The Van Buren press., 1872-07-02

I
But uhy does sho cheek her bantering
words or give sudden start oil surprise
then turn deadly pale =.
Miss May are you i'll p asked Leslie
with much solicitude.
40, no, only little dizzy. Perhaps
it was from springing from the carriage,
she added, conscious of the insincefiy
, of her words, yet anxious to hide the true
cause for the sudden faint turn.
Then with flushed cheeks and smii-
ing face she kept up light repar'ee
among the gentlemen who at once sur
rounded her.
But who is that tall, splendid looking
man, with lofty forehead and bright
eagle eyes who seemed to take every
thing in at a glance, and gives Bessie
May such cold, nay almost naughty
bow? Then with half scorn turns
from her to join group at a distance.
1t is Mr.. Claud Wilmont. lilo arrived
the evening before, and now for the hrst
time in many months met Miss May ut
the seaside. She won his deepest ahec-
tions some months previous; and then,
after her engagement, lightly coquetted
with others.
In her thonghtsss way Bessie had on
| ly designed TO rouse his jealousy to try
the strength Of his love; but his was not
nature to bear such trifling with sacred
feelings. And so, after earnest words on
/ his part, and childish piquc on hers, they
parted.
As it was tho close Of the gay season
and many were leaving the city, Bessie
| nattercd herself that when they met again
she could bring him to her feet In the
meantime at the springs and at the sea
side she meant to enjoy herself flirting
to her heart content. Still VOID was
felt which none other could fill, and real
sorrow was hid beneath smiling face
! No one however suspected this but her
cousin, Josephine Wallace. Though
! Mr.. Wilmonts name was never mention
ed and Bessie seemed determined to be
considered heart whole, yet there were
times, when she thought herself unob.
served that she gave deep sighs, while
tears silently coursed down her cheeks ;
but dashiug them aside she would burst
forth in a wild song or seek for some
gay excitement
Thus time sped on, and now once
more, those who truly loved, meet face
to face But there is something in Mr..
Wilmonts cold look and scornlul man
ncr, which at once assures Bessie that
she has lost her power to win him back,
and so, reckless and half driven to des-
pair, she for a nceting hour laughs and
talks, apparently the gayest Of the gay,
attracting many to her side by her bril-
| linnt honmots and witty rrtnrts Ihen
with n weary sigh and declaring shc
needed rest, and that no one should ioi
low her, she wandered off towards the
highest peak Of Rock Point.
As soon as Miss Wallace observed Mr..
Wilmont in their midst her eyes scarcely
left Bessie, for she well understood the
racking heart and forced gayety, ana
dreaded the reaction AS Bessie wan
dered off Josephine quietly followed al
| ter her, vet none too soon, for as she
reached her side, Bessie, unconscious
that any one was near, with wild Graz
ed look ont of her beautiful eyes sprang
| forward
In an instant Josephine, with loud
scream, clutched hold Of her dress, brac-
ed her knees against the rock and firmly
bent her body backward not daring to
| look at Bessie, who hung thus suspended
almost directly over tho shelving beach
many feet below.
| The terrified shrek was heard by all,
and several gentlemen hurried up the
steep rock But with long strides Mr..
Wimont outstripped them all, and was
tha first one to bend down and with his
strong arms, raise Bessie from her per-
lous position. Josephine then tainted,
and Bessie too, was unconscious.
Clasping her tight in his arms and us
| ing every endearing word to rouse her to
consciousness, Claude Wilmont, with a
brow as pulo as her own, bent over her
"Speak to me darling Do speak to
me once more" !" he pleaded.
The lips trembled, the eyelips culver
ed, and were slightly raised but quickly
dropped while . tremor CONFUSED the
frame.
Still bearing her in his arms as though
jealous Of any ones touching his treas
ure, which but moment before was so
nearly lost to him, Mr.. Wilmont bore
her down the rock and tenderly placed
her in carriage. Mr. Burkley followed
with Josephine, completely overcome,
leaning upon his arm They slowly
| drove away.
All wondered how the accident had oc-
CURED, and many conjectures were made,
yet no one, but Josephine Wallace and
Claude Wilmont, ever knew the real facts.
Bessie was quite i'll Tor many days, and
greatly shocked at the sinful deed she
had in her heart broken wildnsss been
about to commit. 1t sobered her com
pletely; and Mr.. Wilmont never again
had occasion to fear unhappiness from
Bessies coquettish propensities.
Josephine, dearest, | owo much to
you, she one day said, land | have
changed my mind as to your not know.
ing anything about nerves. ] think you
know enough about them to finish your
essay.
~ have lost the mood for treating the
subject as I intended But, Bessie, il
you do not object Ill change 1t into
The Coquette, and tell how sho was
cured. "
And thus it came about that this sea
side story was written.
To MAKE HARb WATER SOFT Take