The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-01-13
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Friday Morning, Jan. 13, 1866.
b Married Flirtations.

q Married Flirtations. g
The last dying cadences of delicious drea-
sA my waltz, across whose Wierd notes the soul
OF Beethoven had poured out it's magic sad
ness. were floating over the crowd that filed
G the ballroom Of the fashionable Washington
hotel; there was the stir and murmur ofsepa-
rating couples, and the Ill suppressed yawns
of weary "wails fowers''1 that followed In the
wake OF every brilliant waltz Kate Elwyn
stood in the recess of the window, playing
carelessly with the faded jessamines and tube
roses OF her boquet while her blue, lovely
eyes, wandered anxiously from one place to
another, evidently in guest of some familiar
countenance, Which they could not discover.
There were few more beautiful faces than
her own, even in that festive crowd, where
half the bellies in the Union had brought their
diamonds and bright eyes to dazzle the grave
politicians and the Lawmakers Of the land.
Rather beneath the medium size, with the
fragile delicacy OF fairy, her complexion
ON 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 rippling waves of amber.
Very dark blue eyes, translucent as sLsapphire
$50 ~ of the first water, and little crimson mouth
carved like Cupid 3 bow, gave additional pi-
quancy TO her face and altogether she was as
perfect specimen of the radiant blonde as
ssasb one often sees, out off pictsEe gallery, or
novel. ts4t~-fcr
Suddenly her cheeks blossomed into roses,
p and her whole countenance frightened, as a
haaa tall and rather elegant looking gentleman Ian
guidly sauntered toward her. gbsssr
"Charey, thought you were never COM
ihgr,- = - . I lsls.s ,s5sss
,giqna for ateW moments, my deal, ,Pm sorry you
tN u have missed me. Anything / can do for you
noW?rs sV1M ss91nlCl(4u8hf &c iia
bas sYes--do get my shawl and fan and we'll
l9go up stairs It's after one O'Clock, and am
completely tired out" 100
Couldn't, my dear,D said Mr.. Elwyn, break
ing moss rose from his Wife,s nboquet, sand
fastening it jauntily into his coat. "pm en-
gagged for three waltzes and quadrille. Miss
Raymond would never forgive me for desert
tng her." IL hsgsa4ff flHar Wa.t ir{f
Kate's lips curled haughtily, and deeper
shade of crimson stole.into her cheek.
az a,ss jealous, chi" laughed her husband bat
ting her bright hair lightys erNow Kate,
that's little too silly of you. Don't you
know that at place like this man is expects
ed 10 make himself generally agreeable to tbs
lades2 RI Pray, my DEAR don't become SO alb
surd and ridiculous as to-" efs
"And SO" interrupted Mrs. Elwyn, bitterly,
'your Wite's wishes and convenences are sec
VQ Q1f0 ondary to Miss Raymond's will. . :
The greeh-eyed monster has certainly in
9e5 vaded your peace, my love 7, said Mr.. ElWyn.
upon my word, have always given you
credit for little more common sense" -
sCharles," said Kate quietly, ana without
needing the careless sarcasm of his tone, 81
am weary OF this round of senseless gaiety-
lam sick OF the tumult and vanities OF Wash
ington VIII you take me home ?"
why, Kate! after all your anxiety to pass
winter in this great centre OF social and po-
litical life !! You have been teazing me ever
since we were married, to indulge you with a
q 't'NtF season at Washington"
81 knowft Charles" she meeky answered,
trying to suppress the tears that were brim-
ming in her eyes: "but / have at last learned
5-5k the folly of seeking real pleasure anywhere
but in the precincts of oGe's homes Ny taste
for gaiety is satisfied, and you can't imagine
how homesick feel-how anxious osee the
dear little ones again. When will you take
me home, Charles?n satsuaissb ao
y fi--' Next week, perhaps, my love-or the week
after, if you positively insist upon it,
$50, Charles, why not 60 tomorrow"
Impossible, Kate. lam positively engaged
for every day this week for drives and excur-
sions in the neighborhOod OF the city."l5a III y
"EngagedT repeated Kate opening her
blue eyes. II knew nothing Of these arrange
is 0O5er ments." ''AAo' sosslsaal
"No, my dear, Isuppose not" said Elwyn,
lazily. did you imagine was going to com E
and ask your permission every time wanted
to drive out with a lady or smoke cigar with
'ltsns two'or three gentlemen" -saA iaa
Kate's lip quivered and she turned quietly
away. Charles ElWyn looked after her with
''s an amused expression inhs eye and hall
aas "Shes jealous as lvep he muttered
q iAa "Jealous OF Aurora Raymond and the pretty
IN. "a, widow. Well, let her poutit out at her eis-
saa uret will never do to encourage this sort Of
'taael 7a Ii he could but have seen her few mo-
s3aa4 a ments afterwards, Just when he was whirlng
u through the waltz with Miss Raymoud,s mid
over SOD
bing in the silence other own dimly lighted
- o room, the golden hair alt unloosed from hair
pin and jeWelled comb, and her blue eyes look
-hging like morning gloties hdrowned in rain.
WE'LL perhaps it would have done him good
o perhaps not, 1t is not always best TO let a
p man know the ful extent of power over
as pea that miserable little captive, his wiletisas
oo @enting its victim There is one blessed sU
avenue of relief always open to womaGkind,
1saU sa howeVer-a good cry )Noswonder that Kate
Elwyn felt better when she wiped away the
shower of tears and brushed back lovely rip
. 30 ~ ping tresses from her fevered forehead
8I o s13b8 What shall do2" she murmured to her.
e self, edeluging her handkerchief with rose
water and trying vanly to cool her burning
eyes; "what ought to do? Oh, / wish had
never come away from home-it's a Judgment
on ms, Tor leaving my dear little babes in the
m ~ cold hands Of hirelings was so happy be-
whirlpool of fashion, go no
7aJ2l She burst into fresh floods of tears as she
t'a remembered her husbands last words
sit was cruel of him to speak in that cold
sneering way to me, - she sobbed. "Haye
lost all the spells he used to tell me possess
Tssm ed? IF he only knew how these things hurt
at me, am sure he would treat me in far dir
ls She sunk involuntarily back, as ifsome rude
f, hand had struck her, as Miss Raymond,s clear
melodious laugh suddenly foated up audibly
through the closed door of her room. And
then she sat her compressed lips together, ant
la new look came into the liquid depth of hei
tsass wetblue eyes. s5l lelms 9s
.,, . q. M The gilded minute hand of the carved Pa
risian clock on the mantle had travelled near
lytwice around the circet of enameled fg
A. 20 ures before Kate Elwyn lifted her gaze iron
the punches OF velvet roses in the carpet
fttf What was she pondering on?d ~ sA-N
"Sitting up. Ell, KateP Why thought vol
were tired to death" said Mr. EIwyn, as h
entered the room, and his wife laid down he
q 3 book and welcomed him with bright care
.nrl l4o less smile. ng iaaf lssniaBd lslIa -,
~ eyes I've been 80 much interested In tha
delightful book" exclaimed Kate enthusiast
n t,.froe cally.. Il owish knew whether Sir GU
'+'-A- gets the property or not" 't~s@ = 49,