The Van Buren press., 1872-07-02
MISCELLANY.
The Coquette.


what queer subject for you to write
upon! What do you know about
nerves ~
Bessie May! you little witch what
business have you to meddle among my
writing materials ?"
"There, cousin mine don't get excit-
ed, I'm not committing literary theft.
The truth is must send a reply to the
charming love letter received Yesterday
from Mr. Angelo Washington SQUAD.
Seeing your writing-desk lying 50 con
vcnientIy at hand and being greatly in
need of brilliant ideas, thought your
pen would aid me in im)arting poetcal
inspiration or something Of that kind y
Nonsense, Bess there is no need Of
your borrowing inspiration from any
one, and particularly so'where love let.
ter is concerned; for replying to such
letters seems to be your special forte
How many have you itceived this sea-
son p u .,n,.nsh;t
Only loLr or five, "demurely re-
sponded Bessie May, pouting her bright
ruby lips and tossing back her wild, lux
uriant curls as she looked up from her
scrbhing,
"Only four or Eve? You don't mean
to say that you have received 50 many
written offers, to say nothing Of the yer
bal ones which have heard Of since we
have been here at the seaside? ! am ac-
tually Mortified, and fear you are becom
ing moro of hirt than eyer--a heartless
coquette.
Why, Josie Wallace, what fuss you
do make over little innocent recreation.
Besides, how can help the stronger sex,
as they are called, from falling in love
with me if they choose to. Then, the
idea Of any ones being so conccited as
to suppose me willing to transform my
self into Martin or SQUAD. just
think of it! Or worse still, becoming a
Pinch beck--ridiculous
Take care, Bessie. that you do not
after all turn out real pinehbeck-a
false jewel-for remember the brightest
gold will become tarnished through mis-
use
"Dcary me, how wonderfully serious
VIC are all of a sudden. But Josephine,
should like to know where is the harm
Of killing time here at the seaside by a
little harmless Irritation p
Harmless, Bessie May? Can that
which wounds the hearts Of another be
harmless p
80, | was not speaking of wounding
hearts, and for that matter don't much
believe such an exquisite dandy as An,
gelo SQUAD possesses one. He has only
been indolently angling for the rich Miss
May-the wealthy heiress-thats all
have let him play his line for a while for
the fun of the thing, and now he is silly
enough to imagine he has caught gold
en- fish so am under the painful neces-
sty Of declining the great honor OF being
Mrs. SQUAD, replied Bessie with mer-
ry twinkle in her laughing blue eyes.
Bessie, you are incorrigible hard.
ly know what to make Of you! II it is
true some may seek you merely oryour
reputed wealth, are not there others who
are led on by your coquetish wiles to be
lieve that you seriously recci i've their at
tentions and care for themP Then in
offering themselves and pleading for q
return of love have not they been actua'
atcd by a purely disin crested motive
As far, at least, as your wealth was con
cerned y
Bessie for d moment cast down hel
eyes while conscious blush sufIused
her check; for the form Of one whom
she had deeply loved, but lightly trided
with during the winters gaiety, came ny
before her mind. A shiver ran through
her frame, then, as if anxious to dispe
narrowing thoughts she exclaimed
"Cousin Joe you are enough to give
a body the blues. "
81 have no wish to give you tho blues
if you will only remember 1t is said co
quet,e is rose from which every lover
plucks leaf. The thorns arc left for the
| future husband
What odd sayings and fances you
have, Josie. But please reserve the sim.
lie for your next romance 1t will do
better in print /, at le,st. intend TO
prove a thornless rose whe' ready to be
worn as such.
II trust you may, but won't you first
promise not to do any mon flirting this
season? | shall then havefaith in your
beco oming a thornless rose"
Cant promise, cousin mine, for !
may be tempted to forswar my word
and that would he anothel weigh:y sin