Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-12-14


to the mossy caves.
"Little Mrs Haynes must wear the rose,
he said. at would never do fer her to
toss her head and throw his gifts carelessly
by. All married women wore the flowers
which their husbands gave then. Would
wear the rcseP"
I glanced about tho room again. Ny
mother was nowhere to be seen, and 80
said that would wear it if he wanted me
to.
"And would consent to be called little
Mrs. Hsyaes7"
eyes, would consent"
"Then it was all right. he would never
look about for wifc, and should never
lsok about for husband We we're Mr..
and Mrs. Haynes. Did that suit ms7''
''0h, yes, that suited mel liked that. 7
"Well, then, he should have to buy mo
a little gold ring, to wear upon my third
finger, to let folks know that some one
owned me-"
"No, L did not want riRg."
"Tut, tut, tutl That would never do
People who are engaged to be married al
ways have esuch pledges. He should speak
to father about it, so that it would be all
right. If he was willing would wear the
ring?"
'iNo, dind't like rings"
"Would'nt like ring that he would
buyf"
"No, l would mt like ring at any rate. -
During his stay, which was protrscted
to months instead of weeks, he strove in
every way to change my determination
about the engagement ring, as he termed
it, / was inexorabls. "A ring would not
wear. Not even when he made ready for
his departure, and told me that in few
weeks he should be thousand miles away
from me, nor when he piled up before me
pictures that he had drawn at his leisure
during the long summer hours that hung
heavily upon his hands, would l revoke
my decision. / would take the finely ex.
ecuted drawings, the prettily framed por.
trait of himself, but l would have nc
rings.
At last he went away from us. shall
never forget the morning, or how cold
dull and cheerless it seemed to me. How
dreary and desolate everything looked be-
cause he was going away. 1t was no eve.
ryday grief that bore down upon my young
heart, no childish promise that assured
him, as he kissed my quiyering lips, thai
1 would not forget him, and that would
always be his "little Mrs. Haynes"
"Would Iwrite to him and sign ths
name2"
eyes, would"
81 was a good GIRL then, and he woult
|, never forget me. Good byel"
"Good bye"
My voice trembled and futtered upos
these words. In my short life they wer,
the hardest had found to speak.
During the first two years no lady -lov,
could have been more faithful to her sb
semi knight than | was to Frank Haynes
The brightest moments Of my life circled
about the reception of his letters-tht
I gres test joy of life was in answering them
E Among my scoolmates had no childish
{ love, no juveniles to wait upon me tC
{ sleigh rides and parties, that the children
of the neighborhood delighted in. If
could not go and come home alone, l would
/, remain at home, whatever might be tn,
inducements offered to tempt me from my
unswerying couHRe. / was little Mrs
Haynes, and little Mrs. Haynes was bent
upon remaining.
But While was in the very midst of my
heroic devotion, . terrific rumor reached
my ears, a rumor that Frank Haynes, nv
r self appointed lord and master, was enga
' ged to young and beautiful lady in tn,
city. 1t was q dreadful blow to nv preci
/ Gus hopes and plans, though for a Ions
time | battled against crediting the report
Hadn't Frank told me that he would nev
er look about for wifep that was the on
, ly little lady that should bear his name2-
, Didn't he write me regularly every fort
night, commencing his letters "Dcar littl,
' Mrs. Haynes, and telling me to be faithful
to him2 And-and-would he do this i
he was engaged? No, not bit of It'll Som,
one had maliciously lied about him, ant
manufactured the story from their owl
: wicked imagination. would not believ,
it, though the whole world stood up befor,
!. me and testified to its truth.
E AS ifto reward me for my faith, and sc
: my prejudicsd little mind to rights, tn
. newt coach set Frank down at our door
h He thought he must come and see his lit
9 tie wife once more, he said, as went tim
q idly forward to meet him, though he tho
: it very bad taste in me to grow at such
}, rapid rate. He was asraid I'd grow out o
a my engagement; he should have to put
v loaf of hot bread on my head to keep m
I within bounds. We had been engage,
# two years; was twelve years old, and
head taller than l was at ten. He was go
n lag to Europe to stay three or four years
: what would be when he returned H
b did not dare to think. He believed ths
;. | would be as tall as be was by that time
: Wouldn't II
Q IL hope so" 1 answered, tsrtIy, think
k ing the while of the story of his engage
q ment.
a "Whewl You are taking on the airs o
}. fine young lady already, my little Phe
d be-" he answered. laughing heartily