The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-23
A Proper End to Flirting.

OLD0r y0J."
"ButI am, willing to wait any reason
able time; only promise me before go |
that you will wait for me, Mary, then l
can go with lighter heart"
"But your parents know nothing of 1t |
yet, and mine have. nothing more than
of any love-making on your |
part up to, this time. No, 1t is not best |
that We become engaged 80 soon. Let
us watt"
% This loEs-like dialogue happened one
night at the gate OF the young lady's !
residence, when Mr.. Henry Towner, her
lover ofa month, wished her to make an
engagement with him after such brief
acquaintance. He was a commercial
traveller for one of the great dry goods
houses In Broadway, and now was or
dered to the West upon duty.
, "You are cruel" he persisted; "only
think Of the days and weeks OF absence,
rendered still more tedious by the con-
slant thought that another may be en-
joying your society, that another may
nave the pleasure, the happiness l have
had for The past few weeks"
He held her. hand in his while all this
tender pleading was going on. Now he
drew rLpg from his finger and slipped
it upon hers. There was little show of
resistance on her part at first but the
ring remainedson her finger as he placed
it. And, though no formal engagement
was made between them, Mary Gore
ran up the steps Of her fathers house
with her heart beating unanimously
over the parting With ner lover; for was
there not the first kiss yet vibrating
from her lips through her whole being?
so much tor Mir. Towner's month in
the country, Tue next day train was
bearing him Chicagoward as fast as
time and space can be dissipated by
steam.
A sigh and smile came together to,
him as he sat at the car window watch
ing tue sober farm houses and their in
dustrious occupants, patiently toiling
for daily bread regardless OF the flying
multitude then passing.
Tie sigh was lor the tender sentiment
left behind. The smile was because he
had been wondering only yesterday
whether he would really marry her.
Volumes upon volumes have been
written of woman's fckleness and men
]have been pltled as the unhappy VIC
Tins. The real truth is just the oppo-
site. For one tickle, incoustant wolnan II
you may tind ten such men.
| "She is a sweet, pretty girl; but-but
too simple and ophisticated for a
man of the world like me,2 he said to
himself. 81 must look higher for wife
than a country girl, even If she is very
prettyW
Aud he contrasted this pretty Mary
Gore with so many elegant ladies of mis-
city acquaintance who were richer,
more SNOWY and, elegant, but not 50
truthful and affectionaLe, uor SO pretty.
| Somehow the contrast would not show
her to such disadvantage as he hoped
it would, for be was in reality seeking
for an excuse for any tickleness or base
ness he might presently be guilty Of.
| ::'Iuu are wearing new ring, little
girl, aud that looks little as If our late
Yisltor, Mr.. Iowner, had been giving
Juu something to remember HIM by in
| nls absence"
| Mr. Gore said this to Mary day or
two aiLur Townel's departure. She
biushed a little as she held out her hand
with the ring for him to examine.
'I ain gIau you noticed it, lor l could
noL bring myself to tell you about it,
Now / shall tell you all. Henry Townel
asked ME to marry hlm-or rather 70 en-
guge myself to HIM until he was In
better position for marrying. / said no
because felt that our acquaintance was
too slight tor SO serious matter. Tnel
his parents knew nothing OF it, nor die
you. But, father, l allowed him to pur
This ring on my finger, and-and he
kissed me good-oy. IL was not wrong
was itT'
The girlish eyes were brimming witt
strange moisture, and she hid her face
upon his shoulder when her little story
was done.
The father stroked the brown lock-
gently and kissed the small bit Of brVv
left exposed as he said, softly:
"You are good gIrl, Polly; neye
fear to tell your old iather all auout you
love matters. Remember he was youu,
once and he viii never quite forget hi
own loVe-making."
That settled the matter for MarJ
Gore.
The train with Henry Towner wen
whirllng Westward. Buffalo, Dunklrk
Erie ami Cleveland. And this latte
place you remember that you have al
appetite. Mr. Towner was gratityin
AIS appetite at the dinner table when III
saw lriend enter.
NV nat, Harry, you here! and wher
did you come from-New York? Mis-
Ellison, this is my friend, Mr.. Towner.'
Then an elderly lady joined them.
"Aunt Ellison, Mr.. Iowner, of N Nv
York, one Of my OLD friends Of lhe road
Then when these nasty inLroductiou
were done, the new party took seats a
, the same table, and Mr.. Towner wa
irving to MAKE himself agreeable t
pretty Jennie Ellison.
Alfred Foster, the gentleman who ha
in charge Mrs. Ellison and her daugL
ter. was another Que of the army Z
, skiimishers along the advanced lines G
commerce. He, being naive OF tn
West, was visiting his friends in tina
, quarter. He had Deen asked TO escor
! MS aunt and cousin from ChatauQu
, Lake to their home in Toledo. Ia tul
way MIR. ToWner found hisJourney like
| iyio move more pleasant than he ha
Anticipated. .,.
Another one OF the party now ha
= similar anttcipations also.
.'Cousin AlLis a real good fellow; bu
you know, mother, he is engaged to tina
, Young lady i'll Chicago Whom We sa,
last summer at the Falls, SO he has II
thought OF eyes ior any one else. II
:. DO ti,rt little with Mr.. Towner, what
= the parmW L. ..e...
The old lady shook her head grayely
,, what was the use OF reproof or argl
: ment? AND she did ftrt a little, u
= rather, a good deal Win Mr.. Towner.
,, Somehow the time passes wonderful
Quick on the rail when one has a plea,
ant companion; and SO Mr. Towne
l thought when the sIeeples and elevator
r of Toledo came unexpectedly into view
g ''Ano you 20 ON " Chicago, Mr. Tow