stories by modern american authors-第51部分

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not。　　I　was；　as　then；　alone　and　defenseless。　　The　wind　was　in　that

direction　in　which；　aided　by　the　deathlike　repose　of　nature；　it

brought　to　me　the　murmur　of　the　waterfall。　　This　was　mingled　with

that　solemn　and　enchanting　sound　which　a　breeze　produces　among　the

leaves　of　pines。　　The　words　of　that　mysterious　dialogue；　their

fearful　import；　and　the　wild　excess　to　which　I　was　transported　by

my　terrors；　filled　my　imagination　anew。　　My　steps　faltered；　and　I

stood　a　moment　to　recover　myself。



I　prevailed　on　myself　at　length　to　move　toward　the　closet。　　I

touched　the　lock；　but　my　fingers　were　powerless；　I　was　visited

afresh　by　unconquerable　apprehensions。　　A　sort　of　belief　darted

into　my　mind　that　some　being　was　concealed　within　whose　purposes

were　evil。　　I　began　to　contend　with　those　fears；　when　it　occurred

to　me　that　I　might；　without　impropriety；　go　for　a　lamp　previously

to　opening　the　closet。　　I　receded　a　few　steps；　but　before　I　reached

the　chamber　door　my　thoughts　took　a　new　direction。　　Motion　seemed

to　produce　a　mechanical　influence　upon　me。　　I　was　ashamed　of　my

weakness。　　Besides；　what　aid　could　be　afforded　me　by　a　lamp？



My　fears　had　pictured　to　themselves　no　precise　object。　　It　would　be

difficult　to　depict　in　words　the　ingredients　and　hues　of　that

phantom　which　haunted　me。　　A　hand　invisible　and　of　preternatural

strength；　lifted　by　human　passions；　and　selecting　my　life　for　its

aim；　were　parts　of　this　terrific　image。　　All　places　were　alike

accessible　to　this　foe；　or；　if　his　empire　were　restricted　by　local

bounds；　those　bounds　were　utterly　inscrutable　by　me。　　But　had　I　not

been　told；　by　some　one　in　league　with　this　enemy；　that　every　place

but　the　recess　in　the　bank　was　exempt　from　danger？



I　returned　to　the　closet；　and　once　more　put　my　hand　upon　the　lock。

Oh；　may　my　ears　lose　their　sensibility　ere　they　be　again　assailed

by　a　shriek　so　terrible！　　Not　merely　my　understanding　was　subdued

by　the　sound；　it　acted　on　my　nerves　like　an　edge　of　steel。　　It

appeared　to　cut　asunder　the　fibers　of　my　brain　and　rack　every　joint

with　agony。



The　cry；　loud　and　piercing　as　it　was；　was　nevertheless　human。　　No

articulation　was　ever　more　distinct。　　The　breath　which　accompanied

it　did　not　fan　my　hair；　yet　did　every　circumstance　combine　to

persuade　me　that　the　lips　which　uttered　it　touched　my　very

shoulder。



〃Hold！　hold！〃　were　the　words　of　this　tremendous　prohibition；　in

whose　tone　the　whole　soul　seemed　to　be　wrapped　up；　and　every　energy

converted　into　eagerness　and　terror。



Shuddering；　I　dashed　myself　against　the　wall；　and；　by　the　same

involuntary　impulse；　turned　my　face　backward　to　examine　the

mysterious　monitor。　　The　moonlight　streamed　into　each　window；　and

every　corner　of　the　room　was　conspicuous；　and　yet　I　beheld　nothing！



The　interval　was　too　brief　to　be　artificially　measured；　between　the

utterance　of　these　words　and　my　scrutiny　directed　to　the　quarter

whence　they　came。　　Yet；　if　a　human　being　had　been　there；　could　he

fail　to　have　been　visible？　　Which　of　my　senses　was　the　prey　of　a

fatal　illusion？　　The　shock　which　the　sound　produced　was　still　felt

in　every　part　of　my　frame。　　The　sound；　therefore；　could　not　but　be

a　genuine　commotion。　　But　that　I　had　heard　it　was　not　more　true

than　that　the　being　who　uttered　it　was　stationed　at　my　right　ear；

yet　my　attendant　was　invisible。



I　cannot　describe　the　state　of　my　thoughts　at　that　moment。

Surprise　had　mastered　my　faculties。　　My　frame　shook；　and　the　vital

current　was　congealed。　　I　was　conscious　only　of　the　vehemence　of　my

sensations。　　This　condition　could　not　be　lasting。　　Like　a　tide；

which　suddenly　mounts　to　an　overwhelming　height　and　then　gradually

subsides；　my　confusion　slowly　gave　place　to　order；　and　my　tumults

to　a　calm。　　I　was　able　to　deliberate　and　move。　　I　resumed　my　feet；

and　advanced　into　the　midst　of　the　room。　　Upward；　and　behind；　and

on　each　side；　I　threw　penetrating　glances。　　I　was　not　satisfied

with　one　examination。　　He　that　hitherto　refused　to　be　seen　might

change　his　purpose；　and　on　the　next　survey　be　clearly

distinguishable。



Solitude　imposes　least　restraint　upon　the　fancy。　　Dark　is　less

fertile　of　images　than　the　feeble　luster　of　the　moon。　　I　was　alone；

and　the　walls　were　checkered　by　shadowy　forms。　　As　the　moon　passed

behind　a　cloud　and　emerged；　these　shadows　seemed　to　be　endowed　with

life；　and　to　move。　　The　apartment　was　open　to　the　breeze；　and　the

curtain　was　occasionally　blown　from　its　ordinary　position。　　This

motion　was　not　unaccompanied　with　sound。　　I　failed　not　to　snatch　a

look　and　to　listen　when　this　motion　and　this　sound　occurred。　　My

belief　that　my　monitor　was　posted　near　was　strong；　and　instantly

converted　these　appearances　to　tokens　of　his　presence；　and　yet　I

could　discern　nothing。



When　my　thoughts　were　at　length　permitted　to　revert　to　the　past；

the　first　idea　that　occurred　was　the　resemblance　between　the　words

of　the　voice　which　I　had　just　heard　and　those　which　had　terminated

my　dream　in　the　summer…house。　　There　are　means　by　which　we　are　able

to　distinguish　a　substance　from　a　shadow；　a　reality　from　the

phantom　of　a　dream。　　The　pit；　my　brother　beckoning　me　forward；　the

seizure　of　my　arm；　and　the　voice　behind；　were　surely　imaginary。

That　these　incidents　were　fashioned　in　my　sleep　is　supported　by　the

same　indubitable　evidence　that　compels　me　to　believe　myself　awake

at　present；　yet　the　words　and　the　voice　were　the　same。　　Then；　by

some　inexplicable　contrivance；　I　was　aware　of　the　danger；　while　my

actions　and　sensations　were　those　of　one　wholly　unacquainted　with

it。　　Now；　was　it　not　equally　true　that　my　actions　and　persuasions

were　at　war？　　Had　not　the　belief　that　evil　lurked　in　the　closet

gained　admittance；　and　had　not　my　actions　betokened　an

unwarrantable　security？　　To　obviate　the　effects　of　my　infatuation；

the　same　means　had　been　used。



In　my　dream；　he　that　tempted　me　to　my　destruction　was　my　brother。

Death　was　ambushed　in　my　path。　　From　what　evil　was　I　now　rescued？

What　minister　or　implement　of　ill　was　shut　up　in　this　recess？　　Who

was　it　whose　suffocating　grasp　I　was　to　feel　should　I　dare　to　enter

it？　　What　monstrous　conception　is　this？　　My　brother？



No；　protection；　and　not　injury；　is　his　province。　　Strange　and

terrible　chimera！　　Yet　it　would　not　be　suddenly　dismissed。　　It　was

surely　no　vulgar　agency　that　gave　this　form　to　my　fears。　　He　to

whom　all　parts　of　time　are　equally　present；　whom　no　contingency

approaches；　was　the　author　of　that　spell　which　now　seized　upon　me。

Life　was　dear　to　me。　　No　consideration　was　present　that　enjoined　me

to　relinquish　it。　　Sacred　duty　combined　with　every　spontaneous

sentiment　to　endear　to　me　my　being。　　Should　I　not　shudder　when　my

being　was　endangered？　　But　what　emotion　should　possess　me　when　the

arm　lifted　against　me　was　Wieland's？



Ideas　exist　in　our　minds　that　can　be　accounted　for　by　no

established　laws。　　Why　did　I　dream　that　my　brother　was　my　foe？　　Why

but　because　an　omen　of　my　fate　was　ordained　to　be　communicated？

Yet　what　salutary　end　did　it　serve？　　Did　it　arm　me　with　caution　to

elude　or　fortitude　to　bear　the　evils　to　which　I　was　reserved？　　My

present　thoughts　were；　no　doubt；　indebted　for　their　hue　to　the

similitude　existing　between　these　incidents　and　those　of　my　dream。

Surely　it　was　frenzy　that　dictated　my　deed。　　That　a　ruffian　was

hidden　in　the　closet　was　an　idea　the　genuine　tendency　of　which　was

to　urge　me　to　flight。　　Such　had　been　the　effect　formerly　produced。

Had　my　mind　been　simply　occupied　with　this　thought　at　present；　no

doubt　the　same　impulse　would　have　been　experienced；　but　now　it　was

my　brother　whom　I　was　irresistibly　persuaded　to　regard　as　the

contriver　of　that　ill　of　which　I　had　been　forewarned。　　This

persuasion　did　not　extenuate　my　fears　or　my　danger。　　Why　then　did　I

again　approach　the　closet　and　withdraw　the　bolt？　　My　resolution　was

instantly　conceived；　and　executed　without　faltering。



The　door　was　formed　of　light　materials。　　The　lock；　of　simple

structure；　easily　forewent　its　hold。　　It　opened　into　the　room；　and

commonly　moved　upon　its　hinges；　after　being　unfastened；　without　any

effort　of　mine。　　This　effort；　however；　was　bestowed　upon　the

present　occasion。　　It　was　my　purpose　to　open　it　with　quickness；　but

the　exertion　which　I　made　was　ineffectual。　　It　refused　to　open。



At　another　time；　this　circumstance　would　not　have　looked　with　a

face　of　mystery。　　I　should　have　supposed　some　casual　obstruction

and　repeated　my　efforts　to　surmount　it。　　But　now　my　mind　was

accessible　to　no　conjecture　but　one。　　The　door　was　hindered　from

opening　by　human　force。　　Surely；　here　was　a　new　cause　for　affright。

This　was　confirmation　proper　to　decide　my　conduct。　　Now　was　all

ground　of　hesitation　taken　away。　　What　could　be　supposed　but　that　I

deserted　the　chamber　and　the　house？　that　I　at　least　endeavored　no

longer　to　withdraw　the　door？



Have　I　not　said　that　my　actions　were　dictated　by　frenzy？　　My　reason

had　forborne；　for　a　time；　to　suggest　or　to　sway　my　resolves。　　I

reiterated　my　endeavors。　　I　exerted　all　my　force　to　overcome　the

obstacle；　but　in　vain。　　The　strength　that　was　exerted　to　keep　it

shut　was　superior　to　mine。



A　casual　observer　might；　perhaps；　applaud　the　audaciousness　of　this

conduct。　　Whence；　but　from　a　habitual　defiance　of　danger；　could　my

perseverance　arise？　　I　have　already　assigned；　as　distinctly　as　I　am

able；　the　cause　of　it。　　The　frantic　conception　that　my　brother　was

within；　that　the　resistance　made　to　my　design　was　exerted　by　him；

had　rooted　itself　in　my　mind。　　You　will　comprehend　the　height　of

this　infatuation；　when　I　tell　you　that；　finding　all　my　exertions

vain；　I　betook　myself　to　exclamations。　　Surely　I　was　utterly　bereft

of　understanding。



Now　I　had　arrived　at　the　crisis　of　my　fate。　　〃Oh；　hinder　not　the

door　to　open；〃　I　exclaimed；　in　a　tone　that　had　less　of　fear　than　of

grief　in　it。　　〃I　know　you　well。　　Come　forth；　but　harm　me