The Globe-republican., 1892-12-23

Ridgely! Ten in the morning, day
before Christmas, and you promised
to be ready on time," rang out a
CHEEKY, challenging voice, and the
door opened at the call.
"I've been waiting for over an
hour" began this same John
Ridgely, appearing at the threshold,
but a second sudden sphere cut short
the sentence. He made dash fol
his two mischievOus visitors, athletic
young fellows, just approaching man
hood, and then, flushed, laughing
and shaking the spattered snowflakes
from head and shoulders, the jolly
trio entered the cabin.
Il say, what a rare old den of bach
elor comfort you've got here, joint"
spoke one of the visitors. Talk
about the fancy rugs and carpets up
at the house and then look at that
warm, sleek deer's skin, and those
great mats made from a bear robe!
A to the larder-I say, Hal! what
would mother or Nellie say to get
their pick for holiday feast from
such royal layout of gamer"
John Ridgely's eyes glowed with
pride at this praise Of his domestic
equipment; then, flushing quickly,
he bent over his cartridge belt to
hide the shadow of pain upon his
face.
Nellie! The name was enShrined in
his innermost soul. 1t brought back
the past with all its Brightness
haunted the bleak, unpromising
present. His visitors were her
brothers-old-time comrades, home
for the holiday vacation from col
lege, and bent on a hunting expedi-
ton. He was glad when he saw
them engrossed in admiring this and
that trophy Of his sportsman skill.
1t afforded him time to conceal his
surging emotion.
Life had not dealt fairly with John
Ridgely-love, as we'll, had been a
cruel taSkmaSter-he realized it
every time his mind went back over
the past two years.
Somewhat longer ago than that he
had to come to visit his uncle at
Hillsdale, ere starting out to fight
the battle of life. Old Abner Ridgely
was his one living relative in the
world, sickly, misery old man tot
tering on the verge of the grave, and
just subsiSting in the rude apology
for a shelter that had since been his
home.
The very day of Johns arrival, his
uncle had suffered his second stroke
of paralysis, and John became his
nurse. Duty and anxiety had en-
shaved him to the old mans whims
He could not leave him to die alone,
and the months rolled by and found
him a fixture in the rude cabin.
"DOn't leave me. John!" more than
once had the old man Quavered.
you shall not be sorry. Some day I
will die, and then-you shall be my
heir"
Heir to what? John had smiled
satirically as he looked about the
wrecked hut. Impatiently he
thought of the great pulsing world
outside, waiting to reward just such
high ambitions as those he enter
tanned, and then, one day, one royal.
golden June morning. a vision crossed
his dull path in the woods that L.
lumined the green arcades with
glory, and held him chained anew to
Hillsdale by bonds he could not
break.
Nellie-bonny, winsome Nellie
Linden! She flashed across his
destiny like a star of promise and
beauty. Obi the rare days of sum-
mertide, the walks, the boating, love
expressed in glance and smile, though
never spoken, and then, dark void
in life. She, the daughter of proud,
well-to-do Robert Linden, merchant,
the sister of his two present visitors.
left home without a parting word to
him, and all the sunlight of life
seemed suddenly dashed out.
Once only since then had he heard
OF Nellie. She was visiting a wealthy
eDinster aunt in the city, who seemed
% have bat two objects in life-to
IKE Nellie her heiress, and marry
~ to tho son Of favorite friend.