rezanov-第37部分

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　decreed。　　Mean…　while；　she　would　suffer；　no　one　but　he　could　dream　how　completely；　but　her　strong　soul　would　conquer；　and　she　would　live　the　life　she　had　visioned　in　mo…　ments　of　despair；　not　of　cloistered　selfishness；　but　of　incomparable　usefulness　to　her　little　world；　and　far　happier；　in　her　eternal　youthfulness　of　heart；　in　that　divine　life　of　the　imagination　where　he　must　always　be　with　her　as　she　had　known　him　briefly　at　his　best；　than　in　the　blunt　commonplaceness　of　daily　existence；　the　routine　and　disillusionment　of　the　world。　　Perhapswho　knew？he　had；　after　all；　given　her　the　best　that　man　can　offer　to　a　woman　of　exalted　nature；　instead　of　taking　again　with　his　left　hand　what　his　right　had　bestowed；　completed　the　great　gift　of　life　with　the　priceless　beacon　of　death。

How　unlike　was　life　to　the　old　Greek　tragedies！　He　recalled　his　prophetic　sense　of　impending　hap…　piness；　success；　triumph；　as　he　entered　California；　the　rejuvenescence　of　his　spirit　in　the　renewal　of　his　wasted　forces　even　before　he　loved　the　woman。　Every　event　of　the　past　year；　in　spite　of　the　obstacles　that　mortal　must　expect；　had　marched　with　his　am…　bitions　and　desires；　and　straight　toward　a　future　that　would　have　given　him　the　most　coveted　of　all　destinies；　a　station　in　history。　　There　had　not　been　a　hint　that　his　brain；　so　meaningly　and　consummately　equipped；　would　perish　in　the　ruins　of　his　body　in　less　than　a　twelvemonth　from　that　fragrant　morn…　ing　when　he　had　entered　the　home　of　Concha　Ar…　guello　tingling　with　a　pagan　joy　in　mere　existence；　a　sudden　rush　of　desire　for　the　keen；　wild　happiness　of　youth

His　eyes　wandered　from　the　bright　cross　above　the　little　cemetery　where　he　was　to　lie；　and　con…　tracted　with　an　expression　of　wonder。　　Where　had　Jon　found　Castilian　roses　in　this　barren　land？　　No　man　had　ever　been　more　blest　in　a　servant；　but　could　even　hehere　　With　the　last　triumph　of　will　over　matter　he　raised　his　head；　his　keen；　search…　ing　gaze　noting　every　detail　of　the　room；　bare　and　unlovely　save　for　its　altar　and　ikons；　its　kneeling　priests　and　nuns。　　His　eyes　expanded；　his　nostrils　quivered。　　As　he　sank　down　in　the　embrace　of　that　final　delusion；　his　unconquerably　sanguine　spirit　flared　high　before　a　vision　of　eternal　and　unthink…　able　happiness。

So　died　Rezanov；　and　with　him　the　hope　of　Rus…　sians　and　the　hindrance　of　Americans　in　the　west；　and　the　mortal　happiness　and　earthly　dross　of　the　saintliest　of　California's　women。





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