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

"I should belong to that class If were
man." she said. ~ have always had a
passionate longing for adventure, novelty,
conquest. No doubt" with a smile,
"you think that am talking like ro-
mantle young lady, who 'reckons not the
battle and the match nor the price that
must be paid for everything worth hav-
ing. But this longing of which I speak
is more than a mere sentiment. 1t is
sometimes 50 strong that feel as if l
were possessed by power urging me 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
words, and still curled her lip after she
ceased speaking.
"From what have heard of you, Miss
Loring," Thurston said, with a directness
of manner very different from the gal
lantry with which many men would have
uttered the words, 81 should not judge
that you have been greatly in doubt
what to do and achieve"
ri have achieved certain degree of
social success" she answered, carelessly.
"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 he thought.
Aloud, he said, "Women generally do
not seem to be oppressed by the weari-
ness and littleness of such life"
"That is very true. Will you think
me strong-minded if I say that I often
look at them in wonder? A new dress,
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 I own, Colonel Thurston,
that am very discontented woman !"
$50 you belong to the class of women
who take part in what is known as the
modern revolt" he said, with a slightly
sarcastic laugh. "I cannot congratulate
you, Miss Loring. 1 think that in many
respects the old ways are best. It is even
better for women to be content with
dresses, firtstions, and balls, than to be
clamoring fer new careers, and aiming at
heights Of yhich their mothers never
dreamed"
'sMen of your. class always feel that
way, believe" said she, without any sign
of discomposure. "The more distinct
ly feminine woman is, the better you
like hers it not so? suppse I do be-
long to the class of women who revolt,
but not exactly in the manner of which
you speak. do not clamor for career
which is closed to me, nor aim at heights
beyond my reach. I only feel that l
have fund of power and energy within
me which, for want of proper outlet,
often finds an improper one, and will
continue to do so to the end, I suppose" !"
"You mean to imply, in other words" !"
said Thurston, bluntly, "that you break
mems hearts because you cannot break
their heads"
She uttered low, sweet peal of laugh
ter.
"That is terse and epigrammatic way
of summing the matter up; and perhaps
it 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 a
broken heart is q phenomenon l have
never seen."
"Probably you have never seen it be.
cause you did not care to recognize it,
said Thurston; and so deep was the
wrath which he felt that his voice sound
ed as never mans voice had sounded be-
fore in Agatha Loring's ears.
She gazed at him in surprise, waving a
fan back and forth in a hand so white
and slender that he was constrained to
observe it.
perhaps you are right" she said, after
moments pause. Sympathy is some
times necessary for comprehension, and 1
confess l have no sylnpethy with mala-
dies of the heart"
I "And yet you are woman!" said
Thurston, Indignantly.
"a woman" she repeated. "Well,
yes, I cannot deny the fact; and yet [
often feel inclined to echo Clytcmnestra's
words:
'..... You greet gods,
Why did you fashion me in this soft mold
Give me these lengths of silky hair? these
hands
Too delicately dimpled? and these arms
Too white, too weak yet leave the mans
heart in me
To mar your masterpiece
Now if you think me ridiculously mock
heroic, you will at least not think that I
hatter myself, Colonel Thurston, since
Clytemnestrs. was not an estimable char
acter?"
''I think that you may find your
woman's heart some day, Miss Loring,"e
he said, "and then you may learn better
appreciation of the suffering you now re-
gard so lightly
He rose as he spoke, for he felt that he
had had enough Of this, and Virien was
approaching with his eloquent eyes and
fnely-outlined face-the most irresistible
of heroes of Irritation.
Thurston gave glance at him as 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 Loring
that she had wonan's heart" "Mrs.
Jennings says that he is noted flirt,"
the soldier grimly thought. II would
give all I possess if he would flirt with
this woman and make her feel what she
has inflicted so mercilessly On others"
"Monsieur lie Colonel is jealous al
ready" Virien said, with laugh, as he
sank down by Miss Loring's side. His
subiugation is accomplished, perceive,
| a,,or =, tL;o ohort tinoo ~
"Pray don't be absurd" she replied.
'Colonel Thurston is the last man in the
world whom I should be likely to subju-
gate. He is-what shall I say?.simple,
| literal, stern, old-fashioned in his ideas
that he not only disapproves of me, but
he has plainly told me So"
Her companion arched his dark, deli
.cately-penciled brows. II hardly know
whether to pity his obtuseness or his
temerity most" he said. "That mortal
man should venture to disapprove of Ia
belle des bellies, and-bright Of audacity!-
I