The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-26
MY LADY COQUETTE.

Going abroad, Fred? Why, what
does that mean? When last saw you
snch an idea was furthest from your
thoughts, and here you give me twenty
Tour hours notice of your departure on
An indefinite tour"
And the speaker. a tall, splendid look.
ing man, opened his dark eyes in I'M
1elgned wonder as they rested on the
lace of his friend.
tive hardly given myself more than
3wsnty-four hours notice, Max. OF
course, it's sudden notion, but to you,
ahe oldest and best friend I 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-
Nves. I'm hard hit, Max, and I've got
so go away. want to feel an ocean roll
between me and the woman who has
plted me-"
"Jilted you?"
''Yes, Tilted me. It's not q pretty
word, but I'm not in frame of mind to
look through the dictionary for another
shat means the same thing. I loved
Nora Fielding with love you cannot
even dimly comprehension who have
llVtu lOI IuOIc tudA yCuko uhuONCd
by any woman's beauty, unthrilled by
any woman's voice. had some reason,
God knows, for deemlng my love re-
burned. She smiled on me as only soul
less women can smile: she seemed glad
when l came, sorry wnen l left her. Yet
when, moved to madness, 1 put my love
into words, she smiled still, and told me
that my love was folly. OF course, !
should in that moment have scorned, de-
spised her. So 1 did, perhaps; but it
made my love none the less, my suffer
ing no whit the easier. I can't describe
her to you, Max. 1 think she might
entrap you in her meshes.
"a coquette entrap me! No, 10, my
boy! Forewarned ,,forearmed. Suppose
We have little trial of skill and this
SLAYER of mems hearts. You've left her
At the beach, have you not? / was just
contemplating 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"
"You forget, my boy. that you have
bequeathed to me your scorn, but carry
your love with you. Bury it at SEQ, Fred,
and start fresh on the other side. I'll
take care of my Lady Coquette on this
ide."
The next afternoon, standing on the
pier, Max Elliott watched disappear
down the bay the brave ship on which
Fred Ronald was passenger for the
Old World-a self-made exile for Q wo-
mans sake.
An honest bitterness swelled mp in
Max Elliotts heart rs he turned away.
Better than he had ever loved . woman,
Ae had loved this man, who had been the
plsything OF a woman's idle hour, who
had had his honest love tossed back to
him as though it we're the foam upon .
wave, and Who had been driven to other
lands to find the cure Of absence and
perhaps forgetfulness.
When his brougham stopped in front
Of his club he glanced at his watch. It
vas sultrv afternoon in July. The city
vas growing uncomfortable, and there
would be barely time to hastily pack o
v,lise and catch the six o'clock boat
which would transport him to cool
bseezes, the promise OF . ses bath, and
dis revenge.
Such thought WAS worthy TO b acted
npon; therefore, the next morning Max
Elliott's name appeared upon the Ocean
House register, to be greeted by an up.
proving chorus of Welcome from the dear
6se hundred friends already gathered
there.
As by natural instinct, he found his
vAy 10 Mrs. Redfern's side. Great friends
- he and George Redfsrn were, be and
George Redfern's wife we're better.
what has brought you hase?" she
asked, with quizxical smile.
''Is not your presence sufncient mag
not for less attractive placer" be an
svsrsd, calamity,
She shook her head.
'Of course; but I've been moping here
for fortnight. and have sent You aum
bssless messages by George. Ill Of which
you have repudiated. You don't de-
ssrve that / should Offer you any kind
nsss in return, and I've great mind moi
70 present you 10 Nora Fielding to-day
An, y.u see how casily havs guessed
yscr secret. saw Fred RonAld'i
1ane, this norsing. in Tie lit ~ passen.
esss on the 6cythia. OF course be told
20 how badly BE- wss ont up. Il vas
1snt shans, and Told Nom 20. frankly