The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-02
SUPRLEAI n I.
NEW ORLEANS BULLETIN
NEW ORLEANS, JANUARY 2, 1876
CAPTAIN KATE.

CAPTAIN KATE.
sim going down to the lake shore where
it's cool and quiet; where needn't work or
even think, but do Just as please" That's
what said to Fred German.
Fred looked blank. "Don't 60 this after
neon" be said. Il wanted you TO go with me
to Madame VS. tonight, and be presented to
Captain X ate, the lew belle"
sThank you," I responded; but no more
girls of the period for me, if you please-I
had rather be excused.
.Oh, but you must see Captain Kate?"' he
went on, '.thats what they call her, because
of the followers she has: she worth seeing"
II know the slyle," I said with msjestic
wave Of the hand. "Bold eyes-blue, per-
haps, black, probably rather tall. immense
chignon, laughs and cracks jokes like
peat it, my friend, not any for me y
"But just wait -" began Fred, and in
terrupted, with another wave Of the hand.
"My friend, I shall leave town this after
noon, for the lake should like Your company,
but ii you choose to stay, go alone. l want
nothing Of this Kate or any other woman"
"'Pon my soul J" cried Fred, widening his
blue eyes. "What has come over you, the
king OF male firts? Been bitten, eh ?"
mo, simply disgusted," ANSWERED, loftily.
SIN tired of work and women, and am gong
to leave both. Will you go?"
mot till next week /; then I'll follow"
"All right" said, and we parted.
liking of firts," Fred has called me, and
that term needs some explanation, tor l
should regret having any of my friends think
me that most detes.sble affAir, a man butter
I was thirty, not bad looking, and well-to-
do lawyer, and possessed nice little property.
l had due appreciation of women-liked
most of them extremely WELL loved none !;
paid them some harmless compliments; chat
filrting-why spoke no word Of love; gave
no fair lady any reason for thinking was in
love, and Mrs. Grundy gave me the appella-
ton Of Male Flirt" Well; never mind /; l
didn't
went down to the lake shore that sfser-
noon and engaged rooms at private DWELL
Eve have three borders now" the pleasant
little lady said, land expect one more to-
morrow Afternoons young relative from the
city-and there are just rooms for one more. :"
Those engaged and domiciled myself i'm.
mediately in my quarters, but not at all
pleased with the prospective young lady.
There were two already; but harmless indi-
viduals, I mentally observed at the table; one
Z studious damsel who wore spectacles and
looked at the ceiling; the other an invalid,
and wife of the male boarder. But this "com-
inc Girl who was she, and Whist did she
wan. to disturb my coveted peace and country
quiet for? No doubt she would be dashing,
flashing, panier and sash-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 we'll, but fellow didn't
want to be dragged into it, when he was in
search of peace and quiet. This was my men.
tai style Of soliloquy until the coming girl
came. I watched her from my window as the
hack sat her down.
Small, dressed in gray. yelled. That was
all I saw, save two moderate-sized trunks.
All. until two hours later I saw her at the
table. and took private inventory. Rather
below the medium height and slender in
figure: fair, with faint color in her cheeks;
hair dusky brown, curling, or rather waving,
not quite to the shoulders. and tied with a
blue ribbon from the smooth brow; eyes,
quiet brown and clear as a summer lake.
That was all, I think, that noticed. No; the
mouth was very sweet and pretty, and totally
devoid Of that society smirk and naughty
curl. which are SO decidedly repulsive in wo-
men. remember thinking of that and then
quite forgetting Miss Whiting until the fol-
lowing day.
rather pretty young woman" have said to
myself. land NOT one likely to modest me in
/ strolled out to little arbor the next fore
noon, with a book in my hand, and found
Miss Whiting with q book in her hand, and
seated in said arbor. ..
81 beg pardon" ! began; - dld not know
the place was occupied.
"Make believe that it isn't" shesaid, "and
come in. There is ample room, and am SO
much interested in my book that l shall not
Feeling decidedly complimented at the
closing sentence, seated myself on the OPP
posite bench and opened my book. But
did not progress rapidly. Miss Whiting was
SO interesting in repose, made such pretty,
good. Shocking picture, sitting there, that l
could not but watch her.
How interested she seemed to be in her
hook. and how utterly oblivious of my pres
ence. Was such nonentity then RI began
10 feel very uncomfortable. If she would only
glance at me but she wouldn't. Once she
nicked some crawling thing from her dress
and tossed it at the door, but never glanced
miss Whiting" said at length, "par-
don me. but am tired Of making believe. l
had rather think the arbor occupied.
Miss Whiting kept on reading, and answered
quietly:
"Very well, consider me here"
Not to be worsted in this way, said,
boldly. "Well, but want you to talk to me. !"
She closed her book, keeping. one slender
hand between the pages, and lifted her child
ishly calm eyes to my tace.
at is very pleasant day, Mr.. Lester. she
said, with perfect gravity.
Decidedly" responded.
"Much cooler since the shower she OBJ
served
"It is" assented.
"Looks like rain in the east, she re-
marked.
1T Does" said, kand then We both
1onohed