San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-02-23

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But that pretty way of tossing back heI
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 Ii
brary, and the military review in April,
and finally took his leave.
"He thinks me only a child, and l
love him so," she murmured, sobbing
bitterly. 81 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 be-
came anxious. Nellie was surely study
ing 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 chaperone, Mrs. Bertram, OF
Boston, recommended tonics 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 expostulations, TO be let
entirely alone. She should do better so.
Mrs. Bertram 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.
Bertram bemoaned that Nellie never
would be like other girls.
One morning a 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 brilliant
match having no expectations yourself;
l 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 every thing, shall be
thankful. Why, there is no telling what
that pretty face of yours might do, if
you would only see your chances! Ter
ry Holmes declares you the prettiest girl
here, and his father is millionaire.
Think of that, Nellie!"
Nellie, strangely pale, with her back
to her aunt, turned Macassar on her
saying, chokingly:
"What Mr.. Lowth, Auntie?"
Manfred Lowth. He is shipper
from Boston. Belongs in my set.'
Nellie found another handkerchief,
gave n defiant glance at her pale face in
the mirror, and turned to her aunt.
81 am ready"
They went down to the dining-room
and took their places side by side. Ex-
actly opposite Nellie sat Manfred
Lowth, mixing lobster salad and chat
ting softly a nd gayly with Mrs. Vernon
from New York. At Nellie's right hand
sat Ned Rowland, her old beau from
Manchester.
Lowth looked up and bowed to her.
She returned the salutation, then turned
to Ned Rowland.
Perhaps for an hour she tlirted-never
After dinner she went to her
room, bathed her head, which ached
terribly, then joined her aunt in the par
or. There was Manfred Lowth, who
stood at her side a moment and ex-
a few words with her and then
away. But Ned Rowland
oent over her chair all the afternoon.
At night she went to bed feverish and
IL.
A week passed. Nellie became aware
hat Ned Rowland loved her. He was
/, good-hearted, good-looking, but rath-
II effeminate young man; handsome
md very winning, however, and year
before Nellie might have loved him; but,
ruly loving Lowth as she did, the thing
vas impossible. She finally told him,
rankly and kindly, that she did not love
lin.
They were sitting on the rocks at twi-
light.
You used to like me, Nellie" said
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