I could never live without you.
There would be left no object in life worth living for." And then,
advancing forward, I took her shapely hand in mine, and, looking
directly into her lovely eyes with much earnestness, said: "I fully
understand that in comparison to the Sage-man, I am a hideous and
degraded creature. And I also know that the love that filled the heal is
of your contemporaries for one another was sublime, having for a few
moments during that musical spell been moved by the same emotions that
once impelled the exalted being of which I am the re-incarnation, but
believe me when I say that my love for you now is ten thousand times
stronger than it was then. I worship you. I shall die for and with you.
Aye, even nature itself cannot keep me alive after you have gone. I may
not be the equal of the Sageman in other ways, but I shall prove that my
love for you is equally as great."
During this outburst of my thoughts, Arletta stood in a motionless
attitude, holding my outstretched hand and returning my excited gaze
with a look of mingled pity and sorrow. "Is it possible," said she,
"that there is not one Apeman in the world today with sufficient
strength of character to relinquish his own selfish desires for the good
of his species? Can it be that not one Apeman exists whom nature can
rely upon for the great work of uplifting humanity, who is brave enough
to resist the temporary fascination of a lovable woman? And have I lived
to see the reincarnated soul of the bravest and noblest man that ever
breathed, bound within the flesh of a wretched coward incapable of
living for any greater purpose than his own self-gratification? Am I to
understand that one who is controlled by the spirit of my everlasting
associate, intends betraying nature's trust by shirking the
responsibilities of manhood, because he lacks the courage to live? Will
there be promulgated among the records of time an account of my immortal
partner having deserted his post of duty by sneaking out of the world
before his allotted time? Would this being, who is blessed with physical
strength and a well-balanced brain, allow himself to sink to the level
of a craven suicide, because he cannot secure something beyond his
reach? Does he think that nature brought him into existence for no other
purpose than to feed his own petty desires? Would he deliberately die
like a useless poltroon, and leave the world in its present state of
savagery and wretchedness, without even attempting to be of service to
humanity in the very work it requires the most?"
"Stop! Enough!" cried I.
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