The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-07-05
tiva1.:has they deserve no credit for em-

q man." she said. ~ have always had q
passionate longing for adventure, novelty,
conquest. No Doubt" with smile,
you think thaa am talking like ro-
mantle young lady, who 'reckons not the
battle and the march, nor the price that
must be paid for everything worth hay
ing. But this longing of which / speak
is more than mere sentiment 1t is
sometimes 80 strong that l feel AZ if |
were Possessed by power urging mo to
be something, to do something, to achieve
something; and then look round and
ask myself-what?"
The disdainful expression which he
had noticed lurking in the lines Of her
mouth came out as she uttered the last
Fords, and still curIed her lip after she
ceased speaking.
"From what have heard of you, Miss
Loring," Thurston said, with directness
of manner very different from the gal.
lantry with which many men would have
uttered the words, II should not Judge
that you have been greatly in doubt
what to do and achieve"
II have achieved certain degree OF
social success" she answered, careiessly.
but If you could know--if you could
| even imagine-the weariness and little
ness of the life which it represents, you
would feel inclined to pity me-"
What an actress p he thought.
Aloud, ho said, "Women generally do
not seem to be oppressed by the wcari-
ness and littIcness of such life"
"That is very true. Will you think
me strong-minded if / say that often
look ut them in wonder? A new dress,
n new lover, filtration, or ball-these
things are enough to satisfy most of my
sex. They don't satisfy me, and in that
sentence you have the secret Of my dis
content; for l own, Colonel Thurston,
that am very discontcntcd woman !''
$50 you belong te the class of women
who take part in what is known as the
modern revolt" he said, with n slightly
sarcastic laugh. ~ cannot congratulate
you, Miss LoTing. think that IN many
respects the old ways are best. It is even
| better for women to be content with
dresses, flirtations, and balls, than to be
clamoring for new careers, and aiming at
heights of which their mothers never
| dreamed"
"Men of your class always feel that
way, believe" said she, without any sign
Of discomposurc. "The more distinct
ly feminine woman is, the better you
like her-.is it not so7 suppse io be-
long to the class of women who revolt,
but not exactly in the manner of which
you speak do not ciamor for career
which is closed to ME, nor eim Mt heights
beyond my reach. l only feel that l
have fund of power and energy within
mo which, for want of a proper outlet,
often finds an improper one, and will
continue to do 30 to the end, l suppose"
mann ff, ;r,,,,1,, - otho, ,,o-,J, ~
said Thurston, bluntly, "that you break
nlcn's hearts because you cannot break
their heads"
She uttered IL low, sweet peal of laugh
-.
THAT is tcrse and epigrammatic way
of summing the matter up; and perhaps
il is true one But do you believe in
broken hearts, Colonel Thurston? Hon.
estly, I do not Fancy may be disap-
pointed and vanity mortified, but n
broken heart is n phenomenon | have
never seen."
Probably you have never seen it be.
cause you did not caro- to recognize it,"
said Thurston; and 80 deep was the
wrath which he felt that his voice sound.
ed rs never man's voice had sounded be-
fore in -agatha Loring's cars.
She gazed at him in surprise, waving
fan back And fort!, in e hand SO white
and slender that no was constrained to
observe it.
Perhaps you are right" she said, after
u moments pause. sympathy Is some
times necessary for compreha nsion, and
confess have no sympathy with mala-
dies of the heart"
"And yet you aro a woman!'. said
Thurston, Indignantly. EiS Z
"a woman" she repeated. "Well,
yes, l c;Gnot deny the fact; and vet /
often feel inclined TO echo Clytcmnestra's
words:
......... iou greL. gods,
Why did you fashion me in this soft mold !?
'iise me these lengths o! silky har? these
Too delicately diH,plcd? and these arms
Too white, too weak? yet leave the mans
heart In me
10 mnr your masterpece?'
Now if you think me ridiculoualy mock
heroic, you will at lest not think that
aattcr myself, Colonel Thurston, since
Clytemnestra was not IN estimable char
acter?" 1 .a
"I think that you may snd your
woman's heart some day, Miss I.oriog,".
he said, "and then you may learn better
appreciation OF the suffering you now re-
gard so lightly"
DC rose as ne spoke, for he felt that ho
had had enough of this, and Virien was
approaching With his eloquent eyes and
finely-outlined iace-tho most Irresistible
of heroes Of Irritation.
Thurston gave glance at him rs he
walked away-a critical glance, which
the creole naturally failed TO understand,
since he could not possibly be aware that
the other was wondering if he was the
man destined to teach Agatha I.oriDg
that che had a woman's heart" "Mrs.
Jennings says that he is a noted flirt,"
the soldier grimly thought. 'T would
givo all possess if he would hirt with
this woman and make her feel what she
has inflicted so mercilcssly on Others"
"Monsieur 10 Colonel is jealous al
ready" Virien said, with laugh, rs he
sank down by Miss Loring's side. "His
snhjngatiea !s accomplished, perceive,
even in this short time,n
"Pray don't be absurd" sho replied.
"Colonel Thuston is the last man in the
world whom should bo likely to subiu-
gate. He is-what shall say ?-simple,
literal, stern, cld-fashioned in his ideas
that he not only disapproves of me, but
he has plainly told me 30"
Her companion arched his dark, deli
catoly- -penciled brows. "I hardly know
whether to pity his obtusencss or his
temerity most" he said. "That mortal
nun should venture to disapproye of Ia
belle des bellies, and-bright OF faudacity -
sell her so2" 81
at docs seem bad taste, does it not {?
but it is consolation to feel that have