The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1860-12-19
Beware or Flirting.
BY NAOMI.

asked that question, for, strange to say, 1t !
done by so many different persons and in s.
many different ways, that one gets bewildered
and scarcely knows who is or who Is not . fiirt
Unfortunately for the sex, there is scarcely
woman in the world, be she pretty or ugly, OLD
or young, smart or stupid, but has within her
prcdispostion to fiirt; some, grant, carry it Il
far greater excess than others, but still each ID
her own way fiirts.
In trayersing ballroom one might find many
Instances, for scarcely can the eye note lady
and gentleman together but d flirting Is going
on; Il may be brisk or It may drag stupidity, but
there It's. That young girl over in the corner,
just emancpated from the school-room, with yir
| gin.white dress and bread and butter countcn-
ance, is she not in her small way trying to say
simple nothings to the young fellow at her side,
and dclighting him by laughing heartily as only
a schoolgirl can at his shallow stories furbishcd
with the the fashionable slang Of the dayr And
SO surely as she succeeds with him, SO surely
will she try another.
That pretty, animated girl, glowing with
health, and just enough used to the world to see
il with the generous eyes Of youth, viewing all
the persons around her in their best light de-
lighting in the glare and glitter of the ballroom,
and flashing out brilliant repartee with such a
dimpled cheek and bright smile, still has such
a deep under-current of goodness and purity
that she cannot say ungracious sighting things,
and surely her innocence will be her best guard
in the temptations bcsctting her. She cannot
say ungracious words-ahl no. Even now,
when surrounded by brilliant men. she has
kind word for her more humble followers. She
drops, as it were, with inimitable grace from the
rarifed atmosphere Of the world Of art and let
ters to the duller realm Of common SENSE
Plain John at her elbow has his smile and word
of encouragement as well as the artist his SYM
pathy, the poet his appreciation Does she not
enjoy the pleasure Of seeing his face light up,
and his dull look vanishi To be sure she does,
il would only be human nature. And what
degree of diplomacy she shows in selecting her
partners for the dance, always, when refusing
any one, sending them away with pleasant
word and cheerful smile which invariably they
recall, and with happy felicity keeping ever
near her the one she is most interested in. Is
she not apleasant character, and is not her flirt
ing agrccabley Surely no one would quarrel
with her because she hadrefused some men who
,cov,d propose, because they were too stupid to
see that 1t was not a serious feeling she wanted
but only an admiring friendship. All! there
are many such pleasant Hirts in the world, and
even still more loveablc characters who thought |
Iessly become entangcd in intricate webs, and
before they are aware find themselves enactng
the old story of the spider and the fly.
had friend once who was my ideal Of all !
That was true and pure in woman she was most |
stately and dignificd, born to be worshipped,
with kindly manner to those beneath her, and |
rather reserved to those in her own society,"
She had received splendid education, was de-
gotedly fond of all things beautiful in nature
md art, and possessed the most glorious voice
ever heard. She seemed not to care for society !
here were few she loved, and they and some
hing within her made her happiness. This
something was deep religious feeling which
,ervadeda all her actions, and gave her peace and
luictness appreciated fully by her friends, but
,ot understood by transient aequaintances of
lie sociablc at her own house, where went
With friend. II was as hostess she pleased
most for then she always devoted herself to the
Enjoyment Of her friends, and was so kind, SO
grceable, always in the right place, making ev-
ry one happy from her own happiness which
he seemed softly to diffuse around her. Iwon
Ter heart by being fully able to appreciate her
music, which was the great enjoyment Of her
ife. Many time when playing for her friends
t has seemed as If one must in some outward
isihle way convey the effect Of her dashing,
,rilliant operettas, or slowly drift out into the
cean with the retreating wave Of earth-forgct-
ing melody. Full of strange and excited feel
ngs, hastened home in order to hear something
bout her, for | felt as il she must have some
hing exceedingly uncommon in her history from
he deep, unfathomablc eyes, shaded mostly by
he long lashes, the singularly quiet, digni6ed
hyness, and the music which she sung so sin
ular in its selection, first so joyous then so sad
She was an orphan, with small fortune, and
wed with an old aunt whom she loved very
early. She was engaged to a gentleman much
lder than herself, and so much like her in char
cter that it hardly seemed natural they should
ave loved each other, but so it was. and they
Tere to be married so soon as he returned from
,urope, where be then was on business Itwas
fhiIe he was away that our intimacy com-
aenced and it was abeut this time, unfortunate
as always thought, she became acquainted
nth a young artist who was now visiting her on
1timate terms-indeed l scarcely ever called
pom her without meeting him. Upon the
trength Of distant relationship she called him
Cousin Edward" and seemed to love him as .
rother, never dreaming that she was acting i'm
He Was so willy, so full Of spirits,
o different from herself that she seemed the ell
er, though he was really ten years her senior.
could not bear to tell her that such an intima-
y could have but one result that man 50 free
: admitted into her hiendship, 50 constantly in
er society must end by loving her, though she
elonged to anOthers she would have opened
er blue eyes In establishment and felt offended
I oo..l1 -. I ,