Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-04-18

There were q great many clever
little novels that Nellie had not read.
OF course we had to keep magazines
and everything with n date out of her
way. One day in going over the
library shelves / came across an old
book that gave me the shivers. 1t
was Mallock's SIS Life Worth Liv-
ing?" 1t was that that had first
started Nellie on the path that had
led her away from me long ago. In
stinctively hid it behind a row of
encyclopedias. And then / knew
that was playing the part of trail
tor. 1 had been excusing myself
from my perilously pleasant position
by the assurance that | was the only
person who could lead Nellie into her
true life And when saw the door
open before her ran to close it.
l took the book out again and
took it with me when we went on our
morning ramble. When she saw it
trembled. But instead of picking it
up as expected her to, she looked
at it scornfully and flung it down.
"Dick," she said, poutingly, "you
are too tiresome! What do you sup
pose want with stuff like that?"
There was agreat guilt OF throb OF
JOY in my heart.
"-I-It has q red cover" / said,
lamely; 81 thought it was story"
Just then she saw the corner Of an
envelope sticking out of my pocket.
1t was Julia's last letter that / had
received that morning, and had not
even opened. She gave it a little
jerk and pulled it out. Julia writes
the Eastlakey ultra feminine hand Of
ten years ago And the thick letter
lay proclaiming itself from a lady.
Nelly looked at it and then she
looked at me, and there was the sar-
casm of inexperience in her eye and
voice. "You have no sisters, l be-
lieve she said icily.
'This-" said in my quietest tone
els from the wife of friend ofmine.
A lady 80 years old and the mother
of two children. She writes to me
sometimes and gives me good advice
and tells me little anecdotes about
the children. will read you some of
it if you like"
Bless her heart! She turned and
kissed me on the cheek and said pity
ingly:
poor boyl How you do let your
good nature make martyr of you.
Don't you find them awful bores?"
"Yes," said candidly. when the
advice is extra good do"
"And do you answer them?"
"Well," / said, this is the tenth I
have had since Iansweredone." Which
was the truth. / don't call q tele-
gram that is sent by u book-keeper
an answer to letter.
Going home across the fields we
came to ditch.
81 don't seem to remember this
ditch here" Nelly said. "And how are
we ever going to CROSSE"
"I'll jump it," l said, "and lift you
over"
"Oh, but Dick, dearest, you can't, -
she said. 81 am too heavy"
WHY ggeh%Eyyo o sPiSd dann2Y e souHa au d%h
this with you in his arms"
"Your boy Johnny? Who are you
talking about? You do say some OF
| Vic luhlltSU luluSS!
"Oh," | saik, airly, 81 mean the lit
tie son of the lady whose letter l was
showing you. He is a great pet OF
mine"
We walked along silently for lit
tie while after tn ditch was jumped
and then Nelly said in dreamy sort
ola way:
''Dick, sometimes you seem differ.
ent. You don't laugh as much as
you used last Summer" Dear heartl
Last summer was eleven years oldl
And you seem more brus-
que some way. l am afraid
you are working too hard, denr
Dick. And-some way you seem fond
of me in different way. You don't
and the clear red of u sweet young
girls blush went all over her cheeks
and brow-''kiss me as often as you
used-and you act like you thought
l was going away presently"
She finished the sentence with her
head on my breast and l kissed her
often enough to make up for any lack
that had gone before, and cursed my,
self in my heart for black scoundrel,
and doubly cursed Marsh, who had
got me into this scrape.
AS went home that night / made
up my mind to end it one way or an
other. She would have to be told
sooner or latter that l was 80 years
old. That l had been deceiving her
that had a wife and two children
The sweat stood out on my face as
thought of it. Julin would be coming
home in few weeks, and felt that
would rather drown myself than
face poor Nelly with my wife, in her
present state of mind AS | entered
my own door John met met me.
was conscious that he looked with
much disfavor upon my youthful APP.
pearance and dress and Judged that
my habitual absences were for nc
good.
He handed me a card on his tray
and told me that the gentleman was
in the library.
The card read:
'John William Alternately,
Andover."
John William Alternately / knew as
a professor of mental philosophy at
n noted seat of learning. could not
imagine what he could want with me.
As | entered nv pretty little library