The Mask of the Red Death - Graham's Magazine, May 1842 — reading text

which seemed effectually to conceal her deepest But Edith buried within her own bosom, her newly feelings. She was patient and trustful, she considered awakened emotions. Her manner was always’ so herself affianced in heart, and though conscious that quiet, thatif her step did become less light, and her not even the tie of honor, asthe world would con- voice grow softer inits melancholy cadence, it was sider it, bound her lover to his troth, she felt no mis- searcely i.oticed by her thoughtless companions. She givings as to his fidelity. She trod the even tenor of had learned that she was beloved, only in the moment her way, diffusing cheerfulness and comfort around of separation, and therefore there were few tender her, thinking for every body, remembering every and blissful recollections to beguile the weary days thing and forgetting only herself. None sought her of absence ; but sympathy or assistance in vain; in her own family— in the chamber of sickness or death, among her ** Woman’s love can live on long remembrance And oh! how precious is the slightest thing friends,—in the hovel of poverty and distress, she Affection gives, and hallows !”’ was alike useful and kindly. Every one loved her, and even those who tested her powers of endurance She was one of those gentle beings who draw from most fully, almost idolized the unselfish and affec- the font of tenderness within their own bosoms, a tionate daughter and sister. full draught of sympathy for the sufferings and wants Years passed on, and brought their usual chances of others. She returned to her self-denying duties andcharges. Caroljine became a mother, and fancied with a more thoughtful spirit and a more loving that her cares were quite too heavy for her to bear heart. Her character, always full of goodness and alone. Edith was therefore summoned to assist and truth, seemed to assume an elevation of feeling, such soon found herself occupying a similar station in her as nothing but a pure and unselfish attachment can sister’s nursery to that which she had long filled at ever create. A desire to become in all respects, home. The baby was often sick and always cross; worthy of him whom she loved, gave a new tone to nobody but Edith could manage him, and therefore all her impulses, and her vivid sense of duty became Edith took the entire charge of him, while the blended with her earnest desire to merit her future mother paid visits andthe nurse gossiped in the happiness. Edward wrote very punctually to his kitchen. Maria too began to assert claims upon her. young friend Charles Pemberton, and every letter She, poor thing, was entirely too young for the duties contained some message to Edith, but she alone could she had undertaken. Thoughtless, fond of dress, detect the secret meaning of the apparently careless and profuse in household expenditure, she had no lines. They afforded sufficient nutriment to the love idea of systematic housekeeping, and Edith was which was rapidly becoming a part of her very called in to place matters on a better footing. But being ; and Edith was content to abide her time! before Maria had attained her eighteenth year, her Inthe mean time Mrs. Pemberton, who became an family was rather liberally increased by the addition adept in match-making, busied herself in providing of twin daughters, and again the agency of the useful for her younger girls, and was fortunate enough to sister was required. Her girlhood had been con- 24*  282 GRAHAM’S MAGAZINE. “sumed amid womanly cares, and now her years of naturally amiable character. During his long sojourn blooming womanhood were to be wasted in supplying abroad no claims had been made upon his affections, the deficiencies of those who had incurred responsi- he had lived unloving and unloved, aud the warm bilities which exceeded their powers. Yet Edith current of his feelings seemed gradually to have never thought of murmuring. She had been so long become chilled. "When seen through the mist of accustomed to live for others that self-sacrifice had absence, or viewed through the long vista of time, now become habitual, and she never dreamed too the familiar faces of his distant home, faded into much might be asked of or granted by sisterly affec- vague and indistinct images. He returned to the tion. scenes of his youth with a feeling of strangeness and It is a common remark that the years seem to the remembrances at every step of his approach were grow shorter as we advance in life, and they who rather mournful than pleasant to his soul. could once exclaim “a whole year!’ in accents of Edward Ellis had been several days at home, he had unqualified alarm at its length, at last find them- fully answered all the claims filial and fraternal duty, selves referring to the same space in the careless and received the congratulations of the friends who tone of indifference as “only a year.” Twelve are always found ready to note one’s good fortune, months had seemed almost an eternity to Edith when ere he bent his steps towards the dwelling of Edith her lover first bade her farewell, and the time that Pemberton. His feelings in this as in most other intervened between his letters to her brother seemed things were materially altered. His early passion, almost endless. But as she became engrossed in like his aspirations after fame, had become but as a new cares, and her youth began to slip by, the years dream of the past, a shadow of some unattainable ND es So D2 ee we hUu m = D — atA. seemed to revolve with greater speed, even although felicity. The hope which once made his love a Charles was now in a distant part of the country and source of anticipated happiness, had long since faded the correspondence between him and her lover from his sight, and as time passed on, a tender and if it was still continued, never met her eye. She melancholy interest, such as one feels when regard- had formed an intimacy with Edward’s mother, and, ing the youthful dead, was the only emotion which as the old lady was very fond of needle-worked pin- the recollection of Edith could inspire. He had out- cushions, net purses, worsted fire screens, and all lived the affection which he had designed to be the such little nick nacks if obtained without expense, measure Of their existence. The flower had been Edith was soon established in her good graces. She blighted by the cold breath of worldliness, and so was thus enabled to see Edward’s letters to his par- many sordid interests had occupied his heart since, ents, and though they were very business-like com- that every trace of its beauty was lost forever. Not monplace affairs, not at all resembling a lady’s beau- with a wish to revive old feelings, but from a morbid ideal of a lover’s epistle, still Edith was satisfied. It restless unsatisfied yearning towards the past, Ellis was strange that so strong, so abiding, so pervading betook himself to the abode of his once loved Edith. a passion should have taken possession of a creature As he entered the hall, and ere the servant could so gentle, so almost cold in her demeanor. But the announce his name, a young lady emerged from the calmest exterior often conceals the strongest emo- drawing-room, and met him face to face. He started tions, and, if the flow of Edith’s feelings was quiet it in unfeigned surprise, as he exclaimed :— was only because they worked for themselves a ‘* Miss Pemberton !—Edith—can it be possible ?” deeper and less fathomable channel. The lady looked a little alarmed, and opening the Seventeen years,—a long period in the annals of door through which she had just passed said :— time, and a longer in the records of the heart ;— ‘* My name is Margaret, sir; did you wish to see seventeen years passed ere Edward Ellis returned to sister Edith ?”’ his native land. He had left it a romantic warm He answered in the affirmative, and as he took his hearted youth and he returned a respectable, intelli- seat while the sylph-like figure of the beautiful girl gent, wealthy man. The ambition which would disappeared, he could not help glancing at the mir- have led him to seek literary fame, had been ex- ror, where a moment’s reflection soon convinced pended in search of other distinctions in the world of him that the years which had so changed him could commerce. He had become.a keen observer of men scarcely have left Edith untouched. The thought that nhA a ae ge and an acute student of the more sordid qualities of Margaret whom he had left almost an infant should human nature—in a word, he had devoted his fine have thus expanded into the lovely image of her sis- energies to the acquisition of wealth, and as his ter, prepared him in some measure for other changes. father predicted, he had so well availed himself of Edith had expected his visit with a flutter of spirits his opportunities that he was both an enlightened most unusual and distressing. She was