Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-06-02
Gbt Starg.
The Life of a COquefte.

!
the p ecious freedom Of widowhood to
wish to mark it a sec, nd time in the
silkcn bonds of wedlock. So strength
cning her weak woman's heart with the
shield Of universal coquetry, she bade
defiance 10 the sighs and vows with
which she was attacked. She laughed
at the crcdulity of her victims, and des-
pissed them that cou'd sue so long and
50 yainly, but in their triumphs she lost
the better attrihut"s Of woman's gifts
her beauty, her youth and her wit-she
trampled them under foot as worthy Of
Ierings to her own pride of soul. The
only collection our widow kept Of mat
rimony was that it had furnished her
with tylant and fortune. Her hus-
band had b en- stern, cold ana inhexible
but the fates dccrced that she should
soon be. released from him, and she was
blooming and beautiful the eynosure of
every gaze--among the men, lie 1t un-
drrStood. Perhaps it was not wholly
her own fault that she was such des-
pot. Her bright eyes gave laws to her
crowd Of followers. She rewarded with
a smile; he could punish with a single
word, exterminatc with an cpigram, cx-
lie with l)ok She felt her power and
used it. Many feared her wit, while
they were led captive by her beauty -
Women hated her, but could not detect
flaw in the snow of her character
worse than that, she w~s cold-hcarted
coqnettc. There was, however, one a
mong her train Of adorcrs who Lad VOW
ell to himself to win this lady, and he
threw himself, heart ard soul, at the
coquettc's feet, sure that the reality of
his own feelings must conquer the friv-
olous caprice OF her character. lie was
all heart and feeling. Gloves greatest
miracle is to slay coquetry," said her
unfortunate lovcr, when he left the
safOons where his mistress rcigncd su-
prome. But to Madam b secret
voice 'nurmured in tones Of rejoicing
''What happiness to love no one and to
see ones self below d by all ~
Bat what misery to the lover to sec
his woish ped idol smiling upon all the
slme beaming smile Hide the icalou y
from the scornfal 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 IN: Count S'ephano hid his
mis- 'ry in flight. Absence is the tomb
Of slight passions but IL fans the spark
Of real affection into a fame He,
thcr fore, as it was but natural that he
sh ,uld, as quickly returned and laid his
affections once more at her feet. Count
Stephano was not now to be denied sic
had listened too long she had gone too
far to recede-she should hear him He
continued his persevering address till
one morning she sent him this letter:
"Your love annoys me, dear friend
for 50, in spite of all, ] must call you
and your jealousy frightcns NE. have,
therefore, taken refuge in fight, and by
tie time you receive this, shall be far
on my way to a land whittier you dare
not follow nc. Ny uncle commands an
Austrian garrison in Italy, and mean
to join bin at Milan. | hope, one OF
these days, to meet you again in France,
when you shall have learned TO sink the
lover in the friend; and when | hope
to find YOU reasonable and modest
gentlaman, instead Of a wilful, passion
at, Italian lover, who cares not to un-
dcrstand the caprice of woman's
heart"
'.Sho shall not escape Ele thus" he
said, "tho coquette shall learn what il
is to deal with mems hearts. | shall
follow her"
He was prescribed, his estate confs-
Gated. and price set upon his head
He, therefore, hszarded in entering It.
ally again The Count Stephano had Ia
ken an active parrin some revolutionary
proceedings in his native land, and hav-
| inc rendered himself obnoxious TO the
! Austrian Government, escaped with his
! life AMI moderate fortune 10 France.
Tie Baronne had been some time in
Milan, when one day General VS.
4 chasseut announced French traveller
whe ls~lscl to see Madame 3. al once
Ill name = said the lady.