KITTY'S RESOLVE.IT would puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer to tell why Kitty Gray looks so serious as she sits by her latticed window this bright summer morning. Is she not the undisputed belle of ——?—adored by the young men, envied by the girls, who try in vain to find out the spell by which she monopolizes all hearts. Has she, at last, found one insensible mortal, cold-hearted enough to resist all love's artillery? That would be a novelty for Kitty! Has she detected a gray hair stealing in among her tresses, or an incipient crow's-foot at the corner of her eye? Banish the thought, at sweet eighteen! Mirror never reflected back lovelier tresses, brighter eyes, a fairer brow, or more symmetrical form. The hand her cheek rests on is faultless, and her foot is as perfect as a model. Ah, Miss Kitty, you were cut out for a coquette, but spoilt in the making! Nature gave you a heart. You are neither making a female Alexander of yourself by sighing for fresh hearts to conquer, nor considering profoundly the fashion of your next ball-dress. You have lived eighteen years in this blessed world, and your life has been all sunshine. Why not? Beauty and wealth have made you omnipotent; but
you are weary of your crown. My little queen has on her "thinking cap," and it becomes that sweet brow passing well. She wonders, "Is this all of life?" Has a pretty woman nothing to do but smile and look captivating, and admire herself? She might as well be the marble Venus in her dressing-room! And then she casts her mental eye over the circle of her acquaintance. For aught she sees, they are quite satisfied with the same butterfly existence. Women frivolous; men, on the coxcomb order,—all but Harvey Fay. He is talented; owns a soul; is not dependent on a moustache or French boots for happiness; is refined in all his tastes, and a gentleman in the highest sense of the word; can sing the soul out of you, and make time fly faster than any man you ever saw. Alas! that there must always be a "but!" Harvey, the peerless Harvey, had one sad foible—and it was that which clouded Kitty's brow and saddened her heart. True, it had not, as yet, become a fixed habit, but where was the security for the future? And so Kitty sat leaning her cheek upon her hand, and wondering if
a woman's power, if her nice tact and delicacy, were not bestowed upon
her for something better than to further her own selfish purposes?
Harvey was sensitive, proud and high-spirited,—it must be a very
gentle hand that could turn him back from that dizzy precipice. Could
she not save him? She resolved
to try; she would exert her power—for once—for some noble purpose. It was a gay scene—that ball-room! The fairy forms that floated down the dance, with flowing tresses, and sparkling eyes, and snowy necks, might have bewildered the sober head of age. Soft, entrancing music, brilliant lights, and the overpowering perfume of myriad sweet flowers, all lent their aid to complete the spell. Kitty shone, as usual, the brightest star of the evening. One cannot gaze long at a "star" without being dazzled; so how can I describe it? I can only say Kitty was irresistible. One minute you 'd think it was her eyes; then, the little dimpled hand that rested on your arm; then, her golden ringlets, or the tiny feet that supported that swaying, graceful figure. As to her eyes, whether black, or blue, or hazel, you could not tell. You only knew it was very dangerous looking at them long at a time, unless you had made up your mind to surrender. Well, Kitty had received her usual share of homage, with her usual sweet nonchalance, and now accepted the arm of a gentleman to the supper-table, where wit flew like champagne corks, and hearts were lost and won with a celerity worthy this progressive age. Harvey was as handsome as he well could be, and be mortal; in high good-humor, and as felicitous as only he knew how to be, in saying a thousand brilliant nothings. Kitty followed him with her eyes, and saw him, ere long, retire to a side-table, and, turning out a glass of wine, hold it to his lips. In an instant she was by his side. "It is mine!" said she, playfully, extending her little hand to grasp it; but there was a deep glow upon her cheek, and an earnest, imploring look in her eye, that said more than her words, and deepened the flush on Harvey's temples. "As you will, fair lady," said he, with a slight shade of embarrassment; "but wherefore?" "O, only a woman's whim!" said Kitty. "You are no true knight, if you cannot serve a lady without a reason." "I 'd serve you forever!" said Harvey, as he looked admiringly upon her changing countenance. "Then drink no wine to-night, unless I fill the glass for you," said she, smiling, as she joined the dancers. "Only a woman's whim!" Harvey did n't believe it. "How very
lovely she looked! What could she mean? Could it be she thought him
in danger? Had he gone so far, almost imperceptibly to himself?
Could Kitty think that of him? Pshaw! it could n't be;" and he drew
himself proudly up. "It must be some girlish nonsense,—a wager, or a
bet of some kind. But that imploring, timid look! O, there was
something in it,
after all! He would n't be so tortured; he would know before he slept that night." There 's an end to all things, and balls are no exceptions. Happy cavaliers were performing the agreeable duty of settling refractory shawls upon round, white shoulders. "Rigoletts" were to be tied under pretty chins, and lace kerchiefs around swan-like throats. These interminable matters being concluded, Kitty accepted Harvey as her escort home. They talked about a thousand little nothings, about which neither cared, when Harvey cut it all short, very suddenly, with, "Miss Gray, will you tell me frankly why you 'tabooed' that glass of wine?" All Kitty's practised self-possession forsook her. She hesitated a moment;—she feared to wound his feelings. No, she would not falter! So she said, in a clear, low voice, while her long lashes swept her cheek, "Because I knew that to you it was a poisoned draught, Mr. Fay; and I were no true friend did I fail to warn you. You will not be vexed with me?" said she, with winning sweetness, as she extended him her hand. Harvey's answer is not recorded; but it is sufficient to say, that the secret of his high legal eminence is known only to the belle of ——. Alas! that woman, gifted with an angel's powers, sent on an angel's mission, should so often be content with the butterfly life of a pleasure-seeking fashionist! |