Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-06-25
P. BYRON BARKER, EDITOR.
THE COQUETTE.
BY JAMES SHERIDAN KNowLEs.


10 retain her hand-whose arm still encir-
cled her waist, unforbidden. i will not
marry yet;' and love was in the tone of
the very accents that withheld the boon of
love, or deferred the bestowal Of it.
ST. Aubyn was young man of moder-
ate fortune; accomplished, unsophistica-
ted, Of quick sensibilities. A student, and
fond of retirement, he had selected for his
summer residence a small fishing hamlet,
on the romantic coast Of Devonshire,
where, between his books and the seashore,
along which he loved to ramble, his time
passed anything but heavily. Here he had
resided about month, when the little COM
munity received an addition, in young
lady and her mother who joined it for the
purpose of a temp, airy residence; and
ST. Aubyn stepped back in surprise, when
issuing one morning from the cabin in
which he lodged, he beheld, two females,
IN the attire, and with the AIR, Of fashion
the one leaning upon the arm Of the 9TH
er-approaching the humble portal whence
ne had just emerged. He bowed, howev-
er, ard passed on.
He had scarcely more than glanced at
the strangers; but, transient as was his
survey Of them, he saw that one of them
was aninvalid--the younger. How touch
ing is the langwor which indisposition casts
over beauty!" exclaimed st. Aubyn to
himself. Health would improve the love.
illness of that face, but the interest which
now invests il would vanish. No vista.
ton he continued, but late hours and
crowded rooms have sent her hither-for
| prophecy she comes to make some stay.
Sidmouth would be change of scene, not
change of occupation!' He was right
st. Aubyn returned from his ramble earli-
er than was his custom. His tho'ts, that
day, were in the hamlet, and not upon the
shore. He approached his lodging with
something like the emotions of expectation
and suspense. He looked at his landla-
dy, on entering, as if he expected her to
communicate something; and was disap-
pointed when she merely returned the or
binary response to his salutation. He en-
tered MS apartment, dispirited, and threw
himself into chair near the window, the
sash of which he threw up, as if he wanted
air. For the first time, he felt the OPP.
preston of loneliness. They have not
come to stop, said he to himself, and abSo
lutely with sgh-and no wonderl In the
assembly, lovely, graceful, and delicate
woman, beheld for the first time, would
have exacted from him oaly the ordinary
tribute which beauty shares with beauty +;
but. in a remote little fishing hamlet, inhab-
tied by beings as rude as their neighbors,
the sea and the rocks, such vision could
hardly come, and vanish, without leaving
strong impression upon the beholder.-
st. Aubyn sat distracted, chagrined-
mortified.
The opening Of window, in cabin
opposite, reused him. The sash was thrown
up by white arm shining through sleeve
of muslin, thin as gauze. Presently a
dimpled elbow, reposed upon the sill; and
check of pensive sweetness sank upon a
hand, so small, so white, that it seemed to
have been modelled for no other Office
than to pillow such burden. A thrill ran
through St. Aubyn, quickcning him into
wakeful life.
How the hand talks What passion,
Thought, and sentiment are in il! What
tongues are the fingers! Oh! the things
that the hand which St. Aubyn sat watch.
ing, discoursed to him, as il changed its
posture-now with the palm, now with the
back, kissing It's owners cheek-now ex
tending one finger upon the marbly, am
| pie temple-now enwreathing itself Will
one jeity curl and another-now passed
over the light nrched forehead-now low.
cred, and languidly drooping from the
window.frame, upon which the arm tC
which il belonged lay motionless-ther
raised again, with SLOW and waving mo
ton, I'LL il closed with the check that hal
met it--then gradually crossed over th'
bosom that seemed to heave with sigh a.
it passed, aud pressed TO the heart-theI
clasped with its beauteous fellow, and car
ried 10 the back Of the head, the full elastic
arms swelling and whitening, as they con
/ tracted!
st. Aubyn gazed on entranced. Hith
erto, the cheek aAne ofthe fair invalid ha
been presented to him, but now her hea
turned her eyes met his and dropped
she rose and withdrew.
Only glimpses of her did St. ABBY
catch again, that evening, -but they wer
frequent. A hand-an elbow-the poin
of her shoulder-once or twice her figure
fitting backwards and forwards, as sh
I paced up and down the apartment. Dus
fell; still he remained at his post. Wa
| il guitar that he heard! It was but ava
kened as the first tones of an EolianharI
, which you hold your breath to hear. lle
hands was on the strings; one chord
! length she struck full; another succeed
ed-and another. Then all was silence
for time. ST. Aubyn still remained !
the window,--nor in vain. The mus
, woke again, as fairy soft as before; and
: voice-soft as the music, but oh! far swee
/. er-awoke, along with it. She was SIM
\ ing, but he could hear nothing except d
strain; and yet he heard enough to t
r him that il was the theme Of Tenderness
though sung By fits, that rather seemed
help than marthe passionate mood. ~
stars shone out; the moon, in her tir
8 quarter half completed, showed her brig
crescent clear though setting the folds
a white 6raperV shown dimly through 4
> Still omen easement. Did the wearer 2
i proach, to lock out and gaze upon. the f
J. and open night9 No. The sashwas pull
e down !: the String and the voice were lus
3D. The Interesting minstrel had retire