Smyrna times., 1885-05-13
My Lady COquette.

"GOing abroad, Fred? Why, what
does that mean? When l last saw you
such an idea was fulthest from your
thoughts, and here you give me twenty
four hours notice of your departure oD
an indefinite tour"
The speaker tall, splendid-looking
man, opened his dark eyes i'll unfeigned
surprise a4 the rested on the face of his
friend.
"I've hardly given myself more than
twenty-four hours notice, Max. OF
course, it's a sudden notion but to yoT,
the oldest and best friend 1 have in the
world, 1 may as we'll own the truth,
though you need ina zine it no secret.
A very large portion of the fashionable
world thoroughly understood my
motives Tn hard hit, Max, and I've
got to go away. l ant to fe ! an ocean
rolls between me and the woman who
has jited me- !"
"Jilted you?"
eyes, Tilted mo. It's not q pretty
word, but I'm not in frame of mind to
look through the d ctionary for another
that means the same thing 1 loved
Nora Fielding with love you cannot
even dimly comprehend you, who have
lived for more than thirty years unmOved
/ by any woman's beauty, unthrilled by
any womans voice. l had some reason
God knows, for deeming my love re-
turned She smiled on me as only soul
less women can smile she seemed glad
when came, sorry when l 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, despised her. SO 1 did per-
haps but it made my love none the
less, my suffering no whit the easier.
cant desc ibe h to you, Max. l think
she mi hit entrap you i'll her meshes. .
GA coquette entrap me! No, no, my
boy! Forewarned, fOreNrmed. Sup.
pose we have a little trial of skill anC
this slayer of mems hearts. You've lef
her at the beach, have yOu not? was
Just contemplating little trip seaward
What do you say, old fellow?"
"You may make the attempt, Max
right willingly but don't let the fam'
scorch you, in breathing it for my sake
Make her suffer, but see to it that sh
entails no pain on yOu.
"You forget, my boy, that you hav
bequeathed to me your scOrn, but carr.
J your love with you. Bury it ut sea
Fred, and start fresh ON the other side
I'll take care of my Lady Coquette o.
this side"
The next afternoon, standing on tn
pier, Max Elliott watched disappea
down the bay the brave ship on whic
Fred ROnalds was passenger for the Oh
World-a selt-made exile for a woman
sake.
An honest bitterness welled up in Ma
Elliott's heart as he turned away. Be te
than he had ever love a woman, he ha
loved this man, who had been the pla.
thing of a wOman's idle hour, who ha
had his honest love tossed back to hi
as though it were the foam upon a wav
and who had been driven to other lanC
to find the cure in absence and pc
chance forgetfulness.
When his brougham stopped in frol
of his club, he glanced at his watch.
was a sultry afternoon in July. II
city was growing uncomfortable, and the
would be barely time to hastily pack
valise and catch the six o'clock bO
which would transport him to CO
breezes, the promise of a sea-bath, al
d' his revengei
Such thought was worthy to
IS acted upon therefore, the next NOR
ing, Max Elliott's name appeared up,
the Ocean House register; to be gree
ed by an approving chorus of welcor
- from the dear five hundred friends
ready gathered there.
l. As by natural instinct, he found
III way to Mrs. Redfern's side. CIR,
friends as he and George Redfern we
ry he and George Redferns wife We
better.
mt "What has brought you here ?" 6
an asked, with quizzical smile.
or els not you presence Il sufficient m
Is net for a less attractive place" he
piled, gallantly.
,sh She shook her head.
es "Of course but I've been mopi
here for fortnight, and have sent J
sc. numberless messages by George, all
which you have repudiated. You dc
deserve that 1 should offer yOu
. kindness in return, and I've q
. miud not to present you to Nora FL
ing to-day. All, you see how easil
have guessed your secret. l saw +
Ronalds namn, this morning in the
of passengers on tho Scythia. Of COZ
he told you how badly he was cut
II It was great shame, and told n
- so, frankly, but the girl is SO pretty
so clever that suppose she really is
wholly to blame because men che
to detach their scalps, hang them
their belt, and tlen go about the W.
moaning over their loss"
"Trust woman to defend n wOl
when jealousy is not possible to eth
low answered Max. "For my part, l reg
s Miss Fielding as utterly heartless Al
fiirt,"
nd Judge not, that ye be not judg
80 replied the pretty littly matron. ."
that is sh ;" she added, noting how
mans eyes dilated rs tall, slel
figure, draped in close, cinging W
swept out of the open door ON
piazza. "There's no woman like
here. OF course she is conscious OF
power, and uses it. But look into
|. eyes. Max, and tell me, if you Z
that Nora Fielding has no heart.
man has ever touched it, that is al
res "The idea of wOman's eyes betO