The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-06-26
WOUNDED BY A FLIRT,


vacant charge of Holton parish. 1t covere,
considerable territory but was not very re
muneraive My sister occupied comfortable
mansion in the locality and her neares
neghbor was Miss Ballou, owner OF ant
dweler in Balou court-an orphan, beauty
and fascinating creature. Her complexion
and ewes were the color of roses and HEAVIER
to me then-of the brightest, reddest roses
and the brightest, bluest heaven. And what
tremulous, ductile mouth she had lttremblct
with such pretty culver when she CASUAL }
mentioned her Christian name to me, adele
Ballou"-did think 1t qualnt?-her mother
had been FrenchwOman. All that she had
been the same instead of having had to breast
all these insular prejudices!
"These people about here dislike me, you
know" she remarked,
Dislike you--is it pOsslbleY | looked a,
her with unbellef She laughed, and pleas
antly Answered:
"Yes, very possible, as you will hnd when
YOU know more of HoltOn and the neighbor
hood. Do you know, Mr., Willard, that am
considered very dangerous and detrimental
and -snd-all sorts Of things"
This conversation occurred at dinner at my
sisters house, and it was a phase of fairy land
to me. She turned to me just as we were
about to move from the table and said:
CAS- am one of your parshioners, may |
ask you to come and see me- | can't call on
you, you know, because my doing that would
scandalize Holton too terribly; but may ask
you to my house.
With that she went of, leaving me in hope.
less state of lncipient love. Byand.by |
sought her side again, as she babe me do half
an hour before, but her mood was changed.
Country municipalities are the best soda
in tho hn aniI IN N,
going to ask your sister to be good enough to
let me order my carriage"
Already"
She laughed Come tomorrow, Mr.. vii.
lard, and tell me what you think of Ballou
court; will youy'
| bowed assent She held out her hand
suddenly and said Goodnight" with i'll.
concealed WEAKNESS.
adele gives herself very great airs, don't
you think?' one lady said to lady Osprey.
"No; | don't think she does considering
all things" replied my sister.
Don't you think she really ought to get
some respectable matron to chaperon herr"
said another "A young girl like tnat living
alone It's disgraceful."
Lady Osprey answered: adele loves her
liberty. she has told me that Ii her grand.
father had hampered her with lot Of rcstric-
tons she would have forfeited her property
Now she Thoroughly enjoys her independence"
"Thoroughly abuses it, rather" said one,
and another lady added that 1t was great
misfortune when grl sets herself up against
public opinion"
My sister raised her hands In depreciation
of the storm Of disapproval, and told them
that she would not hear another word against
her favorite. The next morning my sister
wished me to 90 round the parish with her "
81 am engaged, sand, briefly.
She stared at me, when stammercd out:
81 promised TO call at Balou court this
morning.
80 you shall call herewith me-"
But Alice began, protesting
Don't be foolish Oscar! | love and admire
Adele Balou moro than do any other wo.
man in the world. For that reason the little
indlsCretions that claim do not exist before
her elvi0us detractors are most painfully APP.
parent to me. She would ask a regiment to
call, if It came into the place, and make each
man in it believe she was in love with him
She il a famous hirt. Now, want her yealiy
20 be IN love with you 80 you must not gO
down too quickly before her"
Stuff and nonsense" said, angrily "She
would never dream of marrying poor coun-
try psrson.'
Lady Ospray was popular In Holton as itI
IS easy tor rich, childless, goodnatured wild.
ow tc be. Hence our progress through the par.
lsh was slow but at last we arrived at BallouI
court
We saw Adele but the dong so was no mat
ter OF Congratulation. | would rather that she
had forgotten her invitation to me and gone
out than to have sc~' her this morning, as did
making amusing nversation for two dundcr
headed country Tres aud one creature who
was spcechless never he could not make
references 10 b regiment as Ours Adele
gave me but a sight cool bow Had she for
gotten how friendly she had been with me the
night before or was she feignng indifference
merely TO try me?
The two squlres staid on pertinaclously,
but the officer had the good taste to withdraw
but his parting words were an arrow to my
heart
"Ihon may come and see you about those
roses tomorrow, Miss Balou
~ shall expect you-let me seat twelve, W
she answered, and shook hands with him
smiling.
CAPTAIN Newcome Is better gardener than
soldier one Of the squires jealousy remark
ed
NE las done one or two gallant things in
action, believe she said carclessly at Ism I
Away the great, rough men who are most
courageous"
Soon after she turned TO the squIres, and in
q hCnchalant manner said: Gentlemen, Il
shall leave You here to amuse Lady Osprey
while | take Mr.. Willard 10 see my rosery."'
| was in the seventh heaven again. AS soon
rs We got out of the room she looked at me-
and SAID
why did you look so depressed when you
came in first"
'BcCause'I hcsitatcd But she looked at
me earnestly, and blurted out, Il was dis.
appointed at not ilndIng you alone that is
me trutb-forglvc me"
II 5agaciously thought that was the reason
but even if | had been alone you were not
DID you bring Lady Osprey because you were
afraid that l should begin TO seek TO bother
and beguile you at Once?"
Believe me, Miss Ballou was not vain
enough 10 think that you would cOndescend
IN far