The Van Buren press., 1872-10-29
MISCELLANY.
Tho Coguette Tanner
BY ARTHUR wALlBB,pGE.

Mabel Gray was most beautiful; but
| her beauty was Of that sort W n we
gaze upon admiringIy and distrl tfully
She was tall, slender, and perfectly pro
portoned Her eyes wero large, black
and sparkling Her hair ofthe same col
or, fell in luxuriant tresses on her shoul-
dsrs Her eyebrows were strong y mark
ed and arched Her lips we're rosy and
mischioyous, HSrnose was Roman and
! imperious. Her complexion .Waa dark
/ but clear, snd manuing with ,IroS delicate
/ bloom. To these personal l,cuiiauties
her character correspouded She was
clever capricious and tender Fond Of
exciting admiration, she lespised any
/ feeling short OF absolute love and, seem
! ingy desirous of dominion over all, she
really wished only for the undivided hom-
age Of one. But, as she knew herself ca
pable Of deep and lasting passion, so
she demanded nothing less from the one
on whom she should bestow her heart;
and, in order to prove him, she resolved
not to give the least token Of encourage
ment until his entire love Of constsncY
was beyond doubt. II h could remain
true while she layShed smiles and Et,en
tiene on his rivals, then she would, after
time, relent and make up by warmth and
sincerity for previous GOODNESS aud de
ceit Mabel Gray was a coqaetto, ud'
likely to become something better
1t was not possible for such q girl to
/ haI | afQfp tlg she
was an orphan with a large fortune at her
disposal, it may he supposed that her
lovers were very numerous.
Amongst those who protested them
selves enamored Of her charms was OH
yer Pearson, young man of property,
education, and plepossessjng manners.
His person was commanding and his fca-
lures handsome. lie Was gifted with p
particular readiness and pIancy Of intel
iect which enabled him to adapt himself
to any occasion, and to turn it to advan
tagc. He could be grave or gay. senii-
mental or satirical, and I'll with apparent
ly equal ease. Oliver Pearson WIS just
the man to cope with coquettc, and, OF
all coouottrs, with Mabel Gray,
She treated him with less favor than
others, because she suspected that she be
held him with more Indeed, she feared
to examine herself stridly on this sub
ject. lest she shoul' discover 100 plainly
how feiened yas her Indifference. And
what was her oifior playing tins
poor, hypocritic.4 pat: She was not
vet convinced ,uat ps.'son was devo-
ted to her as she cor erred her merits
deserved. He he'u.&- humbIod himself
sufficiently low aud Z. pIY lo'g. BE
fore she could dejgn to oyiuce the least
sign of love, she must feel that she was
loved as deeply as human creature Was
ever loved in the world before. Shc com
mitted a great but common error; IN
ordinate womanly vanity she considered
proper maidonly pride.
One morning she sat working, whist
Oliver Pearson sat by her side looking
on. The work on which Mabel Gray
was employed was very characteristic OF
her. She was working a silkon chain for
a lover whom she d 'spised, il order to
vex q poor lover whom she admired
Never did she touch that chain unless
Oliver Pearson wGs present HIS we'll
known knock was the signal for her talk,
ing it up, and his departure for her put
TING it down. Its ostensible purpose, as
present, was quite secondary to It's
real purpose, as an engine OF coquetry.
Probably she had no intention OF ever
finishing it, but, if satisfied that Pearson
believed she had, would have been con
tented with the ingenious triumph OF pl
quing one lover and not committing her
self with another Pearson, however was
proyokingly cool. He seldom alluded TO
it, and, when he did, ii was usually with
smile. as if he were rather amused than
otherwise. Could he have the impudence
TO think that she preferred him to his II
walls ? or to suppose that the cham was
not intended for the person she said 1t
was? lie might find himself mistaken,
after all
On the present occasion no had sat for
full half an hour, talking about love IN
1.-THE old style, and had not once mention.
ed the chain, though she had shown a
wonderful industry, and had worn all the
air Of being absorbed in an interesting
task. At last taking it carclossly, nc
said
{" so the chain comos on slowly / find
| NV friend Mordauut must not be impa.
| tient.
"Your friend Mordaunt may be impa.
tient il he please, sir, ~ said Mabel
" Patient or impatient, he must wait un
til choose to give 1t. "
Which will not be long, said OH
yer, smiling, "when wo consider how
great favorito he is Of Miss Gray. Blu,
| / confess that the matter puzzles me foi
if he be worthy Of making chain for he
is certainly worthy OF having it made for
him little quicker 1t does not seem
altogether q labor of love | declare,
said he, taking hold Of tho chain again,
and looking mischieyously at Mabel 81
declare, it seemed exactly as if you only
worked on this when / am here
"lndeed, sir said Mabel, coloring
" | should rather say that you always
happen to be here when ! am working Oh
it. Whist has your presence or absence
TO do with my working p
"Oh, nothing, OF course said Pear
son, =" yet II struck me a5 odd that | al
WAYS find the happy Mordaunt S chain o.
the precise length that left il; doubt
less a mere coincidence! But. my dear
| Miss Gray, " continued he, this jestus
conversation must serve as aprclimlnarl
to more serious communication whlcl
! ( wish TO make Are you willing to lis