Juliet signal., 1863-07-07
THE COQUETTE's REWARD.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

The delicate fragrance of hot-house flow-
ers fJated through the half-lighted parlOrs
like "reminiscences Of the sweet south brea
thing upon a bank of viOlets, although the
matter-of.iact almanac stolidily persisted
in pointing cut December as the month,
and the thermometer without etc cd uncom-
fortsbIy near zerv. But tie marble vases
on either side of the fireplace were filled
with rcses and he!is pa, fresh from
the tropic warmth of Conservatives, and q
single dazzling japonica cleaned like
carved pearl, among the jetty folds of Ella
Wardlaw's hair, as she stood smiling be-
side her harp, listening to the r"gretful
adieux Of him whom the world called her
lover.
"GoOd-bye, Ella; 1 shaIl come again very
Soon"
Miss WaTdlaw's warm heart throbbed
high. Charles Forrest had never before
called her By the name of Ella" and she
felt triumphantly conscious that her proud
beauty, and the seductive notes of her sill
ver-stringed harp, had very nearly brought
him TO the proposing point" One or two
more such vigorous sieges, and the fortress
would be her own.
! She sank, yawning, on a sofa, as the out
er door closed upon her lJver, and clasped
her white hands carelessly over her head,
the full crimson Ii ps apart, and the veined
lids dropping over eyes that were full of
smothered fre-ths very impcrsonation of
| q most lovely syren-whuse vocation it was
to conquer hearts by the score, and carry
them about with her as trophies of her co>
! 1uette lures
Mrs. Charles Forrest" she repeated to
herself. that doesn't sound so very badly,
docs it? particularly as the aforesaid MIS-.
Charles Forrest will step into brown stone
| palace, chOcOlate-colored carriags, and a
! perfect carcanet of family dismoDdsi Yes.
| / believe he is safely entrapped, and if l
play my cards as we'll as can do. the mat.
ter will be settled within three days J.
Heigho! this husband hunting is q wears
some business, after all and rather haz.
ardous, unless one is very skiIlful. That
reminde me- she added, starting suddenly
up, and throwing of her soft languor as
one might lay aside useless garment, Il
must write to Rslph Thornby tonight; il
the love-stricken wretch should fulfil his
limited intention of coming to zee me, il
might possibly be awkward. Ny poor,
dear Ralph, !" continued the beauty, with
curling lip, as she opened her dainty writ
ing.desk, and selected small sheet of rose.
colored paper, redoent of some faint Pari-
sian perfume, ''what preur cheUalier be
was! really liked the handsome boy, but
Charles Forrest is rich, and that must de-
eide matters; for. such an extravagant little
! body as l am, can't live without money -
/ am sorry, though wrote Ralph that very
sentimental letter, but that was when
supposed he was the best investment
could make of my precious self. But III
| sprinkle cold water on the flame of biz
love, before the affair becomes any more
serious. l wonder" pursued Ella, bitinf
the end Of her pen thoughtfully, "whethei
I've got to leave of flirting when Pm mar
ried to Charles do really like this driv
ing three or four lovers in hand, mus
confess; it's splendid funI Twelve O'Clock
can it be possible that it is SO late mus
make haste and finish this tiresome letter
and then to bed to dream Of diamonds anC
carriages"
It was nearly one, however, and the firt
had burned very low. before Ella had I'm
isbsd the carefully woPded note, aud ssaleC
it with device offsi ~ like entanglsd mi
tialS in pink wax. For Ella was exquisit
ly fastidiOus and elaborate 10 her doines
even down to her airtations.
The beautiful velvet checked coquette
with her dropping eyelids, and voice attun
ed to the sweetest aud softest kay-op,
would not have thought, as she placed tha
letter on the marble mantel. that she knew
its contents were meant to break the hear
of noble and true-souled man! But, pa
tience, Ella Wardlsw-your day of retri
button will arrive yeti
When Charles Forrest descended tht
broad stone stops of the Wardlaw mansion
and then walked down the lamp-ligbtet
street, he felt dizzy aud happy, like to,
Voyager who steers bis bark away from tht
soft, bewildesing fragrance Of lotus-5los'
somed isles in the far East. The syren,
spell was on him-and yet some warning
and watOhfnl pulse. down deep in hil
heart, kept beating the old incomprehensi
bic tune, Beware, beware p
Onward be passed, through the noisy Co.
multi of Broadway, that vast artery throuet
which gusbes the fevered tide Of everlast
ing humanity, until be paused where tbt
brilliant lights from great hotel oficC
threw glare Of radiance ont 10 the Very
, middle Of the street. A crowd was nov
assembled there-the midnight mails haG
Just arrived, and Forrest mingled With sh'