River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-07-20
MY LADY COQUET.

such an idea was furthest from your
thoughts, and here YOU give me twenty
four hours notice Of your departure
on an indefinite tour"
And the speaker, a tall, splendid
looking man, opened his dark eyes In
unfeinged wonder as they rested on the
face of his friend.
'I've hardly given myself more than
twenty-four hours notice, Max. or
course it's a sudden notion, but to you,
the oldest and best friend | have IN the
world, / may as well own the truth,
though you need imagine it no secret.
A very large portion of the fashionable
world thoroughly understands my mo-
tives. I'm hard hit, Max, and I've got
to go away. | want 10 feel an ocean
roll between me and the woman who
has Tilted me-"
"Jilted you y
"Yes, fitted me. It's not a pretty
word, but I'm not in a frame OF mind
to look through the dictionary for an
other that means the same thing. ]
loved Nora Fielding with love you
cannot even cOmprehend-yOu, who
have lived for more than forty years
unmoved by any woman's beauty, un-
thrilled by any Woman's voice. / had
some reason, God knows, for deeming
my love returned. She smiled on me,
as only soulless women can smile she
seemed glad when | came, sorry when
| left her. Yet when, moved to mad
ness, put my love into words, she
smiled still, and told me that my loTe
was folly. OF course, l should in that
moment have scornGd, despised her.
So | did, perhaps; but it made my
love none the less, my suffering no
whit the easier l emit describe her,
to you, Max. 1 think she might en-
trap even you in her meshes."
"a cOquet entrap me? No, no, my
boyl Folewarned, forearmed. Sup
pose we have little trial of skill
and this slayer of mems hearts. You
have left her at the beach, have YOU
not? I was Just contem plating little
trip seward. What do you say old
fellow? Suppose you put your revenge
in my hands"
"You may make the attempt, Max,
right willingly; but don't let the flame
scorch you, in breasting it for my sake.
Make her suffer, but see to it that she
entails no pain on you"
Il wa III SCiJ III 10y tAA0SS , w nav
bequeathed to me your scOrn, but car
ry your love with you. Bury it at sea,
Fred. and start fresh on the other side.
I'll take care of my Lady Coquet on
this side"
The next afternoon, standing on the
pier, Max Elliott watched disappear
down the bay the brave ship on which
Fred Ronalds was passenger for the
Old WGrld--a selfmade exile for a wo-
mans sake.
An honest bitterness welled up in
Max Elliott's heart as he turned away.
Better than he had ever loved wO-
man, he had loved this man, who had
been the plaything of woman's idle
hour, who had had his honest love
Tossed back to him as though it were
the foam upon wave, and who had
been driven to other lands to find the
euro of absence and perchance forget
fitness.
When his brougham stopped in front
of his club, he glanced at his watch.
II was sultry afternoon in July. The
city was growing uncomfortable, and
there would be barely time to hastily
pack valise and catch the six o'clock
boat which would transport him to
cool breezes, the promise of a sea-bath,
and-his revengel
Such a thought was worthy to be
acted upon; therefore, the next morn
ing, Max Elliots name appeared upon
the Ocean House register, to be greeted
by an approving chorus of welcome
from the dear five hundred friends al
ready gathered there.
As by natural instinct, he found his
way to Mrs Redfern's side. Great
friends as he snd George Redeem
were, he and George Redfern's wife
were better.
"What has brought you here?' she
asked, with a little qui2zcal smile,
as not your presence 4 sufficient
magnet for less attractive place." he
answered, gallantly.
She shook her head.
"Of course; but I've been moping
here for fortnight, and have sent you
numberless messages by George, all OF
which you have repudiated. You
don't deserve that | should offer you
any kindness in return, and I've great
mind not to present you TO Nora Field
ing to-day. All, you see how easily |
have guessed your secret. | saw Fred
Ronald's name, this morning, ID the
list of passengers on the Scythia. OF
course he told you how badly he was
cut up. 1t was great shame, and l
told Nora so frankly, but the girl is so
pretty and so clever that | suppose
she really is not wholly to blame be
cause men choose to detaCh their
scalps, hang them at their belt, and
then go about the world incoming over
their loss"
Crust woman to defend a woman,
when jealousy is not possible to either,
answered Max. For my part, | re-
gard Miss Fielding a. utterly hcartless
and a flirt."
Judge not, that We be not judged"
replied the pretty little matr0n. Yes,
she is," she added, noting how the
mans eyes suddenly dilated' as a tall,
slender figure, dressed in close,clnging
white swept out of the open door on to
the piazza. There's no woman ike
her here. OF course she is conscious
of her power, and uses it. But look in
her eyes, Max, and tell me, you dare,
that Nora Fielding has no heart. No
man has ever touched it, that is all.
"The idea of a womau's eyes betoken-
ing SOUL was the cynical rejoinder.
But there was no time for more, for
he and Mrs. Redeem had approached
close to where the girl stood, and ere
either of them was aware OF her lnten-
ton, they had been formally presented.
He would carry on no slow warfare,
determined Max; and in that moment
no bepsn the camDaigQ
Beware, Nora" whispered Mrs.
Redeem, that evening, in the little,
shell tinted ear. "He is Fred Ronald's
dearest friend, and be sure he knows
all regarding that little episode there is
to know"
But the only answer the girl vouch-
safed this friendly piece of advice was
shrug ofthe white shoulders, cleaning
through the black lace OF her gown.
\ fortnight passed, and the hotel Cos
sips again found food in Miss Fielding's
latest conquest, for, by this time, so
Max Eliot was doomed.
He understood now the infatuation
that had possession of his friend, not by
experience-for he told himself that
each day he learned to scorn 5his
woman more-but listening to the low,
musical infections of her voice, and
looking into her eyes, which sometimes
or.o,,aJ 70 n marvellous SOftppSs no