The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-04-10
A FLIRT'S EXPERIENCE

My cousin, Harvey Lewis. had said,
the evening before, "Littlc COZ, Pm
coming to take you for Il Grivc to-mor-
row. if the weather. is fine" and the
weather being fine we went.
He was only my second cousin, but
we had always made Il great deal of
ne relationship, and he seemed more
like brother than SO distant a con-
nection But on that day he told me
how he loved me and how | only could
make his life happy and would | be his
wife?
At first | could not believe him; vet
surely he could not be in sport; and |,
as usual, began to cry. Then when he
tried to squeeze my hand, | drew it
away, and sat, after l had recovered
from my first outburst, looking red,
and fearful, and abashcd. | 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 l tied
myself down to any particular indi-
vidual. TO be an old lady ut lS, for
sooth! Indeed, was not going to do
any such thing; and |. who never kept
cludcd in my new dignity, that had
hapS Cousin Harvey would prefer that
| should not.
SO | dressed myself rs usual and
went down to the parlor where man.
ma sat ut her work.
1T seems to me that your ride was
unusually Short" she said, as | en-
tered.
"Oh, it was cold and windy and for
lorn. and wanted to get home"
No reply, but II look of some sur
prise; such an excuse from me was un-
heard Of After pause she asked:
"Why, didn't Harvey come in?"
"Why, thought he was behind me,
and when turned ut the door he was
driving on
Another questioning look. felt an
noyrd.
But us | WAS expecting company-no
other than the son of the wealthy
banker Mr.. Poyntrr Smith, speedily
donncd my sweetest smiles and my
most enchanting manner for his bcuc-
fit.
But Mr.. P"yntrr Smith, Junior, spite
OF being tailorizrd and harhrrizrd TO
the last degree. WAS umdrniablv COM
mnnplacr in appearance, and not less
So in conversation. His remarks had
never seemed so tritr and vapid |
WAS positively ashamed of him; and
when he asked me to so to the .hcatcr
with him and his sister on certain
evening, il was only the recollection OF
his great name, and great cxpccta,
tlons, that finally led me TO accept tn,
invitation.
Cousin Harvey Lewis is rrcat
deal nicer. Indeed, l love him dear.
ly! and began to feel very miserable
again; "but | do not think could
marry my cousin: and, besides, ius,
thlnk OF Poyntcr Smiths wealth.! ANY
girl would be glad to get Povntcl
Smith, or Harvey Lewis eithcr.' and
my mind reverted to several of my
friends who were always raving about
him.
Nearlya week passed, and Cousin
Harvey, who never abSrntcd himself
more than two days ut Il time. had not
made his appearance, and, worst of all
he was at the thratcr the niwhl brforc
with that horrid little Bessie Baker and
her brother.
was SO angry that could have torn
her eyes out. but pretended to be pcr-
fcctly fascinated with Povntcr.
wanted Harvey to see me. but | was
not sure that he did. Several times I
detected him looking in that direction,
whcreupon | instantly became absorb
ed Ill Ioyntcr. Coming out we were
Just little in advance of them.
managed II so, and was in the gavcst
spirits, quite convulScd with laughter,
III tact, and clinging to Povntcrs arm
as though loved him dearly instead
or utterly dcspiSing him.
We had received invitations TO 4
party for the next evening. would
not have stayed ut home for worlds
though l had nearly cried nv ewes out
and had violent headache in consc.
qucncc.
On such occasions Harvey had al
ways occn my escort; but, of course,
ne wonld take some one else now, and
foynter had asked me. | had always
run down to exhibit myself to Harvey
before the final wrapping up, but I
could not do so for Poyntcr, and was
as sulky as sulky could be when | pre-
sented myself.
What did | care for his old riches?
l never would marry him, and he might
ms we'll lind it out first rs last. So
when he remarked on the beauty of
the night, as we proceeded in the car
rage, l declared that it was the cold
est, blacklist, and most wrctchcd nirbt
of the season.
An answer so full and exhaustive adj
mltted of no reply, and there was a ST
lencc of several minutes.
MIR. Lewis was probably not to be
present at. the party,as he was generally
my escort, WAS the next remark.
was sure l did not know whether
ne was 10 be present or not. was
not Kept Informed of all my cousins
movcmcnts.
~ silence somewhat longer than be-
fore; but Mr.. Smith was not to be
thwartcd. He had set out with the de.
termination to be agreeable and SLIGHT
obstacles should not discourage him.
"Mr. Lewis appears to he very at.
tcntire to Miss Baker lately" he said.
",Ihey were riding in the park on
Tuesday. | noticed.M
such pang as shot through me! |
had not the heart to be cross, so |
merely said, "Indcedm and courhed,
and laughed, and choked. and swal
lowed, to keep back Il burst of grief.
Of course the first person | saw on