A FLIRTATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 452, 8 March 1890, Page 4

A FLIRTATION.

CHAPTER I

‘ It's well to lie off with the o’d love Before you are on with the new.’ NE two three cigareties did not do it. Nay, 20 would have found Alexander St- wart exactly where he had been when he lighted number one. For no smoking can make black white, nor give peace of cou-

science when a man intends doing a very mean thing. And it was a mean thing to do the deed Alexander tewart contemplated. He wanted to have ease, comfort, wealth, and all the good things in this life. These desire 3 formed the mainspring of his actions, especially of this last intended very mean one. He considered himself madly in love’with Nettie Fail-bairn, and he had told he/ so, and had sworn by the heavens above to be true to her. And yet he intended to marry some one else, as Nettie was poor and some one else was rich. And as he sat smoking lie was planning how to break it off with Nettie. For the deed had to be done very quickly, since he had got engaged to the other one as well as Nettie, and was in constant fear that the news would leak out. The bother was, Nettie believed him to be a Prince among men, endowed with all the perfections possible to mankind, and many other qualities that poor human nature can never lay claim to.. He smiled as he smoked in his lazy fashion when he thought ot poor Nettie’s belief in his goodnes 3 , courage, genius, etc., etc. • What a iib'le goose she is,’ he said. It is highly flattering to a m u to be considered incapable of baseness. Bub it is also extremeiv awkward when a man intendsdoing the very sin he is thought to be incapable of doing, and the victim is the one who holds him in The highest regard, and credits him with almost divine qualities. He feels in doing that action as if r like Satan, he fell from heaven to earth. ‘ Bub it has to be done,’ said this wise man to himself. ‘By George, it would be a pickle if the two were to tell secrets. Yes, it would just have been a pickle. Bub as Nettie was as lonely as any poor giri ever was, there was no companion lor her Lo confide with, and her aunt she did not dare to breathe a word of her lovemaking to —Miss Fairbairn, was at the ‘ unc- rrain ” age of women ; and as she had not got an offer heiself, was very much down on love-making in general, and most determined to keep the cook, housemaid, and, above all, her niece, Nettie, from ever plunging into the sea of matrimony. The ‘Niece N ttie ’ had to do the work of a maid and companion, with no payment, only her food and clothing, given rather grudgingly, and an unlimited amount of snubs. She was worse off than the cook or the housemaid, who had their ‘ night s out, and did nob require to be always .when at w'oi k under the watchful eye of Miss Fairbai: n. . , , Bub ‘Love will venture in where he daurna vveel be seen,’ and so Nettie managed to meet Alexander Stewart sometimes, and wore round her neck a blu- ribbon, to which was tied an engagement ring that Nettie hoped some day to wear on her finger ‘in spite o’ them a’. ‘I wender how I’ll do it?’ muttered Alexander Stewart. ‘ What is a fellow ta do—walking the “ house ’’—and never a case—and debts and danger? I can not keep my head any longer out of the water, and it is a good thing for me that I secured “ Pretty Pringle.” She’s a catch. Only Nettie’ll make such a row—women always do. Why cannot they be sensible ? They ought to be much obliged to men for relieving them in such cases. Men cannot live on the East wind, and. that’s the only thing Edinburgh gives without the asking.’ And as Alexander Stewart finished, he threw his cigarette into the fire, just as the maid entered with three letters. The first letter he opened reluctantly. It ran :

‘ Sir,—l will be much obliged if you will pay me the enclosed bill t your earnest convenience. I can wail no longer.—\ ours truly, * Robert Reid/ ‘ It is not convenient,’ laughed the young advocate, as he glanced over the tailor’s bill, and wondered how in all the world it had mount) d up. ‘ I wonder why I should hesitate in fhe matter. If I marry “ l’rebby Pringle,” tailors’ bills will be an unknown horror.’ Tho next letter was from “Pretty Pringle” herself. Its perfume filled the room as he read—- * Dear At,rex.,— You naughty boy. Why did you not com.-, to dim e- iast night? You must come to-night to the dance. Do not let these horrid law cases bore you and make you forget ■he customs of civilised society in the West End. You arc to lm\ c tho first waltz, and you clo ihmce so beautifully. I feel so proud of wearing vour ling, and knowing that I am, ‘Ever yours only, ‘Alice Maud Mary hungle.’ P.S.—Have you forgotten the fact that you have to tcltpapuT 1 Bother the whole thing,’ said the young advocate, crossly. ‘No; I have nob lost sight of the fact that 1 have to face the bear. And there is that dance coming- on, and I’ll meet two women, both calling themselves ‘Yours only, and both with rings, etc., etc. Goodness ! it is a stew ! I’ll dish Nettie the very first thing 1 do ; for something must be done, and here’s a letter from Nettie too' —

1 Dfau Alexander,— Aunt has been ill, hut da now belt r, and I as determined to wrap up and go to the ball at Pringle House to-night. I wish she would not go, for she is sure to catch cold. Hut the temptation is too great, -ho wishes to see the cream of society in the newest an t most artistic of costumes. Therefore, " needs must.” cue thing pleases me — i.ouwill be tlxevCu ‘For your sweet sake I will study art in the get-up of aunt’s war-paint and my own. If aunt were intending to steal the heart of the handsomest man in the room, she could not be more anxious about, what she will wear to-night. Flowers are out of fashion, but 1 will follow my own fancy and wear a bunch of pink roses. Do you know why I love them so well ? You gave me one when I became ‘ Yours only. ‘Nettie.’

CHAPTER 11. Alexander Stewart intended writing to Nettie Fairbairn and hinting in his letter of his change of views regarding their engagement. But just as he had pen in hand a 4 case ’ came on, and he was so interested in this new professional duty that the letter to Nettie escaped his memory till it was too late to do anything but dress for the • ball at Pringle House. Alexander Stewart in evening costume was faultless, as men who are handsome and vain, and, besides, indulge their taste without one care where the money to pay their debts is to come from. Pringle House was the abode of Alfred Pringle, who had made a pot of money in the beer trade, and who was the bead of the great firm of 4 Pringle & Co.,’ whose brewery was known ad over the world. The balls and dinners at Pringle House were all gob up regardless of expense, and were always well attended. Alfred Pringle’s daughters were all married except the youngest, and

as she was expected to be as well tochered as her sisters, she had hosts of admirers. She had this youngest daughter a handsome figure but was not at all favoured hy Nature otherwise. But Art had stepped in and changed her. Hair dressers puffed out, added to, and beautified Maud Pringle’s hair till it was as beautiful as a doll’s. Her teeth shone like pearls, and her gums were more pink than a baby’s. Her complexion had been studied and improved tilt it was the envy of her companions. It is wonderful what art and money can do in this age of wonders. Maud Pringle, in spite of child-like and I playful, kitten-like ways, was as sharp as a I needle. She had much of her father’s business shrewdness, but was careful to hide under the guise of childlike blandness which deceived the men, bub did not let the girls forget that ‘ Maud was 'cute.' They , one and all, wondered what she could see in the penniless advocate, and wondered more why she singled him out when a tit'e was within her r^ach. The ball-room at Pringle House was added to the building, and the dance now got up was in honour of the event. A large company assembled. The women were on the whole handsome—some even beautiful. The men were a mixture of drones and busy bees. The busy business men had one and all ‘ got on,’ and were by no means as good-looking as their wives. The drones were mostly sons of men wliohad mademoney, and were dancing men. Every one was supposed to be rich ; if. any one was over head and ears in debt, like Alexander Stewart, he hid his poverty underneath diamond studs and the very finest and most expensive of clothes. Alexander Stewart danced with Maud Pringle and then having safely transferred her to another partner, he wandered away in search for Nettie Fairbairn, determined to teil her that the engagement between them was at an end. At last be found her beside her aunt, who had laid aside the old lady, and defying colds and sore throats, comeour in exposed shoulders and arms, and a splendid costume of pale blue silk and soft lace. Nettie glanced upwhen theyoungadvocate came forward. She whs dressed in a white gown, and in the soft lace was fastened a bunch of small pink roses, which was the only ornament she wore. Even Alexander Stewart—critical though he might be—could find no fault with the simplicity and yet artistic grace of Nettie’s warpaint, as she termed it. Her dark eyes shone with pleasure as she took the young advocate’s arm, and together they wan- < dered away to the large conservatory. For the first time—since she had got it—she I wore his ring on her finger, and determined to show it to him when they were alone. But ah ! —ere long—her dark eyes lost their happy light. Below the tall tree terns and stately palms Alexander Stewart told her in a practical manner that their marriage could nevei be, and asked her to give him up. He was very cool. He smiled even, and showed her the impossibility of a marriage between two penniless people. Nettie was calm, though a bright spot burned in each of her cheeks. Once or twice her eyes flashed, and she clenched her little hand. It was when she remembered that some one had once said that a man may ‘ smile and smile and be a villain.’

If Alexander Stewart had expected a scene he was relieved, for Nettie was outwardly as calm as himself. Her aunt had trained her into a self-reliant woman. Nettie Fairbairn was no soft-nurtured girl likely to break her heart. She could enter Alexander Stewart’s nature and value him at his proper worth, now that the bandage was off tier eyes. Calmly she took off her g’ove, took off her ring, and without a word handed it back. The young advocate coolly took it and put it in his pocket saying—‘Now, I will return all your letters and you will return mine. A marriage with a penniless man would be a mistake, Nettie. Some day you will thank me for releasing you. Now, we part friends, don't we, N ettie ?’

‘ Hardly enemies, anyway, Mr Stewart. One expects truth and honesty in a Jrie.nd Everything you have given me will be returned, and I hope you will be equally honourable. Y r ou need not wail here. I can find my way back to aunt, thanks. Good-evening.’ Then Nettie Fairbairn turned away and went slowly down among the flowers, herself the fairest of them all. Even Alexander Stewart, thankful for release, felt that she was the best of the two women who called themselves ‘yours truly.’ When Nettie came to where the plash of water and a fernery were, she felt the epol air revive her. The sudden news had triod her strength, even though she had looked calm and cool. Taking the roses from her gown she crushed them in her hand and then flung them away. Thinking her aunt might notice their removal she gathered some fern leaves and pinned them where the roses had been. She had hardly finished arranging the leaves when a cheery, hearty voice said, suddenly—- ‘ H". Nettie, I have looked the whole room for you. What are you mooning here for? Come and we 11 be in “ time for the next dance. ” ’ Nettie stared, then turned and smiled as she saw her sailor cousin in his evening dress looking so trim and neat, as became tho captain of the ‘ Bonnie Boy.’ ‘ Oh, Jack, I did not expect to meet you to-night. Aunt said that as you were to sail to-morrow you would be too busy to come !’ ‘Am never too busy to meet the pretty girls—especially one,’ returned the gallant Captain. ‘But ah! 1 had better say no more. Do you know the latest ? I have lost Pretty Pringle. Don’t I look sad ? That old flame of yours is tied at last. Pretty Pringle has got him. Heard it for a fact: he is head and ears in debt, and a lazy dufier as ever lived. She’d have been better with the skipper; don't you think so? But come on—here we go.’ And inone moment more Captain M’Kelvie and Nettie Fairbairn were among the dancers—Nettie half understanding all, as ones does the wonderful in a dream. The band was playing ‘ Loved and Lost;’ and as the music rose and fell Nettie saw Pretty Pi ingle and her late lover pass, and the sight roused her. Pretty Pringle as every one called Miss Maud Pringle—looked especially well that night. She had on a white silk gown half hid with soft tulle, and rose leaves were scattered all down one side of the foot of the skirt. Pearls were in her hair, round her throat, and in the lace of her gown. Pretty Pringle looked well and knew it, and threw sweet glances over to a stately gentleman who had been her partner in many of the dances. ‘ Lord Kelpie Strang—as poor as a church mouse, and as proud of his old name and his old ruins as ho can be,’ said some one to Nettie Fairbairn’s aunt.

CHAPTER 111, 4 You must nob dance so often with that man, Maud,' Alexander Stewart spoke tae words sharply as one who had aright to command, and Maud Pringle was roused. 4 Why nob ?’ she asked, as she fanned her* self and smiled in a peculiar manner.. 4 Why 1 because you are engaged to me,’ replied the young advocate, hotly.

Maud Pringle fanned herself slowly and still smiled. Tiie shrewd look that somehow made her like her lather came into her face, and she turned and viewed her lover steadily. ‘Oh, that is why,’ she said. ‘I have been thin - ing that a marriage with a penniless man would be a mistake. Some day you will thank me for releasing you. We part Mends. You will return my letters, and I will return yours.’ Alice Maud Mary l’ringle could do very things, people said, but she never excelled in that respect as she did now. She kept her eyes on her lover and saw his face get quire pale. ‘Where did I hear these words?’ had been his first thought, as they sounded so strangely familiar; then he remembered and knew that he had been heard by both of ‘ your-; only ’in the conservatory. The knowledge was very bitter. ‘ When you have recovered your selfpossession we will take some refreshment,’ added Maud Pringle. Then the young advocate knew that his two engagements were ended. lie roused himself and did In's duty as requested. Maud Pringle ate her ice quite coolly, as if she were as cold as itself. Then Alexander Stewart humbled himself. lie pled with her when they were alone and lie could whisper impassioned words into her ear. He pled with her ; he threatened to throw himself over the Dean Bridge. ‘I would advise you not to,’ said Pretty Pringle; 1 you would look shocking.’ Then she rise, and together they returned to the dancing-room. Soon after Alexander Stewart heard that Miss Pringle was to be married to Lord Strang, and that her father was to give her a tocher of fifty thousand pounds, being highly pleased at the entrance of blue blood into the family. And then came the news that Nettie Fait bairn was to marry Captain M’Kelvie, an-i that her aunt had just died and lelt her all her property and money, which meant near a thousand a year. And yet both of these girls had been willing to be —his only. He is still wanting some one to pay his debts.