The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-09-21
NELLIE DARE'S LOVE.

upon inc Guy. lU Sleulneu Wnltc ant
beautiful from the plains, and the hills
green with their covering ofpine forests
rose still and stately beyond. The col,
gray meadows" within sight had patchc
of snow upon them, and the breeze
brought the atmosphere of snow from
the mountains, though the sunshine fel
so brightly.
Manfred Lowth stood with his arm
folded across his breast, and his tall
powerful figure outlinedagainstthe cleal
sky. AS he stood thus, still and reso
Lutte in his solitude, with his absorbed
mastery eyes, and face of Spartan firm
ness, he looked every inch king. |
was his thirty-flfth birthday. Their,
may have been something sad in thu
thought to him, for he was utterly alont
in life, and the circumstances whicl
gave a sense of airy freedom at thirty
bring feeling of desolation at sixty
Possibly Manfred Lowth thought ofthi
as he hailed his birthday morn, ant
thought how much his life had gone
Not that there were any signs OF advan
cling age in his vigorous figure ant
abundant dark hair. AS he suddcnl,
placed one hand upon the stone wall be
fore him and leaped lightly over, he dis
played vigorous agility of exceeding
grace, and his step, as he walked rapid
ly down the hill, had the buoyant elias
ticity of youth and hope. If hi
thoughts had been grave, they were Sc
no longer. He went down the hill
whistling cheerily.
There was long road of yellow clay
stretching before him to the city, patch
es OF bare scrub oaks at either side. Ii
one place the road went over Sigh
elevation, at the commencement O
which space beyond was concealed by
the hill, and just here Manfred Lowti
ceased whistling, and began searching
his pockets eagerly. He laughed mer
rily as he finally brought forth from the
pocket of his inner coat little white
worsted mitten. This is how he came
by it:
The morning before he had been go
ing over that very hill, but not whistline
as then. Reaching the top, he looked
down upon little figure seated upon {
stone by the lonely roadside, where
hardly house was in sight. 1t was {
perfect picture. The girl wore dress
of crimson merino, and a pretty snowy
hood, which was pushed back from hel
rose of face, over the sweet, low fore.
head of which little tresses of golden
hair were blowing in the wild Marcl
wind. She was altogether too intense
ly occupied to put back her hair; curl
ously occupied, too. She had pulled hel
stocking and shoe from her left foot
and was intently examining the small
sole of the white worstcd stocking
while the little bare, snowy foot restet
unnoticcd on the frozen ground.
Manfred Lowth recognized Nellie
Dare, and thought she must be crazy
What in the world was the child doing.
Suddenly quick smile flashed ovel
Ncllic's face, her check dimpled, she
tossed back her hair and looked up ant
saw the watcher on the hill. The stock
ing was turned and slipped OH in hur
ry, the little boot put on (Manfret
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 III
the little white mitten. He put two
fingers into it-walking on looking at i
and smiling. Such dainty little thing
and then Nellie had looked so prett,
and frightened. But why had she un
covered her foot and examined hel
stocking by the roadside? Surely
there were no thorns or thistcs abou
that time of the year.
When he came to the cross-road b,
the pines, he hesitated, and finall,
struck into ii. Then he put the mittei
back into his pocket, buttoncd his Goa
and walked faster.
Nellie Dare's home was OH the Au
burn road; a little white cottage will
bare lilacs and rose-vines clinging abou
1.-THE loveliest place around in tn,
summer time. Now there was fac,
lor windows, and Manfred Lowth look
ed up and bowed to it.
Nellie's fresh young blood flooded he
heart as she caught sight of the form
which personified all her girlish, idea
dreams. She dropped her book ant
rose up trembling as Manfred Lowtl
entered the room. He looked up will
laughing eyes into the pretty flushing
face as he took her hands.
"Miss Nellie, have called out of tn,
purest curiosity to know why you hav,
taken to the fashion of the chick-a-dee
dees, and go bare-footed in snow,
weather." he said after moment.
ooh, Mr.. Lowthv
"Well, Miss Nellie?'
81 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 hal
amused at Lowth's expression.
"Did you expect to find him in you
stocking?r.
"No. Oh, Mr.. Lowth, didn't vol
ever hear the old saying"-
''Well, Nellie?'
"rhat when you heard the first rObil
of spring singing, if you pulled tn
stocking from your left foot, You woul,
find on the inside OF the sole''-
"What?'
"a hair like that of PERSONS YOU ar
going to marry"
"You ridiculous child"
Nellie's face was burning hot at he
foolishness, but she could not hel
laughing at Mr.. Lowth's evident apprc
citation of it, and his thorough astonisl
ment.
"Nellie, I'll buy YOU rattle the mex
ilinc go INTO Town!
Nellie pouted.
"Well, did you find the hair?"
eyes, sir"
"Well, SIR"
"Was it like mine?" tossing back hi
loose masses of dark brown hair.
A little quivering smile spoiled Ne
! lies pout.
"Thc rest is a secret"
"Then you don't intend to tell who's
the hair was like?"
"No, shall not tell"
"May guess?"
! 81 can't help your guessing, SIR"
"Was it like Ned IIowland's ambro
ial locks, little Dignity"
81 haven't promised to tell if yo
guess"
$50 you haven't! Then | shall II,
waste my time guessing. But tell n
one thing"
"What is that?'
If you have faith in the trick"
Utter faith" Nellie said, smiin
aud rl.aI-sn.. Ia.