soon　quite　forgotten；　especially　as　those　concerned　in　it　for　one　reason
  and　another　did　not　talk　overmuch　of　its　details。　　Nor　did　I　talk　of　it；
  since　no　vengeance　could　mend　my　broken　heart。
  They　brought　me　a　letter　that　had　been　found　on　Marie's　breast；　stained
  with　her　blood。
  Here　it　is：
  〃MY　HUSBAND；
  〃Thrice　have　you　saved　my　life；　and　now　it　is　my　turn　to　save　yours；　for
  there　is　no　other　path。　　It　may　be　that　they　will　kill　you　afterwards；
  but　if　so；　I　shall　be　glad　to　have　died　first　in　order　that　I　may　be
  ready　to　greet　you　in　the　land　beyond。
  〃I　drugged　you；　Allan；　then　I　cut　off　my　hair　and　dressed　myself　in　your
  clothes。　　The　Vrouw　Prinsloo；　Hans　and　I　set　my　garments　upon　you。　　They
  led　you　out　as　though　you　were　fainting；　and　the　guards；　seeing　me；　whom
  they　thought　was　you；　standing　in　the　doorway；　let　them　pass　without
  question。
  〃What　may　happen　I　do　not　know；　for　I　write　this　after　you　are　gone。　　I
  hope；　however；　that　you　will　escape　and　lead　some　full　and　happy　life；
  though　I　fear　that　its　best　moments　will　always　be　shadowed　by　memories
  of　me。　　For　I　know　you　love　me；　Allan；　and　will　always　love　me；　as　I
  shall　always　love　you。
  〃The　light　is　burning　outlike　mineso　farewell；　farewell；　farewell！
  All　earthly　stories　come　to　an　end　at　last；　but　at　that　end　we　shall
  meet　again。　　Till　then；　adieu。　　Would　that　I　could　have　done　more　for
  you；　since　to　die　for　one　who　is　loved　with　body；　heart　and　soul　is　but
  a　little　thing。　　Still　I　have　been　your　wife；　Allan；　and　your　wife　I
  shall　remain　when　the　world　is　old。　　Heaven　does　not　grow　old；　Allan；
  and　there　I　shall　greet　you。
  〃The　light　is　dead；　butoh！in　my　heart　another　light　arises！
  〃Your　MARIE。〃
  This　was　her　letter。
  I　do　not　think　there　is　anything　more　to　be　said。
  Such　is　the　history　of　my　first　love。　　Those　who　read　it；　if　any　ever
  do；　will　understand　why　I　have　never　spoken　of　her　before；　and　do　not
  wish　it　to　be　known　until　I；　too；　am　dead　and　have　gone　to　join　the
  great　soul　of　Marie　Marais。
  ALLAN　QUATERMAIN。
  End