Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-09-02
Miscellaneous.
RALPH BENEDICT'S EYES.
BY l.. A. SMITH.

Take care! Flora, take care. You
are playing with edged tools. You
may offend Ralph forever"
"Ofend him, indeed! Don't talk
to me, Kate; l tell you he is perfect
ly hateful. l have flirted with him
till my head aches; played with him,
sang at him, romped or been digni-
fed, till nv wits were fairly bothered
how to create new sensation and
yet the wretch sits staring at me as if
his eyes were made for nothing but to
se9 with.
"Well, what are his eyes made for ?"
"Such eyes as his we're made for a
thousand things; great black ones,
with such long silky lashes Why, he
could make no end of a commotion in
the feminine fancy with his eyes alone.
What are they made for' They are
made to say unutterable things, to
look million varying emotions, to
raise with fervor, to cast down with
modesty, to melt with feeling, or flash
with pride. And upon my word,
| don't believe the man has the slight
est idea that they were made for any
thing hut the convenience of seeing.
And to think that | am engaged to
him."
81 thought YOU could break the
engagement"
"Yes, and lose every pehny of my
property and bring the whole family
about my ears. No. Uncle George
portioned off Gleville to us if We took
il together; if not it was to 60 to
some distant relatives who live in
Philadelphia. So. down comes my
sharer of this worlds goods, and, in a
most matter-of,fact way, says, Il
think We had better be married in the
fall, Flora And |, like al idiot,
said very we'll"
He is certainly very handsome"
Yes; so is uncles bust of Napo-
leon. Looks like him, by the way,
and one has about rs much animation
as the other. The most provoking
think about him is, he will never do
anything that is not strictly proper
and dignified. never saw him take
glass of water without a desire on
my part to tip the whole of it down
his neck, and see him jump. Though
for that matter, he wouldn't jump il
did. | haven't done a harem sea.
rem thing since he came that he has
not caught me in the act. never
scramble over fence that he is not
on the other side with a profound
bow for my especial benefit, and as
sure as | dare to climb tree or un,
dertake the least bit of frolic, his
most magnifc mt highness is the first
object to meet my eyes. Kate, Won
der if | couldn't make him jealous !
mean to try. Harry Vane came
home yesterday and is always ready
to fall at my feet"
Harry Vane is a brainless fop,
Flora"
"He knows how to use his eyes,
even il he is, and he is the best fun
in the world"
"And would you offend Ralph ?"
81 tell you hate him !" and Flora
dashed out of the room, leaving her
invalid cousin and confdante aghast
at her sudden outbust.
In the parlor the merry beauty
found her betrothed, his large eyelids
closed over the useless eyes, and ap-
parently fast asleep.
Il wish could play some joke and
see if it would astonish him when he
woke" she said.
Not in the least, if l knew it be-
forehand," said Ralph, lazily opening
his eyes.
How dare you pretend to Sleep"
cried Flora, Indignantly; 81 might
have talked secrets"
"Then ! should have listened
"Oh, of course not; nothing half
so naughty could ever occur to YOU"
she said rather sneeriagly.
trust nothing dishonorable could"
was tie quiet reply, though for a no
ment his cheek crimsoned with vexa-
ton.
Il ask your pardon, l did not mean
to be so rude" said the frank little
penitent, holding out her hand.
He only bowed gracefully, and,
snatching away the rejected hand,
she threw herself down on the piano
stool and dashed of her piqe in stor-
my polka. The polka went off into
a ream,like waltz; and one of. Beeth-
hovenis sonatas followed, till, as the
room grew almost dark, the subduing
influence became stronger, and as the
last note died away, she began to sing,
not as he had heard her sing before,
in dashing opera airs; her voice rose
clear, but subdued, in sad melodies,