The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 01, No. 7, May, 1858 by Various
page 34 of 278 (12%)
page 34 of 278 (12%)
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waking was haunted with remorse and fearful expectation; and as days
crept by, and Memory, like one who fastens the galley-slave to his oar, still pressed on his thoughts the constant patience, toil, and affection of Violet Channing, he felt how truly she had spoken of him, and from his soul abhorred the Shadow of his life. Here he vanishes. Whether with successful conflict he fought with the evil and prevailed, and showed himself a man,--or whether the Thing renewed its dominion, and he drew to himself another nature, not for the good power of its pure contact, but for the further increase of that darkness, and the blinding of another soul, is never yet to be known. Of Violet Channing he saw no more; with her his sole earthly redemption had fled; she went her way, free henceforward from the Shadow, and guarded in the arms of the shining Spirit. The wind yet howls and dashes without; the rain, rushing in gusts on roof and casement, keeps no time nor tune; the fire is dead in the ashes; the red rose, in the lessening light, turns gray;--but far away to the south the cloud begins to scatter; faint amber steals along the crest of the distant hills; after all evils, hope remains,--even for a Man with two Shadows. Let us, perhaps his kindred after the spirit, not despair. AMOURS DE VOYAGE. [Concluded.] |
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