Page:Sexology.djvu/132

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suave determination, he "worked at those legs" till in eighteen months he had accomplished what modern surgery had declared impossible. His beautiful wife emerged from her two years' seclusion erect as a statue and more lovely than before. Alas, and alas ! that the truth permits us so apt an illustration of our subject ; the earliest use she made of her liberty was to run away with a worthless fellow whom the devil had endowed for the purpose with a smooth face and a corrupt heart ! Nor did the exquisite tenderness of this altogether exceptional man stop here. It provided for the maintenance and edu- cation of his wife's younger sister, and follows the perjured creature even into the purlieus of her now forsaken misery — keeps want from her door, and in an unseen and myste- rious way informs itself with scrupulous providence how best to soften and assuage the bitterness of her lot !" No more sublime picture has ever been presented to our view. We cannot help asking ourself, "Why Providence wrought a special miracle to accumulate so much anguish?" We do not know, unless to show what man may do "seven times tried by fire." Why was the foolish wife permitted to violate every principle of justice, honor, gratitude, and morality? We do not know, unless to show that only religion can guarantee the virtue of woman."18

What passes in the heart of a young girl who loves ? She is entirely absorbed in her passion. Everything else van- ishes — friends, parents, even God Himself is obliterated. The loved object alone has any attraction for her. She thinks of him all day, and dreams of him all night. She worships and adores, her entire being is fused in her love. She can imagine no other felicity than to be near him, and in his absence she thinks only of his return. In the midst of social gayeties and festivities she only sees him, only