The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-11

thought with the terrible calm Of dis
solution. During these last months Of
illness and isolation he had BEEN less
lonely than at any time Of his life save
during those few weeks in California,
for he had lived with her necessarily in
spirit; and In that subtle imaginative
communion had pressed close to aispro-
found and complex soul, revealed be-
fore only in flashes to vision astray
In the confusion of the senses He had
felt that her response to his passion
was far more vital and enduring than
dwelt in the capacity Of most women;
ne had appreciated her gifts of mind,
her plquant variousness that scotched
monotony, the admirable characteristics
sthat would give a man repose and con-
tent In his leisure, and subtly advance
his career. But in those long reveries,
at the head Of his forlorn caravan or
IN the desolate months of GONZALES
cence, he had arrived at an absolute
understanding of what she herself had
OWNED while half comprehending.
loves that reveal the rarely sounded
deeps of the soul while in its frail tene-
ment on earth; and he harbored not q
doubt that their, love was stronger than
mortality and that their ultimate union
was decreed. Meanwhile 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 moments Of despair;
not of clustered selfshness, but of in
comparable 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 DO with her as she had known
i'm hriaAu OF hio ho
blunt commonplaceness Of daily exist
ence, the routine and establishment of
the world. Perhaps-who knewq-he
had, after all, given her the best that
man can offer to woman Of exalted
nature; instead Of taking again with
his left hand what his right had be-
slowed; 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 happiness, success,
rejuvenescence of his spirit in the re-
newal of his wasted forces even before
ne loved the woman. Every event Of
the past year, in spite Of the obstacles
that mortal must expect, had marched
with his ambitions and desires. and
straight toward a future that would
have given him the most coveted Of
all destinies, station in history. There
had not been hint that his brain, SO
meaningly and consummately equipped,
would perish in the ruins Of his body in
less than twelvemonth from that fra
grant morning when he had entered the
home of Concha Arguello tingling with
q pagan joy in mere. existence, sudden
rush of desire for the keen wild happi-
ness Of youth. -. - .....
His eyes wandered from the bright
cross above the little cemetery where
he was to lie. and contracted with an
expression Of wonder. Where had Jon
found Castilian roses in this barren
lands No man had ever been more blest
in a servant, but could even zhe-here-
With the last triumph of will over mat
ter he raised his head, his keen, search
ing gaze noting every detail of the
room, bare and rnlovely save for its
altors and ikons, it's kneeling priests and
nuns. His eyes expanded, his nostrils
quivered. AS he sank down in the
embrace Of that final delusion, his I'M
conquerably sanguine spirit fared high
before a vision Of eternal and unthink-
able happiness. .a,-,.-
So died Rezanov; and with him the
hope of Russians and the hindrance of
Americans in the west; and the mortal
happiness and earthly dross of the
saintliest of California 8 women, 49,
= ...-@. - The End|E5r-. =. ,..