Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-10-27
A COquette's Cure.

The knowledge of the one crowning
folly in the career of Marion Walling
came to be mine on 4 September night.
two years since. and it WAS brought to me
bv the one man who could explain it best
She had run a cruel, brilliant course
through All the capitals Of Europe. but, in
obedience to a sentiment of love for home,
she returned TO this country with the
avowed intention of teaching others how
to become trur Americans. She was -
years of ave. and possessed Il wealth that
was practically bnundlc>>. She va, of :,
famiiv that had been noted for the beauty
of lis women, and upon her face and form
there had fallen bv selection. one might
>ay, the finest and purcst gr.ces Of half y
score of generations. But She had used
these charms in the work of Satan. 10
! generate love in thc most guarded breast
and to set on fire the most tranquil nature.
was her special pferogative. and mo>l
wickcdly did She exercise it. To her cap
| liv,S. to he forrwaIned WAS not to be fore
armed. 1t lv;.iltd little to prince or poet
To bc advised of her nature. for each fell
ut her viii. and without the trace of IA
| struggle But sh" found on her return to
America that th!> more independent society
looked a>karce upon her in spite of her
wealth and position. and that for once.
di>appruh ition could be rendere disquirt-
ing She retired tn her country seat. and.
surrounded 10y gallant company of
friends. She caused the belief to 90 abroad
hat >he had AT last taken the true views
Of her place and Use i'll the world. and that
she was ready To assume her share of it.
burdcns The law firm with which | WAS
connected lad charge of her own and her
fathers estates. and | therefore had fire.
Qjtnt occasion to visit the household, and
became convrrsant, TO 4 certain extent,
with what took place beneath the roof
Arthur Thurman appeared on the scene
in the spring of the Year succeeding that
of the WAllings' return. and to the utter
cons ernation of his friends he welded ut
once, to the daughters marks of favor and
conducted himself as her suitor | knew
him, probably, better than any one else in
the world, and became the recipient of
his condolences. Tie was IL man of wealth
and position. and he possessed IN unusu-
ally active and forcibie mind. III" WAS sc
years of age. han some in capital physical
health. and he possessed an ambition that
kept him alert and au cOurant with all
that was moving in the world This am
bition was to lake par, in politics, Il sea
of impurity that he WAS anxious to assist
in Clarifying. and have no doubt that it
was upon this matter that he and the far
seeing Marion Walling struck their first
sympathies.
Thurman. without question, knew of
her arts abroad; and l. believing that he
must have long since given them due
weight in the consideration OF his own
case did not presume to speak of them l
perceived | thought. that they both had
taken the highest ground. and that nothing
but the conviction that they were fitted for
each other in every sense had brought
about the present state of affairs. And
that they were fitted for each other, and
sngularly so did not admit of DOUBT. Had
it been possible to obiteratc the scores
upon Miss Walling's record. marriage be-
| tween the two would have been hailed
with delight 10y society everywhere. The
significance of their relations grew strong
er and stronger as the summer passed, and
the formal announcement of their be-
trothal was daily expected.
September came, and Thurman was at
Lahill.' l received letters from him
from time to time, mainly upon matters
Of business, yet he invested even the dryest
topics with Il lightness and gayety that l,
VI COulSc, hllCW WCit HOW " lULcl-
pret. On the evening of the 18th sat in
my parlur, when Thurman was announced.
He followed the servant closely with a
heavy. quick and staggering step, and
pausng on my threshold. fixed upon me :.
pair of the widest eyes that it has ever
been INV lot to see He was as white as
chalk, and his dress. disordered by Il long
carriage ride. hung loosely about his per-
son. l knew at 4 glance what had happened
and my heart sank like lead. leaped up,
and seizing his hand led him to Il seat He
looked at me with painful inquiry in his
| eyes.
Il think understand" said I.
"Thank God. You spare me the hu.
initiation of putting it in words!'
He had been rejected, without reason or
qualification. The woman had refused
him as she would have denied IL favor tc
an mper,inent servant. He had imploreC
neither grace nor explanation. but had
Quilted the place within the hour. and had
J driven hither at the utmost speed.
What shall do?n demanded he, in the
tone of one drowning in the ocean.
"Talk,n said |.
He oheyed, and may l be forgiven fo
bringing down upon the head of a human
the rage and bitterness that Thurman
poured out upon Marion Walling! Iii
language appalled, me. I did not attsmp