But was there another?
“What have I to do with another? Have we not parted forever! Ought not I to rejoice even in his happiness with another? Oh, my heart! I cannot understand thee! Thou seemest not to reason, but to feel!”
* * * * * * * * * *
“I could bear parting, did I but know that I was thy sole possession! Nay, were I never more to behold thy face, I could rest content as thine! thine in the unseen! thine forever! But another! Be still, heart! I will not doubt him! I am divided in myself! I doubt him, and cannot doubt him! Now, I am decided! I thrust out that image of another! I see only thee! Often when all was still, I have heard the tones of thy sweet voice! The sunrise and the sunset have been laden with the brightness of thy lofty soul! In my dreams I wander with thee, not upon the hard and dusty paths of earth, but in the ambient air, and beyond the clouds! I need not see [pg 180]thee with mortal eyes in order to mount by thy side, and command the range of created things!”
* * * * * * * * * *
“Away! That cruel vision again forces itself upon me! Not that I wish her ill! But there can be but one! Down, hateful thoughts! I will not doubt him! But is it anything, now that we are separated? Everything! We are together, though apart! Even beyond the grave will we commune with each other! Ah! then it were sweet, even to die!”
* * * * * * * * * *
“The ebb and flow of my heart is unto thee! Crowds that flatter and would serve me pass by, but only thou art near me! O Future! art thou ours together? Back! that dark vision haunts me again! I would not, I will not behold it!”
* * * * * * * * * *
The thick curtains of night had been drawn, and Amabel was missing. The household of Gamaliel began to be apprehensive; but bethinking themselves of her favorite resort, ascended to look for her, believing she might have fallen asleep. Her prostrate form was found in a state of feverish unconsciousness. Kind hands bore her tenderly below, and loving hearts exercised themselves in every form of devoted ministration. Her body was motionless, except that her lips were moved in an incoherent muttering. The skill of the physicians was exerted to the utmost to arouse her, but hour after hour passed without any visible change. Her illness was [pg 181]found to be a violent fever in the head, and it was whispered that peradventure it was beyond the reach of the healing art. But however it might end, it would be long and desperate.