The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-08-01
A FLIRT'S EXPERIENCE

MY cousin, Harvey Lewis. had said
the evening before. Little coz, I'm
coming TO take you for drive to-mor-
row. II the weather Is fine" and the
weather being fine we went.
He was only my second cousin. but
we had always made a great deal of
the relationship. aud he seemed more
like a brother than so distant CON
nection. But on that day he told me
how he loved me and how | only could
make his life happy aud would be his
wifep
At first l could not believe him; yet
surely he could not he In sport; aud |,
as usual, began TO cry. Then when he
tried TO squeeze my hand. | drew Il
away, and sat. after / had recovered
from my first outbnrst, looking red,
aud fearful aud abashed. | felt as
though Cousin Harvey. whom | loved
very much. but not in that way, had
really done something very rude and
unkind.
To tell the truth. It was my first Of
fer. and wanted some more solicita-
tions. and more flirting. before | tied
myself down to any particular indi-
yidual. To be an old lady at rs, for
soothl Indeed. | was not going 10 do
any such thing; and |. who never kept
a secret from my mother. wisely con-
cluded in my new dignity. that had
better not mention the matter-per-
haps Cousin Harvey would prefer that
should not.
So dressed myself as usual and
went down to the parlor where mann
ma sat at her work.
1t seems To me that your ride was
unusually Short she said, as / en-
tered.
..Oh. il was cold and windy and for
lorn. and wanted To get home. "
No reply. but look of some SUR
prise; such an excuse from me WAS un-
heard Of After pause she asked;
"why. didn't Harvey come inp"
why. | thought he was behind me.
and when | turned at the door lac WAS
driving OF.
Another questioning look. felt an
moved.
But as | was expecting cumpany-no
other than the son uf the wealthy
banker. Mr.. Poynter Smith i speedily
donned my sweetest smiles and my
most enchanting manner Tor his bene-
lit.
But Mr.. Soynter Smith. junior, spite
of being tailorized and barherized to
monplace Ia appearance. aud not less
so in conversation. His remarks had
never seemed so trite and Napid.
was positively ashamed of him; aud
when he asked me TO 80 to the theater
with him and his sister on a certain
evening. it was only the recollection of
his great name. and great expeeta-
tions, that finally led me TO accept the
invitation.
cousin Harvey Lewis Is n great
deal nicer. Indeed, love him dear
lyl'' aud began to feel very miserable
again; "but / do not think | could
marry my cousin; and, besides, Just
think of Poynter Smiths WEALTH. ANY
girl would be glad to get POINTER
Smith. or Harvey Lewis ciiherm and
my mind reverted To several of my
friends who were always raving about
him.
Nearly week passed. and Cousin
Harvey. who never absented himself
more than two days at time had not
made his appearance, and, worst Of all.
he was at the theater the night before
with that horrid little Bessie Baker aud
her brother.
was so angry that could have torn
her eyes out. but | pretended to be per
fectly fascinated with POINTER.
wanted Harvey to see me. but | was
not sure that he did. Several times
detected him looking in that direction.
whereupon | instantly became absorb
ed in Poynter. Coming out we were
just little in advance of them.
managed it so. aud | was in the gaycst
spirits, quite convulsed with laughter
in fact. and clinging to Poynter's arm
as though l loved him dearly instead
of utterly despising him.
We had received invitations to n
party for the next evening. | would
not have stayed at home for worlds,
though had nearly cried my eyes out,
and had violent headache in conse-
quence.
On such occasions Harvey had al
ways been my escort; but, of course,
he wonld take some one else now, and
Poynter had asked me. / had always
run down to exhibit myself to Harvey
before the final wrapping up. but
could not do so for Poynter. aud was
as sulky as sulky could be when pre-
sented myself.
What did / care for his old richest
never would marry him, and he might
as well find it out first as last. So,
when no remarked on the beauty of
the night, as we proceeded in the car
riage, / declared that it was the cold
est, blacklist, and most wretched night
of the season.
An answer so full and exhaustive ad-
nitted of no reply and there was si-
lence of several minutes.
Mr.. Lewis was probably not to be
present at the party,as he was generally
my escort, was the next remark.
l was sure l did not know whether
he was to be present or not! | was
not kept informed of all my cousins
movements.
A silence somewhat longer than be-
fore; but Mr.. Smith was not to be
thwarted. He had set out with the de-
termination to be agreeable and slight
obstacles should not discourage him.
.'Mr. Lewis appears to be very at
tentive to Miss Baker lately" he said.
They were riding in the park on
Tuesday. ] noticed
Such pang as shot through mel l
had not the heart to be cross, so /
merely said, .Indeed" and coughed,
and laughed, and choked, and swal-
lowed, to keep back burst of grief.
OF course the first person l saw on
entering the room was Cousin Harvey,
with Bessie Baker upon his arm; but l
affected the most supreme devotion to
Poynter and utterly ignored Harvey's
presence. / was perfectly wild that
night, dancing. flirting and laughing