Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-02-11

which he requested the hand of his fair
nice, in what seemed to Uncle Timothy a
: very manly, straightforward wayl and
the worthy old gentleman really began tc
think he had done the young scamp in
justice.
1t was to be long engagement, oi
course; for it being distinctly understood
that the senior Coxcombe would fire his
warehouse with his own hands, scuttle his
own ships, or commit any other eccentrici-
ty foreign to the ordinary workings of the
mercantile mind, sooner than give his
consent to his sons union with portion
less girl-marrying under the existing
circumstances was not to be thought of.
Belle found also, that it was not only
to be long engagement but, in the words
of the immortal Miss Flora MeFlimsey:
"That this isa SORT Of engagement. you see,
I Which is binding OH you but not binding on me I"
For Coxcombe, wishing, as he elegantly Y
expressed it, "to throw dust in peoples
eyes" persisted in playing the devoted
cavalier to four or five ladies of fashion
and beauty, and when Belle upbraided
him, accused her of jealousy, and wishing
to control his slightest movements.
"Besides," he continued warmly, "can't
you sec that it is necessary; for if our
engagement is suspected, l am ruined
the governor will cut me off with shil-
! ling"
Still Belle was not quite satisfied. She
thought, secretly, that he need not devote
himself, always to such very good looking
ladies. Why didn't he tease some neglec-
ted old lady, some maiden aunt, or some
ssthmatic widow2
But then he could by no means be
brought to view the matter in the same
light; so, with little sigh she concluded
that all men were-well-perhaps little
selfish
Another grievance was, that when her
own conduct was the subject in question,
Harrys views were by no means so
liberal
She was to treat all gentlemen with
dignified reservoir no account to accept
their escort abroad-to discourage their
visits as much as possible-to have no
formal fricndships-in short, to frown on
the world in general, and reserve all her
smiles for one Mr. Harry Coxcombe, when
ever he should choose to. honor her with
his prcsence-which occurrence lecame
after time, as rare as angels visits are
said to be.
Evening after evening, poor little Belle
sat with painful, expectant look on her
face, listening anxiously to the footsteps of
the passers by, and starting nervously if
the bell CHANGED TO ring.
Uncle Timothy watched her sadly, but
said nothing. Indeed, since their return
to town, he had carefully avoided the
subject of their engagement-only once
telling her, in half,reproachful manner,
that little Quigley had been elected Dis
trict Attorney; and had distinguished
himself by his eloquonce and legal know
ledge,
At length, four weeks passed away
without Harrys appearance and rumore
of his attentions to Miss Goldbeck,
wealthy heiress, reaching Bellies ears,
rendered her suspense uncomfortable.
As she ceased to respect Coxcombe, she
began to doubt if she really loved him..
Unavoidably, she drew comparison be-
tween him and Mr.. Quigley, then visiting
her uncle, and the result was hardly in
Harry's favor,
One afternoon, while cogitating about
these things, she was crossing the Brook
lyn ferry.
1t was drawing toward the close of the
day; and as she sat in a corner, her face
concealed in a thick veil, she was hardly
recognizable in the fast deepening shades
of twilight
Absorbed in thought, she scarcely
noticed the entrance of two gentlemen,
who seated themselves near her, till the
of her own name attracted her
attention, when she instantly recognized
Coxcombo, who was speaking in some ex-
citement, and with so little precauton,
that every word was distinctly audible,
"You see, Charley" he was saying, "I
have determined to break that matter of.
The governor is down on pennless girls
and love marriages and entire nous, though
she is dear, sweet, pretty little angel,
after all, she isn't exactly my style, you