The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-03-13
FLIRTATIoHs.

less, but radiant with the balmy ar tull
Of fragrance Of new mown hay, min
Cling not unpleasantly with the salt
breath Of the sea, and the sky all
glorious with the dolphin like-hues of
the dying day, and Miss sedley, sitting
on the balcony in her floating robes of
half India muslin, girded with scarlet.
and scarlet verbenas in her hair, made
an exceedingly pretty adjunct to the
scene: She was q brunette, with
brilliant complexion, eli cream and
crimson, jet black hair. straight and
glossy as an Indians, and eyes whose
melting brilliance 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 won
der that he hung on her slightest
word as an Eastern devotee hangs On
the priests oracula ar utteranees.
"slowly, Pauline, when I am at your
side" he said little reproachfully:
Pauline laughed, and turned the dia-
mond and opal rings carelessly round
on her fingers.
"You are only q child. Ralph!" she
said, little disdainfully.
II am year older than you, Pau
linei"
Panline Sedley reached up to tap
his flushed, beardless cheek with ber
fan.
"a girl Of seventeen is equal to q
man of twenty-seven, any time, Ralph !!
You're q nice little cavalier. and you
dance the polka delightfully."-, but you
see you are not fairly out of the top and
ball phase yet! Now, there's Gustavus
Melville, hs's Q man, and your cousin.
Harry Livingstone. cavalier sans peur.
ct sans reprochep Major Livingstone's
magnetic eyes are enough to set any
woman's heart in q 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.
"Paulinep CALCULATED the boy, pas.
sionately, II may be young in years, but
you have taught my heart premature
development. You have no right to
speak to me thus after playing with my
affections all tile summer!"
Pauline glanced up in establishment.
Finished coquette that she was, she had
hardly expected this out-burst from the
most insignificant of all her victims.
She had encouraged Ralph Montacute's
too visible 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 be the fish
erman il writhing trout should sud-
denly find voice to demonstrate when
the hook was being twisted out of ais
quivering jaws.
"My dear Ralph. you are talking
nonsense" 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 he desert without you p
"Yes-very absurd nonsense! Gc
back to school. Ralph, or college; fol
dear child, I should as soon think o.
marrying little Tony Warwick, who had
just got out of merino frocks!"
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 avetreated me hon
orably?"
Pauline yawned.
"Honorably! What big word TO-
the occasionl One must amuse onei
self at place like this, and you certain
ly ought to understand the differenc,
between q mere harmless Irritation ant
real sober earnest. Now, Ralph, do b,
sensible and leave off teasing me, that
agood boy"
Ralph turned away.
81 see Mr.. Melville coming this way
You will excuse me, Pauline?"
"Oh certainly"
Pauline drew sigh of relief as he
youthful swain walked away toward tn
stsr-lighted beach.
"W6o would imagine that the littl'
| fellow would have laid it so seriously t,
hearth" she murmured softly, as sh'
extended lily-white hand toward Mr.
Melville, who, with half dozen others
had sauntered up the piazza steps.
"You are looking grave, fair trsgi
queen" said Melville, drawing hi
bamboo chair trifle closer to her. ma,
one of the humblest Of your slaves ven
ture to ask why?"
did you ever kill or main butter
Ay?" demanded Pauline, suddenly.
"a great many times, ] am afraid, j
the tsughtlessness Of early youth. Blu
why do you ask ?"
because I have just done the sam
thing"
Mr.. Melville glanced questioningl
around.
"Oh!" laughed Pauline, ut was not
real winged insect, Mr.. Melville. I We
but speaking metaphorically. Afte
all its matter OF no particular conse
quence-only q lesson the child needle
to cure him Of something very like pr
sumption. It's little Ralph Montacut.
he had the impertinence to tell me th,
he loved me. The idea of child lii
that taking advantage of the encourage
ment one may have given him to lima.
ine-but it's too ridiculous.
"Faith, I don't see the rediculo,
side Of it," said Melville, sternl,
"Montacpte is young, but is q man