Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-26
EVENING STAR.
PUNISHING A FLIRT.
I CONTINUED.

/
"Well, Frank, see you are smitten. Shall
l tell you the end of all this? For week
you'll sigh and mutter, tClarabel, and read
Tenpyson, and indite rosy billet-doux, and
then you'll discover your inamorata to be some
little firt of grocers girl have fit of the
blues, think about committing suicide, and
end by falling back into your old ways, and
being a little more of a firt than ever. But
before you are quite off for your chatepu en-
Espagns, tell me who that sweet looking little
girl is that l see coming down your steps every
morning? Now, to my mind, she's thousand
times more bewitching with her coal black
hair, and saucy, flashing eyes and pouting
lips, than all the pure. pale lilies in the
wOrld.'
Its Kate Stanley, 1 suppose, my aunt 8
niece. Rather good-lOoking girl, to be sure,
but as stupid as beetle. The first day she
came here L was rather fancy struck too, but
| tried to talk to her, and found her just the
dullest piece Of furniture you ever saw"
"Perhaps she was shy and embarrassed, or
1t may be home-sick."
"Oh ! no, that WASH t it. She was just stu
pid, nothing more or less. She is Mrs Rip
lcy's niece, and SO Of course no relation to me-
but you know, under the circumstances il was
the easiest thing in the world to claim cousin
ship; but do you believe the brainless crea-
ture had the stupidity to ask Mrs. Ripley if
ley, kind-hearted old fogy that she is, begging
her pardon for my irreverence, looked at me
very gravely, and told me mustn't be talk
ing nonsense TO Kate ) remarking to Kate
soto Uoce, boys will be boys, you know, you
| mustn't mind him, my dear"
That was rather vexatiOus to be sure,'
said Hal, but still he didn't seem exactly sat
| isfed, and so the affair ended by his accepting
an invitation to tea. and the promise of an in
| PRODUCTION to Miss Kate.
Ha, ha, Master Frank said that young
lady to herself, as she quilted her sentinel
post, " you are laying out double work for me,
sir Wait till get you nicely absorbed in
| this filtration with 'Carabel,' and then see if
L don't find way of opening Harry Bentley's
eyes L don't care to have all the world In
formed OF my stupidity. But wasn't that letter
hit, though? ?"
Dressing herself with especial care Kate
descended to meet Harry Bentley She was
very quiet, but there was a twinkle in her
mischievous black eyes, that confirmed Harry
In his previous opinions, but which Frank was
too busy with thoughts of " Clarabel' to no.
tice.
Early in the evening the young gentlemen
left the house, and Kate went up stairs to pre-
pare her recitatiOns for the succeeding day
But if anybody had taken the pains to look
over her shoulder, as she solved her first prob
lem in algebr they would have seen that she
fund X pair of black eyes.
CHAPTER III.
That night light burned late in Frank
Rlpley's room, and his fair neighbor knew
that it was midnight before he retired The
next morning at breakfast she was sure that
he looked paler and more excited than usual,
and she was, therefore, quite certain that by
the afternoon letter would have found its
way to the Brooklyn post Office. Now, there
was at Madam C-'s school a young lady
who came up daily from Brooklyn, and who
passed the post Office on her way, and to this
young lady Kate so far entrusted her secret
as to desire her to inquire for the letter and
bring it to her. By this means it was delayed
for day, to be sure, but Kate could think of
no other so secure from detection, so she pa
tiently waited till the next morning for the
missive 1t came safely, and thus it read:
Ito CLARABEL-DEAREsT LADY-It is with
no little trepidation that venture TO address
you for the purpose of returning my sincere
thanks for the charming little note which
found its way to me today.
"Sweet prophecies, you are right. There
Is chord In my heart which thrills respon-
sive to your touch, and to yours alone To
you belongs the power to waken melody in
my heart no other can. Nay, l was not till
this hour sensible of the deep fountain which
was in my own soul, hidden from any mortal
eye, untroubled by any thrill of earthly emo
tiOn Your voice has bidden its waters flow,
and to you should Its first cool gushings be
consecrated.
GA crust of worldliness has hitherto con-
cealed much Of my heart from my own intro
spectiOn. But now as with trembling anxious
glance search its hidden depths, feel there
Is something there worthy of your apprecia-
tion, will say your love. You have enabled
me to clear away the rubbsh-shall not the
light of your smiles, the dew Of your tears,
be to it culture and growth!
I" Let me hear from you again, sweet girl
l am all that in the advertisement claimed
to be. Tell me where you reside, and give
me PERMISSION TO call on you. L know that
your gentle, sensitive nature will shrink from
meeting me in this informal manner But
give me the name and address of any gentle
man friend of yours, and L will gain an intro
duction to him, and so come accredited to you.
L am in haste to see you ; to behold the shrine
wherein so fair jewel is encased
" Until that blissful moment arrives, believe
most sincerely and truly yours,
FRANK RIPLEY,
g No, street -
The infatuated creature! exclaimed
Kate, " how does he know what mad folly he
may be rushing into? Well, must answer
the precious document, l suppose
There was a crimson blush on her check,
and light of gratifed vanity in her eye, that
were more complimentary to Frank seloauepce
than her words were. Think at that moment
she quite forgot how dangerous are the fasci- |
nations Of firt
The reply was gentle and beautiful, and
lady-like as Kate could make it, and thor
oughly adapted to her knowledge of his char.
acter. Timidly grateful for his appreciation,
she shrunk into reluctance that could not
be overcome, from meeting him at present.
He must wait until they have grown better
acquainted through correspondence Refusing |
even to disclose her name, but dated " Hicks
street." (the residence Of her young lady |
friend
BY close watching, Kate was soon apprised |
of the reception of her note nor was she |