The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-03-15
MY LADY COQUETTE.


of your departure on on indefinite tour"
The speaker, a tall, splendid looking man,
opened his dark eyes in unfeigned surprise
as they rested on the face of his friend
'Tve hardly given myself more than
twenty-four hours notice, M TX. or course
its q sudden notion, but to you, the Oldest
and best friend l have in the world, l may
aswell own the truth, though you need i'm
agine it no secret. A very large portion of
the fashionable world thoroughly under
stood my motives. I'm hard hit, Max, and
I've got to go away. / want to feel an ocean
rolls between me and the woman who has
Tilted me-"
'Jiltea your"
'sYes, Tilted me- It's not pretty word,
but Tn not in frame of mind to look
through the dictionary for another that
means the same thing. I loved Nora Field
ing with love you can not even dimly
comprehension, who have lived for more
than thirty years unmoyed by any woman s
beauty, unthrilled by any woman's voice.
I had some reason, God knows, for deeming
my love returned. She smiled on me as
only soulless women can smile; she seemed
glad when l came, sorry when / left her
Yet, when moved to madness, put my
love into words; she smiled still, and told
me that my love was folly OF course I
should at that moment have scorned, des-
pissed her. So l did, perhaps; but it made
my love none the less, my suffering no
whit the easier can't describe her to you,
Max. think she might entrap you in her
meshes."
sA coquette entrap me No, no, my boy |!
Forewarned, forearmed. Suppose we have
a little trial of skill and this slayer of
- l. IL l. ~
have you not? I was just contemplating a
little trip seaward. What do you say, old
fellow?'
ssYou may make the attempt, Max, right
willingly; but don't let the flame scorch you
in breathing 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 be-
queathed to me your scorn, but carry your
love with you. Bury it at sea. Fred, and
start fresh on the other side. I'll take care
of my Lady Coquette 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 world-a self
made exile for woman's sake.
An honest bitterness welled up in Max
Elliott's heart as he turned away. Better
than he had ever loved woman he had
loved this man, who had been the playthlng
of womans 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 lends to find the cure
in absence and perhaps forgetfulness.
When his brougham stopped in front of
his club, he glanced at his watch 1t was
a sultry afternoon in July The city was
I l..
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 revengei
Such thought was worthy to be acted
upon; therefore, the next morning, Max's
name appeared upon the Ocean House
register; to be greeted By an approving cho-
rus of welcome from the dear five hundred
friends already gathered there.
AS by natural instinct he found his way
to Mrs. Redfern's side Great friends as
he and George Redfern were, he and George
Redfern's wife were better
''What has brought you here?" she ask
ed, with a quizzical smile
'1s not your presence sufficient magnet
for less attractive placer" he replied,
calamity.
She shook her head.
'sOf co urse; but I've been moping here
for fortnight, and have sent you number
less 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 Fielding 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 because men choose to de-
tach their scalps, hang them at their belt,
and then go about the world moaning over
their loss"
"Trust a woman to defend woman when
jealousy is not possible to either" answered
Max. 'For my part, regard Miss Field
ing as utterly heartless and fiirt"
'sJudge not, that We be not judged, re-
piled the pretty little matron. s'Yes, that
is she.'' she added, noting how the mans
eyes dilated as tall, slender figure, draped
in close, clingIng white, swept out of the
open door on the piazza. There is no
woman like her here. OF course she is
conscious of her power, and uses it. But
look into her eyes, Max, and tell me. if you
dare, that Nora Fielding has no heart No
man has ever touched it, that is all"
s'The idea of woman,s eyes Letok ening
soul" was the cynical rejoinder
But there was no time for more, for he
and Mrs Redfern had approached close to
where the girl stood, and ere either CT them
was aware of her intentions, they had been
formally presented
.Beware, Nora !" whispered Mrs. Red
fern, that evening, in the little shell-tinted
ear. she is Fred Ronald's dearest friend,
and be sure he knows all regarding that
little episode there is to know"
But the only reply the girl vouchsafed
this friendly piece of advice was shrug of
the white shoulders, cleaning through the
black lace on her gown
A fortnight passed, and the hotel gossips
again sound in Miss Fieldings latest con-
quest, for by that tine SO Max Elliott was
deemed.
He understood now the infatuation which
had possessed his friend, not by experience
for he told himself that each day he
learned to scorn this woman more-but
listening to the low, musical infections of
her voice and looking into her eyes, which
sometimes softened to a marvellous soft
ness, he acknowledged her acting perfect.
Only to him who knew it to be acting
was there involved no danger. But was he,
intrenched in his own fortress, making the
girl feel? Was he gaining the power to
make her suffer? Once his, he would en-
ploy it ruthlessly, but first he must know
that he possessed it. Sometimes he turned
In moment from warmth into GOODNESS
She made no comment Eon his change Of