XXVI. — AFTERWARD.
“When I opened my eyes, the sun was shining in my face.
“I was lying on a mass of drift-wood, caught by a ledge of rock, jutting out into the river. I had apparently been hurled there, by the force of the current, stunned and bruised; the sunshine had aroused me, bringing me back to that life which was a burden and a mockery.
“And where was she? I shuddered as I asked myself that question. Had she been thrown from the boat? Had it been overturned? Was she drowned? I closed my eyes with a shudder which traversed my body, chilling my blood as with the cold hand of death.
“For a moment I thought of throwing myself into the river, and thus ending all my woes. But I was too cowardly.
“I turned toward the shore, groaning; dragged my bruised and aching limbs along the ledge of jagged rocks, through the masses of drift-wood; and finally reached the shore, where I sank down exhausted, and ready to die.
“I will not lengthen out the gloomy picture. At last I rose, looked around, and with bent head and cowering frame, stole away through the woods toward Fonthill. On my way, I passed within two hundred yards of the grave—but I dared not go thither. He was dead, doubtless—and he had been slain in fair combat! It was another form that haunted me—the form of a woman—one who had dishonored me—attempted to poison me—a terrible being—but still a woman; and I had—murdered her!
“I reached home an hour or two afterward. Nighthawk was sitting in the library, pale, and haggard, watching for me.
“As I entered, he rose with an exclamation, extending his arms toward me, with an indescribable expression of joy.
“I shrunk back, refusing his hand.
“‘Do not touch that,’ I groaned, ‘there is blood on it!’
“He seized it, and kneeling down, kissed it.
“‘Bloody or not, it is your hand—the hand of my dear young master!’
“And the honest fellow burst into tears, as he covered my hand with kisses.
“A month afterward, I was in Europe, amid the whirl and noise of Paris. I tried to forget that I was a murderer—but the shadow went with me!”