Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-11-07
NELLIE DARE'S LOVE.

1t was a March morning, and vet the
sky was as blue as in June. Manfred
Lowth stood on Wilson's hill, looking
down upon the city. 1t cleaned white
and beautiful from the plains, and the
hills, green with their covering of pine
forests, rose still and stately beyond.
The dull-gray meadows within sight
had peaks of snow upon them, and the
breeze brought the atmosphere of snow
from the mountains, though the sunshine
fell SO bright.
Manfred Lowth stood with his arms
folded across his breast, and his tall.
powerful figure outlined against the clear
sky AS he stood thus, still and resolute
in his solitude, with his absorbed, mas
terful eyes. and a face of Spartan firm
ness, he looked every inch king 1t
was his 35th birthday. There may have
been something sad in the thought to
him, for he was utterly alone in life, and
the circumstances which give a sense of
airy freedom at thirty, bring feeling
of desolation at sixty Possibly Manfred
Lowth thought of this as he hailed his
birthday morn, and thought how much
of his life had gone. Not that there
were any signs of advancing age in his
vigorous figure and abundant dark hair.
As he suddenly placed one hand upon
the stone wall before him and leaped
lightly over, he displayed a vigorous
agility of exceeding grace, and his step,
as he walked rapidly down the hill, had
the buoyant elasticity of youth and
hope. If his thoughts had been grave,
they were SO no longer He went down
the hill whistling cheerily
There was long road of yellow clay
stretching before him to the city, patches
of bare scrub oaks at either side. In
one place the road went over a slight
elevation, at the commencement of
which space beyond was concealed by
the hill, and just here Manfred Lowth
ceased whistling, and began searching
his pockets eagerly. He laughed mer-
rily as he finally brought fourth from the
breast pocket of his inner coat a little
white worsted mitten This is how he
came by it
The morning before he had been going
over that very hill. but not whistling as
then. Reaching the top, he looked down
upon a little figure seated upon stone
by lonely roadside, where hardly a
house was in sight. TWAS perfect pic
ture. The girl wore dress of crimson
merino, and a pretty. snowy hood, which
was pushed back from her rose of face,
over the sweet, low forehead Of which
little tresses of golden hair were blow
ing In the mild March wind She was
altogether too intensely occupied to put
back her hair, curiously occupied, too.
She had pulled her stocking and shoe
from her left foot, and was intently ex-
aiming the small sole of the white
worsted stocking, while the little bare,
snowy foot rested unnoticed on the
frozen ground
Manfred LoWth recognized Nellie
Dare, and thought she must be crazy
What in the world was the child do
ing p
Suddenly quick smile flashed over
Nelle's face, her cheek dimpled, she
tossed back her hair, and looked up and
saw the watcher on the hill. The stock
ing was turned and slipped on in flash,
the little boot put on Manfred Lowth
was sure it was only half put on, by the
tracks it made In patch of snow near
BY and Nellie Dare sprung into the
cross-road, and hurried out of sight. Ar
irving at the place, Lowth picked up the
little white mitten. He put two fingers
into it-walking on looking at it, and
smiling. Such a dainty little thing
and then Nellie had looked SO pretty and
frightened. But why had she uncovered
her foot and examined her stocking by
the roadside? Surely there were no
thorns or thistles about at that time of
the year.
When he came to the cross-road by
the pines he hesitated, and finally struck
into it. Then he put the mitten back
into his. pocket, buttoned his coat, and
walked faster.
Nellie Dare's home was on the Auburn
road little white cottage with bare IL
laos and rose vines clinging about it
the loveliest place around in the sum-
mer time. Now there was face pref
tier than any rose at one If the windows,
and Manfred Lowth looked up and
bowed to it.
Nellle's fresh young blood flowed her
heart as she caught sight of the face
which personifed all her girlish, ideal
dreams. She dropped her book and rose
trembling as ManfredLowth entered the
room. He looked with laughing eyes
into the prettiest flushing face as he took
her hand.
Miss..Nellie, have called out of the
purest curiosity to know why you have
taken to the fashion of the chick-a-dee-
dees, and go barefoot in snowy wealth
cry" he said after a moment.
"Oh, Mr.. Lowth p
Well, Miss Nelliey
was trying trick"
Mr. LoWth looked mystified
That of the first robin" said Nellie,
very much ashamed to show her child
ishness to her companion, yet half
amused at Lowth's expression.
Did you expect to find him In your