Weekly Trinity journal., 1859-09-24
TBe gournal.
What "A Pretty Little Hand.

bow and | have not the trick of coloring TO the /
roots of my hair when am spoken TO- Yet there I
was period of my life when all my merits
seemed to my own eyes Insignificant, and l felt |
very modest, not toisay bashtul 1t was when /
was in love. Then | sometimes did not know
where to put my hands and feet Did mention
that in the said hands and feet consists my great
est beauty? They are both small.
Three years ago fell in love. did not walk
into it quietly, weighing my idols perfections
against her defects. fell in, head aud ears, two
seconds after the Introduction
Mr. Haynes-Miss Arnold" said a mutual
friend, and 10 was desperately in love. She
was a little, fary.like figure, with long brown
curlS floating over a snowy neck and shoulders,
and falling down on the waist Of enchanting
sky-blue dress. Her large, dark blue eyes were
iull Of saucy light. yet, oh F.! how tender and low
ing they could look. This found out later.
or all the provoking, tantalising little CO.
quettes, that teased the heart out Of a poor
man, Susy Arnold was the most bewtchiDg. i
would pass an evening with her, and go home
certain that one more interview would make me
the happiest Of men but the next time | met
her, cool nod aud Indifferent glance threw down
all my castles. She very cautious. Not a
word did she drop to make me believe that she
loved me and yet her hand would lnger 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 ber in
tention to be old maid most emphatically, and
in the next sentence would add, " never did
love. but if should take fancy to anybody, /
should love him like--like a house a-fre.
Though" she would say, caree,sly, i never
saw anybody yet worth settling nay thoughts
upon"
tried in thousand ways to make her betray
some interest in myself Propose outright | could
not She had Il way, whenever | tried it, OF /
looking in my face with air Of grave atten- /
tion, 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, was seized with
violent headache. | told her | was subject to
such attacks, and the gypsy, putting on a grave
face, gave lecture Oh the subject Of health, !
winding up with:
"The best thing you can do is to get 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" 1 said rather piqued. " there are
only too many. l refrain from selection for
fear Of breaking other hearts. How fond all the
ladies are Of me :" ! added, cOnceitedly, /
though can see that | am particularly fasci.
nating."
"Neither can ]" said Susy, with an air Of per-
feet simplicity"
Can't you ?" said |. 81 hoped boped--"
Oh! that dreaduly attentive face Of hers. !
That is, Miss Susy, l thought, perhaps-oh
my head, my head - aud l buried my face in the .
cushion.
DOtS IL acne 80 very Dduly Sub tSAttb tcI-
derly, and she put her cool, litlle 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 obli- .
ged 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 me to
leave the city on business An offer Of part
nership in The Office Of lawyer friend Of mine /
made me decide to extend my trip, and see how .
the " land lay"
One thing was certain, l could not leave home (
for months, perhaps years, without some answer /
from Susy. Dressed in my most taultltss costume, |
and full Of hope, went to Mr. Arnold's. Susy /
was in the parlor at the piano alone. She nod |
ded gaily as | came in, but continued her song. |
1t was, I've something sweet to tell yOu!"
AT the words, love you! adore you -
she gave me such glance | was ready to pros
trate myself but, sweeping back the curls with
laughing defiance. she warbed, But I'm talking /
i'll my sleep"
Then | cried. "you love me when you
sleep! May think SO ?"
"Oh yes, if you choose for Rory O'Morc |
says that dreams 20 by contraries, you know"
sat down beside her.
All y ! said, signing, " Rory's idol dreamed
she hated him"
Yes" said Susy, "that was the difference
between his case and yours"
We chattcd away for time. At last began:
Miss cu.y ! came up this evening to tell you
that -"
How she was listening! A bright thought
struck me- | would tell her of my journey, aud
in the emotion she certain to betray, it would
be easy to declare my love.
= Miss Susy,' l said, - am going to London
Tomorrow
She swept her hands across the keys of the
piano into stormy polka. | tried to see her
face, but Der curls fell over it. was prepared
to catch her il she tainted, or comfort her if she
Wcpt. | listened for the sobs iancied the music
was intended TO conceal but throwing back the
curls with sudden toss, she struck the last chord
Of the polka, and said, gaily;
" Gong away y
yes, for some months"
"Dear me, how distressing! Just stop at Lee
vy's as you go home and order me some extra
pocket handkrrchills for this melancholy occa-
sion, will yOa?'
" You do not seem to require them" | said,
rather pqued 81 shall stay some months"
" Well, write TO pa, won't you? And if you
get married or die, or anything, let us know"
" | have au Offer to be partnerin in law Office"
! said, determined to try her, " aud, if | accept
it, as have some thoughts Of doing, shall never
return"
Her face did not change. The old saucy look
was there, as spoke but noticed that one lit
tie hand closed convulsively over her watchcbain,
and that the other fell upon the keys, making,
for the first time, discOrd.
Going away for eyer?" she said, with a sad
tone, that made my heart throb.
=" Miss Susy, hoped you, at least, would miss
me, and sorrow in my ABSENCE
She opened her eyes with an expression Of pro-
found amazement.
"IT'
yes, it might change all my plans, if my ab-
sence would greye you"
''Cbange all your plans?'
" Yes, hoped-though ught--"
On that earnest grave face. Ny cheeks
burned my hands and feet seemed to swell. and
/ felt cold chills all over me- | could not go On.
broke down for the third time.
There was an awkward silence. / glanced at
Susy. Her eyes were resting on my hand, which
lay on the arm of the sofa. The contrast between
the black hOrsehair and the flesh seemed to strike
her.
" What pretty little hand !" she said.
A brilliant idea passed through my BRAIN
:" You may have it il you willU | said, offer
ing it.
She took it between her own, and toying with