Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-27
EVENING STAR.
furnishing A FLIRT.
I CONCLUDED. |

"I cannot, indeed cannot, be will get over
it in time, am sure" she said "You are
not engaged for Thursday night, and have no
objection to my appointment to meet lin
there7n
"Oh, no, not the least in the world. shall
enjoy it rather than otherwise; but Kate are
ycu quite sure you are not carrying this little
romaLce too far ?"
ooh, no, indeed. 1t is all in the family
you know So there is not the least danger Of
scandal. Ism. it odd, though, the idea Of
carrying on so animated and mysterious a cor.
respondence, with person one sees at every
meal ?'
1T is rather funny 10 be sure. But mind
you don't get into trouble"
"Oh, I've no fears. I'm determined to give
him thorough lesson. I'll teach him the
other side Of the game Of flirting"
We had arrived at Madame C-'s door,
| and we parted But as L recalled Kate's
words, and the expression of her face, L was
certain she was more perplexed than she
choose to acknowledge
Frank" said Kate, demurely, "it being
Thursday evening, L m going around to B
| street, this evening Will you go with me, or
| shall L depend upon uncle for an escort !''
And she looked up smiingly.
II should like to accompany you"
Kate looked grave. For some reason or
| other, she and Frank had been growing better
| friends oflate-moved, perhaps, by the knowl
edge Of bis perplexities, perhaps by another
| motive. She had acted more naturally in his
presence, and although he had shown no dis
position to trihe with her, a very frank and
friendly feeling had grown up between them.
But tonight Kate was conscious that her COM
papy would not be agreeable to him. and, un-
| reasonable as it was, she was little jealous
Of Clarabel."
The evening was, il must be confessed, "a
ther dull one, for Frank, striving to seem at
bis ease, was cOntinUa ally on the watch for ar
rivals, and Kate, noticing his evident absent
mindedness, nearly lost her temper at the in
efficacy Of all her atteml is to divert him. To
me, the scene was one Of unusual interest
Toward the middle of the evening Harry Bent
ley dropped in. Kate Immediately bent upon
him all her powers of pleasing. and if she de-
sired to piquc Frank with jealousy, she could
not have more desirable ally. Harry was
all attention, and for an hour they kept up a
vigorous filtration; (HaI, by the way, had
gained some inkling of the joke in a conf
Dental conversation with ne) but il was all
in vain. Frank was constant to his ideal mis-
trcss
At last, Kate more out of temper than she
would havo been willing to acknowledge, rose
to go. There was no longer any hope of see
ing CIarabeI, so Frank was quite willing She
took his arm in silence as they descended the
steps, and for five minutes not word was
spoken by either. Frank was first TO break
the silence.
"I am afraid L was rather stupid tonight,
cousin Kate" (She had assented to the title
at last
g don't know, indeed, didn't mind - she
said, in tone of mingled chagrin and en-
barrassment.
lie looked searchingly at her, but she added
more cheerfully after moments pause,
I" Tho truth is, Frank L was so pleasantly
entertained with Harry Bentlcys wittcisms,
that did Mt notice how you and Carrie were
getting on. Isn't Harry delightful CONVEX
sationist!''
Rather pleasant
Again pause.
Kate, can you keep secret - he asked,
abruptly.
"I think so. Wby?" Her voice trembled
little.
"Because 1 am in trouble, and it seems TO
meSou can help me out of it. At any rate,
know you are kind, good hearted girl, and
will at least sympathiEe with me-
Kate trembled. ''What is the matter"
she asked, in tone of forced composure
With an effort to begin his story, they
walked slowly, and he finished before they
reached the house
But how am L to aid you in bringing
about meeting with your recreant fair one?''
she asked.
g will tell you One morning last week,
rose early to write a letter to her, and when L
had finished it, having business il Brooklyn,
L went down town, crossed Fulton Ferry, and
having transacted my business, deposited the
letter In the office myself. 1t was still quite
early, and as stood waiting for South Fer
ry stage, young lady passed me, and enter
ing the Office received q letter, which, as she
passed me coming out, perceived was my
own, directed to Clarabel. l started, $50 did
Kate you may imagine, and hurrying
afr har ont tha E,lf
determined upon tracing her, followed her
into an uptown stage, and saw her alight at
the door of Madam C-'s school. She was
closely veilcd, and 1 could not gain a very
distinct view CT her features, but she was
petite in figure, and should think light COM
p.exioned and pretty Is there such young
lady at the school who comes from BrookIyn?'
Kate had been fearful as she listened to the
narrative, lest she might be obliged either to
make full confessson or to implicate her
friend, which latter she could not in con-
science do; but now she saw a loop-hole for
escape.
"There is one young lady from Brooklyn in |
school" she replied, "and only one, and she |
is dark complexioned and not at all pretty, |
and is, morever, ard unusually discreet per |
son and an intimate friend of mine I know
her so well that can at once assure you that |
she is not your correspondent / do not be- |
lieve she would engage in any such venture |
some game, and If she had, L am sure she /
would have told me, for we are conidants"
care you very sure she would have told |
you"
Positively certain; and beside, although |
she is good.hearted, affectionate creature, L |
do not think her at all capable of writing as
beautiful letters as you say Clarabel's are"
"Then she must be messenger for some
one else.''
perhaps so. But am sure it would be
fruitless to attempt to gain any information
from her if she is pledged to secrecy, nor
would wish to ask it Of her"
"Of course l would not have you. But,
dear Kate, will you not strive, in some way,
to ferret out this mystery for me! l shall
never be myself again until it is explained"
In a fatering, unsteady voice she assured
him of her willingness TO oblige him and they
CHAPTER ".
Kate adhered to her intention Of writing no
mora Letters and ms dav after dav nassaa |