A
dull melancholy settled upon me which nothing could break. Even the
news that my cousin who had lost her husband a month after marriage,
had returned to America with expectation to remain, scarcely caused a
ripple in my apathy. Was I sinking into a hypochrondriac? or was my
passion for the beautiful brunette dead? I determined to solve the
doubt.
"Seeking her where I knew she would be found, I gazed again upon her
beauty. It was absolutely nothing to me. A fair young face with high
thoughts in every glance floated like sunshine between us and I left
the haughty Countess, with the knowledge burned deep into my brain,
that the love I had considered slain was alive and demanding, but
that the object of it past recall, was my lost young wife.
"Once assured of this, my apathy vanished like mist before a kindled
torch. Henceforth the future held a hope, and life a purpose. I would
seek my wife throughout the world and bring her back if I found her
in prison between the men whose existence was a curse to my pride. But
where should I turn my steps? What golden thread had she left in my
hand by which to trace her through the labyrinth of this world? I
could think of but one, and that was the love which would restrain her
from going away from me too far. The Luttra of old would not leave
the city where her husband lived.
Pages:
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163