Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-05-13
A PROFESSORS FLIRTATIoN.

s'Do you think you'll bring him
around?"
s1'm sure have no such design on
his peace"
"I'm aching to know what you in
tend to do. Shall you airt with him?"
"Oh, no matter"
.You're too bad. got you apart
from the other girls on purpose to
have confidential chat, and here the
time is almost up, and you haven't
told me thing" =
swell, I will now-two things.
Your hair is twisted and your collar is
shockingly tumbled."
"Bother my collar Shall you Airt
with him? I wouldn't mind, only
that hateful Sue Liscomb vows she'll
get ahead of you. Now. do tell mel"
thrust nay head up and looked at
them. They wore not minding me IN
the least.
laid my hand upon the bell and
gave it violent ring. The two girls
started like culprits. What they saw
in my face I can't say, but they both
colored. Then they separated for
their seats, but not until I heard Lizzie
whisper desperately, "Shall you?"
sT SHALL" foated back in reply, low
and firm.
Should she?
That afternoon while was engaged
with the French class, I was startled
by little scream, and Lizzie Dane
springing up and crying:
"Ohl hornet has stung Charlotte
Arden, Mr.. Eldridge."
The whole school Uttered. I
scowled and commanded her to resume
her seat.
Lizzie lounced into her seat, oul I
saw Miss Arden put book to he. lace.
After school I went to her an =.
quired politely for her arm. 50
showed me her round. dainty VIZ
with large, discolored swelling.
"Good gracious!" I exclaimed, for
getting myself, show it must have
panied you'll Why didn't you leave?
I would have excused you
She smiled. That emile recalled me
to myself.
"Oh, it's nothing. was not child
enough to run home for so slight
hurt"
In spite of my anger at her, I en-
We'd the words that slipped through
her lips. "Had she already begun her
arts?" Well, I walked home with her.
Oh, the days that followed-and the
weeks. and the months! Miss Arden
wanted to firt, and we firted! Miss
arden wanted me to make love to her,
and I did it.
I had the satisfaction Of knowing,
as stood by one Of the long windows
of the close of the last day, watching
the girls file ont, that the whole vii
lage was alive with the rumors that
my beautiful pupil and myself were
engaged.
Charlotte Arden fingered behind the
Others as il wishing to speak to me.
The .coquette had her last snare, l
thought, bitterly.
.T-I stopped to bid you s;ood-by," "
she said, falteringly, as l approached
her. Sand toto give you this"
She held out q rosa withered
white rose. 1t was one I had begged
from her hair the night before at
party, and she had refused.
"Tbank you. 1t will be cherished
souvenir. ]"
I spoke derisively, for all the bad
blood in my heart was aroused by her
crowning artifce. She looked up
with shocking expression, and made
half angry motion to snatch the
flowers from my hand.
"We have had a very pleasant hirta-
tion-haye we not, Miss Arden?"
Her face grew white, then red.
"Flirtstion |" she faltered.
eyes. This will remind me of it
when I am away"
I saw the pride that struggled in
her face.
"I don't quite understand you, she
said, with dignity.
s.I refer you for an explanation of
my words to the conversation you
held with Miss Dane about the first
day of the term"
She looked puzzled.
'T did not have any," she replied.
"About flirting" suggested to
prompt her memory. s'You were to
win me away from Sue Liscomb, I
think"
She leaned her head on her hand a
moment; then she lifted it and broke
into a merry laugh.
"And you overheard us, and have
you been labcring under that impress
sion all these months? Oh, how could
your"
And as though some sudden recol-
lection we'll nigh maddened her, she
hid her face in her hands and broke
into tears.
"What is it?" I inquired, softening
in an instant.
"We were not talking of you at oil,
SIR" and the tears flowed afresh.
'sNot talking of mel 1t was all my
own insufersble conceit, then. What
an"
"Idiot." I said aloud, and "mon-
key" under my breath.
| She drew up her head q moment
later and would have left me, but
but
Pshaw! The scene won't bear re.
hearsing. Charlotte is my wife now.
New York News.