Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-11-07
NELLIE DARE'S LOVE.

1t was a March morning, and vet the
.kv 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 u king. 1t
vas his 35th birthday. There may have
been something sad in the thought to
him, for he was utterly alone in life, and
he circumstances which give sense Of
airy freedom at thirty bring a feeling
Of deSolatlon 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
we're 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 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 sornh oaks at either side In
one place the road went over u slight
elevation, at the commencement of
which a space beyond was concealed by
the hill, and just here Manfred Lowth
ceased whistling, and began searching
his pockets eagerly. He laughed mer-
rly as he finally brought fourth from the
breast pocket of his inner coat 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 a stone
by lonely roadside, where hardly a
house was in sight. 1t was perfect pic
lnre. The girl wore dress of crimson
merlno, and a pretty, snowy hood, which
was pushed back from her rose of a face,
over the sweet, low forehead Of which
lttle 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
rom her left foot, and was intently ex-
aiming the small sole of the white
"osted 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
mg"
suddenly a quick smile flashed over
he!lle's face, her cheek dimpled, she
tossed back her hair, and looked w and
saw the watcher on the hill. The stock
mIs was turned and slipped on in flash,
'he little boot put on Manfred Lowth
was sure it was only half put on, by the
tracks it made in patch of snow near
wv and Nellie Dare sprung into the
uoSS-road, and hurried out Of sight. Ar
Elylng at the place, Lowth picked up the
i'ilIe white mitten. He put two fingers
INTO walking on looking at it, and
smiling Such dainty little thing
ana then Nellie had looked so pretty and
frightened. But why had she uncovered
ner loot and examined her stocking by
NE roadside? Surely there were no
,AornS or thistles about at that time of
the year.
When he came to the cross-road by
'4e pines hehesitated, and finally struck
mo It. Then he put the mitten back
AJo his pocket buttoned his coat, and
walked faster.
Nellie Dare's home was or thc auburn
"id n little white cote ian bare Ii
.'ea and rose vines cHnging about it
"e ,oycliest place around IN the sum-
Aer time. Nov there was face pref
"4E than any rose at one Of the windows,
nd Manfred Lowth looked up and
lowed to it.
Aelle's fresh young blood flowed her
las She caught sight Of the face
..ea personiiied all her grin.
4. ans. She Dropped her book and r.se
..hbiMg rs Manfred Lowth entered the
.'.A. He looked with laughing eyes
,..' the prcttiest flushing face as he took
De-. hand
lbs Nellie, hs,s called oui Of the