Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Abruptlytherewaspresentedtohismind’seyeapictureoftheyearstocome,ifhenowshouldfollowhisbest,hishighest,hismostunselfishimpulse.HesawHilma,hisown,forbetterorforworse,forricherorforpoorer,allbarriersdownbetweenthem,hegivinghimselftoherasfreely,asnobly,asshehadgivenherselftohim.Byasupremeeffort,notofthewill,butoftheemotion,hefoughthiswayacrossthatvastgulfthatforatimehadgapedbetweenHilmaandtheideaofhismarriage.Instantly,liketheswiftblendingofbeautifulcolours,liketheharmonyofbeautifulchordsofmusic,thetwoideasmeltedintoone,andinthatmomentintohisharsh,unlovelyworldanewideawasborn.Annixterstoodsuddenlyupright,amightytenderness,agentlenessofspirit,suchashehadneverconceivedof,inhisheartstrained,swelled,andinamomentseemedtoburst.Outofthedarkfurrowsofhissoul,upfromthedeepruggedrecessesofhisbeing,somethingrose,expanding.Heopenedhisarmswide.Animmensehappinessoverpoweredhim.Actualtearscametohiseyes.Withoutknowingwhy,hewasnotashamedofit.Thispoor,crudefellow,harsh,hard,narrow,withhisunlovelynature,hisfiercetruculency,hisselfishness,hisobstinacy,abruptlyknewthatallthesweetnessoflife,allthegreatvivifyingeternalforceofhumanityhadburstintolifewithinhim.

           Thelittleseed,longsinceplanted,gatheringstrengthquietly,hadatlastgerminated.

           Thenastherealisationofthishardenedintocertainty,inthegrowinglightofthenewdaythathadjustdawnedforhim,Annixterutteredacry.