What does the old American phrase, "Sparking", mean?

In the late 1800’s and Early 1900’s there was a phrase: Sparking. The context is usually a male sparking over a female or vice versa. I have heard it used as, “THERE WILL BE NO SPARKING AT LADIES WHILE YOU ARE IN MY EMPLOYMENT!” As I understand it, it is likened to some one being smitten with or over another person. However, a family member told me that it meant making out with another person. The later feels out of the cultural norm for the time. Please help me understand the phrase better.