Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-07-21
DAILY EVENING STAR.
ONLY A BIT OF HARMLESS FLrRTING
BIZ VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND.


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ONLY A BIT OF HARMLESS fLrRTING
BIZ VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND. b,
That was all, was it, eh7. How very
complacently you speak it, my good sir,
with that half sneer curling your NOUS.
tached lip, and most approved txirl Of
your walking-stick, which you learned
with your Euclid last year. -., .....
And 80 it was but . bit of harmless
"flirting," Just by way of relaxation from
your health.injuring studies. I suppose
when you sat night after night in the fire.
shine ofthe pleasant little parlor, watch.
ing the blush which drifted over the
sweet, hslf-drOoping face by your side9-
Nothing more than this, when you ringed
those soft flowing curls Mound your fin.
gers, or your arm glided round the waist,
and the little trembling hand which was
lifted with deprecatory movement, was
caught, and held half unwilling prison.
er in your stronger grasp? And then.
(you remember it) what low, sweet words
you used to whisper in her ear, just be.
fore parting, as you stood together in the
dimly.hghted hall, and how full of grace
and respectful fondness was the manner
in which you bent down your lips to the
fair young forehead. -. 81, .
And then ibid you learn if by prac is.
ing at your mirror!) what language there
was in your eyes, when the soft, dark
ones of your companionis were some
times lifted to your own! a language such
as your lips could never have spoken, for
no words could recognize the love, the
devotion which seemed itelegraphed
straight from your heart to your glances!
What charming moonlight you used to
have, too. How the light arm that lay
on your own would tremble as you press.
ed it and murnured sentimental scraps
of poetry which you had gathered from
Byron, Longfsllow, and Lander! And
am not sure you did not, at such times,
for moment forget there was such word
as flirting in your vocabulary. There
was somewhat in the serene, searching
glances of those summer stars, some
what In the white solemn moonlight,
which lay above and beneath you, that,
in spite Of yourself, brought q gale OF
holier memories, a tide of higher and no
bier emotions into your soul. .-...
You haven't forgotten, either, those
long summer afternoon rides, with the
great graceful arms of the trees crossed
above you-for the twilights that passed
under the broad vine-wrapped portico,
nor the songs she sang you while you
stood by the piano and turned over the
leaves of her music, and solicited one,
just one more of those exquisite little love
lyrics of Moore's, saying with that glance
of yours, and you know the right time
to give it effect, &c that the sweet words
would sound still sweeter if they came to
your ear through the medium of one
voice."
You know she loved you. There, now,
don't elongate your features, that look
of innocent surprise ormeek resignedness,
just as though the idea never entered your
Uranium, and thouhh that never tickled
your vanity before. You know, say.
that she loved you-that her heart would
quicken at the sound of your football
and the blush she could not conceal fash
ed into her cheek at the tone of your
voice. You knew, that during those long
two years you was drawing tighter and
tighter round the heart of your young
and unsuspecting victim, the chains from
which she could not release you without
suffering, what might be to her greater
than that Of death. Don't tell me your
intentions were harmless; you never pro-
posed, never told her you loved her-ay,
q thousand times you told this, by tone
and deed, and look, just as emphatically
as though your lips had sworn it.
And, then, how calmly, how cour-
teously, at the last, you said farewell to
her, wishing her that life of happiness
which your work had forever blasted.
And now, sir, whatever be your social
position how deep soever be the Golfers
Of your gold you have debased yourself
and dishonored your manhood. Go forth
in the world, and let your carriage be as
proud, your air to woman as chivalric
your honor as untainished as ever, but
remember that the stain is on your soul
You have done almost the foulest wrong
to another that man can do. You have
stolen, basely, deliberately stolen, the
one priceless heart-its affections.
You have robbed her of her trust in
human goodness and truth, and though
if she be a true woman, she will summon
enough Of pride to her aid to hide from
the world that never cicatricing heart.
wounds, its pain will not be the less ter.
rible to be borne. ali-'
You have robbed another of the love
and confidence which should have beer
his, for that heart will never learn The
sweet song of it's youth again, and though
the wife of his bosom, she sits in the
shadow of his hearthstone; still the foun-
tain from which you took the seal, will
never yield its fresh sweet waters as
before. Be-. s..
And, sir, for these words, % Harmless
Flirting" under which specious name
you have silenced the small voice of your
conscience, and behold with complacency
and exultation the ruin you have wrought,
write down deliberateheart-breaHng, and
remember " for all things, God will bring
you to judgment" .
RATHER MAGNIFICENT.-The National
Race Course just organized on Long Is
land. is one of the most magnificently