Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-01-17

She could talk sense, and / prided
myself on my abilities III that line, and
so almost a week slipped by before I
knew it.
81 think / should find it very dull
here without you," 1 said to her one
day. "Odd, too, when I dreaded your
coming So"
She looked up wonderingly. Dread
ed my coming!'
'fes; [ feared you would be one of
the slashing kind, and would dress to
kill, and talk me to death. and give me
no peace.
what gave you that idea?"
Il don't know, unless it was being
bored to death by my chum, Fred
Gorman, about Captain Kate the
belle of the season. and l thought you
might be of her style
"And did you ever sec this Captain
kate?" asked Miss Whiting, lifting her
calm lakes of eyes to mine.
80 No; but l can imagine, her. / an
swcred
''And what do You imagine her hke?''
Thereupon I gave her description
very much as 1 had given Fred, and
closed by saying:
Now, that style of girl I cannot toll
crate, and fearing you were one fOf
them. no wonder 1 dreaded you"
''Then you don't consider me at all
like Captain kate?" she quirred archly.
/! Not at all, - I said decidedly. "As
[ told you in the beginning, but for you
[ should feel stupid and dull. Your
| society renders it very pleasant, and
you are in all things the opposite TO
my fears
! "Oh, thank you"
! She said it SO dryly that looked up
! to catch the hidden meaning of her
! words, but she was reading and her
, face was as calm as usual.
| The next day Fred came. ] was
standing at the gate, when he came up
from the hotel, and, after the greet
ings, Fred brought his hand down on
my shoulder with:
! $50 Ben, my boy, you jumped from
the frying pan into the fire, didn' t
you? Ha. Ha! good joke. How did
! YOU like her?"
/ l turned i'll astonisnment. Like
who?-what do you mean?"
Why, Captain Kate, of course"
Il haven't seen Captain Kate, thank
you," I replied with dignity.
What, don't Miss Catherine Whit
ing board here with her stepaunt, Mrs.
Dearborne %
] / dumped at least three feet into the
air You don't mean" began,
while Fred interrupted coolly.
AS a jumpist, you also excel. Yes,
Miss Whiting is Captain Kate"
But, Fred" l said, helplessly,
{" she is so innocent and childlike, and
rarely pretty, and so sweet and quiet >
All put on" said Fred, shaking his
head, gravelv. "She is a regular firt,
and those are her arts. "She's weav.
ing her nets around you, see, success
fully"
The emotions of my heart l should
find difficult to explain. But found
Miss Whiting in the arbor, half al
hour later, after Fred left, and lifted
my hat with a flourish. and knelt at hen
feet.
"All honor to Captain Kate, - I said
in mock humility
She closed her book with almost a
yawn.
You've found out, she said, '.who
told you o.
Fred. And shall ask pardon fo1
remarks / made yesterday-?"
Certainly not ;" she said :sweetly.-
- You had never seen ME then"
And now / have a proposition to
make" | began. We are to spend
several weeks together here. and re-
port calls YOU terrible f1irt-'
$50 it does you," she interrupted.
i heard of YOU before left town"
Very we'll" I continued, the
more need of my proposition. 1t is
this. Let us enter into league to
have grand Irritation each knowing
there is no danger of broken heart
on either side. Thus We have nothing
to guard. and can be very happy
But what is the need?" She asked.
Eve ha>n't flirted before-why need
| we now ."
Because We couldn't help it f.: and il
is better to go about in the old way.
! Thinking You harmless, Miss Whiting,
] could have gone On all summer and
never dreamed of flirting; knowing
you to be Captain Kate, / shall suspect
You of malicious intentions every move
Yum make. Therefore, let us agree TO
"a tiirtation and all will bc WE'LL
Il agree she said archly, land
here is my hand on it. She gave me
her hand-I remember thinking how
soft and sllapcly ii was--and / raised i,
to my lips.
"W"nld your heart come with it ?"
said and she laughed merrily.
Bravo. a good beginning? l Sc,
you are 40 s.matcurs' she cried; and
we launched ON the STA of Irritation.
Il told Fred Of our arrangement the
following day. 1 thought he looked
pleased.
''All right old fellow he said
shaking my hal,d heartily L am SlaG
10 know yoll are not my rival. for All
in earnest. [ want to marry Miss
Whiting. ii / can, and L didn't like tt
think | WAS fighting against you. You
are quite sure You are i'll carnestg ~
"'luite sure I answered. "Go on,
my dear boy, with my blessing; but
don't marry her until 1 leave, and SC
spoil our tiirtation.''
ooh, no. l shouldn't think of il
un,;nr year. My business wont per,
NIT, and / suppose she will be willing
to wait. and Fred looked as grave ano
thoughtful as if it were settled
mo doubt she viii wait any length
of time you suggest, l said, so dryly
that Fred looked up, qlizzically
Seeing me perfectly serene, he con
.inued:
And, Ben, couldn't ya,,--seeine
yon have no intention there yourse +
couldn't you speak good word fo,
my prospects? Speak about that uncle
ri mine, that went to India twenty
years ago, and has never been heard OF
since. You couldn't put that IL
though: Just say he went there, and
am the only heir
] sssued Fred that l would do So
Just as well as not / said. VIII
bring your perfections all to light, and
say nothing of your fahngs." Ere,
thanked me warmly, and We parted.
Captain Kate was ii the gardel
when returned. She was dressed il
a blue, thin ssauze stuff, and u frill o
lace st her throat and wrists. Sh'
hooked exceedingly pretty, and tolt
her so.
Good ~ she cried, bringing he
shapely hands together. Il dressed
purposedly to make you pay compli
ments, and have succeeded. Am
: roo1Ix-