The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-09-25

INA you expect TO ma MIN III your
stockingr
No. Oh, Mr.. Lowth, didn't you
ever hear the old saying
We'll, Nelliep
That when you heard the first robin
of spring if you had pulled the stock
ing from your left foot you would find
on the inside of the sole
'WhatY
A hair like that of the person you
are going to marry T
You ridiculous child =
Nellie's face was burning hot at her
foollishness, but she could not help
laughing at Mr.. Lowth's evident APP
probation of it and his thorough aston
ishment.
Nellie, I'll buy you rattle the next
time | 90 into town.
Nellie poutted.
'Well, did you find the hair"
YES, Sir
WAS it mine!' tossing back the
loose masses of dark brown hair.
The rest is a secret.
Then you don't intend to tell whose
the hair was like
No, ! shall not tell
May guess?
Il can't help you guessing, SIR
WAS it like Ned Howland's ambro-
STA locks, Little DignityY
Il havn't promised to tell you if you
guess
so YOU havn't. Then I shall not
waste my time guessing. But tell me
one thing
what is that?
If you have faith in the trick.
Utter faith,' Nellie said, smiling
and shaking her head.
Then | wish-I do wish that the
hair may be like mine.
Manfred LOwth spoke with no rail-
lery, yet he hardly knew why he spoke
as lie 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 II tone unless
he meant what he said. So he stood
half condemned, looking down at Mel
lies sweet, agitated face.
She was lovely. As he knew her she
was sweet, innocent affectionate 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. lie fancied face of more
power, deeper eyes, and strong effect,
but he read Alright the eyes and lips be-
fore him, and their meaning was very
sweet and thrilling.
Nellie blushed with distress under
his eyes. He searched her face resO-
lutely. Such face had pursued him
once, when he was mere boy and
loved with his passionate first love.
lie dropped her hands at last and step
ped back.
Are you going to school this sum-
mer? he asked, plucking a dry leaf
from the geranium on the window sill.
Yes; l graduate in July
oh, yes l hsd forgotten. And in
July comes your birthday
YES; | 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 rs 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 closing of
the library, and the military review
in April, and finally too& his leave.
He thinks me only child, and /
love him so, she murmured, sobbing
bitterly. Il hate my baby face |! And
he always finds me doing some child
ish thing / wish l were dead 7
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. Nellie was sure
ly studying too hard. She could new
err bear the excitement of the exhibit
ton. So Nellie was taken almost by
force from school and sent to Nahant.
Nshant's sea breezes had no effect.
Nellie's chaperone, Mrs Betram, of
Boston. recommended tones and bath
ing, drives and flirting, and did her
best TO have her prescriptions carried
into effect but Nellie endured every
thing listlessly, and finally begged, in
answer to her aunt's cxpostulations, 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 rock,
watching the sea. The wild wind
Drowned her face and blew very faint
roses in her cheeks; but days went
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 Bos-
ton" and Edward Rowland. of Man.
chester, New Hampshire" ect.
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 bril-
liant 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 Indifferent 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. Mel,
lie =
Nellie, strangely pale, with her back