The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-09-06
NELLIE DARE,S LOVE.

| 1t was Marcu morning, yet the sky
was as blue as in June. Manfred L9wth
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 for
ests, rose still and stately beyond. The
sold, gray meadows" within sight had
patches of snow upOn them. aad the
breC zes brought the atmosphere of snow
| from the mountains, though the sun
shine tell so brightly.
Manfred LowGn 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 bis solitude, with his ab-
| sOrbed, mastertul eyes, and face OF
! Spartan tirmness, he looked every ineh
king. 1t was his thirty ty-titth birthday.
There may have been something sad in
the Thought to him, for he was utterly
alone in lie, and the circumstances
| which gave sense Of airy freedom at
| thirty bring feeling OF desolation at
Sky. Possibly Manfred Lowtn thought
OF Lhis as he hailed his birthday morn,
and thou mt how much Of his lite had
xoue. 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 be-
|
played a vigorous agility OF exceeding
grace, and his step. as he walked rapidly
down the hill, had the buoyant elasticity
Of youth and hope. Ii his thoughts had
been grave they were so no longer. lie
| went down the hill whistling cheerily.
| There was Il long road OF yellow clay
stretching before him to the city, patches
of bare scrub oaks at either side. ln
one place the road went over slight
elevation, at the commencement OF
which a space beyond was concealed by
me Mil, and just here MauIred Lowth
ceased whisLllng, and began searching
his pockets eagerly. He laughed mer-
rlly as he finally brought forth from the
breast pocket of his inuer coat little
whIle worsted stocking. This is how he
came by II:
Tue morning before, he had been going
over that very hill, but not whistling as
then. Reaching the top, he looked down
upon Il Atlle hgure seated upon stone
by the lonely roadside, where hardly a
house was In sight. 1t was perfect
picture. The gIrl wore oress OF Grim
son merino, and pretty, snowy hood,
which was pushed back from her rose of
a face, over the sweet, low forehead OF
when little tresses Of golden hair We're
| blowing in the mild March wind. She
vas altogether too intensely occupied
| TO puL back her hair; curlously occu-
pied, too. She had pulled her stocking
ana shoe from her lett loot, and was in
tently examining the small sole of the
white Worsted stocking, while the little
hare, snowy foot rested unnotioed on
tho lrozen ground.
| Manfred LoWJh recognized Nellie
Dare, and thought she must be crazy.
What il the world was the child doingY
| Suddenly a Qulck smile flashed over
| NeIlie's face, her cheek dImpled, she
| tossed back her hair and looked up and
saw tho watcher on the hill. ThestOck-
ing was turned and slipped Oh in q fash,
the little boot put on ( Manfred LoWth
was sure it was only halt put on, by the
| tracks it made in a patch OF snow near
| by) and n lie Dare sprang into the road
auu hurried OuL ol sight. Arriving at
the place, LoWth picked up the little
white mitten. He put Two Gingers into
|ll-walking on looking at 1t, and smil-
| ing. Sucn a dainty little thing! and
| then Nellie had looked SO pretty and
frightened. But why had she uncov-
area her foot and examined her stocking
| nv the roau-side? surely there were no
t6orns OF thisIles about at that time Of
| the year.
| When he came to the cross-road by
thn mines he hesitated, and finally struck
| limo it. Then ho put the mitten back
| into his pocket, buttoned his coat, and
| walked fasLer.
| Mile Dare's home was on the Auburn
Road: Il little white cottage with bare
lilacs and ruSe-Vlnes cllnglng about it
IlEe lovehesL place around in The summer
time. Now there was a lace pretJer
tnAn any rose at one OF the parlor VIM
IIuWs, and Manfred LoWth looked up and
IboWed to it.
NeIlie's fresh young blood flooded her
Ibnart as she caught sight oil the form
Iwh,cn personitied all her glrlish, ideal
IdreAms. She dropped her book and rose
Inn trembling as Manfred LOwth entered
ihe room, He looked with Laughing eyes
Into the pretty tlusning face as he took
her hands.
"Mlss Nellie. Ihave called out of the
lpurest curiosity to know why you have
taken to the fashion OF the chlck-a-dee-
ldees, and 20 bal eiootin snowy Weather.
Inc said, after moments
"On. Mr. Lowth"
IWtu, Miss Nclliep
~ was trying trick"
Mr., Lowth looked mystifeQ.
"That of The first robln," said Nellie,
livery much ashamed to show her Child
llsnness to her companion, yet halt
lamused at MI LowtPs expression.
DID you expect to lind him in your
stocking"
mo. Oh, Mr.. Lowth, didn't you ever
hear the OLD saying"
sWell, Nolllep
"rhat wnen you heard the first robin
Of spring singing, if you pulled the
stocking from your lett foot, you would
lind on the inside Of the sole"
"W hatT
"a hair like that of the PERSONS you
are going to marry"
1 "Yuu ridiculous child"
Nellle's tace was burning hot at her
foulisnness, but she could nothel p laugh.
i ing at Mr.. Lowth'S evident apprecia-
lion of it, and his thorough asLonlsh
ment.
| Nellie, Pll buy you rattle the nexl
time go into town."
| Nellie pouteu.
eWell, did you find the hairw
"Yes, sir"
"W as it like minep" tossing back his
loose masses OF dark brown hair.
A little quiyering smile spoiled Mel
lies pout.
sThe rest is secret"
"Then you don't intend to tell whose
the hair was liker'