| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Rezanov by Gertrude Atherton: roved over the magnificent estate and at the mo-
ment they entered a portion of it that deepened to
woods, so dense was the undergrowth, so thick the
oak trees. Here there was but a glimpse, now and
again, of the mountains swimming in the dark blue
mist of the late afternoon, the moss waved thickly
from the ancient trees; over even the higher branches
of many rolled a cascade of small brittle leaves, with
the tempting opulence of its poisonous sap. The
path was very abrupt, cut where the immense spread-
ing trees permitted, and Rezanov and Concha had
Rezanov |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane: faded and jaded condition made the charge ap-
pear like a paroxysm, a display of the strength
that comes before a final feebleness. The men
scampered in insane fever of haste, racing as if to
achieve a sudden success before an exhilarating
fluid should leave them. It was a blind and de-
spairing rush by the collection of men in dusty
and tattered blue, over a green sward and under
a sapphire sky, toward a fence, dimly outlined in
smoke, from behind which spluttered the fierce
rifles of enemies.
The Red Badge of Courage |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Heritage of the Desert by Zane Grey: picnic days long gone. But, in the face of those dominating wind-scarred
walls, he could not forget.
That night Hare endeavored to see Mescal alone for a few moments, to see
her once more with unguarded eyes, to whisper a few words, to say
good-bye; but it was impossible.On the morrow he rode out of the red
cliff gate with Dave and the pack-horses, a dull ache in his heart; for
amid the cheering crowd of children and women who bade them good-bye he
had caught the wave of Mescal's hand and a look of her eyes that would be
with him always. What might happen before he returned, if he ever did
return! For he knew now, as well as he could feel Silvermane's easy
stride, that out there under the white glare of desert, the white gleam
The Heritage of the Desert |
