-
Articles/Ads
Article THE MASON. ← Page 21 of 23 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Mason.
to deceive . Hitherto I have deemed it the cynic ' s censure ; I now find it the philosopher ' s truth . Yet , the false mistress and treacherous friend should not have been Catherine , ancl Adol phe Lesseau . How , gone ! " he exclaimed , as looking round the apartment , he searched in vain for its late inmate : " can Catherine be the partner of his fli ght ? " His eye fell upon the letter—he trembled as he broke die seal ; it ran thus :
" DEAR IVAN , " Condemn me not , that I have withdrawn from your hospitable home without bidding you farewell ; but my honour and your happiness demand that I should act as I have done . Till a few moments preceding the writing of this , I knew not of my danger . May you ancl Catherine be happy ! Farewell .
" ADOLPHE . " " He is true , he is true ! " said Ivan , rapidly glancing over the paper ; " human nature forgive me , that I doubted thee ! He loved , but knew not of my engagement to Catherine . I was to blame—he shotdd have been forewarned . "
Ivan took no notice of the scene he hacl witnessed to Catherine or his mother , trusting that time would lessen her grief , and her heart gradually appreciate his devoted affection . By a tacit agreement , the name of Adolphe was never mentioned between them . As the spring advanced ,
the countess removed to St . Petersburgh , her palace at Moscow being destroyed . Here they visited , ancl gradually plunged into the fashionable dissipation of the court . But , although Catherine moved amid the brilliant throng , her buoyancy of spirit was gone—she appeared to endure rather than enjoy , ancl Ivan found that the shaft had pierced deeper than he at first imagined .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Mason.
to deceive . Hitherto I have deemed it the cynic ' s censure ; I now find it the philosopher ' s truth . Yet , the false mistress and treacherous friend should not have been Catherine , ancl Adol phe Lesseau . How , gone ! " he exclaimed , as looking round the apartment , he searched in vain for its late inmate : " can Catherine be the partner of his fli ght ? " His eye fell upon the letter—he trembled as he broke die seal ; it ran thus :
" DEAR IVAN , " Condemn me not , that I have withdrawn from your hospitable home without bidding you farewell ; but my honour and your happiness demand that I should act as I have done . Till a few moments preceding the writing of this , I knew not of my danger . May you ancl Catherine be happy ! Farewell .
" ADOLPHE . " " He is true , he is true ! " said Ivan , rapidly glancing over the paper ; " human nature forgive me , that I doubted thee ! He loved , but knew not of my engagement to Catherine . I was to blame—he shotdd have been forewarned . "
Ivan took no notice of the scene he hacl witnessed to Catherine or his mother , trusting that time would lessen her grief , and her heart gradually appreciate his devoted affection . By a tacit agreement , the name of Adolphe was never mentioned between them . As the spring advanced ,
the countess removed to St . Petersburgh , her palace at Moscow being destroyed . Here they visited , ancl gradually plunged into the fashionable dissipation of the court . But , although Catherine moved amid the brilliant throng , her buoyancy of spirit was gone—she appeared to endure rather than enjoy , ancl Ivan found that the shaft had pierced deeper than he at first imagined .