Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-04-27

lcan't help your guessing, sir Z
WAS it like Ned Howland's ambrosial
locks, Little DignIty2'
4 Haven't promised to tel you if you
guess
so you haven't. Then shall not waste
my time guessing. But tell me one thing.
what is .hat2'
IF YOU have faith in the trick
Utter faith, Nellie said, smiling and
shaking her head.
Then wish-I do wish that the hail
may be like mme'
Manfred Lowth spoke with no raillery;
yet he hardly knew why ne spoke as he
/ did. There was moment of swift thought
I In both their minds
Manfred Lowth had committed himself
as an honorable man he had committed
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, affectionate girl;
but the thought of marrying her never en-
tered his head until that moment. His
ideal was older and graver, as one to un-
derstand him thoroughly must have been.
He fancied face of more power, deeper
eyes, and strong effect; but he read aright
the eye and lips before him, their meaning
was very sweet and thrilling.
Nellie blush with distress under his eyes.
He searched her face resolutely. Such a
face had pursued him once, when he was
mere boy, and loved with his passionate
first love. he dropped her hands at last,
and stepped back.
Are you going to school this summeri"
he asked, plucking dry leaf from the
geranlum on the window sill.
Yes. l graduate in July"
"Oh, yes; l had forgotten. And in
July comes your birthday"
"Yes; l am Is in July.
She was womanly fer ler 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 curls was
Bessie Bradford's own. He did not wish
10 be fooled twice by the same style. So
he chartered 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 love
him SO, she murmured, sobbing bitterly,
g L hate my baby face. And LIE always
finds me dong some childish thing. wish
/ were dead -
She cried herself nearly i'll, but escaped
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 and Nellie Dare grew
pale and grave. Her mother became anx-
ious. 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 TO Nahant.
Nahant's sea breezes had no effect Mel
lies chaperone, Mrs Betram, of Boston,
recommended tonics and bathing, drives
and flirting, and did her best to have her
prescriptions carried into effect; but Nellie
endured everything listiessly, and finally
begged, in answer to her aunt's expostula-
tiOns, 10 be left entirely alone. She would
be better so. Mrs. Betram gave up in de-
spair, 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 could
be like other girls.
One morning fishing party came to
the hotel. They were entered upon the
books as Manfred Lowth, of Boston, Ed
ward Rowland, of Manchester, New Hamp-
shire, &c.
.Nellie, my dear, do hurry, Mr.. Lowth.
is here from Boston, the finest man! Well
off, well connected, gentlemanly, and OF
excellent character. You can never ex-
pect 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 Indifferent about everything, l
shall be thankful. Why there is no an
swer1ng 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 mil
lionaire. Just think of il Nellie =
Nellie, strangely pale, with her back to
her aunt, turned Macassar on her handker-
chif, saying, chokingly:
what MIR. Dowth, auntie'
Manfred Lowth. He is shipper from
Boston. Belongs in my set.
| Nellie found another handkerchief, gave
defiant glance at her pale face in the
mirror, and turned to her aunt.
Il am ready.
They went down to the dinning room,
and took their places side by side. Ex-
actly opposite Nellie sat Manfred Lowth,
mixing lobster salad, and chatting softly
and gayly with Mrs. Vernon, of 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 nIrted-never
afterward. After dinner she went to her
room, bathed her head, which ached terri
bly,, then joined her aunt In the paiior.
There was Manfred Lowth, who stood at
her side moment and exchanged few
words with her. then sauntered away. But
Ned Rowland bent over her clair all the
afternoon. AT night she went to bed few
erish and i'll.
A week passed. Nellie became aware
that Ned Rowland loved her. He was a
good-hearted, good-looking, but rather
effeminate young man; handsome and very
winning however, and year before Mel
lie might have loved him; but, truly Low
ing Lowth as she did, the thing was i'm
possible. She finally told him frankly and
kindly, that she did not love him.
They were sitting alone on the rocks al
twilight.
you used to like me. Nellie. said How
land, his lips growing pale under his pret
ty mOustache.
& like you now, Ned
But l think you used to love me little,
Nellie
She clasped her hands nervously.
That was not love, Ned; OH it wa:
nothing like love! Don't talk to me any
more, please. am sorry you are grieved
but / can't help 1t. Don't blame me, an6
be kind to me. have my own troubles
| to bPar