The bee., 1877-09-13
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She was lovely. As he knew her, she was sweet, innocent, affectionate girl but the thought of marrying her had never entered his head until that mo ment. His ideal was older, graver, as one to understand him thoroughly must have been He fancied face of more power, deeper eyes, and q stronger ef- feet; but if he read arignt the eyes and lips before him, their meaning was very sweet and thrilling.
 Nellie blushed with distress under his eyes. He searched her face resolutely. Such face had deceived him once, when he was mere boy, and loved with his passionate first love He dropped her hands at last, and stepped back. Are you going to school this Sum- mer2 ?" he asked, plucking a dry leaf from geranium on the wlndow.sill. Yes. l graduate in July"
 "Oh, yes; l had forgotten. And in July comes your birthday ?"
 Yes; l am eighteen in July"
 She was womanly for her age after all. If he could only be sure that she was not as light-natured as she was fair But that pretty way of tossing back her curls was Bessie Bradford's own. He did not wish to be fooled twice by the same style. So he cnatted about the school exhibition, the closing of the library, and the military review in April, and f. nally took his leave.
 He thinks me only child, and love him sol" she murmured, sobbing bitter ly. "l hate my baby face wish was dead !"
 She cried herself nearly i'll, but escaped undetected to her room when her broth CT came in. The next day she heard that Manfred Lowth had gone to New York.
 The Spring wore on. Nellie Dare grew pale and grave Her mother became anx- ious. Nellie was surely studying too hard; she never could bear the excite ment of the exhibition. So Nellie was taken almost by force from school and sent to Nahant.
 Nahant's sea breezes had no effect. Nellie's chaperone, Mrs. Berlram, of Boston, recommended tonics and bath ing, drives and flirting, and did her best to have her prescriptions carried into eff feet; but Nellie endured everything list lessly, and finally begged, in answer to her aunts approximations, to be let en- tirely alone She should do better so. Mrs. Bertram gave up in despair, and Nellie read and dreamed in solitude, or sat idly on the rocks watching the sea. The wild wind Drowned her face and blew very faint roses in her cheeks, but days and weeks crept by, and Mrs. Ser tram bemoaned that Nellie never would be like other girls.
 One morning fishing party came to the hotel. They were entered upon the books as Manfred Lowth," of Boston, Edward Rowland, of Manchester, New Ctts
 Nellie, my dear, do hurry Mir Lowth is here, from Boston-the finest man 1! Well-off, well-connected, gentlemanly, and of excellent character You can never expect to make very brilliant match, having no expectations yourself, but l consider this just the thing for
 
 you. Now, Nellie, if you only will have your wits about you, instead of being so indifferent to everything, I shall be thankful. Why, there is no answering what that pretty face of yours might do, if you would only see your chances Terry Holmes declares you the prettiest girl, here, and his father is millionaire Just think of it, Nellie
 Nellie, strangely pale, with her back to her aunt. turned Maccassa upon her handkerchief, saying, chokingly:
 "What Mr. Lowth, auntie ?"
 Manfred Lowth. He's skipper from Boston. Belongs in my set
 Nellie found another handkerchief, gave defiant glance at her pale face in the mirror, and turned to her aunt.
 'I am ready"
 They went down to the dining room, and took their places side by side. Ex- actly opposite Nellie sat Manfred Lowth mixing lobster salad, and chatting softly and gayly with Mrs. Vernon from New York. At Nellie's right side sat Ned Rowland, her old beau from Manchester.
 Lowth looked up and bowed to her. She returned the sautation, then turned to Ned Rowland.