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

needn't work or even think, but do
Just as I please" That's what I said
to Fred Gorman -...
Fred looked blank. 90 Don't go this
afternoon" he said. "I wanted YOU
to go with me to Madame VS. tonight,
and be presented to Captain Kate. the
new belle.
"Thank you," 1 responded: '' but
no more girls of the period for me, if
you please-I had rather be excused. P"
oh, but you must see Captain
Kate!," he went ON, ''that's what they
call her, because of the followers she
has; she's worth seeing"
know the style" l said, with :,
majestic wave of the hand. Bold
eyes-blue perhaps, black probably
rather tall, immense chignon, laughs
and cracks jokes like a trooper, and
never says word Of sense. l repeat
it. my friend, not any for me-"
But just wait" began Fred,
and interrupted, with another wave
of the hand.
:" My friend, shall leave town this
afternoon, for the lake; should like
your company, but if you choose to
stay, go alone. I want nothing of
this Kate or any other woman"
"'Pon my SOUL" cried Fred, widen
ing his blue eyes. What has come
over you, the king of male tii,ts? Been
bitten, ell ?"
No, simply disguised, I answered,
loftily. '' Tn tired OF work and
women, and am going to leave both
Will you go?"
" Not till next week; then I'll follow y
All right" 1 said, and VT parted.
King of firts!" Fred had called
| me, and that term needs some cxpla-
! nation, for should regret having amy
of my friends think me that most de
testrble affair, man butterfly"
was thirty, not bad looking, and a
well-to-do young lawyer, possessed II
! nice little property. 1 had n due APP
probation of women-likcd most OF
| them extremely well, loved none; paid
them some harmless compliments
chatted, walked and drove with them.
| But as for fiirting-why l spoke 1t
/ word of love: gave no fair lady any
reason for thinking was in love, and
Mrs. Grundy gave me the appellatior
| of Male Flirt" Well, never mind
| 1 didn't.
| 1went down to the lake shore that
afternoon and engaged roonp ut q
private dwelling.
We have three boardcrs now," the
pleasant little lady said, land expect
one more tomorrow afternoon-a
young relative from the citv-and
| there are Just rooms for one more.
Those l engaged and domiciled my.
self i'll my new quarters. but not at al
| pleased with the prospective young
Lady. There were two already; but
harmless individuals, [ mentally OBJ.
served at the table one Il studious
damsel who wore spectarles and looked
Mt the ceiling the other an invalid
aud the wife of the male boartler But
this '' coming girl who WAS she, and
what did she want to disturb my cove
ted peace and country qniet for Nc
doubt she would be n daslling, slash
| ing panier- r-and-shash-end style of girl
who would dare me into making love
to her, and give me no peace until
did. Flirtations might be all very
well, but a fellow didn't want to be
dragged into it, when he was in searcl
OF peace and quiet. This was my men
tai soliloquy until the coming girl came
| I watched her from my window as the
hack set her down.
Small, dressed in gray. veile,l That
was all 1 saw, save two moderate sized
trunks. All, until two hours later ]
saw her at the table, and took private
| inventory. Rather below the medium
height and slender in figure fair. with
feint color i'll her checks hair dusk,
brown, curling, or rather waving, moi
| quite TO the shoulders. and tied with a
blue ribbon from the smooth brow
| eyes, a quiet brown and clear rs sum
| mer lake. That was ALL [ think, that
I noticed. No; the mouth was very
sweet; and pretty, and totally devoid
of that society shirk and naughty curl
which are so decidedly repuisive in
! women. 1 remember thinking of that
and then quite forgetting Miss Viii
ting until the following day
! A very quiet, sensible appcarinp
and rather pretty y"nns. woman"
! have said to myself, ''and not m.c like,
! ly to modest me in amy Nay
! I strolled out to Il little arp"r tn.
next forenoon, with book IN III,
hand, and found Mis- Whiting, wifi
book i'll her hand seated il, salt
! arhor.
Il beg pardon" | began II die
uot know the place WIS occupied.
hdhC tiittt IT. 1871 l.. Slt
said, land come i'll. There Is ampl.
room, and / am SO much Interested il
my book. that / shall not evan se,
you"
Feeling decidedly comphmcntsd "a
the closing sentence, | seated lnvscl
on the opposite bench and opened m,
book. But did not progress rapidly
Miss Whiting WAS SO interesting in re
pose, made such pretty cpod-iuokin;
picture, sitting there. that | could In
watch her.
How interested shr seemed tu be j.
her book, and how utterly obliyio,Is o
my presence! Was l such Il nouentit,
then? | began to ierl very uucutu
Portable. If she would only glancc a
me but she wouldn't. nncc sllc licke,
some crawling thing :sl,n her dress
and tossed it at tho ,..r. but ncye
glanced at me.
''NIiss Whiting,"I eaid at length
= ''partlon me, but / am tired of maxim,
believe. / had rather think the arbo
occupied.
Miss Whiting kept on reading. an,
answered quietly:
VERY well, consider me here
Not to he worsted III this way, l sal,
bodily, well, but I want YOU to tall
to me.
She closed her book, ke,'ping on
slender hand hetween the pages, nh.
lifted her ehildishly calm eyes TO IN,
face,
''It is very pleasant day, Mr.
Lester" she said. with perfect gravity
Decidedly" 1 responded.
''Much cooler since the >howcr. sl
observed.
''It is, / assent.,i
Looks like rain in the East" sh
remarked.
1T does" I said, and then We bot
laughed.
"Now," she said. Il bore you vii
let Inc go on Wit. aiy book. 1t i
Dickens .Grest Expectations, and
you have ever read il, YOU can under
stand my interest.
"Do YOU like Dickens % l asked.
''No," she said, Il love him. From
the opening page to the 'Finis, hi
books are gardens OF delight to me
He interests you in his mesnest aharac
ter, and enlists yoYr sylnpathies, no
x,,;<l, o,,o b,,t r,,s<I, oil uo 10 IN