Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-03-21
MY LADT COQUETTE.

llstU UtCS ttlNU IiltdHs w ilCli lto'
saw YOU sncll an idea was furtheSt
from your thoughts, and here yOr
give me twenty four hours notice
of your departure on an indefinite
tour"
The speaker,a tall, splcnlldlook.
ing man, opened his dark eyes in
unlcigued surprise as they rested
on the face Of his friend.
give hardly given myself more
than twenty four hours notice,
Max. Of course, it's IL sudden no
ton, but to son, the oldest and best
friend | have i'll the world, l may
as we'll own the truth. though you
need imagine it no secret. a very
large portion of the fashionable
world thoroughly understood my
motives. Fin hard hit, Max, and I've
got to go away. | want to feel Ill
ocean rolls between me and the
woman who has Tilted me-
'.,Jilted you?n
YES. Tilted me. It's not pretty
word, hut I'm not in Il frame of
mind TO look through the diction-
AIRY for another that means the
same thing. | loved Nora Fielding
with a love y0n cannot even dimly
comprehension, who have lived
for more than thirty years I'M
moved Ivy any woman's beauty, I'M
thrilled by any womaI's voice. |
had some reason God knows, for
decmng my love returned. She
smiled on me as only soullcss wo-
men can smile; she seemed glad
when | 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, | should at that
moment have scorned, despise1
her. So l did, perhaps; but 1t
made my love none the les, my
suffering no whit the easier. l
can't describe her to tou, Max. l
think she might ertrap you in her
meShes.r
"A coquetie entrap me! No, no,
my hey! Forewarned, lorearmed.
Suppose we have little trial of
skill and this slayer of mems
hearts. You've left her at the
beech, have you nots | was just
contemplating Il little trip seaward.
What do you say, old ielloww
You may make the attempt,
Max, right willingly; but don't let
the flame scorch you, in breathing
il for my sake. Make her suffer,
jut see to it that she entails no pain
Jon YOU
You forget, my boy, that you
have bcqueathcd to me your scorI,
but carry your love with you. Bury
it at sea, Fred, and start fresh on
the other side. III take care ofmy
Lady Coquette on this side"
The next afternoon, standing on
the pier, Max Elliott watched dis
appear down the bay the brave
ship on which Fred Ronalds was
passenger for the Old World-a
Self-made exile for Il womans sake
An honest bitterness welled up
in Max Iilliott's heart as he turned
away. Better than he had ever
loved Il woman, he had loved this
man, who had been the plaything
OF Il woman's idle hour, who had
had Ills honest love tossed back to
him as though it were the foam
upon Il wave, and who had been
driven to other lands to find the
cure in absence aud perchance for
gettulness.
When his brouglam stopped il
front of his club, he glanced at bis
watch. 1t was sultry afternoon
in July. The city was growing IN
endurable, and there would be
barely time to hastily pack a va
lise aud catch the six O'Clock boat
which would transport him to coo
breezes, the promise of a sea bath
and-his revenge!
Such II thought worthy to b.
acted upon; therefore, the mex
morning, Max Elliott's name ap
peared unon the Ocean House reg
lister; to be greeted by an approx
ing ciorus of welcome from tin
dear five hundred friends alread,
gathered there.
AS By natural instinct, lie foun'
his way to Mrs. Redlern's side
Great friends as he and George
Rcdfern were he and George Red
ferns wife were better.
"What has brought you helei'
she asked, with a quizzical smile.
SIS not your presence Il suffi'ien
magnet for a less attractive pacet
,, lie replied, CALAMITY.
She shook her head.
: "Of course; but pve been moplni
here for a fortnight, and lave sen
younumbcileSs messages hyGeorgt
all of which you have repudlatet
You don't deserve that shoul
r offer you any Kindness in return
0 and I've d great mind not to pr'
/. sent you to Nora Fielding to-day
}, All. YOU see how easily l hay
guessed Your secret. | saw Ere
$ Ronald's name, this morning,
u the list of passengers on the Sc.
thia. Of course he tdd you ho