Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-11-03
Over the Cliffs.

as young men generally do, with the girl
who came handiest This particular girl
happened to be Belle Burton, and I devoted
myself to her-rode with her, boated with
her Gt was a country place where we metz,
walked with her, talked with her, begged
her for the roses she wore in her hair, and
tried (in vain, for I was no poet) to make
sonnets not only to her eyebrows" but
to her hair, her cheeks and her lily-white
hands. In fact, l went through the pretty
dream of first love, as most young people
do, and it ended, as it generally does, in an
unpleasant awakening.
One day stage arrived at the hotel with
dozen dashing New Yorkers for passen-
gers. The next, one of them obtained an
introduction to Belle Burton. There was
no doubt whatever that he was handsomer
than men usually are, or that his grace or
accomplishments were equal to his personal
charms. Handsome Arnold he was gener-
ally called, and girls went into raptures
over his large long-lashed eyes and blonde
mustache, and men feared his broad should
ers, deep chest and splendid proportions
For my part hated him from the first, for
no sooner had he appeared upon the carpet
than Belle seemed utterly to forget my very
existence.
suppose she had never cared anything
about me, but she had f1irted with me while
there was no better fun to be had, and I
was not old enough to know that the man
she loves is the one no woman ever hirts
with. With Arnold sho was rather graver
than with most men, but her eyes sparkled
as he approached her. She blushed when
his name was mentioned, and cared for
nothing in which he had not some share
In fact it was as plain that she was in love
with him q G that ha vUaS 6ouotoI RI how
and there was no doubt in any ones mind
that all this would end in a wedding. It
was good thing, said the old people, for
poor Belle Burton, for she chad nothing"
For my part it seemed to me that all the
luck was Arnold's.
had never thought myself very ill-look-
ing before, but now was wretchedly con-
scious of all sorts of deficiencies. l looked
in the glass many times day. l spent
half my time criticising my countenance,
and longing vainly for the charms of hand
some Arnold. l could not hope to possess
them, even should l use all the hair-oils
and cosmetics of the advertising columns of
the daily paper, and bring to my aid the
tailor who best understands the art of pad
ding shoulders but next to having fairy
transformation effected for my benefit, 1
should have been pleased to see Arnold
lose his beauty. I hope I've been forgiven
for it. scarcely can forgive myself, but
could have prayed that some ban might fall
upon him-that he might break his limbs,
or catch the smallpox, or somehow spoil
his complexion or figure.
l was not wicked young fend by nature,
but love, which, when it prOspers, is the
most humanizing emotion of the soul, is
most likely to develop all the evil emotions
of ones nature, when it comes to grief.
l should have taken my departure and
put myself out of the way of hourly torture,
but did not do so wisely. fingered about
the place and did small things to spite the
happy pair-intruded on their tete-a-tetes,
managed to force the society of some excel
lent and lOquaciOus matrOn or some trouble
some child upon them, looked daggers of
contempt at him and forgot to pass the
butter to her. At last grand chance for
annoying him occurred. He was a good
rider and proud of his accomplishment, and
he had restive, nervous animal, which he
boasted no one could ride but himself. I
had heard him declare himself perfect
master of the creature, who had never
given him serious trouble save oEce, when
suddenly brought into the presence of an
artist who was sketching under white
umbrella.
"That," said Handsome Arnold, "wos
something Prince could not understand,
and it made him forget who held the
bride."
As he came prancing up to the gate, or
rode away with an air, used to wish for
an artist with white umbrella 1 desired
to see that fellow unseated and ingloriously
turned into mud. That would have made
me happy and once when he had offended
me more than ever by his gallant style of
riding, 1 sauntered out into the fields
cursing him in my inmost soul-when what
should l spy in the middle of the grass, in
tent upon bunch of clover, but fat pre-
Raphalite artist, in white suit, a flap
ping hat, and white sketching umbrella
that would have frightened the clergyman's
gray mare, which was nearly as old as him
self, into being a runaway.
| rushed toward this artist with enthusi-
asm. l took off my hat to him. / said -
"Sir, rejoice that one of your glorious
profession has at last visited me. You love
the minute, see. Have you noticed the
spider-webs on the blackberry bushes at
the turn of the lane, the dew sparkling on
the silvery film, the delicious fruit growing
beneath-have you ever seen that, sir?"
The pre-Raph@lite artist scratched his
head with his brush and said -
"Well, no, amt"
"Will you come and see it, sir ?''
said. "Will you make it immortal on your
canvas ?"
The pre- Raph@lite artist replied -
"Well, wouldn't mind.''
did not care what he said, so that he
came. My object was not art, it was the
white umbrella. I desired to have him
seated where the eyes of Handsome Ar
nold's restive Prince would fall upon him
as he turned the corner of the garden walk,
and to that very spot beguiled my artist,
and there stationed him, and when he had
settled with Chinese precision. to his spider
webs and blackberries, hid myself behind a
tree to enjoy the coming scene l fully ex-
pected would follow.
heard handsome Arnold bid adieu to
the ladies. heard the patter of his horse's
feet upon the road, and in moment more
l saw him come gayly on, smile upon his
handsome face, rich color on his cheek
youth, health, strength and happiness ex
pressed in every curve and outline of his
statuesque form. The next instant Prince
had seen the white artist and the white
umbrella. And then-then, heaven forgive
me, not the amusing spectacle of handsome