Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1884 — A WILLFUL FLIRTATION [ARTICLE]

A WILLFUL FLIRTATION

BY SABA. B. BOSE.

Aunt Rosie and myself had been the first to emigrate to my brother’s new residence which stood by the seashore, quite a distance from any village. We intended to have the place entirely set to rights before the arrival of Leslie and Letty, for my little sister-in-law would have with her the little six-weeks-old heir to the “House of Yorke,” as I laughingly called our family name, and Leslie wished everything to be as pleasant as might be when Lettie first saw our summer resort. We had succeeded beyond our best expectations, and a week saw our pleasant summer cottage all straightened and ready for occupants, but we had been given two weeks in which to finish our work, so I had one week left me in which to get into mischief. There was “a lad I left behind me, ” who dwelt in the city where my brother resided, a black-eyed, jetty-haired darling, but oh, he was the plague of my life, always getting into flirtations if he even crossed the street, and he made my life a burden by the “mashes” he was ever making, in the cars, and every place where his handsome face was seen.

Now I had always done my best to keep even with him in this line, and had even went so far as to write a love letter to myself, in order to make him jealous, and I will allow you to judge if I succeeded, for when I showed it to him I expressed the highest admiration for the style and sentiment, and he replied : , “It’s just some girl, or colored ‘waitah,’ my love.” “Indeed! Well I shall answer it and see.” ’ • '

“That would be the best thing. you could do, Get your paper and I’ll help you compose it, and then I’ll drop it in the office for you.” “Yes you would!- You’d tear it up and then he never would get it.” “No, I would’nt, and now since you have doubted my honor, I won’t touch it at all. But I’d like to see what you write to him. ” “Very well,” I returned, for I thought I saw a way to touch him a little, so I brought my paper immediately. “How would you commence?” I asked, as I sat, pen in hand, and toyed with the box of paper. “Would it do to say,‘loved, but unknown one?” “Well, that might do, but is hardly •rdent enough. If I were you I would say, ‘My adored and adoring lover ?” “But he wrote ‘My adored Maud.’ It would never do to copv right after him. ”

“Wouldn’t it? Ha! ha! ha! Oh, Maudie, it’s too thin, too thin, too thin.” “What do you mean?” I asked, with an attempt at dignity. “Why you little goose, don’t you suppose I know you wrote it yourself, before I found this ?” And if you will believe it, the provoking fellow had actually found the sheet upon which I had practiced my “feigned hand,” together with the first draft of that awful letter. I was so angry I could have slapped his face, but, luckily, at that moment Leslie came in, and, after he had gone, Archie talked so nicely, and never mentioned that horrid letter, and gave me a lovely diamond ring he had me for my engagement ring, :that I forgot all about it. But after that I got up all the real flirtations "that was possible, from Mike, the porter, to a purple old baronet who once attended the same church that I did. And I had not forgotten it when I went down into the country, either; and I have always told Archie he was entirely responsible for what happened that dreadful evening. “Go long, chile, now, and put on your pretty white dress and blue ribbins, and go down to the shore a spell, if you want to; I’se got all the work done now,” eaid Aunt Rosie. So I ran off up-stairs to my little Blue and white and dressed myself, as she had told me; then I took my white garden hat with the blue wreath around it, and my large blue eatin sunshade, and ran down again. “Do I look pretty, Aunt Rosie?” I asked, as 1 stood for a moment upon the piazza. “Just like a posey, Miss Maudie, and your eyes look just like them fergit-mo-nots there,” returned she, pointing to the flower-beds. I smiled back my thanks for this •complimentary speech, and the kind face of the colored woman disappeared from the window, and I walked slowly ■off down to the seashore, wishing that Archie was with me; for I was really fond of him, although he tormented me so, and then I grew interested in a great steamer which was steaming lazily past, far out at sea, and the first I knew I was among the sands upon the shore. There had been a storm a few •days before, and the shore was strewn ■with bits of broken and torn seaweed, and all the other debris which Old Ocean throws up at such times. I picked up a brilliant sea-shell, and, tired into ambition by this, I took up a stick ahd began a thorough search, turning over every little pile of rubIrish which I met with in my walk. All St once I felt a sort of magnetic thrill which told me some one was looking st me, and I looked up to see a group of four ladies, each with a book in her hand. and all regarding me with sensed looks. I stopped short, but th* eldest of the ladies came bravely

“You are Miss Maudie Yorke, I am very sure,” she said, pleasantly, “of the little cottage over there among the trees. ” “I am,” I replied, regaining my equanimity; and the lady again spoke. “I suppose it would be only right to inform you of the names we are blessed with, since we have the advantage of you. lam Mrs. Agnes Atwelh This is Miss Etta Lansing, Miss Ida Evarts, Miss Ella Evarts—Miss Yorke. We are your nearest neighbors,” she continued, “and I will own to having coveted your acquaintance ever since I heard you were here, for it is very lonely without company at the seaside, after the excitement of the city.” I responded as politely as I was able, and the young ladies were very pleasant. I found Mrs. Atwell an old acquaintance of my sister-in-law, and, as I had heard Letty often speak of Aggie Atwell, I was soon at home among them.

“Come home with us to tea,” begged Mrs. Atwell, as the hands of my watch pointed toward 5 o’clock. “Nay, I will take no refusal, for I know you are alone with the servants.” Thus importuned I was soon walking toward Mrs. Atwell’s cottage by her side, and the three girls chatting pleasantly behind us. “The young ladies have been practicing archery,” she said, as we went through the pleasant grounds. “Do you ever use the bow and arrow ?” “Yes,” I answered, delightedly, “I think it the nicest of all out-door "exercises.” “Oh, do you?” cried Ella Evarts, behind me. “Then do let’s shoot a little now!” “I have not hit the target once since I have been here,” said Ida. They had an original sort of a game, and their target was a huge barrel-hoop fastened up against a tree. “We are but learners, Miss Yorke,” said Etta Lansing, apologetically; and then Mrs. Atwell left us. leaving me to the care of the young ladies. We amused ourselves with the bows and arrows for a short time, and then the three carried me off to look at a tiny aquarium, for which they declared they themselves had found several inmates.

“There! I caught that tiuy turtle!” said Ida Evarts. “And that green frog is my own!” cried Ella. “I red made me a present X>fit”. “Which of you is the owner of that wriggling little water-snake?” I asked, with a shiver. ”Oh, that belongs to Fred,” returned Ida; “and Mr. Atwell says it is not at all dangerous. ” “Fred is Mr. Atwell’s brother,” said Etta Lansing, answering my inquiring look. “Yes,” Ella chimedin, “and he would be perfectly lovely if it was not for just this one particular ” “Ella is always falling in love with somebody, and now it is poor Fred,” interrupted Ida, laughing. “Hus-s-s-h!” said Ella. “Here is Mrs. Atwell.” Our hostess then came upon the scene, saying: “Tea is ready, young ladies. How do you like the girl’s aquarium, Miss Yorke?”

“Very much,” I replied. “Fred will want you to put something in it, and you must not refuse,” exclaimed Ida Evarts. I was about to ask why, when Mrs. Atwell spoke, and, I fancied, colored also. “Oh, Fred will be satisfied with anything—a bit of rock will answer—but we have a habit of never refusing Fred anything. ” Again I was about to ask why, but the approach of two gentlemen put a stop to my query, and Mrs. Atwell again introduced me, “Miss Yorke, allow me to present to you my lord and master, Mr. Atwell. Miss Yorke, Mr. Fred Atwell. ”

This latter gentleman was a rather effeminate-looking young plan, with pale blue eyes and light hair, and I fancied he eyed me pretty closely during the supper, and when at length I arose to depart, he took his hat and asked permission to accompany me. I thought of Archie and only wished he was there to see me, as I walked off triumphantly with Mr. Fred Atwell by my side.

Perhaps I rather overacted the engaged damsel, for the young gentleman became very devoted. I thought that Mrs. Atwell had become a little anxious, and was striving to keep us apart as much as possible. However, I did wish Archie would arrive before I should be obliged to drop Frederick, who was very affectionate, or would be if I would let him, but he was not expected until Saturday night, and I was firmly resolved to keep it up until then at least. Everything went on finely, and Thursday afternoon the young ladies were to spend with me. “I does hope,” said Aunt Rosie, earnestly, “that, that Fred will know enough to stay at home. There’s something queer about that youngster, now mind I tell you, Miss Maudie.” “Why, Aunt Rosie, what makes you think so?” “Nuffin much, only I notices every time he looks at you his eyes turns a reddish-green, and it’s my opinion the boy is a little cracked in the upper story.”

I laughed heartily at Aunt Rosie’s opinion, and although I did not exactly think as she did, I really wish he was a little more “the beau ideal” of a lover to confront by intended with, but at least he was as nice as that Irene Anderson was, that made such a dead-set at Archie last summer. My reflections were cut short by the entrance of my gusts, the three girls an i Mr. Fred Atwell. Mrs. Atwell was indisposed, the young ladies said. We passed a very pleasant afternoon, and the girls started for home about dark, but Fred made no move to go with them. “Come Fred said Ida, “it is time we were going.” “You can go, if you wish. I shall spend the evening with Miss Maude.” “But we don’t wish to go home alone,” cried EUa. “Don’t you?” answered Fred, indifferently. “No, Fred,” said Etta. “We can’t possibly go home without you; here is your hat.” ‘

“Yon may put it back again. I intend to remain awhile longer,” and I noticed a peculiar gleam in his dull’blue eyes. “But we promised Mrs. Atwell to bring you home with us,” said Etta, earnestly. “I believe lam able to care for myself,” he said, so sulkily that the girls left him to himself. I noticed the girls looked at each other strongly, and seemed reluctant to leave me, I urged them to remain, but they departed hurriedly, as I thought, as I watched them from the piazza. “What lot of young folks them be,” said Aunt Rosie, in my ear. “Shall I go in and fist that young feller out?”

“By no means,” I returned, as I opened the parlor door., Just a little thrill of fear ran over me as I saw Fred standing in the center of the room swinging his arms wjldly over his head. “Come hither, thou Queen of Heaven!” cried he, closing the door and putting his back against it. “I do not understand you,” answered I, trying to appear calm. “Ha! Ha! Ha! How should you?” he laughed, strangely. “When you know not that I am the great King Cepheus—greatest of all amid the starry throng—and that you are my Queen Cassiopea, queen of the starry heaven!” I vas terribly frightened, for I saw by the rolling of his eyes, as well as by his words that Fred Atwell was mad.' I said nothing, however, and he fell, upon his knees and burst forth into a frantic declaration of his love for me. “Rosie, Rosie,” I called. 1 “Be silent! ” he commanded. “Do you accept me, or do you reject me?”i he asked, more calmly. “Mr. Atwell,” I answered, as fearlessly as I could from the corner of the room to which I had fled, “you forget that you have known me but a few days; besides, I am already engaged. ” * ' “Did you say you refused?” he asked, very mildly. “I must of course refuse,” I said, as gently as possible. “Aha! Aha! you refuse! you refuse! you refuse! The demons told me you would!” he shrieked, in a perfect frenzy; and then he drew a long, sharp knife from inside his coat and began slashing about him frantically. In the midst of my horror I heard the joyful sound of voices in the hall, and then the madman approached me, and I felt the sharp steel enter my shoulder once, twice, thrice, but I retained my consciousness until I saw the frightened faces of Mr. and Mrs. Atwell enter the room, followed by my brother and Archie Dacre, and then I fell into a blessed state of unconsciousness.

When I came to Archie was by my side, and I had accomplished my object anyway, for he knew I had had one lover if he was crazy. “Where is he ?” I asked. “Safely bound and on his way to the asylum,” answered Letty, from an armchair near where she sat with the baby. “Did you know that he was crazy, Letty?” I questioned. “Oh, yes,” site replied. “He has been so several times before, but Aggie said they thought he was cured. ” “They ought to have told me,” said I.

“Too much talk, too much talk,” said Dr. Archie Dacre, and then I found that my shoulder had been dressed, and that I must be perfectly quiet. Archie and I are married now, but he never says anything about Fred Atwell, for, as I said before, he alone was to blame.