El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-25
FLIRTING.


say, he was married up to the standard.
Tim was rather a fine looking fellow
and knew it. He had married woman
a few years more ancient than he was
because she had a few more dollars than
he.
He had q mother-in-law. She was
. slight, well preserved old lady Of the
period, and under almost any light she
looked quite as young as her daughter,
Mrs. Julip.
This mother-in-law had a marvellous
way of making herself up and of appear
ing rosy and kittenish, and If she took it
into her head to pass for a sweet 16 she
could do tat a distance.
She was a dutiful mother-inlaw to
Tim and made it quite as animated for
him as mothers-in-law are apt to do.
She suspected that Tim was fond of
other ladies-that he was inclined$o pass
himself off as single man, and her heart
yearned to prove it.
Her surmises had already awakened
the jealousy of her daughter, and it had
of late been so warm" at his house that
they didn't have to burn half as much
coal as they formerly did.
But Tim was a persevering cuss, and
whenever he felt himself at a safe dis
lance from home he would unbend him
self and be happy, for happy he was
with.
The park was his favorite resort, and
how lucky it was that his family" did
not know of all his pleasant cadidoes in
that beautiful resort.
One pleasant afternoon Tim and a
party of boon companions, dressed in the
height of fashion, were meanderinS
through the winding and devious ways
of the park, when a gay and dashing
creature swept past them, casting back
coquettish smile that might easily have
been interpreted into an invitation if
either of them saw fit to take it up.
Tim was the first to speak, for he was
an ardent youth.
by jingoes, but she's a sumner! l
say, fellows, just see me sail in and cap
ture that charmer."
They agreed to wait and see him do it.
He turned and followed her. She didn' t
appear to be extra anxious to escape
him, and so it was not long before he
overlook her. Raising his hat he saluted
her.
She replied artfully, and in a few mo-
ments he seemed to have captured the
fair creature for sure. His friends fol-
lowed slowly behind to see how it would
eventuate.
They reached a shady seat, and, rest
ing there, they kept up the same ami
mated conversation that they started.
Tim was somewhat taken. Exactly how
she looked, or how old she was, he could
not tell, for she had one of those illu-
sionary wells over her face, and they are
such; assistants to fraud that many a
man has been taken in without going be-
hind them.
The result was an appointment for the
next day in the same place. Then they
parted. and Tim joined his companions in
high glee. They were disposed to doubt
his complete conquest, and so it was ar
ranged that they should be on hand the
next day to see for themselves.
The next day found him on the spot
dressed with exceeding care. His beau
tiful unknown was also on hand, and ere
long they were engaged in earnest and
loving conversation again.
"Oh, you naughty menu sighed she.
"You are always capturing the hearts Of
us poor, trusting women, and we are al
ways the sufferers. How do know but
that you are a married man-belong to
another?'
What! Can you think me guilty of SO
much deceit?"
you know we are strangers
"What signifies it? Fate brought us
together and we cannot deceive each
other. L love youv'
"Oh, sir, it is impossible!'
"I'll swear it!''
AND you are not marrled?
''No, no, my dear. Fate has reserved
us for each other. Until 1 met you 1
never loved
''Oh, oh, how my poor heart goes! Let
US retire to place not>so public, for I
feel so giddy. Here, let us go into this
arbor.''
Anywhere in the world with you,
dearest" he whispered, as she took his
extended arm and they started for an
arbor near by.
Here they again seated themselves and
Tim began to pour forth the same volume
of poetry that he had used on so many
other occasions. One of her little gloved
hands he took in his, while his arm
gradually stole around her shapely and
unyielding waist.
At this moment deeply yelled lady
came up behind them, and Toms friends
were just passing through the arbor to
see how well he was getting along.
His charmer called to the yelled lady
Come here, Mary, and just hear how
sweet he talks
He turned toward the intruder, who
had lin the meantime raised her veil, and,
half rising, he confronted his wife.
He felt as though ten pound shell had
exploded in his hat. He glanced from
his wife to his betrayer, who had also
raised her veil. and who, of all people in
the world, should it be but his mother-in-
lawi
His friends vanished amid the most
boisterous laughter, and his mother-in-
law reached for one ear while his wife
took hold of the other, and without
word they started with him in the direc-
ton of home.
Poor Tim Julip! He is now broken
hearted and melancholy man. He avoids
Cen6fal park, and the places that knew
him once would require an introduction to
him now. A wig replaces his late by
perion curls, and it is generally under
stood among his friends that his flirting
n q y Now You'll