It was the wreck of a soul!
And then, with a gasp, he recalled his mad fever to win every honor
under her glowing eyes. The forgotten deeds of desperate valor--all
useless now, and stained forever with the bar sinister of his treason.
He shuddered at the unforgotten delights of the hour when they had
met in her seraglio bower of shaded luxury, and "the fairest of
Laocoons" had answered his passionate whisper, "Stoop down and seem
to kiss me ere I die," with the faltered words: "Alan, you are all
the world to me!"
Fondly blind, he had drifted along in a Fool's Paradise, at
her bidding, until the crash came! He never knew the military Sir
Modred, who had betrayed the open secret, but his blood boiled
when he recalled the cruel abandonment to the rage of a jealous
and awakened spouse!
All in vain had been his manly sacrifice to save the woman whom
he had loved more than life. He had cast away every protection for
himself. Duped and tricked, he had remained mute before the storm
of abuse heaped on him by the General, and his papers sent in, at
a momentary summons, had carried him in dishonor out of the band of
laureled soldier knights, to dream no more "the dream that martial
music weaves!" And the smiling woman Judas tricked him to the very
last!
How hollow her faith, how lying the mute pleading of her eyes,
he knew now, for had he not paused at the door for one despairing
glance of farewell, to hear her murmur to her placated lord: "After
all your goodness to him, to dare to offer me insult! You have
punished him rightly, but, he is a fascinating traitor, after all!"
Deprived of his sword, shunned by his associates, and lingering
near her in hopes of the last interview pledged him by her lying
eyes, he had only been undeceived when he vainly tried to reach
her carriage for a last farewell on a star-lit lonely drive.
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