The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-03-20
EBURG SOUTH CAROLINA, SATURDAY, MARCH 90 1875

u !" You, know we'll enough" answered
Ralph, IS Flirting with De Vaux and
making him believe, like enough, that
You are in earnest. .aIi-
."Oh, it's such fun" laughed Belle,
[ earelessly. did you see bow devoted
II saw how thong ghtless you were,"
answered Ralph, graysly. '.You may
not like what L nm going to say, Belle,
but shall run til o risk OF your displeas,
nre. It doesn't seem just The thing for
q young woman who is engaged to be
married to be flirting with a stranger MS
you are with DE Vaux.". ".I,ua2 III a,t
Indeed II said. Belle, lifting her
eyebrows; "I don't think that remark
exactly original Seems to me have
heard it before som mewhere." ,T-.
aDo be in earnest for once, Belle -
Ralph exclaimed, really provoked. aif
you would only stop to think you'd ses
how ), foolish 'll4 your conduct is. You'd
,l"It occurs to me that you have, as
sumed the right Ito lecture me-, quite
early in the day." retorted Belle, with
dignity, before he could GO on. "Don't
go too far.'' ,,.iis2.sT .l.I..
II am m. not pet leoturing YOU" he an
"What do you oallit2 IIshould like
to know. ~,
IT am merely giving you a little ad-
vice, replied Ralph.
Il wasn't aware that anyone had
asked for any," said Belle, with good
deal of sarcasm in her tones.
No. but thenpeople who don't ask
1ufn <F&< /,
meaningly. If they were only sensi-
BILE enough to take it it would do them
o world ofgood sometimes
Bellies eyes flashed fire. ssI haven't
asked any advice from you," she said,
Indignantly, 'eand, what is more, /
don't intend to. I knowwhat TIM about
n
81 doubt it" interrupted Ralph.
"And I know enough, to mind nv
own, business, too, (" went on Bile, sI
wish other people did,"
That was their first quarrel. Ralph
left her feeling very angry. He had
tried to reason with her and found her
wholly unreasonable. She rather en-
joyed it, In novels lovers always quar-
.reledl Their courtship would have, been
humdrum enough without some spice of
that character in it. iE
aNIn show him who's MASTER" she
said when he. vas gone. "The idea of
his dictatingSto mel I'll make him
mora ian1oas fhHh she is nnw before I'm
through, and I'll bring him to my terms,
too" Which assertion was rather
broad one to make, considering the cir
cumstances OF the case. /
Ralph had hoped that Belle would
look at the matter sensibly after her
anger had +cooled7; but, not being IA
nous for doing sensible things, she dis,
appointed him. The very next day she
went ous riding with Capt. De Vaux,
and day or two after that he took her
to a concert. Ralph began to feel
grieved and indignant. He couldn't be
deaf to the covert remarks of his
friends. Bellies actions were beginning
to rouse talk. Everybody knew that
they were engaged. Knowing this, and
seeing how intimate she was with Dc
Vaux, it wasn't to be wondered Mt that
they gossipped over the matter.
1t isn't q very pleasant feeling, i'm
agine, to be in Ralph's place-to hear
your friends discussing the doings of
your promised. wife, and wondering
what you are going TO 10 about it.
Ralph bore it as long as he could. He
went to see Belle one day, determined
to come to some sort of an understands
ing. He met Capt. De Vaux as he
went iii. That gentleman smiled inso=
lently on his rival. Ralph wanted to
give him good horae-whipping. :. It
would have served as an escape-valve
for some OF his ugly feelings if he could
have done 30.
"Oh, yon ought to have come be-
FORE" cried Belle, with effusion; "Capt.
De Vaux has been singing duets with
me. Such ~ beautiful tenor voice us
he has! You never heard him sing
did you ?"
81 haven't had the pleasure" answer
ed Ralph, dryly.
Come up tomorrow evening"" said
Belle. "He's coming over to practice
with me again. You'd just enjoy listen
ing to him. never heard anyone sing
'Inanita' 30 exquisitely as he does
never He throws 80 much passion
into it. I was really charmed, J. assure
you."
mo doubt of it," said Ralph.
"And you'd enjoy his company 80
much," ratified on Belle, thinking, I
suppose, shat she was doing something
remarkably bril- iIliant. "I do. He's so
witty; he keeps me laughing half the
time. I don't think I ever enjoyed Il
gentleman's society so muob before"
Probably not, " retorted Ralph. He