
A small town gathers to celebrate a remarkable love story: Regulas Rothsay, once a barefoot orphan, has risen to become the state’s newest governor‑elect and is about to marry his childhood sweetheart, the elegant Corona Haught. Their journey, marked by hard work, secret tutoring, and a daring climb through journalism into politics, is recounted by the town’s colorful foremen and matriarchs, painting a portrait of ambition tempered by devotion.
Amid the festivities, an ominous figure—an ancient, cloaked woman known as Old Scythia—appears from the woods, proclaiming that fate itself will bar Regulas from taking office. Her cryptic warning unsettles the crowd, prompting heated debate among the townsfolk about superstition, power, and the unseen forces that might shape their future. As the day unfolds, listeners are drawn into a tense blend of hope, folklore, and the unsettling question of what lies beyond the visible world.
Language
en
Duration
~13 hours (774K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2005-06-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1819–1899
A bestselling 19th-century American novelist, she wrote fast-paced serial fiction packed with mystery, family drama, disguises, and daring heroines. Her stories reached a huge readership in their day and helped make her one of the most popular authors of the era.
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