The Wilmingtonian., 1885-04-11
THE STORY TELLER.
NV Lady Coquette.

The speaker, a tall, spendld-lOOklhS man.
ono,ed his dark ewes il uufegned surprise
as they rested on the face of his friend.
owe hardly given myself more than
twenty-four hours notice, Max ot COURSE
IT'S a sudden notice, but to you, the oldest
and best friend have i'll the world, lmay as
we'll own the truth, though you need imagine
it no secret A very large portion oil Inc
fashionable world thoroughly understood my
motives. I'm hard hit Max, aud I've got
to 90 away. l want to feel an ocean roll'
betwsen me and the woman who haa Jllteu
me-"
'Jilted you ?"
eyes Tilted me. It's not II pretty word
but I'm not in frame of mind 70 look
thorough the dictionary for another tnat
means the same thing. loved Nora fleii'
ing with love you cannot even dlmly co"'-
nrehend-you, who have lived for more than
III rty years unmoved by any woman
beauty, unthriled by any woman's voice
had some reason, God knows, for deemihS
nv love returned. She smiled ON me asohlS
soulless women can smile; she seemed Slau
when came, sorry when left her Aet
when moved to madness, put my love lnt"
words She smiled still, and told me th"t INV
love was folly, OF course, should at tha'
nopent have scorned, despised her So
did, perhaps; but it made my love none tn'
less, my suffering no whit the easier. can
describe her to you, Max. think she IN ght
entrap you in her meshes'
"A coquette eutrap me No, no. my
boy Forewarned, forearmed. suppose we
have n little trial of skill and this slayer
of mems hearts. You've left her at the
beach, have you not J.? was Just cohtem-
plating little trip seaward' What do you
say, old fellow ?"
You may make the attempt, Max flSh'
willingly; but don't let the flame scoich you
in breathing it for my sake. Make her suller'
but see to IL that she entails 10 pam ON
you"
"You forget, my boy, that You have
beoueathed to me your scoru, but carry
v,nr love with you. Bury it at sea, FRED
and start fresh on the other side. III take
care of my Lady Coquette on this side
The next afternoon, standing on thu
nier. Max Elliot watched disappear do"l
the bay the brave ship on which Fred hoh
aids was passenger for the old world
selC.made exile for wo,nan's sake.
An honest bitterness welled up in Ma
Elliott's heart as he turned away. Bette
than he had ever loved woman, he ha'
loved this man, who had been the playthihi
of a woman's idle hours, who had had III
ho,est love tossed back to linn as thong
il were the foam upon wave ana VINO ha
been driven to other lands to lind the cur
in absence and perchancc forgettuness'
When his brougham stopped in front
his club, ne eglanced at his watch 1t was
sultry afternoon in july. The city wa
growing unendurable and there would
barely time to hastily pack valise an
catch the six o'clock boat wh'ch woul
transport him to cool breeaes, the promise
a sea-bath, and-his revenge
Suoh a thought was worthy to be acte
upon; therefore, the next morning. Ma
Eutot's name appeared upon the ocea
House register to be greeted by an appro
;nr chnrus of welcome from the dear III
hundred friends already gathered there.
Asby natural instinct, he found ms w
to Mrs, Redferns side. Great friends
he and George Redfern were he aud Georg
Redrern's wife were better.
s'What has brought you here ? she ask
with a quizzical smile
SIS not your presence sufficient magn
for less attractive place ?" he rcple
gallantly.
She shook her head.
"Of course; but I've been moping he
for fortnight and have sent ounumoerlt
messages by George, all OF when "
have repudated. You don't deserve tt
should offer you any kindness in rctul
and I've great mind not to present you
Nora Fielding to-day, All, you see hi
easily have guessed your secret 81
Fred Ronald's name, this morning, in
list of passengers on the Scythia, or cou
he told YOU how badly he was cut up.
was a great shame, and l told Nora
frankly, but the girl isso pretty and so cle
that suppose she really is not wholly
blame because men choose to detach til
scalps, hang them at their belt, and then
about the world moaning over their loss.
"Trust a woman to defend woman wi
jealousy is not possible to either, answe
Max" "For my part, regard N
Fielding as utterly heartless and iiirt, "
Judge not, that ye be not judge
replied the pretty littly matron Yes, !
is she. she added, noting how the ma
ewes dilated as tall slender figure, dia
in close, clinging hitc swept out ofthc o
door on the piazza. "Theres no won
like her here. Of course she is conscious
her power and uses it. But Look into
ewes. Max, and tell me- if you dare I
Nora Fielding has no heart. No man
,ven touched it, that is all.
ITLe idea Of woman'S eyes betokel
soul" was the cynical reioinder.
But there was no time for more, for
and Mrs. Redfern had approached close,
before he was aware of her intentions,
had been formally presented.
lie would carry on no slow wari
determined Max; and III that moment
began the campaign.
'Beware, Nora"' whispered Mrs. Red
that evening in the little shcll:inted
"IIc is Fred Ronald's dearest friend, an
sure he knows all regarding that little epi
there is to know.
But the only reply the girl vouchs
this friendly piece of advice was Il shru
the white shoulders, cleaning through
black lace on her gown.
fortnight passed and the hotel go
a,,ain sound in Miss Feldmg's latest