Weekly Trinity journal., 1868-12-05
The Coquette's Error.

The Coquette's Error.
Alice Eden sat in the little arbor at the foot of
the garden-a COOL shady place, where honey
suckles braided their long tendrils into sort of
fantastic wicker-work, and crimson cups in the
August breeze-and Harry Maynard, her tall,
handsome lover, leaned over her, trying to read
her eyes as one would read the unknown char
acters of some mystic script.
Very fair to look upon was this volume of his
intent study, Alice Eden's face. She was daz-
cling blonde, with loose, fossy curls all streaked
and tinted with brow ish gold, brilliant blue eyes,
as clear as the azure of the cloudless sky above,
aad skin pure as wax. She was not TALL but
her figure was so perfectly proportional that you
ing: willowy grace in her every motion, while
sculptor would have raved over her exquisitely
shaped hands and feet
Alice Eden was queen, in right of her beauty
and her youth, and her imperial sway over hu-
man hearts, and Harry Maynard was her hum
BILE, devoted subject. Has it not been so be-
tween man and maiden ever since the.world be-
gan?
6. So you are really going away7 said Alice,
lightly.
Yes-unless-''
Unless what?'
Unless my friends are unwilling to have me
part from them for q length of time that must
necessarily be so uncertain
He watched her keenly as he spoke, but there
was no perceptible paling of the roses that bios
somed on her perfectly rounded cheeks
"Dear me p said she, indiferently; ait
would be very foolish of them to oppose your
determination after you have once made up your
mind
'Alice," said Harry Maynard, so abruptly that
she started, what do you say2''
"What do l say2 Really, Harry, that's very
odd question. What difference can it possibly
maker"
He looked so earnestly into her face that she
blushed in spite of herself, and then laughed
with . sort of pretty defiance.
"Tell me, Alice-shall 60 or stay?"
GAS you please"
'Does it make no difference to your"
"Certainly not"
He turned away bitterly.
81 have been mistaken but it is we'll that
have discovered my error, late though it be.
Alice, the dew. is beginning to fall lit grows
damp will you let me take you into the
house?'
How change he seemed. The eager lover was
transformed into the cool, self-possessed friend.
Alice looked wistfully at him; she almost
wished she had worded her phrases differently.
Harry she began, half hesitatingly, but
then she choked herself. Was he not her hum
BILE slave? Had she not played with his heart
many time? She could bring him back to her
feet with word at any instant she pleased.
"Poor fellow ~ she thought, exultingy; " he
is low spirited enough. I suppose he wanted
me to get down on my knees to him to stay
don't want him to 60 away, but then certainly
shall not dissolve into tears every time he thinks
of departing. NO, no /; tomorrow will be time
enough to intimate my pleasure that he shall re-
main. l am so glad, now, did not engage my
self to him when he begged me for word of
hope. True, love HMM the very depth of
my heart l do love him most truly-but m not
ready yet to surrender my freedom to the noblest
man that ever trod this sublunary sphere"
Thus unused Alice Eden, as she brushed out
her fossy, golden curls before the mirror that
night.
While Harry Maynard, walking pensively up
and down the balmy, peaceful quiet of the mid
summer lanes, bathed in the silver brightness of
the full moon, was absorbed in trying to solve the
great problem of bis destiny. For he felt now
that the time for action had come he had
dreamed and fingered in the light of a woman 3
smile too long already.
"well, daughter" said old Squire Eden as
he came in to the dinner table next day, "Ive
news to tell you"
"What is it ~
" Harry Maynard has gone away"
Harry Maynard p
ayes. The Doctor tells US he's going to Spain
to settle up accounts of his uncle's mercantile
branch house in New York They've wanted
him to 60 for some time, and now he's made up
his MUD"
Will he be gone long, papa p questioned
Alice, without raising her eyes from the tiny
silver acorn on the crest Of the teapot lid
" Some years, l suppose; it's q matter thai
requires time and personal supervision. Harry's
the very man of all others for the place, but
feel kind of sorry to have him leave. was get.
ting very fond of Harry and l did hope that
you would get to like him after while. 1t is q
disappointment, and I'll not deny it,"
A disappointment to him ! Then what was il
to herr She did not speak, but if the Squire
had been an observant man he might have seen
the deadly paleness creeping over her cheeks,
the dim dizziness of her eyes. But Alice Eden
did not faint she had her feelings too we'll I'M
der control for that.
So he had gone; gone, she was not 70 gee
him more, for years Oh, why had sne lo ~
spoken, when one word of hers would paw ne h.
termined his fate and her own why mao sne
been so willful-so capricious!
righteous retribution, this heart-sicAn. fulI
1t was a golden August noon-oy' Ling ike a
of bees and butterflies, the SUNSHINE -. 70 Alice
river of light on dale . ana aIow and color and
IN.u." Ia nassed away forever, anu iei'
dull leaden gloom beniIo' 8. won,d be too late
10 was gone, and she couio oniy await ms
N.Y. ~" Then it woald be an rgnt between
tnea n. - have told him long ago. And Alice
ougu to count the days, and weeks, and months
With sickening eagerness -,
g he will write TO me-and then wii ten
him how truly loved him al the while. Ae