The Van Buren press., 1872-05-07
MISCELLANY.
Paid in His Own Coin.
By SHIRLEY BROWNE.

A golden afternoon in October, will
the elms and naples that fringed tht
park drive all glorious in their autumna
livery, and the Virginia creepers blazing
like scarlet lambrequins over the inter,
woven houghs of the rustic rails here and
there, while the road was alive with liv
cried eqnipages and tie tAunder OF
horses footsteps, but Flora Falkland
managed her steed with more than fem
inine skill, amid the throng, and guided
her little basket phaeton in and out with
a precision born Of long practice.
She looked very pretty, with the little
blue turban surmounting her gold bright
braids, and scarf of blue tissue tied
loosely round it and floating backward
in the breeze, while here and there an
escaped tress made a sort Of nuttering
sunshine around her face, and roses
fresher than those of Persian wales
glowed in her fair. transparent cheeks,
Her hands, cncased in perfectly fitting
blue kid gloves. handled the reins with
graceful ease, and '-her pretty, upright
figure, with taper waist, sloping shoul
ders. aud throat set like a snowy column,
could never appear to better advantage
than at this moment
Miss Evelyn, who sat beside her
among the crimson velvet cushions OF
the dainty equipage, was more inclined
to the brunette type OF beauty, with haz-
el eyes, luxuriani brown hair, and laugh.
ing lips--but, somehow, these two girls,
cousins and bosom friends, set off one
another's style Of beauty, as il nature
had intended them to serve as foils.
Flora ~ cried Blanche Evelyn, catch
ing the reins out Of here companion 8
hand, "take care-you are driving di.
recily into Mrs riamilton's carriage NY
child you are as pale as a ghost-what
ails vou7'
Nothing" said Flora, with forced
laugh.
"And now you are crimson and | do
believe you're going to cry! Flora. in
sist on knowing what is the matter"
Flora reposscssed herself Of the rcins.
did You see who was in Mrs. Hamil-
tons barouche ?" she asked, in low,
agitated voice.
NO. only saw YOU looking as ter
rifed as if you heheld an impending
earthquake" !"
1T was Lisa Hamilton aud Mr. Della.
roche. Oh Blanche, it makes me so mis-
erable. | sometimes think would
rather die than live such an existence Of
sickening doubts and feats"
"It is a shame that he should flirt so
with other girls, when he is engaged to
you all the time, +" said Blanche, indig-
nantly. "Give him up. Flora; don't al
low the caprices Of male coquette TO
darken your whole life.'
Il cant give him up, Blanche, I love
him ~ was the roply, softly uttered, be.
meath Flora Falkland's breath.
Then remonstrate with him; tell him
that your happiness depends on his re.
specting your sole right to bis attcn
tion u
II have" Flora answered, almost re-
luctantly.
"And what did he say? ?"
ale laughed at me, Blanche; he call
ed me jealous, exacting, foolishly unrca
sonable, aud declared that there could
not be the shadow ct harm in paying at
tenton to other girls; in short Blanche
he dcfcd met
Then" said Miss Evelyn, Will
heightened color and eyes that sparklec
ominously, Il would DEFY hin, !"
"What do you mean. Blanche2 p -
81 would let him see that two can PLAY
at that game would allow him tC
taste the qualification Of standing help
lessly by, while others wear the rose h'
has gathered for his own" ..t
"Stil don't comprehend YOU" sale
Flora. with puzzled look in her lovel,
blue eyes.
Must ! speak palmer still1 Well
then, here it is. Flirt yourself, Flor!
dear; give him good sharp lesson II
actual life, and I'll wager my new da
mond bracelet that there will be no NOR
tete a-teies with Lisa Hamilton, no mor'
equestrian expeditions with Helen Hale !!
u dare not, Blanche."
You can dare q good deal, Flora
when your lifc's happiness depencs npoi
the success Of the experiment. Com
darling, pluck up courage; I'll lend yo'
] nv own fapce to dirt with, just for thu
time being"
"Captain Duchntelle ?"
ITO be sure. III explain the who'll
matter to him, and as Ferdinand has jus
.on,a "a town and nobody knows Of cul