The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-09-06
THE coQUETTE.

s'What beautiful creature" ex-
claimed Albert Howard to his friend, as
they stood at the entrance of the ball
room, "she is perfect goddess"
"Whom do you meanp said Henry
Stanhope, "for you have not yet told me
of whom you speak in such raptures,
though to judge by the direction your
eyes have taken the goddess is none
other than my old playmate Charlotte
Ferney."
"What-that divine creature with the
flashing eyes, the brilliant complexion,
and such q queenly form--she one Of
your playmatesl Why, my dear fellow,
you must have q heart OF ice, else you
would have been at her feet years ago."
always enthusiasticV exclaimed
Stanhope, with q smile.
"And you are always stoical, J" retorted
his friend; ''but come, since you really
do know this bewildering fairy, present
me to her at once. l would give almost
any thing for an introduction"
StanhOpe answered by another Of his
meaning smiles, and taxing his friends
arm, led him across the room to where
Miss Ferney sat surrounded by her usual
train of admirers. Making his way
through these, Stanh0pe presented his
friend to the beauty, and, after lingering
a few minutes with the group, glided
away to another quarter OF the room.
Meanwhile Howard was endeavoring
to entertain his new acquaintance, and,
as few men could equal hIm in conversa-
tionaI ability, he soon became the most
favored Of the evenings suitors. When
the next set took the floor, he succeeded
in leading out Miss Ferney, and, as botn
were graceful dancers, they attracted
directly the attention of the room. The
gentleman had fine figure, was known
te possess a large fortune, and mad a
widely extended reputation as man Of
ability. His partner was certainly the
most beautiful woman In the room. Her
form was faultless, and her dress was in
the finest taste. The splendor of her
complexion was unrivaled, her eyes
were black and brilliant as a sibyPs, and
her features were in the purest Grecian
style and would have seemed cut out OF
marble, but for the carnatiOn in her
cheek. Always in high spirits, she
seemed this evening peculiarly gay;
| while her partners evident admiration
| of her called even q richer color than U.s.
ual into her cheek. 70 Charlotte Fer
ney it was an hour Of triumph, and
when, at the close Of the ball, Howard
escorted her to her carriage, her heart
thrilled with the pride OF a conquest
which, she knew, was enyied her by half
| of her sex in the room.
The next day Howard and Stanhope
met. and the first words of the former,
after the salutation, were in praise OF
Miss Ferney's beauty. After dwelling
on her loyeliness Tor some moments,
during which Stanhope maintained ST.
lence, or only answered in monosylla-
bles, Howard said:
..But what was the meaning of your
? smile last night, Stanhope ?-there, you
smile again in the same manner"
II can not see that it has any mean
ing. You take me to task unfairly"
SNo evasion, Stanhope-I see you i'm
ply something by that smile, and to be
frank with you, suspect you are no ad'
mirer-from what cause l know not-ol
, Miss Ferney.
! "You do me injustice, Howard, for
have ever thought Miss Ferney one oi
the most beautiful women OF my ac
l0,Iaintance. But since you seem III
earnest, will be frank with you, and
, state what 1t is in Miss Ferney that 1 dc
not admire. In one word, then, she is q
'coQuette.'
, For minute Howard looked quizzic.
ally into his friends lace, appearing To
smother an inclination to smile, but, al
length, as if unable to restrain the i'm
! pulse, he burst into hearty laugh.
.Forgive me, Stanhope," he said al
, length. .but it is SO inexpressibly ludi
crous. I had thought, alter your long
harahgue, that you were about to tell me
, something against Miss Ferney's family
, or her education, or heaven knows what
. but when you made the beng coquettt
, sthe head and front Of her Oitendlng,'
, could not restrain laugh, imperLinen'
as it was. Why, my dear fellow, half tnt
girls we know are coquettes. Indeed,
i. question whether a woman is good fol
much unless she is bit OF hlrt.
want one OF your spicy, handsome girls
for wife, and not dowdyish creature
/. as soft as cream, and about as thick
headed"
81 can not agree with you on that sub
. iect at least" said Stauhope, "and
, think experience would teach you tha
little happiness is TO be found in the mar
ried state with a confirmed coquette
nor is every one who is not a tiirt soft
: doWdyish creature but on the contrary
they are often the sweetest as well as thu
most enchanting OF their sex. A woman
believe me, VINO can trifle with MANI
affections by encouraging or even allow
. ing attentions which she is unwilling tt
i ratiiy by, marriage, is at best heartIes!
! creature, incapable of loving as a woman
( should love, and deserving no pity il he
f own affections, or rather vanity, shoult
be outraged"
.sYou are warm, stanhope." said hi
: friend, ''but even admitting the truth
: which 1 will not-of all you say, yol
: have, as yet, failed to show that Mis-
Ferney is u confirmed coquette."
"Had you known her as long as have
l YOU would not have doubted it. 1 coull
name dozen whom she has heartlessly
Tilted, after having given them every en-
couragement except that of words. He
= conduct last night alone would nave con
. yinced any one but warm admirer iks
S you. Her every motion was that of |
4 practiced fiirt."
'sTreason! treasonP laughingly ex
claimed Howard, ..treasUn against Oh
: OF the brightest of ner sex. see w
= shall never agree, stanhope, on the mer
: its Of Miss ferney, SO we hat bette. Pirs
I to some other theme. VIVA. say you t.
, dropping in vt ParkinsoD'sF
: Thenceforth the w. friends studious
, ly avoided the object, but, Slanhop
o saw, With ..,afn, tuaL Howard becam
|, tally ,Iore attentive 10 Miss Ferney
|, We say with pain, for Charlotte Ferne
|. was all that otanhope had sall. Beau
t;f,,I tuittv md nm aulv oh Id CHA mn