O Russet Witch!

O Russet Witch! - one of the stories, which entered in a collection of eleven short stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald "Tales of the Jazz Age" (1922). 
This story was written just after the author completed the first draft of his second novel. However it may seem, the story was supposed to be in the present time/tense. It was published in the "Metropolitan".
At the end of the story, Merlin deeply regrets not following his dreams. Caroline represents the life that Merlin always wanted, but he chooses to ignore these dreams. Merlin convinces himself that Caroline is nothing more than a witch that appears only to tempt him away from the safe life he has chosen. However, as soon as this false illusion of Caroline is shattered, Merlin falls apart. As an old man, Merlin finally realizes that he has not pursued any of his dreams and therefore his whole life has been a waste.