For I could not
speak. I tore her little, fragile, clinging arms from off my neck, and
thrust her from me. And here I am. Don't ask me how I loved her! I have
no words to tell you!"
CHAPTER XV.
THE FAIRY BRIDE.
Since the morning of her ill-starred marriage, Sans Souci had waned like
a waning moon; and the bridegroom saw, with dismay, his fairy bride
slowly fading, passing, vanishing from his sight. There was no very
marked disorder, no visible or tangible symptoms to guide the
physicians, who were in succession summoned to her relief. Very obscure
is the pathology of a wasting heart, very occult the scientific
knowledge that can search out the secret sickness, which, the further it
is sought, shrinks the deeper from sight.
Once, indeed, while she was sitting with her aunt and uncle, the latter
suddenly and rudely mentioned Cloudy's name, saying that "the fool" was
sulking over at Dell-Delight; that he believed he would have blown his
brains out if it had not been for Thurston, and for his own part, he
almost wished that he had been permitted to do so, because he thought
none but a fool would ever commit suicide, and the fewer fools there
were in the world the better, etc., etc.
Pages:
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151