Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-08-26
TERMS OF ADVERTISING.
What a Pretty Little Hand.
BY MARY E. CLARK +.

!
ladies dresses when make bow and l
have not the trick of coloring to the roots
of my hair when am spoken to. Yet,
there was one period of life, when all my
merits seemed to my own eyes insignificant
and felt very modest not to say bashful
1t was when was in love. Then, some
times did not know where to put my hands
and feet Did mention that in the said
hands and feet consists my greatest beauty?
They are both small.
Three years ago l fell in love- did
not walk into it quietly, weighing my idols
perfections against her defects. fell in,
head and ears, two seconds after the intro
duction.
"Mr. Hayes, Miss Arnold" said a mu-
tual friend, and 10 | was desperately in
love- She was a fairy-like figure, with
long, brown curls floating over a snowy
neck and shoulders, and falling down on
the waist of an enchanting sky blue dress
Her large, dark blue eyes were full of
saucy light yet, oh how tender and low
ing they could look.
7 OF all the provoking, tantalizing little
coquettes that ever leased the heart out of
a poor man, Susy Arnold was the most be-
witching. l would pass an evening with
her, and go home certain that one more
interview would make the happiest of men;
but the next time | met her, cool nod
and Indifferent glance, threw down all my
castles. She was very cautious. Not a
word did she drop to make me believe that
she loved me and yet her hand would
linger in mine, her color rise if looked
my feelings, and her eyes droop, to be
raised again in an instant, full of laughing
defiance. She declared her intention to
be an old maid most emphatically, and in
the next sentence would add, AZ never did
love but if l should take fancy to any
body, should love him dearly dearly !
Though" she would say, carelcssly, 81
never saw anybody yet worth setting my
thoughts upon.
/ tried thousand ways to make her be-
outright, could not She had a way,
{ whenever tried it, of looking in my face
with an air of grave attention, of profound
interest, that was equivalent in its effect to
knocking me down it took all the breath
out of me.
One evening, while there l was seized
with violent headache. / told her as
subject to such attacks ; and the gipsey
putting on a grave face, gave me lecture
on the subject of health, winding up with,
"The best thing you can do is to get a wife
to take care of you, and to keep you from
over-study. advise you to do it - if
YOU can get anybody to have you.
"Indeed," | said rather piqued, "there
l.. i .oo I cncroip n sal,,
ton for fear of breaking other hearts, How
fond all the ladies are of me !" I added,
conceitedly, "though | can't see that am
particularly fascinating
"Neither can ]" said Susy; with an air
of perfect simplicity.
Cant your said l. II hoped-hoped
/ -" Oh that droadfully attentive face
of hers. "That is, Miss Susy, I thought,
perhaps - Oh my head, my head!
and buried my face in the cushion.
docs it ache 50 very badly?' she asked
tcnderly, and she put her cool little hand
in among my curls. | felt the thrill her
fingers gave me, all the way to the toes OF
my boots. My head being really very
painful, | was obliged to leave but all
the way home, the soft cool touch of those
little fingers fingered upon my brow,
= Soon after this, it became necessary for
L. me to leave home on business One thing
was certain, | could not leave for months
perhaps years, without some answer from
Susy-Dressed in my most fautless cos
% tune, and full of hope, | went to Mr.
Arnold's. Susy was in the parlor-at the
piano-alone She nodded gaily, as !
= came in but continued her song, 1t was
'I've something sweet to tell you"
At the words, 81 love you'll adore youl
she gave me such a glance, | was ready
to PROSTATE myself but, sweeping back
the curls with laughing defiance, she war
bled, "But, I'm talking in my sleep"
Chen | cried, ''you love me when you
slice May | think SOP
"Oh yes, if you choose for Rory
OMore says that dreams go by contrarics
you know"
sat down beside her. "AhI" said
~ signing, "Rory's idol dreamt she hated
= him"
| eyes" said Susy, "that was the differ
cnce between his case and yours
We chatted away for time. At last
began, "Nlss Arnold, | came up this even
ing to tell you that II"
Now she was listening, A bright though
struck me would tell her of my jourue,
aud in the emotion she was certain to be
tray, it would he easy to declare my love
Miss Susy,' / said, 81 am going to Pari
tomorrow.
She swept her hands across the keys O
- the piano into stormy polka | tried t
see her face, but her curls fell over it,
a was prepared tQratch her, if she tainted, o
y comfort her. If She wont | listened 20