Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-24
EVENING STAR.
PUNIsHING A FLIRT.
BY MISS CAROLINE X. FAIRPIE

4 L
| tentions and languishing airs they are wont TO
play of. They please my fancy they fatter
my vanity, besides offering to my view
rather interesting phase of human nature.
am very fond Of studying them, and more
than once l have caught myself playing the
innocent and interesting novice, in order TO
draw them out " horse and foot, that might
gain moro thorough knowledge of their line
| of strategy.
| 1t is not for the sake of selfdefenco that
| pursue these investigations. 1t is not that
| at all intend to make use Of the knowledge
| thus gained in warding of their shafts 1t is
| only a sort Of metaphysical anatomy that 4
| thus practice in an amateur way; and my re-
| suits are often sufficiently curious and amusing
to repay the hazard cf the operation
| My friend Kate has often represented to me
the danger of this little amusement Of mine
| for Kate, al belt, she is as smart and witty as
| any other Of her name, is specimen Of the
| orthodox cast Of womanhood, and scorns a
| hirt, or ut least have often heard her say so
in by gone times. And L have as often con-
| fessed the probable truth of her predictions
but still it is failing (if failing at al) which
/ despair of overcoming L have indeed a
| strong presentiment that L shall some time
| fall victim to my own spirit Of reward in
| this department Of science, but still this does
not deter me 1 doubt if the certainty of
| some time being caught in the charming, be.
/
| man traps, or in other words, dying of that
| feminine malady, broken heart, would at
all cool my courage or damp my spirit of ad-
venture.
| However, in the story am about to relate,
| my friend Kate was the heroine, not l.
Mr. and Mrs Stanley were going to Europe
Mrs. Stanley was an invalid and her health
required the voyage; but as Kate, their only
child, had not yet finished her education, it
was deemed best that she should remain at
| home. Their own house, pleasant residence
| on the North River, was to be closed and
Mr.. and Mrs. Ripley, Mrs Stanley's sister
and husband, had kindly offered the young
lady home with them, during the absence
of her parents. As it was Kate's desire TO
attend large school in the city, during the
coming year, for the purpose of pursuing a
| thorough academical course, the offer was
very opportune and was readily accepted
| Mr.. Ripley's family consisted but of himself
and wife and nephew, Frank Ripley, young
man of some four or FIVE and twenty, hand.
some, talented, fascinating, and enjoying
| wide reputation as ''lady's man"
As soon as Kate was comfortably established
| at her new homo called upon her Now, il
| so happened, as was standing at the door of
Mr. Ripley's elegant mansion, Frank Ripley,
whom L only knew by sight, tripped gayly up
| the granite steps, and, bOwing in that style Of
| pleasing gallantry for which, as L have said,
Il
key, and, aiding me into the drawing room,
| rang the bell and called for Miss Kate, for
whom l had inquired.
What a lovely fellow that Frank RipIey
Is, said /, soon as we had exchanged
greetings Kate, my dear, not the least of
your advantages here is the opportunity you
enjoy Of captivating so charming a bean
Kate replied somewhat Indignantly, though
with an evident air of reserve. ''Indeed,
| then, L don't intend to avail myself of any
such privilege as you imagine me TO possess -
"Well, now, Miss Willful, what fault have
you to find with Frank Ripley? l think him
| perfect gentleman"
81 do not then," was the spirited, and still
not quite free answer. l could see that there
| was something in her mind which she had not
yet expressed
Why, Kate :" L exclaimed, 4" am sur
prised What do you mean ?"
mean that think him firt, and very
dangerous person.
Dangerous how is that?'
" "Because be is very fascinating, and very
insincere."
"Ah then you allow him TO he tascinat-
ing?"
. les, indeed; why shouldn't he be What
has he been doing these five years past, or
ten, might as well say, but practicing to
make himself just the most agreeable person
In the world to the ladies. He is the most
perfect fatterer ever saw. Not one of the
tulsome, disgusting Sort who betray their
shallow pates and hollow hearts at every sen
tence, but so attentive, so polite, so gentle and
respectful, that one can't believe them to be
anything but the dear, amiable kind hearted
creatures they seem, when all the time they
are only playing their part in society, sustain
ing the reputation which it is the business of
their Lifetime to acquire"
Why, Kate, you are really eloquent.
shall
sIonal lecturer on the fraiities of man, in con-
nection with the rights of women, as soon as
you have finished your education. But how
did you know all this of Master Frank Has
he been playing of agreeable ways upon you,
or has he neglected you entirely? 1t seems
to me there is a spice in your denunciations of
the fascinating gentleman"
"Scorn there may be, for / despise the
whole tribe of hatterers, but nothing of Bit
terness. No, indeed, it is not in the power
OF such being to raise any jealousy in NV
heart. l have too thorough contempt for
them: Before came here, however, learned |
his character from a young lady friend and |
determined upon the course L would pursue \
with him. l felt very certain, from what 1 /
knew of him, that he would be inclined to |
commence a Irritation with me. 1 am no 4
match for professional firt, and if 1 were, 1 |
have no inclination for the sport. So deter /
mined to avoid all disagreeable consequences |
by avoiding the cause thereof"
Most prudent of school girls-but how
was your design to be effected?''
To treat him coolly, and shun his adyan-
ces, would, knew, but pique his vanity and |
arouse his perseverance. So when the first |
evening of my arrival be sat down by me and I
began to play the agreeable, 1 affected the ut
most stupidity, apd actually bored him into
yawning the first half hour. For three sue
cessive days he continued his praiseworthy
efforts to draw me out, and at the end of tt al
time positively convinced that he was making
draughts upon vacuum, he left me and
since, though always polite, he is very distant,
and, l believe, thinks me of less account than
the ammunition he has already wasted upon
me-" .. , |
Kate, you surprise me. had no idea you
were possessed of so much resolution, or of so
much strategy, 1t is fortunate for the success
of you plans that you had to live so quietly
this winter. fancy frequent observation
of your animated face in society would con-