A Great Fool.

Hi 3 name was John H. .and, more over, he looked like his name or like the image which the sound of his name, in a musical oar, would call up in the mind. For John should be strong, and quiet, and true, and grave, and John Holt was al of these. His skin was fair and his eyes blue, but the hair which had been tow colored in his childhood, had deepened tc brown. Ordinary persons would call bin goodlooking, rather than handsome, bu a close observor would pronounce hi: profile perfect, and his mouth and chii models of firm and symmetrical chiseling The browswerc straightaudstront;, thougl smooth, and his not very high forehoac was broad and open. John Holt's characteristics were : womonish gentleness, a most marvellou and absurd honesty, and a patience whicl to them, looked only too much lik cowardice. In his family John was callet a great fool. John's father had died when the la< was but ten years old, and left his wife t bring up her family of five children, am manage the farm. She was perfectb capable of doing it, and even wary busi ness men were on their guard when mak ing a bargain with the sharp Yankei matron. Pour of her children followed ii her footsteps, and knew perfectly wel the best end of a bargain ; but John well, if ho was a fool.it was not becausi she bad not warned and talked to him. John did not grow wiser as he grey ckler, and took upon himself tho cares o life. Airs Holt had a large and valuabh farm just on tbe borders of the town Streets has crept gradually about her fields, and surrounded them on three side; on the fourth woodlands stretched bad toward the east. Why should she give the control of this place to John, insteat of one of his sharper brothers, was i puzzle even to her own mind. Tho only reason she could give was that John wa_ Beady andquiet, and more likely toremair at home than the others were. But Bhc confessed to herself to be in continual tribulation with him. 'My dear,' she said, to a crony, 'you know that fifty cords of wood we had, good beech, birch and maple, with not more than twenty sticks of spruce through the whole ? Well, John must mention thai stoveful of spruce, and so lose five dollars on the bargain, I never did see such a fool. Then he wanted to hurry off our potatoes last Fall for fear of rot. I told John particularly not to own to a speck; but, if you will believe it, when Thurlow came to buy them, and asked if we had seen any signs of rot, that ninny said . ' Yes, a little, ' though I vow I don't believe there were six spots larger than the head of a pin in the whole lot. I don't know where the fellow got his shiftlessness. I'm sure I could always make a bargain.' John took all this very qeietly, as we have said. Ho knov that though his mother would say such things to others, she would by no means have allowed any one to say them to her. But one thing he could not bear was that Nellie Cramer should talk in the same way. Nellie seemed to delight in tormenting him. She would follow him into the gardens and fields, hang on his arm with her curls blowing across his breast, looking up smiiing and chatting into his face, as soft aud sweet as a kitten ; then suddenly, if he chanced to press those wandering curls against his breast, or to bond too near her lovely upturned faco, or to breathe a word of tenderness, off she went with a toss of the head and a curl of the lip, and as likely as not, some such speech as : 'I do wish you would not be so foolish, John Holt!' He never got angry with her. How could he ? But sometimes a shadow would drop over hi., 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, whisporing : ' Now don't be vexed, John ; I like you so much, but I don't want you to talk nonosense,' ho would look down and smilo, though not very brightly and pro mise to try to avoid nonesenso for the future, ending his promise with a sigh. ' Dear me ! I wish you wouldn't sigh so, John V tho girl would say, pettishly. 'It makes me feel melancholy to hear you. One would think I had done some thing dreadful to you.' Then John Holt would smile again, still less brightly, and promise to try not to sigh any more. Such little scenes as this were more asides, however. Nellie usually paid but little attention to John, being chiefly occupied in dancing, flirting, and quarrel ing with his more showy brother Frank, or with any o'.hor gay fellow who was so un fortunate as to be taken with her pretty face. For Nellie was an incorrigible flirt. I It 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 only came to him when she wanted help or advice. ' You aro a sort of grandfather, you know/ she said one day, giving his arm a squeeze. ' I have an idea that you are about seventy-five years old. How old are you, John ?' 't am just one third of that,' he said, smiling. 'I am only a mouth past twenty five .' . * Possible. I Well you must have been very old when you were born. Besides, •twenty-five is old tome, I am only niue

teen. JN"ow, you come and hear my story and tell me what to do. I came over here on purpose to see you.' ' I John followed her obediently through ' tho garden, and down to a bench under 1 the shadow of the beech grove on the . lawn ; and when she took her seat there he . leaned against tho trunk of a tree and waited, looking down on her. 3 ' You see, John,' she begun, * I've had an offer.' 5 John Holt was tanned that Summer, but 1 through tho browness one might have seer 1 a faint blush run over his face. Nellie 3 didn't see it, for she was looking down anc 1 rolling her apron tassels, a very brighl ' color in her own face. J There was a moment's silence after this announcement, and seeing that he was expected to say something, John presently a said ' Yes.' , s Nellio gave her shoulders an impatien shrug, and looked up. ' It's a very gooc ? offer,' she went on. ' I suppose you wil guess from whom. It is James Leo. J , told him I would think about it, and tel him my decision to-morrow. Now, he'i ? very well off, you know, and when hii father dies he will be rich. But then, o 7 course, there's no hurry about that. Bu ;" the trouble is this, James will live all hi: days in Bienville, I am positive ; and tha c is dreadful. You know I want to live ii [| a city, and want my husband to make i figure in the world. And James, why James is almost as mucti of a deacon as 0 you arc.' 'You are complimentary,' observec yev c John Holt, with a certain quiet dignity [ The blush had quite gone from his face 0 and some of the brownness seemed to have ' gone, too ; for he looked slightly pale. ' Oh, I don't moan any harm, you cross 3 fellow,' Nellie said, hastily. ' You know c I think you aro splendid.' j 'I am much obliged to you,' he said with a stiffness which was quite new to 1 his manner. r 'Oh, if you don't want to advise mo, I i won't trouble you,' the girl flung out, rising 1 in a pet. ? 'Comeback, Nellie,' he said, kindly. 'I am not cross. Only tell mo what you want.' [ She seated herself again with a little quiver in her lip. [ ' I want you to tell mo what you think [of James Lee. Tell me if you think I'd ' better marry him. Tell me if you think Ihe cares enough for mo to go just whora \ I say, and live where I wish.' The color wavered again in John Holt's face, aud he drew a quick breath. Some impulse to speak seemed to come upon him. Glancing up for his auswer, Nellie saw the change, and added a word : 'You see, John, E like Albert Leightou? better than I do James.' The color and light dropped out of his face again, and a rim of oven, white teeth pressed for an instant his under lip. '£' Then why don't you marry Albert Leighton r" ho asked, looking up into the tree that spread over his head, aud reach ing to break a slender twig 'He never asked me to,' she answered demurely. ' I suppose he means to, doesn't ho?' asked John, looking at her with a glance that might be called almost haughty. ' How can 1 tell ?' Nellie pouted. ' Men are so queer. Tho most of them would rather wait to be asked, I think.' 'If you want my advice, I will give it,' John said, twisting aud flinging away the little twig in his hand. 'If you like Albert- don't keep James in suspense. You have no ri^ht to do it. You can't seriously think of marryirur one man when you prefer another. If Albert likes you, as I beliovehe does, take him. He's a good fellow.' 'You think so?' tho girl said, looking up suddenly. ' I think so,' ho repeated, turning away. 'Now let's go up to the house.' She rose and walked quietly by his side, her fair, girlish faco a little pale, her eyes downcast. At the gate she stopped. 'I will not go in now,' she said, in a low tone. ' I will go home.' Ho merely bowed, and looking back aftor a few steps, she saw that ho had not entered tho house, but was stealing off to the barn. The next week James Leo commenced a violentflii-tation with Bessie Holt, John's sister, and in a month the two were on gaged. Nellie laughed, and turned the light of hor smiles upon Albert Leighton. a handsome, dashy fellow, who had been crazy about Lee for the last six months. John Holt said nothing, but was rather cool about his sister's engagement. ' You see suspense would have killed,' Nellie whispered mischievously. 'I hope he isn't marrying my sister out of pique towards you,' John said, coldly, 'If I didn't think Bessie loved him too well to give him up, I would tell her.' * And betray my confidence, John Holt,' Nellio exclaimed. 'I tell you he's like most of you men—purely selfish. He didu't care a fig about me. I think he seems to like Bessie.' ' W"hen are you going to be married?' he asked, abruptly. The question came so suddenly that for once tho girl lost her composure. A crimson blush swept over her face, and she dropped her eyes without being able to speak a word. She recovered herself in a minute, and protested that she had no thought of marrying But the blush had convicted her in John Bolt's eyes, and ho scarcely heard a word that she said. It was Winter, and while they talked they were waiting, with half a dozen others, for a laree sleigh that: mas „,->*.;„„.

to take them out to a party given by a friend seven or eight miles off in the country. Even before Nellie'd blush had faded, the trampling and jingling at the ■ gate attracted their attention, and Albert y Leighton put his head in at the door to i call them. Bessie and her lover came . forth from an adjoining room, another group came up from a distant window, I and they all ran gaily out and bundled into their places. t The party passed off as such things 1 usually do. All seemed to enjoy them . selves ; Nellie was lovely as a pink and 1 full of mischief. Leighton was attentive, t and John Holt was cheorful and kind to everybody. He was fully as quiet as _ usual, to be sure, and rather avoided . Nellie Cramer, but it is doubtful if any j one but herself noticed that. It was twelve o'clock when they started t to go home, and the moon had set. At 1 lirst their gaiety held out, but afcer 1 a mile or so fatigue and want of sleep [ began to tell on them, and one by one 1 they fell into silence, s ' John,' Nellie said, ' there is just room s for me on the seal with you. May I come f there ? It is cold here.' t He made room for her in silence, and s she left her discomfited escort and took t her place next that strong shoulder. i Then silence fell again ; but after a a while, in the darkness, John Holt was , aware of a light pressuro against his arm, 3 then a soft, plaintive whisper stole into his car. 1 ' I am so sleepy, John.' Ho turned a little—why not? They , were old friends—and lifted his arm to the , back of the seat, took the head softly and tenderly to his bosom. And so she lay in . that faithful and tender clasp till they . drew near homo ; then with one whispered word of loving gratitude, ' Nobody is so I good as you!' she drew away, and took > Albert Leighton's hand to step out at her own door. \ After a stir in his own mind, John Holt ; concluded that Nellie and Albert had quarreled. He sighed, since she could not hear, aud so bo annoyed, pitied the girl, and then went steadily about his work. The waters of his soul were too deep for i babling. When Spring came, for tho first time in his life John electrified his friends. He was going to California. The announce ment was mado quietly but firmly, and he stood like a rock against which expostu lation beits itself to spry. He gave good reason and resolutely maintained his right to choose for himself. ' You have always said, mother, that you wished I was more venturosorne," he said. 'I am going to please you now.' ' But how is the farm to get along with out you ?' she objected. ' Fra.uk understands everything and can manage.' Mrs. Holt took courage, and breaking over some little awe which, in spite of her talk, she felt for her son, spoke out : ' John, has that Nell Cramer jilted you?' ' Jilted me !' he said, flushing as much with angor as with surprise. ' What do you mean, mother? We have always been good friends, but never any more. I never gave her the chance to jilt me.' ' Thou why don't you give her the chance ?' persisted tho mother, who did not choose to give up, now that tho ice was broken. ' Nell is a good girl if she does flirt a little. I always thought that she liked you, only that you were too slow to see it. Then, Neil has got a little sum of money of her own that wouldn't bo amiss.' ' You are entirely mistaken, mother, he said decisively. ' Don't let us say any more about it.' ' Oh, you groat fool!' muttered the mother, looking after him as he went out. ' Was there over a man so blind ? He is no more fit to live in this world than an angel out of heaven is.' Then seeing Nellie Cramer passing the street, she lifted her voice and called her in. Tho girl came in, wondering at such a 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 its snugly-Hitting paletot of dark gray, the green bonnet that brought out her fresh, clear, color with a new lustre, and tho fair bright face. ' Did you know that our John is going to California ?' asked Mrs Holt, abrubtly, her koen eyes on the girl's face. All thn color faded out of it in an instant, and Nellie Cramer dropped as suddenly as if she had been shot. She sat there and looked at the other with her strained eyes, but said not a word. 'Yes,' said Mrs. Holt, unable to repress a alight smile of satisfaction at this proof of the correctness of her surmise ; ' Yes, he's set on going in spite of all I can say. He is going in a month or six weeks. Let me sco ; this is the middle of April. He says he shall start by the first of June at furtherest. That smile of Mrs Holt's was an unfor tunate one. Nellie had always feared those sharp eyes, and now the thought flashed into her mind that John's mother was trying to expose and mortify her. A woman's pride will do a good deal for her, even when her heart is breaking. It brought the color to her face again, and strengthened her trembling limbs. It steadied her voice and eyes. Mrs, Holt was puzzled and disconcerted by the sudden change. ' I am so sorry,' Nellie said, in a tone of fearless regret. 'We can scarcely get along without John. He seems such a

at home, I think. If they chose to go they should be allowed their own way. There he is now in the garden. lam ! going out to speak to him of it.' 'Try to coax him to stay, Nellie,' said the mother, in a tone of more entreaty than perhaps she had ever used in her life before. 'Heis a good son, and I can't get along without him. I think you can keep him if you will.' This prayer would hava been effectual, but for the memory of that smile which rankled in the girl's heart. Had she not given John Holt every encouragement, 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 afterward ? John was no fool, 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 garden. He 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 understand each other. Could it be possiM ? And there was Nellie coming down the walk. Her head was erect, and her face perfectly composed, though slightly pale. 'I am so sorry,' she begun. ' Your mother has been telling me of your plans. Of course you know best what is good for you, and I have been telling her to let you have your own way. But we shall all be sorry to lose you John.' That wa3 all. He gave a last grasp at his self-command and held it. There was a short, formal conversation, both so engaged in making a pretence of being kind and friendly, and just as usual, that each could not perceive that the other was also making a pretence'; and four weeks after they parted with tolerable 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 mother and father were dead, and she was keeping house for an unmarried brother. There were hints that the now 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 Nellie. The soft Spring twilight was settling down when he reached her house, and as he walked quietly up the path, a slight figure sat in a window, looking out, sing ing lowly to herself in a mournful reverie. She did not sco him, but when he came nearer he saw her face clearly. The round outlines and bright color were gone, but ho was forced to own that she had grown far more beautiful. The chastened luster of the eyes, the firmer, 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 a blessing in its bitterness. Something swept over his heart with passionate force—some regret, some long ing, ho scarce knew what, If he had I suffered at losing her eight years before, he felt that such a loss now would kill him. He quietly entered the open door, paused on the threshold of the room where she sat alone, She still sung softly, but as he looked, stopped, sighed, and became : silent. ' Nellie !' he would have said, but his voice was only a whisper. He went forward into the shadowy room. ' Is it you, James ?' she said, half turn ing, expecting her brother. John took a step nearer* and this time his voice did not fail. ' Nellie!' She started, half rose, hesitated, then, as he took a step nearer, sprang with a glad cry into his extended arms. ' 1 thought you would never come, John!' she sobbed. ' Were you waiting for me ?' he asked. ' Hid you care for me before I went away ?' 'Then and always, John. How could you be so blind ?' John Holt smoothed her hair tenderly, for one moment of silence, then exclaimed, as though some great truth had suddenly dawned upon him. ' I deserved it! I always thought them wrong, but they were right. I was indeed, ' a great fool!' ■ . ■.' i .'..'"■ The spirits have, after along absence, reappeared in some of the old houses, Rue de la Folie-Mericourt As \va were questioning the janitor, who pretend 3to hive S3BD thorn, he cried: —'Indeed, they have even spoken to me.' 'A.h, and what did they say V 'How should I know ? Ido not understand the dead lan guages'- ' What is the chief use of bread?' asked an examiner at a recent school exhibition. ' Tho chiof use of bread,' answered the tirchin, apparently astonished at tho simplicity of the inquiry, 'is to spread butter and j jni on it.' Gyphwied to a Certainty —Paticntjto his doctor— 'mdit is really true thai; I shall recover?' 'Infall ibly.' cn-iwers the man of medicine, taking from his pncketapapar full of figures, 'Here, look at '.heae statistics of your case ; you wiil find tint one per coat of those attacked with your malady are cured' 'We;i,' says the sick man, in an unsatisfied manner. 'Weil, you are th.s hundredth person with this dfseaso ihit I hava had undar my care, and the first ninety nine aro all clefd." . ,nbury has she champion patient roy. He cornea from a chioaic&Uy borrowing family. The other day he wel!*; to a neighbor's for a cup of sour milk. ' t haven't got anything but sweat mi!k,'sa<d the woman pettishl?. 'I'll wait till it sour a,' said tha obliging

Known at Last.

A Jtjnis nigh.; such a Jane nio-U i 1 blue|aad breathless, and mooaliß.iV sitting all alone ia the dear oW T *1 garden, and the caaal which runs r^^^H of it, silvered by moonlight and _7 ■ darkened by the shadow of a llfH look quite soft and Italian. Sbi W Papa had had a few gentleman _m and till tney are satisfied with to! H politics, I prefer, tho garden to th* j a4 room—the garden full of moonlit*. "I""!.' searching scent of the thorn I«„ and H however, to enjoy my solitude i^ IH, step olose by me, and the gUmm fl » .«*.I *> I 'Ah! Miss Paisely,' says a T w °!a<% voice with which I am very fam^S you take mo for a ghost > *H I say, laughing. « Hardly I nOB heard of a ghost wearing flowers ?e! ' The gentleman replied: ' I uU\. j. . room before the others, beojftfe have a few minutes' serious talk vo > ' '0 h, don't be serious,' I cry niC i making a wry face. r^ Piteously, au d • Oh, put by jesting,' he rejoins 1.. .. aweary tone of voice; 'aftiHfcVH make no further exactions npoayon^f My vanity is wounded, and I .a* _ , 1 ' I can be as grave as most people *»( occasion requires it; but there LJ T fe who mistake moroseness for or».• I goad spirits for heartlessnesa ' y,illli| ' Very likely,' ho goes On,' bardlv U v mysaliy^butlhaveuotcSje&f owaoonaaofc but rather to pl.dfor3 I am golng-I am going to Bpeak £* young fncna Hamilton. Look here lN- Paisley, yoa may flirt with ninety l?! and though it msy hurt SfNli it, do them no lasting harm • K?„M hundredth it may be different: "SjM ksfe drive him to madnew om_3_ 1 Hamilton is one of the flnaJifftJ that ever lived,' * DS felM. ' An excellent young man, doubtless' I put in wibh something of a sneer ' I Not noticing the interruption'• m.. I know, nob generally! attractive \ n l 'I From a boy he baa been 2L&» delicate; Lis nature is hffJZ *l nervous. Now you know he wSS. # Indeed, you flatter me,' I JL yo?" v down to hide a biash, whiehl fancy fil I know really it is not visible in the da H/ can not escape hi, gray, penetrZ^l 'But, he says quietly, 'youcanloXJ me ; you know hi >d 08S Now wha I 3 have from you is this ; How will yo nans 3 'And I command you toSfiW pr.sent impartmence and to leave me >lZ springing up ma priori, and flinging from me the rose with which I had °Q toying ; 'and if yoa are a delegate from » friend he has indeed been unfortunate' j _ ISO, upon my honor I am not rejoins, earnestly. Then he stands arid... bows gravaly as I sweep past. 1 I hasten to the drawing-room; andsoonfij gentlemen came id. WiliiamjHanultoncoii over to where lam sitting. He ia certain! handsome, though not in a way attractive! us women ; tall aud slight, with an arista!: tic, mobile, though soniawhat feminine,^ lit up by large soft, melancholy eyes; .1 hands beautifully fashioned, are thin almi to transparency. He leans with bis arm! the b*ck of my chair, aud begins talljl about some book he ha. given me. Tol his questions I reply with warmth & animation. Coionsl Gordon is observin .1. his face always brightens wben he hear. 1 talking less frivolously than is my wontf cannot help contrasting the two friends • ti younger —and so much the younger, too-! fair and fragile ; the elder, certainly notshf handsome, bat strong of !imb and broad <km with the dark, resolute face worn andbaiJ by the storm wind of the world; Ithiiifl make myself very agreeable to poor _|f Hamilton. We sit by ourselves all ttoerii ing apart in a corner of the room, appareailg lost in one another, until something he sJf puts me oat of tuae, and I leave him in ail;" poor fellow. 0;ily when he is goi_| awaj ] I am so sorry for him that I cannot resi j saying, ' I hope you don't think me too qiifl reisome ?' Then I look up .piteously in to face and cast another look of prouddeSans at his friend. Soon our little party bteab up, and I am glad that the evening is at as end. Another superb day, justashotandcW j less as yesterday; but in spite of the beaatiii | weather and all Cha roses iv the' garden,u get up cross and oat of spirits. Amlme re! 9 a flirt ? Something altogether too light aw ,| frivolous 1 A woman, I think, should i something better. After all, Colonel Gorfs I was right, and when I see Mr. Hamito I again I will show him -irmly but kindly tb I lha has no reason to hop?, lam somew .;' comforted by this resolution, but I haresf, will tolread books *or to pay visits. lin| no mother, and I am an only child, Boniyll, is rather solitary. 'Somehow the day f_M itself away, and at 6 o'clock, punctual asii time itself, comes the quick, familiar mKa and I hasten to meet my dear old father m his official dutie3. I overcome him by ijiwj > and complaints. ' Oh, lam so glad yon 4 back,' I say ; * I have been horribly.dig and hasn't it been hot ?- no cool comsl the house, and no shade in the garden,' | returns my kisses, very affectionately, p looks so grave that I say, anxiously,'l anything, he marier, dear?' * Ye 3 ; I have very sudden andbadwft he answers, taking me into the dining-!* k and stroking my h.iir with his dear(|| hands. ' Young Hamilton is dead; 'r' fonnd dead this morning in his bed. appears he was si ways subject to heart c plains. I met Gordon in the street who-;; me the sad news. Poor fellow; heEW :. quite broken by it.' lam terri biy" Dend. I say the word* and over again, yet I. caanot realize W' meaning of it. But whoa Igo to bed In my fac6 to the wall, on which one long. I of moor.Ji_.i_ is .Living, and sob 3S !!,|' hesrfe would b»<?.vk, and yet I know I di' love him. Oh, ecf t, melancholy eyes! : haps not me-aarrholy now, bat fiW radiant atid full of a new triumphant M Oh, poor troubled heart! that has, I H

EVENING: STAR SUPPLEMENT, DECEMBER 9, 1876.