Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-11-07

stocking from your left foot, you would
find on the inside of the sole"
What?"
CA hair like that of the persons you
are going to marry"
You ridiculous child -
Nellie's face was burning hot at her
foolishness, but she could not help
laughing at Lowth's evident appre-
citation of it, and his thorough aston
ishment.
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 the
loose masses of dark brown hair.
little quivering smile spoiled Nellies
pOut.
The rest is a secret"
Then you don't intend to tell whose
the hair was like ?"
No, I shall not tell"
May guess?'
I can't help your guessing, Sir"
"Was it like Ned Howland's ambro-
sial locks, little Dignity?"
81 haven't promised to tell if you
guess"
$50 you haven't. Then 1 shall not
waste my time guessing. But tell me
one thing"
= What is that?'
eff you have faith in the tricks"
utter faith" Nellie said, smiling and
shaking her head
Then l wish-l do wish that the hair
may be like mine''
Manfred Lowth spoke with no rail
lery, yet he hardly knew why he spoke
as he did. Nellie Dare turned pale as
a lily. There was moment of swift
thought in both their minds.
Manfred Lowth had committed him.
self; as an honorable man he had com
mitted himself He had no right to say
such thing in such a tone, unless he
meant what he said. So he stood, half
condemned, looking down at Nellie's
sweet. agitated face.
She was lovely. AS he knew her, she
was a sweet, innocent, affectionate girl );
but the thought of marrying her never
entered his head until that moment. His
ideal was older, graver, as one to un-
derstand him thoroughly must have
been. He fancied face of more pow
er, deeper eyes, and stronger effect
but, if he read Alright thee and lips
before him, their meaning was very
sweet and thrilling.
Nellie blushed with distress under his
eyes. He searched her face resolutely.
Such 81 face had deceived him once,
when he was q 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-
mer?" he asked, plucking a dry leaf from
a geraniun on the window-sill
"Yes, graduate in July
"Oh, yes; | had forgotten. And in
July. comes your birth-day?'
Yes am eighteen in July"
She was womanly for her age after
all. If he could only be sure that she
was not as ight-hearted 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 chatted
about the school exhibition, the clos
ing of the library, and the military
review in April, and finally took his
leave.
He thinks me only child, and I
love him so,' she murmured, sobbing
bitterly. hate my baby face! And
he always finds me doing some childish
thing. [ wish | was dead"
She cried herself nearly i'll, but es-
capped undetected to her room when her
brother 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
anxious. 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. e
Nahant's sea breeze had no effect.
Nellie's chaperone, Mrs. sBertram, of
Boston, recommended tonics and bath
ing, drives and flirting, and did her. best
to have her prescription carried into
effect but Nellie endured everything
listlessly, and finally begged, in answer
to her aunt's expestulations, to be let
entirely alone. She should do better
SO. Mrs. Bertram gave up in despair,
and Nellie read and dreamed in soil
tude, or sat idly on the rocks watch
ing the sea. The wild wind Drowned
her face and blew very faint roses in
her cheeks, but days and weeks crept
by, while Mrs. Bertram bemoaned that
Nellie never would be like the 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
Hampshire" etc.
Nellie, my dear, do hurry! Mr..
Lowth is here, from Boston-the finest
man! Well off, well connected, gentle
manly, and of excellent character. You
can never expect to make a very bril-
liant match, having no expectations
yourself. 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