The Queen of Sheba, and My Cousin the Colonel

In the summer of 1872, a modest bank bookkeeper from the sleepy town of Rivermouth steals three weeks of leave to chase a long‑held, almost secret longing for something beyond ledgers and routine. Edward Lynde mounts a low‑colored mare and slips away at dawn, his senses filled by the fresh scent of sassafras, wildflowers and sea‑sprayed breezes that drape the New Hampshire hills in a fleeting, golden glow. The narrative paints his world in vivid, poetic detail, turning a simple horseback ride into a quiet rebellion against the ordinary, while hinting at an inner romance that yearns for far‑off, exotic horizons.

As Lynde rides farther from the familiar streets, the landscape unfurls into mist‑shrouded valleys and distant ruins that stir his imagination. The promise of uncharted encounters—perhaps with a charismatic colonel or a mysterious figure reminiscent of the legendary Queen of Sheba—looms on the horizon, setting the stage for a season of unexpected friendships and subtle intrigue. The first act invites listeners to wander with Lynde, feeling the exhilaration of freedom and the pull of dreams yet to be realized.