Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-08-26
Tales and @kttfhes.
From Appleton's Journal. -
A COQUETTE'E CURI. -

From Appleton's journal. si
A C0QUEfTEs CURI. -
The knowledge of the one crowniup
folly in the career of Marion w Walling came
to be mine on a September night, two
years since, and it was brought to me by
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 sentiment of love for home,
she returned to this country with the
avowed intention of teaching others how
to become true Americans. She was s26sl
years OF age, and possessed wealth that
was practically bOundless. She was OF
family that had been noted for the beauty
OF its women, and upon her face and form
there had fallen by selection, one might
say, the finest and purest graces of half a.
score of generations. But she had used
these charms in the work of Satan. To
generate love in the most guarded breast,
and to set on fire the most tranquil ma.
tufe, was her special prerogative, and
most wickedly did che exercise it. To her.
captives, to be forewarned was not to be :
fOrearmed. 1t awaited little to prince or !
poet to be advised Of her nature, for each
tell at her will, and without the trace of
struggle. But she found on her return to
America that this more Independent So
ciety looked askance upon her in spite of
her wealth and position, and that, for
once, disapprobation could be- rendered 3
disquieting. She retired to her country
seat, and, surrounded by a gallan. ,com-
pany of friends. she caused the belief to
60 abroad that she had at last taken the
true views of her place and use in the
world, and that she was ready to assume
her share of its burdens. The law-frm
with which was connected had charge
of her own and her fathers estates, andI
therefore had frequent occasion to VISIT
the household, and became conversant,,
to certain extent, with what took place
beneath the roof. 19a' a.e'
Arthur Thurman appeared on the scene
in the spring Of the year succeeding that
of the Wallings' return, and to the utter
CONSERVATION of his friends he yielded at
once to the daughters marks of, favor,
and conducted himself as her suitor. y
knew him, probably. better than any one
else in the world, and became the recip-l
lent of his condolences. He was . man Of
wealth and position, and he possessed an
unusually active and forcible mind. He was
thirty-six years OF age, handsome. in capt.
tai physical health, and be possessed an am-a
bition that kept him alert and an courant !
with all that was moving in the world.
This ambition was 70 take part in polities, !,
a sea of impurity that he was anxious 3toas
assist in clarifying. and have nnsdonbt
that it was upon this matter that ahes and i
the far-seeiug Marion Walling struck their 4
first sympathies. 1sl asoass - ,@ss2sss8ai
Thurman, without question. knew of her
arts abroad; and !, believing that he
must have long since given them doe
weight in the consideration Of BIS own
case, did not presume to speak of them.
| perceived. thought, that they both had
taken the highest ground, and that moth
ing but the conviction that they were fitted
for each in every sense had brought about
the present state of affairs. And that thsy,
were fitted for zach ether. and singularly so,
did not admit OF doubt. Had it been pos
sibe TO obliterate the scores upon Miss
Walling's record, marriage between the
two would have been halted with delight
by society everywhere. The significance
OF their relation grew stronger and strong
er as the summer passed, and the formal
announcement of the betrothal was daily
expected.
September came, and Thurman was at
"Lahil." | received letters from him
from time to time, mainly upon matters of
business, yet he invested even the driest
topics with lightness and gayety that T.,
of course, knew well enough how to in-
terpret. On the evening of the. 18th ! sat
in my parlor, when Thurman was an
nounced He followed the servant closely
with heavy. quick and staggering step,
and, pausing on my threshold, fixed upon
me II pair of the widest eyes that 1t has
ever been my lot to see. He was as white
as chalk. and his dress, disordered by a
long carriage-ride, hung loosely about his
person. knew at glance what had hap
pened. and my heart sank like lead. l.
leaped up, and seizing his hand led him to
a seat He looked at me with painful in
quiry in his eyes. ..------
II think understand" said !.
THANK God. You spare me the hui
of putting it in words!" ~,M
He had been rejected, without reason or
qualification. The woman had refused
him as she would have denied a favor to
an impertinent servant He had implored
neither grace nor explanation, but had
quilted the place within the hour. and had
driven hither at the utmost speed. " .seg
What shall do ?" demanded he, III.
the tone of one drowning in the ocean.
Talk" said |.
He obeyed, and may be iorgivea for
bringing down upon the head Of human
being that rage and bitterness that Thur
man poured out upon Marion Walling.
His language appalled, me. did not at
tempt to stop it; but, closing all the doors
and windows, in order that he might not
be heard by other ears than mine, I per-
mitted the mad stream to flow on to It's
end. This end did not come until o'clock,
the next morning. Thurman was q wiie-
ly-read. widely-traveled, and widely-culti-
vated man. and every emotion that he felt
had thousand points of contact with his
mind. This sudden and cruel unseating
Of his desires. desires based upon all that
was pure and manly. awoke a multitude
OF resentments that could not compre-
hend, but which filled me with awe as
witnessed their manifestation. .a4s.a /.
He remained, halt secreted, in my cham
ber for three days. At the end Of that
time he had began analyze his disappoint-
ment, and to resolve it into ingredients.