The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1897-03-12
paulinoyh wnod

""NHN NAAN#N HAAAAANN N.NN II
self at place like this, and you cor.
tainly ought 10 understand tho differ.
once between q more, harmless hirta.
ton and real, sober earnest Now,
George, do DO sensible aud leave on
teasing me, that's q good boy"
George turned away.
81 eco Mr.. Melville coming this
way. You viii excuse me, Paulino2'
ooh, certainly
Pauline drow q deep breath Of relief
as her youthful swain walked away
toward tho star lighted beach.
"Who would imagine that tho little
fellow would have laid Il 80 seriously
TO hearth she murmurod softly az sho
extended q lily white hand toward
Mr.. Melville, who with half a dozen
others had sauntorod up the piazza
stops.
"You arc looking grave. fair tragic
queCnl" said Melville, drawing his
bamboo chair tribe closer TO her. F"
''May ono Of the humblest Of al your
slaves venture 10 ask why2"
'Did you ever kill or main but
teray" demanded Pauline suddenly.
"a great many times. am afraid in
the thoughtlossness Of carly youth.
But why do you ask2"
well, l have just done the same
thing"
Mr.. Melville glanced questioningly
around.
"Oh," laughed Pauline, cit wasn't
O real winged insect, Mr.. Melville, l
was but speaking metaphorically.
After oil, that's q matter Of no pnrti-
cular consequence; only a lesson the
child needed 10 cure him Of something
very like presumption. It's little
George Crane; no had the importi-
hence to tell mo that he loved me.
The idea of a child like that taking
advantage Of the encouragement one
may have thoughtlossly given him TO
imagino-but it's too ridiculous"
''Faith, don't SEQ the ridiculous
side of it," said Melville sternly.
"Crane is young, but he is a manly
fellow, and-pardon me, sovereign
lady of all hearts-but you did en-
courage him most markedly"
81 never thought OF anything SER
ious," lisped Pauline, with an artless-
ness truly angelic; sit was only the
chance amusement Of an hour.
Melville shrugged his shoulders.
ga good deal like tho story OF the
frogs and the boys" he said. "But
to dismiss all less pleasant subjects,
what do you say to a row on the sea
by Starlight"
81 shall be delighted"
And the merry group vanished into
the enpurpled darkness, their voices
ringing on the air long after their
forms were imperceptible.
Then, and not till then, tall figure
raised itself from the bamboo settee,
or couch, just within the wide open
windows, where the cool muslin cur
tains waved softly at every breath OF
the summer night breeze, and Major
Harry Livingston coolly walked out
upon the piazza, igniting his cigar as
he did 10.
iThe coquettel" he muttered be-
tween his set teeth; "the heartloss
hirt Now begin better to compre-
bend poor Georges varying moods Of
late. She has broken the boys heart,
and cares no more for it than if she
had cracked one OF tho china cologne
bottles on her dressing table. Well,
this is a strange world. If Pauline had
taken a handkerchief or purse from
Georges pocket the iron hand Of the
law would be down upon her immedi
ately, but she steals his heart right
out of his bosom and society looks on
with smiling face and folded hands.
Why is there no law made and enacted
to punish such heartless crimes at
these2 For crimes they are, black
treacherous crimes, even though per
petrated so charmingly by beautie!
like Pauline Moore and her sister co.
quotes And this fair, innocent boy
whom ] loved like brother, the cold
est heart might have spared him. B,
Cupid, and oil his attendant deities,
will be avenged on Pauline Moore TO!
this"
At almost the same moment Georg
Crane came slowly up the piazza steps
The Hghtness and elasticity of his gal
were gone; he walked like one who ha
received a mortal wound.
"Georgel"
Crane started ut his cousins voice
"You here, Harry?"
eyes, all alone. Sit down besid
me, old fellow; why are you not wit
the boating party?"
81 did promise this morning to max
one OF them; but-but-somehow
don't feel like it tonight"
Livingston took his cousins han
and pressed it with firm, lovin
J grasp.
81 know all about it, George" h
} said mildly. Don't be cast down