Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-10-01
IFmm the Waverly Magazine.
BELLIES LESSON.
BY D. S. HoUGHroN.

80 O.
hooks Of the Connecticut Valley,
nestled a pretty little village, with
its wide avenues lined on either
side by towering NAPLES, deep in
the shadows of which, at almOst
regular intervals, Cosy white cot
tagcs could,ba c rearing their I'M
ostentatious fronts, aud surrounded
By little beds of flowers OF almost
every hue and fragrance. Every
thing bespoke New England neat
nes-, even to the little barelooted
children, with their clean calicoes
and stiiI-starched sunbonnets.
About half a mile from the village
coursed the Connecticut river, in
whose shallow waters the minnows
and dace and pike disported them
selves. or sought their prey, unan.
nOyed by the shrill whistle OF any
passing steamer, or the disturbing
agency Of revolving paddle. wheels.
Pretty Belle Linton dwelt with
her widowed mother In one of the
cosiest Of all the cosy houses in the
village; and, though rot the ac-
knowledged belle ofthe place, her
beauty was the subject Of many q
bachelors conversation, and there
was not one Of the village SWANS
who would not have sacrificed his
left arm for the privilege of clasp
ing her pretty waist with his right,
aud calling her his own. But
Belle repulsed all overlures border
ing on matrimOny, and waited pa
tiently for the advent Of her beau
ideal for, like all young ladies', she
had already determined upon the
style of man she would choose and,
If he came not, she would die ain
maiden meditation, fancy Free"
Belle was a buxom little lass,
with q mass of wavy light.brOwn
hair, large speaking, deep gray eyes,
and a most tempting mouth,
Though but seventeen, her form was
fully developed, and altogether she
was a most winsome bit Of feminin-
nifty, and possessed a happy, cheer
full amiable disposition.
But Belle was something Of q
1Irt, and delighted in getting the
poor beaux OF the village "On @
string" as she and all other flirtl
call il. Where she acquired this pen.
chant 1t is impossible to say aud
the only conclusion one can arrive
at is, that in some feminine natures
flirting is inherent aud spontane'
Gus.
However, Belle met one, at last
with whom she did not care TO ex
ercise this. heArtless pastime. 4
was a pure case oflovea at first sight
Belle was conquered and, at q wore
she dropped her pretty head oil
Harry BrittOn's shoulder, their lip
met, and Belle was m0rtgaged
afianced, out of the market.
Harry Britton had been In thu
village but four months when b.
became engaged 10 Belle; but SD,
!. knew that his character was unex
ceptionable, his connections good
and his prospects encouraging. I,
be sure he was but his uncle's clerl
In the large factory owe the brOOl
that ran through the town, and hi
salary was not astonishingly i'm
meuse /; but he was q thrifty, goa
? head, and well-educated young mar
| q d widow Linton waS not NOR
than properly backward in grant
I ing assent to the proposed union.
. Harry was q New Yorker; tai
|. 1.-THE and graceful, with a handsOm
face lighted by II pair Of hazel eyei
. Dark chestnut hair crowned hl
3 we'll. shaped head, and a little brow
e mustache just hid his SHAPED
s mouth.
r At last the wedding-day was 1ixe
1 was reached-waG passed, an
Belle as u wife.
8 Glad little Belief
I'll A year elasped, and the youn
couple were as happy as youu
: couples have any right to expeC
| Belle was an excellent, loving wifi
c aud Harry the very model OF a hu.
band.
J.. Harry's uncle conceived the idC
d of establishing an agency In Ne
York, for the sale Of his cloths, an
n Harry was offered, and accepted Il
n trust.
+, After q fearful farewell the your
- people parted with the good lad
u bellies mother, and that same mig
&c slept beneath the roof Of Bellies G
d der aud married sister.
IS For a time all went we'll but Il
II excitement Of her new life, with
balls, operas and "Germans," cor
d plelely captivated Belle, aud 81
soon became more 10 love with s
,s ciety than with her husband, NJ
/, her old penchaRt for flirting, viii
/, had slumbered 30 long, awOke wi
- redoubltd force, aud SHE gave be
self entirely up to its fascination
] II was exceedingly painful
n Harry TO witness his wile's neglC
OF him, and her devoted atteuli,
Up TO the many brainless fools who
ne platitudes and adulation charm
he the unsophisticated country gil
m and many and earnest were his
- mO~nstrances. In vain. She pr
sisted in her erratic course, a
~ Harry became a jealous man thenC
forth.
le Silly Belief
ed Another year of married life 70
he ed round, and in the contemplate
ar Of its contrast with the first twelN
Mt month of their union, Harry "
Nv painfully unhappy. He becaI
morose and unsocial. Finding
pleasure in the society Of his wi
D. whom he loved with ALI the ard