The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-02-25
A COQUETTE'S STORY.

Sh0 Wu1 bhh youuBs M tnc4o was
susgsstion Of coquetry about her eyes
and mouth when shs smiled In the fitful
way that I he'd noticed In the short time
had lrnown her There was an intima-
tion that she had once been brighter Of
deposition, although there was a sweet
nsss and gentlencw IN her manner now
that seemed 10 amply compcnsat for
the iistlcss, fsrawsy afr that was ever
shout her. After q few months of 40
Qnaintsnce that had Brought me to the
belief that this creature was one of the
rasese q Gods creations. learned, by
The msssst chancs, that the girl had a
aory--4has her dtspositipn had not al
vsys been, the ideal one that had so
completely captivsted me. Once or twice
] limited. In the gentlest way possible,
that the story should be told to me, but
the great. brown eyes Of the girl filed
with tears. and at once thought Of
something else 10 talk about. Two or
three months afterward, tn the midst of
. convernsiou, the yonns woman sud-
denly left the channel Of our talk and
said:
lyon nevsr heard, did you, that I
was once known a. the village co
sustssg
WAS that your storyr' laughed.
"There Is nothing funny about II, I"
the girl returned seriously. at hasn't
been so very long aao--about two years.
think-that IL changed Twas pref
tier then than. am now. and In my
youthful folly I Thoughts that it was my
duty to play with the affeotlons of all of
the good fellows who wsre nics enough
90 think that they liked me-
Early In my teens the. boy Of all the
many Of my acquaintance who was most
devoted to me was young Owen Rand
he was q shy chap who did not boldly
declare fR ma as others did, but in his
quiet way he was ever at my beck and
call and ever. ready to do any little serv-
ice that my caprice might suggest. he
knew the flowers I liked best. he knew
the candies that I thought the most
toothsome, and no wet day did fail to
End my forgotten rubber coverings wait
ing for me when school was over. Some
how thought only well of this fellow.
he never seemed to me as o sweetheart,
and once when he refused to take part
In game that every one was playing 1
reprevsd him just al would a brother.
It did not occur to me then; now know
that what said pleased him. II indi-
Gated that had an interest in him that
! thought Of him as one whom I might
command and reprove as my fancy indi-
Gated. suppose that all girls are alike
In this particular--they never love the
brotherly boys any more than boys love
the sisterly girls. Owen continued his
upvaxying kindness throughout our
school days, When we were graduated,
my biggest bouquet came from him. I
was disappointed because he did not
come down with the rest to say that he
was glad or to make some other pretty
speech Of congratulation, but the other
boys did this without flowers, and they
made merry at our house and ate all the
good things until there was neither time
nor victuals left. Iforgot all about my
devoted Owen in the hilarity of that
evening. and when one of the bold.
handsome young fellows Of the crowd
asked me to 60 to concert with him
the next evening I forgot that there
might be another who would expect the
favor Of my company, and the engage
ment was made Owen came to see me
the next day, with more flowers, and
when there were no more good things to
eat, and he murmured his gentle con-
gratulations with such earnestness that
I almost loved him as we sat there to-
gether alone. he was disappointed when
I told him that I could not 60 to the
concert with him, but he did not express
bitterness OF denounce any one.
"Some other time then" he said in
Q way that made me think that he did
bot care enough abont it, but since then
I have Thought that il was only his way.
I won't weary you with the details Of
how. month in and mouth ont, he was
unselfshly devoted how he did not join
with the others In their vapid compf-
ments and destinations attentions; how
at length he came to me and said goodby
whsn he went out to Honolulu ON a
venture that be thought would yield
fortune.
"'Let me hope. he said as indif-
ferently extended my hand. let me hope
that when come hack you will still be
here and still as free as you are now.
"For q moment I was silent, and
Then with half aippant air l said,
You may hope Aft6f he was gone
felt rather sorry for my conduct in send
ing him away, but when his letters be-
gan to come saw that had been for.
given. Il was not long before the reeu
Lar correspondence became wearying to
me. There was too much of the element
of business In it ON his side, while /,
here at home, with all my friends and
with familiar associations, was making
the best Of youth So stopped writing.
and, after time of patient, one sided
correspondence, he stopped too.
9
Months after had received my last
letter from peor Owens new home out
there i'm the heart OF the Pacific had q
note from his sister. Owen had como
back. and he was i'll. Would come to
see him? felt. for the first time in the
long boy and girl acquaintance. a genu-
ine interest. OF course would GO 1t
would seem so good to see his real, hon
est smile again; TO feel the pressure of
his great. warm. unaffected hand, and
to hear his unstudied. earnest oompl-
ments I was sorry about stopping the
letters. spd 10 make amend--there was
no other reason. Thought would
take sxtza pains with my toilet. When
0ok. n. l,nnn'a honna. I fouDd tha