Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-10-01
FLIRTATIONS.
BY S. B.

"Only s o'clock! How slowly the
time passesP'
And Pauline Sedley yawned as she
looked out over the purpling tints of
the twilight sea, where now and then
the bright reflection of a star seemed to
splash into the waves.
1t was a golden August evening,
moonless but radiant, with the balmy
air full of the fragrance of new-made
hay, mingling not unpleasantly with the
salt breath from the sea, and the sky all
glorious with the dolphin-like hues of
the dying day, and Miss Sedley, sitting
on the hotel balcony in her floating
robes of white India muslin, girdled
with scarlet, and scarlet verbenas in her
hair, made al exceedingly pretty adj
lunct to the scene. She was a brunette,
with a brilliant complexion, all cream
and crimson, jet black hair, straight,
and glossy as an Indians, and eyes
whose melting brilhance was like the
dusky glow of tropic stars.
No wonder that little Ralph Monta-
cute, the enthusiastic boy of eighteen,
was madly In love with her-no wonder
that he hung on her slightest word as
an Eastern devotee hangs on the priests
oracular utterances.
Slowly, Pauline! when I am at your
side!" he said, a little reproachfully.
Pauline laughed, and turned the dia-
mond and opal rings carelessly round
on her fingers.
"Yoa are only child, Ralphp she
said, little disdainfully.
Il am a year older than you, Pau
Incl"
Pauline Sedley reached up to tap his
flushed beardless cheek with her fan.
"A girl of seventeen is equal to man
of twenty-seven, any time, Ralph! You
are nice little cavalier, and you dance
the polka delightfully."-, but you see you
are not fairly out of top and ball phase
yet. Now, there's Gustavus Melville,
he's mana man who has brushed
the bloom off all the worlds temptation,
and your cousin, Harry Livingston,
cavalier sans peur, ct sans reprochep
Maj. Livingston's magnetic eyes are
enough to set any woman's heart in a
blaze"
She spoke abstractedly, looking out
toward the sea, and apparently uncon-
scious that she had any auditor but the
far-off waves and the mantling twilight.
"Pauline!" calculated the boy, pas
sionately, Il may be young in years,
but you have taught my heart pre-
mature development. You have no
right to speak to me thus, after playing
with my affections ali the summer!"
Pauline glanced up in astonishment.
Finished coquette that she was, she had
hardly expected this outburst from the
most insignificant of all her victims.
She had encouraged Ralph Montacute's
too invisible infatuation, simply because
it amused her to make a captive of the
pretty boy, and now she was as much
taken by surprise as would he the fish
erman if writhing trout should sud-
denly find voice to demonstrate when
the hook was being twisted out of his
quivering jaws!
My dear Ralph, you are talking non
sense!" she said, lightly.
Nonsense! Is it nonsense to tell
you that I love you-that my heart has
passed irrevocably into your keeping
that life will be desert without you ?"
Eyes; very absurd nonsense! Go back
to school, Ralph, or college, or where
ever it is, and forget me. My dear child,
[ should as soon think of marrying little
Tony Warwick, who has just got out of
merlno frocksp
Ralph Montacute was silent. Pau
lines lightly spoken words of ridicule
cut him to the heart
Pauline" he said, almost sternly, "do
you think you have treated me honor
ably?"
Pauline yawned.
"Honorablyl what big word for the
occasion One must amuse ones self at
a place like this, and you certainly
ought to understand the difference be-
tween a mere harmless Irritation and
real, sober earnest. Now, Ralph, do be
sensible, and leave off teasing me, that's
a good boy"
Ralph turned away.
81 see Mr. Melville coming this way
you will excuse me Pauhne?"
"Oh, certainlyp
Pauline drew deep breath of relief
as her youthful swain walked toward the
tar-ighted beach.
"Whof would have imagined the
little fellow would have laid it SO
seriously to hearth" she murmured,
softly, as she extended a liiy-white hand
toward Mr.. Melville, who, with half a
dozen others, had sauntered up the
piazza steps.
"You are looking grave. fair tragic
queen" said Melville, drawing his BAN