stories by modern american authors-第68部分

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had　a　placid　cheerfulness　for　such　occasions；　which　often　excited

a　sympathetic　smile　where　livelier　merriment　would　have　been

thrown　away。　　There　was　no　quality　of　his　disposition　which　made

him　more　beloved　than　this。　　The　company　at　the　wedding　awaited

his　arrival　with　impatience；　trusting　that　the　strange　awe；　which

had　gathered　over　him　throughout　the　day；　would　now　be　dispelled。

But　such　was　not　the　result。　　When　Mr。　Hooper　came；　the　first

thing　that　their　eyes　rested　on　was　the　same　horrible　black　veil；

which　had　added　deeper　gloom　to　the　funeral；　and　could　portend

nothing　but　evil　to　the　wedding。　　Such　was　its　immediate　effect　on

the　guests　that　a　cloud　seemed　to　have　rolled　duskily　from

beneath　the　black　crape；　and　dimmed　the　light　of　the　candles。　　The

bridal　pair　stood　up　before　the　minister。　　But　the　bride's　cold

fingers　quivered　in　the　tremulous　hand　of　the　bridegroom；　and　her

deathlike　paleness　caused　a　whisper　that　the　maiden　who　had　been

buried　a　few　hours　before　was　come　from　her　grave　to　be　married。

If　ever　another　wedding　were　so　dismal；　it　was　that　famous　one

where　they　tolled　the　wedding　knell。　　After　performing　the

ceremony；　Mr。　Hooper　raised　a　glass　of　wine　to　his　lips；　wishing

happiness　to　the　new…married　couple　in　a　strain　of　mild　pleasantry

that　ought　to　have　brightened　the　features　of　the　guests；　like　a

cheerful　gleam　from　the　hearth。　　At　that　instant；　catching　a

glimpse　of　his　figure　in　the　looking…glass；　the　black　veil

involved　his　own　spirit　in　the　horror　with　which　it　overwhelmed

all　others。　　His　frame　shuddered；　his　lips　grew　white；　he　spilt

the　untasted　wine　upon　the　carpet；　and　rushed　forth　into　the

darkness。　　For　the　Earth；　too；　had　on　her　Black　Veil。



The　next　day；　the　whole　village　of　Milford　talked　of　little　else

than　Parson　Hooper's　black　veil。　　That；　and　the　mystery　concealed

behind　it；　supplied　a　topic　for　discussion　between　acquaintances

meeting　in　the　street；　and　good　women　gossiping　at　their　open

windows。　　It　was　the　first　item　of　news　that　the　tavern…keeper

told　to　his　guests。　　The　children　babbled　of　it　on　their　way　to

school。　　One　imitative　little　imp　covered　his　face　with　an　old

black　handkerchief；　thereby　so　affrighting　his　playmates　that　the

panic　seized　himself；　and　he　well…nigh　lost　his　wits　by　his　own

waggery。



It　was　remarkable　that　all　of　the　busybodies　and　impertinent

people　in　the　parish；　not　one　ventured　to　put　the　plain　question

to　Mr。　Hooper；　wherefore　he　did　this　thing。　　Hitherto；　whenever

there　appeared　the　slightest　call　for　such　interference；　he　had

never　lacked　advisers；　nor　shown　himself　averse　to　be　guided　by

their　judgment。　　If　he　erred　at　all；　it　was　by　so　painful　a　degree

of　self…distrust；　that　even　the　mildest　censure　would　lead　him　to

consider　an　indifferent　action　as　a　crime。　　Yet；　though　so　well

acquainted　with　this　amiable　weakness；　no　individual　among　his

parishioners　chose　to　make　the　black　veil　a　subject　of　friendly

remonstrance。　　There　was　a　feeling　of　dread；　neither　plainly

confessed　nor　carefully　concealed；　which　caused　each　to　shift　the

responsibility　upon　another；　till　at　length　it　was　found

expedient　to　send　a　deputation　of　the　church；　in　order　to　deal

with　Mr。　Hooper　about　the　mystery；　before　it　should　grow　into　a

scandal。　　Never　did　an　embassy　so　ill　discharge　its　duties。　　The

minister　received　then　with　friendly　courtesy；　but　became　silent；

after　they　were　seated；　leaving　to　his　visitors　the　whole　burden

of　introducing　their　important　business。　　The　topic；　it　might　be

supposed；　was　obvious　enough。　　There　was　the　black　veil　swathed

round　Mr。　Hooper's　forehead；　and　concealing　every　feature　above

his　placid　mouth；　on　which；　at　times；　they　could　perceive　the

glimmering　of　a　melancholy　smile。　　But　that　piece　of　crape；　to

their　imagination；　seemed　to　hang　down　before　his　heart；　the

symbol　of　a　fearful　secret　between　him　and　them。　　Were　the　veil

but　cast　aside；　they　might　speak　freely　of　it；　but　not　till　then。

Thus　they　sat　a　considerable　time；　speechless；　confused；　and

shrinking　uneasily　from　Mr。　Hooper's　eye；　which　they　felt　to　be

fixed　upon　them　with　an　invisible　glance。　　Finally；　the　deputies

returned　abashed　to　their　constituents；　pronouncing　the　matter

too　weighty　to　be　handled；　except　by　a　council　of　the　churches；

if；　indeed；　it　might　not　require　a　general　synod。



But　there　was　one　person　in　the　village　unappalled　by　the　awe

with　which　the　black　veil　had　impressed　all　beside　herself。　　When

the　deputies　returned　without　an　explanation；　or　even　venturing

to　demand　one；　she；　with　the　calm　energy　of　her　character；

determined　to　chase　away　the　strange　cloud　that　appeared　to　be

settling　round　Mr。　Hooper；　every　moment　more　darkly　than　before。

As　his　plighted　wife；　it　should　be　her　privilege　to　know　what　the

black　veil　concealed。　　At　the　minister's　first　visit；　therefore；

she　entered　upon　the　subject　with　a　direct　simplicity；　which　made

the　task　easier　both　for　him　and　her。　　After　he　had　seated

himself；　she　fixed　her　eyes　steadfastly　upon　the　veil；　but　could

discern　nothing　of　the　dreadful　gloom　that　had　so　overawed　the

multitude：　it　was　but　a　double　fold　of　crape；　hanging　down　from

his　forehead　to　his　mouth；　and　slightly　stirring　with　his　breath。



〃No；〃　said　she　aloud；　and　smiling；　〃there　is　nothing　terrible　in

this　piece　of　crape；　except　that　it　hides　a　face　which　I　am

always　glad　to　look　upon。　　Come；　good　sir；　let　the　sun　shine　from

behind　the　cloud。　　First　lay　aside　your　black　veil：　then　tell　me

why　you　put　it　on。〃



Mr。　Hooper's　smile　glimmered　faintly。



〃There　is　an　hour　to　come；〃　said　he；　〃when　all　of　us　shall　cast

aside　our　veils。　　Take　it　not　amiss；　beloved　friend；　if　I　wear

this　piece　of　crape　till　then。〃



〃Your　words　are　a　mystery；　too；〃　returned　the　young　lady。　〃Take

away　the　veil　from　them；　at　least。〃



〃Elizabeth；　I　will；〃　said　he；　〃so　far　as　my　vow　may　suffer　me。

Know；　then；　this　veil　is　a　type　and　a　symbol；　and　I　am　bound　to

wear　it　ever；　both　in　light　and　darkness；　in　solitude　and　before

the　gaze　of　multitudes；　and　as　with　strangers；　so　with　my

familiar　friends。　　No　mortal　eye　will　see　it　withdrawn。　　This

dismal　shade　must　separate　me　from　the　world：　even　you；

Elizabeth；　can　never　come　behind　it！〃



〃What　grievous　affliction　hath　befallen　you；〃　she　earnestly

inquired；　〃that　you　should　thus　darken　your　eyes　forever？〃



〃If　it　be　a　sign　of　mourning；〃　replied　Mr。　Hooper；　〃I；　perhaps；

like　most　other　mortals；　have　sorrows　dark　enough　to　be　typified

by　a　black　veil。〃



〃But　what　if　the　world　will　not　believe　that　it　is　the　type　of　an

innocent　sorrow？〃　urged　Elizabeth。　　〃Beloved　and　respected　as　you

are；　there　may　be　whispers　that　you　hide　your　face　under　the

consciousness　of　secret　sin。　　For　the　sake　of　your　holy　office；　do

away　this　scandal！〃



The　color　rose　into　her　cheeks　as　she　intimated　the　nature　of　the

rumors　that　were　already　abroad　in　the　village。　　But　Mr。　Hooper's

mildness　did　not　forsake　him。　　He　even　smiled　againthat　same　sad

smile；　which　always　appeared　like　a　faint　glimmering　of　light；

proceeding　from　the　obscurity　beneath　the　veil。



〃If　I　hide　my　face　for　sorrow；　there　is　cause　enough；〃　he　merely

replied；　〃and　if　I　cover　it　for　secret　sin；　what　mortal　might　not

do　the　same？〃



And　with　this　gentle；　but　unconquerable　obstinacy　did　he　resist

all　her　entreaties。　　At　length　Elizabeth　sat　silent。　　For　a　few

moments　she　appeared　lost　in　thought；　considering；　probably；　what

new　methods　might　be　tried　to　withdraw　her　lover　from　so　dark　a

fantasy；　which；　if　it　had　no　other　meaning；　was　perhaps　a　symptom

of　mental　disease。　　Though　of　a　firmer　character　than　his　own；　the

tears　rolled　down　her　cheeks。　　But；　in　an　instant；　as　it　were；　a

new　feeling　took　the　place　of　sorrow：　her　eyes　were　fixed

insensibly　on　the　black　veil；　when；　like　a　sudden　twilight　in　the

air；　its　terrors　fell　around　her。　　She　arose；　and　stood　trembling

before　him。



〃And　do　you　feel　it　then；　at　last？〃　said　he　mournfully。



She　made　no　reply；　but　covered　her　eyes　with　her　hand；　and　turned

to　leave　the　room。　　He　rushed　forward　and　caught　her　arm。



〃Have　patience　with　me；　Elizabeth！〃　cried　he；　passionately。　　〃Do

not　desert　me；　though　this　veil　must　be　between　us　here　on　earth。

Be　mine；　and　hereafter　there　shall　be　no　veil　over　my　face；　no

darkness　between　our　souls！　　It　is　but　a　mortal　veilit　is　not

for　eternity！　　O！　you　know　not　how　lonely　I　am；　and　how

frightened；　to　be　alone　behind　my　black　veil。　　Do　not　leave　me　in

this　miserable　obscurity　forever！〃



〃Lift　the　veil　but　once；　and　look　me　in　the　face；〃　said　she。



〃Never！　　It　cannot　be！〃　replied　Mr。　Hooper。



〃Then　farewell！〃　said　Elizabeth。



She　withdrew　her　arm　from　his　grasp；　and　slowly　departed；　pausing

at　the　door；　to　give　one　long　shuddering　gaze；　that　seemed　almost

to　penetrate　the　mystery　of　the　black　veil。　　But；　even　amid　his

grief；　Mr。　Hooper　smiled　to　think　that　only　a　material　emblem　had

separated　him　from　happiness；　though　the　horrors；　which　it

shadowed　forth；　must　be　drawn　darkly　between　the　fondest　of

lovers。



From　that　time　no　attempts　were　made　to　remove　Mr。　Hooper's　black

veil；　or；　by　a　direct　appeal；　to　discover　the　secret　which　it　was

supposed　to　hide。　　By　persons　who　claimed　a　superiority　to　popular

prejudice；　it　was　reckoned　merely　an　eccentric　whim；　such　as

often　mingles　with　the　sober　actions　of　men　otherwise　rational；

and　tinges　them　all　with　its　own　semblance　of　insanity。　　But　with

the　multitude；　good　Mr。　Hooper　was　irreparably　a　bugbear。　　He　could

not　walk　the　street　with　any　peace　of　mind；　so　conscious　was　he

that　the　gentle　and　timid　would　turn　aside　to　avoid　him；　and　that

others　would　make　it　a　point　of　hardihood　to　throw　themselves　in

his　way。　　The　impertinence　of　the　latter　class　compelled　him　to

give　up　his　customary　walk　at　sunset　to　the　burial　ground；　for

when　he　l