Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 3).djvu/272

 since her fatal marriage. She wrote to me, that, by mutual consent, she was separated from her husband, and intended to retire from the world; conjured me, as I valued her future happiness, if chance should ever throw me in the way of Count Wolfran, whatever reports might reach my ears, as probably many false stories might be promulgated, never to lift my hand against his, or embitter her days, by hazarding my own life: Entreated me to consider her as dead to the world, and to form another connexion, which she knew was most anxiously wished for by my friends."

The first part of her request I resolved strictly to observe: I sought not Count Wolfran—I desired not to meet him, since his death, by my hands, would have placed an insuperable bar to any hopes from Theodosia; but the passion she had inspired was interwoven with my existence, impossible to be eradicated, and being hopeless, produced an entire change in my disposition. I found myself insensibly growing morose, unsociable,