The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-03-04
Christening a Coquette.
By LOIS GREY.

who, at that instant, chanced to be pass
ing by. In the white glare of the elec-
trio lights they recognized each other
with an exclamation.
They had gone few PAGES side by
side before the older man observed:
"You have been enjoying Mrs. Perci-
walls society again, I see."
: 81 dined there-yes, was the young
mans brief reply.
He was handsome youth, olive
checked, slender, dark-eyed. There
was an air of exaltation, q subdued yet
feverish excitement about him, which
did not pass unnoticed by Hugh Thatch-
.er's older, calmer vision. He smothered
an inclination either to smile or to sigh;
he scarcely knew which himself. Then
his face grew grave.
II wish you would give this thing up,
Ramon" he said abruptly.
= :'Give up7 Give what up?" There
was guarded CLEAN in the young mans
eye.
"Don't fence. We understand each
other, thirk. Give up your infatua-
.tion for Mrs. Pcecival."
"Upon my world" The voice was
unsteady with boyish resentment, boyish
indignation. "You take a good deal
upon yourself, Thatcher. l Isuppose you
think because you once saved my life"
"Oh, don't bring that up, my dear
fellow. My chance assistance on that
occasion could not be called saving your
life. If touch upon this subject it is
with no such warrant as that. feel an
interest in you; your people were kind
ness itself to me when was stranger
among strangers-and-I know Mrs. Per-
.cival better than you do"
Ramon Suarez gave an inarticulate ex-
,clamation. He threw back the light sur
tout that masked his dress suit as though
. something suffocated him.
ssYou have intimated that before.
What do you mean by ita"
-. t'Weli, briefly, that Mrs. Percival is u
>coquette."
"Ah! Evidently you were bitten
some time yourself"
=, Thatcher took no heed of the sar-
casm.
"Sne will amusc herself playing WITH
your admiration, your passion, and when
she tires of them she will toss you away
like soiled glove. The smile is old,
but new enough for the purpose"
s'Caramba? You must have been i'll
usedI'
Still Thatcher maintained his imper-
turbableness.
:But there is another point" he re-
sumed after moments silence. "You
used to be an honorable man, Ramon"
A light shiver ran over the Spaniard.
"What of Mercedes9"
5 There was pause.
-, ell love Mercedes yet. But-this
is different" said Ramon heavily un-
-.der his breath.
HAhn
+ eyes, it is differentp' The riotous
young blood in him took fire. "Mercedes
is everything that is lovely On this earth,
but she-she-holds every fibre of my
being in her hands! How does she do
ito Don't ask me. I don't know! I
am conscious of her everywhere-in
everything. And this is the 'infatuation'
you advise me to give up, as though it
were habit-ike smoking-to be
broken off from one hour to another!"
He stopped short, drawing fierce, de-
,cisive breath. "YoA may have been ILL.,
used by her, but you never felt her spell,
or you would not speak to me as you
have2"
=
The faint musical cathedral chime of
Sevres clock struck the hour and Mrs.
Percival glanced down at the rings on
her hands. AT the instant the pertiercs
parted and Hugh Thatcher came in.
a s.Punctual as ever!" Observed the
lady.
2. 81 had the pleasure of writing you
note asking for an appointment. You
were kind enough to reply, mentioning
an hour. What else could be but
punctual?"
"Ah? Severely reasonable, too, as
ever" mocked the red lips.
The mockery slipped off and away
from Thatchcr's calmness. He leaned
back in his chair and looked at her. In
seven years he had not seen her save at a
distance, in causal, momentary meetings
in crowded rooms; never in this way;
never alone. Was she really beauty,
or was it the flower of her consummate
charm that she should seem so to be2
"Well, what are the results of your re-
fiections2 If I remember rightly you
used to think it objectionable to stare at
q woman; now
10 81 was thinking that you have not
changed in seven years"
Something-the shadow of some in
ward presence instantly crushed out Of
life-fashed over the brilliant, taunting,
. dazzling face before him.
"You expected to find me grown de-
crepit2 To be sure tweaty-seven is a
trag gic age for woman. You should not
remind her of a past seven years dead.
Seven years! Think of it,
s:No, "said Thatcher, pursuing his own
train of thought undauntcd, "they have
not counted with you. They have with
me; but not with you. If they had yol:
would still blind people so that they
would not see it. That is what have
come to talk to you about. You have
been binding poor fellow in whom I
have an interest. You know that speak
of Ramon Suarez, of course! Come! Be
merciful for once! Don't dazzle him
- h;r, fo his eoDsps