Griggs courier., 1893-06-09
THE FATE OF A FLIRT
Her Unprincipled Actions Brought
q Deserved Reward.

I The delicious fragrance of hot-house
dowers floated through the half-lighted
parlors like "reminiscences of the ''sweet
SOUTH" although the matter-of-fact al
manac stolidly persisted in pointing out
December as tho month, and the ther-
mor,eter without stood uncomfortably
near zero. But the marble vases on
either side of the fireplace were filed
with roses and heliotrope, from the
tropic warmth of conservatories: and q
single dazzling japonica cleaned, like
acarved pearl. among the jetty folds of
Ella Wardlaw's hair, as she stood sm;l-
ing, listening to the regretful adieux Of
him whom the world called her lover.
''Good-by, Ella; shall come again
very soon."
Miss Wardlaw's heart throbbed high.
Charles Forrest had never before called
her "Ella," and she felt triumphantly
conscious that her proud beauty and
her seductive notes had very nearly
brought him to the proposing point" {"
One or two more such vigorous sieges,
and the fortress would be her own.
She sank, yawning, on a sofa, as the
door closed upon her lover, and clasped
her white hands carelessly over her
head.
MRS. Charles Forrest" she repeated
to herself-''that doesn't sound so very
badly, does it? particularly as the afore-
said Mrs. Charles Forrest will step into
q brown-stone palace, a carriage and a
perfect carcanet of family. diamonds!
Yes, believe he is safely entrapped,
and if play my cards as well as can,
the matter will be settled within three
days! leigho! this husband-hunting is
q wearisome business, after allp and
rather hazardous, unless one is very
skillful. That reminds me-" she added,
starting suddenly up, and throwing off
her soft languor as one might lay aside
. useless garment; 81 must write to
Ralph Thornby tonight; if the love-
stricken wretch should fulfill his limited
tntimation of coming to see me. it
might possibly be awkward"
It was nearly one, and the fire had
burned very low before Ella finished
the carcfully-worded note and sealed it
with a fairy-like device Of entangled
in pink wax.
The beautiful velvet-chceked CO.
-quette, with her dropping eyelids and
voice attuned to the sweetest and
softest key-one would not have
thought, as she placed that letter on
the marble mantel, that she knew its
contents were meant to break the heart
of noble and true souled man.
When Charles Forrest descended tn
broad stone steps of the Wardlaw man.
sion and walked along the lamp-lighted
street he felt dizzy and happy. The
sirens spell was on him-and yet some
warning, watchful pulse down deep in
his heart kept beating the old, incom-
prehensible tune: "Beware! beware!"
He passed through the noisy tumult
OF Broadway. A great hotel Office
threw blaze of light into tho street.
A crowd had assembled there-the mid
night mails had just arrived-and For
rest mingled with the throng to hear
the feeting rumors of war which then
vexed the public mind.
"Forrest! old fellow! can it be posi-.
BILE that this is you?"
Myself, and no other, Thornby; but
I thought you were safely settled in
Chicago, practicing law, instead Of"
'Instead of running wild about the
country. you were going to say. But
granted myself temporary holiday to
-Pshaw. I can't tell you about it here;
come up to my room, and we'll have q
cozy, old-fashioned chat"
The delightful little impromptu sup.
per of well-seasoned daintics, washed
down by champagne, was over, and the
two gentlemen Jvere smoking, when
Thornby abruptly plunged into the
-subject which was uppermost in his
mind.
Charley. I'm in love!''
''You are3 My dear fellow. SO am
Ill"
81 am glad Of that, because you can
sympathize with me. have come here
expressly to see her, and have the day
fixed for the wedding"
II haven't got quite SO far as that"
said Forrest smiling
but, Charley, she is the loveliest
creature that the sun ever shone on
an angel, divinity"
''Hold on, Ralph-not quite the lowell
est, trust; for the lady whom worship
is alope entitled to that superlatiye de-
gree 81 praisel"
''You're in love, too. my dear boy, so
I'll excase any little symptoms of insan-
Aty." rsjoined Thornby, laughing; but