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fell　helplessly　in　love　with　my　young　cousin。

Four years after I first left Istanbul； while traveling through the endless

steppes； snow…covered mountains and melancholy cities of Persia； carrying

letters and collecting taxes； I admitted to myself that I was slowly forgetting

the face of the childhood love I’d left behind。 With growing panic； I tried

desperately　to　remember　her；　only　to　realize　that　despite　love；　a　face　long　not

seen finally fades。 During the sixth year I spent in the East； traveling or

working　as　a　secretary　in　the　service　of　pashas；　I　knew　that　the　face　I　imagined

was　no　longer　that　of　my　beloved。　Later；　in　the　eighth　year；　I　forgot　what　I’d

mistakenly called to mind in the sixth； and again visualized a pletely

different　countenance。　In　this　way；　by　the　twelfth　year；　when　I　returned　to　my

city　at　the