Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1885-07-18
THE FATE OF A FLIRT.

What is that strange fatality which
leads men and women to strive with
so much energy and perseverance for
their own discontinue? To spend the
strength of passion, the skill of
calculation, in inextricably tangling
that skein of life which it is always
possible to wind in true and simple
fashion.
They know as well in that high
handed hour of youthful pride and
prosperity that they are wrong as they
do when they confess to themselves
the errors of the past in the thorny
years that lie in wait for them; but
because the reckoning is still afar off
they say, penalties happen to fools;
we will manage better.'' 1t is original
sin, probably, that is to blame; but
as none of us know precisely how we
came by that inconvenient heritage of
our common nature we need pursue
the inquiry no further.
Mr.. Allen Moorhouse was an I'M
doubted flirt. He was also one of
that dangerous type whose operations
are too delicate and skillful to be
classed with the rather vulgar
exhibitions common to ordinary
practitioners of the fine art in question.
A bold girl, ready and well equipped
for such warfare, would not have
caught him for an hour, but he would
perhaps have Jared better ultimately
had he been less fastidious. The
complete subjugation of the most
capable damsel of this pattern would
have yielded him no triumph; he would
have despised his conquest.
Mr.. Moorhouse was an Englishman
of large fortune and secure position in
his own country, who had been for
many months roaming about Canada
and the United States in search of
sport and adventure of various kinds.
In this pursuit he did not limit him
self to the quarry of flood and field,
but found even more congenial hunt
ing-grounds in the well stocked
preserves of society. He was, when 1
begin to speak of him, spending a
winter in New York, and as he was in
all respects an eligible young bachelor
he found no difficulty in obtaining an
agreeable sphere Of action. He dis
ported himself with his usual grace and
gallantry for while as a general rover
amongst ladies, but indiscriminate
pleasure of this character soon wearied
him. He liked to settle down, to play
sentiment, and awaken it in another
While still lowering about he CHANGED
to meet young lady, a countrywoman
of his own, who had come out to some
relatives in New York with the view of
making an experimental winter in that
great city. The moment he saw her
he said to himself, s.This is what 1
have been looking for, and Instantly
set about procuring an introduction to
Miss Armytage.
Phyllis Armytage-sPh the
fair, as she was often called-was a
girl of more than common grace and
beauty, and noticeable for a reserve
and refinement of manner which
harmonized exactly with her appear
ance. But despite the pastoral name
provided for her by romantic mother
she was no Arcadian nymph, but wary,
clear-headed modern maiden, who
knew pretty well what she wanted,
and had few misgivings as to the sue
cess of her expectations. And charm
ing to behold was Phyllis Armytage in
her dawn of Womanhood She was
fair, with that milky fairness seldom
seen out OF the British island, and her
eyes were the exceptional blue eyes
large, deeply set under dark, we'll
marked broWs, eyes rarely wide open,
but cleaning calmly through their long
fringes with depth of color that made