The mountain Democrat., 1863-04-04
"Vvhat = Pretty Little Hand"

ladies' dresses when l make my bow; L
have not the trick Of coloring to the roots
Of my hair when | am spoken to. Yet
there was one period Of my life when all
my merits seemed, to my own eyes, in
significant, and 1 felt very modest, not to
say bashful. It was when was in love.
Sometimes, | did not know where to put
my hands and feet. Did I mention that
in the same hands and feet consists my
great beautyl They are rot SuHiN.-
Three years ago I fell in love. Ldid not
go into it quietly, weighing .4.y -: ;cos !" .
perfections against her defects; l fell in
head and ears, two seconds after the in
PRODUCTION.
"Mr. Haynes, Miss Arnold" said a
mutual friend, and lOl | 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 we're full Of
saucy light yet how tender and loving
they could look. This found out later.
or all the provoking, tantalizing little
coquettes that ever teascd the heart Of a
poor man, Susy Arnold was the most
bewitching | would pass an evening
with her, and &c home certain that one
more interview would make me the hap
piest Of men but the next time l met
her cold nod and Indifferent glance
threw down all my castles. She was
very cautious. Not word did she drop
to make me believe that she loved me
and yet her hand would linger in mine,
her color rose if l looked my feelings, and
her eyes dropped to be raised in Q mo-
meEt, full of laughing defiance. She de-
clared her intentions to be an old maid
most emphaticalIy, and in the next SEN
tence would add:
"I never did love; but if should take
q notion to anybody, should love him
like house afre. Though" she would
say carelessly, "I never knew anybody
yet, worth setting my thoughts upon."
tried in a thousand ways to make her
betray some interest in myself Propose
outright could not. She had way,
whenever I.tried it, Of looking at my face
with an air Of grave attention, of profound
interest, that was equivalent in its effects
TO knocking me down; it took all the
breath out Of me.
One evening, while there, l had the
headache, and the gipsey, putting on a
grave face, gave me lecture on the sub
ject 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 ovcr.study. | advise you to
get married, if you can get anybody to
have you"
Indeed" said, rather piqued, there
are only too many. refrain from selec.
ton for fear Of breaking other hearts,
How fond all the ladies are of me !" | add
cd, conccitedly, Though cannot see
that am particularly fascinating"
Neither can l." said Susy, with an air
Of perfect simplicity.
Cant you ," said |. hoped-hoped
-" Oh! that attentive face of hers.
THAT is, Miss Susy, thought, per-
haps-oh! my head! my head!" and L
buried my face in the cushion.
"Docs it ache very badly ?" she asked,
putting her cool <tteie hand 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
me to leave the city on business. An Of
fer Of lucrative partnership at q dis.
tance, in the Office Of lawyer friend,
made me decide to extend my trip and
see how the land lay"
One thing was certain, could not leave
home for some months, perhaps, without
some answer from Susy. So, full Of hope,
l went to Mr.. Arnold& Susy was in the
pArlOr, at the piano, alone. She was play
ing" I've something sweet to tell you, -"
and at the words ~ love you'll 1 adore
you!" she gave me such q glance that |
was ready to prOstrate myself; but throw
ing back her curls she laughmgly war
bled. But I am talking in my sleep"
"Then," / said, "you love me when
you sleep? May l think so?"
"Oh! yes if you choose, for Rory
O'More says that dreams 60 by contra
ries, you know"
sat down beside her.
"Ah!" said I, sighing," Rory's idol
dreamed she hated him."
EYES," said Susy, "that's the differ.
ence between his case and yours"
We chatted away for time. AT last l
began, miss Susy, | came up this even
ing to tell you that II -"
How she was listening! A thought
struck me; would tell her of my jour
ney and in the emotion she was sure to
betray, it would be easy to declare my
love.
"Miss Susy," l said, ~ am going
| South, tomorrow"
She swept her hands across the keys
of the piano into stormy polka l tried
to see her face, but her curls fell over it.
l was prepared to catch her if she tainted,
or comfort her if she wept. Ilistcned for
tho sobs, fancied the music was intended
to conceal; but throwing back the curls
with asudden toss, asshe struck the last
chord of the piano, she said gaily:
"Going away ?" .,.-.-.
"Yes for some months, replied.
"Dear me, how distressing Stop at
Levy's, as you go home, and order me
some extra pocket handkerchiefs for this
melancholy occasion,-will your"
"You do not seem to require them," l
said, rather piqued. 81 shall stay some
months"
"Well, write to Pa, wont you? And
if you get married, or die, or anything,
let US know"
81 have an offer to be 9 partner in q
law Office in Kentucky" l said, deter
mined to try her, I" and, If l accept it, as
have some thoughts Of doing, shall
never return"
Her face did not change. The old sau-
| cV look RAa thera AZ I Rnnka hnt | no.