The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-06-17
PAULINE'S FLIRTATIONS,

PAULINE'S FLIRTATIONS.
"Only eight o'clock! how slowly the
time paSscS?" And Pauline SctilCy
yawncd, as she looked out over the
purpling tnts of tho twilight sea,
where now and then the reflection of
q star seemed to splash into. the
waves. >,
1t was golden August evening,
moonlcss but radiant with the bulmy
air full of the new-made hay mingling
not unpleasant1y with the salt breath
Of the sea, and the sky all glorious
with the d>lphin-lile hucs of the
dying day, and Miss Scdlcy, sitting on
the hotel balcony in her white robes
Of Indian muslin, girdlcd with scarlet,
and scarlet vcrbenas in her hair, made
an exceedingly pretty adjunct to the
scent. She was q brunette, with a
brilliant complexion, all cream and
crimson, jet black hair, straight and
glossy as an Indians, and eyes whose
mcltiug tenderness was like the dusty
glow Of tropic stars.
70 wonder that little Ralph Monta-
cute, the enthusiastic boy Of eighteen
was madly IN love with hcr-no Won
der that lie hung on her slightest
word, as an Eastern dcvotee hangs
on the priests oracular uttorancc!
..Slowly, Paulincl when l am at
your sidc!" ho said, n little rcproach-
fully.
Pauline laughed, and turned the
diamond and opal rings carclessly
round on her finger.
sYou are only child, Ralph" she
said q little disdainfully.
IL ain q year older than you, Pau
line"
Pauline Sedley reached up to tap
his flushed bcardlcss cheek with her
ga girl Of seventeen is equal to a
man Of twenty-scvcn. any time,
Ralph. You're nice little cavalier,
and you dance the polka delightfully."-
but You arc not fairly out of the top
and ball phase yet. Now, there is
Gustavus Melville, hos mana man
who has blushed the bloom off all the
worlds temptation, and your cousin,
Harry Livingstone, scavolier sans peur
ct sans rcproche! Major Livingstone's
magnetic eyes arc enough to set any
woman's heart ablazc."
She spoke abstractcdly, looking out
towards the sea, and apparently quito
unconscious that she had any auditor
but tho 'far-off waves, and tho maHt-
ling twilight.
"Paulinel" calculated tho boy, pas
sionately- ~ may be young in years,
but you ,havo taught my heart prema-
ture Development. You have no
right to speak to me thus, after play
ing with my affections all the sum mcrL'
Pauline glanced up IN astonishment.
Finished coqucttc that she was, she
she hardly expected this outburst
from the most Insignificant Of her
victims. She had encouraged Ralph
Mortacute's too visible infatuation,
simply because it amused her to make
n captive of a pretty boy, and now
sire was as much taken by surprise,
as would be tho fisherman if the
writhing trout should find voice to
demonstrate, when the hook was be-
ing twisted out Of his quivcring jaws.
sMy dear Ralph, you arc talking
nonsensep said lightly.
''NonsenseP Is it nonsense to tell
you that love you, that my heart
has passed irrevocably into your
keeping?. that life will be q desert
without mep Il -s..
"Yes-very absurd nonscnee! Go
back TO- school, Ralph OF colleges, or
whcrevesitis, and forget. my dear
child, ] should as soon think Of mar
1ying LITTLE Tony Warwick, who has
just gpt out of the. merjno froeksI''
Ralph, ,Aontaeute was silent. :, Pau
lines lightly spoken words Of ridicule
cut him to the heart. ,.1i75 ~ al :, ;.
.Pauline," he said, almost sternly,
''t'do YOU think you. haze treated me
honorably?F - =; fe[,@.I -: ,i.s....
Pauline yaWped..sE 81. ~ -
"Honorabiy; one must amuse ones
self .at a place like this, and you Ger,
tainly oughts to understand the differ.
.ence between b more harmless >firta
tod, and real, sober earnest: Now
Ralph, do leave off. teasing ME; be
sensible, that's argood boyAf
Ralph turned away. -.'at5s'' = esFa
81 see Mr.. Melville coming this way
YOU will excuse me, Pauline Pr .:.@'F
ieOh, certainlyp : i :s va2. @Gt-~
Pauline .drewa a breath Of relief, al
her youthful Swain walked away to
wards the staf-lighted beach, = a.2y-'
>.r"W Whoewpuld. have imagined that
tho little fellow would have. taken Il
so t0. heart she smurmured softly
az she extended her lily white hand
fo.ME Melyille, who, with half a dosen
" .others hsd. sauntered up the ,pifzza
steps ss'l 'afsFf a. sssr i,%s., -. -
,,-sss ,r,-asssYon ire looking g4aves .fair + troui
iGasqdeep, said Me elfpills, ,drawina Isl,
bamboo chairs t1ifietn near,s,l M en- en-
.sSf5 ne kambi biastSa alld yours slaysi
eptgasS sa sIy7n ssa' 3 :, So s96l1sss
tnii6yver you i, iIsoxs ssa a asifa g q bst
44erfy demanded Pauline ysaudd denly
assasseat u,sny tifass, 4 ;am afraid
1.-THE thong hssas 95 stfiy Yooilth
bntaShY oy6d asl's9s& .'s4Ssts Il
DeSs1sss e fhafe just aShs 8hs sam,
thing" IA .,i;sss u. asaf.. .: