The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1872-10-18
DIR lariEtta sOuraal,
WHAT a PRETTY LITTLE HAND.
BY MARY f. CLARK.

and forward as most of my sex. |
dress well, dance well, sing well, |
don't tread on ladies' dresses when
| make my bow; | 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
insignificant, and | felt very modest,
not to say bashful. 1t was when !
was 10 love. Then, sometimes, did
not know where to put my hands and
feet. Did | mention that in those
same hands and feet consists my
chief beauty. They are both small.
Three years ago | fell in love. /
did not 60 into it quietly-weighing
my idols PROJECTIONS against her de-
fects. fell in, head and ears, two
seconds after the introduction.
"Mr. Haynes, Miss Arnold" said
a mutual friend, and, 10! | was des-
perately III love. She was fairy
like figure, With long, brown curls
floating over snowy neck and
shoulders, and falling down on the
waist Of an enchanting blue dress. =
Her large, dark blue eyes were full
Of saucy light, yet how tender and
loving they could look (This |
found out later.)
OF all the provoking, tantali2ing
little coquettes that ever leased the
heart of poor man, Susy Arnold
was the most bewitching | 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 was very
cautious. Never word did she drop
to make me believe that she loved
me, and yet her hand would linger
in mine, and her color rise if looked
my feelings, and her eyes droop, Ia
be raised again in moment, full Of
laughing defiance. She declared hcr
intention to be an old maid, most
emphatically, and in the next sen
tence would add
81 never did love, but if | shoulC
take fancy to anbody | should low
him like--Iike a house fire.
Though" she would say carelessly
81 never saw anybody yet worth set
ting my thoughts upon.
| tried in thousand ways to make
her betray some interest in myself
Propose outright | could not. She
had way, whenever | tried it, Of
looking in my face with an air Of
grave attention and profound inter
est, 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 l was subject to such attacks,
and the gipsey putting on a grave
face, gave me a lecture on the sub
iect Of health, winding up with
"The best thing you can do is to
get a wife to take care OF you, and to
keep you from over study. ! advise
you to do tiff you can get any
body to have you"
Indeed" said |, rather piqued,
'there are too many refrain from
a selection for fear of breaking other
hearts. How fond all these ladies
are of me !" | added, conceitedlJ {,
tho can't see that | am particu-
IarIy fascinating"
"Neither can l., said Susy, with
an air OF perfect simplicity.
Cant you ~ said /, II hoped
hoped" Oh, that dreadfully arten-
tive face Of hers That is, hIiss
Susy, I thought, perhaps-oh my
head my head = and ! buried my
face in the cushion.
Docs it ache so very badly r.
and she put her cool little 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 on my brow
Soon after this it became necessary
for me to leave the city on business.
An offer of lucrative partnership in
the South, in the office of lawyer
friend Of mine, made me decide to
extend my trip and see how the Gland
lay" One thing was certain, | could
not leave home for months, perhaps
for years, without some answer from
Susy. So, dressed in my faultIess
costume, and full of hope, went to
Mr.. Arnod's. Susy was in the par
Tor, at the piano, alone. She nod
ded gaily as | came in, but continued
her song, 1t was, 1--WE something
sweet to tell you"
At the words, Il love you! l adore
your she gave me such glance,
was ready to PROSTATE myself; but,
sweeping back the curls with laugh
ing defiance, she warbled. But I'm
talking 10 my sleep"
"Then," ! cried, you love me
when YOU sleep. May think so :"
oh. yes, il you choose; for
Rory O'Moore says dreams go by
contraries, you know"
| sat down beside her.
"Ah!" | said, signing, "Rory's
idol dreamed she hated him"