Because her face was gone, all other faces were
repulsive to his sight; because her voice was silent, all other voices
were discordant to his ear; because her love was impossible, all other
friendships and affections were repugnant to his heart; and Thurston,
young, handsome, accomplished and wealthy, became a silent and lonely
man.
The estate left by old Cloudesley Willcoxen had exceeded even the
reports of his hoarded wealth. The whole estate, real and personal, was
bequeathed to his eldest grandson, Thurston Willcoxen, upon the sole
condition that it should not be divided.
Dell-Delight, with its natural beauties, was a home that wealth could
convert into a material paradise. Once it had been one of Thurston's
happiest dreams to adorn and beautify the matchless spot, and make it
worthy of Marian, its intended mistress. Now he could not bear to think
of those plans of home-beauty and happiness so interwoven with fond
thoughts of her. So poignant were the wounds of association, that he
could scarcely endure to remain in a neighborhood so filled with
reminiscences of her; and he must have fled the scene, and taken refuge
from memory in foreign travel, had he suffered from bereavement and
sorrow only; but he was tortured by remorse, and remorse demands to
suffer and to atone for sin.
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