An Innocent Flirtation.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1683, 10 July 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

An Innocent Flirtation.

\h_d any one hinted to Helen Morrisor that she was inclined to flirtation, she would have resented it. Mr. John Robertson knew this, and he, therefore, in parting with her, did not venture to more . than implore that she would be true to him, and not suffer new scenes and faces to overshadow his image in her heart. Uven this mildly expressed doubt Miss flforrison did not take in very good part; hut answered, with a little loftiness, 'if he considered such a request necessary, and could not trust her anywhere and under aD y cir—' Whereupon he hastened to interrupt with the soothing assurance that his confidence in her was as fixed as the rock of Gibraltar, and that he believed to be as true to him as—in his agitation he could not immediately recollect the 'needle to the pole,' so he substituted hastily,' as the moon to the earth,' which, as it proved, mas a much truer compßriSO n than he hadhad a thought of. They were not exactly engaged, for Jfr. Morrison, Helen's uncle, had with that slowness and lack of appreciation of the generous and unmercenary impulses of youth characteristic of old-fogyism, positively insisted upon a _' condition ' to that desired consummation, involving something about' a year's waiting,' * sue-1 cessful practice' and ' means sufficient.' j Thereat the lovers were, of course, extremely disgusted. ' Money the price of loye!'Helen had said, scornfully. 'Why, one might as well be a Circassian slave !' And 'a whole year to wait!' John Robertsonhadmuttered,disconsolately, 'as though I vrere a young Methuselah !' Despite which remark we must do him the justice to say that in his secret judgment he admired the sense of the thing, as regarded money and practice. "He knew very well that howsoever paradisaical life might appear to himself and Helen as lorers, yet that it was an Eden wherein roast beef does not grow out of the ground, nor ready cooked mutton-chops hang on • trees. 'By the sweat of thy brow,' muttered John Robertson, thoughtfully ; and he went back to his dingy little office, with the brand-new sign over the door, ; th„e to work away, heart and soul, for &c dear love he bore Helen Morrison, while that young lady departed for Germany with her uncle and aunt, to whom the medical waters had been re- j commended, It was to Bubbleschwalenburg that Mr. Morrison first took his wife and niece, that well-known half-gay, half-dismal little North German spa, where people bathe and dance, and make love and break each other's hearts, and win and lose fortunes, and blow out their own brains, all ill utter disregard of the rest of the world. And here, while Mrs. Morrison | passed her time in a chrysalis state of 1 wet blankets, whence she expected to emerge again a gay butterfly of fashion, | and Mr. Morrison spent his leisure in | luxuriously loun^iag in the water, with ! a cup of coffee and a newspaper floating on i a level with his chin, like a highly res- | pectahle elderly merman, their fair niece | was necessarily left to find what occu-;i' pation and amusement she could. These at first consisted in gazing at Mr. Johnjp Robertson's miniature, in writing longj letters with innumerable P. S.'s. to Mr,: John Robertson, and in meditating upon^. the time when she and John Robert»on*B were again to meet. But the pretty-^ American girl could not go unnoticed; wherefore in a week's time she found that she had not so much leisure for these^j things. There were introductions, followed by invitations to dance, to walk, to_t drive, "all of which she could hot well; refuse; and so the letters grew a littlershorter, and the studies of Mr. John'V Robertson'sfgood-looking, clever, sensible American face rather, less frequent than 1 before ; arid when at length.it was an- m nounced that the officers of the gaLantP ; Twelfth Hussars, stationed near. Bubble-^ sohwalenburg, were about to give their „ annual ball at the spa, the little writing- 5 case and the miniature were put away -to 1 make room for the laces and the ribbons i which were to adorn Miss Morrison on I that auspicious occasion. Very brilliant indeed it was. What 1 with the garlanded pillars, inlaid floor and i dazzling lights of the ball-room, and the j glittering uniforms of the officers and ex- ; quisite toilets of the ladies, and the music, f and the smiles, and the intoxicating waltz, it seemed a very scene of enchantment to at least the younger portion of the company. What a mysterious and all-power- j ml charm there is for the female mind in a i military uniform, or a uniform of "any sort, | indeed, short of that of a State prison; J The fact is one of the most remarkable ( th_t has ever defied physiological re- , search and psychological investigation. . And how doubly potent must have been " the charm of these gorgeous habiliments when decking the persons of heroes 'such 88 the Twelfth—tall, well-formed, hand- . . some, haughty, yet with tender tones „nd j melting glances, which have already this evening won the hearts and turned the heads of half the weak and lovely women in that brilliant throng! -What'wonder ; that they,look with unutterable scorn ;; Upon the insignificant black-coated civi- '.' Hans whose notice erst they courted, and that. to-night their sleeping dreams will hcipf; hoaven —a heaven fullof masculine . angels in gorgeous uniforms that never fade;'and of golden harps playing ravishing waltzes that never cease! 'Where the beauty never waneth, „ Where the brightness never dies.' Ah, me! If such happiness could butlast. Many eyes are directed to one particular couple, who go airily floating past in that bewildering valse. A sylph-like, graceful girl, in a simply elegant toilet, and a tall, blue-eyed, fair-haired young officer, than whom no one in the saloon is more distinguished-lookiug. Their names are whispered here and there amidst the lookers-on. ' Miss Morrison —American; Captain Carl yon Weber —Hussars.' There is a slight look of consciousness on the lady's half-smiling, half-blushing face; but her partner is as oblivious of observation as though they two were floating together through the azure fields of Heaven to ' The inborn melody of starry Bpheres.' His arm daintily clasps her slender waist; his blue eyes rest upon her halfaverted face, and his handsome head, noble and beautiful as that of a young Antinous, bends so low that the fair mustache nearly touches her glossy brown hair. And with what an easy, almost -ethere*' #3ce they float past; he wbi«« [tne¥ mi A^iJ-

pause, ofV Q the- **** fls or brief B__il.nl I Sli m? SlC > and I stiil halfa iWkS- hai f-bIllshing, and rir and then c jusc lifting her eyes with a;iddenlight 1 » n AA 1S not *very one so can talk 1 UfV at onee ' and b°th tperfection, 3 as this young officer is doi| and cer--1 _£T 7 * __ this ' as in otheiball-room 3 Jnr? 8, t genial German anthe versa- " a enchman surpass the scfar.English 3 ana the rather awkward, mier-of-fact ; American. John Robertson fed. never , danced like this, or made hiself thus I agreeaole to Helen MorrisonlThe idea . occurred to her vaguely, in nionscious > comparison; and then all thougi of John - ispbertson was dismissed for it night, , and she was loitering through h illumi- ; nated garden alleys of the Eisaal, on t Captain Yon Weber's arm, and |w more , frequently looking up into the'ue eyes that seemed watching so eagerly ir those fiances. And by-and-by— Heata only knows how it came about—her Jind was clasped in that of her coibanion, c t° _ the fair sui"face where he lips ot John Robertson had laffc rested, breathed the passionate kisi )f the young German hussar, scarcelr ciecked or chidden. And neither'of them noticed a young girl, hardly sixeea, with a lair, dimpled face, very paleiiow, and large earnest blue eyes, who, laiiing on the arm of a stout, puffy, nidle-aged man, just glanced at them as se passed, and averted her eyes as from&mething too painful to behold. Had the?een her, Helen Morrison might have wodered at the strange expression on the fir young face, and Captain Carl Yon Web might have felt ashamed of himself. Heaven knows he had cause t<be so. For three months past his love'or Ger- '. trude Freiland, the pretty daugb!>r of the rich miller, had been the talk ofthe garrison, and the standing topic _th the coffee and - scandal parties of Bubbleschwalenburg. So earnest, inded, was his devotion that many among hisbrother officers predicted that he would mary her, in spite of his aristocratic familj while the ladies of the above-mentionet social assemblies, as ladies always do, bok an opposite and much worse view of tfe case. Not that they knew anything postively, but—ahem! And it was very fofunatc for poor little Gertrude that nonjimong those moral vultures scented thi dear j twilight meetings by the old mill-da'h, and '. tl>~ J.J-T- ,j, ( r< .,~ . - -jf^^ d.*"" I 5'1 --™ *^r '"•'s-'s'. -■'■WJ'iiti-; iW.t •" .'c:#:.'.? ■; ■■■' rt~- i ?'i'-!; rt.-'jr* {ij'it _u7. n.ictrt) !?',•*, * '%.•■ •-> ■»*' J SfchWi "»'PWIi '( v '.!;,!?it'li ii>C.:t u-i ■'■'-«; "»' f~—■ I _-r.>.-t-sirc€t T A-A.,-K'-n_. ):*-. {". i t.. ~.._ .....;. ~..1, , ; |V;,,., ■■v/ri lipi- 'I 1: T 'B it "■!">' _>_> 1 ij' ■ ' '""' :.;. ; sim___ _?scti;T^?Av.T'-'---;■{■■■.'•■ ■-.| %„^*jnt J ■!«**'*» '*3_>' Sates* &««„& *s^*;_» ■:.:■ : _ _ w ss "~:Zj:r :"i.;.' '_ia_«B ! -^~. ... j« ~. _ L, 2a , IJ\ M s 'X i. .«s % i y 1 iff .a.. i. yl£*j_ i$ a i I ■■*■?■ » V i >.t v i > -,< .'«( f lfep_rte_B <st f'&pstr&m _:•_».. ,2;.-ii4 t«_e |. f_r^Aif«* t Ciibi i ",'■„' - lonorfL-.,!, irti__ •, - f^1 -a ■ I G«»«, GmisKKinu.i, _.;<!■ \ni'J-c,-rii,vu* - •?„»*■»,' al til I 3"nftua_.d Tarw- l-Ti- ".> , iofei X I&lmrtrVi, r*'_..'ed mv a-.x>_,.<*;::. .'. ' :";" :: !■"?■* '. I_ -'l r Vfi (;t_l . Sfc.'fji m~~o~' "b'""I'~ITJIJ «-— i .EX A.!K>._ YV.,'\) 0."" >" ) D, » $& ttiis Hvr _n." x-.i s I*/; . ■» _ ...—...— 'r-eeat f , AX>»g9Si.o± M Jfe';-,, '^_ts S a.-.: -•". ? ■ I Bdo_!'(_f£ *>«'.*** _«.«'«' '.:.■ ihtt-k S?l>.■.''!?: j for the C'hlwtit.- *i '1 "'.:'' Si mm\ |-„___■'_ .___.,. :„"...' .J__9* "'"'' P. |-1 MWM^ 1 " B*JK! '^i'"' p> f| , 'JO . —-_-;_ ■ B;P'°Klit *» ',*ajr tjaanf.luw. ' .&. »:'>.■»,"^, *l;.'fe jy. j jaaw'« B«y B_i# Mi&», zci, «& _(_ i, I .-;^ p°' • i.:Bi3i"«ilfe-:fcl? . 1. I; I 'j ."".f :■ j _ -• :i- '-r Wf;;-V i / H ii A i-» L F '; ? r^~ I ■ voßflx asj:-. " k .'.:!' ?.¥^ . \ - Jjt.* js* .j.vaj, ■_.<;« to W'JrderiAJt-. i'-'-.-v ■':.'-■:' ;'-''.-. •; f v.'.'j: ().-„-=i.>. i).;T)t'sJ V yfy-ti:, : Oilsjtil '':';A ( i-im-^Vms, Olc^rfng, fcTfl l._>isi* ■" .'' : I *C,'i!fe<3. '- 1 t/'.. i' ■. : : "Fo2f_OJK_Ts' Jl^>A.P, N.V:^^ | t ..;' . Ord'srt, msy 1»» 3e.»t *t Jlk :i'--~ \ f s»t ( .ui-ot, *:,«?>« -•'-,, ,i tl__. " -— —— -; ti -J hi; I W "r,, i- • ... -4' ? UP 1 * 1 mif 'Ji WVN »H A -v<'V diC_ *l! ' (Nesi; to-'._sei_**s'——^i-=J-—w*j***fc-i_t--Vo_! Weber;: "shei liked him; and it pleased her to be liked and admired by him. He was quite a charming companion in the ball-room, in the gardens and saloon, and in those delightful-roman-' tic drives and rambles about the hills and and dales around Bubbleschwalenburg which it was the fashion to take in parties. Not alone, mind you, for in the creed of the fair members of the coflee-and-scandal parties there seemed some mysterious and deadly social siri in the mere circumstance of two young persons of the opposite sexbeingalonetogether anywhere. Somebody must see them; somebody must be able to vouch that the two conducted themselves with the strictest propriety, else nobody will believe it of them; certainly not the coffee-and-aeandal consumers. _* » , Still Captain Yon Weber managed to find opportunity of saying to Miss Momson all that he wished to say. She was uot untouched by his devotion, and there were times when the thought occurred that were she not an American girl and in love with John Robertson, how devotedly could she love this handsome chivalrous young German soldier. But she could not be faithless to John Robertson (what an ugly name by-the-by); and he didUthink, considering^^difierent national tastes and habits, that it would *be quite prudent to marry a foreigner. And yet she did not like to give him up, at least, not quite yet. So sh« amde decisive reply to Carl's proposals; only assured him that she was not engaged and made him believe she loved .him, and. 3d her friends, when they bantered,her

about the devotion of the gallant hussar, that' it was merely an innocent flirtation.' How long this might have continued, or where it might have ended, Heaven only knows, but for a little incident that at length occurred. Somebody had spoken of the beauty of the mill, and a walking and sketching party was formed for the purpose of visiting it. Captain Yon Weber could not go. He had some garrison duties to attend to, he said regretfully, and so Miss Morrison accepted the escort of a shaggy and fiercelooking Russian Count, who had from the first manifested great admiration for her. but rarely succeeded in obtaining an opportunity of manifesting it; and, the captain being away, Miss Morrison thought it no harm to encourage the count a little, just so far as to amuse herself, and let people know that she had a nobleman for an admirer. In fact, she enjoyed the idea, and thought how nice it would be to make John Robertson a little jealous, and then to rejoice him with the knowledge that she had preferred him to a real Russian count —very poor it was true, but. a count nevertheless. So she smiled upon the count, and chatted charmingly in German and French; and the count's dark eyes glowed upon her almost as softly as the blue ones of Carl Yon Weber;.and very assiduously and tenderly he assisted her over the rough rocks, and chose for her the mossiest seat, whence she could see and sketch the picturesqe old mill. And then, as she was thirsty, he left her and went to a little cottage, some distance off, to order a glass of milk and some brown bread and honey—an Arcadian repast, much affected by the Bubbleschwalenburgian visitors on occasions like the present. And then it happened that as Miss Morrison sat busily sketching, apart from the rest, there stood before her, under those Lindens, a fair, pale little maiden, with a profusion of golden hair, and large, solemn blue eyes, that looked into hers with a fixed and earnest gaze. ' You —you are Fraulein Morrison,' said the little maiden, panting, and pressing her clasped hands over her heart, as if to still its beatings or to ease some pain there. 'Yes,' said Helen, in surprise, and thinking to herself how pretty and interesting and sad this little creature looked. M •' I am Gertrude Freiland.' I Helen had heard of the miller's pretty aughter. Some good-natured people— /omen, of course —had told her how surassingly beautiful she was, and how 'fevoted Captain Yon Weber had been to sr. But she had never thought much fptfnfc it. 11—I wanted to speak to you,' continued we girl, hurriedly, as before, and seemgly afraid of being interrupted, and the ilour came faintly into her face as she -aoke. I ' Say what you wish,' said Miss Morri- ' in, kindly. * Dont be afraid. Tell me Spat it is you want with me.' i The kind tone was perhaps unexpected, ertrude's heart was open at once, ihe .aelt down on the grass at her rival's §et. -;'I want to ask—Oh do not be angry ; Ath me !—but I want to know if you are ■ marry Carl Yon Weber, as they tell Wt ' 41jHelen Morrison looked at the lovely me ' before her, the face so childlike in "*ature, so womanly in its expression of 179.'and suffering, and a light dawned son her, §§' No/ she answered quietly. "I am H>t to marry Captain yon Weber.' 'But you love him? Oh, surely you him.' Helen hesitated. j'No.' she said, slowly, 'I do not love jim.' •' J What a sudden light broke over the fade face; and how eagerly she seized her Seal's hand and pressed it to her lips ! H( Fraulein' —her voice trembled with its lirnestness—' if you do not love him, why R> you take him away- from me ? I love $m—ach, Gett, how I love him! And ie loved me. He told me so often and Iften here beneath the lindens. He kissed |ac, and called me his Gretchen, and from phora he could not be happy. And we ;jj>ere happy, oh, how happy ! until you fame.' . I The tears gathered slowly into Helen Morrison's eyes. She took the two burning little hands into her own. I 'Poor child !' she said soothingly. I ' Oh, Fraulein, give him back to me — .jive him back to me! He was all I had; ie was all the world to me. And he loved m e—he loved m«! i On her rival's breast the low wailing . By died away, and Helen, holding her ||nderly in her arms, and softly stroking ||wn the golden hair, felt the trembling &m grow still at length. Poor child ! Wl . -i_ i ' • ' ■ ' nor child! , iThat night in the ball-room Captain Bp^rWVfeffßJ^M surprised at the cold and grave greefi_^r which Miss Morrison fouchsafed him, when he, as usual, &geriy sought her -m<i e . What did it mean? What had happened?" 1". not well ask an explanation there; but he looked anxiously around for a clew, and thought he had found it, when he met the half-mocking, half-exultant glance of the Russian Count, and saw his open devotion to his love, nnd how she as openly encouraged it, IN ot but that Helen felt sorry for the pain she was inflicting, but she felt also that it was high time that her flirtation with the hussar should be brought to a decent close ; and the interview with poor Gertrude had given her a good excuse for it. She would tell him that she had heard about his ill treatment of that tender-hearted little maiden, and she would praise her beaaty and sweetness, and tellj him how wrong he was in breaking such, a true and loving heart. And so, after she herself should have left Bubbleschwalenburg, as would now soon be the case, Captain Yon Weber would turn back to his old love, and the little golden-haired maiden would be happy. But who may tell what a day or an' hour may bring forth ?". In waltzing; with the count, Helen Morrison dropped hbr glove almost at the feet of Captain Yon Weber, as he stood jealously looking oh. He picked it up, and when the dance was over the count came up to him; \ x./' ' Monsieur has mademoiselle's glove ?' he observed, in the French which is almost the native language of the GeTman spas ; and with a fetiff bow he held out bis hand for it.S 4 T ~>; fW*W . ÜBWJWJ.J ■■■• ... ,

■•'I shall myself deliver the glove, monsieur,' was the haughty reply. ' Pardonne; but Mademoiselle has sent me for her glove,' responded the Russian, with emphasis, an emphasis in which there was the slightest suggestion of exultation over his hitherto successful rival. Slight as it was, it stung Carl yon Weber to the quick, and with a haughty glance he turned his back upon the indignant Count and made his way to Heleu's side. ' I have your glove,' he said, in that low, tender tone in which he usually addressed her, ' but I beg permission to keep it. It may remind me of happier hours.' he added, reproachfully. She let hira have it. There could be no harm in this ; and tenderly and reverently the young officer placed the treasure next Ms heart. The Russian, meanwhile, insulted in presence of the company, was twirling his black mustache and glaring vengefully upon the youn# hussar. When the ball was over, and the company leaving the saloon, a touch upon Carl Yon Weber's arm arrested him. ' Monsieur,' said the Count, fiercely, ' I znnst have satisfaction.' ' Certainly, Monsieur ; at any time that may suit you., ' Then to-night—now hissed the Russian exasperated by the cool contempt of his rival. And so they went out together to that quiet spot by the old mill, where the lindens grew. And an hour after there lay upon the green-sward the lifeless form of what had so lately been a living man— young, strong and beautiful, and glorious in all tha promise of life. And on the still breast, as the dawn broke that might never more break for him, lay the fair head of poor Gertrude—where many a time before it had lain, tenderly pressed to the heart, between which and her pale cheek now rested the blood-stained glove of a woman. Under the lindens, a few months after, was a grave made; and there, through the still summer nights, the trees that once listened to loving vows now whisper low and sadly of a young hear!, blighted and a young heart broken. And sometimes there comes a childless, silver-haired old man, who wrings his bands, and murmers yearningly, ' Gretchen my little Gretchen.' Helen Morrison went back to John Bobertson a somewhat sadder, wiser, and we trust, better woman than when she left him. It was long before she could tell him all; and then he forgave her because of her repentance, and her love for him through it all. She had never been really false to him. Sho had not really loved Carl Yon Weber, still less the Russian Count. Oh no. That sad affair, which was so long afterwvrd the talk of Bubbleschwalenburg, could not, some people said, be justly laid at her door. She had intended no harm, but merely an innocent flirtation.