The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-08-22


/" You ridiculous childp'
Nellie's face was burning hot at her
foolishness, but she could not help
laughing at Lowth's evident apprecia-
ton of it, and his thorough astonish-
ment.
"Nellie, I'll buy you rattle the
next time l go into town."
Nellie pouted.
"Well, did you find the hair ?"
Yes, sir"
WAS it mine7'' tossing back the
loose masses Of dark brown hair.
A little quivering smile spoiled
Nellie's pout.
"The rest is a secret"
"Then you don't intend to tell whose
the hair was likef'
"No, / shall not tell"
"May guess7'
Z" can't help your guessing, sir"
"Was it like Ned Howland's am
brosial locks, Little DignityT'
81 haven't promised to tell you if you
guess"
$50 you haven't. Then 1 shall not
waste my time guessing. But tell me
one thing"
What is that?'
"If you have faith in the trick"
cutter faith" Nellie said, smiling
and shaking her head.
sThen I wish-I do wish that the
hair may be like mine"
Manfred Lowth spoke with no raillery !;
yet he hardly knew why he spoke as he
did. 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 a thing in such 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 sweet, innocent, affectioDate girl;
but the thought of marrying her never
entered his head until that moment.
His ideal was older and graver, as one
to understand him thoroughly must
have been. He fancied face of more
power, deeper eyes, and strong effect;
but he read Alright the eyes and lips be-
fore him, their meaning was very sweet
and thrilling.
Nellie blushed with distress under his
eyes. He searched her face resolutely.
Such a face had pursued him once,
when he was meSe boy, and loved with
his passionate first love. He dropped
her hands at last, and stepped back.
"Are you going to school this sum.
r,ar9 %, he asEed pluckinp a dry leaf
from the geranium on the window sill.
"Yes. graduate in July"
"Oh, yes; / had forgotten. And in
July comes your birthday"
eyes; am eighteen in July
She was womanly for her age, after
all. If he could only be sure that she
was not as light hearted as she was fair
But that pretty way of tossing back her
cnrls 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 closing of the
library, and the military review in
April, and finally took his leave.
"He thinks me only child, and l
love him so," she murmured, sobbing
bitterly. 81 hate my baby facel And
he always finds me doing some childish
thing. I wish I were dead!t"
She cried herself nearly ill, but es-
caped 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. Nellie was surely
studying too hard. She could never
bear the excitement of the exhibition.
So Nellie was taken almost by force
from school and sent to Nahant.
Nahant's sea breezes had no effect.
Nellie's chdpero1ae, Mrs. Betram, of Bos-
ton, recommended tonics and bathing,
drives and flirting, and did her best to
have her prescriptions carried into effect;
but Nellie endured everything listlessly,
and finally begged, in answer to her
aunt's expostulations, to be left entirely
alone. She would be better so. Mrs.
Betram gave up in despair, and Nellie
read and dreamed in solitude, or sat
idly on the rocks, watching the sea. The
wild wind Drowned her face and blew
very faint roses in her cheeks; but days
and weeks crept by, while Mrs. Betram
bemoaned that Nellie never would be
like other girls.
One morning fishing party came to
the hotel. They were entered upon the
books as " Manfred Lowth, of Boston, 7"
and " Edward Rowland, of Manchester,
New Hampshire" etc.
Nellie, my dear, do hurry; MIR.
Lowth is here from Boston, the finest
man. Well of, we'll connected, gentle
manly and of excellent character. You
can never expect to make brilliant
match, having no expectations yourself;
consider this just the thing for you.
Now, Nellie, if you will only have your
wits about you, instead of being so in
different about everything, shall be
thankful. Why, there is no answering
what that pretty face of yours might do,
if you would only see your chances
Terry Holmes declares you the prettiest
girl here, and his father is millionaire.
Just think of it, Nelliep'
Nellie, strangely pale, with her back
to her aunt, turned Macassar on hel
handkerchief, saying, chokingly:
"What Mr.. Lowth, auntie? 2"
"Manfred Lowth. He is shipper
from Boston. Belongs in my set"
Nellie found another handkerchief
gave a defiant glance at her pale face IL
the mirror. and turned to her aunt.
"I am ready"
They went down to the dining room
and took their places side by side. Elk
actly opposite Nellie sat Manfred Lowth
mixing lobster salad and chatting softl,
and gayly with Mrs. Vernon, of NeI
York. At Nellie's right hand sat Me-
Rowland, her old beau from Manchester
Lowth looked up and bowed to hel
She returned the salutation, the
turned to Ned Rowland.
| Perhaps for an hour she firted-neve
afterward. After dinner she went t
her room, bathed her head, which ache
terribly, then joined her aunt in th
parlor. There was Manfred Lowth, VIII
4 stood at her side moment and el
changed few words with her, the
sauntered away. But Ned Howlan
bent over her chair all the Afternoon
At night she went to bed feverish and il
| A week passed. Nellie became avail
that Ned Rowland loved her. He W.