Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-09-17
A coo UETTES CURE.



be mine on September night, two years
since, and ii 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 a
sentiment of love for home, she returned
to this country with the avowed intention
Of teaching others how to become true
Americans. She was % years of age, and
possessed a wealth that was practically
boundless. She was OF a family that had
| been noted for the beauty of lis women,
and upon her face and form there had
| fallen by selection, one might say, the
| finest and purest graces Of half 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 nature, was her
| special prerogatve, and most wickedly did
! she exercise it. To her captives, to be fore
warned was not TO I've iorcarmod. 1t avail
ed little to prince or poet to be advised Of
her nature, for each fell at her will, and
without the trace of a struggle. But she
| found on her return TO America that this
more Independent society looked askance
upon her in spite of her wealth and posi-
| ton, and that, for once, disapprobation
could be rendered disquieting. She retired
| to her coUntry-soat, and, surrounded by a
| gallant company of friends, she caused the
belief to go abroad that she had at last
| taken the true views of her place and use
| in the world, and that she was ready to as
sumo her share Of its burdens. The law
firm with which l was connected had
| charge of her own and her fathers estates,
and l therefore had frequent occasion TO
visit the household and became conver-
SAINT, to n 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 con-
sternation of his friends he yielded at
! 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. He was a man OF wealth
and position, and he possessed an unusual
| " active and forciblo mind. He was 80
years ofage, handsome, in capital physical
| health, and he possessed an ambition that
kent him alert and an courdnt with all that
was moving in the world. This ambition
was to take part in politics, sea of impuri-
ty that he was anxious to assist in clarity
ing, and | have no doubt that it was upon
this matter that he and the far-seeing
Marion Walling struck their first sympa-
thes.
Thurman, without question, knew of
her arts abroad and /, believing that he
must have long since given them due
weight in the consideration of his own
case, did not presume 10 speak of them.
p erceivcd, l 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 fer each other, and singu-
larly so, did not admit of doubt. Had it
been possible to obliterate the scores upon
Miss Wallings record, marriage between
the two would have been hailed with de-
| light by society everywhere. The signiii-
c cance Of their relations grew stronger and
stronger as the summer passed, aud the
formal announcement of their bClrothal
was daily expected.
September came, aud 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 lightness and gayety that |, of
| course, knew well enough how to nlerpret.
| ON the evening of the 18th sat in my par
lor, when Thurman was announced. He
followed the servant closely with heavy,
| quick and stagg ering step, and, pausing
on my threshold, fixed upon me pair Of
the widest eyes that it has ever been my
| lot TO see. He was as white as chalk, and
his dress, disordered by long carriage
ride, hung loosely about his person, |
| knew at a glance what had happened, and
my heart sank like lead. l leaped up, and
seizing his hand led him TO a seat. lie
looked at me with painful inquiry in his
| eyes.
~ think | understand" said |.
"Thank God! You spare me the humili-
alton of putting it in wordsv
lie had been rejected, without reason or
qualification. Tke woman had refused him
as she would have denied favor to an inn
pertinent servant. He had implored
neither grace nor explanation, but had
quilted the place within the hour, aud had
driven bilher at the utmost speed.
"What shall dor" demanded he, in the
tone of one drowning in the ocean.
"Talk," said l..
lie obeyed, and may / be forgiven for
| bringing down upon the head of human
being the rage and bitterness that Thurman
poured out upon Marion Walling! His
| language appalled, me. l did not attempt
to stop it; but, closing all the doors and
windows, in order that he might not be
heard by other ears than mine, permitted
the mad stream TO flow on TO lis end. This
end did not come until o'clock, the next
morning. Thurman was a widely read,
widey-lrayeled, and widely-cultivated
man, and every emotion that he felt had a
thousand points of contact with his mind
This sudden and cruel unseatng of his de-
sires, desires based upon all that was pure
and manly, awoke a multitude of resent
ments that l could not comprehend, bul
which filed me with awe as l witnessed
their manifestation.
He remained, half secreted, in my cham
Der for three days. Al the end of that timC
he had begun TO analyse his disappoint
ment, and TO resolve ii into its ingredients
lie made me one short speech that contain
ed this passage; 81 have searched the
world for ten years, to find woman tina
possessed the talents that God has giyeI
to Marion Walling. When met her therl
came that divine flash Of intelligence tina
told me that my search was at end. Th'
warmth of our intercourse had spontanei
ty that filled me with assurance that al
was well. / have never had my contidenc