The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-02-06
Better Late Than Never.

His name was John Holt and, more
over, he looked like his name, or like
the image which the sound of his name.
in musical ear, would call up in the
mind. Physically he was 30 well pro-
portioned that his weight could scarce
ly be guessed, and so broad. .shouldered
that you had to set him beside another
man in order to realize his superior
height. His skin was fair and his eyes
blue, but the hair, which had been tow.
colored in his childhood, had deepered
to brown. john Holt's face was not
one of those which are called expressive,
but wore, in repose, pretty nearly al.
ways the same look.
Mrs. Holt had large and valuable
farm just on the borders of the town.
Streets had crept gradually about her
sides ION the fourth woodlands stretched
back toward the east. Why she should
give the control of this place to John,
instead of to one of his sharper brothers,
was a puzzle even in her own mind.
The only reason she could give was that
John was steady and more likely to re-
main at home than the others were.
John was in love with pretty Nellie
Cramer, a neighbor's daughter but one
day when he started to teli her Of his
passion she stopped him short with a
laugh and "Nonsense, John |"
He never got angry with her. How
could he But sometimes C. shadow
would drop over his face, and he
wouldn't have much to say to her for a
time. Then, when she went to him with
her coaxing ways, and laid her little
hand on his arm, whispering:
Now, don't be vexed, John; l like
you 80 much; but don't want you to
talk nonsense" he would look down and
smile, though not very brightly, and
promise to try to avoid nonsense in the
future ending his promise with Sigh.
Dear me I do wish you wouldn't
sigh so, John I" the girl would say, pet
tishly. 1t makes me feel melancholy
to hear you One would think I had
done something dreadful to you."
Then John Holt would smile again,
still less brightly, and promise to tly
not to sigh any more.
Such little scenes as this were mere
asides, however. Nellie usually paid
but little attention to John, being chiefly
occupied in dancing, flirting and quar-
reling with his more snowy brother
Frank, or with any other gay fellow who
was so unfortunate as to be taken with
her pretty face. For Nellie was an in.
corrigible firt. 1t was only when she
had no one else to talk to, or wanted to
pique some other lover, 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.
You are a sort of grandfather, you
know" she said one day, giving his arm
a squeeze. 81 have an idea that Won
are about seventy-f five years old. How
old are you, John ?"
81 am only one.third of that" he
said, smiling. I" 1 am only month past
twenty. .five."
"Possible? Well, you must have
been very old when you was born. Be.
sides, twenty five is old to me. I am
only nineteen. Now you come and hear
my story and tell me what to do. came
over here on purpose to see you."
John followed her obediently through
the garden and down to a bench under
the shadow of the beech grove on the
lawn; and when she took her seat there
he leaned against the trunk of tree and
waited, looking down on her.
You see, JOHN" she began, "I've
had an offer"
John Holt was tanned that summer,
but through the BROWNIES one might
have seen faint blush run over his
face. Nellie didn't see it, for she was
looking down and rolling her apron tas-
sells, very bright color in her own
face.
There was a moments silence after
this announcement, and seeing that he
was expected to say something. John
presently said "Yes?p
"Oh, if you don't want to advise me.
won't trouble you, the girl flung out.
rising in pet.
"Come back. Nellie" he said. kind.
ly. /" am not cross, only tell me what
you want"
She seated herself again with little
culver In her lip. '