The bee., 1877-09-13

in the world was the child doingp
 Suddenly quick smile flashed over Nellie'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 sprang into the cross-road and hurried out of sight. Arriving at the place, Lowth picked up the little white mitten. He put two fin gers into it-walking on looking at it and smiling Such dainty little thing 1! and then Nellie had looked so pretty and frightened. But why had she un- covered 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 a little white cottage with bare li- laos and rosevines clinging about it. the loveliest place around in the Summer time. Now there was face prettier than any rose at one of the parlor win dows, and Manfred Lowth looked up and bowed to it.
 Nellie's fresh young blood flooded her heart as she caught sight of the form which personitied all her grish, ideal dreams. She dropped her book and rose up trembling as Manfred Lowth entered the room. He looked with laughing eyes into the pretty flushing face as he took her hands.
 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 weather," he said, after moment.
 "Oh, Mr. Lowth l"
 "Well, Miss Nellie 2''
 " I was trying trick"
 Mir. Lowth looked mystified.
 That of the first robin,' said Nellie, very much ashamed to show her child ishness to her companion, yet half anus ed at Lowth's expression.
 Did you expect to find him in your stocking 7"
 "No. Oh, Mir. Lowth, didn't you ever hear the old saying-n
 Well, Nellie ?"
 "That when you heard the first robin of Spring singing, if you pulled the stocking from your left foot, you would find on the inside of the sole-'
 What ?"
 !" A hair like that of the persons you are going to marry"
 !" You ridiculous child P
 Nellie's face was burning hot at her foolishness, but she could not help laugh ing at MT. Lowth's evident appreciation of it, and his thorough astonishment.
 " Nellie, I'll buy you rattle the next time go into town"
 Nellie pouted.
 "Well, did you find the hair ?"
 " Yes, sir"
 !" Was it like mine ?" tossing back his loose masses of dark brown hair.
 A little quivering smile spoiled Nellie's pout.
 q The rest is secret"
 "Then you don't intend to tell whose the hair was like2'
 No, I shall not tell :"
 :" May guess! 7"
 !" l can't help your guessing, sir"
 " Was it like Ned Howland's ambrosi- al locks, little Dignity ?"
 (" l haven't promised to tell if you guess"
 'So you haven'tl Then I shall not waste my time guessing. But tell me one thing"
 "What is that ?"
 " If you have faith in the trick.''
 Utter faith," Nellie said, smiling and shaking her head.
 "Then I wish--I do wish that the hair may be like mine.n
 Manfred Lowth spoke with no raillery yet he hardly knew why he spoke as he did. Nellie Dare turned pale as lily. There was moment of swift thought in both their minds
 Manfred Lowth had committed him self; as an honorable man he had com