CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.
DREAMS.
Yielding up my soul to its sweet love-dream, I wandered on--where andhow long I cannot tell, for I had taken no note either of distance ordirection.
I was roused from my reverie by observing a brighter light gleamingbefore me; and soon after I emerged from the darker shadow of theforest. My steps, chance-directed, had guided me into a pretty glade,where the sun shone warmly, and the ground was gay with flowers. It wasa little wild garden, enamelled by blossoms of many colours, amongwhich, bignonias and the showy corollas of the cotton-rose wereconspicuous. Even the forest that bordered and enclosed this littleparterre was a forest of flowering-trees. They were magnolias ofseveral kinds; on some of which the large liliaceous blossoms had givenplace to the scarcely less conspicuous seed-cones of glowing red, whosepowerful but pleasant odour filled the atmosphere around. Otherbeautiful trees grew alongside, mingling their perfume with that of themagnolias. Scarce less interesting were the "honey-locusts"(_gleditschias_), with their pretty pinnate leaves, and longpurple-brown legumes; the Virginian lotus, with its oval amber-coloureddrupes, and the singular bow-wood tree (_madura_), with its largeorange-like pericarps, reminding one of the _flora_ of the tropics. TheAutumn was just beginning to paint the forest, and already some touchesfrom his glowing palette appeared among the leaves of the sassafraslaurel, the sumach (_rhus_), the persimmon (_diospyros_), thenymph-named tupelo, and those other species of the American _sylva_ thatlove to array themselves so gorgeously before parting with theirdeciduous foliage. Yellow, orange, scarlet, crimson, with many anintermediate tint, met the eye; and all these colours, flashing underthe 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 inwhich I had been indulging became heightened in its effect; and I couldnot help thinking that if Aurore were but present to enjoy that lovelyscene--to wander with me over that flowery glade--to sit by my sideunder the shade of the magnolia laurel--then, indeed, would my happinessbe complete. Earth itself had no fairer scene than this. A verylove-bower it appeared!
Nor was it unoccupied by lovers; for two pretty doves--birds emblematicof 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 ina destiny like theirs! Thus mated and happy--amidst bright flowers andsweet 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 nointention of harming them. Far was it from my heart to spoil theirperfect bliss.
But no--they feared me not--else their flight would have been moredistant. They only flitted to the next tree; and there again, seatedside 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 andlove. I flung me on the grass, and gazed upon thorn, tenderly kissingand cooing. I envied their delight.
My nerves, that for days had been dancing with more than ordinaryexcitement, were now experiencing the natural reaction, and I feltweary. There was a drowsiness in the air--a narcotic influence producedby 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 duringthat short period I passed through many scenes. Many a visionarytableau appeared before the eye of my slumbering soul, and then meltedaway. There were more or less characters in each; but in all of themtwo were constant, both well defined in form and features. They wereEugenie 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 goodAntoine. Even the unfortunate Captain of the boat, the boat herself,the Magnolia, and the scene of the wreck--all were reproduced with apainful distinctness!
But my visions were not all of a painful character. Some were the veryopposite--scenes of bliss. In company with Aurore, I was wanderingthrough flowery glades, and exchanging the sweet converse of mutuallove. The very spot where I lay--the scene around me--was pictured inthe 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 evenassisted us in bringing about this happy consummation!
In this vision Gayarre was the fiend; and I thought that after a whilehe endeavoured to drag Aurore from me. A struggle followed, and thenthe scene ended with confused abruptness.
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A new tableau arose--a new vision. In this _Eugenie_ played the part ofthe evil genius. I thought she had refused my requests--refused to_sell Aurore_. I fancied her jealous, hostile, vengeful. I thought shewas loading me with imprecations, my betrothed with threats. Aurore wasweeping. It was a painful vision.
The scene changed again. Aurore and I were happy--she was free--she wasnow mine, and we were married. But there was a cloud upon ourhappiness. _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 firmpressure. I thought that the contact was disagreeable; and Iendeavoured to withdraw my hand, but could not. My fingers remainedbound within that cold clammy grasp; and with all my strength I wasunable to release them! Suddenly I was stung; and at the same instantthe chill hand relaxed its grasp, and set me free.
The stinging sensation, however, awoke me; and my eyes mechanicallyturned 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 glitteringbody of the reptile extended along the grass, and gliding rapidly away!