Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-10-11
SELECT STORY.
THE COQUETTE.

Kate Linden was the prettiest
creature in the world.
One evening / introduced my
brother to her-a young, fresh heart
ed, handsome boy-and, without de-
lay, he proceeded to fall in love with
her. She danced with him twice,
and gave him her fan and boquet to
hold half the evening.
Poor Albert. How pleased he
looked Il was pleased too. Instead of
warning him against the indulgence
of dangerous dreams, | encouraged
his wild fancies. How was to know
it was Circe's cup she held to his
lips?
At the end of a week he was as far
gone as it was possible for q young
man to be. She could make him
blush, sigh, pale, tremble at the
sound of her voice or the lightest wave
of her hand. At the end of two
weeks he had reached the point when
it is said Of youngsters in love, "She
can wind him around her little fng-
er," at the close of the third week
there must have been q scene.
Passing through the hall | met
Kate little flushed and looking, |
thought, little exultant.. She nod
ded gaily and ran up stairs toward
her room. Two minutes later Albert
came out Of the library, with a cold,
dead expression on his white face.
He passed me without seeming to see
me and left the house.
= = x = x
Days passed and lnever saw Albert
except at meal times. But | could
see how terribly changed he was.
He frequently rode over of an even
ing to call on my pretty friend, and |
observed that it was always in return
ing from these visits that his eyes
burned so strangely and his face was
so hotly flushed.
One night he remained out very
late and began to get alarmed. AS |
had been his self constituted guard
ian ever since we were left orphans l
remained up for him. Hour follow
ed hour YEARLY. ! tried to beguile
the time with q book, but it was
dreary work.
AT last, about two in the morning, |
heard q click of the front door lock.
He was letting himself in with his
latch-key. | hurried down into the
hall and turned the gas on full blaze.
| had never seen him look so wildly.
| sprang toward him, but he stagger-
ed away from me and said, huskily,
$50 away, Jane, Pm not fit company
for you"
Great heavens. he was drunk
Albert-my brother-whom | had
thought an angel among men! The
sight before me-Albert, flushed,
staggering, maudlin and smelling OF
alcohol-was so repellent that sick
ened with disgust.
He observed that [ recoiled from
him, drunk, though he was, and with
an hysterical laugh, he said: "Oh
yes, Pm q beast, | suppose. | fee
like one. You see, | can't KEEP
away from her, Jane, though she
don't love me, and try to hate her
So, when | leave her, | feel so miser
able | nave no resource but to drown
my sorrows in the flowing bowlv
'The toast to dear womanw
He made poor attempt to carry
off boldly and staggered past me NJ
stairs. | went to my room, locked
myself in and cried for one gooc
hour.
* x 81
That very morning | spoke to him
| entreated him to overcome his pas
sion for Kate, if it was hopeless. He
listened to me stonily, till ceased
speaking, then answered, with short
dry laugh, 81 can never cease to love
that woman-I am not one Of that
sort. She either makes man of me-
or runs me utterly. will ask hel
once again what she means to do"
"What does she say to you at pre-
sent on the subject"
"Simply that she can't love me-
Ask no more"
He caught up his hat and hurried
!