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The Journals of Raymond Brooks 101
face turning grim.
“And what happened?” I asked after a few moments, unable

to bear the uncomfortable silence that settled between us.
“And, her father had wed her to another man while I was
gone, that’s what happened,” he said, and was silent again.
“What! That’s not fair, why did he do that?” I asked, protesting
what I thought to be a horrible ending to this tale.
“He said that all thought me dead, and that he had only his
daughter’s best interest in mind. Though I believe he had his
own best interest in mind, for he was paid a handsome fee.
He requested then that I refrain from seeing her, and I silently

turned my back to him and left,” Raymond said.
“Where did you go?” I asked, still immersed deeply in his
story.
“I went to Lianna, of course. Her husband blocked the door,
yelling at her to remain silent. I chopped the door down with
my axe, struck his face with the hilt, and proceeded to take her
with me,” Raymond said, and his eyes shone in remembrance

of a rage he had not forgotten.
“What happened then?” I asked as he once more became
silent.
“Then we made love under the stars and together we built
this cabin where I still live,” he said, tears in his eyes.
“Why so sad then? Where is she now?” I said, and then caught
myself, for his silence told it all. His eyes gleamed and stared
into mine, as if digging into my soul.
“… She was still the wife of another man. Justified or not, our

love was a sin against God and he punished us, for I had coveted
and taken the wife of another man,” he replied with tears in his
eyes, and I for once remained silent.
“And I have bettered my ways since then. I had come to fear