The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1879-01-23
THE FATE OF A COQUETTE.

The delicate fragrance of hot-house
flowers, foated through the halflighted
parlors like "reminiscences of the 'sweet
south, breathing upon bank of violets," :"
although the matter-Offact almanac
stolidly persisted in pointing out De-
cember as the month, and the theTmOm-
eter without stood uncOmGortably near
zero. But the vases on either side Of
the fireplace were filled with roses and
heliOtrOpes, fresh from the tTOpic warmth
of Conservatives, and single dazzling
japonicas cleaned like carved pearl
among the jetty folds of Ella Wardlow's
hair, as she stood smiling, listening to
the regretfUl farewells Of him whom the
world called her lover.
Goodbye, Ella; l shall come again
very soon"
"AIiss Wardlaw's heart throbbed high,
Charles Forrest had never before called
her ella" and she felt triumphantly
conscious that her proud beauty had
very nearly brought him to the 'prOpOs-
ing point" One or two more such Wig
Orous sieges, and the fortress would be
her own.
She sank, yawning, on a sofa as the
front door closed behind her lover, and
clasped her white hands carelessly over
her head, the crimson lips apart, and
the veined lids dropping over eyes that
were full of smothered fre-the very
impersonation of a lovely siren whose
vocation it was to conquer hearts by the
score, and carry them about with her, as
trophies of her cOQuette lures
Mrs. Charles Forrest" she repeated to
herself; "that dOsen't sound so very
badly, does it? particularly as the afOre-
said Mrs. Charles Forrest will step into
a mansion, carriage and a perfect car
canet of family diamonds! Yes, l
believe he is safely entrapped, and if 1
play my cards as well as l can do, the
matter will be settled within three days!
HeighO! This husband hunting is 3
wearisOme business, after all, and rather
hazardous unless one is very skillful.
That reminds me" she added, starting
suddenly up and throwing off her soft
languOr as one might lay aside a useless
garment. Il must write to Ralph
Thornby tonight. IF the love stricken
wretch should fulfill his limited intima-
ton of coming to see me, it might pOssi-
bly, be awkward. Poor, dear Ralph p
continued the beauty. with curling lip,
as she opened her dainty writing-desk
and selected a sheet of rOse-colOred
paper, redolent of some faint Parisian
perfulne-"what a gallant he was! I
really liked the handsome boy; but
Charles Forrest is rich, and that must
decide matters, for such an extavagant
little body as I am can't live without
money. l am sorry, though, that l wrote
Ralph that very sentimental letter, but
that was when 1 supposed he was the
best investment I could make of my
precious self But TH sprinkle cold waUer
on tbe flame of his love, before the affair
becomes any more serious. I wonder"
pursued Ella, biting the end Of her pen
tbOughtfully, whether must leave of
flirting when Pm married to Charles?
l do like this driving three or four lovers
in hand. I confess it's splendid fun
Eleven o'clock can it be possible that
it is so late! I must make haste and
finish the tiresOme letter, and then to
bed, to dream of diamonds and car
riages
It was nearly Y, however, and the fire
had burnt very low, before Ella had
finished the carefully-worded note and
sealed it with a fairy-like device of en-
tangled initials in pink wax. For Ella
was fastidiOus and elaborate in all her
dOings, even down to her firtations.
The beautiful coquette, with her droop-
ing eyelidGz and voice attuned to tile
sweetest and softest key, one would not
have thought, as she placed that letter
on the marble mantle, that she knew its
contents were to break the heart of
noble and true-souled man. But patience.
Ella Wardlaw; your day Of retribution
will arrive vet.
When Charley Forrest descended the
steps of the Wardlaw dwelling, and
walked down the lighted street, he felt
dizzy and happy, like the voyager who
steers his bark away from the soft, be-
wildering fragrance of Iotos-blossomed
isles in the far East. The SIRENS spell
was on him, and yet some warning and
watchfUl pulse, down deep in his heart,
kept beating the old incomprehensible
tune, Beware, bewareT
Onward he passed through the noisy
tumult Of Broadway, until he passed
where the brilliant lights from a great