The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-29
TIT FOR TAT.
A Cure for Flirting.

| flowers that follow in the wake of eyery
fashionable waltz; Mrs. Elmore, a young
American lady, blest with great beauty
and great wealth, and who with her
| husband is staying at the Alexandra
Hotel, has succeeded in escaping from
her partner, and stands in the window
| playing carelessly with the tuberoses
and jessamine of her bouquet; while
| her lovely blue eyes-so liquid and in
noeent-wander from place to place in
search Of some one whom she cannot
! find
There were few more beautiful faces
| than hers, even in that fashionable
| throng. where half the bellies of Bel
| gravia had brought their diamonds and
bright eyes to dazzle the peers and pol
| iticians and lawmakers of the land.
A little below medium height, with
the fragile delicacy of fairy. her COM
| plexion had the transparent waxen
bloom to be seen only in children, while
her heavy golden hair lay over her low
| forehead in ripping waves of amber;
| her eyes were very dark blue-large
and velvety and translucent as a sap
| phire, while little crimson mouth,
curved like Cupid's bow, gave piquancy
to her face.
She was as perfect a specimen of a
radiant blonde as one sees out of a
| picture gallery or novel.
Suddenly her cheeks flushed a deli
cate blush-rose tint, as tall and ele-
gant-looking man languidly sauntered
towards her.
stephen, thought you were never
comiugp'
1--WE only been in the supper-room
a few moments. my dear-sorry YOU We
missed me. Anything 1 can do for you
now?'
''Yes-do get my wraps and fan. and
we'n go home. It's after one, and I'm
completely tired out
Couldn't, my dear" said Mr. Ell
more. breaking moss-rose bud from
his wife's bouquet, and fastening it
jauntily in the button-hole of his coat.
I'm engaged for three waltzes and a
quadrille with Miss Dunbar, and she
would never forgive you for OBTAINING
me-"
Bertha's lip curled haughtily. and a
deeper flush stole over her sweet face.
''Jealous-ehP' laughed her hus-
band. patting her bright head lightly.
Now, Bertha. that's too silly of you.
Don't you know that, st place like
this, man is expected to make HIM
self agreeable to the ladies? Pray. nv
dear, don't become so absurd as to
-
And so" interrupted Mrs. Elmore,
bitterly, your wife's wishes and con-
venience are secondary to Miss Dun
bars will"
1.-The green-eyed monster has in
vaded your peace. my love. F" said Mr..
Emore. .'Upon my word, | have
given you credit for little more COM
mon sense
stephen, said Bertha, quietly,
and without needing the careless sar-
easm of his tone, Il am weary of this
senseless gaiety. l am sick of the
whirl and vanities of the London sea-
son. Will you take me home to the
dear old Rookery?"
'Why, Bertha, after all your anx-
iety to spend a season in London! You
have been teasing me ever since we
were married to indulge you in this.
81 know it, Stephen" she meekly
answered. trying to keep back her
tears; .but have learned the folly of
seeking real pleasure anywhere but in
our own home My taste for gaiety is
satisfied. and you can't imagine how
homesick feel-how anxious to see
the dear little ones again. When can
you take me home, Stephen?''
Next week, perhaps. my love. if
| you insist upon it. )"
.eOh, Stepheni why not tomorrow
.sImpossible, Bertha, / am positive
ly engaged for every day this week.
for drives and excursions in the sub
| urbs of the Metropolis. I"
Engaged repeated Bertha, open
ing her blue eyes. Il know nothing
of these engagements. .
mo, my deari suppose not" said
| Elmore, lazily. ..Did you imagine 1
was going to ask your permission if 1
wanted to drive out with lady, or
smoke cigar with two or three gentle
| menp"
Bertha's lip quivered, and she turned
! quietly away.
Stephen Elmore looked at her with
an amused expression in his eye, and a
half-smile on his lips
| She's jealous, as liver he NUT
tered jealous of Georgina Dunbar
and the pretty little widow. Well, let
her pout i. out at her leisure; it will
never do to encourage this sort of
thing"
/ If he could have seen her few mo-
ments later Gust when he was whirl-
ing through the waltz with Miss Dun
bar, her beautiful brunette face touch
ing his shoulder) sobbing in q quiet
| room upstairs, to which she had re-
tired under pretence of being unwell,
but really to indulge in that one blessed
source of relief that is always open to
women-a good cry;-if Stephen FL
more could have seen his wife just
then, the sight might do him good.
though it is pot always best to let a
man know the full extent of his power
over that poor captive, his wife, as the
sex takes delight in torturing its vic
tim. So when Bertha wept showers
of tears. making her eyes and face red
| and damp. and sobbed until she burst
some of the fastenings of her ball
dress, she felt better.
..What shall I do?" she cried, as she
bathed her burning eyes and rearrang-
| ed her glittering hair. Il wish / had
never come away from home--it is q
judgment on me. l was so happy be-
fore launched into this hollow, de-
ceitful whirlpool of fashion"
She again burst into tears as she re-
membered her husbands last words.
Il shall not go back to the ballroom
any more tonight. 1t would please
Georgina Dunbar to see my eyes red
It was cruel of stephen to speak in
| that sneering way to me, she sobbed-
| Have LOST all the spells he used to
tell me possessed? p
She shrank back as if some rude
hand had struck her. as Miss Dunbar
clear, metallic laugh suddenly doafed
mp, audible through the closed door oi
her room. And then she set her red
lips together and . new look came
into the liquid depths Of her wet blue
eyes
The gilded hands Of the Parisian
clock on the mantel had traveled near
Is twice round the circiet Of ename1led
figures before Bertha Elmore lifted her
gaze from the punches Of velvet ROSES
| IN the carpet What was she fhinkine
.sSitting up. eh. Bertha? Why, ]
thopRht Jon Nere tired - deafh = szid
II. EImoro = ho catered fhe roo
ond lii Nils 1afd down her hook al1(l
lIlcc1n61 him Wlfh bright s115le1 s