Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-01-06
LOVE vs.. COQUETRY;
The Crack Behind the mantei-Piee.

The Crack Behind the Mantel- Piece.
DIly-o,herwise Miss Amelia Turner
was the orphan niece OF Miss Penelope
Turner, dear, sweet old maid, who over.
flowed with love and C arity for every
body. and called each individual thief and
rascal in the neighborhood poor fsllowsr'
always insisting that, ifit were not for some
opposing circumstance, he would be q most
worthy person. Of course she dotted on
Oily, and saw in the pretty young creature
all the charms and virtues under the san.
Undoubtedly Dilly was lovable; she was
bright, good-tempered, and very winning;
but she had one failing-she was q most
thorough coquette. A cynical person once
remarked of her that she would have
coquetted with her great grandfather, if no
one else could be got, just to keep her hand
in. But as this cynic was one of those with
whom Oily would not coquet, his severe
judgment might be classed with those COM
ing under the term, ''sour grape" But be
it understood that. though billy had a won-
derful amount of knowledge ia the art of
using eyes. smiles, pouts, and wiles. she
used it without any bad intent; for. though
as subtle serpent in coquettish ways,
she was as innocent-hearted rs child-or
Aunt Pen She coquetted before she could
walk or talk-putting her baby head on
one side, glaneing up through her long
lashes, and then finishing the matter by
turning up her rosebud of q mouth for a
kiss Do you wonder that she continued it
rs a giri-continuedi it till stern experience
gaver her lesson that touched the centle
OF that willful little heart, and rent away
the network Of folly and trihing that envel-
Oped it.
Oily could not remember either the faith
er or mother whose hearts had clung fond
iy together in lie, and now rested side by
side in far dis ant India. Brother and sis
ter she never had; but when the httlecres-
ture was brought to Penelope by her faith
ful nurse Susan. under the care OF an old
friend Of her father, Aunt Pen took her to
her warm heart from that time forth.
All the little boys with whom Dilly came
in contact suffered more or less from her
bewitchmenis. Many were the offerings laid
at her shrine; and Susan, who remained
with them, had often to put positive veto
upon pet squirrels, tame mice, and varions
choice specimens of animated nature, Aunt
Pen wonld have allowed the house TO be
overrun with them; but fortunately for her
Susan possessed more force of character,
and, though loving Dilly dearly, could make
|. stand at times--She was, in fact, the
rul ng power in the house, and Jenny. the
maid-of-ail-work, looked mp to her as q su-
perior being.
Among Dilly's youthful captives was one
dark-eyed little fellow, who remained faith
full through all the ups and downs OF child
ism love. Others withdrew, or quarreued,
or formed violent attachments in other
quarters; but he never changed; and so,
when she was seventeen and he twenty,
Stephen Wkitmore loved her even as her
father had loved her mother. Bat the time
had not vet come for her to either value OF
understand this love. Therefore, when
Stephen came to her one day, blushing and
trembling like girl. to tell her that it was
decided that he was to go out West with
his uncle TO remain year, and would she
could she
Diily looked in his face with laughing
eyes, and asked, would she-could she
what?
And when Stephen stammered out some
thIng, so very much confused that no one
blt coquette could have understood. she
replied that she neither would nor could
Wnereupon Stephen turned and left hel
without another word, but with look il
his dark eyes that haunted her for days =
But the night before Stephen Ieft he drew
Dilly out under the cid chestnut-trees and
repeated the question more steadily and
without stammering. Her heart thrilled 9
little at his earnest tone. but she refused
him, saying. sweetly, that she would mis-,
him much as dear friend; upon which
Mr.. Stephen Whitmore started aside a.
though stung; then catching her hand h
pressed it to his breast, and with a broker
"Good-by. DIilyl" disappeared from he
sight.
Aunt Pen was doing in the parlor whel
poor Stephen reused her. To her amaze
hlent sac found herself elasped in pair O
stout young arms and warmly pressed to
throbbing heart. In second mere she wa
most tenderly kissed, and felt two tears dro
''Good-by, dear, dear Miss Penr" ha,
ceased to sound in her ears, she was ono
more alone.
Susan was standing at the gate, medi
tsting IN the moonlight; Stephen Whitmcr
wrung her hand hard as he passed her. Sh
watched him sadly as he hurried up tn
hill
Miss Dilly has given him a sore hear
this night" she thought. s'Ah, WE'LL
fear her time will come yet" And so
did.
Stephen did not return in q years time
his parents never failed to receive letter
from him each week, and niauv a ioke
of fond rem smbrance was sent them, but b
remained away till three years had passed
and then he came. Asfar as outward appear
ance went he was different Stephen fror
the blushing, awkward boy that left them
he was now tall, well-developed man, wit
face that had force and chsracterin ever
line, and yet with certain touch of ter
derness aboutthe mouth and kindly gleaI
in the eyes that Won the liking and good
will of those he looked on. Bat if his fee
ings for Dilly Were the same he conceale
them so well that, although they were ofte
together, the little coquette could not di
cover whether he still loved her or not.
am sorry to say that the three years ha
no. altered Dilly in respect to coquetting-
In fact, she indulged IN it more than eve
and of coure was greater proficient IN Il
art; she was prettisr too, and that withol
losing her charming air of FRESHNESS.
After Stephen had been home about
month new actor appeared upon IL
scene This was a young Cuban. who's
mother was an American. She had SON
cousins in the neighborhood, and bad r
quested her son to make them q visit
Sebastian Touedos was at once an obje
ofinterest to all the young ladies-and gel
picmcu- too, tuouSu uOt ioL Tue SaLuo re
son. To be sure. the young ladies wou
have liked it better had he spoken broke
English; but unfortunately, having passe
the greater part of his boyhood in the Un
ted States. he spoke the language like
native. Still. he looked very Spanish, an
as he could speak that language also like
native matters were quite satisfactory. E
and Dilly net on equal ground, for bo,
were accomplished in the same game
skill, aud neither were in any danger
being injured. T9rEFL
Stephen still made no sign, and po
Dilly experienced . heartfelt anxiety
cause he did not, before she was in Z
least aware that she entertained such D fet
ing To drive it away she dirted with Il
Cuban, for that ieason and also with an a
acknowledged desire to sting Stephen.
he cared enough for her to bestung. Ea.
day sLe grew more anxious to find son