Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-08-15
A LOVE STORY PRETTILY TOLD

l am not bashful man. Generally
speaking, I am fully as confident and for
ward as most OF my sex. dress vel, dance
we'll, sing tolerably I don't tread on ladies
dresses when make my bow and [ 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 merit seemed to my own eyes insig
ni6cant, and felt very modest, not to say
bashful. 1t was when was in love. Then
sometimes did not know where to put my
bands and feet Did I mention that in the
said hands and feet consisted my greatest
beauty They were both small
Three years ago fell in love- | did not
walk into it quietly, weighing my IDOLS per-
fections against her defects. | fell in, head
and ears two seconds after the Introduction
"Mr Hayes, Miss Arnold said a mu-
tual friend, and 10, 1 was desperately in
love- She was little fary-like figure
with long brown curls floating over snowy
white neck and shoulders falling down on
the waist Of an enchanting sky blue dress.
Her large dark blue eyes were full of saucy
light yet oh, how tender and loving they
could look
OF all the provoking, tantalizing little
coquettes that ever teased the heart out of a
poor man, Susy Arnold was the most be
witching. I would pass an evening with
her, and 90 home certain that one more in
terview would make me the happiest of men;
but the next time l met he. cool nod j,
and Indifferent glance, threw down all my
castles.
She was very cautious Not u word did
she drop to make me believe that she loved
me; and yet her hand would lipger in mine,
her color rise if looked my feelings, and
her eyes dropped to be raised again in au
instant, full of laughing defiance.
She declared her intention to be an old
maid most emphatically, and in the next
sentence would add
Il never did love, but if l should take a
fancy to anybody, | should love him dearly
dearly p Though she would say, care.
lessly, Il never saw anybody yet worth set
ting my thoughts upon"
tried 10 thousand ways to make her
betray some interest in myself Propose
outright, I could not. She had way,
whenever l tried it, of looking in 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, I was seized
with violent headache. I told her [ was
subject to such attacks, and the gypsy, put
ting en- grave face, gave me lecture on
the subject Of health, winding up with:
1.-The best thing you can do is to get a
wife to take care Of you, and to keep you
from over.study. I advise you to do tiff
you can get any body to have you"
Indeed" | said, rather piqued, "there
are only too many | refrain from a selec-
ton for fear Of breaking other hearts. How
fond all the ladies are Of me-" added,
conceitedly, "though cannot see that am
particularly fascinating
Neither can T." said Susy, with an air
of perfect simplicity.
.'Can't you 2" said l. Il hoped--hoped
-" Oh, that dreadfully attentive face Of
hers-'.That is, Miss Susy, l thought,
perhaps-oh, my head, my head" and
buried my face in the cushion.
s'Does it a;hc SO very badly ?" she asked
tenderly; and she put her cool little hand
in among my curls | felt the thrill her
fingers gave nae, all the way to the toes o.
my boots Ny head being 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 MT
to leave home on business. One thing wal
certain, could not leave for a month, per
haps years, without some answer from Susy
Dressed in my most faultless costume, anc
full Of hope, | went to Mr. Arnod's, Susy
was in the parlor-at the piano-alone. :
She nodded gaily as came in i; but con
tinped her song. 1t was"Iv'e something
sweet to tell you''
At the words,''I love you-l adore you,
she gave me such glance | was ready
to PROSTATE myself, but sweeping back he
curls with laughing defiance, she warbled
''But, Pm talking in my Sleep"
"Then," cried, 'you love me when you
sleep. May I think SO p
"Oh, yes, if you choose, for Ror!
O More says that dreams 60 by contraries
you know"
sat down beside her. "Ah," | said
signing, "Rory's idol dreamt she hate'
him"
Eyes, that was the difference between
his case and yours.
We chatted away for time At last
began, "Miss Arnold, l came up this even
ing to tell you that IL"
How she was listening. A bright though
struck me; I would tell her of my journey
and in the emotion she was certain TO be
tray, it would be easy to declare mylove.
miss Susy, am going on journey to
morrow"
She swept her hands across the keys Q
the piano into stormy polka. | tried t
see her face, but, her curls fell over it.
was prepared to catch her, if she tainted, 0
comfort her if she wept l listened for tn
sobs I fancied the music was intended t
conceal, but throwing back the curls with
sudden toss, she struck the last chord Of tn