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

your bows. them. Lady Katharine was always the star of the ‘‘ Not so, fair lady,” said I, ‘‘ Spencer would never party; it was aronnd her our sex gathered. But, forgive me, and I would indeed be unworthy to be fascinating as I felt her to be I was, of all the beaux, called true knight, if 1 permitted damsel to brave the the most seldom found at her bridle rein; and per- perils of this enchanted forest alone.” And I started haps this comparatively distant air was the most ef- forward to accompany her. fectual means I could have taken to forward my  THE BRIDE. 255 suit. At least I fancied more than once that I piqued in the room. The remark was made jestingly and the Lady Katharine. casually, and was by this time forgotten by her. We still kept up the tone of badinage with which But I still remembered it. Yet I knew that if she our acquaintance had commenced. There was a was betrothed to him she would accept his offer. playful wit about the Lady Katharine which was ir- How my heart thrilled, therefore, when I heard her resistable ; and I flattered myself that she was pleased decline it! His grace walked away unable to conceal with my conversation, perhaps because it was dif- his mortification. ferent from that of her suitors in general. But “You should not be so hard-hearted,” said I, “al- whether her liking for me extended further than to though the duke ought have known that you waltz my qualities as a drawing room companion I was with none of the proscribed race of bachelors.” unable to tell. If I strove to hide my love from her, She looked at me in unaffected surprise. she was equally successful in concealing her feel- ‘*How did you discover that?’ she said. “ We ings whatever they might be. Yet she gave me the have had no waltzing since you came,’ and then, credit of being a keen observer. reflecting that these hasty words had confirmed my *“You take more notice of little things than any bold assertion, she blushed to the very brow and one of your sex I ever saw,’ she said to me one looked for a moment confused. evening. ‘The ladies have a way of reading one’s Our conversation was interrupted by her brother sentiments by trifles, which your sex generally deem and one or two new acquaintances who had driven beneath its notice. But you! one would almost fear home with him. I soon sauntered away. My deduc- your finding out all one thinks.” tions respecting her and the duke were shaken, I con- “Oh! not at all,” said I. ‘At any rate, if your fess, before the evening was over, by seeing them sit- sex are such keen observers they are also apt at con- ting téte-d-téte, by one of the casements, while the cealment. What lady that has not striven to hide guests avoided them, as if by that tacit agreement from her lover that she returned his passion, at least under which lovers are left to themselves. until he has proposed, and that even though aware The attentions of his grace became daily more how wholly he adores her? We all alike play a marked, and there was an evident embarrassment of part.” manner in the Lady Katharine under them. A month “Shame, shame, Mr. Stanhope! Would you have slipped away meanwhile, and the time when the us surrender our only protection, by betraying our company was to break up drew near. sentiments too soon? And then to say that we all We were out on a ride one morning, and the duke, play a part, as if hypocrisy—in little things, it is as usual, had established himself at her bridle-rein, true, but still hypocrisy—was an every-day affair. when, in cantering along the brow of a somewhat You make me ashamed of human nature. You precipitous hill, overlooking the country for miles really cannot believe what you say !” around, the horse of the Lady Katharine took fright, This was spoken with a warmth that convinced from some cause, and dashed towards the edge me the words were from the heart. I felt that how- of a precipice that sank sheer down for nearly a ever flippant the Lady Katharine might be to the hundred feet. The precipice was several hundred vain and empty suitors that usually thronged around yards to the right, but the pace at which the frighted her, she had a heart—a warm, true, woman’s heart steed went, threatened soon to bring him up with it, —a heart that beat with noble emotions and was sus- while the efforts of the rider to alter his course ap- ceptible to all the finer feelings of love. I would peared to be unavailing. Our party was paralyzed, have replied, but at this instant the Duke of Cho- and his grace particulary so. I alone retained my vers approached and requested the honor of waltz- presence of mind. Driving my spurs deep into the ing with her. flanks of my steed, I plunged forward at full gallop, The Duke of Chovers was a young man of about amid the shrieks of the females and the warnings five and twenty. The calibre of his mind was that of the gentlemen of the party. But I knew I could of fashionable men in general; but then he enjoyed trust my gallant hunter. The Lady Katharine heard a splendid fortune and wore the ducal coronet. He my horse’s hoofs, and turned around. Never shall I was confessedly the best match of the season. The forget her pleading look. I dashed my rowels again charms of the Lady Katharine had been the first to into Arab, for only a few paces yet remained betwixt divert his mind from his dress and horses. It was the Lady Katharine’s frightened animal and the edge whispered that a union was already arranged be- of the precipice. One more leap and all would have twixt him and my fair companion. As if to confirm been over; but luckily at that instant I came head this rumor, he always took his place by her bridle- and head with her furious steed, and catching him by rein. The worldly advantages of such a connexion the bridle, I swung him around with a superhuman were unanswerable; and I had been tortured by strength. But I was only partially successful. The uneasy fears ever since I heard the rumor. Now animal plunged and snorted, and nearly jerked me was a fair opportunity to learn the truth. I had heard from the saddle. the Lady Katharine jestingly say a few days before, ‘For God’s sake dismount, my dear Lady Katha- in describing a late ball, that she refused to waltz rine, as well as you can, or all is over.” with Lord because she thought him unmarried, The daring girl hesitated no more, but seizing a and that when she discovered her mistake she was favorable instant when the animal, though trembling piqued at herself for losing the handsomest partner all over, stood nearly still, she leaped to the earth. t 256 GRAHAM’S MAGAZINE. The next instant her steed plunged more wildly than time her eyes sought the ground. My brain reeled. ever, and seeing that she was safe I let go the bridle. At length I found words, and, in burning language He snorted, dashed forward and went headlong over poured forth my hopes and fears, and told the tale the precipice. In an instant I had dismounted and of my love. I ceased; her bosom heaved wildly, was by the Lady Katharine’s side. I was just in but she did not answer. I still knelt at her feet. At time to catch her in my arms as she fainted away. length she said, Before she recovered, the landau, with the rest of the ‘73 Rise.”? party, came up. I saw her in the hands of her There was something in the tone, rather than in mother, and then giving reins to Arab, under pre- the word, which assured me I was beloved. If I tence of sending medical aid, but in reality to escape needed further confirmation of this it was given in the gratulations of the company, I dashed off. the look of confiding tenderness with which she When I entered the drawing-room before dinner, gazed an instant on me, and then averted her eyes there was no one in the apartment but the Lady Ka- tremblingly. I stole my arm around her, and drew tharine. She looked pale, but on recognizing me, a her gently toward me. Ina moment she looked up deep blush suffused her cheek and brow, while her again half reproachfully, and gently disengaged her- eye lit up for the instant, with an expression of dewy self from my embrace. tenderness that made every vein in my body thrill. ‘““ We have been playing a part, dear Lady Katha- But these traces of emotion passed as rapidly as they rine !” said I, still retaining her hand. came, leaving her manner as it usually was, only A gay smile, for the instant, shot over her face, that there was an unnatural restraint about it, as if but was lost as quickly in the tenderness which was her feelings of gratitude were struggling with others now its prevailing expression, as she said. of a different character. She rose, however, and “I’m afraid we have! But now, Henry, dear extended her hand. There was nothing of its usual Henry, let me steal away, for one moment, before light tone in her voice, but an expression of deep se- they descend to dinner.” riousness, perhaps emotion, as she said, I restrained her only to press my first kiss on her **How shall I ever thank you sufficiently, Mr. odorous lips, and then she darted from the room, ll e ae oe ee e h Stanhope, for saving my life ?” and that same dewy leaving me in a tumult of feelings I cannot attempt tenderness again shone from her eyes. to describe. ** By never alluding, my dear Lady Katharine, to The duke had never been the Lady Katharine’s this day’s occurrence. I have only done what every choice, and she had only waited for him to propose other gentleman would have done.”’ in form to