Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-09-23
THE SWINDLER
Or III Gains Never Thrive.
A PRIZE TALE.
BY J. AUSTIN PLRRY.

A clear, bright February day, after a
heavy fall of snow Any one who has
visited the Great Emporium, during sleigh
ing time, may imagine the brilliant scene
which Broadway presents on such day
Thousands of sleighs of every shape, size
and variety, are dashing hither and thith
er, in such confusion as to make it mat
ter of inexplicable astonishment how they
find room to pass each other without com
ing into collision. Here and there a great
omnibus sleigh, piled up with human
freight, glides along like an overloaded
steamboat out of its element, while gilt.
tering establishments of fairy-like light
ness. and beauty are glancing by them and
around them like birds upon the wing
The spray, thrown up from the heels Of
the flaming coursers, flashing and CLEAN
ing and sparkling in the bright atmosphere
resembles a shower of burning diamonds ;
while the 'jinglc. jingle, jingle y of the
bells float upon the breeze so mcrrily and
cheerily that your heart leaps with JOY at
the sound You might almost fancy that
the bright sunbcr,ns were all golden bell
wires, and that old Winter, with his white
fingers was pulling them for fun. Then.
too, the happy faces that peep out from
the warm ifchours-the glimpses of beau
ty and glanccs of bright eyes that beam
on you as they flit by, radiant as sunshine
and transient as the meteor flash, Oh,
what glcc is there in old Gotham in sleigh
ing time
Such was the day and the scene. In a
magnificent little shell that glided along
L., l., l.,
man, almost buried in costly furs. The
ladys face was one of rare lovelincss and
the gentleman, as he listened to her ani.
mated words, seemed to be so much as.
cribed in the contemplation of her charms
that he neglected he reins, and left hi,
steed to trot through the throng at hi,
own discretion. While the lady chatted
away in Il lovely strain her glance wa,
wandering over the crowd that moved along
the sidewalk Suddenly laying her hant
upon the gcntleman's arm she exclaim
ed
"Look George, what a sweet face tina
poor girl hast
The object Of this remark was girl o
apparently about seventeen, rather uncom
fortably clad for the scasou, with thir
idueu SnaWl over ntf SnONlucrS, ana nel
light ringlcts falling playrnlly from be
meath a melancholy apollo Y for bonnet
Her features were pale and thoughtful, an,
full of sweet expression, and her large, in
telligent blue eyes bcamcd with touchng
sadness. The gentleman looked in tn,
direction indicated by his fair companion
but his cye no sooner rested upon the cir
than shade Of disploasurc or pain crosse,
his brow, and giving the reins ncrvou
jerk, his metilc,oma Stccd bounded Aectl
onward, bearing the sleigh quickly ont o
sight of the poor Girl who had so interest
ed his companion,
"Why, Georgel y exclaimed the lady
"what do you mean2 1t was very disoblig
ing in You to start off az this rate who
You knew wanted 10 observe that girl?'
The gentleman stlmmered out an apolc
gy, LAYING the b'H me- upon the impatienc
of his horse The excuse however wa
too lame to convince the lady, She Wa
piqlnd ~ having her humor TINS unrrc
.scnably thwnrtcd aud poutcd during III
rnst OF the ride 'DNea she at lenut
alighted at the do GER fathers res
deuco in Becker stfest, sR thSaked be