Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-02-10
From the Court Journal
THE LIFE UF A C0QUETTE.

/ ne beautiful BarOnne B. waJa COQuett
and widow, and was too proud of the pre-
clous freedom Of widowhood TO wish to ma
1t second time in the silken bonds of wed
lock. SO, strengthening her weak woman
heart with the shield of universal coquetry, sh
bade defiance to the sighs and vows with whicI
she was attacked. She laughed at the credu
ty OF her victims, and despised them that they
could sue SO long and SO vanly; but in her tri
umphs she lost the better attributes of the wo
mans gifts-her beauty, her youth, and he
wlt-she trampled them under foot as worthy
offerings to her own pride of soul. The only
recollection our widow kept of matrmony
was, that it furnished her with tyrant and q
fortune. Her husband had been cold, stern
and infexible, but the fates decrecd that she
should soon be released from him; and she was
blooming and beautiful. the cynosure of every
gaze-among the men, be it understood. Per.
haps i: was not wholly her own fault that she
was such despot. Her bright eye gave laws
to her crowd of followers. She rewarded with
smile; she could punish with a single word,
exterminate with an epgram, exile with a look
She felt her power and used it. Men feared
her wit, while they were led captive by her
| beauty. Women hated her, but could not de-
! tect flaw in the snow of her character worse
than that she was cold hearted coquette--
There was, however, one among her train of
| adorers who had vowed 10 himself to win this
lady, and he threw himself, heart and soul, at
the coquette's feet, sure that the reality of his
own feelings must conquer the frivolous ca.
price of her character. He was all heart and
feeling. "Love's greatest miracle is to slay CO.
quetry," said her unfortunate lover when he
left the salons where his mistress reigned su-
preme. But to Madame B secret voice
murmured in the tones of rejoicing: "What
happiness to love no one and to see ones self
beloved by ALP
But what mystery to the lover to see his
worshipped smiling upon all the same beaming
smile! Hide the jealousy from the scornful
eyes Of this coquette! sighed the beating heart
Of all ills which love brings, jealousy is the
one for which woman has the least sympathy.
And so the Count Stephano hid his misery in
flight. Absence is the tomb of slight passions;
but it fans the sparks of a real affection into
fame. He, therefore, as it was natural that he
should as quickly returned, and laid his affec-
tons once more at her feet. Count Stepheno
was not now to be denied; she had listened too
long-she had gone too far to recede--she
should hear him. He continued his persever-
ing address till one morning she sent him this
letter: ~
"Your love annoys me, dear friend--for so, !
in spite Of all, | must call you--and your jea- |
lousy frightens me. have, therefore, taken !
refuge in fight, and by the time you receive
this, shall be far on my way to.a land whittier |
you dsre not follow me. My uncle commands |
an Austrian garrison in Italy, and mean to
join him at Milan. Ihope, oLe of these days,
TO meet you again in France, when you shall !
have learned TO sink the lover in the friend; and
when hope 10 fud you a reasonable and mo-
dest gentleman, instead of a wilfuI, passionate |
Italian lover, who cares not to understand the |
caprice of woman's heart" l
"She shall not escape me thus" he said; "the
,oquette shall learn what it is to deal with
mems hearts. | shall follow her."
He was prescribed. his estates confscated,
and price set upcn his head. He, therefore,
lazarded much in entering Italy again. The
Count Stephano had taken an active part in
some revolutionary proceedings in his native
and, and, having rendered himself obnoxious
o the Austrian Government, escaped with his
lfe and moderate fortune to France.
The Baronne had been some short time in
Milan, when one day General vs. chas-
'eur announced French traveller, who desired
% see Madame B. at once. s
"His name!" said the lady. .
HE will not give it."
'Then we will not admit him." said the &C.
,eral. 81. a.
"Oh, let US see him." said the Baronne;s'per
Iaps it is some friend of mine who is in dis.
ress."
."As you WILL" said the General
And Count Stephano entered the chamber
If Madame B. had uttered the name
which trembled on her lips, the Counts fate
would have been soon decided; but for once
he coquette's ready wit served her in good
ause. ~ ~ .rrErS
"Ah! my dear cousin" cried she, show glad
am to see you. No doubt you have taken
ne at my word, and you have come to escort
1e home again. shall be ready in few DAYS.
Allow me to introduce to you my uncle. Dear
ncle, this gentleman is one of my husbands
amily, whom you have never met before"
The old Austrian General held out his hand
D the Count, and bade him courteous vel.
ONE. Count Stephano could scarcely repress
smile at his strange position, although hs
slt that he stood in a perilous situation; and
he lady suffered all the horrors of intense anx.
'ty, now but imperfectly veiled beneath her
sual gay and careless air. For the FIRST time
uer IIe, OuI Coquettc leit lnat SIG naO 10 re.
ly before God and man for the life which he.
witty had placed in jeopardy. She passed the :
ight in pacing her chamber, in weeping bitter
,ars, in prayers which rose from the heart and
Of the lips. At early dawn next day the Gen.
ral entered her chamber She was already
ressed; she had not lain down during the night; II
ar face was pale, her eyes were full of tears.
Ter uncle stood for moment and looked upon
er sternly and sadly. "Camila," said he at !
myth, Il have bad news for you. This cousin !
yoursis no Frenchman. He is an Italian !
oble, condemned by the justice of my master,
le Emperor, to death, if he ever sets foot ip
ally. He is in love with you; you have wan
'nly trif1ed with him, and he has been mad Ia
,ough to follow you here. But you need not
Fead his annoying you any nose; gou will ne>t
~ aoo him s0sinO III