Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-07-20
MY LADY COQUET.

four hours notice OF your departure
on IN 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.
Owe hardly given myself more than
twenty-four hours notice, Max. Of
course it's a sudden notion, but to you,
the oldest and best friend [ have In the
world, | may as we'll 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 60 away. / want to feel an ocean
roll between me and the woman who
has Tilted me-"
"JiIted you !"
eyes, Tilted me. It's not a pretty
word, but I'm not in 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 8ny woman's beauty, I'M
thrilled by anv woman's voice. | had
some reason, God knows, for deeming
my love returned. She smiled OH me,
as only sOulless women can smile she
seemed glad when l came, sorry when
| left her. Vet when, moved to mad
ness, [ put my love into words, she
smiled still, and told me that my loTe
was folly. OF course, | should in that
moment have scorned, despised her.
So ! did, perhaps but it made my
love none the less, my suffering no
whit the easier. / can't describe her
10 you, Max. I think she might en-
trap even you In her meshes."
"a coquet entrap me? No, no, my
boy! FoIewarned, 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? | was just contemplating q little
trip seaward. What do you say old
fellow? Suppose you put your revenge
III 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"
"YOu forget, my boy, that you have
~ your love with you. Bury it at sea,
Fred, and start fresh on the other side.
III 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 a passenger for the
Old W0rld-a selfmade exile for a wO-
mans sake.
An honest bitterness welIed up In
Max Elliott's heart as he turned away.
Better than he had ever loved a wo-
man, he had loved this man, who had
been the pIaything of w0man's idle
hour, who had had his honest love
tossed back to him as though it were
the foam upon a wave, and who had
been driven to other lands to find the
euro Of absence and perchance forget
fulness.
When his brougham stopped i'll front
of his club, he glanced at his watch
Il 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 breezos, the promise of a sea-bath,
and-his revenge!
Such a thought was worthy to be
acted upon; therefore, the next morn
ing, Max ElliOt's 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 and George Redeem
were he and George Redfern's wife
were better.
"What has brought you here?" she
asked, with a little quizzical smile,
Is not your presence 4 sufficient
magnet for less attractive place." he
answered, CALAMITY.
She shook her head.
"Of course; but I've been moping
here for q fortnight, and have sent you
numberless messages by George, alI of
which you have repudiated You
don't deserve that l should offer you
any kindness in return, and I've Il 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, in the
list of passengers on the Scythia. Of
course he told you how badly he was
cut up. 1t was great shame, and |
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 a woman to defend woman,
when jealousy is not possible to either"
answered Max. For my part, [ re-
gard Miss Fielding rs utterly hcartless
and a fiirt."
Judge not, that ye be not Judged"
replied the pretty little matron. eyes,
abe Is" she added, noting how the
mans eyes suddenly diiated as a tall,
slender figure, dressed in close-clinging
white swept out of the open door on to
the piazza. There's no woman like
her here. Of course she is conscious
of her power, and uses it. But look in
her eyes, Max, and tell me, if you dare,
that Nora Fielding has no heart. No
man has ever touched it, that is ALL"
''The idea of woman's eyes betoken-
ing soul" was the cynical reiOinder.
But there was no time tor more, for
he and Mrs. Redeem had approached
close to where the girl stood, and ere
either of them was aware of her inten-
ton, they had been formally presented.
He would carry on no slow warfare,