Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-04-22
05io ,Statesn:Ir1a;|nI.... q |.
MARRIED FI.1RTATIONs.

filled the ballroom of the fashionable Wash
ington hotel: there was the stir and MUIR
muir of separating couples, and the ill-sup-
pressed yawns of weary "wall flowers
that followed in the wake of every brilliant
waltz. Kate Elwyn stood in the recess oi
the window, playing carelessly with the IA
ded jessamines and tuberoses of her bou-
quet, while her blue, lovely eyes wandered
anxiously from one place to another, evil
IDENTIFY in quest of some familiar counten-
ance, which they could not discover.
- There were few more beautiful faces than
her own, even in that festive crowd, where
half the bellies of the Union had brought
their diamonds and brilliant eyes to dazzle
the grave politicians and Lawmakers of the
land. Rather beneath the medium size
with the fragile delicacy of fairy, hel
complexion had the transparent. waxen
bloom that you look for only in children
while her heavy bands of golden hair lay
over her somewhat low forehead in ripping
waves of amber. Very dark blue eyes,
translucent as sapphire of the first water,
and little crimson mouth, carved like
Cupid's bow, gave additional piquancy to
her face, and altogether she was as perfect
aspecimen of the radiant blonde as one sees
out of D picture gallery, or anovel. ~
Sudde My her cheeks blossomed into
roses, her whole coumtenance frightened, as
tall and rather elegant looking gentleman
languidly sauntered toward her.
"Charley, thought you never were COM
ing" '.
''I've only been down to the supper-room
for few moments, my dear. Pm sorry you
have missed me. Anything can do for
you now?" .-.
"Yes-do get my fan and shawl, and we'll
60 up stairs. It's after one o'clock, and
Pm completely tired out"
Couldn't, my dear" said Mr.. Elwyn,
breaking moss rose from his wife's bo-
quet and fastening it jauntily into his coat.
'I'm engaged for three waltzes and a quad
rille. Miss Raymond would never forgive
me for deserting her."
Kate's lip curled haughtily, and a deeper
shade of crimson stole into her cheek.
jealous, eh ?'' laughed her husband, pat
ting her bright hair lightly. "Now, Kate,
that's little too silly of you. Don't you
know that at a place like this man is ex-
pected to make himself generally agree
able to the ladies? Pray, my dear, don't
become so absurd and ridiculous as to-
"And so," interrupted Mrs. Elwyn, Bit
terly, 'your wife's wishes and conveniences
are secondary to Miss Raymonds will"
"The green-eyed monster has certainly
invaded your peace, my loveH said Mr..
Elwyn. Upon my word, l have always
given you credit for little more common
sense" -
"Charles," said Kate quietly, and with
outheeding the careless sarcasm of his tone,
81 am weary of this round of senseless
gayety; am sick of the tumult and yani-
ties of Washington. Will you take me
homer"
"Why, Kate after all your anxiety to
pass winter in the great center of social
and political life! You have been teasing
me ever since we were married to indulge
you with season in Washington"
II know it, Charles" she meekly an
swered, trying to suppress the tears that
were brimming to her eyes, "but have at
last learned the folly of seeking real pleas
ures anywhere but in the precincts of ones
home. My taste for gayety is satisfied, and
you can't imagine how homesick l feel
how anxious to see the dear little ones
again. When will you take me home,
Charles ?" ......
'.Next week, perhaps, my love-or the
week after, if you positively insist upon it,"
30, Charles, why not go tomorrow"
-"Impossible, Kate. | am positively en-
gagged for every day this week for drives
and excursions in the, ,neighborhood OF the
CITY," ,.''' 'or ~. I.,II
Engaged ?" repeated Kate, opening her
blue eyes. 'Iknew nothing Of these ar
rangements." 81 Ca 20
mo, my dear, suppose not" said El-
wyn, lazily. "Did you imagineI was go
ing to come and ask your permission every
time wanted to drive out with lady or
smoke cigar with two or three gentle
men" ' .gsf. ..., oI'...
Kate's lip quivered and she turned quiet
ly away. Charles Elwyn looked after her
with an aroused expression in his eye and
half smile on his lip.
"She's Jealous, as live!" he mlittered.
Jealous of Aurora Raymond and the pret-
ty widow. Well, let her pout it out at her
leisure-it will never do to encourage this
sort of thing" ,.. ls
If he could have seen hers few moments
aftcrward Gust when he was whirling
through the waltz, with Miss Raymond's
midnight curls floating over his shouldersl,
sobbing in the silence OF. her own dimly-
lighted room, the golden hair ali unloosened
from her hair-pin and jeweled comb; and
her blue eyes looking like morning -glories
drowned In rain. Well, perhaps 1t would
have done him good, perhaps not. It. is
not always best to let a man know the full
extent of his power over that miserable
little captive, his wife-it is astonishing
how much the sex delights in tormentine
its victim. There is always one blessed
avenue of relief open to woman-kind, how
'ever-a good cryl No wonder that Kate
Elwyn felt better when she wiped away
the shower of tears and brushed back the
lovely ripping tresses from her fevered
forehead. ....,,.g s.5i e, .,l.go1gl 1di
sWhat tshall I do?" she murmured to
herself, deluging her handkerchife with,
rose-water and trying vainly to cool her
burning eyes; "what ought to do?e,Oh;
wish l had never come away from home
Its ajhdgment on ine, for leaving, nv
dear little babes In the hands of cold hire
lings. was happy before I ever thought,
OF this hollow, deceitful whirlpool, Of FASH
ion." 'N'N 2.,..,D.1' 49,,
She burst into, fresh fioodsof tears, Ass as she
remembered her husbands last words. nn
at was cruel of him to speak In that
cold, sneering. way to me-" she sobbed.
"Have / lost all the spells he used to tell me
possessed?" If he only knew how these
things hurt me, am sure he would treat
me in far different manner.n z q fiEIUgS-B
She sunk involuntarily back. as If Soma.
rude hand had struck her. as Miss Raw
mond's clear, melodious laugh suddenly
fi0ated up audibly through the closed door
of her room. And then she set her COM
pressed lips together, and new look came
into the liquid depth of her wet blue ewes.
The gilded minute hand Of the carved
Partisan clock on the mantle had travelled
twice around the circlet of enameled fig
ures before Kate lElwyn lifted her gaze from |
the punches of velvet roses in, the carpet.
What was she pondering on? GA s1At
''Sltting up, eh, Kate? Why thought
you were tired to- death,sn said Mr.. Ell
wyn, as he entered the room, and his wife
laid down her book and welcomed him with
q bright careless smile. isss.g II .A-SE re