mistaken, mother, "
he said decisively. Don't let us say any
more about it."
"Oh, you great fool - muttered the
mother, looking after him as he went
out. "Was there ever a man 30 blind |
he is no more fit to live in the world
than an angel out Of heaven is"
Then, seeing Nellie Cramer passing
the street, she lifted her voice and called
her in.
The girl came in, wondering at such
peremptory summons.
"Come and sit by me |" commanded
the matron, and Nellie obeyed.
Mrs. Holt scanned her from head to
foot; the neat, trim figure, in it's snugly-
fitting paletot of dark gray, the green
bonnet, that brought out her fresh,
clear color with new luster, and the
fair, bright face.
"Did you know that our John is 60
ing to California;" said Mrs. Holt.
abruptly, her keen eyes on the girls
face.
All the color faded out of it in an in
stant, and Nellie Cramer dropped into q
chair as suddenly as if she had been
shot. She sat there and looked at the
other with her strained eyes, but said
no word.
eyes," said Mrs. Holt, unable to re-
press a slight smile of satisfaction at
this proof of the correctness of her sur
mise, "yes, he's set on going, in spite
of all that can say. He is going in 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 far
thest."
That smile of Mrs. Hollis was an un-
fortunate one. Nellie had always feared
those sharp eyes, and now the thought
flashed upon her mind that Johns
mother was trying to expose and morti-
fy her. A woman's pride will do a
great deal for her, even when her heart
is breaking. 1t brought the color to
her face again, and strengthened her
trembling limbs. 1t steadied her voice
and her eyes. Mrs. Holt was puzzled
and disconnected by the sudden change.
"I'm SO sorry ~ Nellie said, in tone
of fearless regret. "We can scarcely
get along without John. He seems such
a standby. But men ought not to be
tied at home, I think. If they choose
to go, they should be allowed their own
way. There he is now, in the garden. I
am going out to speak to him of it.
"Try to coax him to stay, Nellie,"
said the mother, in tone of more en-
treaty than perhaps she had ever used
in her life before. "He is good son,
and can't get along without him. 1
think you can keep him if you will"
This prayer would have been effect
nal, but for the memory of that smile
which ranked in the girls heart. Had
she not given John Holt every. encour-
agement, if he had cared about her ?
Had she not said and done things so
affectionate toward him that sh, had
blushed with shame thinking of them
afterward2 John was no fool, and if he
had cared for her, he might have under
stood. 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 garden. He stopped, seeing her,
and looked wistfully into her face.
Though he had denied his mother 80
decidedly, her words had not been with
out weight. Women understand 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.
am so sorry" she began. "Your
mother has been telling me 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 a pretense of be-
ing kind and friendly, and Just as usual,
that each could not perceive that the
other was also making a pretense and
four weeks after they parted with toll
erable 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 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
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 8
walk. No one but his own family az
yet knew of his return, and he was re.
solved to see himself the effect of his
coming on Nellie. The soft spring twi
light was settling down when he reached
her house, aud as he walked quietly uI
the path slight figure sat in window
looking out, singing lowly to herself IL
mournful 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 fal
more beautiful. The chastened lustel
of the eyes, the frmer, sweeter closing
of the mouth, the purer and more per
feet outlines-all belonged to one wht
had eaten of the bread of sorrow, and
| had fnnnd a blessing in the bitterness