Yielding up my soul to its sweet love-dream, I wandered on--where and
how long I cannot tell, for I had taken no note either of distance or
direction.
I was roused from my reverie by observing a brighter light gleaming
before me; and soon after I emerged from the darker shadow of the
forest. My steps, chance-directed, had guided me into a pretty glade,
where the sun shone warmly, and the ground was gay with flowers. It was
a little wild garden, enamelled by blossoms of many colours, among
which, bignonias and the showy corollas of the cotton-rose were
conspicuous. Even the forest that bordered and enclosed this little
parterre was a forest of flowering-trees. They were magnolias of
several kinds; on some of which the large liliaceous blossoms had given
place to the scarcely less conspicuous seed-cones of glowing red, whose
powerful but pleasant odour filled the atmosphere around. Other
beautiful trees grew alongside, mingling their perfume with that of the
magnolias. Scarce less interesting were the "honey-locusts"
(_gleditschias_), with their pretty pinnate leaves, and long
purple-brown legumes; the Virginian lotus, with its oval amber-coloured
drupes, and the singular bow-wood tree (_madura_), with its large
orange-like pericarps, reminding one of the _flora_ of the tropics. The
Autumn was just beginning to paint the forest, and already some touches
from his glowing palette appeared among the leaves of the sassafras
laurel, the sumach (_rhus_), the persimmon (_diospyros_), the
nymph-named tupelo, and those other species of the American _sylva_ that
love to array themselves so gorgeously before parting with their
deciduous foliage. Yellow, orange, scarlet, crimson, with many an
intermediate tint, met the eye; and all these colours, flashing under
the brilliant beams of a noonday sun, produced an indescribable
_coup-d'oeil_. The scene resembled the gaudy picture-work of a theatre,
more than the sober reality of a natural landscape.
I stood for some minutes wrapt in admiration. The dream of love in
which I had been indulging became heightened in its effect; and I could
not help thinking that if Aurore were but present to enjoy that lovely
scene--to wander with me over that flowery glade--to sit by my side
under the shade of the magnolia laurel--then, indeed, would my happiness
be complete. Earth itself had no fairer scene than this. A very
love-bower it appeared!
Nor was it unoccupied by lovers; for two pretty doves--birds emblematic
of the tender passion--sat side by side upon the bough of a tulip-tree,
their bronzed throats swelling at intervals with soft amorous notes.
Oh, how I envied those little creatures! How I should have rejoiced in
a destiny like theirs! Thus mated and happy--amidst bright flowers and
sweet perfumes, loving the livelong day--loving through all their lives!
They deemed me an intruder, and rose on whirring wing at my approach.
Perchance they feared my glittering gun. They had not need. I had no
intention of harming them. Far was it from my heart to spoil their
perfect bliss.
But no--they feared me not--else their flight would have been more
distant. They only flitted to the next tree; and there again, seated
side by side, resumed their love-converse. Absorbed in mutual fondness,
they had already forgotten my presence!
I followed to watch these pretty creatures--the types of gentleness and
love. I flung me on the grass, and gazed upon thorn, tenderly kissing
and cooing. I envied their delight.
My nerves, that for days had been dancing with more than ordinary
excitement, were now experiencing the natural reaction, and I felt
weary. There was a drowsiness in the air--a narcotic influence produced
by the combined action of the sun's rays and the perfume of the flowers.
It acted upon my spirit, and I fell asleep.
I slept only about an hour, but it was a sleep of dreams; and during
that short period I passed through many scenes. Many a visionary
tableau appeared before the eye of my slumbering soul, and then melted
away. There were more or less characters in each; but in all of them
two were constant, both well defined in form and features. They were
Eugenie and Aurore.
Gayarre, too, was in my dreams; and the ruffian overseer, and Scipio,
and the mild face of Reigart, and what I could remember of the good
Antoine. Even the unfortunate Captain of the boat, the boat herself,
the Magnolia, and the scene of the wreck--all were reproduced with a
painful distinctness!
But my visions were not all of a painful character. Some were the very
opposite--scenes of bliss. In company with Aurore, I was wandering
through flowery glades, and exchanging the sweet converse of mutual
love. The very spot where I lay--the scene around me--was pictured in
the dream.
Strangest of all, I thought that Eugenie was with us, and that she, too,
was happy; that she had consented to my marrying Aurore, and had even
assisted us in bringing about this happy consummation!
In this vision Gayarre was the fiend; and I thought that after a while
he endeavoured to drag Aurore from me. A struggle followed, and then
the scene ended with confused abruptness.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A new tableau arose--a new vision. In this _Eugenie_ played the part of
the evil genius. I thought she had refused my requests--refused to
_sell Aurore_. I fancied her jealous, hostile, vengeful. I thought she
was loading me with imprecations, my betrothed with threats. Aurore was
weeping. It was a painful vision.
The scene changed again. Aurore and I were happy--she was free--she was
now mine, and we were married. But there was a cloud upon our
happiness. _Eugenie was dead_.
Yes, dead. I thought I was bending over her, and had taken her hand.
Suddenly her fingers closed upon mine, and held them with a firm
pressure. I thought that the contact was disagreeable; and I
endeavoured to withdraw my hand, but could not. My fingers remained
bound within that cold clammy grasp; and with all my strength I was
unable to release them! Suddenly I was stung; and at the same instant
the chill hand relaxed its grasp, and set me free.
The stinging sensation, however, awoke me; and my eyes mechanically
turned towards the hand, where I still felt pain.
Sure enough my wrist was punctured and bleeding!
A feeling of horror ran through my veins, as the "sker-r-rr" of the
_crotalus_ sounded in my ear; and, looking around, I saw the glittering
body of the reptile extended along the grass, and gliding rapidly away!