The Flirt

or ever had he encouraged it to become his familiar; and he underwent his first experience

ition to retort appropriately to a solicitous warning from Cora to keep away from the cat. Indeed, it was half an hour later, and he was sitting-to his own consciousness too heavily-upon the back fence, when belated inspiration arrived. But th

cat only ea

it there; no shadow of imminent catastrophe tinted that brightness: no angel whisper came to him, bidding him begone-and to go in a hurry and as far as possible. No; he sat upon the fence an inoffensive lad

sible, bright, bland, it gave no sign that it was at its awful work. For the bride of night

n; certainly no moon of his delight. Withal, it may never be gazed upon so fixedly and so protractedly-no matter how languidly-with entire impunity. That light bre

tle

e suspicion that it could be addressing him: the most rigid self-analysis could

littl

hind him, a girl of about his own age. She was daintily dress

tle

nd once more she used that w

tle

ouragingly. "Who you

nt wails from tearing and ripping fabrics-casualties which appeared to be entirely beneath her notice. Arriving at the top rather dishevell

hich Hedrick did not like. It discomforted him; nothing more. In sunlight he wo

little boy

cked and indignant Hedrick,

," she said

y wh

. Did you know I

ection in her remarks struck him

of fun with me, aren

close to him and lif

ling little b

which he was confusedly perceptive, but she was not without a curious kind of prettine

ing little boy

for the moment s

sed profanity at th

k kiss

staste. "There!" he said angrily. "I hope t

little boy!" she cried, an

d they fell from the fence together, into the yard, at the co

is feet. "Haven't you go

ly, rose (without ass

more, darlin

wouldn't for a t

uraging. She began to advance endearingly,

away, moving in a desperate circle. He reso

me more, da

wed. "And if you sa

She flung herself at him, and with a yell

ly as she ran, "Kiss me some more, darling litt

ve with a gasp of despair as his foot touched the step, for she was at his heels, and he was sickeningly assured she would cheerfully follow him through the house, shouting that damning refrain for all ears. A s

igzagged desperately to and fro across the broad, empty backyard, a small hand

more, darlin

dri

adly on. This commonplace purlieu was become the scene of a witch-chase; the moonlight fell upon the ghastly flitting face of the pur

more, darlin

mation. "Stand still, Hedri

teous effort to i

"She must have her way or nothing

dded information concerning her was not ineffective

ied to the wretched q

home. Stop, Hedric

as he dodged the other, caught and held him fast. The next instant,

uddered Hedric

e again

e became in

ly in his ear. "She has spells when she's weak mental

ly. "I won't ki--" He was

Laura anxiously. "Will you

ura's presence. Instead of replying, she tightened he

arrot!" hissed

her walk with her arms round

I wh

her mother must be frantic about her. Come

hile she summoned assistance; then, as no alternative appeared, his spirit broke utterly, and he consented to the tria

ctive, Hedrick's burdened shoulders were racked with a brief spasm, which recurr

walking somewhat sidewise, went willingly enough; and the three slowly crossed the yard, passed through the empty

e was no one to see; he replied that the moon was bright and the evening early; he would die, and readily, but he would not set foot in the street. Unfortunately, he had sel

remarked this unknown

Hedrick haughtily, "to go o

e, darling little

a dozen keys of mockery, while Hedrick writhed and Lolita clung. Enriched by a new and

bareheaded, was greeted by a cry of delight from Lolita,

ssuringly. "She's all right; nothing's the matter except

escription of her anxiety, her search for Lolita, and concluded with renewed expressions of gratitude

k." She touched his shoulder, and he went with her in stunned obedience. He was not able

ve her live in an institution for people afflicted as she is, but they brought her home for a visit last week, I believe. Of

stoppe

w symptoms of changing, this year; it rose

nted to Laura. The sufferings of the arrogant are not wholly depressing to the spectator; and of arrogance Hedrick had ever been a master.

him: he began to realize in what pl

e you-you aren't-you don't have to

ing and controlling herself somew

o reassuri

r to Cora,"

of a slave-whip crack in t

her assurance was justified; but she had not concluded the s

t furious reply, she was again overcome, so that she must lean against the fence to recover. "It seems-so-so curi

nfully increased: he began to

chair upon the vacant front porch, he heard her stifling an attack as she mounted the stairs to her own room. He swung the chair about, wi

nd just then the son would have liked to believe that his parent's boyhood had been one of degradation as complete as his own; but no one with this comf

n's near presence, and continued upon his purposeless way. He was smoking his one nightly cigar and enjoying the moonlight. He drifted out t

you, Mr. Madison?" said

cool off," returned t

haven't seen you

I always try to spend August with her if I can. She's still living in that little house, over on the nex

ty slack,

ppose it usually is. Well, I don't know when I'll be going out on the roa

" said Madison ruminativel

y as a decoration, and then said briskly: "I see you have a fine family, Mr. Madison; yes-sir, a fine family; I

adison. "Two gi

daughter, and of course me living in New York when I'm at home, and her here, why, I d

ght here

her of 'em's mar

not

and wiping them, "seems to me I did hear somebody sa

dison. "Not t

iation of this folly. "They're mighty good-looking girls, that's certain," continued Mr.

slightly surprised at this allusio

s I've noticed dresses so well. Isn't one of 'em a mighty pretty girl about twenty-one or two, with a fine hea

t's Cora,

the other day, with a fine-looking young fellow-I can't think of his name. Let's see: my daughte

adison, "you

Well, sir," he chuckled, "from the way he was looking at your Miss Cora

rely know each other: he's only been here a few weeks;

not. I'll bet he tries all he can to get acquainted though; he looked

bout here any more, and it's lonesome for him at the hotel. But I guess he comes to se

r chuckled cordially; then in a mildly inquisitive tone he

I thin

e, `Cora',"

ndicated the child, who had stood with heroic p

mother. She's a g

a young son she oug

ely, with an elde

e bridgeless gap betw

play with her.

be getting on," sa

e just came out for

ick's father. "Then they'll know each other, and they can play

dri

ir Hedrick could not be seen. He was still sittin

d-r

le

me out here! I want you to meet a littl

ick dropped from his chair flat upon the floor, crawled to the end of the porch, wriggle

he sill of one of the library windows, then reconno

ross the room. It was a faint murmur from one of them that caused Hedrick to pause and peer mor

! Kiss me!"

f the kitchen, hurried up the back-stairs, and reached hi